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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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A few days had passed since my return from Yangwi Castle, but I hadn’t exactly relaxed.
After all, work had to be done every day, and training had to be done every day as well.
Honestly, I thought Chaejin’s declaration back then was just a joke, but the training really had become harder.
It was as if she was determined, almost frantic, to push me to my limits.
Thanks to that, though, my stamina seemed to have improved considerably.
Though my body was tired.
“Phew.”
“Are you alright?”
Sayun, who was on patrol duty today, saw me struggling and comforted me with concern.
I glanced at Chaejin, who was sitting in the backyard with a cheerful smile, but she simply raised a finger as if to say, “One more time?”
“Still, it’s good to see Miss Chae teaching you properly. Ahaha.”
A dry laugh.
Sayun hesitated, then looked around.
The other disciples who had come for patrol duty seemed to be getting ready to move.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Alright. See you later.”
As Sayun walked away, Chaejin casually approached me.
She fiddled with a nearby chair and a broom, then spoke indirectly.
“The innkeeper seems close to the Hongseong Sect disciples.”
“Well. You could say that.”
“Then…”
“If you’re about to ask me to arrange a spar with Nakilgeom, don’t bother. Nakilgeom seems quite busy these days.”
“Huh? I wasn’t going to say that?”
Oh? Wasn’t she?
I thought the most important thing to Chaejin was sparring with Hongryeon?
I looked at her, and she met my gaze with unwavering eyes.
“I hear Nakilgeom is currently learning from the Sword Saint. If you want to spar with her, shouldn’t you also return to the Moonlit Pavilion and learn properly from your master?”
“I can train here, too.”
She seemed very reluctant to go.
Did I put honey on the inn or something? I looked at her and shrugged.
If she didn’t want to go, she didn’t have to.
Honestly, from my perspective, I was grateful if Chaejin stayed. After all, she was here as my bodyguard.
At least she could protect me when I fought the Iron Blood Union later.
She could also step in if things got dicey.
“Well then. Do as you please.”
“Yes. I intend to. Then I should train a bit more, too. If Hongryeon is training so hard.”
Speaking leisurely, she lightly drew her sword.
Then, she raised it above her head and stood still.
I didn’t know what she was trying to do, but it felt awkward to interrupt her training.
I headed straight to my room. After all, I had work to do.
Back in my room, I started working.
Harvesting and storing barley and other crops, calculating payments for tenant farmers, and calculating taxes and other expenses.
And things like plans to meet officials through Cheon Inhwa’s introduction and persuade them to buy my goods.
As I was working, pondering this and that, I heard a sound from the window.
“Oh. Welcome.”
“Three today.”
The Woochemun Sect disciple, who always visited, handed me two letters and a box.
One was… Oh! From Sayun?!
Energy surged through my work-weary mind. I put it aside carefully for now…
The other letter was from the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild.
It asked me to try out their new product, verify its effectiveness, and then report back.
It also said there was plenty, so I shouldn’t worry about running out.
After confirming the contents, I carefully folded the letter and set it aside, then picked up the other box.
It was a box sent from the Jingwondang. I was planning to visit them soon to receive my reward, but did they send it because they couldn’t wait?
I opened the box and was surprised by the unexpected contents.
“This is…”
Inside the box was a fist-sized stone, a Woljeongseok.
It was one of the materials appearing in Part 2, and it could be used to create a talisman called Wolgwangbu.
“What was the effect of Wolgwangbu again…”
I tapped the Woljeong Seok and racked my brain.
Besides the basic physical ability enhancement, it had the effect of accumulating Qi, albeit minimally, by absorbing moonlight on moonlit nights.
The effect became stronger with a fuller moon.
I picked up a small piece of paper inside the box.
It was a letter from O Chil, confirming that the Jingwondang had indeed sent the Woljeong Seok as a reward for the previous incident.
He wrote that he was going to find someone who could make talismans and send it to them, but that person wasn’t currently available.
He heard from the Cheonghae Merchant Guild that Mr. Yu was very knowledgeable, so he might know how to use it, which is why he sent the most important ingredient, the Woljeong seok.
Of course, I knew the crafting recipe, but knowing it didn’t mean I could make it…
“Hmm… Should I just sell it?”
Or should I find someone who could make talismans, have them create it, and send it to Sayun?
I tapped the Woljeong seok, then shook my head.
