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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The Sword Saint relaxed her focus as her disciples emerged from the mystical realm.
The spring within the well resumed its flow, restoring it to its original state, and she observed her students.
Even a single expedition into the realm was enough to spark noticeable growth in some of them.
“Reflect on what you’ve gained today, internalize it, and then rest,” she instructed.
Despite their fatigue, the disciples listened intently to the Sword Saint’s advice. When it came to martial arts, her words were never wrong.
Some went off on their own, while others sought partners for sparring, each heading to their designated areas.
Once the disciples had dispersed, the Sword Saint approached Sayoon, who was holding two swords.
“Was that your reward from the mystical realm?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Show it to me, if you will.”
Without hesitation, Sayoon presented the sword she had acquired.
The Sword Saint received it, drew it from its scabbard, and inspected it under the moonlight.
The blade was straight, its balance impeccable, a testament to its craftsmanship.
“Master?”
“A fine sword indeed.”
“Yes!”
The Sword Saint patted Sayoon’s head as the girl beamed and then headed towards her quarters, followed by her senior disciple, Hongryeon.
“Master.”
“Hm?”
“Are you alright?”
The concern lacing Hongryeon’s voice made the Sword Saint pause momentarily.
Alright?
“Of course, I’m alright. Did you not gain anything from the mystical realm?”
“I witnessed my fellow disciples’ growth. That is enough for me.”
“Haha, indeed. That is all that matters.”
The Sword Saint walked over to Hongryeon with light steps, gently stroked her hair, and then continued on her way.
Into the darkness.
Back to where she belonged.
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.
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Today was a momentous day. We had a guest at Hongseongmun, a male guest no less.
He’s been a great help to our sect.
Not just me, but the other senior disciples as well have received a lot of assistance from him.
And this time, he offered his help once again. If all goes well, it might even alleviate Senior Sister Hongryeon’s burden considerably.
Lately, every day has been filled with gratitude and happiness.
It’s not just me, either.
Senior Sister Yoohee, Senior Sister Ryuhyeon, Senior Sister Hyeonhwi, and Senior Sister O Sejin…
Everyone has been smiling a lot more recently. Well, not that we weren’t smiling before, of course.
I’ve been trying to pinpoint when this change began, and I realized it was after we received the first letter from Mister.
Ahaha, isn’t it strange?
But I often find myself thinking that it really might be the case.
Since the other senior sisters feel the same way, maybe there’s something to it?
No, I’m just going to believe that’s true.
Senior Sister Yoohee once told me that the God of Happiness walks the world with a veiled face.
No one knows when or where they might appear, or when they might disappear, so they conceal themselves as they bestow happiness upon people.
In that sense, Mister is quite similar.
Because he brought us happiness.
But it’s also true that I feel a tinge of regret.
Since I don’t know who Mister is, I can’t do anything for him.
It feels like he’s constantly giving, and I’m only receiving, and that saddens me.
When will I be able to repay his kindness?
P.S.
I obtained a sword from the mystical realm you mentioned. This sword, along with your letters, will be my most treasured possessions.
Speaking of which…
Would you be willing to give this sword a name?
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“Finished.”
Sayoon placed her brush on the worn inkstone, bathed in moonlight.
She reread the black characters on the crisp paper and nodded to herself.
As the letter dried in the breeze, she glanced around the room.
Her senior disciples, exhausted from their late-night training, slept soundly, their faces peaceful.
Sayoon smiled, hoping their tranquility would last, and placed the letter on the table before closing her eyes.
This was a ritual she always performed after writing a letter.
She would imagine ‘Mister’.
Who was Mister?
Despite her frequent attempts, she couldn’t conjure a clear image.
All that came to mind was a vague, shadowy figure.
Back when she lived in the gutters…
When her eyes were dull and lifeless, forced to look up at the world with despair…
There was someone she envied more than anyone else.
A young girl in patched-up clothes.
That girl was the object of Sayoon’s deepest longing.
The reason was simple.
She had a father. A father who would meet her after her lessons at the village school, his large hand ruffling her hair with affection.
A father who would walk her home, ensuring no ruffians dared to approach her.
A face she could no longer recall.
