The Way Forward - 7
"What in the world..."
Nam Chae-hyeon's brow knotted as he surveyed the wreck of the courtyard. The Taoists of the monastery hurried over to hold him back as he ground his teeth, fury barely leashed, and at last he loosed a long sigh and forced himself to speak with composure.
"Anyone hurt?"
"None, Master. One jiangshi slipped past us—it nearly ended in disaster, but mercifully those gentlemen over there stopped it in time."
Nam Chae-hyeon's gaze swung our way. He studied me for a moment, tilted his head, and asked:
"Ho. Forgive me for failing to recognize a person of distinction. I am Nam Chae-hyeon, Master of Chang'ungwan."
"Yu Wol, innkeeper of the Seomhwa Inn."
I gave him a fist-and-palm salute. He stared at me in mild puzzlement for a beat, then let out a short breath.
"Huh. An innkeeper, you say."
"Is something the matter?"
"No. Nothing at all. My sincere thanks for your aid. If any innocent soul had been harmed by those creatures' assault..."
Nam Chae-hyeon stroked his white beard and sighed once more. Then his eyes fell upon Hong Ryeon and Sa Yun beside me, and he saluted the pair of them as well.
"It seems I owe a debt to Hongseong Gate, too. My gratitude to you, Sun-Falling Sword."
"Oh, it was nothing. These things happen. Don't mention it."
"I am well aware that Hongseong Gate accepts no payment for rescuing the powerless—but that it does expect compensation when it saves those who wield power. I could hardly let this matter pass unnoticed."
Having said his piece with crisp finality, he turned his attention to the other martial artists still standing about awkwardly.
While he went among them offering formal greetings, I bent down and picked up the bell the Demonic Cultist had dropped earlier.
The moment my eyes fixed upon it, Nam Chae-hyeon exclaimed in admiration.
"Oho. You have a discerning eye. That bell is known as a Ghost Bell. It is used to command spirits."
It was Sa Yun who started at his words.
"If it can command spirits... could it also hold back the ghosts of Mount Hongseong?"
"Hahaha! The ghosts of Mount Hongseong are famous indeed. Well, it will not stop them outright, but it should thin them out to some degree."
I held the Ghost Bell out to Hong Ryeon. When she only blinked at me, head cocked in confusion, I offered it again—and this time took her hand and set it upon her palm.
"Huh?"
"Take it. If it can be of use on Mount Hongseong, better that it be used."
"Um... but..."
"You're the one who actually caught the Demonic Cultist, after all."
"Well, you're not wrong on a single count. Spoils belong to whoever made the catch—that's the way of things."
Nam Chae-hyeon, naturally, agreed with me—as did the Taoists standing around us, and even the other martial artists besides.
The Ghost Bell was indeed a rare and precious item, but it was equally true that a single careless moment could have brought catastrophe. And it was no less true that Hong Ryeon, who had subdued the cultist, had done the heaviest work of all.
"If it troubles you, I shall purify it for you myself. Though I sense no demonic energy lurking in it."
"Ah..."
"Of course, that would not count as your reward. Your reward shall be given separately."
Nam Chae-hyeon delivered this with perfect calm, then waved a hand toward his Taoists. As they set about clearing away the jiangshi and tidying the corpses, he beckoned to us and to Namgung Hwa's party waiting off to one side.
"Come along, all of you."
In Cheonsang Myeongwol, too, clearing this repeatable event brought Nam Chae-hyeon out in person to hand over the prizes.
So I felt little thrill myself, but Namgung Hwa's group looked utterly electrified.
They couldn't hide the excitement written all over their faces.
"Where are we now?"
There was an excited kid at my side as well.
Sa Yun was peering this way and that, cheeks flushed pink with wonder, and Hong Ryeon answered her gently.
"This is Chang'ungwan's inner hall. Not just anyone is permitted inside."
"Have you ever been in here before, Senior Sister?"
"Of course I have. But what about you—you don't find any of this remarkable?"
Under Hong Ryeon's gaze, I huffed a quiet laugh. I had been here more times than I could count—inside Cheonsang Myeongwol, granted.
"Hm... you know, I don't believe I've ever once seen you look surprised?"