Let’s read Sayun’s letter first.
Sayun’s handwriting was still round and pretty.
The contents were enough to make my heart swell with pride.
By the way, a name for a sword, huh?
That sword didn’t have a name in Heaven’s Command, Moon’s Will either.
As you used the sword, proficiency accumulated, and it emitted light accordingly. It was sometimes called the “Pretty Sword” because it was pretty, but…
Other than that, it was just an ordinary good sword, so there wasn’t a proper name to give it.
I thought about what to call it, then put down the brush.
I’ll send it after thinking about it a bit more.
Anyway, Sayun’s letter revitalized my tired mind.
Now I should finish the rest of my work.
After organizing what needed to be organized and handling what needed to be handled, and checking the condition of the barley in the paddy and fields, I returned as the sun was setting.
Bathed in the crimson sunset, I returned to the inn and went to the backyard, where Chaejin was still standing.
In almost the same posture as before.
There was only one difference.
The sword, which had been above her head when I first saw her, was now at her chest level.
The sword had only moved that much from lunchtime?
A dull sword, no, a dull blade?
Chaejin pursued extreme speed, as I had seen before.
With speed invisible to the eye, she would swiftly slay her enemies, as quickly as moonlight descending.
That’s why she would later be defeated by her younger sister, Chaeryeon.
Chaeryeon gained enlightenment on not only speed (快) but also dullness (鈍) as she progressed through the main story, and subsequently defeated Chaejin, who pursued only extreme speed, in the Part 4 main story.
It was a beautiful scene of overcoming one’s limitations, but it must have been frustrating for Chaejin to lose to her younger sister.
But now, Chaejin, who until then had considered only speed to be the truth, was practicing slowness.
Wow.
Chaeryeon will have a hard time later.
Anyway, she seemed quite focused. Could I skip training today then?
“It’s time.”
I knew it.
Right on time for my training, Chaejin sheathed her sword.
“Shall we begin?”
Looking at her winking and smiling brightly, I thought.
This is obsession…!
As she said, by the time the more advanced training, the kind that made my body scream, was over, the Hongseong Sect disciples returned from their patrol.
Seeing me panting after training, Sayun smiled gently and approached me.
“Training must be hard, right?”
“It’s not easy.”
“Hehe. Then, if you don’t mind, should I give you a shoulder massage?”
What?! Such a reward?!
Sayun is a true angel…
I had no intention of refusing.
There are things you should refuse and things you shouldn’t. How could I resist this?!
I immediately lay down on the long chair in the backyard, and Sayun pressed firmly on my shoulders.
“Oh…”
Honestly, I thought it would just be a light patting, and I didn’t have high expectations.
I was just happy that Sayun was giving me a massage, but it was much more refreshing than I expected. What was this?
“Do you know Chugunggwahyeol? Master sometimes does it for me and the other disciples. I’m just imitating it. I think it’s alright since it stimulates pressure points… How is it?”
“It’s good. This.”
It wasn’t just my imagination.
The stiffness remaining in my shoulders, neck, and back was gradually disappearing.
“Hongseong Divine Art is a sinister martial art, but it’s also a martial art for caring for and protecting others. That’s why it helps with healing as well as destruction.”
“That’s cool.”
“I learned about that part while learning the latter half recently.”
“I see. Ah. Can you do that spot a bit more?”
“Here?”
As she pressed firmly on my shoulder blade, a moan escaped my lips involuntarily.
Sayun, who had been massaging my back like that, stepped back, dripping with sweat.
“Whew. I think that’s enough. Can you try getting up?”
I got up and moved my body around. My body definitely felt much looser.
“I’ll learn more from Master and do it for you again later. Hehe.”
I felt like crying. While I was overcome with emotion, Yoohee, who had been on patrol with Sayun, called her.
It seemed like it was time for them to go back.
“Then I’ll see you later. Oh, right. We won’t be able to come down starting tomorrow. Master said she’ll be conducting intensive training.”
“Yes. I heard Senior Disciple Hongryeon finished her training, so she’ll be doing the patrols for a while…”
Is that so? Then it couldn’t be helped.
“Alright. I’ll talk to the government office separately. And since you worked hard giving me a massage, why don’t you take this?”
I hurried into the store. I was going to wrap some sweets, but since they probably still had some left from last time, I decided to give them something else.
