“Is this good enough?”
As I went to find Mak Noya, I chuckled at the card he had quickly made.
“That’s quite impressive.”
“Hehe. By the way, to hear that Hongseong is going to provide protection in earnest is quite enviable.”
“For forty nyang a month, you can get protection for Mak Noya’s sword house. If that’s too much, I can cover the costs if the sword house comes under my care.”
“That’s really expensive.”
“Well, it’s carrying the name of Hongseong.”
“Ugh. That’s true.”
It’s a sect with a true master at the helm who can actually use powerful energy. For a sect like that to openly offer protection, forty nyang is a bargain!
Plus, I remembered what the Sword Saint said this morning.
Sword Saint, Hongryeon, Ryuhyun, Hyunhwi.
The four key forces of Hongseong would be rotating to guard the inn for the time being… It’s really hard to tell if that’s a smart move.
Shouldn’t they focus more on training since they’re going to spar with Cheonhwa Palace?
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“It’s nothing. Well, I’ll be off now.”
After roughly saying goodbye to Mak Noya and exiting the sword house, Chaeran was waiting with a smile.
“Did you finish everything?”
“Yep. But you really didn’t have to follow me…”
“I just came out because it was boring to stay in the room.”
Usually, Chaesin would come along when I go out, but she was concentrating on the advice the Sword Saint had given her during training. Not wanting to interrupt her focus, I came out alone, only for Chaeran to start following me.
“Hmm~.”
Chaeran hummed a tune and walked ahead a few steps before spinning around and walking backwards to ask,
“By the way… I heard your income has been good lately?”
“Oh. How did you know?”
I knew well that the income Chaeran referred to wasn’t just from running the inn.
She must be talking about the gold mine development. Since I wasn’t planning to hide it, I nodded, and she grinned.
“I invested in that too.”
I was surprised that Chaeran got involved in gold mine development.
“That’s dangerous.”
Mining isn’t something that comes easily.
I knew it was risky, but Chaeran’s investment was indeed a big risk.
As I voiced my concerns, Chaeran giggled.
“Then why did you do it, Innkeeper?”
“Well, I have no retort to that.”
“Actually, I’ve been interested in investments for a while now. Geologically speaking…”
Chaeran surprisingly had a lot of knowledge about these things. I watched her excitedly talking, and she tilted her head at my gaze.
“What’s with that look?”
“I think Chaeran is more suited for a strategist role than inheriting Moonjeong.”
“What? Are you siding with my sister?”
“Is it because of that?”
“Haha, not exactly just that…”
“Well, it’s true what the innkeeper says. Many people believe I’m more suited to lead Moonjeong, but honestly, I prefer researching things quietly in the back rather than stepping out front.”
Chaeran casually nodded in agreement.
“But I can’t change my goal so easily, and if I give up quickly, then my sister will get all smug.”
“Hmm. So you won’t simply concede, huh?”
“That’s right. If my sister isn’t up to my standards… then I should be the one leading Moonjeong.”
I stared intently at Chaeran, and she let out a giggle at my gaze.
“If someone like the innkeeper helps my sister out well, then I won’t have to worry.”
I shrugged at her fox-like smile.
Before I knew it, we arrived at the inn. As she went inside, the Sword Saint, who had been sitting cross-legged in the backyard, came out with his usual sleepy expression upon seeing me.
“You’re back?”
“Yes.”
“Um…”
As he looked at the token I brought, the Sword Saint pulled out a dagger from his sleeve. He took the token from me and swiftly waved his hand a few times.
Just like that, the letters began to be etched onto the token.
Is it because the dagger contains powerful energy? Even though the letters were being engraved onto the iron plate, there was no sound at all.
It was as if he were slicing through tofu, and once he had engraved all the characters, the Sword Saint nodded in satisfaction.
“…Isn’t this a bit intense?”
“You have to do this much.”
The inscription on the token.
– No warnings after three times.
That single line was chilling.
“Actually, three times was already quite lenient. But since this is a righteous faction and for your face’s sake, I’ve done this much.”
With a mischievous expression, the Sword Saint tapped the token.
“Alright. Post it up. This inn is now under the protection of Hongseong.”
That certainly feels reassuring.
As evening approached and I headed to the backyard around the time the inn’s door was closing, the Sword Saint, who chose to remain in the backyard not wanting to disturb business, greeted me with a bright smile.
“Watching people from here isn’t so bad.”
“Well, that could be seen as a kind of enjoyment.”
“Hehe. Now that Hongseong is protecting this inn, don’t you think the martial artists are being a bit more cautious?”
“That’s certainly the case.”
Given that the token with inscriptions etched by the Sword Saint was a solid warning, there were indeed some martial artists drinking nervously.
Moreover, among those who arrived after dinner, it seemed there were some with hidden agendas, as they glared at each other and then left upon seeing the Hongseong token.
“I’m not regretting the cost at all.”
“It’s definitely worth the cost.”
