As we returned to the inn, the various damaged spots were evident. It seemed it had taken a hit too, huh?
“Wow! What a mess. We sure saw all sorts of craziness, didn’t we?”
Just as I expected, Namgoong Cheon was the one to step up.
Sitting at the entrance of the inn, he was downing a drink straight from the bottle, casually chomping on skewers that Yohwan must’ve brought him.
“By the way, how did things go on your end?”
“Yes. You defended the inn, right? Thank you.”
“No worries. I wasn’t the only one fighting.”
Namgoong Cheon boasted about the martial artists who had been staying in the inn helping out. But judging by everyone else’s expressions, it was clear that thanks to him, they managed to overwhelm the demonic gang without too much trouble.
“So, while I was sweating it out in the steam room, a bunch of lunatics barged in with swords, feet dirty and all. Rude, right?”
“Ah.”
Looks like they jumped over the wall to break in. Well, considering they invaded a bathing area, they probably thought capturing the Thunderbolt Sword King wouldn’t be too hard without their weapons.
“Anyway, they were just a bunch of rookies. After taking them all out, I found others were fighting too, you know? Ha ha. We were almost in big trouble there. If it weren’t for the others, I wouldn’t have won.”
He shrugged, peeled a boiled egg given to him by Jeomsoi, and stood up.
“Well, you’re back too, and the rookies are around, so I guess that wraps things up?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I’m off to take a nap in the hot room.”
“Go ahead. Thank you.”
True to the spirit of a bathhouse ghost, he thought of hitting the hot room even in this situation.
A few other martial artists started entering the bath to wash off the sweat from the battle.
Not only for cleansing, but perhaps they figured this was a good opportunity to make connections with Namgoong Cheon. Finding common ground is the easiest way to bond after all.
Watching this, I shrugged.
“Hongryeon, Chaejin. You two should wash up too, right?”
Both Hongryeon, covered in blood, and Chaejin, equally splattered, were in dire need of cleansing.
The Sword Saint also carried the stench of dead bodies from fighting the Blood Demon.
“There’s a bath in the waiting room, so go wash there.”
“Alright, I’ll head there. Sayoon, stay close to Yu Wol.”
“Yes!”
In response to the Sword Saint’s directive, Sayoon brightly nodded. Since all Sayoon did was block the odd arrow or two that came my way, there wasn’t much for her to clean up. So as they went in, I entrusted the cleanup to the innkeeper and soldiers that had come from the government office, surveying the startled guests from the sudden assault.
“As the owner of this inn, I can’t avoid offering compensation for this incident. Three days of lodging will be free, and tonight’s special meal will be on the house.”
“Oooooh!!!”
Happiness spread at the thought of saving on lodging and getting Yohwan’s special dishes for free. Watching them, I asked Yohwan to handle the cleanup and went up to my office.
“But Mister…”
Just as I was about to check the documents for work, Sayoon asked. What could be troubling with her asking? I immediately set the papers down and looked up.
“Why did the Gi Won Yuga’s head attack? It’s not like they didn’t know that the defenses of Seonhwa Fortress were solid… There must be a reason for their reckless attack.”
“Haha. That’s right. You see things well.”
“Hehe…”
“Yu Jangmok probably had no choice.”
We need to examine the current situation of the Demon Cult.
The Demon Cult was struggling with five clans vying to become the overlords of the cult.
In such a situation, although Gi Won Yuga was ahead, they were also receiving considerable restraint.
On top of that, they had no traces of the Cheonma at all.
So they must have been anxious.
They were the closest to the leader of the Demon Cult but could never reach it.
Many factions were searching for traces of the Cheonma.
Amidst this, an opportunity arose to obtain half of the Cheonma Divine Art.
And that opportunity went unnoticed by other clans.
So, Yu Jangmok must have become impatient.
What if another clan gathered all the traces of the Cheonma?
What if another clan caught on to half of the Cheonma Divine Art and seized it?
They would lose the position of Demon Cult leader that they so desperately wanted, right in front of them.
“Remember this well. Being blind in one’s beliefs isn’t always bad, but when it happens, your perspective narrows. If you just run straight ahead, you’re bound to trip.”
That’s why we always looked around and thought beyond our first and second options.
When drawing in others as Sayoon members, if we only thought in simple logic, we would lose the argument.
“I see…”
As Sayoon pondered deeply, she smiled brightly, and I patted her head.
“You’ll definitely do well. So don’t worry and practice hard.”
“Yes!”
As if to digest my words, Sayoon crossed her legs. I watched her begin her silent meditation before returning to my work.
Just as I processed a few more matters, the door to the office opened.
Women who had just returned from their baths sat down with flushed faces. I looked at them and asked.
Their skin damp and slightly clinging with wet hair.
They were already attractive beauties, but in this fresh state, their allure was even more pronounced.
“You’re already beautiful enough as you are, so dry yourselves properly.”
Could Chaeran and Sayoon do what they couldn’t?
I knew that they had come out slightly damp to entice me. So, I smiled and spoke, and they shyly averted their eyes, fidgeting with their fingers in awkward expressions.
“Well. Anyway, we’ve had our fun.”
“We have, haven’t we?”
“Let’s get back to work.”
There’s still a lot to do today. Plus, if I’m also handling repairs at the inn, it’s going to be hectic.
News spread across the Murim that the forces of the Demon Cult which attacked Seonhwa Fortress had been completely defeated.
At the center of it all were three individuals.
Hongryeon, who led the warriors of the Murim Alliance and the martial artists outside the fortress to block thousands of Demon Cult members.
Chaejin, who defeated Yu Jangmok, the head of the Gi Won Yuga.