"What—I'm human too, I do get surprised. But it's only a building. What's so astonishing about it?"
"Then what would surprise you?"
"Anything that strayed beyond my expectations would manage it easily enough."
"Oh. Is that so?"
With a toothy grin, Hong Ryeon sauntered on at her leisure.
How long did we walk like that? Having led us into the inner hall—a rather imposing structure in its own right—Nam Chae-hyeon seated us in what appeared to be a meeting room and spoke with measured calm.
"When an incident such as this occurs, Chang'ungwan offers three rewards. The first is an elixir. It is called the Chang'un Pill—it heals internal injuries, so it is the choice most martial artists make."
So saying, he produced one box.
Had they already heard of the Chang'un Pill? Namgung Hwa's party had eyes for nothing else.
"The second is the Chang'un Talisman. It is a special talisman that can only be crafted here at Chang'ungwan—carry it on your person, and it bars the intrusion of evil qi. When people venture into places like secret realms, they very often grow dizzy and disoriented, unable to display their true strength. This talisman guards against that, so bear it in mind should any of you plan to enter one."
Conflict clouded the eyes of Namgung Hwa's companions. Small wonder—both the Chang'un Pill and the Chang'un Talisman looked equally tempting.
While they wrestled with the choice, Nam Chae-hyeon set out another box.
"This one is called an Immortal Flag... honestly, I would not recommend it to martial artists. It is a thing for those who labor in production and craft."
What he drew out was a small banner.
Its effect was identical to the Dharma Treasure I had obtained on this trip, but it required no installation—one need only plant it in the ground for its power to take hold.
Best of all, it did not overlap with the Dharma Treasure's effect.
Which meant that, from where I stood, the banner tempted me more than the other two put together.
"Now then. If there is something you desire, take one apiece."
"Um..."
"Now, the innkeeper of Seomhwachon—you will be wanting this one, I expect? You do produce all manner of things at that inn of yours."
"That I do."
Nam Chae-hyeon handed the banner over without ceremony. I tucked it away at my side, and Sa Yun let out a small groan, glancing at Hong Ryeon—who shook her head.
"Something like this is for you to use. Go on, take the one you want."
"Mm... um. Master Nam?"
"What is it?"
"That banner—if you have two, does the effect double?"
"Not doubled, precisely, but it does strengthen somewhat."
"Then..."
Sa Yun made her choice on the spot. And Hong Ryeon, just the same, picked out a banner and held it out to me.
"There's no need for that."
"Aw, come on. I ought to give you something, at least."
"That's right!"
Good grief. Just pick what you actually need, why don't you.
I shot a glance at Nam Chae-hyeon, but the man was unmoved.
No refunds. No exchanges.
In Cheonsang Myeongwol, too, once you had chosen, your chosen item and your chosen reward were yours absolutely—no power on earth would move him to swap them. Here, he was precisely the same.
"A person's choice is a most weighty thing."
Cold as a blade, truly.
In the end, I walked away with three banners that day.
"And to you, Sun-Falling Sword, who struck down the Demonic Cultist—I shall add this."
What Nam Chae-hyeon held out was a small jade case. Looking inside, I found medicinal pills within.
"Azure Cloud Pills?"
"The very same. Taken, they mend internal injuries to a degree. And when your inner energy runs low, they restore a measure of that as well."
Whether she already knew of the pill or not, Hong Ryeon, instead of slipping it into her pouch, held it out to me.
"Why give it to me?"
"You never know when something like this will happen again. Keep it—and use it when danger finds you."
I couldn't say how often danger would find me, though.
Wouldn't it serve better in the hands of Hong Ryeon or Sa Yun, who fought far more often than I ever did?
But she pressed it upon me a second time, and in the end I had no choice but to accept.
"Th-thank you so much."
As we emerged from Chang'ungwan, Namgung Hwa and her companions, who had been waiting by the entrance, came hurrying over.
"It is I who must thank you. I have only skimmed the surface of the martial arts, you see. Had there been one more jiangshi, I could never have held it. Had you all not stepped forward without hesitation to aid the Taoists, the harm would have been grave indeed."
I saluted them, and they flustered their way through returning the gesture.
As the brief exchange of courtesies drew to a close, Namgung Hwa unfastened the tassel from her sword and held it out.
