The Talk of Chang'an (3)
"So I rushed all the way to Chang'an, only to find the Gold Tripod Merchant Alliance's hall empty and no messages left behind. I was wondering if I'd have to head to Hangzhou alone when I ran into you, young lady. What a stroke of luck."
Yang So-chang had clearly been pushing himself to catch up with our group. Once matters in Xining were settled, he'd ridden nonstop—except for sleep—straight to Chang'an. It wasn't strange that he'd arrived around the same time as us, who had stayed two days in Lanzhou before turning back after three days' travel.
"I see."
This was troublesome. Jo Jae-ui and Chief Manager Gong were convinced I had been captured by Cho Yak and was stuck in Lanzhou. If Yang So-chang met me now and I rejoined the group in haste, the story would fall apart.
"So how did you end up traveling separately from Young Master Jo? And who is this young lady?"
Coming up with an excuse wasn't difficult. Since I'd already located Yu Baek, it made sense that I'd prioritize meeting him. Jo Jae-ui would understand if I claimed I'd persuaded Cho Yak to let me accompany her as a Yama Hall Messenger on the way to see him. It wasn't entirely a lie, either.
Of course, even if I'd found Yu Baek before borrowing the Gold Tripod Merchant Alliance's power, a promise was still a promise. I was someone who kept my word, so I would stop by Hangzhou. But what harm was there in changing the order a little?
"The truth is, I've agreed to accompany Cho Chasa on her business here."
I glanced at Cho Yak. She nodded, caught off guard.
Yang So-chang let out a low hum. "Hmm... I hate to say it, but what about the contract? If the Gold Tripod Merchant Alliance takes offense, it might not matter to you, young lady, but it'll make things very inconvenient for me."
"Young Master Jo and Chief Manager Gong already know. In fact, they think I'm still being held by Cho Chasa, so they'll be relieved to hear I've been released. Just tell them I'm traveling with her until I meet Yu Baek."
"Ah, Yu Baek!" Yang So-chang exclaimed softly. "I'd heard rumors of a martial artist claiming to be the protagonist of the young lady's paseol. But I can't fathom how that led to traveling with a Yama Hall Messenger from the Demon Sect."
"...How did you know she was a Yama Hall Messenger of the Demon Sect?"
"Anyone who's seen that black light armor in Xining or Lanzhou would recognize it. And carrying such a menacing blade on top of it? It has to be someone from the Asura Demon Sect. Who else but a Yama Hall Messenger would hold the title of Chasa?"
I turned to look at Cho Yak again. Her expression was sour. Her outfit was indeed a pitch-black light armor that barely reached below the waist. Plenty of people wore black for style or convenience, but pairing matte black armor with weapons made it obvious.
"You said this was your first time east of Lanzhou..."
"It was my oversight."
"No, it's not something that needs hiding. The guards at the city gate didn't say anything when we entered, did they?"
I'd thought the soldiers collecting tolls were overly cautious. At the time, I'd assumed it was because we were armed martial artists.
"The orthodox sects and the authorities have their own considerations. Officially, they oppose the Demon Sect, but in places like Xining or Lanzhou, the Demon Sect's influence outweighs the government's. What can they do? They oppose it when it's convenient and turn a blind eye when it's not."
"Ah, so they do oppose it when they can?"
"Lanzhou is a place where even Taoists and monks have to watch their backs, but here in Chang'an, it's different."
That explained the presences that had been tailing us from the merchant hall. I hadn't thought we'd done anything noticeable, but it seemed Cho Yak had drawn attention. Or perhaps word had come from the authorities.
"Well, since nothing's happened so far, they're probably just watching rather than stirring up trouble. If the Chasa tries anything, they might step in to stop her then."
"I suppose so."
"If anything happens, I'll handle it. It's my responsibility."
Cho Yak spoke in a firm voice. Feeling mischievous, I asked, "Didn't I hear something similar on the first day of our journey to Chang'an? Or was that my imagination? This time I'm worried you might collapse at the sight of a sword instead of using your credentials."
"..."
Cho Yak mumbled something before falling silent. The sight was so endearing that I couldn't hold back a chuckle. Yang So-chang looked bewildered.
"Wait, when did you two become so close? You look about the same age, but she's a Demon Sect Messenger, and you're using formal speech with her. I can't stand the curiosity—tell me what's going on."
"Uh, well..."
Now that I thought about it, to Yang So-chang—who only knew me as the disciple of the mountain village's one-sword lineage—my casual treatment of Cho Yak, a high-ranking Demon Sect official, must have seemed strange.
I could have answered honestly, but I didn't want to. As the saying went, a true expert hid two-thirds of their skill. Through Jo Jae-ui and Cho Yak, I'd confirmed I possessed enough strength to make a name for myself in the martial world. Revealing it would only bring trouble, and more importantly, my relationships with Yang So-chang, Old Man Hwang, and the villagers would never be the same.
So instead of admitting my martial arts surpassed those of Cho Yak, the head Yama Hall Messenger of the Asura Demon Sect, I decided on a plausible lie that couldn't be verified.
"Things got complicated, and Cho Chasa and I ended up talking alone. It turns out she was a village child I once looked after. We parted when I entered the mountains, but meeting again brought back memories as if it were yesterday, and we grew close quickly."
