Hide-and-Seek with the Maid (3)
Se Jaeo brightened at Han Bin's question and replied eagerly.
"I've been ready for a spar with you for ages."
As Se Jaeo subtly gripped the sword at his waist, Han Bin stepped back and crossed his arms.
"Hmm, it looks like you're not quite prepared yet, Great Hero."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Aren't you still lacking as an instructor at Cheonsu Manor?"
"Ahem."
Se Jaeo cleared his throat awkwardly and glanced up at the sky.
Han Bin was right. As an instructor, Se Jaeo wasn't earning his keep. Lately, he'd even been receiving training from So Daeseop on how to properly fulfill his role.
Thanks to that, the thick rope that had been So Daeseop's burden now belonged to Se Jaeo.
He was going out of his mind these days.
The foundation of martial arts lay in forms and the inner power circulation that followed those sword paths.
Se Jaeo believed that one's mastery of those principles determined the height of their skills.
Yet the training at Cheonsu Manor revolved entirely around physical conditioning from start to finish.
Se Jaeo looked down at his hands.
Blisters dotted his palms here and there.
Back at the Volcanic Sect, he'd swung his sword from dawn till dusk, and his hands had stayed fine.
Now, Cheonsu Manor's training had wrecked them.
Se Jaeo had reached his conclusion about this regimen.
He figured Han Bin had a twisted hobby—tormenting people.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Se Jaeo preached to the Mangho Squad members about the pointlessness of it all.
But every single one shook their heads and turned away.
Their cold indifference to his words baffled him.
They were swinging bizarre blades called guido—demon-head knives with off-balance weight distribution—and munching on tasteless radishes during breaks.
Even under what looked like constant torture, they believed Han Bin's every word, even if he claimed a rooster crowed like an ox.
Life at this incomprehensible place was driving Se Jaeo insane.
He couldn't leave until he found the Plum Blossom Token.
If he bolted now, Geumuiwi's Kang Yu-chan would hunt him to the ends of the earth.
The more he thought about it, the heavier his sighs grew.
Come to think of it, the physician Jang Ja-myeong, who was in a similar predicament, was the only one he could really talk to.
He was Se Jaeo's sole companion here.
In that brief moment, a whirlwind of emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure—flickered across Se Jaeo's face.
Watching him, Han Bin chuckled in disbelief.
"Alright, how about I make a proposal?"
"Let's hear it, nephew—old enough to be my martial uncle."
"The test is hide-and-seek."
"Do I look like someone who plays hide-and-seek with Young Master Sa?"
"Watch your words. I'm the senior here."
"Ahem."
"The key point is, I'm not the one you'll be playing against."
"Then who?"
"……."
Han Bin silently nodded toward Seolhwa.
Of course, Se Jaeo just tilted his head, showing no particular reaction.
Han Bin continued.
"It's simple. The maid Seolhwa hides, and after one incense stick's time, you try to catch her. Win that, and I'll spar with you. Lose, and……."
As Han Bin trailed off, pondering his penalty, Seolhwa jumped in urgently.
"Can I make a suggestion?"
"Sure, go ahead. Whatever you want, Seolhwa."
Han Bin nodded, and Seolhwa turned to Se Jaeo.
"How about granting me one request? Mister."
Se Jaeo snorted at her innocent smile and suggestion.
She looked every bit the ordinary maid.
No matter how he squinted, she seemed mid-teens at most.
And this girl thought she could evade his pursuit?
Se Jaeo scoffed inwardly.
He vowed today he'd finally secure that spar with Han Bin.
Then Han Bin spoke up.
"We can't play hide-and-seek forever, so let's set a time limit. Until morning. If you don't catch her by dawn, Great Hero Sa loses."
"Haha, deal."
Se Jaeo grinned, and at the same moment, Han Bin snapped his fingers.
Snap!
At the sound, Se Jaeo glanced at Han Bin's hand.
But something strange happened.
He'd only focused on Han Bin's hand for a moment, and the maid Seolhwa vanished from sight.
Se Jaeo muttered lowly, staring at the ground.
"Bad footing, huh?"
* * *
The next morning.
Se Jaeo had a bizarre night.
While scouring Cheonsu Manor for Seolhwa, he'd sensed strange presences several times.
But whenever he checked the source, there was nothing—no traces.
Not even the presence lingered; it melted away like snow.
As it kept happening, Se Jaeo forgot all about his bet with Han Bin.
A chill down his spine?
His conclusion was clear.
There might be ghosts at Cheonsu Manor.
Thinking back, this place had been called Guigok Manor until recently.
Ghostly wails still echoed faintly now and then.
So Daeseop had said it was just the wind, but combined with those eerie presences, goosebumps prickled his skin.
From then on, Se Jaeo gave up searching for Seolhwa.
He even grew worried for her.
She was bold, but with that bright, innocent face—like a child.
What if she fell victim to ghosts because of their bet?
He considered going outside to search for her safety rather than the wager, but the intermittent chills kept him up all night with wide eyes.
As dawn broke, Se Jaeo let out a hollow shout in exasperation.
"Primordial Heavenly Venerable! Why inflict such trials upon me?"
Forgetting to even wash, he staggered to the dining hall in yesterday's clothes.
Stumbling about, he searched for Han Bin.
He'd come to declare surrender.
As he weaved into the hall, Se Jaeo's eyes widened.
Seolhwa was calmly eating breakfast right beside Han Bin.
"Welcome, Mister."
