The Gift - 3
The next day arrived. I was a little weary, yet perhaps because a visit to Hongseong Sect lay ahead of me, my body brimmed with energy all the same.
After wrapping up the morning rush, I changed into the clothes Hong Ryeon had given me a while back and waited outside — and before long, Chae Jin emerged as well. She came walking out impeccably dressed in Moon Lotus Pavilion's formal uniform, and I smiled at her.
"You've even put on makeup — something you never wear. You didn't have to, but it suits you all the same."
Chae Jin's face went red. I glanced past her at Chae Ryeon, who was grinning ear to ear behind her.
"Hongseong Sect is our Moon Lotus Pavilion's sworn rival! We're heading into enemy territory, so of course I had to prepare. As you well know, beauty is a woman's weapon too."
"So I've heard. I can't claim to understand it, but women have a world of their own, I suppose. In any case, the makeup is remarkably well done. Did you do it yourself?"
"Hehe. It was a fun experience. I'm always telling her she should wear a little, so when my sister — who never does — asked me to do it for her, well, how could I say no?"
"...Hey. Keep it down, will you...?"
Chae Ryeon stuck out her tongue and ducked back inside the inn. Watching Chae Jin fidget, I let out a quiet chuckle.
"It's... a little awkward, isn't it?"
"As I said before — it suits you very well."
"Ugh... thank you."
Anyone who suddenly does something out of the ordinary is bound to feel self-conscious about it. And a gentleman has no business pointing it out over and over.
I simply nodded and let the matter rest. Chae Jin, red as a boiled beet, only calmed down after several long, deep breaths.
"Then let's ride the wagon as far as the foot of Mount Hongseong."
"Yes, sir..."
After checking over the bolts of cloth loaded onto the wagon, I climbed up onto the driver's bench. Chae Jin settled naturally into the seat behind me — just then, Gi Noya and Wi Yeol came strolling out of the inn.
"Oh? Where are you off to?"
"I'm paying a short visit to Hongseong Sect."
"Ah, Hongseong Sect. What for?"
"It seems they've used the funds I provided to renovate the buildings they'd never been able to fix. I've been invited to help celebrate it."
"Is that so? Then take this along as well."
Gi Noya fished something out of his robes and tossed it over. When I caught it, I found a small bead resting in my palm.
"What is this?"
"It's called a Spirit-Calming Bead. I picked it up in some unexplored ruins ages ago. Mount Hongseong is thick with spiritual energy, and where such energy gathers, spirits tend to follow — keep this on you and it will sap their strength. Pass along my congratulations, won't you?"
An unexpected gift. When I bowed my head in thanks, Gi Noya waved me off with a grin, then jabbed a finger at Wi Yeol.
"Got anything to give?"
"All a true man carries in his two hands are his fists and his fighting spirit."
"You beggar."
"Why, you wretched old coot—"
I laughed at the two of them squabbling yet again. It was about time we set off.
I loaded the wagon with the food Yohwan had packed for us, along with Dang-gwa sweets, pastries, and mooncakes.
"Gi Noya. I'll be leaving things in your hands while I'm away."
"Hahahaha! Just trust old me and go."
Truthfully, it made me a little nervous — but the worst he'd do was pester Yohwan to cook for him and drink himself silly, right?
That much I could laugh off. Besides, Wi Yeol would be right there to rein him in.
After asking Yohwan for her help as well, I snapped the reins and rolled out.
By the time the wagon reached the entrance of Mount Hongseong, two Hongseong disciples were already waiting there to meet us.
"Welcome!"
"Thank you so much for coming!"
It was Sa Yun and Yu Hui — faces I had grown quite used to by now. When I smiled at the sight of the two of them turned out to greet guests, Sa Yun's eyes fell upon the loaded wagon and she jumped in alarm.
"Why on earth did you bring so much?"
"An invitation to share a joyous occasion calls for a proper gift in return. Besides, it's not as if Hongseong Sect and I are strangers — how could I possibly come empty-handed? I brought some cloth and a few things to eat."
"Aww... you really could have just come as you were..."
"We come to share in your happiness, so don't refuse me. More to the point... all of this will need to be carried up."
