Finally, we arrived at the Namgoong Clan.
“What in the world.”
It was clearly an impressive building.
No, it was more than impressive—it looked like a fortress.
Is this for real? Is this really a house?
A grand wall surrounded a vast area, and beyond it rose magnificent pavilions that looked dignified beyond belief.
Even if the Yuan cavalry came charging in, it seemed strong enough to withstand the attack. This could easily pass for a castle. Is this really Anhui Province?
As far as I knew, in this Ming Dynasty where the emperor was perfectly alive, building a fortress-like house or turning it into a castle would be impossible. If you constructed something like this, you’d immediately be suspected of plotting a military coup, and it wouldn’t be surprising if even your distant relatives got arrested.
But over here, I heard that the troops of the Great Ming Empire were all busy fighting hellish devils, so they left the local nobility to stabilize their territories. That’s why there seemed to be such a grand building here.
“I’m speechless, Geunhyeop.”
“No! Is this really a house? It’s a castle, isn’t it? This is Anhui Province, Anhui Province!”
At my praises, Namgoong Serin smiled lightly.
“We will provide you with a guesthouse. You can rest there.”
“Thank you.”
“I will quickly summon a physician to come, so take care of yourself. Oh, I’ll also send a maid, so if you need anything, just tell her.”
“I can’t believe I’m enjoying such luxury in my life. I think I made the right choice when I ambushed Madunachal back then.”
“Think of it as a reward for that bravery.”
“Oh wow!”
The main gate opened, and we all stepped inside.
Once we entered, it was even more magnificent. The towering building was massive and welcomed us with open arms.
There were walkways, training grounds, and many other buildings for different uses. What should I call this—a university campus? It had that kind of vibe, like a university campus surrounded by castle walls with martial arts-style roofs.
It was that grand.
While standing there stunned, a young maid who had received instructions approached us.
“Hello, great hero.”
She had a delightful smile and a bun hairstyle that stood out.
“I will guide you to the guesthouse.”
“Ah. Yes.”
I followed the maid to the guesthouse. It was a one-story building nearby, and I noticed that there were many such guesthouses around.
It must be because this place attracts many guests, so there are plenty of guesthouses.
As I admired it, we arrived.
The maid opened the door, and I stepped inside.
“Oh.”
Is it really this clean?
First impressions were indescribably good. After only sleeping in shabby inn rooms, seeing this proper building made me feel completely at ease.
The floor was clean.
The furniture was well-maintained, and the bedding looked extremely cozy.
“I can’t believe such a nice room exists.”
“I will guide you through the guesthouse. This is the living room. Over there is the bedroom, and that space is the bathroom.”
“Excuse me? A bathroom?”
There’s a bathroom inside the guesthouse?
I was slightly surprised, so I went in to check, and it was indeed a real bathroom. It even had complete sewage facilities.
Moreover, there was also a bath next door, where water came from pipes instead of drawing from a well.
In simple terms, it was a shower facility.
“Is this for real?!”
This wasn’t martial arts at all!
“If you need hot water, just let me know.”
“Hot water comes out too?!”
“Yes.”
Not only does it have hot water!
With this, it’s essentially a modern house!
“There’s a small training area in the backyard, so if you want to practice martial arts, you can use that. Meals will be served soon. Oh, there are also extra clothes prepared, so please check the wardrobe.”
The maid bowed her head and left.
“My goodness.”
Is this real?
A space this luxurious is just a guesthouse?
I was so surprised I could barely close my mouth.
Feeling dazed, I opened the wardrobe.
“Oh.”
There were clean clothes neatly folded.
Upon checking, I found some clothes I could wear.
And even underwear!
“Is it okay for me to enjoy this luxury?”
I briefly thought that, but—
“It is!”
It’s totally fine!
No matter what anyone says, I made a grave decision in a decisive moment, launching a reckless ambush on Madunachal and saving Namgoong Serin’s life. If that’s the case, I deserve to enjoy this level of reward.
I wanted to change clothes and rest right away.
But before that, I stepped into the bathroom.
“I always washed with water drawn from a well. But here…”
I clicked the mechanism in front of me.
—Whoosh!
Water gurgled out from the pipes above.
“Ah!”
Cold water splashed on my head. It was extremely cold, but I was only excited. When was the last time I took a shower like this? Drawing water with a ladle was really inconvenient.
So I happily washed up, dried off with a towel, and put on my new clothes.
Then I threw myself on the bed.
“Wow!”
There wasn’t even a bed in the inn!
Lying on the bed made it finally feel like I had returned to Earth.
This is the happiness that comes from civilization!
Honestly, if it’s like this, living here wouldn’t be bad.
