The happiness of having a wedding date set was short-lived. The three extraordinary individuals realized they were facing a serious problem.
A gift.
They needed to find a token to promise to each other.
Of course, it didn’t have to be anything extravagant.
But considering it was for Yu Wol, none of them even thought about getting something mediocre.
Especially when they remembered who would be procuring it.
Yu Wol had considerable knowledge. Although he lacked martial strength, he knew exactly how to navigate any secret pathways or whatever in his way; if he wanted something, he could get it.
And wasn’t it just earlier when Yu Wol mentioned he would hire Doje and Namgoong Cheon to find a gift?
With Yu Wol’s knowledge, and the martial prowess of Doje and Namgoong Cheon,
the gift they would procure might be a rare find that was hard to come by.
“Uh, what do we do now?”
Yu Wol had said a simple gift would be fine, but how could they?
Wanting to present the best possible offering, the trio decided to put their usual rivalries aside for once and brainstorm together.
“What’s so serious?”
Approaching them in the corner of the inn were Yohwan and Hano, who had mentioned they would stay a few more days after the succession ceremony.
Unlike the martial artists around them, pondering how to chime in or catch a martial arts tip, they just grabbed seats and settled down.
“Yohwan, do you have any suggestions for a gift suitable for a man?”
As the Sword Saint asked on behalf of the group, Yohwan let out a chuckle. So that’s what all their serious chatter was about!
But looking at their earnest expressions, it didn’t seem like a matter to joke about.
“Hmm… a gift, huh? Weapons might be tricky. Typically, jewelry is the best-looking gift.”
“But Yu Wol is more of a scholar, so wouldn’t something like a brush or inkstone be better than jewelry?”
“True enough; sounds like you’ve given this some thought.”
“Well, actually, there was something I’ve wanted to procure for a while. I want to get the 귀곡필 (Gwigok Brush).”
The Sword Saint said coolly.
The Gwigok Brush.
Its name means “precious grain,” referring to the brush used by Yeong Ho Yeon, a past scholar of the royal court known for being a kind and virtuous official.
Famous for his goodness since childhood, he once met an immortal who gifted him a brush, saying that the more he maintained a good heart, the better his endeavors would flourish.
He kept that brush with him at all times while building his merit, and just as the immortal said, everything he undertook thereafter turned out well.
It is said that everything went well after that.
And when it came to his later years, he threw the Geugok Brush into the river, and no one ever saw that brush again.
“Does that really exist?”
“How do you find a brush that’s fallen into the river?”
Hongryeon and Chaejin looked at the Sword Saint with worry, and the Sword Saint smiled confidently.
“Ah, there’s more to the story. When Yeonghoyeon died, an old monk came looking for him. After hearing the tale of the Geugok Brush, he headed for the river.”
“He headed where?”
“They say he saw a crane and the old monk riding it ascending to the sky. And they say the brush was held in the crane’s mouth, and the monk said…”
As the Sword Saint spoke, Hano cleared his throat a few times and lowered his voice.
“Those who wish to become great officials must seek the Geugok Brush.”
This meant that the old monk had left the Geugok Brush somewhere, and the officials who respected and followed him struggled to find it.
Of course, they didn’t succeed.
“It’s quite a famous tale among officials, especially the civil servants. Though the warriors may not know much about it.”
As Yohwan added this, the three fell silent. The Geugok Brush, huh.
Yuwol was always buried in work. If he had the Geugok Brush, he could handle tasks a little faster and more efficiently.
Wouldn’t that be better for family life?
The three looked at each other.
“So, Hongryeon. What about you?”
“That sounds nice, but wouldn’t it be better if I made the Manhan (萬閑衣)?”
“Oh, the Manhan.”
“What’s that?”
Chaejin tilted her head, and Hano chuckled.
It’s something not many would know unless they were interested in clothing, so Chaejin’s confusion wasn’t a big deal.
“It’s the outfit of someone lazily resting. It’s a tale from long ago. There was a person named Giwoo. He was a diligent official who worried about everything and never rested. Of course, he did his job well, and the more he worked, the better the lives of the people became. But how can someone live working all the time? So, the fashion house of Cheolseong gifted him an outfit. When Giwoo wore that outfit, he was able to rest comfortably.”
“Forever?”
“…What a gruesome thought. It just makes resting more efficient, allowing one to rest as naturally as a lazy person would during a break.”
“The problem is that the Cheolseong family was annihilated by evil monsters a long time ago and their descendants scattered. And we have no idea where the treasured clothing design went… Do you perhaps know?”
“The descendants have scattered in different directions. And no one knows where the treasure of Cheolseong family, the clothing design, has been passed down… Do you happen to know anything?”
