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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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As I had seen in Celestial Moonlight, the Moonwave Hall was quite a large estate. As she guided us inside to the meeting hall, Chaejin quietly approached me and said,
“Innkeeper. Are you alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you know.”
She must have heard about the situation.
I could feel the gazes of people staring at us from all around. But what could I do about it? I shook my head, and she stood slightly beside me and said calmly,
“I’ll protect you no matter what.”
“Thank you.”
“Th-That’s. You know. My job as a bodyguard?”
She grinned and walked confidently. The place we entered was a fairly large hall within the estate. The atmosphere inside was quite unsettling.
Well, it wouldn’t be good after such an incident. I took a seat, and accordingly, Chaejin sat next to me. How long had we waited like that?
Everyone stood up. A man walked in through the largest door of the hall.
“Large” would be the most fitting description. He had tiger-like eyes, a thick beard, and broad shoulders. The man, with a rock-like presence, overwhelmed the room just by entering.
The Master of the Sword. One of the ten strongest people in the world, and a person who had been granted the honorary title of Duke Cheong Ho by the Empire.
Was it because I was involved in this incident? As soon as he entered, he gave me a fiery gaze, and since I had no reason to avoid it, I met his gaze as well.
“Let’s begin.”
After staring at me for a moment, he took a seat, and everyone sat down. Chae Ryeon started.
Was it because she had heard the situation on the way and had decided to take charge of this matter? Or was it because she was involved in the major and minor affairs of the Moonwave Hall? The people gathered in the meeting room listened quietly to Chae Ryeon’s story.
“I see. So? Why does the Senior Disciple, who punished Cha Jeokyo, have nothing to say? Chaejin. Do you intend to remain silent?”
Chaejin, who stood up under the gaze of many people, was trembling slightly. Was she nervous? After taking a deep breath, she clenched her fists tightly. And she spoke with her usual confident voice, no longer trembling.
“Cha Jeokyo…”
Although she stuttered slightly, Chaejin’s explanation was accurate. That Cha Jeokyo had targeted Yohan, and that she had intended to use her to research the martial arts of the Emei Sect.
That she had tarnished the name of the Moonwave Hall by pursuing only strength, and that she had been punished as the Senior Disciple. As she finished speaking, the Master of the Sword, who had been listening quietly, grinned.
“I see. Does the Byeokroe Sect have anything to say?”
“…Nothing. I didn’t know that child would go so far. Even so, I brought her here, made her my daughter, taught her, and took care of her. So, as a father, I must take responsibility for this incident. I will give up all the work I am currently in charge of and resign from all my positions in the Moonwave Hall. Also… the Byeokroe Sect will be sealed off for five years, and everything will be transferred to the Moonwave Hall.”
The man, who had had a dark expression from the beginning and had sighed repeatedly whenever Chaejin spoke, said with a depressed look. He had acted like this when Cha Jeokyo died in Celestial Moonlight as well.
This was the same.
“How cold. Even though she’s your adopted daughter, you don’t even protest when she’s killed…”
“Well, isn’t that taking responsibility?”
He had accepted Cha Jeokyo, taught her, and raised her, so he was accepting that. I answered Changju, who was whispering behind me.
“Haa…”
Chaejin, who sat down heavily, was fidgeting. Her face was flushed, and her body was still trembling with lingering emotion.
“Are you alright?”
“…Yes. Thanks to you.”
“What did I do?”
“There’s something.”
While we were having a quiet conversation, I could hear the conversation of other people.
It wasn’t about forgiving Cha Jeokyo or covering up the incident, but rather that this incident should not be overlooked.
If they had tried to just let it go or just cut off the tail, I would have said something, but since that wasn’t the case, I stayed quiet.
“Then let’s conclude the handling of this matter here. And.”
The Master of the Sword stood up. And he came to where we were sitting.
“As the head of the Moonwave Hall, I sincerely apologize for not properly teaching my disciple.”
He bowed deeply. Changju and Yohan were startled by this, but I just bowed back.
“I appreciate the Moonwave Hall’s judgment.”
Slowly, he straightened up. And he stared at me intently, then burst into laughter.
“Seomhwachon is where the Hongseong Clan is, right? Have you met the Sword Saint, that young child?”
Young child? Ah, right.
