The Reason Rules Exist - 6
With the most pressing matter settled, all that remained was the question of the Demonic Cult.
I asked Geomseong without much hope, and sure enough — just as she had told Hyeonryeong — she had no idea who the demonic cultists who attacked her were.
"They did use demonic arts, but I simply cut down everything that came into view."
In other words, they hadn't been much of a challenge for her. So they weren't elder-class after all — just as I'd figured.
"Did they say anything at all?"
"When I asked who they were, all they said was 'Die for the Heavenly Demon.' They did fumble about with their demonic arts a little, but... I slit their throats before they could use them properly... Tsk. Against me, you'll always see an attack coming before it lands — so don't you worry."
Honestly, cutting them down with no questions asked suited me just fine. There was no need to sit through anyone's whole sob story.
In any case, pressing Geomseong further on the matter would have been nothing but a waste of breath.
I took a sip of tea and dipped my head. On the table where Geomseong and I sat stood two cups, and the dang-gwa had been set out before me alone. It was the dang-gwa I had pressed on her a few days back, telling her to have it after training. Perhaps serving me with sweets she'd received from my own hands felt a touch too embarrassing, because Ryu Hyeon's face had gone faintly pink. But serving a guest with nothing but Thousand-Day Plum Blossom tea would apparently have been even more mortifying.
Instead of eating my share, I held the dang-gwa out.
At the sight, a radiant smile bloomed across Geomseong's face. But only for a moment. She swallowed hard, then sliced the dang-gwa clean in two.
Ooh. That's the Sword Saint for you. To think she could halve a pastry that neatly with a little bamboo knife.
Then she pushed the halves toward Ryu Hyeon and Sa Yun.
"I'm satisfied with what I had earlier, so you two eat it."
She looked anything but satisfied, yet there she was, doing her utmost to look after her disciples. She may have had no gift for administration, but when it came to loving her disciples and her sect, her heart was the genuine article.
And so master and disciples batted the dang-gwa back and forth until it finally came to rest with the disciples — at which point I rose from my seat.
"In any case, I'll need to come by tomorrow to check the White Jade Plaque... so I'll see you then."
"Do that. And when you come tomorrow, come empty-handed. It has been us receiving every time — it is only right that we return a guest's hospitality properly for once. Ryu Hyeon. Can you manage it?"
Ryu Hyeon looked dumbfounded.
"To hear my master speak so... normally..."
"Heh heh. Your master is capable of at least this much."
"I'm not one to cry easily, but the tears are about to come anyway..."
While I listened to their exchange in disbelief, Geomseong flashed a grin.
"One who receives ought to repay in kind — that is simply the way of things. I'll be off hunting today, so worry nothing over it and lay the meat out generously..."
"Yes, Master! You simply must stay and have lunch with us!!"
"There's really no need."
"Please, don't stand on ceremony. Now then... even with the Guardian Star Formation in place, lingering too long isn't advised, so off you go. A busy man such as yourself shouldn't dawdle."
Geomseong said it lightly, then patted Sa Yun on the head. Must be nice. I'm jealous.
"Could you see our guest back to the inn?"
"Of course!"
Sa Yun nodded, beaming. Geomseong answered her with a short Mm, and as I turned to go, she spoke up.
"Come to think of it — is the Chae family faring well?"
The Chae family... did she mean Chae Jin? Hong Ryeon must have told her. Well, of course she had — as if anyone could keep her love rival a secret from her own master.
"Yes, well enough."
Though knowing her, she'd be furiously knocking back liquor at the inn by now. And the moment I walked in, she'd no doubt vent her drunken antics and start wailing for her 'valued member.'
"I see. Then don't stop — keep moving steadily forward. You will surely attain the Conceptual Enlightenment — Mastery of 'Yu'. That is all the advice I have to give."
We left Mount Hongseong behind. I'd have liked to watch the disciples train for a while, but for an outsider to peer in without permission would have been poor manners.
And so Sa Yun and I walked out through Hongseong Gate's main grounds without another word. The wind swept the petals of the Thousand-Day Plum Blossoms into the air, weaving a scenery straight out of a dream — and as I walked along drinking it in, Sa Yun spoke.
"Um. Innkeeper?"
"Hm?"
"Please don't take my master's words too much to heart."
"Hm? About what?"
"W-well... when the two of you first met, she just up and comforted you out of nowhere. Telling you to hang in there..."
