“How did you recognize me?”
“Even if you’ve worn a mask while doing this, it’s still a problem not to recognize the ruler of Cheonhwa Palace. If you go to any bigger inn, they’ll all know you.”
There are many who fail to recognize a person and end up in big trouble.
To prepare for that, the owners of larger inns and taverns kept the faces of important Murim figures well-remembered.
It wasn’t particularly strange. Even with a mask, your face isn’t completely hidden.
“I see… But this isn’t a big inn, is it?”
“It’s planned to grow, so I’ve prepared for it. Better safe than sorry, right?”
She chuckled softly.
“Definitely not an ordinary innkeeper.”
I admit it.
An average village innkeeper wouldn’t have rumors circulating about them in the Murim Alliance and the righteous factions.
And I wasn’t deliberately stopping those rumors from spreading.
After all, I was aiming for that to align with the next scenario.
I suddenly noticed Hongryeon and Chaejin by my side.
They must have recognized her the moment she walked in. Given how they’d been staring since earlier.
Receiving their gazes, she smiled wryly.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes. It has been a while.”
“It really has.”
Cheonhwa Palace’s ruler, Cheonryu-Young.
Though she couldn’t freely wield strong energy like a Sword Saint or Doje, she was a formidable warrior right at the edge of the superhuman realm.
Though somewhat clumsy, her ability to extract strong energy made her scan the surroundings.
I noticed a few Murim figures sitting for consultations who looked tense.
Murim figures, especially bounty hunters or those hunting evil monsters, often have many vendettas.
For the ruler of Cheonhwa Palace to step out like this could mean she was here on a commission.
“Looks like we have some guilty parties around here?”
With her calm words, one Murim figure who had been quietly trying to sneak out froze. Cheonryu-Young smiled at him.
“Yang-gwe, I heard you took something while chasing a lead from your brother’s commission, but then you ran off?”
The man known as Yang-gwe ground his teeth. Unable to draw a weapon or flee, he stood there awkwardly while she spoke calmly.
“Your brother’s place said they’d forgive you if you return the swords you took. So… how about leaving it behind?”
“…This inn is protected by Hongseong. You wouldn’t want to fight here, would you?”
She smiled brightly and stood up.
“You aren’t planning on living here forever, are you? You wouldn’t want to lose your head the moment you step outside the inn, would you?”
“Ugh.”
Yang-gwe let out a groan, sighed deeply, and took out a dagger from his possession. He placed it on the table, and as he left, Cheonryu-Young picked it up.
“What is that?”
“The sword is known as the ‘Chowang Sword,’ once used by a thief called Muyeongmatu. It doesn’t have much effect on its own, but it can help track down the traces of Muyeongmatu.”
“Oh… Muyeongmatu, you mean that…”
“Exactly. The thief who infiltrated Shaolin to steal the Great Hwan Dan.”
A notorious thief who boldly plagued Shaolin, Muyeongmatu successfully thieved from numerous places, but eventually dared to touch the sacred grounds of Shaolin.
The thief who stole the Great Hwan Dan, a treasure of Shaolin, became a target for the righteous Murim and was ultimately captured by the Heavenly Net led by Shaolin, where he was executed.
The guy who stole the treasure, the Great Hwandan, became a public enemy of the orthodox martial world and was eventually caught by the Heavenly Alliance led by Shaolin Temple and executed.
But he never revealed where he hid the stolen items.
In the end, the whereabouts of the Great Hwandan and a few other treasures became a mystery, but there were rumors that people could find out where he hid the loot using the items he once used.
“Wow… the Great Hwandan.”
Honestly, I also kind of wanted the Great Hwandan, but the process to get it was way too complicated, and there were too many factions to become enemies with. Plus, there was a lot to do, so I wasn’t touching it for now.
Our scenario was also against looking for it.
“Do you want it?”
“Well… the Great Hwandan is basically a potion to enhance one’s inner power, right? So, I’m not that desperate for it.”
“Haha. It’s a bit hard to just classify the Great Hwandan as a potion. Just think about the materials used to make one. It includes a rosary imbued with the unparalleled inner power released by deeply virtuous high monks when they attain enlightenment. That’s why Shaolin doesn’t think of the Great Hwandan as just a potion—it’s their history and proof of their faith.”
“Wow. So it’s really rare then.”
“As expected, you know a lot.”
“Isn’t that in the tale from the Shaolin Secret? Haha. Anyone interested in that kind of stuff knows it.”
Cheonryu-Young, back from getting the Chowan sword, sat down with her trademark relaxed expression and asked, “So, do you happen to know where the hidden treasure of the Muyoungma Sect is?”
“If I knew that, I would have been looking for it already.”
I actually did know, but there was no point in saying it since it wouldn’t do me any good. I shook my head, and she narrowed her eyes before shrugging her shoulders.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. For an innkeeper, you have quite a bit of knowledge. And you’ve been a great help to Hongseong Clan. It seems you have quite the connections. So, I assume you know what I mentioned earlier implies.”
“I’m aware of the situation with Cheonhwa Palace. I heard one of the disciples betrayed the palace and joined the Demonic Sect, right?”
Even though it was well-known, Cheonryu-Young’s face turned red with shame. After all, even if she wasn’t involved, as the leader of the sect, it would be embarrassing for her to have a disciple betray the sect.
Especially with the great masters Hongryeon of Hongseong Clan and Chaejin of Moonjeong right in front of her.
Ahem. Well, we can talk about that later. Anyway, can you find it? Of course, I’m not asking for it for free; I’m willing to pay for it.
“It would be faster to request from the Gaebang or Hao-mun if you’re looking for someone.”
“I’ve made a few requests to Gaebang.”
“But you haven’t requested Hao-mun, right?”