"We'll carry it!"
Sa Yun and Yu Hui took up the loads from the wagon — though Chae Jin and I carried our share too, naturally.
After entrusting the wagon to the magistrate's patrol post by the mountain gate, we began the climb up Mount Hongseong at an easy pace.
Just as on my last visit, the moment we passed through the mountain gate, a chill, ghostly energy wrapped itself around me. I had trained steadily all this while and believed I'd grown stronger in my own way — so why did this clammy, clinging sensation still seep into my bones?
"It truly is difficult for a man to linger long on Mount Hongseong."
"There's nothing to be done about it, I'm afraid. After all, men can't learn the Hongseong Divine Art."
"But I do love the fragrance of the Thousand-Day Plum Blossoms, so Mount Hongseong pleases me all the same."
"Hehe. That's such a relief to hear."
Around the time Sa Yun broke into a wide, sunny smile, the entrance to Hongseong Sect came into view at the top of the stairs.
Just like before, the disciples of Hongseong Sect stood waiting.
"Draw."
Unlike last time, the one standing at the very front was Hong Ryeon. At her signal, the disciples bared their blades and leveled them toward me, unfurling the Guardian Star Formation just as they had before.
"Thank you for accepting our invitation. Though really, you could have come empty-handed..."
"How could I ever? And please — it's nothing so grand as all that."
"You yourself are the greatest gift we could ask for, Innkeeper."
Hong Ryeon said it lightly with a bright smile, then turned her gaze on Chae Jin. She studied her face for a long moment — and then she laughed.
"You're wearing makeup?"
"...So what? Am I not allowed to?"
"Oh, you're allowed. It's just — you never wear it even for the Murim Alliance's official ceremonies, yet here you are, all done up for a Hongseong Sect gathering. It makes me happy, that's all. Hehe. Which must mean Moon Lotus Pavilion holds Hongseong Sect in very high esteem, doesn't it?"
"Ugh. And what about you, huh?"
"...What about me?"
"If this is a Hongseong Sect event, why are you wearing that?"
Chae Jin had a point. What Hong Ryeon wore was the uniform issued by the Murim Alliance — a form-fitting white china dress.
"You've got it all wrong. This is a formal uniform."
"Oh, is that so? Funny, coming from the girl who wore her Hongseong disciple's robes to the Alliance's functions..."
"What is all this racket?"
A composed voice drifted over from behind the pair as they traded grins. Walking toward us was the Sword Saint — not in her usual worn robes, but clad in the formal regalia of Hongseong Sect's leader.
At her light, gliding approach, Hong Ryeon and Chae Jin broke off their banter and stepped aside.
"I give you my sincere thanks for answering our invitation."
"Thank you for extending it."
"And Moon Lotus Pavilion has graced us as well."
"Yes. One can hardly decline such an invitation, Sword Saint."
The Sword Saint gave a small nod to Chae Jin, who had bowed with a cupped-fist salute. Then her gaze traveled slowly to me before she turned to Hong Ryeon.
"Ryeon, child. You will walk with me and show our guests the newly rebuilt grounds. Ryu Hyeon — see to the preparations for the meal."
"Yes. Understood."
"The rest of the disciples will follow me."
Ryu Hyeon led the disciples away, and soon only the Sword Saint, Hong Ryeon, Chae Jin, and I remained. Left standing in the suddenly vast courtyard, Hong Ryeon gave a small, dry cough and spoke with careful composure.
"I, Hong Ryeon, First Disciple of Hongseong Sect, will now guide you honored guests through our renewed home. We humbly hope you find it to your liking."
Her voice was courteous, pristine. At that bearing, Chae Jin and I both straightened our posture, and the Sword Saint nodded as though satisfied.
"I am Na Yerin, Sword Saint and Sect Leader of Hongseong. I shall be guiding our guests myself; I trust it will be to your satisfaction."
"We look forward to it."
"We look forward to it."
When Chae Jin and I returned the cupped-fist salute, the two of them set off with effortless grace.
The first place Hong Ryeon took us was a small building. Last time I'd seen it, it had been so weathered — forlorn enough to collapse at any moment — that it was kept locked up tight. Now it had been unmistakably restored.
