Unexpected Encounter - 6
Had the unexpected noise startled him?
Somehow, his voice sounded just like that of a friend who'd come over to my place claiming to be on a diet and refusing any side dishes, only to get caught in the middle of the night secretly raiding the fridge for leftovers to make bibimbap.
"I woke up thinking perhaps an intruder was washing up."
"What do you me— Ahem. You must have been woken by the sound of water, then."
Young Hero Cheon-un nearly let out a shrill protest at my ridiculous remark, but he composed himself, cleared his throat, and replied as if understanding perfectly.
Fortunately, I'd confirmed the "intruder" wasn't wasting the water bill, so maybe I could just go back to sleep. Rubbing my heavy eyelids, I glanced toward the washroom—and in the moonlight, something white caught my eye.
Bandages?
"Young Hero Cheon-un. Have you been injured?"
I asked in a worried tone.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"There's a bandage lying in front of the washroom."
"…… Ah! During the fight I picked up a few minor scratches."
So for a martial artist, a few little scrapes didn't even count as an injury? Personally, if I got a paper cut I'd be yelling for a medic—Where's the medic?!
Come to think of it, after Young Hero Cheon-un had saved us, he'd had a bandage wrapped around his forearm. Cutting down that many black-clad men and walking away with nothing but scratches was honestly impressive.
Thanks to the Jade Face Bodyguard Art, the risk of dying to a stray blade had vanished for me, yet I still couldn't even dream of pulling off barehanded blade-catching techniques the way he did.
"Master Kang, are you asleep?"
While I was lost in thought, the washroom door creaked open a crack, and Young Hero Cheon-un's carefully lowered voice drifted out, as if he were afraid of waking me.
"I'm not."
"Ah!"
Bang! The door slammed shut in a hurry.
"Do you need a towel, by any chance?"
I asked, glancing at the towel tossed carelessly on the side table. I'd been so busy eating the dumplings he'd given me that I'd forgotten to set out a fresh one.
"I-I already have a towel!"
Then he must need something else.
Inside the dark, quiet guest room, the sound of water had stopped. Instead, I heard the soft patter of damp feet shifting restlessly on the floor.
"Young Hero Cheon-un?"
I called out to ask if he needed anything besides a towel.
"Ah! Um, that is… could you possibly go to the room at the far left end of the hallway—the innkeeper's daughter's room—and ask her to turn on the warm water?"
So that was it. The water must have been colder than he'd expected.
"Haha. Warm water is definitely better than a cold bath. But it's late—do you think she's still awake?"
"The young lady said to come even if it was late at night, so she should still be up."
"Ah, I see."
I doubted that was what she'd meant, but… was this really okay?
"The weather's colder than I thought. I'm sorry."
Embarrassment and desperation colored Young Hero Cheon-un's voice.
"Nothing to apologize for. I'll be right back."
I'd probably end up in an awkward situation, but this was the man who'd saved our lives. What choice did I have?
Mentally noting that even a Taoist priest found a cold shower hard to endure on a freezing night, I left the room.
"Oh my. The Taoist priest… isn't here."
When the door opened, what greeted me was a woman dressed as if she were preparing for the decisive battle of her life.
I quickly appraised the curvaceous figure of the barely-clad woman who was clearly trying to hide an ordinary face behind a body built for sin, stored the image carefully in my mental gallery, then pretended I had seen nothing and looked her straight in the face.
The innkeeper's daughter looked thoroughly disappointed once she realized I wasn't Young Hero Cheon-un, but since I couldn't magically turn into him, I simply delivered the request.
"Hmm. It's not difficult… but while you're here, want to come inside and look at something interesting?"
She eyed me up and down carefully and pointed toward some sort of contraption inside her room.
"We have to leave first thing tomorrow. Sorry to bother you so late, but I'd really appreciate the favor."
What was so fascinating about adjusting a boiler? I left her looking a little regretful as she nodded.
Quite the view for the middle of the night. Insane.
A woman like that had tried to lure someone into spending the night. Lucky for him that Young Hero Cheon-un was a Taoist who kept his distance from worldly desires and was completely clueless about women—if he'd gone himself, she would have swallowed him whole on the spot.
For someone with a face like his, this kind of thing would probably happen often. As a professional when it came to male-female relations, I ought to give him some advice when the chance arose.
"Master Kang?"
Pushing aside my envy of the handsome man's life, I turned to head back to my room and nearly collided with a medical pavilion member coming out of another guest room with a water jug in hand.
"You're still awake?"
What business had brought him out?
"A few of us are taking turns standing guard to protect Young Lady Hwarin."
Standing watch, then. Even at an inn, they weren't letting their guard down, knowing enemies could strike at any moment.
"If you were about to go somewhere, just send me instead."
"It's all right."
"Well, I'm not all right with it."
I snagged the jug from his hands as I spoke.
"……Then would you mind fetching the medicinal water from the carriage?"
I wanted to do at least a little something for the men who were suffering because of my friend. I nodded, went to the stable where the carriage was parked, filled the jug with medicinal water, and headed for Hwarin's room.
"How is Hwarin doing?"
I set the jug down in the guest room where she lay and asked the medical pavilion member watching over her.
"She's unconscious, but fortunately the toxic energy inside her hasn't invaded the rest of her body."