And Na Yerin, who overwhelmed six Blood Demon Gangshi, capable of capturing a superhuman when five gathered.
Stories of these three superhumans quickly spread, leading to increased visits of those in Seonhwa Fortress seeking to respect them and discuss martial arts, if only for a moment.
The tales of the three superhumans spread quickly, and thanks to that, the visits of those respecting them and wanting to discuss martial arts, even just once, increased in Seonhwa City.
Naturally, it was only expected that such visitors would frequently come to my inn, where they could also catch a glimpse of the Thunderbolt Sword King.
I chuckled as I checked the increased reservation schedule since the recent attack from the Demon Cult.
“Should I be happy about having more guests, or not?”
“Isn’t it a good thing?”
Chaejin turned her head away from the paperwork, looking bored, then suddenly leaned in with a bright smile and sat next to me.
“Let me see. Wow. There really are a lot. You’ll make a lot of money!”
“Well, it’s hard to say. With so many guests, most of whom are well-known families in the martial world, it won’t be easy to entertain them.”
Of course, I wasn’t planning any special treatment.
I checked the letters requesting reservations, organized the schedule, and stood up.
“I’m thinking of stepping outside for a moment. Would you like to come with me?”
“Of course!”
After glancing briefly at the work paperwork of Moonjeong that was in my hand, she hesitated for a moment but then put it down without a second thought.
It seemed she really didn’t want to deal with the papers she had brought in earlier.
Truly, she was a heavenly warrior.
I guess Chae-Ran would give me another lecture later.
“Hehe~.”
As I looked at the documents, Chaejin nudged me playfully. Being pushed by her, I noticed some martial artists dining at the inn starting to direct their gazes toward me and Chaejin—more specifically, toward Chaejin.
“By the way, I heard that you receive quite a few invitation letters and dueling challenges.”
“Aha ha. Yeah, that’s true.”
Compared to Hongryeon, who was too busy thinking of Hongseong to notice her surroundings, Chaejin had a lively and easygoing personality even before becoming a superhuman, so many people liked her.
Is that why?
There were quite a few who sought her out for guidance, or asked to learn directly from her, rather than Hongryeon.
Ever since the Demon Cult’s invasion, some female martial artists had even come to her in person, expressing their desire to become her disciple.
“Aren’t you sad about it?”
“About what?”
“Receiving disciples.”
“Not at all.”
Chaejin said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, then firmly grasped my hand.
“Because I only have one disciple left now.”
“Could it be me?”
“Who else would it be? Hehehe. My beloved disciple.”
With an almost melting smile, Chaejin rested her face on my shoulder. Like a playful puppy, she rubbed her face against me while still holding my hand tightly as she continued talking.
“And everything I can teach is already what can be taught at Moonjeong, right? If you want to learn properly, you should go there.”
“I heard that many people visit the Moonjeong branch. Yesterday, when Chae-Ran arrived, she was grumbling about it.”
“Haha. That’s their business.”
If Chae-Ran, who was currently hard at work at the Moonjeong branch, heard that, she’d probably grind her teeth in annoyance.
“Shinsan Seonja, and… Senior Chae.”
“Shinsan Seonja, and… Senior Chae.”
At that moment, a shabby woman wearing a tattered cloak walked into the inn.
“Oh? Yura? I heard you were at the battlefield against the Magic Cult!”
Yura, who was participating in the war against the Magic Cult as a warrior of the Murim Alliance, entered the inn. After greeting me and Chaejin with a rather serious expression, she said:
“I took a short leave.”
“Oh? Then why not go home…”
“…I wanted to greet my benefactor.”
Ah, right.
Yura’s demonic power is bound to Yu Jangmok, so it’s only natural that her powers would be released upon his death.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, hey! People are watching!”
The inn was crowded with people, but Yura knelt before Chaejin without hesitation.
Flustered, Chaejin quickly helped her up and headed toward the backyard.
“No, that wasn’t intentional…”
“But it’s true that you’ve helped me. While battling the Magic Cult, my demonic instincts almost took over, and I was about to lose my senses to pure hatred for the enemy. Suddenly, my senses returned. Then… later, I found out that you, Senior Chae, had taken down Yu Jangmok.”
With a stiff expression, she spoke seriously while bowing to Chaejin.
At that moment.
“Hey!! I have a lot of documents to check, so I told you to let Hongryeon take care of your brother’s protection… Oh?”
She’s not calling me “sister” anymore.
Looking exhausted, Chaeran entered the backyard and shouted at Chaejin, then glanced at Yura, who was bowing in front of her.
“Brother-in-law, what’s going on here?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
As Chaejin and Chaeran watched, Yura spoke seriously.
“May I become a warrior affiliated with Moonjeong?”
Chaejin was flustered, and Chaeran laughed.
“Of course, that’s fine!! By the way, Yura, I’ve heard you’ve done quite a bit of work in the Murim Alliance. You know how to handle paperwork, right?”
“Uh? Uh, yes…”
Chaeran glared at Chaejin.
“You should go switch places with Hongryeon quickly and come back.”
Seeing Chaeran getting all worked up, Chaejin quietly hid behind me, while Chaeran stomped her feet in agitation.
“I’ll take care of that matter, so don’t get too upset.”
“Ugh! It’s because you keep giving in to her demands that she acts like this…”
“Is Elder Saraitong here?!”
A rough shout interrupted Chaeran’s words. We turned to look, and there stood a military officer from Seomha Castle.
When I expressed my confusion, he spoke seriously.
“It seems we have received a message from the imperial palace.”
“What’s the matter?”
“It looks like they want to invite Elder Saraitong to the imperial palace.”
Hmm…
Here we go.
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