The Gift - 2
With the funds they had earned last time, Hongseong Gate had bought seeds for cultivating new medicinal herbs and laid in materials for crafting sachets of a finer grade. Even after all that, a fair sum remained — and what the sect resolved to spend it on was the long-deferred repair of their buildings and facilities, the tired old structures that until now had simply been left to stand.
It went beyond the halls that looked ready to collapse at any moment: they were rebuilding the ruined buildings from the ground up, reinforcing the barrier formations, and even raising a new cultivation grotto and training grounds to boot. So that was the great works underway — all those hefty orders for materials she had been placing these past several days.
"That can't have been easy... However did you manage it?"
"Ahaha... to tell the truth, I put in a request with the Murim Alliance. They have a skilled architect in their ranks."
"A woman?"
"That's right. A man can hardly enter Mount Hongseong freely and stay for long, after all."
"Ah, of course."
"There are plenty of women-only sects in the murim, you know."
Of course, it was not that the disciples of Hongseong Gate were unable to unfold the Guardian Star Formation, as they had once done for me. But those capable of it were few, and so in the end the only people they could call upon were a female architect and her female laborers.
As it happened, she knew someone at the Murim Alliance — an invitation, she said with a smile, was all it took to hurry the work along.
"She's the sort who's been called out to jobs at the Emei Sect, the Sword Pavilion — even Yeohwa Palace."
"Hoh. Someone of that standing. I should like to pay her my respects, at the very least..."
"Unfortunately, she departed yesterday. She worked astonishingly fast, too — and she even took her meals and lodging at Hongseong Gate itself..."
Well, that explained it. An outsider had come to Seomhwachon, yes — but if she had settled her board and lodging under Hongseong Gate's own roof, then it stood to reason that I, the innkeeper, would never have laid eyes on her.
All the same, I found myself wondering how the place had turned out. When I last saw it, everything was worn clear through. At the very least, I hoped they had made it fit for people to live in.
"Hm? What's this? When did you all arrive?"
Just then, Chae Jin came strolling out of the inn. Hong Ryeon glanced sidelong at her, then drew a sheet of paper from her robe and held it out.
"What's this?"
"...The renovation of Hongseong Gate's buildings is finished."
"Oh... oh. Truly? That old place?"
"Mm."
Chae Jin evidently knew at least roughly what Hongseong Gate had looked like in the old days. Grinning ear to ear, she nodded.
"Wonderful. If Hongseong Gate itself is inviting people from Moon Lotus Pavilion, there's no way I'm not going."
"Huh? Sis, where are you going?"
Sliding out from behind her came Chae Ryeon. Come to think of it — was this the first time she and Sa Yun had ever met?
Between the two of them, each regarding the other with open curiosity, I made the introductions evenly.
"This is Sa Yun, the youngest of Hongseong Gate. And Sa Yun — this is Lady Chae Ryeon of Moon Lotus Pavilion."
"...Oh. N-nice to meet you."
Sa Yun dipped into a polite bow. Chae Ryeon simply went on staring at her.
In Cheonsang Myeongwol, Sa Yun and Chae Ryeon had been each other's destined rival. Of course, no such bond bound them now. So were they staring at each other like that because some echo of it lingered all the same? They were close in age, too — perhaps a natural spark of competitive pride had kindled on its own.
I watched them uneasily, half-expecting needless friction to spark — and then, almost in the same breath, both of them broke into bright smiles.
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Chae Ryeon, of Moon Lotus Pavilion."
"And I am Sa Yun, of Hongseong Gate."
Far from the clash I had braced myself for, the two of them did nothing more than exchange a pure, unguarded fist-and-palm salute. Then, ever so casually, they both peeked up at me.
"Why are you two looking at me?"
"Oh, nothing at all. Though — Sa Yun, was it? You look fairly skilled to me. How about a friendly spar sometime?"
She was Chae Jin's sister, through and through. At Chae Ryeon's blithe proposal of a duel, Sa Yun flustered and shot Hong Ryeon a pleading look — but her senior sister only beamed.
"Sooner or later, your time will come."
"Understood."
Even Chae Ryeon, it seemed, understood perfectly well that she could not cross blades with Sa Yun just yet. Perhaps that was why she withdrew with nothing but a calm smile — a promise of duels yet to come.
"I don't know when that day will come, but I'll be waiting for it gladly. Hehe. Next time, let's have a nice, long talk."
With that brief farewell, Chae Ryeon slipped away, and Chae Jin gave a shrug.
"So? The Master Innkeeper and I simply go together tomorrow, then?"
"Ah — yes. Master Innkeeper, we sincerely hope you will come."
"Of course I shall."
Come what may, I had to. The thought of setting foot in Hongseong Gate after so long had put me in fine spirits — I tried to keep a lid on the excitement, but I was humming before I knew it.
I was still humming over my work when a knock sounded at the door. I looked up to find Chae Jin.
"What is it?"
"You're not planning on walking into Hongseong Gate empty-handed tomorrow, are you?"
"Of course not."
When one is invited to a joyous occasion, after all, nothing is more discourteous than arriving with nothing in hand.
"And what are you planning to bring?"
"I mean to bring them fine cloth. If the buildings have been made new, it is only right the clothes should follow — wouldn't you say?"
