Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Prelude to the Invasion - 1
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A few days had passed since my trip to Yangwicity, but I didn't feel particularly at ease. After all, work had to be done every day, and training had to be done every day too.
Honestly, I thought Chaejin's declaration back then was just a joke, but the training had actually gotten tougher. She seemed dead set on it, like she was itching to devour me whole.
Thanks to that, though, my stamina had improved quite a bit.
Even if my body was exhausted.
"Whew."
"Are you okay?"
Sayoon, out on patrol today, looked at me struggling and offered some sympathetic words of comfort.
I glanced over at Chaejin, who was sitting in the backyard with a grin plastered on her face, but she just raised a finger as if to say, one more time?
"Still, it's a relief that Senior Sister Chae is teaching you properly. Ahaha."
A dry laugh. Sayoon hesitated, glancing around. The other junior sisters who had come for patrol seemed ready to move on.
"Well, I'll be off then."
"Sure. See you later."
As Sayoon walked away, Chaejin sidled over to me. She fiddled with a nearby chair or broom, casually bringing up,
"The innkeeper seems close with the Crimson Star Sect folks."
"Eh, something like that."
"Then..."
"If you're about to ask me to arrange a spar with the Falling Sun Sword, don't. She's pretty busy these days."
"Huh? That wasn't what I was going to say."
Eh? It wasn't?
I'd thought sparring with Hongryeon was the most important thing to Chaejin.
I looked at her, and she met my gaze with steady eyes.
"I heard the Falling Sun Sword's been training under the Sword Saint lately. If you want to spar with her, shouldn't you head back to Full Moon Pavilion soon and learn properly from your master?"
"I can train here too, you know?"
She really doesn't want to go.
Did I smear honey on the inn or something? I looked at her and shrugged.
If she doesn't want to go, fine by me. Honestly, from my position, I was grateful for Chaejin sticking around. She was here as my bodyguard, after all.
When the time came to fight the Iron Blood Clan, she'd at least protect me.
And she could step in if things got dicey.
"Well then, do as you please."
"Yes, I'll do just that. In that case, I should get some training in too. If Hongryeon's training that hard."
She spoke leisurely, then lightly drew her blade. Raising it above her head, she held the pose.
I had no idea what she was doing, but interrupting her training felt wrong.
I headed straight to my room. Work had to be done, after all.
Back in my room, I started on the tasks. Harvesting and storage issues for barley and other crops, calculating payments for tenant farmers, taxes, and various other accounts.
And plans for meeting officials introduced by Cheon In-hwa, convincing them to buy our goods.
As I mulled over these things while working, a sound came from the window.
"Oh, come on in."
"Three today."
The regular Postal Gate disciple handed over two letters and a box.
One was... oh! From Sayoon!
A surge of energy hit my fatigued mind. I set it aside carefully...
The other was a letter from the Qinghui Merchant Group.
They'd developed a new product and wanted me to try it, verify its effects, and report back.
Plenty had been sent, so no worries about running out, the letter said. I folded it neatly, set it aside, and picked up the other box.
It was from Jinquandang. I'd planned to visit soon for my reward, but they'd sent it ahead impatiently?
I opened the box and was surprised by the unexpected contents.
"This is..."
Inside was a fist-sized stone: a Moonlight Stone.
One of the materials from Part 2. With it, you could craft a Moonlight Talisman.
"What was the Moonlight Talisman's effect again..."
I tapped the Moonlight Stone, racking my brain.
Besides basic physical enhancements, it granted a slight boost to aura under moonlight at night. Stronger on full moons.
I picked up the small note inside the box. A letter from Ochil, confirming it was payment for last time from Jinquandang.
They'd planned to find someone who could craft talismans, but that person wasn't around.
Hearing from Qinghui that Master Yu had deep knowledge, they sent the key material, Moonlight Stone, hoping I knew how.
I knew the recipe, but knowing it didn't mean I could make it...
