The new year had arrived, but nothing had really changed significantly.
Of course, in Heavenly Bright Moon, there were all sorts of events happening for the New Year and Seollal, but since this place was a bit remote from the capital, there wasn’t much to celebrate.
Still, it’s the new year, so I thought I should just do lunch service today and call it a day. The kids had a tough time yesterday anyway.
“Oh?! Really?!”
“Yeah. It’s the New Year, so you all can head in early.”
I handed out some silver to the staff at the store and inn. After all, it is the New Year, so a little gift money wouldn’t hurt.
The faces of those who received it lit up like the sun rising this morning.
“Thank you! Owner!”
“Alright, now get back to work properly.”
Sure enough, money is the best. Telling them about the bonus and early dismissal made everyone happy and bustling around.
“Hmm.”
At that moment, Yohwan came out of the kitchen.
“Is it really okay to give this much?”
“There’s a steady flow of income, so it’s fine.”
“Is that so? Then I guess we’re not doing dinner service tonight?”
“Yohwan, you worked late yesterday, so just do lunch and take a break.”
“Haha. Then how about having a simple drink after work later?”
“I’m in!”
Chaejin, who was sitting in her almost designated corner of the inn, shouted with a smile. Just as she was about to ask Yohwan what she wanted to eat, a customer entered through the inn’s entrance.
“We’re still preparing for business…”
I kept my mouth shut. The newcomers were not the usual faces seen in Seomhwa Village.
They were the nuns from the Amifa I had seen yesterday.
I glanced at Yohwan, and she was staring at Yujeong with her arms crossed and a grave expression.
“Long time no see.”
“Yeah. It’s been a while.”
“Um… should I excuse myself?”
I subtly signaled to Chaejin. Even if an event related to Yohwan arose, a knife fight wouldn’t happen, but one can never be too careful.
Chaejin nodded slightly and picked up her staff, heading to the backyard.
She pretended to train but was ready to intervene if something went south.
“I heard from Hongseongmun yesterday. It seems that Hyewhan has… passed away.”
Yohwan’s expression hardened.
I already knew that, but she probably didn’t.
I shifted my gaze between her and Yujeong, and suggested, “It seems like you need to have a serious talk. Why not do it inside?”
Yujeong’s gaze locked onto me. She tilted her head for a moment, then gasped.
“Oh. Yesterday…”
It seemed she finally remembered that I was with Hongryeon and the Sword Saint the day before.
She bitterly smiled and clasped her hands together before me.
“I am Yujeong from Amifa.”
“I am Yu Wol, the owner of this inn.”
“I see. Thank you, Yu patron. I should thank you too. If you hadn’t helped me yesterday, I would have made a huge faux pas.”
“If it weren’t for the benefactor’s help yesterday, I would have committed a major faux pas.”
“Well, what can you expect from drunk people?”
“It was nothing major.”
“Namu Amitabul. Anyway, just like yesterday, I guess I’m receiving help from the benefactor again today.”
I guided Yujeong and the monks inside.
“I’ll bring tea and snacks. Yohwan, don’t worry about lunch service.”
I closed the door and went out to prepare the tea. Just then, Chaejin approached me, looking worried.
“Surely, nothing’s wrong, right?”
“It should be fine. No matter how much of an Amitabha devotee they are, they won’t cause chaos out of nowhere.”
I said that simply and packed the tea and snacks.
When I knocked on the door of the guest room and entered, I saw Yujeong and Yohwan with serious expressions, keeping quiet.
“Then please feel free to discuss.”
I let them talk. It seemed to be a lengthy discussion as they didn’t come out until lunch service.
“Hello… what’s he doing?”
Today’s patrol was with Hongryeon and Yoohee. Hongryeon slightly leaned into the inn to greet before sitting near the guest room, curiously watching Chaejin, who was intently observing inside.
“The monks of Amitabha are meeting with Yohwan.”
“…Ah, so they went down early today because they had someone to meet. They came to see Yohwan.”
“That’s right. But what about yesterday…”
“Ah, the problem with the white jade prayer beads? That was resolved.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
“Yes, really a relief. Along with the records, we also agreed to obtain the Amitabha sacred item.”
Isn’t this something even better than I expected? The Amitabha sacred item is a rare elixir, even hard to find in Heavenly Bright Moon!
As I was startled, Hongryeon smiled brightly.
“The Master did well.”
She smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in that smile.
Is it that the Sword Saint hasn’t completely overcome her inner struggles?
“You know your own condition best. Have you asked the Sword Saint?”
“No, not yet…”
“If it’s really hard to talk about, I could hint at it.”
It seems it’s easier for an outsider to mention such issues rather than a disciple. However, Hongryeon simply shook her head.
“I think it’s better for me to talk about it.”
“Is that so? If you ever need support, just let me know.”
“Thank you for always trying to help. Ah, I must go on patrol now.”
As Yoohee called out while writing in her journal, Hongryeon stepped back.
“Come by for tea after the patrol ends.”
“Yes!”
With that, Hongryeon left. Watching her go, Chaejin opened her mouth with concern.
“The stronger they are, the stronger Simma becomes too. I’m worried things might go wrong.”
That’s true. If Simma can’t be overcome, in the worst case, it could lead to being dominated by Simma, turning into a bloodthirsty spirit.
