The next day arrived. I felt a little tired, but maybe it was because I was going to Hongseong that my body was filled with energy.
After finishing the morning business, I changed into the clothes Hongryeon had given me, and while I waited outside, Chaejin came out.
As she walked out, all dressed up for Moonjeong’s conquest, I smiled and said.
“Oh, you even put on makeup you don’t usually wear. You didn’t have to, but it suits you well.”
Chaejin’s face turned red. I saw Chaeran behind her, grinning.
“If we’re heading to Hongseong, it’s our Moonjeong’s arch-enemy! We have to be prepared going into enemy territory. As you know, beauty is a woman’s weapon.”
“I’ve heard that. Although I can’t quite understand it, women have their own world. Anyway, you did a great job with your makeup. Did you do it yourself?”
“Hehe. It was a fun experience. I always told you to do it more often, but you never did, then you ask me to help you out?”
“…Hey. Could you be quiet…?”
Chaeran stuck out her tongue and went inside the inn. I chuckled at the fidgeting Chaejin.
“Isn’t it… awkward?”
“As I said before, it suits you quite well.”
“Ugh… thank you.”
It’s inevitable to feel embarrassed when suddenly doing something you’re not used to.
Pointing it out repeatedly is not something a gentleman would do.
I just nodded, and after deep breaths, Chaejin finally calmed down, her face still as red as a ripe tomato.
“Then let’s take a cart to the entrance of Hongseongsan for now.”
“Y-yes…”
After checking the fabrics loaded in the cart, I climbed onto the driver’s seat. When Chaejin naturally hopped onto the back seat, Gi Noya and Wiyeol came out of the inn.
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“We’re heading to Hongseong for a bit.”
“Oh. Hongseong. What’s up there?”
“I heard they completed the building renovations with the funds we acquired last time. I received an invitation to celebrate that.”
“I see. Then please pass this along.”
Gi Noya pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it to me. I caught a small orb.
“What’s this?”
“It’s called a Wailing Orb. I got it from a secret realm long ago. Since Hongseongsan is rich in spiritual energy and attracts ghosts, having this will weaken their presence. Please say it’s a gift for the celebration.”
I received an unexpected gift. When I bowed my head, Gi Noya waved and playfully slapped Wiyeol.
“Don’t you have anything?”
“A man’s only treasures are his fists and spirit.”
“Beggar.”
“Damned old geezer?”
I laughed at their bickering. It was about that time to leave.
I also loaded the snacks and mooncakes that Yohwan packed for me onto the cart.
“Gi Noya, while I’m away for a bit, could you do me a favor?”
“Hahaha. Just trust me!”
To be honest, I felt a bit uneasy, but it was likely just that he would cook a meal for Yohwan and drink a little, right?
“Just drinking, right?”
“At that level, we can laugh it off. Plus, Wiyeol will help out next to me.”
I asked Yoohee for a favor and took the cart for a ride.
When the cart arrived at the entrance of Hongseongsan, there were already two members of Hongseongmun waiting at the entrance.
“Welcome!”
“Thank you for coming!”
It was Sayoon and Yoohee, whose faces I had become quite familiar with. When I smiled at them since they were out to greet the guests, Sayoon was startled at the sight of everything in the cart.
“Why did you bring so much?”
“A proper gift is necessary for a celebration invitation. Besides, since I’m not one of the Hongseongmun, how could I just sit still? I brought a bit of fabric and some food.”
“Ugh… you didn’t have to.”
“We just want to share in the joy, so don’t be modest. But more importantly… I need to lift this.”
“We’ll carry it!”
Sayoon and Yoohee picked up the things from the cart. Of course, Chaejin and I helped too.
After leaving the cart at the patrol post of the government office at the entrance of Hongseongsan, we calmly started up the mountain.
As soon as we crossed the mountain gate of Hongseongsan, a chilly energy wrapped around me.
I had thought I had gotten stronger through consistent training, but this sticky feeling is just… what in the world…
“Hongseongsan is really hard for a man to stay long.”
“There’s no helping it. It’s not like a man can learn Hongseong Divine Art, either.”
“But I like the scent of the Thousand Day Plum Blossom, so I still have a fondness for Hongseongsan.”
“Hehe, that’s a relief.”
Just when Sayoon smiled brightly, the entrance of Hongseongmun appeared at the end of the stairs.
As before, the Hongseongmun members were waiting.
“Step out.”
Unlike before, the one standing at the front was Hongryeon. At her signal, the Hongseongmun members drew their swords and aimed them at me, just like last time, conjuring the Protective Divine Formation.
At that moment, the sticky and eerie energy that had tried to cling to my body vanished.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation. And you could have come empty-handed…”
“How could I do that? Besides, it’s nothing grand, so don’t say that.”
“You as the Innkeeper is already a big gift to us.”
With a smile, Hongryeon lightheartedly said this before turning her gaze to Chaejin. She then stared at her face and chuckled.
“You’re wearing makeup?”
“…Well, is that a problem?”
“No, there’s no problem. But it makes me really happy that you wore makeup for the event of Hongseongmun when you wouldn’t even wear it for an official Murim Alliance event. Hehe. It shows how much Moonjeong respects Hongseongmun, right?”
“Eek. And what about you?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Why are you wearing that for the event of Hongseongmun?”
Chaejin was right. Hongryeon was wearing the uniform provided by the Murim Alliance. A tight-fitting white Cheongsam dress.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding; this is used as the uniform.”
