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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Sayun sighed, looking at the boxes in her hands. She’d only helped briefly, yet she’d received so much.
“Should we really be accepting this?”
“Y-yeah…”
According to Hong Seong-mun’s teachings, those with power shouldn’t expect compensation when helping the powerless.
But could this truly be considered violating those teachings? Neither of them could answer definitively.
Yuwol was wealthy and always insisted on paying.
Furthermore, helping expand his inn meant assisting him in making more money, hardly qualifying as aiding the powerless. Therefore, accepting compensation wasn’t an issue.
Recalling his logic, Yu-hee shook her head.
“Ugh, this kind of thing is difficult for me… but both Senior Disciple and Innkeeper Yu said it’s fine to accept things from him, so… it should be okay, right?”
“I… guess? I feel so indebted to him every time.”
“Hmm. Let’s just keep it simple. The other senior disciples like the mooncakes and sweets, too, right? And the innkeeper works with Hong Seong-mun. Think of helping him as helping Hong Seong-mun. It’s not like we’re accepting charity from a stranger…”
“I-is that right?”
It was flimsy reasoning, but they couldn’t return the gifts now. As they headed back to the sect, Sayun and Yu-hee decided to simply enjoy the treats.
“Oh my, you’re back?”
A woman at the gate greeted them with a smile. It was Hyeon-ju, a disciple of Hong Seong-mun and Sayun and Yu-hee’s senior.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, well…”
They explained what had happened, and Hyeon-ju smiled. There was no problem if that was the case. Many of the other disciples also earned compensation for their labor.
Relieved, they handed their packages to Hyeon-ju, who suddenly remembered something.
“Speaking of which, Sayun, something arrived for you earlier.”
“Oh?! Really?! Did Mister send it?”
“Heehee. Judging by the lack of a sender’s name, I’d say so.”
Sayun’s face brightened noticeably. It was no secret within Hong Seong-mun who “Mister” referred to.
Hyeon-ju smiled gently, winking at Sayun.
“You seem happy.”
“Yes!!”
Sayun replied, brimming with joy.
Back at the sect, Hong-ryeon called for Sayun. She’d apparently set aside the letter from “Mister.”
Sayun hurried to Hong-ryeon’s room, and sure enough, an unopened box sat on Hong-ryeon’s desk.
“Oh, are you embroidering?”
Sayun asked, noticing the embroidery kit next to the box. Hong-ryeon glanced at it and nodded.
“I need to work on it whenever I have time.”
“The innkeeper gave us mooncakes and sweets as a gift today.”
“Hmm. Did you just accept them?”
“Not exactly…”
After hearing the explanation, Hong-ryeon chuckled and nodded. There was no issue if it was like that.
“Can I open it now?”
“It’s yours, so do as you wish. If you want to look at it later, that’s fine too.”
“Hmm… I want to see it with Master.”
“Alright. Let’s look at it together after dinner.”
Hong-ryeon stroked Sayun’s hair, and she nodded happily.
After dinner, the interested parties gathered: the Sword Saint, Hong-ryeon, Ryu-hyeon, Yu-hee, and Sayun.
Others were curious as well, but they needed to prepare themselves, just in case another hidden area was involved, like last time.
As those who boasted of achieving enlightenment or outperforming others left for training, the Sword Saint looked at Sayun with anticipation.
“Shall we open it?”
“Yes.”
Sayun opened the box, her heart pounding with anticipation. Inside, as always, was a single silver coin.
And a letter.
Sayun swallowed hard and unfolded the letter. It was quite thick; perhaps it contained a map, like last time.
She peeked inside, and indeed, one page was a map. The location was marked near the midway point of Mount Hongseong, inside a valley slightly east of Dragon Head Rock.
As Hong-ryeon examined the map, recalling the terrain of the area, known for frequent ghost sightings and therefore avoided by Hong Seong-mun disciples, Sayun unfolded the other letter.
[I received what you sent. Thank you, always.]
“He, hehe…”
Oh my god!! Mister thanked her! What to do! Sayun suppressed a squeal of delight and moved on to the next line.
[I know you’re always working hard. I know you’re persevering. But running too hard will only lead to exhaustion.]
“…Right…?”
[Don’t try to shoulder everything alone. You’re not alone in this world. There are many people who support you and watch over you. And…]
Sayun tilted her head, puzzled.
[Your master is one of them. A master doesn’t always need to be a pillar, and a disciple doesn’t always need to lean. Remember that the character for “person” (人) can stand because two people support each other.]
“…Ha.”
The Sword Saint, who had approached, glanced at the letter and gasped. As Sayun smiled awkwardly, the Sword Saint ruffled her hair a bit forcefully.
“You little rascal. Did you write to ‘Mister’ about me?”
“Master’s been so down lately. I thought Mister might have some advice… and since he knows a lot about Hong Seong-mun, he’s not a stranger… and, um…”
“I told her to ask him, too,”
Hong-ryeon interjected.
“…You too?”
The Sword Saint was surprised. She’d heard that Hong-ryeon helped Sayun with her letters to Mister, offering suggestions and proofreading, but she hadn’t expected this.