If a Sword Saint gets dominated, it would really be chaos.
It’ll really be chaotic.
That said, I’m preparing in my own way…
“Isn’t this just asking for trouble?”
Chaejin revealed a skeptical stance. And then it happened.
“Yu Seonsaeng. Are you there?”
A familiar voice echoed inside the inn. A stoic martial artist, and an old man whose silly smile suited him well.
It was Wiyeol and Gi Noya, subordinates of Cheonilhwa.
“What? What brings you two here?”
“We’ve brought the items you requested last time, along with some new goods we’ve started handling at Cheonghwa Sangdan. Since they’re somewhat rare, we came here ourselves just in case.”
As Wiyeol spoke, Gi Noya sat down with a grin.
“May you receive a lot of blessings in the New Year.”
“You too, Noya.”
“Ha. I was planning to rest a bit while I’m here. Is that okay?”
“Of course. However, Yohwan is currently talking with a guest…”
“Guest? Who?”
“People from the Amifa.”
At the mention of Amifa, Gi Noya tilted his head, but didn’t ask further.
“Chae Sojeo. Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
I went outside with Chaejin. A large cart was stationed in front of the inn, and the servants were bustling around as they seemed eager to finish setting everything up so they could close for lunch and go home.
“Here’s the list of items.”
Receiving the paper Wiyeol handed over, I chuckled while reading through the list of rare items.
Among the items listed were Cheonjamsa and Cheolwigang.
From the second part onwards, you needed a good relationship with the guild to purchase them, and they were materials for making high-grade facilities and equipment.
They were also materials for creating the clan’s divine artifact, Hyunwoon Gap, and part of my effort to slightly reduce the Simma that Sword Saint had in her possession was supplied.
“Put those inside over there.”
“Yes!”
The materials for making Hyunwoon Gap were.
One chunk of Seongun-cheol, two special-grade protective charms, two pieces of Cheolwigang, one bundle of Cheonjamsa, the skull of a two-headed wolf, and the tail of a mountain leopard.
Among these, Seongun-cheol, the skull of the two-headed wolf, and the tail of the mountain leopard were in possession of Hongseongmun, so the remaining materials needed were two special-grade protective charms, two pieces of Cheolwigang, and one bundle of Cheonjamsa.
Special-grade protective charms could be made by a Talismancer if the materials were prepared.
So, the preparations for making Hyunwoon Gap could now be considered complete.
Now, I would have to hand these over to Hongseongmun at an appropriate time…
Should I just give them as a New Year’s gift?
Or would it be better to assign an appropriate task and give them in return?
Hmm… let’s think about this.
“Innkeeper!”
At that moment, a voice jolted me from my thoughts. It was Sayoon. I turned my head that way, and standing there was Sayoon along with…
“Hello.”
I could see the Sword Saint.
“Hello. And Sayoon, hi.”
“Hehe. Hello!”
I smiled at Sayoon, who nodded slightly in greeting, and glanced at the Sword Saint. Today, it was Hongryeon and Yoohee on patrol. But why was the Sword Saint here?
As I looked her way, she scanned the store with her characteristic blank expression before pulling out a piece of paper from her sleeve and handing it to me.
“This is a task from Ryuhyun.”
“Are you doing errands for the Sword Saint?”
“Well, everyone is busy. And…”
She ruffled Sayoon’s hair.
“I wanted to buy some treats for the disciples to celebrate the New Year.”
“Ah, in that case, you can just take some.”
I said this while watching the innkeepers move items towards the store. I planned to let everyone go home after lunch, so I was thinking of handing out the treats and mooncakes I had prepared.
I intended to give them away since I had plenty, but the Sword Saint shook her head.
“I can’t be a freeloader every time. And I want to treat them as I wish. I may be an incompetent master, but I should at least do this.”
“That’s not true!”
When Sayoon shouted, the Sword Saint smiled faintly. She then fished out some silver coins from her pocket and placed them in my hands.
“Can I go in and take a look?”
“Of course.”
What could I say to someone offering to pay? While she and Sayoon went inside to pick out various things, the organizing at the store was finished.
A little later, the Sword Saint emerged, having gathered all the treats and the items Ryuhyun had asked for, and fixated her gaze on me.
“What’s wrong?”
“The items available in the store have increased.”
“Yes. We stocked some new items sent from the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild. There are many good things.”
“…I see. Many good things indeed.”
She continued to look at me before breaking into a broad smile.
“Thank you, as always.”
“Huh? Oh, thank you, too.”
After leisurely expressing her gratitude, the Sword Saint turned away.
*
As she walked back with Sayoon, the Sword Saint pondered. Certainly, among the newly stocked items, something had caught her eye.
Glistening silken thread.
And the silver iron ore, Cheolwigang.
Precious materials for crafting Hyunwoong armor.
How did he manage to procure such rare materials?
The Sword Saint smiled bitterly.
Knowing how expensive those were, she couldn’t help but think that he would once again try to provide them for free or at a low price.
He always did that.
Thus, she murmured to herself as if making a declaration.
“This time, I will pay a proper price.”
Your kindness and goodwill always make my heart flutter.
But I don’t want to burden you.
I want to repay you as well.
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