The next morning, after finishing my training as usual, I sat in the garden.
Even if I were to build a new inn, it’s not like I had nothing to do, but just halting the inn’s operation gave me quite a bit of free time.
“It’s comforting to see you so relaxed.”
As I was zoning out in the garden, Chaejin approached me with a fresh face, as if she had just finished her morning training.
You’re really on it.
Well, even though I had reached a transcendent level, I couldn’t stop training. No, I actually had to train even more.
Dealing with vital energy is extremely dangerous.
Of course, someone like Chaejin wouldn’t make mistakes that would lead to a rampage, but refining it into something elegant wasn’t easy for her either.
“By the way, shouldn’t we visit Moonjeong?”
“Huh?”
Chaejin’s cheerful smile instantly turned serious. With wide eyes filled with disbelief and trembling slightly, she looked at me as if she might burst into tears.
“Are you… planning to abandon me?”
Huh? What are you talking about?
“No. No matter how much I learn from the Sword Saint, your martial arts are from Moonjeong. So I thought you should receive some guidance from Doje.”
Meanwhile, it was made known through the Murim Alliance that Chaejin had ascended to the transcendent rank, and Moonjeong had been sending her letters continuously.
They must be hoping that the now transcendent Chaejin will come back at least once.
“Uh… so that’s how it was. Hahaha…”
Finally reassured, Chaejin let out a big sigh. Then she quietly sat next to me and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“You’re not wrong. The Sword Saint is teaching me the basics of handling vital energy, but… to properly master the Moonlight Sword technique, it’s better to learn it from my father.”
Yet, it seemed like she had no intention of actually going.
I held Chaejin’s hand as she rubbed it on my thigh. With a gentle smile, she started playing with my fingers, looking at me with subtle glances.
“…If I really have to go, can I go with you?”
Together?
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“Really?!”
“Why are you so surprised?”
Since I couldn’t operate the inn anyway, a quick trip wouldn’t hurt.
“Uh? Uh-oh?! When are we going?! Now?! Huh?! Let’s go right now!”
“Not right away.”
We have to wait for the appointment letter.
“Innkeeper!”
At that moment, a servant approached from the garden.
“A person from the Murim Alliance has arrived.”
Person? I saw a woman walking in behind Jeomsoi.
Yajuhee, an architect affiliated with the Murim Alliance.
“Hello. I’ve come to offer assistance regarding the inn’s construction.”
I patted a wary Chaejin. I was actually planning to ask an architect for help, so this was perfect timing.
“Welcome. Come on in.”
As soon as we entered, Yajuhee pulled out a few blueprints. After looking them over, I let out a groan.
As always, the “if possible” mentality can lead people to ruin.
Especially in situations where there’s some leisure time.
“Ughhh…”
The inn she suggested was a four-story building with many guest rooms and even an annex, capable of accommodating lots of guests.
And just like before, the first floor also had a restaurant.
However, when it came to actually choosing that option, there were quite a few downsides.
Especially since I had been given choices like this. I picked up one of the blueprints she had brought.
“Can we use the veins to create a hot spring?”
“Yes. However, it’s going to cost quite a bit, and we need to use internal energy every month to stabilize the veins.”
After checking the blueprint Yajuhee handed me, I pondered for a moment.
Certainly, in Heavenly Bright Moon, there were exceptional masters who used the veins to erupt lava or cause earthquakes.
I had no idea it could be utilized this way.
“If we request it from the Changun clan, they’ll dispatch masters. If it’s them, they can check the veins and create a hot spring here. From what I see, the ground seems fine. But…”
There’s a well being used at the inn, and the underground water is plentiful, so they suggested flowing lava underneath to heat the underground water.
“It won’t cost for firewood when bathing, but it does mean high initial costs.”
“Yes. But if we utilize additional facilities, we could build a separate bathhouse. You know, once the hot spring is made, it’ll become a tourist attraction. We could draw even more guests to the inn.”
“Hmmm…”
It wasn’t a bad proposal.
As she said, having a hot spring would mean it could become a landmark.
The issue was that forcing the veins to produce the hot spring wouldn’t be easy to manage…
“What level of expertise is required for the skilled user of internal energy?”
“Well… It would be tough at an average level. There’s a hot spring managed by the Tohwan Clan that was built similarly, and I heard the sect leader had to infuse internal energy into the veins and ended up sick for days.”
“When do I have to make a decision by?”
“I’d appreciate it if you could decide within a month at the latest.”
“Okay, understood. What about other facilities?”
“I think we can expand the donation area a bit more and add another one. Also, expanding the annex side…”
It wasn’t a bad suggestion. If we’re going to build it, we might as well make it right.
As I looked over the added blueprints for the new inn, I nodded, realizing I’d likely need to use nearly all the available land around here to achieve my desired standards.
“Then please take care of it.”
“Yes.”
Though I said I’d think it over, my decision was practically made.
It’s true that if a hot spring was established, the inn’s business would definitely improve.
Of course, from the money I earned, the inn’s income wasn’t that significant.
Even so, I wanted to build the inn properly to easily gather information through the people who visited.
After all, crises are always lurking around the corner.
So it was best to ensure that lots of people came in.
“Is anyone there?!”
Just as I was thinking about what to add to the new inn and the new laborers to hire, a loud shout came from outside. I immediately stood up and went out.
