—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Damp.
That was the best way to describe Qingho.
Before the sun rose, the city was always shrouded in a thick blanket of fog.
Vast and deep, according to legends, a dragon resided in Qingho, its breath forming the dense fog that settled upon Qinghoseong, the heart of the city.
As the fog enveloped the city, the people of Qinghoseong would slowly awaken.
The clinging dampness brought them back to reality, and they would begin their daily routines.
Venturing out into the dense fog wasn’t exactly pleasant, but the people of Qingho wouldn’t have it any other way.
They all knew that this thick fog was merely a prelude to the day’s beginning.
As the sun, the most diligent climber, began its ascent, its warm rays pierced through the fog, gently drying the city that had been drenched in mist.
Children, on their way to school, squinted as the sunlight glinted off the glistening droplets, but none of them disliked Qingho.
Thus, in this city, where people lived with pride and a deep connection to their homeland, the first words I heard upon entering were quite memorable.
“This is a scam!!”
…He must have lost money at the Qingho chariot races.
I had seen these types of people often in Cheonsang Myeongwol, especially around Qinghoseong. He probably bet on the night races with high odds.
As he walked away, muttering to himself and crumpling up his worthless betting slip, Chaejin, perched on the coachman’s seat next to me, chuckled.
“It’s a Qingho specialty.”
“I find it strange that they consider that a specialty.”
Casinos, racetracks… you saw these types of people everywhere.
Ignoring the grumbling losers and cheering winners rushing off to work, I flicked the reins, urging the horses forward.
“So, where to? I know a good inn.”
“Could you take us there?”
“Of course. Just go straight ahead…”
She pointed in the direction we needed to go.
The inn we arrived at was… well, the word “ordinary” best described it.
“Chamo!”
A servant appeared as we stopped in front of the inn, taking the horses and leading them to a vacant spot. Chaejin jumped off the carriage and strode into the inn.
“Oh my! Miss Chae?”
A stout, middle-aged woman, probably in her early fifties, greeted Chaejin with a wide smile. She pulled Chaejin into a hug, her affection evident.
“You’ve been busy, haven’t you? What brings you here?”
“Hehehe, things have been a bit hectic.”
“And who’s this…?”
Chamo, the innkeeper, looked back and forth between me and Chaejin, her eyes twinkling. Then, with a snap of her fingers, she burst into laughter.
Chaejin quickly shook her head.
“It’s not like that!”
“I didn’t say anything, did I?”
The innkeeper chuckled, patting Chaejin’s shoulder playfully, then bowed to me.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Chamo, the owner of Qingho Soma Inn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. I’m Yoo Wol, the innkeeper of Seomhwachon.”
“An innkeeper…? My, my. I never expected to have another innkeeper as a guest. Anyway, what can I get you? Food? Drinks? Or maybe…”
“Just some simple food, please. No drinks. And I’d like a room for the night.”
“Alright, just give me a moment.”
Chamo hurried toward the kitchen, her footsteps heavy. It was a small inn, so she probably doubled as the cook as well.
Chaejin looked at me sheepishly as we settled into our seats.
“Chamo used to be my maid,” she explained.
“I thought you two seemed close. But why isn’t she working as a maid anymore? Why is she running an inn?”
“Well…”
A wry smile appeared on her face.
“It’s… kind of my fault.”
Had something bad happened?
Maids were usually dismissed only if they had committed some kind of wrongdoing. Curious, I pressed for an explanation, and she obliged, telling me the story without hesitation.
“She bet all her savings on me in my first Qingho chariot race. No one expected me to win, you see.”
“…Ah.”
So that was it. High odds, high reward.
She had won a fortune and used it to buy this inn?
That was impressive.
“Anyway, she’s been running this inn ever since. And whenever I visit Qingho, I always stay here.”
“Don’t you sleep at home?”
“Hehehe, I prefer staying elsewhere.”
I had seen it before. People who disliked their homes, or the people they lived with.
For them, home, a place that should be a sanctuary, had become more uncomfortable than the outside world.
If that was the case for Chaejin, I wouldn’t pry. It was none of my business.
“Just… don’t sleep on the streets, okay? It’s not good for your health.”
“Someone as strong as her doesn’t need to worry about that, right?” Chaejin interjected.
That’s when Chamo reappeared, balancing a tray laden with food in her large hands.
Noodles with a generous amount of meat, dumplings, and five-spice meat… Qingho specialties.