"If she's okay, I wish she'd at least open her eyes."
I looked down at Hwarin, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Seeing her lying there with her eyes closed while I was awake felt strangely unfamiliar.
Even when I stayed up late writing novels, she always stayed awake until I slept. In the mornings she was always up before me, so I'd rarely gotten to see her face this defenseless and asleep.
Hwarin, you have to get up.
I missed the way she'd nag me that the bookstore was opening late and I needed to hurry. I wanted to see her scold me with that embarrassed look whenever I teased her. I wanted to hear her little chuckling laugh whenever something funny happened.
Hwarin… you're not going to stay like this forever, right? The anxious thought I never wanted to entertain pressed hollowly against my chest.
"Young Lady Hwarin seems almost as if she's hibernating."
When he saw my face darken with worry, the medical pavilion member spoke up.
"Hibernating?"
"Yes. Animals sleep through the winter so their bodies can focus entirely on enduring the cold. Young Lady Hwarin also seems to have shut down all unnecessary physical activity in order to overcome the toxic energy inside her."
"So for the time being there won't be any major problems?"
If she was controlling the poison the way animals endure the cold through hibernation—even while unconscious—then nothing truly catastrophic should happen.
"Yes. The problem is……"
"The problem?"
"If the winter cold lasts too long, some animals never wake from hibernation."
"Then we need to reach the Dang Clan as soon as possible."
I carefully took Hwarin's hand as I spoke.
"Once she receives treatment at the Sichuan Dang Clan, she should regain consciousness. After that, she'll need to absorb the Human-Faced Spider's Poison Core to subdue the poison of the Thousand-Year Centipede."
So the Dang Clan had a way to wake her. That only made speed more critical.
"I've caused you unnecessary trouble so late at night. I'll take my leave."
The night was deep. I couldn't keep worrying these already exhausted medical pavilion members.
"How could concern for a dear friend ever be unnecessary? Master Kang, please don't worry too much yourself—get some proper rest."
I nodded, etched the unconscious face of Hwarin deep into my heart, and returned to my own room.
The moment I stepped back into the guest room, I felt Young Hero Cheon-un, who was lying down, flinch.
He'd washed quickly. Judging by the lingering steam around the washroom, it had probably been a warm bath.
"Young Hero Cheon-un. You're still awake, aren't you?"
I called softly.
"Yes. I'm awake."
"About the bandages."
"B-bandages? What about the bandages?"
His voice mixed bewilderment and wariness.
"I got some fresh bandages from the medical pavilion people. If you're wearing old ones, I can rewrap them for you."
I held up the bandages toward the figure who had only his eyes peeking out from under the covers.
"I'm fine!"
"It would be better to use clean ones."
"It's not pressure— I mean, I'm only keeping them on for hemostasis. The bleeding has already stopped, so it's fine."
Considering infection, fresh bandages would still be better. I almost insisted again, but the night was deep, and I didn't want to look like I was pestering him, so I let it go.
He had internal energy that was practically a universal cure-all, so it would probably be fine.
"Then I'll leave the new bandages next to you. Keep them for next time."
"Thank you."
With Young Hero Cheon-un reconciled and no further ambushes, the journey proceeded without major trouble.
"Have you read any novels other than the stories of Great Hero Gu Gae?"
Of course, I had to serve as continuous conversation partner for Young Hero Cheon-un the entire way, but for the privilege of such a powerful bodyguard, I had no complaints whatsoever.
"We'll handle the inn reservations and the purchase of medicinal ingredients."
After several days of hard travel we arrived at the next village.
"I'll go buy provisions."
"Here's the list."
"I'll come with you."
I went out with Young Hero Cheon-un to replenish our dwindling food supplies.
"Please save us!"
As we were browsing the stalls for food, three boys who looked just old enough for their upper lips to start darkening came sprinting toward us in a panic.
"What's the matter?"
True to his chivalrous nature, Young Hero Cheon-un gripped his sword sheath, ready to spring into action at any moment. The boys looked a little nervous as they answered.
"Our older brother was dragged away by men in black masks!"
Black masks? Black-clad men? For a second Young Hero Cheon-un and I locked eyes. Had another group been waiting here for us?
"Where? Let's go together!"
"That alley over there! That way!"
When Young Hero Cheon-un asked, one of the boys pointed toward a nearby alley.
Wasn't this too dangerous? If they really were black-clad men, we ought to inform the Dang Clan people instead of charging in.
I was about to stop Young Hero Cheon-un from heading toward the alley when I suddenly saw something extremely entertaining.
Oh. So that's what this was.
"Young Hero Cheon-un. There's no need to go."
I swiftly seized one boy's wrist and lifted him clean off the ground, holding Young Hero Cheon-un back.
"Ack! Let go!"
His feet dangling in the air, the boy scowled at me and thrashed.
"Master Kang, what are you doing?!"
Young Hero Cheon-un still hadn't grasped the situation and stared at me with wide, startled eyes.
This must be his first time traveling the martial world. In that case, better to show him before he experienced it the hard way.
Looking at the boy I held with an expression of pure disbelief, I spoke to Young Hero Cheon-un.
"It's a trap."
The boy I had caught. In his hand was Young Hero Cheon-un's money pouch.