"Then Cho Chasa's age..."
"She's nearing twenty. I know it's late to say this, but I'm older than I look."
"Heh... I see."
Yang So-chang seemed genuinely surprised. It was rare, but such things happened. The world was vast yet small, and sometimes you encountered unexpected connections.
"I thought from the start that you didn't age at all. So that was all because of this? There really are people like that in the world."
Apparently, that was what fascinated him. We continued chatting as we returned to the inn. I didn't think the followers could overhear at this volume, so I deliberately avoided mentioning my own abilities. If they learned of my strength, they'd be even more likely to cause trouble. Considering the chaos this lie might bring, it might have been better to speak of my skills instead.
Upon returning to the inn, I immediately booked two more rooms. One was for Yang So-chang, but the other was for myself. If I went searching for Yu Baek all the way to Sichuan, it would delay us by at least ten days. Jo Jae-ui and Chief Manager Gong, merchants who valued time like gold, would be anxious. I needed some proof that nothing had gone wrong.
Running into Yang So-chang like this was perfect. If I sent him off with the second volume's manuscript, it would serve as both a gift and reassurance when he met Jo Jae-ui.
I already had the portion written while waiting for Yu Baek at home for a week, plus what I'd written each night in Lanzhou. If I wrote diligently tonight, I could finish a slim volume by dawn.
So I booked a separate room to avoid disturbing anyone and wrote furiously. I'd cleared about half my prepared paper when I sensed someone outside the door and stopped my brush.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Sister."
It was Cho Yak. Interestingly, she wasn't just slow to wake in the morning—she was also an owl at night, sharp and alert. Even I, who didn't need much sleep, sometimes felt drained and sentimental in the deep hours before dawn, yet Cho Yak's resolve only grew firmer as the moon rose higher. Strange.
"Come in. What is it?"
When Cho Yak opened the door and entered, I set down my brush and turned to her. She looked like she had much to say.
"Sorry for disturbing you."
"Not at all. The writing was going faster than expected, so I was thinking of resting anyway. Your timing is perfect, Cho Mae."
"..."
It was too late for proper hospitality, and I was too lazy anyway. I simply sat at the empty table and offered her a chair. Cho Yak took her seat, stared at the table for a moment, then spoke.
"Why are you always so composed, Sister?"
"You tend to think too highly of me, Cho Mae."
"It's not a compliment."
I looked up and met her red eyes. There was a resolute glint in them.
"You said Yu Baek sent a challenge letter to the Black Poison Lord."
"I did."
"I don't know much about Yu Baek."
"That's understandable. You've never met him."
"But I remember when I said I'd kill Yu Baek, you drew your sword to stop me."
I had. Because Yu Baek was my precious disciple.
"Judging from the circumstances of his attack on Manak-ru, and from how you stopped me, if Yu Baek fights a Top 100 Master, his chances of death are high."
"That's true as well."
"Then why are you so calm?"
Ah, it was a complicated story. As I pondered how to begin the long tale that held my life's philosophy, Cho Yak continued first.
"You could have departed immediately, whether you met those merchants or not. You could have left me behind if I collapsed and gone ahead. You could have hired a carriage today and left tonight, but you didn't. You're someone who can write all night without sleep, so why do you stop to rest every night?"
Cho Yak took a breath. I was still choosing my words.
"Sister, you're strange. Not in a bad way, but... you are."
A short silence passed. Then I parted my lips.
"Cho Mae, if I rode day and night for three days from Chang'an to Chongqing in Sichuan and killed this so-called Black Poison Lord, would that be possible?"
"Yes. I think it would be."
"Good. If I did that, and you were Yu Baek, wouldn't you feel at ease knowing that whenever I'm within a thousand li, no Top 100 Master could attack you in three days? Because I'd appear and save you."
"Pardon?"
"You're saying one must take responsibility for what is possible. I have no objection to that itself. But the boundary of what is possible is somewhat ambiguous, isn't it?"
Someone who could lend an arm bore responsibility for the death of a person who fell from a cliff. But how close one had to be before they could lend that arm—people would differ on that.
"I've decided this: anything I can do without harming my body or mind, while eating three meals a day and getting enough sleep, is my responsibility."
Some people mistook others' expectations for responsibility. But even if it could become responsibility, it wasn't responsibility itself. Fundamentally, responsibility was a matter of the self.
"...I understand what you mean. But is Yu Baek merely someone you must fulfill your responsibility toward?"
"You want to say that deeper relationships bring deeper responsibility."
It was true. Even a light relationship at first meeting grew heavier through friction, like a snowball rolling down a mountain slope, until it became unbearable. This applied not only to relationships with others but also to interest in the world and expectations of oneself. Emotion itself was necessary for life, but if left unchecked, it would eventually crush the self.
I had a simple and excellent solution to this problem.
"That's why I set limits on my emotions."
"..."
"Does that answer you? If you have nothing more to say, I need to finish writing."
Feeling Cho Yak leave the room, I let out a sigh. Being caught writing without sleep had made the atmosphere unbearably awkward. From now on, I really had to sleep on time. Tonight was already discovered, so there was no helping it...