Silk Threads and the Blacksmith's Call
The next day in Hanzhong. Just as Gyeong-a noona had boasted, we woke the following morning without the slightest incident. We left the inn at first light.
"They really didn't come looking for revenge," I muttered, glancing over my shoulder. Gyeong-a noona, walking beside me, gave a satisfied nod. "Told you so. I said nothing would happen."
The black-path thugs who'd picked a fight with us the night before had apparently fled with their tails between their legs; not a single one showed his face. I'd half-expected the usual cliché—some midnight revenge raid with a whole gang in tow—but it seemed they simply didn't have the spine for it.
"Anyway, just push through today. Once we reach Hanzhong tomorrow, we can rest properly. Hang in there even if it's tough."
"So how far have we actually come?"
"From Hanzhong, the Murim Alliance leader's residence in Chang'an is only a week's ride. We're really almost there."
"Ooh…."
Relief washed over me at the thought that the journey would soon be over, but then I remembered we'd have to endure the exact same ordeal on the way back to the village. The realization left me feeling strangely hollow.
Just then, Dokgo Rin—who had been watching our conversation with a slightly sour expression—suddenly grabbed my collar and tugged.
"Chilbok, massage my shoulders for me."
"Huh? Right now?"
"I must have slept wrong last night. Both shoulders are killing me."
She rolled her neck as she spoke, kneading her own shoulders. I sneaked a quick glance downward. They didn't look like shoulders that could possibly be stiff, but since the request came from Dokgo Rin of all people, I obediently started rubbing them.
Gyeong-a noona, watching us, broke into a sly, neighborhood-auntie smile. "Oh my, oh my. You two really are close, aren't you?"
She probably thought Dokgo Rin had a crush on me. To me it just looked like the whims of a teenage girl, but whatever.
Meanwhile, Dokgo Rin accepted the massage with a smug little expression—until Dokgo Seok and the escort warriors emerged from the stable behind the inn with the horses. Only then did she say that was enough and end the shoulder rub. She'd made a show of it to assert dominance over Gyeong-a noona, but she clearly cared about the onlookers. What an honest-to-a-fault tsundere, I thought, offering a wry smile.
Hanzhong. One of the places that appears constantly in tales of the Chu-Han contention or the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the basin was not only an excellent defensive position but also boasted fertile land and abundant produce. It had served as a vital military stronghold since ancient times. We had chosen it as our midway stop on the road to Chang'an because it was the transportation hub that connected to every city in Shaanxi.
"Whoa—"
Passing through the city gates into the streets, we were greeted by a bustling market district. Countless merchants called out to potential customers in front of their shops, and the passersby looked far more refined than the country folk we'd grown used to. This was the first major city I'd seen since possessing this body, so everything felt fresh and fascinating. It was like walking onto the set of a massive historical film.
Dokgo Seok, watching me from the side, grinned in amusement. "Haha! Chilbok, it looks like everything in Hanzhong is new to you!"
Startled by the sudden remark, I answered in a fluster. "Ah, yes. This is my first time in a real city."
"Then what's your impression of the city?"
I looked around once before answering. "It's big."
From behind Dokgo Seok, Gyeong-a noona burst out laughing. "Pfft—"
The escort warriors couldn't hold it in either.
"Heh."
"Out of everything he could say, he goes with 'it's big.'"
"He's still a kid, so pure."
"……."
I'd answered without thinking, but now I wanted to crawl into a hole. Everyone was going to think my head was full of flowers.
After a few minor twists and turns, we decided to stay for three days at the largest inn in Hanzhong, the Dragon Gate Inn. The long journey had left us all exhausted, and we needed to replenish our travel supplies. Thanks to that, Dokgo Rin and I unexpectedly found ourselves with free time. We decided to make the most of it by heading out to explore Hanzhong's market.
Of course, the two kids weren't going alone; we brought two escort warriors with us.
"So, Lady Rin, what exactly are you planning to buy at the market?"
I asked from a step behind her. Dokgo Rin, who seemed to be in an unusually good mood today, glanced back.
"What do you think I came to buy, Chilbok?"
Suddenly? And don't answer a question with another question. I grumbled internally but racked my brain anyway.
"The preparation materials you mentioned last time…?"
"Hee hee. That's part of it, but not everything."
She turned to look at me with her hands clasped behind her back. Normally her slightly silly behavior kept me from noticing, but up close like this, there was no denying it—Dokgo Rin was a genuine beauty. Even in plain traveling clothes for the long journey, her radiant features couldn't be hidden. People on the street kept stealing glances. If the two scary-looking escort warriors hadn't been glaring daggers at everyone, someone probably would have tried to talk to her already.
"Anyway, let's head to the fabric shop first. I need to buy something there."
"Got it."
I nodded and, after a quick look back at the escort warriors, took the lead. It was my subtle way of telling them to follow.
The fabric shop I guided Dokgo Rin and the guards to was one I'd spotted the day before while walking the streets. Fabric shops were everywhere in any market, but unlike the future, there was no price-comparison system here. If you didn't know the market rates, you'd get ripped off. Trying to haggle blindly with merchants in that situation would be like trying to teach a fish to swim. So I'd chosen a shop that didn't seem likely to scam us. After all, busy shops usually had a reason for their popularity.
"Welcome," the goat-bearded owner said with a slight nod as we entered. It was a greeting that walked the perfect line between polite and curt. His dry attitude actually made me trust him more. There were far too many merchants who tried to sweet-talk you into buying extra junk.
"Look around. Ask if you have any questions."
With that, the owner returned his attention to the paper newspaper in his hands. Dokgo Rin scanned the interior with an intrigued expression.
"Hmm—"
One of the escort warriors leaned forward slightly. "Is there something specific you're looking for, my lady?"
Dokgo Rin gave a small nod. "I need a suitable spool of thread. Ideally Thousand Silk, if you have it."
"Thousand Silk, you say?"
The warrior glanced at the owner, who was still reading his newspaper. The man let out a small sigh, stood up, and began rummaging through his shelves.
"Any particular color?"
"Color doesn't matter. But I'd prefer a spool with a lot of thread wound on it."
At the specific request, the owner pulled out a large spool wrapped with a great deal of white Thousand Silk.
"Would this amount do? We do have smaller ones if you prefer."
"That's perfect. I'll take it."
When Dokgo Rin pulled out her coin pouch, the owner simply nodded and handed over the spool. "It's normally stocked for repairs, so three silver coins will do."
Dokgo Rin paid the price without bargaining. It was more expensive than I'd expected, so I glanced at the escort warriors just in case, but they didn't object. It must have been the fair market price.
"Thank you. Please come again."
After leaving the shop to the owner's polite farewell, I asked Dokgo Rin curiously, "My lady, what exactly is Thousand Silk that it costs so much?"
She shrugged. "It's thread drawn from the cocoons of mountain silkworms. It's far tougher and more durable than regular silk thread used for fine fabrics, so it commands a high price."
"Ooh…."
So even among ordinary threads, this was a premium grade. Understanding that, I hurried after her before suddenly remembering something else.
"Come to think of it, my lady, you said we had somewhere else to go besides the fabric shop. Where are we heading now?"
Dokgo Rin, walking ahead, raised her right hand and pointed. Curious, I followed the direction of her finger—straight toward a forge where half-naked men were sweating over anvils.
"…The blacksmith?"
Why there all of a sudden?