Ideally, I would have liked to gift them finished garments, but offered that way they would never accept them — and in the eyes of a craftswoman of Hong Ryeon's caliber, such things would never pass muster. So I meant to deliver cloth fine enough to satisfy her instead.
As it happened, the Blue Gathering Merchant Guild had sent over some excellent fabric a while back, and I had been racking my brain for a pretext to part with it — the timing could not have been better.
"And I take it you're planning a gift of your own?"
"Well... when Moon Lotus Pavilion's eldest disciple receives an official invitation, she can hardly show up empty-handed, can she?"
"And here I thought you bore Hongseong Gate some enmity."
"It's hardly enmity. That's simply how it is between well-matched rivals, no?"
Chae Jin gave a shrug and settled lightly onto a chair, swinging her legs with lazy ease.
"I just want to beat them. That's all."
"Good for you. Then I trust you and Hong Ryeon will get along just as sw—"
"That, it is not. Hehe. Well — let's save that story for later... But truly, what would make a good gift?"
She really did seem to be agonizing over it. Watching her brood, I rose from my seat and drew on my long robe.
"Where are you off to?"
"Sitting here wracking our brains will produce no answer. Come, let's step out for a while. Walk around enough, and something is bound to come to us."
"Oh? Are you not busy?"
"As I have told you before — whenever you are struggling, my hand is yours, at any hour."
...
Chae Jin stared at me blankly for a moment, then broke into a smile. A remarkably tender, easy smile.
"...Thank you."
"Oh, it's hardly worth thanking me for. Come on, let's go."
Out we went together. We strolled at our leisure, and our feet carried us to the market district.
Perhaps thanks to the village's recent growth, the market's wares had grown noticeably more plentiful. But most of it was household goods and food, and nothing among it looked fit to present as a gift to Hongseong Gate.
They would surely have accepted anything with a smile, of course — but that would not satisfy Chae Jin, who was going on about the dignity of Moon Lotus Pavilion. And so we turned instead toward Chang Ju's workshop.
"Oh! Welcome, welcome!"
True to form, Chang Ju greeted us in her usual free-and-easy manner. Was she in the middle of some job? Her workbench was piled with a generous spread of materials, and among them lay a few strangely shaped talismans.
"What are those?"
"Ah, Guardian Protection Talismans. The Magistrate put in a request, so I'm making a batch. And Master Innkeeper — the talismans you ordered will take a little longer, I'm afraid."
"No hurry at all. Take your time."
It was not as though I needed them urgently. When I said as much with a smile, Chang Ju flashed a grin back at me, then turned her eyes to Chae Jin.
"So then. What does our young Lady Chae need?"
"I'm looking for something worth sending to Hongseong Gate as a gift..."
"Huh... now that's a surprise. Well, anyway — a gift, is it? When it comes to gifts, talismans are second to none. I've a stash set aside for sale, so take your pick."
Chang Ju fetched several boxes out of a drawer. When Chae Jin peered curiously at the talismans inside, Chang Ju explained them as easily as reciting a list.
The talismans she laid out were sensibly priced stock: Guardian Protection Talismans, reinforcement talismans — the everyday sort that purified the mind during qi-circulation meditation, the kind one could buy at any talisman shop. Prices ran the gamut from a single gold nyang down to ten silver.
"Hmm... I'll take these."
Chae Jin gathered up Guardian Protection Talismans, reinforcement talismans, and Calming Talismans alike, then handed over a banknote. Chang Ju chirped happily that the sum matched exactly, so there was no change to count out — and Chae Jin flashed her a smile before turning to me.
"Shall I get you one?"
"I keep a few on hand already."
Chang Ju had pressed a handful on me some time ago. At my answer, Chae Jin nodded and flashed a grin.
"Good. Then if anything ever happens, use a Guardian Protection Talisman and call my name. I'll come running, no matter when."
So dependable it nearly brought a tear to my eye, truly.
I gave a nod to the snickering Chae Jin and looked to Chang Ju. She was plainly delighted at how business had gone; catching my gaze, she tilted her head.
"What?"
"I had meant to tell you later, but... Seomhwachon may well find itself in danger before long. So I was—"
"Is that so? Then I'd best be ready to fight."
"...And here I was about to ask for your help."
"I'm a resident here too, you know. And I'm technically on the county payroll as staff — an irregular hire, mind, but still on it."
Chang Ju grinned and rapped her knuckles against her talisman pouch.
"If any enemy ever sets foot in Seomhwachon, these will earn their keep. So count on them."
Our business with Chang Ju concluded, we made our way next to the Sword Workshop.
Perhaps a fresh shipment of iron had come in? New equipment now lined the workshop, and Old Man Mak told me to browse if there was anything I needed. But word had it Hongseong Gate had only recently bought new swords, so there seemed little call for more — and the gear carried by Chae Jin, Chae Ryeon, and the Moonlight Squad outclassed anything sold here anyway. Another purchase would have been pointless.
"So the talismans will do as the gift, then?"
"I should think they'll do nicely."
"I suppose they will."
Back at the inn, Chae Jin slipped a talisman into my pocket, then ducked swiftly inside — only to half-turn and look back at me, as though stepping out to welcome me home.
I drew it out: a Guardian Protection Talisman — one she had bought separately, just for this.
"A gift — for coming along with me."
"...Thank you."
Not that I had ever wanted anything in return.
At my bow, Chae Jin smiled brightly.
"I'm the one who's grateful."