He had loved his daughter more than anyone else in the world, and he had cherished her more than anything.
Sayoon opened her eyes and gripped the sword she had acquired. It was a good sword.
Some might say it was rather plain for a treasure obtained from conquering a mystical realm, but…
To Sayoon, it was the most beautiful and magnificent sword in existence.
Because it was a gift from Mister.
A gift from her guiding star.
She closed her eyes again, hugging the sword tightly.
It might be cold steel, but holding it gave her a sense of closeness to Mister, even though she didn’t know his face.
“…I miss you.”
Longing for the man she had never met, Sayoon lay down on her bed.
What kind of person was Mister?
She pictured the imagined Mister in her mind, a faceless figure gently stroking her hair, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
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A new day dawned.
It was a refreshing morning, made even brighter by the prospect of visiting Hongseongmun again.
It would have been even more refreshing if not for Chaejin, who had clung to me since dawn, begging me to take her along.
When I arrived at Hongseongmun after finishing my morning tasks, Sayoon was waiting for me at the mountain gate.
“Hello!”
She greeted me with a cheerful energy that lifted my spirits.
Ah, good. It seemed like today would be another pleasant day.
“You didn’t have to come all the way out here… Did you bring something again?”
“It’s not proper etiquette to arrive empty-handed when visiting on official business.”
That was a lie, of course.
I had simply brought more sweets, enjoying the way she devoured them yesterday.
“Don’t worry about it. Hongseongmun and I are in the same boat, business-wise.”
“Um… Are we?”
Sayoon tilted her head, seemingly unfamiliar with that aspect of our relationship.
But her confusion was fleeting, and she soon guided me with a bright smile.
As I passed through the mountain gate, just like yesterday, Ryuhyeon and the other disciples were waiting for me.
After receiving the protective formation once more, I presented the entire box of sweets to Ryuhyeon.
“You really didn’t have to bring anything…”
“I’m being treated to lunch today. How could I possibly come empty-handed? Besides, now that we’re business partners, your disciples need to perform well for my sake, too.”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
Ryuhyeon accepted the box without further protest.
I learned that the sweets would be served after lunch and proceeded to the location where I had buried the white jade pendants.
“Hmm…”
It seemed fortune hadn’t entirely abandoned me.
I unearthed the pendants, and they were stained with a dark, miasmic energy, proof of demonic influence.
“Can you identify the type of demonic arts used?”
“Based on the information provided by His Eminence… let’s see. These bear traces of the White Bone Claw technique, as well as the Thousand Yang Demonic Art.
I’ll need to examine the others as well.”
As I examined the pendants, I recognized some of the demonic arts from Cheonsang Myeongwol, but there were also some that were unfamiliar.
However, that wasn’t my primary concern.
Not at the moment, at least.
“Is that all of them?”
“Yes.”
The last pendant remained unchanged, indicating a failed attempt.
Still, this was enough to avoid another trip back here.
“Shall we head to lunch then? Everyone’s waiting.”
It seemed I had lost track of time during the pendant retrieval process.
I accepted Sayoon’s offer and made my way to the dining hall.
The building was old and somewhat shabby, but it was undeniably clean.
As I stepped inside, enticed by the aroma of savory meat, the disciples were already seated.
“Welcome back. Have you finished your tasks?”
“Yes, this should be enough for the demonic arts verification.”
“Haha, then let’s eat. Everyone has been waiting for you. Ah, and I’ll grill the meat…”
“I’ll handle it.”
“…But I’m good at grilling meat, too.”
The Sword Saint, looking dejected, glanced at Ryuhyeon, but it was clear she had no intention of relinquishing her tongs.
And so, Ryuhyeon took charge of the large brazier, expertly grilling the meat.
“Here, have some while it’s hot!”
A plate of perfectly grilled meat appeared before me.
I took a bite, surprised by its deliciousness. Ryuhyeon chuckled at my reaction.
“Hehe, I’m quite skilled at grilling meat, you know.”
Well, that’s certainly impressive.
As I savored the meat, the dining hall doors slid open.
A woman with fiery red hair strode in, effortlessly carrying a large cauldron.
“Alright, girls, grab your bowls…”
Hm? What was this?
The woman with red hair froze mid-sentence, her eyes locking with mine.