After we finished eating, Chaejin took a sip of her tea and asked,
“So, what brings you to Qingho? An official request? Or maybe…”
“I have an official request to attend, but there’s also someone I need to meet. Chamo, I have a question. Have you heard of a former royal chef named Yohwan? I heard he’s staying in Qingho.”
“Anyone in the culinary world knows Yohwan. That old man has been here for over six months now. Every inn, every restaurant, every courtesan house wanted to hire him. But then, all of a sudden, the offers stopped.”
“Really? How do you even know that?”
“Hao Mun.”
I had heard it from Hano, the branch manager of the Yangwiseong Hao Mun, during a drinking session.
Last year, the head chef of the Imperial Palace retired, and many of the chefs who had served under him had been replaced.
Most of them were offered prestigious positions at noble houses or renowned restaurants in the capital. But one of them, apparently, was staying in Qingho.
In Cheonsang Myeongwol, you could trigger events and enlist the help of individuals with unique stories like these.
Yohwan, the chef I was looking for, was one of those people.
If you befriended her through the event, she would prepare special dishes that boosted physical abilities if you brought her specific ingredients.
There were other events related to her background and affiliations as well.
I didn’t know if those events would occur here, but I had to try.
And if I could obtain those dishes for Sayun and the other Hongseongmun disciples, even a slight increase in their physical abilities could be a huge advantage in the long run.
Little by little, a small advantage could accumulate into something significant.
“So? Where can I find him?” Chaejin asked, her curiosity piqued.
Chamo shrugged.
“You’ll probably find him at the Qingho Chariot Racing Arena.”
We finished our meal and headed towards the arena. It wasn’t that far; we could have walked.
And perhaps because this city was under Moonwoljeong’s influence, people bowed or moved aside when they saw Chaejin in her Moon Woljeong attire.
It made navigating the crowded streets surprisingly easy.
“Ooh, that looks delicious! Doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Wow! Look at that! A monkey breaking free from its chains! Isn’t that amazing?”
“Amazing, indeed.”
“…You’re no fun.”
“What kind of reaction are you expecting? Yangwiseong has plenty of street performers like that.”
We continued our sightseeing, eventually arriving at the Qingho Chariot Racing Arena.
The large building was surrounded by a wide, dirt track. It seemed like a short-distance race was about to begin. The crowd was roaring, clutching their betting slips.
“Run, Byeok Ryeok!”
“I’ve bet everything on you! Black Gale!!”
They said gambling dens were the best places to observe human desire.
And the Qingho Chariot Racing Arena was a prime example, filled with people blinded by the promise of instant riches.
Of course, not everyone here was a gambler.
There were also a few martial artists, here for the spectacle.
A few gamblers grumbled when they spotted a Taoist priest in his robes.
“Tch. What’s a Taoist doing in a place like this?”
Chaejin glanced at the Taoist. I shrugged.
“There’s no better training ground than this for Taoists and Buddhist monks.”
“What do you mean?”
“Human desires are often hidden, difficult to express outwardly. But the frenzy of greed here is undeniable. Even those who have achieved a certain level of enlightenment can easily confront their own desires in a place like this.”
Just as you couldn’t cut something you couldn’t see, once it was revealed, severing it was a simple matter.
For those who sought enlightenment through the renunciation of desire, this den of greed might actually be an excellent training ground.
“Oh, that’s an interesting perspective,” Chaejin said.
“Indeed. An interesting thought,” another voice chimed in.
I was startled. It wasn’t Chaejin’s voice.
I turned and saw a sturdy old woman with white hair. Her left eye was covered with a black eye patch.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I bowed respectfully, noticing the glint of interest in her one visible eye.
“I’m Yoo Wol, the innkeeper of Seomhwachon. Are you Chef Yohwan? Would you be interested in working at my inn?”
She shook her head.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
But then she chuckled and pulled out a set of Go pieces from her pocket.
“Ha. I was actually expecting to make a fortune today, so I’m not really interested in working for anyone. But since you’ve piqued my interest, I’ll give you a chance. How about a wager? If you win, I’ll work for you. Deal?”
“Deal.”
I knew about this from the game. I smiled and agreed. She led us to a large crate beside the racetrack, setting up the Go pieces on its surface.
“Pick one.”
“Whoever picks the highest-scoring piece wins?” Chaejin asked.
I ignored her question and picked a piece.
It was worth 8 points. Not bad, considering the highest possible score was 10.
Yohwan grinned, then reached for a piece herself.