Ah, that. I already knew Geomseong was that sort of person. She surely meant no harm by it.
"Still — it seems my master took quite a liking to you, Innkeeper."
"Is that so?"
"My master never says a single word about the martial arts to anyone who doesn't please her."
Walking at an unhurried pace, Sa Yun told me of the past. After becoming Geomseong's disciple, on the journey to Mount Hongseong, there had been places where warriors sought her master out, hoping to receive instruction. In Sa Yun's eyes they had clearly been stronger than she was — and yet Geomseong never breathed one word of martial matters to any of them.
"I heard it from the others after I joined the sect — she says even a single word is too precious to waste on those who displease her. So when you think of it that way..."
I'd learned nothing more than the Chae Family Tai Chi Chuan, and yet I'd still managed to catch her eye? Not bad.
Time is relative; its flow feels different depending on where you stand. And joyful time always runs fast.
Though when Chae Jin was drilling me, it crawled along like molasses.
Talking with Sa Yun, the walk back to the inn might as well have been an instant. Not that I wasted that instant — I'd gotten to hear about the state of Hongseong Gate as far as she was free to speak of it, and even a little of Sa Yun's own past.
Listening to her recount that past with a smile on her face, I very nearly shed tears before I could stop myself. She said even life in the gutter had held its share of good days. When I asked what sort of good days, she told me she'd once watched the beautiful flowers tossed from the district official's flower carriage as it rolled past.
How was anyone supposed to hear that with a straight face? Good grief... A glimpse of some flowers — that had counted as a blessing to her... What was I supposed to do with this girl?
In any case, it had been a pleasant and fruitful hour. I now knew that she was quite content with her present life, and that being surrounded by everyone brought her a deep happiness.
Which meant I had to protect it. Without fail.
When we reached the inn, Sa Yun bowed with perfect courtesy and took her leave. A shame. But what could I do? I watched the road she'd gone down until she vanished from view, and with that familiar, aching reluctance washing over me once more, I stepped inside.
"Oh my! You're back?! I've been waiting for you! Now then! Seeing as you're late, training—"
I turned on my heel and headed straight back out.
Ahaha. Even a man of my standing has duties to finish — and now that I think of it, I never did report to Hyeonryeong. Best go report at once.
"Just what village taught you your manners, turning your back the moment you clap eyes on someone?!"
"Let's get some work done. Work."
Chae Jin called after me as I set off for the magistrate's office, but I really did have business there.
Stepping inside, I found the place remarkably busy. Out on the training ground, soldiers were drilling with sweat pouring off them.
"Oh! If it isn't the Innkeeper himself?"
One of the officers spotted me and came over. I smiled at him and let my gaze drift once more across the soldiers absorbed in their drills. Hmm. A sturdy lot. Knowing they'd be the ones to stand against the Iron Blood Dan someday, it felt a little wrong to simply walk on by.
"You all toil so hard you're practically drinking dust. I'll have someone send over pork and liquor — grease your throats with it and wash the fatigue away."
"Oh — you really mustn't go to the trouble!"
"I'm grateful to those who work this hard for Seomhwachon, so please, don't refuse me."
"Honestly..."
Affection blooms from back-and-forth favors; that's simply how the world works. Grinning, the officer bellowed to the soldiers mid-training:
"The Innkeeper is treating the whole garrison to a feast tonight! You'd better train like you mean it!!"
"Sir, yes sir!!"
With the troops' morale thus lifted, I went to find Hyeonryeong. When I reported on everything that had happened at Hongseong Gate, he looked quite satisfied indeed.
Then he walked out with me and, gesturing at the soldiers training in the camp, remarked evenly:
"You work this hard to keep your promises to me — it's only right I do the same."
Ah. So that was why they were training like this? Because they never knew when I might call? Not bad. Truly not bad.
It would be even better still if Sa Yun could see Hongseong Gate's second hidden realm through to the end.
Two rabbits, and a single deer.
That was the game Geomseong had brought back from her hunt. The finest cuts were set aside on their own, and dinner was made from what remained.
It was a day of celebration for the disciples — delicious dang-gwa at midday, and meat on top of it come evening.
"Senior Sister Ryu Hyeon! Thank you for the meal!"
"Oh, it was nothing."