Hongryeon, the senior disciple of Hongseongmun, stared at me intently.
After swallowing the mouthful of meat, I asked directly, “Is there something on my face?”
“Uh, um, ah, yes! Uh!”
She stammered, a strange sound escaping her lips.
Was there really something on my face?
“Ah, no, that’s not it… Damn it… Why am I acting like this all of a sudden…”
She quickly averted her gaze and began ladling rice into the worn bowls.
It was a mixture of rice, barley, and other grains. Healthy, no doubt.
The disciples received their bowls and dug in with gusto, while Hongryeon sidled up to me, avoiding eye contact.
She fidgeted, mumbled, and whined like a puppy who had misbehaved, finally managing to speak in a small voice.
“…I heard we’re indebted to you once again.”
Ah, that’s what this was about.
She was, after all, the senior disciple of Hongseongmun, responsible for its leadership.
Naturally, she would feel embarrassed that her shortcomings had forced her fellow disciples to rely on outside help.
Her flustered reaction upon seeing me, the person involved in the incident, was completely understandable.
“Don’t mention it. Besides, this is a legitimate transaction between me and Hongseongmun. There’s no need for you to feel burdened. Why don’t you leave this to me and focus on your training? I heard you’ve been receiving instruction from the Sword Saint lately.”
There was no verbal response, only a bewildered stare.
But it was fleeting.
Her face quickly flushed crimson again, and she retreated hastily, calling out to Yoohee.
“Yoohee! Make sure Mister gets plenty of food!”
“Huh? What about you, Senior Sister?”
“I already snacked on a few things earlier, so I’m not hungry! You girls eat up! Don’t leave any meat behind!”
With that declaration, Hongryeon dashed out of the dining hall.
Hah.
What a commendable eldest sister.
Sacrificing her own share of food for her fellow disciples.
Being treated to a meal at Hongseongmun was quite an honor, especially with Sayoon seated across from me.
The meat, seemingly from a prime cut, was incredibly flavorful, and the soup and vegetables, prepared by Hongryeon, weren’t as bland as I had feared.
In fact, they were surprisingly delicious…
After the meal, we discussed the details of our agreement.
It was time for me to depart, and I reluctantly rose from my seat.
This time, Sayoon didn’t escort me back.
I strolled back to the inn, my steps heavy with regret, and dismissed the Hongseongmun disciple before entering my room.
A courier from the postal service stood waiting outside my door.
“What is it?”
He held a box and a letter in his hands.
The letter was from Cheonghoe Trading Company. It contained an invitation to meet next week.
I had been meaning to contact them regarding the Hongseongmun situation anyway, so this was perfect.
Still, it would be a bit awkward to go alone…
“Miss Chaejin! Miss Chaejin!”
“Huh? What is it? At this hour? Are we going to train?”
“No, I need to make a trip to Yangwiseong nearby. Would you be willing to accompany me?”
“Sure, why not? Let’s go.”
Seemingly with nothing better to do, Chaejin readily agreed.
Once she had left, I turned my attention to the box.
Was it from Sayoon? Or someone else?
I examined the name on the box, surprised by what I saw.
It was a name I hadn’t anticipated.
“Hongryeon…?”
Why would she send me something?
I opened the box, finding a single sheet of paper and a small bundle inside.
Unwrapping the bundle revealed a long, slender bamboo pipe.
It was a smoking pipe, similar to the ones found in Cheonsang Myeongwol.
However, this one was different from the ones I remembered.
While most pipes were plain and unadorned, this one was intricately engraved with an image of a blooming lotus, its delicate petals sprawling across the surface like a work of art.
Did Hongryeon carve this herself?
She’s quite talented, crafting something like this…
Wait, could this be a sample for a new product line? Was she suggesting a partnership?
As I examined the pipe, my gaze fell upon the piece of paper.
“…Hah.”
It wasn’t a business proposal.
I filled the pipe with tobacco and lit it.
A plume of smoke filled the room.
Inhaling the bittersweet scent, I tapped the paper on which Hongryeon had written:
‘Thank you, always.’
A single, short line that brought a smile to my face.
Thank you, she said.
“The thanks are all mine.”
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