“Of course, it’s because Sayun is worried about you, Master. And as expected of ‘Mister.’ He gave such sound advice. It’s okay to lean on us sometimes. I’m not as overwhelmed as before.”
It wasn’t a lie. Hong Seong-mun was different now. The Sword Saint looked at her disciples and chuckled.
“I’ll be sure to do that someday. Anyway… shall we explore this hidden area? Hong-ryeon, why don’t you take the children there after you’ve studied the location?”
“How about we go together this time? You didn’t enter last time either. We have the resources to set up a barrier around the sect now.”
“Th-that’s true, but…”
Hesitation laced her voice. As the sect leader of Hong Seong-mun, still inadequate in her own eyes, she felt apprehensive about entering a hidden area meant to benefit the sect.
Seeing this, Sayun tightly grasped the Sword Saint’s hand.
“Don’t worry, Master! We’ll be by your side if you find it difficult! No matter what, you’re our Master!”
The Sword Saint couldn’t help but smile.
“Alright. I’ll go tell the other disciples.”
“Ah, wait a moment. There’s one more line.”
There was one more line on the last page. Everyone focused on the letter as Sayun spoke.
“‘Decide for yourself how to use what you gain’…?”
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Before venturing into the hidden area, they needed to find a way to reach it. The location indicated on the map was a part of Mount Hongseong notorious for ghost sightings.
Though ghosts posed little threat to those who practiced the Hong Seong Divine Art, it was still wise to be prepared.
“Shall I try this?”
Though there was much to do, Hong-ryeon couldn’t stand idly by when her fellow disciples needed help.
Volunteering for the reconnaissance mission, she arrived at Dragon Head Rock and pulled a small bell from her pouch.
“Ah! That!”
“Hmm? That’s… a spirit bell.”
“Oh? You know about it, Master?”
“Of course. It’s quite a rare item. How did you acquire it?”
“I obtained it after defeating a demonic cultist at Changun Temple. But how… how do I use it…?”
“You infuse it with internal energy and ring it!” Sayun exclaimed, recalling Nam Tae-hyun’s explanation at Changun Temple.
Hong-ryeon nodded and channeled her internal energy into the bell.
Perhaps due to the potent energy of the Hong Seong Divine Art, the small bell resonated with the sound of a large temple bell.
-GOOOOONG!!!
The sound instantly spread, enveloping the surroundings, and the hazy figures lurking nearby scattered as if fleeing.
“Wow, this is effective.”
“Indeed. There are stories of spirit bells being used to repel even powerful ghosts from the underworld.”
“We should thank Innkeeper Yu.”
Hong-ryeon murmured and walked forward, ringing the spirit bell several more times to ward off ghosts. Finally, they found the entrance to the ravine, shrouded in a hazy mist.
She felt a twinge of apprehension about entering a place she normally avoided.
“Shall I go first?”
“Oh? No. Let’s go together. Master, please watch our backs.”
“Alright.”
Holding Sayun’s hand, Hong-ryeon stepped into the ravine. A thick, ominous energy lingered inside, but the spirit bell and the Hong Seong Divine Art kept them safe.
After some time, deep within the dark ravine, Sayun spotted something in the moonlight.
“There’s a place to light torches over there!”
“Let’s see…”
With a surge of internal energy, Hong-ryeon ignited the torch on the wall. And in that instant…
“As expected… it’s another hidden area. How does that Mister know about these things?”
A hidden area, its entrance sealed and emanating a red aura, materialized before them.
Sayun nodded and stepped forward. As before, a procedure to verify their use of the Hong Seong Divine Art commenced.
“Phew…”
Finally, after the tense Sword Saint’s entry was approved, they were all granted access.
As the red aura dissipated and the entrance opened, the Sword Saint turned to Hong-ryeon.
“It’s better to bring the other disciples now, right? I’ll go get them.”
“Yes. Please.”
The Sword Saint vanished instantly. Sayun silently gazed at the hidden area.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing… I was just thinking. What if it hadn’t been for Mister?”
“Hmm… I suppose so.”
If it hadn’t been for Mister… yes, so much would have been different. They wouldn’t have gone to find the elixir for Sayun, and thus, they wouldn’t have met him.
And if he hadn’t warned them about the Iron Blood Group, would Hong Seong-mun still be standing?
Hong-ryeon stroked Sayun’s hair.
“Huh?”
“We should always be grateful to that Mister.”
“Ehehe. Right? I’m going to send him another letter after we clear this hidden area.”
A brief silence followed. Hong-ryeon, watching Sayun thinking about Mister, sat down and shared her thoughts.
“They say that meeting someone without any warning or ceremony is destiny. Perhaps… that ‘Mister’ is part of your destiny, Sa-yun. Something unavoidable, a destined encounter.”
“Hmm… do you think so?”
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Forget it. It was just a thought.”
Hong-ryeon fanned her flushed face, embarrassed by her words. Sa-yun simply smiled.
“I’d really like it if that were true. That meeting Mister was destiny. And meeting Master. And coming to Hong Seong-mun…” G
azing at the hidden area, she took Hong-ryeon’s hand.
“And feeling this undeserved happiness I experience every day.”
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