She greeted him with a beaming smile, and Se Jaeo asked in shock.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Anyway, you admit you lost our bet, right?"
"Our bet?"
"We made it yesterday."
"Oh, that bet……."
"Yes, exactly. The one between you, Great Hero, and me."
"I searched everywhere, but……."
"I was bathing with the other sisters yesterday."
Half of it was true, of course.
She had bathed to mask her scent, then secretly shadowed Se Jaeo.
That spine-tingling feeling he'd sensed? It was her covert gaze.
A misunderstanding born from his heightened senses.
Oblivious to this, Se Jaeo shook his head.
"Come to think of it, there was one place I didn't check."
The women's quarters, now that he pondered it.
It was an unspoken taboo for a Daoist like him.
If she'd hidden there, it made sense he hadn't found her.
Stroking his chin, Se Jaeo racked his brains.
"This bet's invalid."
"Aw, I had high hopes since you're from the Volcanic Sect…… They say even among the Nine Great Sects, yours is the best……."
"Hold on."
Se Jaeo held up his palm to silence her.
Mentioning the Volcanic Sect brought memories of his stuffy elders and master.
A fifteen-year-old girl's request—what could it possibly be?
As Se Jaeo pondered silently, Seolhwa asked again.
"What's wrong, Mister?"
"Nothing. I'll grant your request. What do you want from me? Anything, as long as it doesn't stray from the righteous path."
"What I want is……."
"Speak freely."
"I'll save it for later."
"……."
Se Jaeo stared at Seolhwa wordlessly.
For a split second, he felt the same ominous vibe from her that he'd gotten from Han Bin.
But only for a moment. He let out a hollow laugh.
"Fine, tell me when you think of it."
"Yes, Mister."
Seolhwa bowed politely.
Seeing that, Se Jaeo nodded, seemingly relieved.
As Se Jaeo left, Han Bin remarked.
"That guy's lucky."
"Lucky how?"
Seolhwa tilted her head, and Han Bin smiled meaningfully.
"Nothing much. He just added a condition to your request—'as long as it doesn't stray from the righteous path.'"
"Oh."
Seolhwa shot Han Bin a glare.
He'd played dumb while subtly pulling strings in the middle.
Just then, Sim Miho approached from afar, looking utterly drained.
Han Bin smirked faintly at the sight.
Round trip from Cheonsu Manor to Hebei Paeng Family and back— no wonder her energy was spent.
Still, her lightness skill was impressive enough that she wouldn't die to some blind blade in a ditch. He felt a swell of pride.
Reaching Han Bin, Sim Miho offered a crisp fist salute.
"My lord, I'm back."
"Set it down here and go rest."
"Yes, understood."
Sim Miho placed the bundle down.
Clang!
A crisp metallic clash rang out from within.
Before the echo faded, she vanished like a shot.
Fearing Han Bin might change his mind and issue new orders.
Once Sim Miho was gone, Seolhwa asked.
"What's that?"
"A secret!"
Han Bin shrugged and picked up the bundle, heading off.
Watching his back, Seolhwa crossed her arms and sighed.
"Sigh, I wonder what it really is."
Tilting her head, she looked up at the sky.
To her, Cheonsu Manor was a weird place.
Building a training ground on cursed land was odd enough, but now it housed a Plum Blossom Sword Expert from the Volcanic Sect as a guest.
Last night's bet with Se Jaeo had been entirely in her favor.
Victory born from his assumption she was just an ordinary girl.
Overconfidence decided the winner.
Still, Seolhwa rated her first day here positively.
She'd never known life as a regular warrior—sans killer—could be this relaxing.
As Seolhwa reflected on her debut at Cheonsu Manor, footsteps rustled from behind.
Snap-crunch.
She whipped around reflexively.
A beggar grinned there, flashing white teeth.
Seolhwa tilted her head, and the beggar elder spoke.
"Haven't seen you around, kid."
At those first words, Seolhwa swallowed hard.
She sensed his profound realm.
Instinctively, she scanned him.
The knots caught her eye.
One, two, three…….
Her eyes trembled.
'Mujaeja Hong Chilgae!'
That was the name that flashed in her mind.
Then the voice came again.
"Gosh, am I that scary, kid?"
"N-no, sir."
Stammering, Seolhwa hastily cupped her fists.
Hong Chilgae noted it.
"Nice form on that salute. Martial family kid, eh?"
He grinned, and Seolhwa waved her hands frantically.
"N-no, I'm not."
Bowing reflexively to his presence was a definite slip-up.
She had to stay just a maid here.
Then a shadow appeared behind her.
No presence this time.
Turning, she saw Han Bin had returned.
Caught between Hong Chilgae and Han Bin, Seolhwa smiled awkwardly.
Hong Chilgae spoke.
"Your Gugeol Ship-pal-bo has improved noticeably. Keep at it, and you'll surpass me soon."
Seolhwa jolted in shock.
Learning Gugeol Ship-pal-bo meant she was Hong Chilgae's disciple.
Not Hebei Paeng Family direct lineage, but Beggar Clan?
And a swordmaster to boot?
No matter how she puzzled it, nothing added up.
Then Han Bin asked.
"Weren't you about to set off on a long journey? When did you get back?"
"Got hungry. Heh."
"Haha, welcome back."
Han Bin laughed and dragged Hong Chilgae toward the dining hall.
Left alone, Seolhwa stared blankly after them.
The scene left her utterly confused.