Requesting from Hao-mun would certainly be something the orthodox sect wouldn’t be keen on doing. My words seemed to hit the mark, and she sighed.
“I can have them take the request instead.”
In the end, it would be a blindfolded search, but Cheonryu-Young hesitated before shaking her head.
She didn’t want to rely on Hao-mun after all.
“How about we do it this way?”
She pulled out a small pouch from her clothes. Inside, there were jewels—precious ones, at least ten of them, each worth over twenty gold pieces.
Placing them on the table, she spoke calmly.
“The fact that this inn is under the protection of Hongseong means you have a special relationship with them, don’t you?”
“Oops.”
Hongryeon blushed. Embarrassed, she fidgeted while Chaejin frowned deeply.
“She has a special relationship with Moonjeong too, you know?”
“Uh, right. Anyway, if Hongseong wins at the tournament this time, I’ll give you these along with a few other things you want.”
“And if Hongseong loses?”
“I’d like you to take this and help us.”
“The information I receive generally goes through Hao-mun, so it shouldn’t be much different from just making a request…”
“Of course, it’s not just about that information.”
She said it seriously.
“I’ve heard that many places respect your knowledge and judgment, calling you ‘Yu Seonsaeng.’ So, I would like you to stay at Cheonhwa-gung until she’s captured. Of course, we will cover the costs.”
So, she’s asking me to work at Cheonhwa-gung until Hongseong catches the disciple who plunged into the Demonic Cult?
Not a bad deal.
“Let’s do it.”
“Yuwol!”
“I don’t think Hongseong will lose at all. And can I choose what I receive from Cheonhwa-gung?”
“Well, as long as it’s not something like the treasures of Cheonhwa-gung. What do you have in mind?”
“Ten Cheonhwa Divine Pills, and if there’s a sealing charm, please give me that as well.”
The Cheonhwa Divine Pill is a precious elixir that can only be obtained through completing all related events at Cheonhwa-gung.
Yesterday, I talked with the Sword Saint and learned about the current status of Hongseong’s disciples—some gained enlightenment and stepped up a level.
So now, it’s time to train and increase our internal energy.
Though Hyunhwi and Yoohee brought back elixirs from the Ami faction, it’s probably not enough.
So, the Cheonhwa Divine Pill from Cheonhwa-gung will surely help Hongseong.
“You have a lot of confidence.”
“Isn’t it necessary to have this much?”
A brief silence ensued. In the midst of it, Cheonryu-Young was the one who finally nodded.
“Let’s do that.”
It seemed there was nothing more to discuss. She donned her face covering, glanced at Hongryeon, and with a relaxed smile said to me,
“We’ll meet at Cheonhwa-gung next time.”
“Yes. I won’t be so shameless as to ask for the Cheonhwa Divine Pill outright. Let’s go get it together with Hongseong later.”
She burst into laughter and left.
As the storm that swept through the inn exited, everyone let out a sigh of relief, and Hongryeon gripped my arm seriously.
“Is that really okay?”
“What’s wrong with it? Surely you’re not afraid…”
“Of course not!”
Hongryeon’s eyes sparkled. Patting her shoulder, I smiled and said,
“It’s a great opportunity. If we get the elixir this time, Hongseong will become even stronger.”
“Are you not planning to use it for yourself?”
“What’s the point of having that? Oh, and Chaejin, if I get it, I’ll give it to you too. So, I was hoping you could help me train a bit in Hongseong.”
“Well… alright. But if Hongseong loses…”
“Not gonna happen.”
“I said ‘if’. Anyway, if we lose… I’ll still go with you, right?”
Moonjeong isn’t involved in this wager, plus she’s my bodyguard. They probably won’t raise any fuss in Cheonhwa Palace either.
The consultation wrapped up and it was time to actually close the inn. I turned to Hongryeon, who had followed me, and smiled.
“Nervous?”
“To say I’m not would be a lie, huh?”
She really doesn’t need to feel that way.
Even if Hongseong does lose, we just help out with the event and come back, no big deal.
Of course, I’ll be asking for help from Hongseong, too.
I originally planned to have a few participants from Hongseong, including Sayoon, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
In other words, it’s a win-win situation, whether we win or lose.
But it seemed Hongryeon didn’t think that way.
Tsk. Can’t be helped.
I stepped closer and gave her a light hug.
Hongryeon, who appeared a bit startled, paused for a moment before gently leaning against me.
Sweet, and a fragrance that tickles the nose.
“You really don’t need to feel pressured.”
“It is pressure. You’re going off somewhere else…”
“I’m not going away for good, after all.”
“Still…”
Squeezing closer, Hongryeon nestled her face against my shoulder and let out a big sigh.
“And about that elixir, you’re going to give it to us.”
“Come on now, aren’t we in the same boat as Hongseong? If they do well, I do well, so you don’t have to feel that way.”
After patting her back, I released her, and she slowly stepped back, looking a bit disappointed.
“…I absolutely will not lose.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Once Hongryeon went inside, Chaejin entered the office a moment later.
“What’s going on?”
“Just a quick question. Mind standing up for a sec?”
I got up, and Chaejin hesitated before stepping closer to me.
Her gaze looked up at me, filled with excitement.
So, I gently hugged her, and only then did she smile back at me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist.
With a different nice fragrance tickling my nose, she stood on her tiptoes and whispered confidently in my ear.
“Even if Hongseong loses, don’t worry. I’ll be by your side.”
That’s pretty reassuring.
Still, the best outcome is for Hongseong to win…
“I hope you really help out a lot.”
“Don’t worry.”
A smile appeared on Chaejin’s face.
“When the Sword Saint is here, I’ll go to Hongseong to duel for you. I’ll be gone for a bit, but… that’s alright, right?”
Of course, that’s fine.
If Chaejin trains, she’ll get even stronger!
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