I was feeling pretty good about myself as I handed a piece of paper to Namgoong Cheon. He seemed quite satisfied with the inn, accepting the paper while tilting his head in confusion.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a survey for those who used our hot springs.”
Essentially, it was a satisfaction survey. If I wanted to elevate the inn from just a stopover to a famous attraction in Seonhwa City, I’d need to make adjustments, fix any issues, and possibly undertake additional construction.
And if Namgoong Cheon liked it, advertising was a must. I wasn’t on bad terms with the postmaster either, so I planned to send promotional letters through him later. I wanted people from all over the empire to come to my inn, gathering more information along the way.
While I was lost in thought, Namgoong Cheon filled out the survey quite seriously.
“Yohwan, please prepare something for him.”
“Got it.”
If someone took the time to fill out a survey, drinks were definitely in order. While Yohwan went inside to get some drinks, Namgoong Cheon handed over the completed survey.
Name, age, affiliation, and any inconveniences experienced while using the hot spring, along with additional suggestions.
As I read through the densely packed paper, one last section caught my eye: other requests.
“I wish the hot spring was a bit hotter? Isn’t there a hot bath available…?”
I had been to my fair share of saunas and hot springs. The hot spring at my inn was based on the facilities I had visited before coming to this world.
So, essentially, such facilities didn’t even exist in Heavenly Bright Moon. The Murim Alliance and the workers from the government had put in quite a bit of effort to design and implement this.
Naturally, there were multiple baths, plus several steam rooms and saunas. As I recalled the hottest bath, I asked him about it, and he nodded.
“Ah. It’s warm enough, but you’ll understand when you reach my age. That refreshing sensation…”
Namgoong Cheon said leisurely, and the Sword Saint, who had been listening intently, chuckled.
“What are you laughing at, kid?”
Namgoong Cheon shot a glare at the Sword Saint, who, despite being the Supreme Master of the Namgoong Clan, merely shrugged it off with a snort.
“Anyway, I’d like it to be a bit hotter.”
“Hmm… Understood. Thank you for your feedback.”
“Are you going to do something about it?”
“For now, I think I should gather more samples.”
This might just be a preference of older folks, so it would be wise to prepare for that aspect separately. Especially for someone with extraordinary martial arts skills…
“Overall, I really liked it. I’d love to come back often.”
“Haha. It’s quite the distance from the Namgoong Clan…”
“Ugh, that’s a shame. So, could we create something like this in Habby?”
“Well, you might want to inquire with the Murim Alliance about that. They say it’s possible only if you can balance the ley lines, geomantic currents, and spiritual veins… Though creating something on such a large scale might be tough, it should be possible to make one that allows you to relax comfortably.”
“Making it to the point where the elder can rest should be possible.”
“I should check into that. By the way, it’s quite impressive. I never imagined you could create something of this scale.”
He seemed to have a lot of curiosity. He even ordered some drinks to ask various questions, and I answered him with a smile.
The Sword Saint sitting next to me had a sulky expression. It seemed she didn’t like being left out of the conversation. So, I gently took her hand under the table, and only then did her expression soften.
Namgoong Cheon looked around the inn and smiled as he nodded.
“I just wanted to chat for a bit, but I think I’d like to stay here for a while. I want to book the best room…”
“Sponsorship is a bit difficult. We need to tidy up.”
“Is that so? Then how about the next room…”
“It’s on the 4th floor of the inn. That room is the biggest, so you can stay there.”
“Great. Let’s book that.”
Namgoong Cheon pulled a voucher from his pocket and handed it over.
I wrote Namgoong Cheon’s name in the lodging book and passed it to Jeomsoi. As they went to prepare the sleeping arrangements, Namgoong Cheon took a sip of his drink and laughed happily.
“Wow. The kid has really found a good person. I never thought Seomhwa Village would develop this much back in the day.”
The Sword Saint’s expression darkened, and her grip tightened on my hand.
“She has always been watching over the Namgoong Clan. And Hongseong hoped to become like the Namgoong Clan.”
The Namgoong Clan not only had its own power but also worked hard to develop the allied territory of Habby.
Therefore, the development of Habby was also the development of the Namgoong Clan, and the honor of the Namgoong Clan was likewise the honor of Habby.
A true community of fate.
That’s why the Namgoong Clan boldly stepped in when Habby was in danger, and Habby spared no effort in supporting the Namgoong Clan.
In other words, that’s what the Sword Saint’s master must have wished for.
“Hongseong always had a small group. So, I guess they were envious of us. Right, kid?”
At Namgoong Cheon’s question, the Sword Saint shrugged her shoulders but didn’t deny it.
“But now that the Shinsan Seonja has appeared here, Hongseong has managed to benefit without lifting a finger. They gained something just by doing nothing.”
“That’s not true.”
“Huh?”
“Hongseong didn’t do nothing. I have benefited a lot from Hongseong as well.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Namgoong Cheon nodded his head.
“What kind?”
I slowly raised the hand I had been holding. Namgoong Cheon’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open.
“…Really? No… why?”
Here we go again. I looked at the Sword Saint, and she avoided my gaze.
“In any case, that’s how it is. I have received a lot of help from the Sword Saint and Hongseong, so I would appreciate it if you could refrain from such remarks in the future.”
“Please refrain from speaking carelessly.”
“Ahem. Well, if that’s the case.”
Still, it’s a relief that Namgoong Cheon isn’t a completely stuffy person. Some old folks think their opinions are the absolute truth and reality.