“Oh ho. Is that so? You, who wore the Hongseong robe even at the Murim Alliance event, truly…”
“What kind of commotion is this?”
Amidst their cheerful chatter, a calm voice broke through from behind.
Walking towards them was the Sword Saint, clad not in her usual tattered robe, but in the formal attire of the Hongseong clan.
As she walked gracefully, Hongryeon and Chaejin stopped their conversation and stepped back.
“Thank you sincerely for responding to the invitation.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Moonjeong has come as well.”
“Yes. I couldn’t possibly refuse the invitation, Sword Saint.”
The Sword Saint gave a slight nod to Chaejin, who had respectfully lowered her head. Then, she slowly turned her gaze to me and spoke to Hongryeon.
“Ryoon, you shall show the guests the newly renovated areas with me. Ryuhyun, prepare the meal.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“The remaining disciples should follow me.”
As Ryuhyun moved away with her disciples, only the Sword Saint, Hongryeon, Chaejin, and I remained in the wide space. After a polite cough, Hongryeon calmly announced.
“I, Hongryeon, the Grand Disciple of Hongseong, will guide our guests around the newly improved Hongseong. I hope you will be satisfied.”
Her voice was polite and composed. With that attitude, both Chaejin and I straightened up, while the Sword Saint nodded in satisfaction.
“I am Sword Saint Na Yerin of the Hongseong. I hope you will be satisfied as I guide you, my guests.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you.”
As guests, Chaejin and I clasped our hands, and they moved effortlessly.
The first place Hongryeon took us to was a small building. The last time I saw it, it looked old and ready to collapse, but now it was definitely renovated.
“This is the Hongseong’s Dokeong Hall. Here, the martial arts of Hongseong are researched, and methods for further advancement are pursued.”
“We have something similar at Moonjeong. Ours is based on the Tao’s Taiji, but it seems you’ve formed yours based on the Celestial Stellar Arts.”
Hongryeon nodded at Chaejin’s explanation.
Though they are from the same Tao lineage, it seems there are differences in these aspects.
“Can we go inside?”
“I don’t mind, but… there’s probably nothing special to see.”
Following Hongryeon’s guidance, we entered, and there indeed was nothing much.
In the Heavenly Bright Moon, even among the grand sects, there were a few vacant buildings, and this seemed similar to those.
Seeing the many books on the walls and the engraved patterns on the floor, I stepped outside, and the Sword Saint spoke calmly.
“I will guide you to the training hall.”
The training hall, accommodations, the training wing, the dining area, and other buildings I once thought shabby were now all neatly renovated.
As I stood in awe, Hongryeon smiled brightly.
“All of this is thanks to the Innkeeper.”
“No, it’s the effort of the disciples of Hongseong. All I did was flap my mouth a little. I truly did nothing.”
“I merely unleashed my tongue a bit. I really didn’t do anything.”
“Sometimes, excessive modesty can be rude.”
The Sword Saint made a remark, but I just shrugged my shoulders. As I was exploring various places in Hongseong Clan and checking out the newly added buildings, I found myself tilting my head toward one specific place.
Many things have changed, but it seemed like one place remained largely the same as before.
“What’s that…?”
“Oh. That’s… where the Clan Leader resides. It’s called the ‘Seonggwan.'”
But why does it look so shabby? Didn’t they have enough money? When I looked over, the Sword Saint smiled bitterly.
“That will be renovated later when Ryun becomes the Clan Leader. After all, I don’t really stay there much myself. Plus, it should originally have sacred items, but there are none…”
“I see.”
The Sword Saint’s eyes were filled with bitterness. After staring at that place for a while, she let out a small sigh.
“I think I’ve seen enough places. Moonlight…”
“Yes?”
“As a thank you for coming this far, could you give me a brief lesson? Especially correcting the mistakes I saw during your duel with Ryun last time.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Mm.”
The Sword Saint nodded heavily, looking at Hongryeon. She simply smiled gently.
Is she confident?
Well, good opponents know how to build each other up.
“Then shall we have a cup of tea?”
“That wouldn’t be bad at all.”
“I’ll treat you to the ‘Cheonilmaehwa’ tea I made this time. You’re sure to love it. Just wait a moment.”
Lightly saying that, she walked off in a quick pace. While I briefly watched the Sword Saint and Chaejin, Hongryeon returned with tea for me. A rich fragrance tickled my nose. Surprised by the different aroma from the Cheonilmaehwa tea I had tasted before, Hongryeon beamed.
“How is it?”
“This is quite good.”
It has a different depth compared to Sayoon’s tea.
While Sayoon’s had a fresh feeling, Hongryeon’s tea has a deeper taste, perhaps?
It’s hard to say which one is better as both have their wonderful charms.
“Hehe. I’ll pack some for you to take when you leave.”
“Huh? Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
If offered, I shouldn’t refuse. By the way, this tea is delicious.
I sipped the tea while watching the duel between the Sword Saint and Chaejin.
As expected, the Sword Saint effortlessly blocked Chaejin’s attacks.
“But is this really okay?”
“Of course. This is how martial arts exchange and develop, after all.”
“But if Chae gets stronger…”
Hongryeon looked at me intensely for a moment and then confidently grinned.
“I’ll still win. No matter the martial arts or whatever.”
Well, I have no more to say about that.
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