According to the setting, when the Hongseong Clan was in turmoil, Nayelin, who was left alone, became the clan leader, elder, and disciple in her late teens.
Considering the time she spent receiving disciples like Hongryun and Sayun since then, she would be in her thirties at most…
With her powerful internal energy and martial arts cultivated based on her overflowing talent, and her youthful appearance, probably due to being naturally young-looking, and her actual age being younger than the Master of the Sword, he was right to consider her a young child.
“Yes. I’ve met her a few times.”
“Is that so…”
Did he want to say something more? Uncharacteristically, he stared at me and hesitated for a moment, but he soon shook his head.
“I will definitely compensate you for this incident. I don’t know if this will satisfy you, but if there is anything you want, please tell Chae Ryeon.”
That was the end of it. He grinned at Chaejin, who was sitting next to me, and then roughly stroked her hair.
“Well done.”
With that, he left, and Chaejin touched her hair and smiled. As soon as he left the meeting room, Yohan and Changju slumped down as if they were exhausted.
“Whew, hoo.”
“…As expected. By the way, innkeeper. Are you alright?”
The Master of the Sword’s gaze had been a bit sharp earlier, but I wasn’t someone who would be intimidated by a mere gaze. I shrugged, and in the meantime, Chae Ryeon approached us.
“Did you hear everything? If there is anything you want, please write it down. I will do my best to compensate you. Now then. I will prepare accommodations for you. Everyone, go and rest.”
And so, the trip to Cheongho, where many things had happened, was coming to an end.
The next morning. The things we had submitted yesterday were placed in front of us as we gathered for breakfast.
“Ooh…”
Changju was trembling with emotion as she looked at a red brush.
It was an artifact called the Blood-Hwa Brush. It was made from the fur of a monster called Chonghwa, and in Celestial Moonlight, a talisman user with the Blood-Hwa Brush could use stronger talismans.
And in Yohan’s hand was a small dagger, about the size of a palm. At first glance, it looked ordinary, but it was also one of the artifacts, a dagger with the name “Trace of the Butcher.”
Many cooks desired it, but only a few could wield it. In Celestial Moonlight, the effect of the medicinal cuisine made by a medicinal chef with this would increase, so it was nothing but beneficial for me.
And in my hand was a silver plaque.
“I didn’t expect them to actually give me the Moonwave Plaque.”
One of the ten strongest people in the world. This plaque could be used to call upon the Master of the Sword once.
In Celestial Moonlight, it only appeared as an event, and for me, it was a powerful card that could allow me to avoid the worst-case scenario once.
If they had refused, I was going to use this as an excuse to ask for good medicinal herbs. I was also a little surprised to receive more compensation than expected.
“My father and mothers said it was okay to give it to you.”
“Honestly, I thought you would refuse.”
“Ahaha. Didn’t my father say it? He said he would properly compensate for this incident.”
“You could ask Master Do for personal support. Are you sure?”
“Well? I don’t think the innkeeper is the type to use this plaque for personal gain, and my father must have thought so too, so he allowed it. Anyway. You said you were leaving today, right? Shouldn’t you be leaving soon?”
That’s true. I wanted to say goodbye to Master Do, but he was busy with the aftermath of this incident. After hearing that he wanted me to visit again later, we got on the carriage.
When we came, Chaejin was sitting alone in the back seat, but now there are four of us. As I was looking at them sitting huddled together in the back seat, I grabbed the reins again…
Huh?
Why are there four? I looked back again, and asked Chae Ryeon, an unexpected person sitting there,
“Why are you here?”
“Ah. I didn’t tell you. I was planning to challenge a secret realm.”
“So?”
“It’s a secret realm a little further down from Yangwi Fortress… Since it’s on the way, let’s go together. You’re taking the official road, right?”
Chae Ryeon took out a piece of paper from the bag next to her. Goodness. It’s even more valuable than what I have.
“It’s the Moonwave Hall. The Moonwave Hall. We can easily issue official road permits.”
After saying that, Chae Ryeon clapped her hands lightly. Then, the white-clad warriors who were preparing outside, the Moonlight Guard, the elite of the Moonwave Hall, quickly took their positions.
“It’s good to have an escort as well, right?”
“Miss Chae is the escort.”