“I made some rice cakes yesterday. Take them and share.”
“No, but… I feel like I’m always just receiving…”
“Thanks to your massage, I’ll be able to work better. Considering that, this is a very fair trade. In fact, I wonder if it’s not enough.”
“N-not enough?! It’s plenty! Right, Senior Disciple Yoohee?!”
“Uh. Yeah. Next time, I’ll do it for you, too. Actually, when I go home, I give massages to my father and uncle. They all said it was refreshing, so I’m sure the innkeeper will like it too.”
“That’s very kind of you. Anyway, take it.”
They declined several times, but they couldn’t overcome my insistence and persuasion. In the end, they took the rice cakes and left, and I watched them go with a warm feeling.
“You seem to like the kids? Seeing you get along so well.”
A voice came from the stairs.
She came down leisurely and sat in her usual spot near the backyard, which was practically reserved for her now. When she asked, I was about to respond indifferently but stopped.
Huh?
Wait a minute.
Was this a business opportunity?
“Why? Do you dislike them, Miss Chae?”
“It’s not about liking or disliking them, it’s just that I rarely interact with kids.”
“Then how about getting to know them this time?”
When I spoke with a smile, Chaejin thought for a moment, then shook her head.
“It won’t be easy.”
“That doesn’t sound like something someone who isn’t afraid to try new things would say.”
“Who? Me?”
“Aren’t you practicing the dull blade to acquire dullness as well as extreme speed? Even though extremes are opposites, they also unite and become one, but it’s certainly not an easy task. Seeing you take on this challenge to become stronger, you don’t seem like someone who dislikes trying new things.”
I asked, recalling the earlier training, and she closed her mouth as if momentarily speechless. Only after emptying a cup of alcohol did she speak.
“That’s… I’m just trying it out because a few things came to mind while teaching you, Innkeeper.”
“Then you can just try this out too. I’ll arrange a meeting later. Putting aside things like whether we are of the same sect or rivals, I think it wouldn’t be bad to build a good relationship at a time like this. Also, the Hongseong Sect disciples are all good kids, and Sayun… it’s not because I’m close to her, but she’s a really good kid…”
“Ha. Alright, alright. If I leave you alone, you’ll talk endlessly. But the kids in our Moonlit Pavilion are all good kids too, you know? Of course, Ryeon has a fierce personality, but she’s still a good kid. Don’t talk differently when you meet them later, okay?”
Chaejin took another sip of alcohol and replied.
Good. Did I successfully secure this business opportunity?
I could consider it a success, right?
Good. Then I should get back to work.
As I returned to my room, lit the lamp, and began looking through the documents.
I heard a knock on the window.
The second time today.
The Woochemun Sect disciple, who always came, was standing there with a letter.
“…Jingwondang?”
It was stamped with an express seal. Why did they send it express?
I unfolded the letter and clicked my tongue.
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The movements of the Gohwadan and the Jugyeongdae, currently employed in the war between the Hobang Sect and the Yulgi Sect, are unusual.
It is believed they intend to carry out a raid somewhere after that battle concludes… It seems their target is likely Seomhwa Village or the Hongseong Sect.
We also received an offer to join them, but considering the debt we owe you, it was an offer we could never accept.
Please be careful, and if things get difficult, please gather your belongings and come to Yangwi Castle.
No matter what happens, we will protect you, sir.
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The handwriting was messy, as if written in a great hurry. However, that’s why I could feel O Chil’s sincerity.
“Gohwadan and Jugyeongdae…”
These were both groups bought by the Iron Blood Union, the mercenary swordsmen who moved from the outside when attacking the Hongseong Sect.
They were also groups that would later be absorbed into the Iron Blood Union.
In other words.
Their movement meant that the prologue was about to begin.
By the way, I was thinking of requesting the Hao Clan to monitor them after their participation in the inter-sect battle was over… but I never thought I’d find out like this. Money saved.
Anyway, even though the prelude to the prologue was showing, I wasn’t particularly afraid.
No, I might have even been waiting for this moment.
The numerous discussions about how the Hongseong Sect could survive the prologue, which I had been thinking about for a while and which the veterans who frequented Heaven’s Command, Moon’s Will had while mentioning the “what if” scenarios, came to mind.
Now was the time to borrow the power of collective intelligence.
I moved my brush without hesitation.
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