“Hehe. It’s a bit disappointing. If there had been someone who fought even after my warning, I could have shown you my power.”
“I already know the power of the Sword Saint. And it’s not like the Sword Saint will jump into a fight happening here. Besides, there’s also Chaejin.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s true.”
The Sword Saint nodded slightly and looked up at the sky. As she watched the dark night sky with the moon rising, she gently grabbed the hem of my clothes.
“…If you want, I could come to see you every day.”
“Haha. What about your disciples’ training?”
“Ugh.”
The Sword Saint looked flustered, as if caught off guard, and averted her gaze. So, I lightly held her hand that was gripping my clothing.
“Just the fact that the Sword Saint has permitted this is enough to make me happy.”
“…Is that so?”
A smile appeared on the Sword Saint’s lips. She was beaming, but her face turned slightly red as she lowered her head.
“Ahem. …Then where should I stay?”
I had prepared a room for her, as I mentioned that we would take turns sleeping there. I guided her to the room, which was on the third floor, near my office.
“Here?”
“Yes. Ah, well, if you don’t like it…”
“I don’t dislike it!”
She quickly replied and fidgeted with the door to my office, then spoke in a small voice.
“If something happens, I can come over right away…”
“Thank you.”
“And, um… Can I come find you if I can’t sleep? I’ll stay quiet so I won’t disturb you while you work…”
“Of course.”
The Sword Saint smiled brightly, seemingly happy. She was about to step into the room but peeked her head out.
“If I’m bored, feel free to call me anytime…”
“Understood.”
The door soon closed. I watched that and went down.
Yohwan, Chaejin, and Chaeran seemed to have something to discuss as they were sipping drinks inside the now-closed inn.
“When will you be coming in?”
“Ah. Let’s stay a bit longer. We’re in the middle of a pretty serious conversation.”
“What serious conversation could that be?”
“It’s about the relationship between illegal activities and martial arts.”
On the table were a few forbidden texts and the martial arts book that Sayoon and Chaeran had brought last time.
Since Yohwan had also mastered Amifa’s martial arts, it seemed they could engage in a conversation.
“Just don’t stay too late. Close the door when you come in.”
“Don’t worry. But when are you planning to sleep?”
“I need to get a bit more work done.”
I said my goodbyes to them and went back up to my office. Now, let’s see, shall we get back to work?
She greeted them and headed up to her office. “Alright, let’s get back to work, shall we?”
*
Recently, quite a few letters had been arriving at Hongseong. Organizing them was no small task, and sending replies took time too.
That’s why Hongryeon usually collected the letters to send all at once if there was no rush, and today happened to be that day, so Sayoon finished sorting the letters meant for Mister and packed up the Buddha statue made by Amifa into a box.
“Are you planning to send that to Mister?”
Yoohee asked as she watched Sayoon organize the letters, her face bright with a smile and a slight nod.
At that moment, the door swung open, and Hongryeon shouted, “If anyone has letters to send, hand them over!”
“Ah! Yes!”
A few disciples came out to send letters to the main family. Sayoon hurriedly grabbed the box and the letters, and while Hongryeon was looking at the letter and the box Sayoon handed her, she asked with a serious expression.
“Uh, are you really sending that Buddha statue to ‘Mister’?”
“Yes. Um… why?”
She had heard that the statue was a treasure. However, since it was created specifically for Mister from the start, she didn’t feel it was a waste.
So Sayoon looked at Hongryeon, who crossed her arms and said with a serious expression, “I doubt the Post Office will accept that.”
Upon hearing Hongryeon’s words, Sayoon tilted her head in confusion. To her puzzlement, Hongryeon explained calmly, “Attacking the Post Office in Murim is as good as a taboo. However, there are times when the Post Office is attacked, and that’s when treasures are being transported through it.”
There are always people looking to make a quick fortune.
To prevent such risks, the Post Office often wouldn’t accept requests for transporting items with significant effects unless they were sealed with a sealing talisman ensuring no energy leaked out.
After listening to Hongryeon’s explanation, Sayoon was taken aback.
“Uh, um, then what do we do?”
“You can send it sealed with a talisman, but I don’t think Changju sells talismans…”
Then they would need to buy the sealing talisman from somewhere else. In most cases like this, they were relying on Yu Wol.
After thinking for a moment, Hongryeon ruffled Sayoon’s hair.
“Since I’m planning to go down tomorrow anyway, I’ll talk about it then. Don’t worry.”
“Okay… but will the sealing talisman be expensive?”
“It won’t be cheap.”
That’s why, when sending treasures or elixirs from the Murim Alliance, they didn’t use the Post Office but sent someone directly.
As she comforted Sayoon, whose expression had fallen, Hongryeon smiled brightly.
“But don’t worry. It shouldn’t be too expensive. Soon, we’ll sell incense and herbs, and money will come in.”
With that amount, buying a sealing talisman wouldn’t be difficult. Hongryeon reassured Sayoon with a smile.
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