"Should you ever find occasion to visit Hefei, I would be honored if you would call upon our clan."
"Hm..."
I doubted I would ever have reason to go.
And yet—how does one coldly refuse an offered gift?
When I accepted it meekly, those standing behind her produced tokens of their own, each in their own fashion.
"If you ever come to the Moon Rabbit Hall..."
"When you pass through Jinha Prefecture, please do stop by our palace."
"And should you come to Yangzhou, I hope you will visit the Ma Family Estate."
Once I had gathered their gifts and tucked them into my pouch, Namgung Hwa turned to Hong Ryeon. She offered her a slight bow, then looked to Sa Yun standing beside her, and a sly smile crossed her face.
"Since you are still our junior—might I offer a word as your senior?"
"Of course!!"
"Carry with you always the righteous spirit of the orthodox path that Hongseong Gate upholds. Mm... and."
She reached out and gave Sa Yun's shoulder a light pat.
"You were rather impressive back there, weren't you?"
"Ah. Ahahaha..."
Sa Yun's face went up in flames.
Being acknowledged by a martial artist of another great clan had, it seemed, delighted her beyond all words.
When the others added words of praise of their own, Sa Yun's cheeks burned so hot she looked ready to burst.
"All right, all right—our youngest is about to keel over. Let's call it here and part ways. And give Se my regards. As for you—look forward to it when you come to the Murim Alliance."
Only when Hong Ryeon finally stepped in did the group withdraw, laughing.
"Ahahahaha... i-it's so embarrassing."
"It's nothing more than the estimation you've earned. And when recognition like that piles up and piles up..."
I slid a sidelong glance at Hong Ryeon.
"...you end up like the Sun-Falling Sword."
"Aw, no—you've got to become even greater than me."
"...Then I really must work hard."
At the sight of Sa Yun clenching her fists and steeling her resolve, I smiled.
You can do it. Without a doubt.
We left Palseon Village around the hour when folk were deep in the day's labor.
We had climbed up to Chang'ungwan around sunrise, and on the way down we had lingered to see the sights here and there, so it had taken a good while.
But watching Sa Yun so thoroughly thrilled had warmed my heart in turn, and I felt strangely light.
The journey home differed little from the trip to Mount Chang'un.
Rest when it suited us, move at an easy pace.
Of course, traveling like this meant we would arrive around dawn—but so what?
And so we ambled along, unhurried, until the sun sank low and the moon rose.
Sa Yun, wearied at last, began to nod off.
"Let her sleep."
"I suppose I should."
Perhaps she found it pitiable—the girl sitting there with nothing but her head bobbing—for Hong Ryeon laid Sa Yun down on a blanket spread over the ground. Exhausted as she was, Sa Yun did not stir even when shaken.
Hong Ryeon gave the sleeping girl a soft smile, rose lightly, and settled down beside me.
"Sun-Falling Sword. If you're tired as well, why not get some rest yourself?"
"Mm..."
Hong Ryeon did not answer. She fiddled at her lips as though turning something over in her mind, then shook her head.
"You and I—wouldn't you say we've grown rather close by now? We've done so much together. And we've known each other a fair while, too..."
"You mean you'd like me to call you by name?"
"Mm. Feels about time, doesn't it? You don't call Chae Jin by her epithet, after all."
Well, that was because Chae Jin and I were bound by contract. But apparently Hong Ryeon had taken some dissatisfaction with that fact.
"Fair enough... very well, then. Now, move to the back..."
It hardly posed any real problem, after all.
I gave a vague nod, but she did not move to the back.
"...Ahem. Hong Ryeon. How about you go take a seat in the back?"
For a long moment, Hong Ryeon simply stared at me, silent. And then.
"...Ah-ha."
Bursting into a low giggle, she nodded.
"...As you say."
And in formal speech she had never once used with me—perfectly courteous—she held my gaze.
Then she broke into a beaming grin and said, in a tone soft as warm water:
"Surprised now, aren't you?"
It stung that I could not deny it.
Who could have guessed she would come back at me in honorifics of all things?
With a smirk brimming over with mischief, Hong Ryeon giggled a few times more at my expression, then turned her eyes to the night sky, densely sewn with countless stars.