I stood up from my seat and went out.
Already by the door was the Sword Saint who had come as my guard. While Yajuhee was chatting, it seems Chaejin had already gone up.
The Sword Saint smiled brightly upon noticing me, only to return to her usual expression and looked outside.
“Who is it?”
“Ah? Sword Saint!”
It was the officer from Seomhwa Village. I approached him as he bowed in greeting to the Sword Saint and asked in confusion,
“Did Hyeonryeong-nim call for you?”
“Ah, yes. It’s just that…”
He swallowed hard, his expression brimming with tension.
“Someone has come from the central office.”
“From the central office? Why?”
As the Sword Saint looked puzzled, I grabbed her shoulder.
“It seems it’s about time you stepped into an official position.”
I took a clean bath and changed my clothes, not into my usual black robe, but into the outfit that Hongryeon had made for me.
When I properly dressed and stepped outside, the Sword Saint flinched and took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ah, it’s nothing…”
She glanced at my face and her cheeks flushed. I stepped a little closer, and the Sword Saint took another hesitant step back.
“That… that outfit.”
“It was made by Hongryeon.”
The expression on the Sword Saint’s face was so peculiar it was hard to describe.
After a moment of moaning to herself, she let out a small sigh.
“It looks… good on you.”
“Thank you.”
“…My disciple, but truly skilled.”
“Isn’t it?”
“…I mean, I could do that much…”
“Could you?”
“I can’t… but ahh. This is why my dignity as a master…”
I began to understand why the Sword Saint was troubled.
I approached her, who looked dejected with slumped shoulders.
“Na Yerin.”
“…Yes.”
“No matter how much of a genius Hongryeon has become, the fact that you are her master does not change. You have greatly helped her reach that level, and you have been her guide, that is also a fact. So please, don’t be disappointed in that.”
“…You’re right, ahaha. Indeed, you are amazing. You always manage to reassure me!”
Her face sparkled, as if the earlier gloom was a lie. I gently patted the Sword Saint’s back.
“Alright. Then let’s go.”
“Mm!!”
We stepped outside together. A few villagers and martial artists spotted me heading towards the government office and bid their greetings, which I returned.
“It’s quite amazing how someone as great as Shinsan Seonja can interact with the villagers so casually.”
“There’s really nothing amazing about it.”
Among the people I know, there are plenty like that. Just look at Namhae Noong; he interacts like just another old man in the neighborhood.
“People tend to live up to the authority they gain.”
“Hahaha.”
It’s not incorrect to say that position shapes a person. If becoming arrogant when ascending to a high position is human nature, then that’s just how it is.
“But there are people who don’t act like that, right?”
I looked at the Sword Saint, and she stared up at me intently.
“Who?”
You.
Despite being the head of Hongseong Clan and one of the strongest in the realm, she gets along casually with her disciples, running errands for them, and looking sulky when they pick on her. It’s as if she has no authority at all.
Maybe that’s the true nature of the Sword Saint.
I thought that perhaps the Sword Saint was even more spoiled when not acting as the head.
“You don’t need to know.”
“Ugh. Are you going to hide it again?”
Tap tap. The Sword Saint playfully punched my arm and puffed up her cheeks, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
As we chatted and reached the government office, a lavish carriage and a considerable number of soldiers awaited us in front of the building.
Receiving their greetings, we went inside, where a well-dressed old official was waiting.
“People of the Emperor! Yu Wol will uphold the Emperor’s decree!!”
I knelt on one knee in front of the old official. He looked at me sternly before unfolding a scroll inscribed with the imperial edict.
“Up to now, the citizen Yu Wol has done much for the empire and the world, and his remarkable knowledge…”
Good vocal cords he has.
Without a change in expression, he read the decree, droning on for a while before rolling up the scroll again.
“Citizen Yu Wol will uphold the imperial decree!!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty’s grace.”
I received the scroll with both hands. I had seen this in Heavenly Bright Moon.
Sometimes, one received positions while experiencing events at the imperial palace.
Of course, since one had to operate within the martial world, it was almost a nominal position without real constraints.
But depending on whether one had it or not, one’s treatment could vary greatly.
Now, it was in my hands.
“This means you must live by the Emperor’s sword!!”
And then, I received a given fine sword.
It was proof that I had become a government official belonging to the military.
“Citizen Yu Wol must not forget that you shall protect the realm and guard the imperial family while carrying out righteousness!!”
“I shall uphold Your Majesty’s command.”
I bowed my head, and he smiled satisfactorily.
The old official, having finished his business, left. He told me to rest a bit, but he had many things to do.
Government officials are usually quite busy.
“Wow. Citizens’ spokesperson, huh? That’s quite a high position.”
It is true. Although it was nominal, being a spokesperson was practically on par with the lord of a province in terms of rank.
“I’m unmarried, wealthy, and now with a high position…”
The Hyeonryeong chuckled.
“Matchmakers will wear out their welcome here. I bet not just the martial families, but also the famous clans and enormous trading companies will send their matchmakers over.”
“Hahaha. Don’t be ridiculous!”
Of course, it seemed likely, and many had already started coming in.
Naturally, I had dismissed them all.
That’s why I laughed, and the Hyeonryeong laughed too.
But the Sword Saint did not smile.
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