A few days had passed since the martial arts match between Hongryeon and Chaejin.
As the physician said, their injuries healed after a day or two of good rest. It wasn’t a serious problem, after all.
But the real issue lay elsewhere.
As usual, I finished my work and headed to the backyard for training.
Typically, I trained alone in the morning, while Chaejin would coach me in the afternoon.
Even if Chaejin was beside me in the morning, she mostly just watched and offered a few words, but that had changed a bit over the past few days.
“Okay. Stretch your fist out like this.”
Chaejin naturally pulled at my arm from the side. She was gentler than usual, and there were a lot more places where her body was touching mine.
“Hmm…”
“This is an important part for you to advance to the next level of Taijiquan, so make sure to remember it well.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re friends.”
“But aren’t you holding on too tightly?”
“Can you feel the flow of your internal energy?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“When your hands and bodies connect, you can maintain the flow of your internal energy, allowing you to learn the next level more quickly. You want to get stronger, right?”
“Well, that is true.”
“Come on. What are you doing? Don’t just stand still.”
Casually, Chaejin moved my arm. At the same time, her other hand pulled at my shoulder. Just when I was about to give in and fall into her embrace, I braced myself and held back. Chaejin smiled, then strangely shifted her grip to pull me in even harder.
“Taijiquan suits you well, Chae. This technique is called Seomjeon Hwan-su, which utilizes the subtleties of transformation, so remember it well.”
“I understand. But could you let go of me?”
“Of course.”
As I lightly sprung back, I stepped back a few paces. While I nodded and mulled over the move, Chaejin extended her hand.
“Now. Give it a try.”
Is she trying to teach me not only Taijiquan but other martial arts as well? Thinking about it, it’s not a bad idea.
Unlike the prologue, this chapter’s scenario might turn Seomhwa Village into a battleground.
In other words, in the worst-case scenario, enemies could invade the village, and preparing a foundation to fight could be seen as a good thing; I might even owe her thanks.
“Pull a little harder.”
As I gripped Chaejin’s shoulder and exerted force, she responded in a pouty tone. Was it because I wasn’t performing properly?
I nodded and pulled at her shoulder, and just like I had earlier, Chaejin naturally fell into my arms.
“Is this how it’s done?”
“…Yes.”
Chaejin paused for a moment before replying softly. Good. Then here we go…
“…Chae Soje.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you supposed to bounce back?”
Why didn’t I bounce back after applying force?
This is supposed to be a lesson, so why is she putting in so much effort?
Especially since I’m just starting out, if she’s so serious…
“Ahaha. I meant for you to apply more force.”
“I see.”
I applied force again, and finally, Chaejin bounced back, stepping back a few paces just like I had earlier.
“Good job! Now, shall we practice the next technique?”
Was it because of the heat? Chaejin’s face was flushed.
But there shouldn’t be any problem.
After the usual morning training and some work, it was around lunchtime.
They should be arriving soon.
“hello~.”
A bright voice echoed as someone entered the inn. Impressive red hair that looked like it was on fire. A woman in a form-fitting cheongsam from the Murim Alliance walked in with a smile.
It was Hongryeon, who always came down after the lunchtime rush since the last martial arts competition when she had fully recovered.
“Are you here to learn from Yohwan again today?”
“Hehe. Yes.”
“That’s great. Here, take this with you later.”
I pointed at the sweets I had prepared following Yohwan’s cooking lessons that morning. I was thinking of expanding the types of sweets, and it seemed like Yohwan knew quite a bit about making snacks too. Plus, the ingredients were cheap, but the taste was much better.
After trying out a few samples, I was preparing to think about how to sell them after giving some to the Hongseong people.
“I can’t just keep taking these every time, you know?”
“What’s the big deal? And how’s the herbal medicine coming along?”
“Oh. The kids will be bringing it later. They’re packing it up right now.”
“Then I should head to the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild after the drying and packing are done.”
“When do you think that will be?”
“It should take at least a week, I think. Why do you ask?”
“Then should we go together?”
“Are you not busy?”
“This is related to our Hongseong, right? So I can’t skip out on this.”
That’s not wrong.
After all, that herbal medicine was produced by Hongseong. Plus, since we planned to send it to the central region through the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild… it might be better for Hongryeon to go along for the guarantee.
I don’t think Cheonilhwa would suspect me, but still, I should confirm it.
“What? Are you planning to go without me?”
At that moment, a woman came down from above. It was Chaejin. With a bright smile, she walked down and looked at Hongryeon and me in turns, smiling even wider.
And she said briefly,
“I have to go too. It’s an important time for training now, so are you planning to skip out?”
“Can’t you practice alone?”
“Do you think that would work? Plus, Yoonnal is training these days too, right?”
That’s a good point.
I looked at Hongryeon, and after thinking for a moment, she smiled brightly.
“Then we can all go together.”
“I trust you’re not thinking of fighting,” I said skeptically, and both Chaejin and Hongryeon replied at the same time.
“We’re not thinking of fighting.”
“We decided not to have a martial arts competition anymore.”
*
Right. We decided not to have a martial arts competition.
But that’s a different story, isn’t it?
As Yu Wol went up to take care of some business, Hongryeon and Chaejin headed towards the backyard as if they had made a pact. They let their smiles fade under the big tree.