“Sorry for speaking so freely.”
“That’s fine.”
“Really? Then it’s settled.”
The Sword Saint raised an eyebrow but merely sighed a small sigh and kept quiet.
“By the way, you didn’t come all the way here just to use the hot springs, did you? You came to see me, right?”
“Well, that’s true.”
Namgoong Cheon took a sip of his drink and glanced at the Sword Saint.
“Looking at that kid makes it even more certain. You, do you have the Simma?”
He’s probably thinking that the Sword Saint has somewhat overcome the Simma through the Simma, as expected, sharp intuition.
“Yes.”
“Can I have that? I’ll pay you handsomely for it.”
I looked at Namgoong Cheon, and he smiled bitterly.
“Everyone knows that using that to defeat the Simma is a well-known fact.”
Honestly, I didn’t mind selling the Simma. I also knew where to get more Simmas.
However, what’s weighing on my mind is that this is an event that happens when you visit the Namgoong Clan.
When you have the Simma and go to the Namgoong Clan, Namgoong Cheon asks for the Simma.
If you give it to him, the current head of the Namgoong Clan, Namgoong Chuseong, will attempt an event to overcome the Simma and break through the barrier, but he will definitely fail.
The current head of the Namgoong Clan, Namgoong Chuseong, needs to use a different method to surpass the current barrier.
“Once someone fails, there are those who give up on trying anymore out of despair. And…”
I fell silent and looked at him. Is it okay to say this?
“It seems you want to say something. Go ahead and be completely honest; don’t beat around the bush. I won’t get angry.”
“It’s probably not something you’ll want to hear. Just take the Simma I have, okay?”
“I heard that you played a big role in the Moonlight Blade and the Falling Sun Sword becoming transcendent beings…”
“Yeah. Well, I won’t deny that.”
“If it’s alright, can you give me some advice on this side as well?”
I can do that.
After all, in Heavenly Bright Moon, passing this event will lead Namgoong Chuseong to a transcendent level.
The Namgoong Clan is located in the east of the Empire, while Hongseong and Moonjeong are located in the central part of the Empire.
So, there’s no need to worry about overlapping territories.
Plus, Namgoong Chuseong is a good person who enjoys helping others and has a strong sense of justice, so there shouldn’t be any territorial disputes, and he would move for the sake of the righteous path…
I looked at the Sword Saint, and she nodded after thinking for a moment. If she’s okay with it, then it’s all good.
“You must be planning to use it for your son, Namgoong Chuseong, right? As far as I know, the current head of the Namgoong Clan is facing a barrier. And he has been stuck in front of that Simma for a long time without overcoming it.”
Nevertheless, it must not be a pleasant feeling for him to assess his son, but Namgoong Cheon didn’t change his expression at all.
Namgoong Cheon, despite not feeling great about the evaluation, didn’t show a single change in his expression.
But inside, it probably wasn’t so comfortable.
Right now, that would be his biggest concern.
“What do you think the clan leader’s Simma is?”
“Well… that guy’s Simma would be…”
“It must be the elder.”
Even if it wasn’t intentional, the fact that he was blocking his own son’s path was enough to make anyone furious.
Just the fact that he didn’t draw his sword was impressive.
Of course, if he had drawn it, Sword Saint Na Yerin beside me wouldn’t have stayed silent.
I calmly recalled the event from Heavenly Bright Moon before speaking.
“Do you wish for the clan leader to overcome his Simma? Then let me tell you how.”
“…Go on.”
“Step down from the Grand Clan Leader position. And withdraw from all affairs of the Namgoong Clan. It would be better if you went on a journey.”
The hand gripping the table tightened, leaving cracks on the surface, but neither I nor Namgoong Cheon paid it any mind.
“Clan Leader Namgoong Chuseong is indeed a leader, but he’s not fulfilling his role properly. No, that’s not all.”
I pointed at Namgoong Cheon.
“Everyone longs for the sun, but they know they’ll burn if they get too close. A great father can be a guiding light, but he can also become a wall that prevents moving forward.”
“…….”
“Right now, you are such a presence for the clan leader. Great and respectable. Subconsciously, he thinks he shouldn’t surpass you, that he can’t. With someone like you by his side, how could he ever think of surpassing you?”
The Simma of Namgoong Chuseong I saw in Heavenly Bright Moon was Namgoong Cheon.
Namgoong Cheon had been so great and had governed the Namgoong Clan splendidly, helping it to flourish.
Moreover, his martial prowess was outstanding enough to make him one of the top ten in the world.
In comparison to such a father, he thought he could never surpass those achievements.
Also, since Namgoong Cheon currently completely controlled the Namgoong Clan as the Grand Clan Leader.
Namgoong Chuseong believed he was not strong enough.
However, one could not fault Namgoong Cheon’s efforts until now.
Just like how Sword Saint Na Yerin hid herself as much as possible to lessen Hongryeon’s burden of becoming the clan head, Namgoong Cheon also tried to pave all the paths for Namgoong Chuseong.
He created a stable path, allowing him to ascend comfortably.
Both of them worked hard for the person who would follow in their footsteps.
I stared directly at him, who was fiddling with his cup, his expression complicated.
“I’m just making a suggestion. Even if you use the Simhon-kyung several times in your current state…”
After taking a sip of the drink in my cup, I continued.
“You won’t be able to overcome the wall.”
Namgoong Cheon slowly closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.
To him, I calmly continued speaking.
“As you already expected.”
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