“Haha. That’s true. But it’s good to go together, right?”
As Chae Ryeon smiled and spoke, Chaejin let out a deep sigh.
It was a journey on the official road anyway, so there was no particular danger.
Of course, it wasn’t that monsters or bandits didn’t appear on the official road, but the official road was patrolled by guards. Because of that, the number of monsters or bandits was significantly reduced compared to ordinary roads.
As such, the Moonlight Guard members currently accompanying this journey were definitely excessive, but they were quite faithful to their duties.
After traveling safely like that, we arrived at the official road’s campsite in the evening, and our party stopped moving.
First, we had to eat dinner, so when I was about to prepare a campfire, one of the Moonlight Guards approached and quickly made a campfire.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
The Moonlight Guard member, who replied politely, stepped back.
After that, other Moonlight Guard members prepared the camp. Hmm. I have nothing to do. Feeling awkward, I looked at the setting sun.
It’s almost time for training…
“Now. Shall we have fun training again today?”
“Let’s do that.”
As expected, Chaejin approached me and stood in front of me, taking a stance.
Meanwhile, Chae Ryeon, who had been instructing the Moonlight Guard members to prepare the camp, tilted her head and started approaching us.
“I heard from my sister. You’re learning the Chae Family Taichi, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Learn it well. My sister is good at it.”
And she crouched down in front of the campfire. She was watching with a characteristic fox-like smile, which made me a little nervous. But what did it matter?
“Let’s begin. First is Wonhwagwang.”
Chaejin, as if she didn’t care, stood in front of me as usual. Her outstretched right hand was light, as if holding a cup.
At the same time, Chaejin twisted her right hand and slowly extended her left hand, which had been at her waist. Accordingly, I also extended my right hand. And it naturally touched Chaejin’s right hand.
“…Oof!”
The moment our fingertips touched, Chaejin’s hand shot up to the sky. Huh? This isn’t Wonhwagwang? I looked at Chaejin, and she hesitated, looking very embarrassed.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“No. Is there a problem?”
“Haa… It’s really nothing. Now. L-Let’s do it again.”
The outstretched right hand again. That hand and my hand touched, and this time, they didn’t separate. But her fingertips were trembling differently than usual, as if she was trying to teach a new technique.
“…Aren’t you going to do it?”
“I have to! Now! Taejeonggiho. The Great Ultimate is bound to move according to stillness. Its momentum is sufficiently like a tiger, rough and violent, but what follows it is ultimately softness. Think carefully about the movement of a willow tree.”
Although her tone was a little higher than usual, Chaejin’s teaching was neat. The movement of a willow tree.
As if swaying in the wind, Chaejin’s right hand swayed, and accordingly, my right hand, which was touching hers, also swayed. Slowly, but surely. Chaejin’s movements and my movements were synchronizing.
“It is said that ‘Bujinjanggang Gongonrae’. Even though the great river has momentum, it flows leisurely. That is flow, and that will also lead to softness. Ultimately, the Chae Family Taichi can be seen as aiming for a river-like movement.”
“You mean to pursue softness within strength?”
“Yes. It is said that ‘The highest good is like water,’ right? Water changes freely to fit everything, so it can be said to be the essence of softness.”
Even while speaking softly, Chaejin’s hand was moving quickly. Fast like a river. Strong like a river. Soft like a river.
As one movement had to contain many meanings, even with the teaching of Chaejin, the top instructor of the Chae Family Taichi, training was never easy. But she just smiled as usual and taught me.
“Ugh.”
“You can link other techniques here. It’s a kind of grappling technique… It’s called Samwon Su. It’s a grappling technique that goes very well with the Chae Family Taichi, so try to learn it in your spare time. I saw you fighting last time, and you seemed to be weak in grappling.”
“Because I haven’t learned it.”
“Hehe. I’ll keep teaching you. I told you before, right? I can’t allow you to leave until your skills reach a level that I can acknowledge.”
Chaejin smiled broadly, as if she was having a lot of fun, and after that, the training continued as usual. As we were taking a break during training, I turned my head at the gaze I felt from the campfire.
Whether she was smiling, surprised, or dumbfounded, it was hard to describe her expression. Chae Ryeon was staring blankly at Chaejin with her mouth open.
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She knows.