First Snow - 6
Ten-year mountain ginseng, Red Rock Honey, and Tiger Stew on top of it all. I started with the ginseng first.
"Sa Yun. I'll dig in, then."
"Yes!"
I chewed on the ginseng Sa Yun had discovered and Ryu Hyeon had dug up. Watching me carefully work through every last fiber without leaving a single fine root behind, she finally broke into a beaming smile.
"Thank you. Eating this, I can feel my strength coming back."
And indeed, mountain ginseng lived up to its reputation — a surge of vigor welled up in my body, which had been feeling rather drained of late.
Just as I finished and moved to rise, a bowl appeared before me. It was red honey — Red Rock Honey. Hong Ryeon held it out with a gentle, easy smile.
"Have this right away as well."
"...Thank you."
Under Hong Ryeon's watchful gaze, I polished off the whole bowl of honey. Red Rock Honey was, after all, a medicine used to shore up stamina, so while it was certainly sweet, emptying a full bowl was no great trial.
"That was delicious. I feel as though I'm forever in your debt."
"You're not in anyone's debt, so stop saying things like that. From now on, you take care of your body when you move about, you hear? I already gave some to Yohwan, so make sure you eat yours regularly."
"Haha. I will. Thank you, as always."
"Oh, hush."
Only when she saw the empty bowl did Hong Ryeon look satisfied.
"Have this too."
Seeing that, Geomseong held out the Tiger Stew. True to the claim that she had simmered it down with her own internal energy, the meat was cooked completely through — tender enough to eat with nothing but a spoon. And just as you'd expect of Yohwan's handiwork, there wasn't a trace of gaminess to it, only a softness that seemed to melt the instant it touched my tongue and a deep, savory richness.
I had been eating quietly when I raised my head. Geomseong was staring fixedly at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh — nothing."
Startled, she whipped her head away. In the meantime, I finished the Tiger Stew without leaving a single drop of broth behind.
Mountain ginseng, Red Rock Honey, and even Tiger Stew. I was truly indulging in luxury beyond my station. In Cheonsang Myeongwol, the moment you got your hands on items like these, you'd usually just sell them — actually consuming them was rare.
"That was a fine meal, Geomseong. I really do feel a tiger's spirit rising in me."
"Then I shall pray you think of your own health from now on."
Geomseong said this evenly and stepped back. And a moment later—
"When I go to Cheongho, I'll bring you back something even better!"
"Haha. There's really no need."
"No! I can't very well not bring you something, can I? This is a matter of Moon Lotus Pavilion's pride!"
"Didn't you already promise me tonic medicine?"
"That's that, and this is this."
At Chae Jin's firm tone, I simply nodded. Pleading that I was fine clearly wouldn't stop her, so I might as well give up the fight and accept graciously.
"You're much recovered now, and your strength has returned, so it's about time you got back to—"
"...Innkeeper... could you not rest today?"
Sa Yun's face crumpled as if she were about to cry. My heart ached.
"There now. I'll take it easy today. No matter how good the tonics you've taken, you can't go running around straight after."
Hong Ryeon said this as she pressed lightly down on my shoulder. The strength packed into those slender arms was considerable — I couldn't have gotten up if I'd wanted to.
"Still, there is work that needs—"
"Consider what truly matters."
Geomseong spoke while gazing at me. Her expression was calm and unbothered, but there was such force gathered behind those eyes that I could only manage an awkward smile.
"If lying about gets dull, why not take a nice, easy walk?"
Chae Jin said brightly, and I tried to shake my head.
"It's not that I'm bored, it's just—"
"That's right! Rest up!"
"You've worked yourself ragged for so long!"
The voices rang out from beyond the door as well. I turned to look and saw the disciples of Hongseong Sect standing there, arms full of fruit and medicinal herbs, worry written across their faces.
With them fussing over me to this extent, digging my heels in over work would be poor grace indeed. Very well — I would accept their kindness for exactly what it was.
"I shall rest today."
"Yay! Best decision ever!"
Hearing Sa Yun's bright cheer, I resigned myself to a full day of doing nothing at all.
That said, now that I'd actually decided to rest, I had no idea what to do with myself. Was it because I'd spent every waking hour moving to complete the scenario? Try as I might, all that came to mind was spacing out with a pipe between my lips.
After mulling it over, I headed for the backyard.
"And where might you be off to?"
I jumped. The voice had come from above. Looking up, I found Chae Jin leaning against the window frame, gazing steadily down at me.
"I'm resting from training today too. They say a single day off costs three days of toil to make up, but pushing yourself while you're worn down does more harm than good."
"That's the plan. I only came down for a moment because there's something I need to think over."
I set the pipe between my lips. My cold had all but cleared, and a full night's sleep plus the tonics had washed away the exhaustion of overwork — I figured it was time I allowed myself this little indulgence.
"Why on earth do you push yourself so hard?"
Chae Jin hopped down from above and came closer. At her question, I considered for a moment, then smiled.
What was there to say, really, when asked why I worked so hard?
"Leaving what must be done undone while I go looking at other things — that's simply not to my taste."
"Hmm... that's a tough one to argue with."
"Haha. With a hundred people, you'll find a hundred tastes."
"Oh — I didn't mean it as a bad thing!"
"I appreciate you thinking so."
I drew on the pipe again. As the hazy smoke curled out once more, a voice drifted in from the entrance of the backyard.
"How are you feeling?"