As I was about to pick another one, Chaejin grabbed her hand, her expression cold.
“Your companion has sharp eyes. Is she your lover?”
“That’s… not true! But this is cheating! You’re a cheater!”
Chaejin had caught Yohwan with a hidden piece in her hand. It was a 9.
Even someone as skilled as Chaejin couldn’t be fooled so easily.
“Exposing my trick was part of the game, Miss Moon Woljeong.”
She was right. Yohwan had never said anything about the wager being about picking the highest-scoring piece. Chaejin had simply assumed that.
“Well then, I guess I win? Lady Chae is on my side, after all.”
I had expected her to protest.
I was the one who accepted the wager, even though Chaejin was the one who exposed her trick.
But Yohwan didn’t seem to care.
“Fine, fine. I was getting tired of this place anyway. I was thinking of leaving if someone from another town offered me a job.”
That was probably why she had accepted Sayun’s offer in Cheonsang Myeongwol.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
She pulled a betting slip from her pocket, her eyes gleaming.
“Since we’re going to be working together, how about I treat you to a drink? I placed a bet with some insider information. It’s going to be a big win!”
She led us to the racetrack, her excitement palpable.
The race had already begun. Chariots thundered across the dirt track, their drivers whipping their horses mercilessly.
Yohwan gripped her betting slip tightly, her body trembling.
One of the chariots crossed the finish line.
“Ah… aaah…”
She deflated, collapsing onto a chair like a puppet with its strings cut.
Her betting slip fluttered to the ground. I picked it up and checked.
She had bet on the chariot that came in fourth.
“I-it’s a draw… let’s call it a draw…”
I shook my head, ignoring her pleading whispers.
“Let’s go. My treat.”
That’s when I noticed the crowd dispersing.
Murmurs rippled through the arena as a woman emerged from the stands.
She wore the distinctive attire of a Moon Woljeong inner disciple. Her sharp, cold eyes and stern expression matched the rumors about her.
“…Chae Jeokyo.”
Chae Jeokyo.
Chaejin’s cousin, and one of the inner disciples vying for the position of head disciple. She had the backing of Byeoknoemun, one of Moon Woljeong’s sub-sects.
She was also one of the antagonists in Chaeryeon’s main story.
“Hmm… There you are. And the runaway head disciple as well?”
Chaejin glared at her as she spoke in a mocking tone. The woman laughed arrogantly, then turned to Yohwan and held out a hand.
“I heard about your little misfortune. You’re out of options, old woman. It’s time to come back to Moon Woljeong.”
“Ugh…”
Yohwan, groaning like a zombie, slowly looked up at her.
“I’d rather bite my tongue off and die than work for you.”
“Ha! But you don’t have anywhere else to go, do you?”
“I do. He came here to hire me.”
Yohwan pointed at me.
Chae Jeokyo turned her sharp gaze on me, her eyes piercing. She would have probably stabbed me with a fork if she had one. When I just stared back at her blankly, she chuckled.
And then,
“You?” she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
“That’s right.”
“Do you even know who she is?”
“I do.”
“You know about her past as a royal chef? Aha! You’re not even a martial artist, are you? You probably don’t know anything else about her.”
Yohwan’s face darkened. Her hands clenched around the arms of her chair, her knuckles turning white.
“She’s… a fallen priestess from the Amipa.”
A fallen priestess.
A Buddhist nun who had broken her vows and been expelled from her sect.
Such a severe punishment was only given for serious transgressions.
It was a valid reason for distrust. That’s why Chae Jeokyo looked so smug.
“I know.”
“You do! So… what?”
Yes, I knew.
I knew why Yohwan had been excommunicated. I also knew why the Amipa had chosen to punish her with confinement rather than exile.
And I knew that the Amipa, a powerful sect of Buddhist nuns located in Sichuan, had declared to the Murim Alliance that anyone who dared to harm her would face their wrath.
I also knew they had made an exception for those outside the Murim. They wouldn’t interfere if someone outside the martial arts world hired Yohwan, as long as they treated her well.
I knew that Yohwan still maintained contact with the Amipa through letters.
And…
I knew how crucial both Yohwan and the Amipa were to our scenario.
“Everyone knows that. It’s not exactly a secret. Even the Hao Mun, an evil sect, knows about it.”
Silence.
Chae Jeokyo, Yohwan, even her subordinates…
They stared at me, speechless.
Only Chaejin, looking strangely proud for some reason, nodded her head in approval.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