"This is the Dok-yeongwan, Hongseong Sect's Martial Study Pavilion. Here we research the sect's martial arts and seek out paths to carry them further."
"We have a place much like it at Moon Lotus Pavilion. Ours is patterned on the Taiji of the Tao... but this one appears to be built upon celestial star formations."
Hong Ryeon nodded along at Chae Jin's explanation. Both sects belonged to the Taoist lineage, yet apparently they diverged in details like these.
"Would it be all right to have a look inside?"
"You're welcome to... though I'm afraid there's nothing much to see."
Ushered in by Hong Ryeon, I discovered she was right — the place was nearly bare. Even in Cheonsang Myeongwol, the great sects had a few buildings that stood empty. Was this one of those?
After browsing the fairly numerous books lining the walls and the strange patterns carved into the floor, we filed back outside, and the Sword Saint said placidly:
"I shall now show you to the training grounds."
The training grounds, the lodgings, the closed-door cultivation chamber, the dining hall — nearly every building that had struck me as shabby on my previous visit had been cleanly renovated. When I marveled at it all, Hong Ryeon beamed.
"All of this is thanks to you, Innkeeper."
"No — this is the fruit of your disciples' labors. All I did was wag this three-inch tongue of mine a little. I've hardly done anything at all."
"Modesty carried too far becomes an insult in its own right."
The Sword Saint put in her word, and I could only shrug. And so we wandered the grounds of Hongseong Sect, taking in the newly added buildings — until I came upon one spot and tilted my head. So much had changed, yet this one place seemed barely touched since my last visit.
"Is that..."
"Ah, that would be... the Sect Leader's residence. We call it the Seonggwan."
Then why on earth did it look so decrepit? Had they run short of money? At my intent stare, the Sword Saint wore a wry smile.
"We agreed to leave that one for Ryeon to renovate when she succeeds me as Sect Leader. I've never lingered there much to begin with. Besides, the Seonggwan is meant to house a sacred relic — and it doesn't even have that..."
"I see."
There was a quiet bitterness in the Sword Saint's eyes. She gazed at the building for a long moment, then breathed a small sigh.
"I believe we've seen everything worth seeing. Moonlight Blade."
"Yes?"
"As my thanks for traveling all this way, I'll cross blades with you briefly. In particular, I mean to correct the flaws you showed in your last bout with Ryeon."
"Oh? Truly?"
"Mm."
The Sword Saint gave a weighty nod and glanced at Hong Ryeon — who merely smiled, soft and unbothered.
Was she confident?
Well, a worthy rival is the surest way to grow, after all.
"Shall we go have some tea, then?"
"That doesn't sound bad at all."
"I'll serve the Cheon-il Plum Blossom Tea I've just prepared. You're going to love it — one moment, please."
With that breezy promise, she hurried off on quick little steps. While I kept an eye on the Sword Saint and Chae Jin, Hong Ryeon returned and pressed a cup of tea into my hands. A rich fragrance teased my nose. When I startled at how different it smelled from every Cheon-il Plum Blossom Tea I'd tasted before, Hong Ryeon smiled bashfully.
"How is it?"
"This is really quite lovely."
It had a depth to it that set it apart from Sa Yun's brewing. Where Sa Yun's tea carried a fresh, green innocence, Hong Ryeon's offered a deep, mature flavor — that was the only way to put it. Both were so charming in their own right that it was impossible to say which was better.
"Hehe. I'll wrap some up for you to take home."
"Oh? You'd do that?"
"Of course."
If it's offered freely, a gentleman doesn't refuse. And in any case — this really was delicious.
Sipping my tea, I watched the Sword Saint and Chae Jin spar. Naturally, the Sword Saint was turning aside every one of Chae Jin's attacks with effortless ease.
"By the way, is it really all right to let them do that?"
"Of course. This is precisely how martial arts advance — through exchange."
"Still... if Young Lady Chae keeps growing stronger..."
Hong Ryeon held my gaze for a beat, then smiled with total certainty.
"I'll still win. In martial arts — and in everything else."
Well then. I had nothing to say to that.