It was Sa Yun — and Hong Ryeon. Puzzled that they'd come again so soon after I'd just seen them, I flicked the ash from my pipe.
"Out on patrol?"
"Yes! What must be done must be done!"
"Admirable. By the way, Hong Ryeon — didn't you come by yesterday?"
"I did. Actually, I had a favor to ask of you."
"Oh? What would that be?"
"I meant to place an order for some medicinal ingredients. And then you collapsed."
"My apologies for that."
"None of that, now. Crafting elixirs matters, but not nearly as much as you do."
"That's right! Think of everything you've done for our Hongseong Sect!"
Truthfully, it didn't feel bad at all. Their reactions were as good as proof that everything I had done — that we had done — had not been wrong.
"Rest up today and we'll sort it out tomorrow. Send me a list of whatever you need."
"You're not doing it today, are you?"
"I couldn't if I tried."
I pointed at Chae Jin beside me. The moment I so much as set foot toward the office, she'd have me by the collar.
At the sight of Chae Jin's triumphant face, Hong Ryeon giggled.
"This once, I suppose I'll have to trust you."
"Hehe. Leave it to me — no worries!"
"Sister Chae Jin, we're counting on you!"
"No worries! No worries!"
Well, there was no getting into the office today. I smiled wryly at their antics, and only then did Hong Ryeon hand over the order form.
Let's see. We had a fair stock in the warehouse already, and none of these ingredients were especially rare — this much I could fill exactly as requested.
"For this much, you'll only need to wait a few days."
"That's a relief. Still — rest well today. Even if it takes a little longer, it's no trouble at all."
I nodded at Hong Ryeon's words.
The day after the whole business of my collapse, fully recovered, I placed an order with the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild through the Post Courier Guild — and a few days later, Gi Noya came calling in person, goods in hand.
"I never dreamed you'd deliver them yourself."
"Hahahaha. Well, here I am."
He'd come all this way, so surely he intended to linger over a medicinal meal and a drink while he was at it? Grinning, I called for Yohwan. Gi Noya insisted there was no need for any fuss, yet didn't refuse either — and that alone was enough to make me laugh.
"Gi Noya. Come winter, I'll need to make a trip to Cheongho. It may take some time..."
"You want me to come look after the place while you're gone?"
"Would you be willing?"
Of course, with Geomseong at Hongseong Sect, even a true emergency would hardly spell disaster. Still, would it not be a comfort to have a master of his caliber keeping watch over the inn?
"Well now, I'll put the question to them. Barring anything unusual, I expect I can get leave."
"Thank you."
After thanking him properly, I gathered up the ingredients Gi Noya had brought along with those I'd been keeping in storage.
It was cold outside. Just as I was shrugging into a heavy coat to head out, Chae Jin appeared at my side.
"Where are you going?"
"To Hongseong Sect. The goods they requested have arrived, so I ought to deliver them, no?"
"Couldn't you just send them along with the patrol?"
"Haha. They're waiting on them. Besides, I find myself with time to spare, and I mean to make a walk of it. Care to join me?"
"I'd love to!"
And so Chae Jin and I walked together. The cold wind sliding past my cheeks made it plain that winter had crept right up to our doorstep.
"It was so warm when I first came here."
"Come to think of it, Lady Chae, you've stayed here quite a while yourself."
Chae Jin had lodged at my inn back when I'd barely arrived in this world. Looking back on it now, a long while indeed.
"Hehe. That's right, isn't it? And how has it been for you all this time, Innkeeper?"
How had it been...
It was a question with a simple answer.
"Everything has been good."
Hard, at times — but good.
At my answer, Chae Jin studied me for a long moment, then flashed a sly grin.
"And that 'everything' naturally includes having me around, doesn't it?"
"Why, what an obvious thing to ask."
"...Ahahahaha!!"
I smiled back at Chae Jin as she burst into bright, easy laughter.
Chatting away like that, we climbed Mount Hongseong, and as we drew near the mountain gate, we spotted the disciple keeping watch there.
"Delivery."
"You should have let us come fetch it! One moment, please!"
Hongseong Sect, once a domain forbidden to men, was now a place I could approach without the least awkwardness. Not that I could step straight through the mountain gate — the Guardian Star Formation still had to be raised first.
How long did we wait after the disciple hurried off? Coming down to where we stood were none other than Geomseong, Hong Ryeon, Yu Hui, and Sa Yun.
"It was only a delivery. Did you truly need to come down yourself, Geomseong?"
"You have brought us exactly what we needed. Surely I had to come myself."
Geomseong smiled brightly as she accepted the box I offered. After opening it and checking the contents, she nodded with grave sincerity.
"Thank you, as always."
"Think nothing of it."
I've said it before and I'll say it again — I was the more grateful of us.
After nodding to Geomseong, I turned to Hong Ryeon.
"When do you plan to set out for Cheongho?"
"Hmm. Probably within the next few days. Winter's nearly upon us, so Hongseong Sect has preparations of its own to make."
Firewood, winter clothes — and no doubt stores of food as well.
"Still, I think this winter will be a warm one."
At Sa Yun's remark, Yu Hui nodded along in agreement.
"Thanks to you, Innkeeper."
I smiled at her words, and—
"Oh."
Just then, a single snowflake began its slow drift down from the sky. Not the unnatural fall the Sanbeom had brought before, but a genuine first snow, falling just as it should.
It was the signal that the time had come for us to make our way to the Murim Alliance.