Wait a moment.
The maid said she would also serve food.
“Delivery service…!”
Does clicking the maid’s button bring out the food?
—Knock Knock.
“Dear guest, the food is ready.”
“Oh, come in.”
“Yes.”
As the door opened, the maid brought out the meal.
“Fried rice, twice-cooked pork, and peaches.”
“Oh wow!”
The fried rice looked delicious, along with what seemed to be meat dishes and some yellow-skinned fruit.
What a crazy combination…!
“Bon appétit!”
I immediately sent off the maid, sat down, and began my feast.
First, I took a large spoonful of fried rice and tasted it.
“Yum…!”
So tasty!
It couldn’t even be compared to the food at the inn!
I then picked up the twice-cooked pork with chopsticks. Of course, that was also an eye-opening taste. Its rich and spicy flavor greatly stimulated my taste buds.
“Wow!”
Then I took a bite of the fruit, which was cut with the skin still on.
“Mm?”
Is this fruit something I don’t know?
The fruit was soft, but the inside was slightly chewy, and it was juicily moist with a subtle sweetness. I’ve never eaten anything like this in my life. It must be a local specialty here.
“Delicious!”
Anyway, not only was the presentation perfect, but also tasting such delicious food made my mind spin. I had already consumed strange combat rations on the way here, but even without that, it was so incredibly tasty. It felt like there was no other heaven.
After I finished a satisfying meal, I called the maid to clear the table, brushed my teeth, and lay back on the bed.
“Ugh…!”
I felt sleepiness wash over me.
While I rode on a carriage a few times during this journey, mostly I walked, and when I slept, I was with the martial artists of the River Group.
In various ways, I was fatigued, and I hadn’t had a comfortable place to sleep. Maybe that’s why. The moment I lay on the bed, my whole body felt relaxed, and I quickly lost consciousness.
*Creak*
Someone kept making noise, waking me up.
Once I gathered my senses, I saw the maid calling me from outside the door.
“Oh, what is it?”
“You’re awake! The lady has come to see you.”
Suddenly?
The door opened, and Namgoong Serin entered.
“Namgoong Serin?”
“You’re awake! The clan master wishes to see you, so let’s go together.”
“Excuse me? For what reason?”
“You saved his daughter; it’s only natural to meet, isn’t it?”
That’s true.
“Alright, I’ll prepare right away.”
I hurriedly got ready to go out, standing beside Namgoong Serin.
“I wore the clothes from the wardrobe; is that okay?”
“No problem! Oh, if you need clothes, please take some.”
“Really?!”
“I’ll lend you a sturdy martial outfit. The one you were wearing was stained with the blood of the great devil, right?”
“Thank you so much, goddess!”
“It’s nothing.”
It may not mean much to you, but it’s the most precious belongings to me!
Moved by such kindness, I shivered with excitement, moving together with Namgoong Serin. Our destination was where the clan master of the Namgoong Clan was. Somewhere in that largest pavilion, he was waiting.
“Wow. But it’s incredible how big these buildings are. Just going up and down these stairs would be a workout!”
“Not particularly. We generally use the elevator.”
“Elevator, what?!”
“Here it is.”
An elevator appeared before us.
“It’s a lift. Press this button, and you can go to your desired floor.”
“…”
This isn’t martial arts at all…!
Wait! Hold on!
Considering it, elevators existed even in the ancient Roman Colosseum. So it wouldn’t be surprising if it was in the Ming Dynasty.
—Creak.
But it’s definitely an elevator.
“This truly feels like a heavenly realm! To think such a magnificent space exists. I’m shaking all over.”
“Please savor that emotion fully.”
“I’m engraving it in my heart.”
The elevator stopped, and Namgoong Serin moved beside me.
“Follow me.”
“Yes.”
I followed Namgoong Serin as she guided me through corridors that felt like stepping into a giant corporate building. The hallways were long, with various rooms on either side.
A huge building in the Martial Arts World is unacceptable!
So what if the roof is styled after the Ming Dynasty?
I can’t stand it!
Eventually, we arrived at the clan master’s quarters, and Namgoong Serin knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
The door opened.
“Clan master, I’ve brought the guest.”
“…”
A man stood in the center of the room; no matter how you looked at him, he was a young man.
However, he emanated a profound and powerful aura.
That’s right!
That man is the clan master of the Namgoong Clan…!
“I am Namgoong Cheon. And you are?”
“I am the drifter Kim Geunhyeop!”
Just a simple introduction, but it felt like standing in front of a massive beast.
Is this what a true martial arts master feels like?
Simply standing there was enough to shake my spirit!
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