Geomseong had done the hunting, but it was Ryu Hyeon who had dressed the game and cooked it. That duty would normally have fallen to Hong Ryeon, but with her intensive training running through this evening, they couldn't pile the kitchen on her as well.
And so the sisters' warm, lively dinner came to an end, night training wrapped up, and just as everyone was drifting off toward their rooms to sleep—
Sa Yun approached Ryu Hyeon carrying a large box.
"A delivery from the Courier Gate."
"Is that so? Then I'll sort through it — you all get to sleep first."
Once the other sisters had gone to bed, Ryu Hyeon took the box from Sa Yun. At that moment, a small box perched at the very top dropped with a thud.
"Oh..."
The instant she saw the name on it, Sa Yun's face lit up. How could it not? It was a box from her 'Uncle.'
"Ooh, let's have a look. What could he have sent this time?"
Box in hand, the two of them headed for a room — and just as she was about to open it with Ryu Hyeon—
"Hm. So that is what that 'Uncle' of yours sent?"
"Gyah! Honestly, Master — could you not make even a little footfall noise when you sneak up on us?"
The voice had come from behind them. At Geomseong's single remark, the two could do nothing but calm their racing hearts. Mount Hongseong was sacred ground, and on sacred ground, ghosts and spirits appeared often. To those who had mastered the Hongseong Divine Art, such stray spirits could do no harm, of course — but a fright was still a fright.
Even so, Geomseong offered no reply to their reaction, as if to ask what there was to be startled about.
"Haah... Yes. This is what Sa Yun's 'Uncle' sent."
Interest kindled in Geomseong's eyes. There had been a map in the letter he sent not long ago — and she, too, had heard tell of Hongseong Gate's secret hidden realm.
Na Yerin had not come to lead Hongseong Gate through any ordinary succession. Her eldest senior sister, the one marked as the next Sect Leader, had fallen into qi deviation and turned to corruption, and with her fall, her master and the whole of the sect family had perished. For a girl interested in nothing beyond the martial arts, it could hardly be helped that the secret — handed down by word of mouth solely to the Sect Leaders of Hongseong Gate — had never reached her ears.
And yet now there was someone who knew of a hidden realm that might be bound to that very secret? Her interest had been piqued from the first letter, and with another arriving now, wanting to look through it together was only natural.
"May I look as well?"
"Of course."
Sa Yun did not doubt for an instant that her Uncle would send anything strange. And so she opened the box at once — inside, just as every time before, lay a nyang of silver and a thick letter.
Gazing down at them, Sa Yun thought back to the letter she herself had sent the last time. Please — let this one, at last, hold whatever it is Uncle wishes for.
With nervous hands, Sa Yun broke the letter's seal. And as she slowly unfolded it, the eyes of not only Sa Yun, but Ryu Hyeon — and Geomseong as well — flew wide open.
Once more, it was a map — drawn in that same steady hand as before.
But this one, all three of them recognized at a single glance.
The map alone was not what had stunned them. It was that the map was one they knew all too well — a map of the interior of Hongseong Gate itself.
"...This spot..."
"Is that not the well near the training hall? The one fallen out of use."
The three of them exchanged a look and headed straight outside. Thus they arrived at the well behind the training hall, and without anyone needing to claim to go first, all three stuck their heads in as far as they would reach. But all that met their eyes was gently rippling water.
"Best to go down and see for ourselves."
Geomseong raised her hand. In that same breath unfolded a miracle — her towering inner power set the very water flowing in reverse.
—Shaaaah! Shaaaaaaah!!
The water of the deep well surged skyward like a dragon ascending, baring the well bottom to the open air. To perform such a marvel through the manipulation of qi alone — and still Geomseong made no show of it whatsoever. She simply led Ryu Hyeon and Sa Yun inside as though it were the most natural thing in the world, and there, deep within the well, on the side opposite where the water fed in, they found a wall that could only have been sealed off by human hands.
—Kuuwoong!!
Geomseong's hand moved as if brushing away a speck of dust. That alone was enough to bring the wall crashing down, and behind its thickness a passage emerged, leading who knew where.
"Shall we go and see?"
On they went through the passage — how far, who could say? Just around the time they judged they had surfaced somewhere behind Hongseong Gate's main grounds, they came to a halt.
"...To think a place like this existed."
A hidden realm. The second hidden realm slumbering within Hongseong Gate had risen to greet them at last.