And silently stared at each other.
“What could this be about?”
The first to speak was Chaejin.
It was Chaejin.
Despite her monotonous voice, Hongryeon remained relaxed.
“Did I come to a place I shouldn’t? Seomhwa Village is under the Hongseong Clan’s territory, and there’s the Innkeeper Yu… heh.”
“…Well, if you have something to say, go ahead?”
“We’re close, aren’t we?”
“…I know that ‘close’ only means business-wise.”
“…Tsk.”
A sharp girl.
Hongryeon clicked her tongue briefly and, in a tone as emotionless as Chaejin’s, slowly spoke.
“But I heard your classes have increased recently?”
“Ah, yes. The Innkeeper has realized the need to protect herself. It’s not that Chae is bad at Tai Chi or Ogumhee, but she should at least learn Geumnasu.”
“Geumnasu. That’s good. But what’s with the subtle body contact? Last time, it was just…”
“Isn’t it natural to make contact while teaching?”
“That’s a lie.”
Hongryeon snorted. Of course, Chaejin wasn’t wrong. When practicing martial arts and correcting stances, it’s normal for bodies to touch.
But considering the difference in skill levels, Chaejin’s actions were indeed strange.
“Couldn’t you teach without doing that?”
True.
Currently, the skill gap between Yu Wol and Chaejin was as vast as the sky and the earth. At that level, she could lead just by guiding energy and narrating formulas.
Especially since he was currently learning Geumnasu in the form of Seomjeon Hwan Soo, which isn’t too difficult, right?
And yet, to teach with direct contact?
“That’s just my choice.”
Chaejin’s face turned slightly red at Hongryeon’s remark.
What a perceptive girl.
How can she be so spot on?
Other thoughts? Naturally, there were.
But that, too, was indeed a reflection of her feelings.
“And what about you?”
Snorting, Chaejin coldly replied.
It reminded her of yesterday when Hongryeon cooked a meal learned from Yohwan and fed it to Yu Wol.
And she served it herself.
To his mouth!
Something she couldn’t even do!
“…Well, I only had one chopstick at that time?”
“There are chopsticks all over the inn!”
“So what?”
Crackle.
Every time their gazes met, it felt like sparks would fly.
In fact, it’s quite rare for martial artists to fight with words instead of fists.
Martial artists usually speak with their weapons.
But pulling out a weapon?
Absolutely not.
Both recalled what Yu Wol had said last time.
If they got hurt fighting each other, it would hurt him.
Both were important to him, and they’d said they wanted to avoid major injuries.
For both of them, pulling out a weapon in this fight would be akin to betraying their own feelings and the relationship they had with him.
“…..”
“….”
The two glared at each other.
“Should I just make the first move and confess here?”
“That might let me get closer to him, right?”
But they quickly shook their heads.
No matter how they thought about it, it was a clumsy method.
He was someone who could clearly distinguish between enemies and allies, treating allies as warmly as he could.
But was that warmth toward a lover or someone he liked? They couldn’t help but tilt their heads in confusion.
Moreover, he was someone who wouldn’t look at anything else to achieve his goals. Chaejin had heard that Hano didn’t even glance at a nearly naked courtesan beside him, and Hongryeon knew that he focused solely on their journey without sparing a look for the beautiful courtesans or women at the Palgyeon Village.
In other words…
He wasn’t the kind of guy who would easily be swayed by a confession just because it showed a girl’s heart.
In such a situation, if they confessed and he ended up saying he was sorry?
If that happened, regardless of winning or losing in front of the girl, their hearts might very well crumble.
That was how much the presence of Yu Wol had firmly settled in their hearts.
Even a strong master who wouldn’t fear any situation was no different from anyone else when faced with this kind of problem.
They feared failure and being shot down.
Only then did the two understand the meaning behind their master’s words.
Once you reached a certain skill level, nothing was as important as training your heart.
“…Ugh.”
“…Ugh.”
If they failed.
If he rejected them.
They were prepared for a second or third attempt, but they feared he might tell them it just couldn’t happen, which made Hongryeon and Chaejin groan.
So, there was only one thing they could do right now.
They had to think and act strategically.
Like a drizzle that soaks your clothes without you realizing it, they had to slowly but surely seep into him.
Getting closer to him, making him see her as a woman.
When the affection they earned was enough to make him struggle without her, then they would confess and make him aware.
Who said it? Confession is merely an act to confirm affection.
Both of them knew that an awkward move in a half-hearted relationship could bring trouble, and after looking at each other, they flinched and gritted their teeth.
“…Looks like we had the same idea.”
“…True.”
Of all things, the same strategy!
Chaejin clicked her tongue shortly at Hongryeon’s words and nodded.
As expected of Hongryeon, she was something else.
But neither of them had any thoughts of losing.
Of course, Hongryeon felt the same way.
Thus, they silently gazed at each other even more.
“What are you doing outside in this heat?!”
At that moment from the upstairs room of the inn, a shout came from Yu Wol’s window. Hongryeon and Chaejin quickly turned their heads like lightning towards it and smiled brightly.
“Nothing at all!”
“We were just talking a bit!”
Yu Wol cocked his head in confusion at their reaction before disappearing back inside, and Hongryeon and Chaejin exchanged glances and swiftly turned away.
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