Training...? (5)
“Wouldn't that work...?”
Her sparkling eyes gazed up at me as she nestled my arm between her ample breasts. Without hesitation, I opened my mouth.
“Of course it would!”
The immediate response slipped out before I knew it. In the same instant, Hong Yeonhwa's pitiful expression flipped into a triumphant smile, as if the vulnerability had never been there.
“No matter how I think about it, it seems thou dost like this lady far too much.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
Paeng Soso crossed her arms, nodding beside us as if it were the most absurd thing.
...Stop with the gaslighting! Making an offer I can't refuse and then reacting like that is too much!
Hong Yeonhwa, oblivious or perhaps ignoring my grievance, puffed out her generous chest and nodded repeatedly.
“Worry not overly much. This lady is not so uncouth. Thou must eat, after all, so I'll leave thee enough strength to hold thy chopsticks.”
That irked me for no good reason, so I pressed my chin firmly against the top of her head.
“How's this? This lady's reasonable... nngh... eeeng...”
Her smug expression melted away in an instant.
Crown of the head... weak spot... note note...
Despite the muscle aches wracking my body, I flashed a victor's smile at Paeng Soso.
“Now let's find an inn. We need a training spot too—somewhere spacious but not too crowded...”
Paeng Soso stared blankly at Hong Yeonhwa, who let out “Kueeng, hieeng” with every word I spoke as I prodded her scalp. She finally snapped out of it, shaking her head a couple times before mumbling.
“Th-that... I know a good place. This is one of the biggest cities in Hebei Province, so I've come here to play a lot since I was little. ...Though back then it was always with Father and big bro.”
Paeng Soso's voice grew a touch softer. Coming to a place tied to family memories after running away must be stirring up complicated feelings. Without making a fuss, I calmly followed her lead, pushing through the crowds along the bustling streets.
The sun was setting, yet the people only multiplied. Lanterns began to glow one by one, and the buildings grew more ornate than elsewhere. We'd arrived in what could only be called the city's most prosperous district. Paeng Soso stretched out her arm straight ahead.
“There! That's the place I've been to a few times!”
“Whoa...”
My jaw dropped. And for good reason—it was unmistakably the most luxurious building around.
Thinking back, I should've realized it from how Paeng Soso mentioned coming here often with her family. The Paeng family in Hebei weren't overflowing with wealth, but as one of the Five Great Families, they had the stature to match. Family outings wouldn't involve pinching pennies.
Even with money to spare, staying somewhere like that felt excessive...
Seeing my reaction, Paeng Soso grinned mischievously and wagged her finger.
“Not there—a bit to the side.”
“???”
Looking closer, her fingertip pointed to a modest inn overshadowed by the grand structure next door.
“Because of the huge inn right beside it, it doesn't get many guests, and the prices are cheap. And it's not small at all once you're inside—it's pretty spacious. I bet it matches exactly what you're looking for, benefactor.”
“Heh... Be honest, Lady Paeng. You picked this on purpose, right?”
“A little? But it really is a place I came to with Father. He doesn't like anywhere too noisy.”
Paeng Soso spun around with hands behind her back, giggling. Was it because we were somewhere familiar, or had she grown more comfortable with us? A playful glint peeked through her usual polite demeanor.
Well, not bad—we'd be traveling together for a while anyway. Either way, we'd reached the inn, so I tried to lift my chin from Hong Yeonhwa's head... but she, who'd been quietly enjoying the contact until now, subtly ducked away on her own.
What the? Glancing down in confusion, I saw her glaring sharply at Paeng Soso—or rather, behind her.
Thud thud thud.
Only then did I notice a boy emerging from the lavish inn next door, heading straight toward us. He looked about fourteen or fifteen. Dressed in fine clothes, this handsome young man was accompanied by two women who seemed like escorts.
Some noble kid? Paeng Soso turned at the odd vibe from him, and their eyes met. The boy called out brightly.
“I never thought I'd run into you here! Long time no see, sis!”
“Huh? Oh? No way, is that Juwon?”
“That's right! It's me!”
They knew each other? Paeng Soso seemed genuinely fond. That aside, his beaming smile felt oddly off-putting, like he was wearing a mask.