“If it’s about making clothes, I’m confident,” Hongryeon said seriously, and Hano nodded.
“I don’t know about the treasure of Cheolseong family, the Cheolseong design, but if you go south for a day from Yangweseong, you’ll find a woman named Hyewon in Ewha Village, who is a descendant of Cheolseong family. You can get the design of Manhaengyul from her.”
“Great! I’ll go with that.”
If she receives the design and learns the production method, there shouldn’t be any problem. Looking seriously at Hongryeon, who said she should go with Ryuhyun, Chaejin asked with a reluctant expression.
“So, what should I do?”
“What do you want to give?”
The Sword Saint seemed to want to give 귀곡필 (Gwigokpil), while Hongryeon seemed to want to create Manhaengyul for her.
Work and rest.
Having sorted those out, what she wanted to give…
“Of course, physical strength, right? But there are so many tonics, I’m not sure which one is good…”
“Then go to Amipa. There, they’ll make a really nice tonic for a man. But isn’t it a bit weird to give a tonic as a gift?”
“Hehe. The idea of him taking the tonic I gave him… with that physical strength… Hehehe. Hehehehehehe…”
The sinister smile from Chaejin made Yohwan and Hano break into a cold sweat. Wasn’t that physical strength going to be drained away like a leech?
Seeing the Sword Saint and Hongryeon, who seemed to be contemplating “Maybe I should just go with a tonic too…?” made the two sweat even more.
“Ah, anyway, I have some information about finding those three, so I’ll give it to you.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Thank you.”
“Erm, you’re welcome.”
“Don’t mention it. Just do me a personal favor later. It feels a bit awkward asking for help as a ‘saffa’ to the righteous sect, but I might have personal requests as well.”
“Haha. I understand. If it’s Hano’s request, I have to help. You’re also a friend of Yu Wol.”
Everyone knew that Hano had been close to Yu Wol for a long time. In fact, he had received help from him before.
As such, there was probably no one as close to the ‘saffa’ as Hano was.
“But when everyone goes, who’s going to protect Yu Wol?”
“Hmm… We’ll have to go in turns.”
*
As evening arrived, the day’s guard, Hongryeon, came to see me. Even though she had become the door leader of Hongseongmun, she seemed unwilling to pass on my guard duties to anyone else.
I smiled at her assertively claiming that even other sects don’t have their door leaders take action, and I sat her down, asking, “Aren’t you wearing the door leader’s robes?”
“Hehe. Would you like to wear that?”
As she spoke, striking a pose that flowed like water, I couldn’t help but chuckle. She gave me a seductive smile, winking playfully while sitting down and sipping her tea.
“I’m already fluttering, and there’s still quite some time left.”
“Haha, really? But I’m worried about after the wedding. You and Chaejin have your own jobs, so…”
“Well, I have to commute, right?”
“Is that okay?”
“Well… it’s not like it’s a long distance.”
With Hongryeon’s level of lightness, it should take her no more than five minutes to get from Hongseong to this inn. It’s practically living next door.
Even if some issues arise, having the Sword Saint—who is almost a freelancer at this point—by my side should make things problem-free.
“You must be going through a lot of trouble.”
“There’s no helping it. I’m a greedy person, after all. Plus, it’s better for you that way, right?”
“That’s definitely true. You could become the pillar of Hongseong.”
“Hehehe… Oh. And we’re also going to look for wedding gifts.”
“Oh? What are you looking for?”
“Um… can I say it?”
“Go ahead.”
“Gui-gok-pil, Manhan-ui, and Ami-pa’s special medicine, Ami-bo-yak.”
“…Gui-gok-pil and Manhan-ui are fine, but why Ami-bo-yak?”
“Hehehe… To cheer you up?”
Ah.
“…I’ll try my best.”
I nodded at Hongryeon, who was licking her lips with a peculiar smile.
“By the way, while Gui-gok-pil is one thing, Manhan-ui needs to be made… Getting those materials won’t be easy. Isn’t that too much trouble? And Ami-bo-yak requires substantial materials from Ami-pa, so… I guess I’ll have to help you.”
“Um…”
“Don’t think about refusing. If you get hurt trying to get that, it would be a complete mess.”
“But you asked Doje and Namgoong Cheon for help to find our wedding gifts, didn’t you? So isn’t it right to receive help?”
“Haha. There’s no shame among family. Besides, I’ve given suitable rewards to Doje and Namgoong Cheon, so there won’t be any issues.”
“Do you even know how to get them?”
“I’ve wanted Gui-gok-pil for a long time. The same goes for Manhan-ui. And when it comes to medicine, there’s never enough. You’ve picked three things that I’d be happy to have.”
“I was always keeping an eye on you.”
Hongryeon looked at me without blinking and said sweetly,
“Always.”
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