The two women behind him stood blankly expressionless by contrast, which sent a chill down my spine. How could anyone be that devoid of emotion? Their presence was eerily faint too. Even accounting for my mediocre qi sense, it was extreme.
Hong Yeonhwa must have felt the same wariness toward the trio. Paeng Soso, welcoming the boy warmly, noticed our reactions and gave a wry smile.
“I get why the benefactors are on guard, but no need to worry. This kid is...”
“Ah, hold on, sis. I'm not a little kid anymore—I can introduce myself.”
Interrupting her, the boy kept his smile and raised a fist, cupping it with his other hand in greeting.
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Eon Ju-won, young heir of the Jinju Eon family. I've known sis since we were kids, so I got carried away and interrupted your chat.”
“Ah.”
That explained the unpleasant dissonance I'd felt from the three. The Jinju Eon family—yeah, that tracks.
“Jin Sochan. Bumping into an acquaintance in an unexpected place happens. I get it.”
“This lady is Hong Yeonhwa.”
I returned the cupped-fist salute, and Hong Yeonhwa tilted her head curiously but followed my lead. Paeng Soso, seeing her confusion, quickly added an explanation about the Eon family.
“The Jinju Eon family is famous for jiangshi arts and ghost limb techniques. The weird feeling you're getting is probably the natural aversion to jiangshi arts.”
“Jiangshi arts...? Dost thou mean jiangshi truly exist? I thought them mere tall tales.”
Hong Yeonhwa blinked her pink eyes wide. Eon Ju-won, who'd been surprised by her being called a benefactor like us, proudly pointed to his two escorts.
“Of course! These two are jiangshi right now!”
“What?! ...Hmm. Now that I look, they breathe not, nor do their hearts beat.”
Hong Yeonhwa circled them curiously, but the ominous vibe nagging me since earlier made me grab her nape and pull her back. She didn't resist, stumbling backward until the back of her small head rested against my chest. I explained instead.
“They're corpses, so obviously. But don't underestimate them. They can use martial arts just like in life, and their bodies are tougher physically—supposedly better fighters than when alive.”
Still in that position, she peeked up at me and blinked.
“That seems odd. If jiangshi were so superior, would not everyone use them, or none at all?”
“...You're right?”
Her words made sense, and as I blinked along with her...
“Ahaha! There are rumors like that, but only a rare few jiangshi are stronger than in life.”
Eon Ju-won, overhearing, stroked one jiangshi's arm with obvious affection.
...Caressing a corpse like that gives me the creeps.
“You have to process the body with special methods before it decays, and the higher their martial prowess in life, the more skilled the caster needs to be. From super peak onward, they can't fully replicate martial arts either. Once made, transferring control is easy, but... most go to the imperial court.”
Those supplied jiangshi guarded borders against barbarians or served in the emperor's personal guard, obeying only his commands.
The imperial court... That was the biggest reason the Jinju Eon family thrived despite their creepy jiangshi arts—they groveled to the throne. The court oversaw every step transparently. This let the Eons dodge suspicion and prosper, while the emperor got free elite troops.
A martial family famed for ghost limb arts, yet also bureaucrats loyal to the throne for their jiangshi craft. That was the Jinju Eon family.
Hong Yeonhwa nodded, seeming to grasp it. Her world's Murim apparently had no jiangshi.
“I never expected to run into my runaway sis on the way to the Yongbong Tournament.”
“Huh? Well, I'm participating too. ...Wait, how'd you know I ran away?!”
“Paeng family head sent word everywhere to let him know if we spotted you.”
“Uwaa...”
Eon Ju-won shrugged at Paeng Soso's panicked face.
“Don't worry. I won't tell Paeng family head.”
“Thanks! Really, thank you!”
Eon Ju-won nodded meaningfully while Paeng Soso gushed gratitude. It looked like a heartwarming sibling scene at a glance... but something felt off. Especially that smile, which had shifted subtly.
Was it the inherent creepiness of jiangshi arts? Or...
While I pondered, Paeng Soso and Eon Ju-won finished chatting and exchanged farewells.
“See you at the Yongbong Tournament then, sis. And sis's benefactors.”
“Yeah. I won't go easy next time—get ready!”
Paeng Soso waved warmly to the end. As if all the negative vibes I'd felt were just my imagination.