"Hmm... should I just sell it?"
Or find someone who can craft talismans and send it to Sayoon.
I tapped the Moonlight Stone, then shook my head.
First, let's read Sayoon's letter.
Sayoon's handwriting was still round and pretty. The contents were more than enough to fill me with pride.
Naming the sword, huh.
In Celestial Moon, that sword didn't have a name either.
The more you used it, the more proficiency built up, and it emitted light—that was pretty, so some called it the Pretty Sword...
Otherwise, it was just a good, ordinary blade. Nothing special to name it after.
I pondered a name but set down the brush. I'll think more and reply later.
Anyway, Sayoon's letter revitalized my tired mind.
Time to wrap up the rest of the work.
Organize what needs organizing, handle what needs handling.
After checking the barley fields and paddies, by the time I returned, the sun was setting.
Bathed in the red glow of sunset, I headed to the backyard. Chaejin was still standing there.
Almost the same pose as before.
Except one thing: the blade that had been above her head when I first saw her was now at chest level.
From lunchtime to now, that's all the progress?
Dull Sword—no, Dull Blade.
Chaejin pursued extreme speed, just like before.
Slashing enemies at invisible speeds, like moonlight falling.
That's why she loses to her younger sister Chaeryeon later.
Chaeryeon gains enlightenment in both speed and slowness during the main story, then defeats Chaejin—who chased only extreme speed—in Part 4's main story.
It's a beautiful scene of breaking her limits, but frustrating for Chaejin, who lost to her sister.
And now, Chaejin—who'd seen only speed as truth—was practicing slowness.
Wow.
Chaeryeon’s in for some trouble later.
Anyway, she seemed deeply focused. Could I skip training today?
"Time's up."
Of course not.
Right on cue for my training time, Chaejin sheathed her blade.
"Alright, shall we start?"
I thought to myself as she winked one eye and flashed a beaming smile.
This is obsession...!
True to her word, the more refined training—enough to make my body scream—ended just as the patrolling Crimson Star Sect disciples returned. Sayoon saw me panting from training and smiled, stepping closer.
"Training's tough, huh?"
"Not easy."
"Hehe. If it's okay, how about I give you a shoulder rub?"
What?! That kind of reward?!
Sayoon's a real angel...
No thought of refusing.
You don't pass up something like this!
I lay right down on the long bench in the backyard, and Sayoon kneaded my shoulders firmly.
"Ah..."
I'd expected just light patting, no big hopes. Just her giving me a massage was nice enough, but this was way more refreshing. What?
"Do you know about acupressure points? Master sometimes does it for me and the other seniors. I'm just imitating that. Still, since it targets the meridians, it should help... How is it?"
"It's good. Really."
Not just my imagination. The knots in my shoulders, neck, and back were loosening.
"The Crimson Star Divine Art is a martial art of the lungs, but it's also for caring for and protecting others. So it helps with healing as well as destruction."
"That's cool."
"I learned that studying the latter parts lately."
"I see. Ah, a bit more there?"
"Here?"
As she pressed near my wing muscles, a groan escaped me involuntarily. After massaging my back like that, Sayoon stepped back, sweating a bit.
"Whew. That should do it. Try moving around."
I stood and stretched. Definitely much looser.
"I'll learn more from Master and do it again later. Hehe."
Tears welling up. While I was moved, Yuhee—who'd patrolled with her—called Sayoon.
Time to head back, I guess.
"See you later then. Oh, right. Starting tomorrow, we won't be coming down. Master's doing intensive training."
"Yeah, I heard Senior Sister Hongryeon finished her training, so she'll handle patrols for a while..."
Is that so? Can't be helped.
"Got it. I'll talk to the officials. And thanks for the massage—take this at least."
I hurried to the storehouse. Thought about packing candy, but she'd have leftovers from last time, so something else.
"Made some rice cakes yesterday. Share them."
"No, I... I feel like I'm always just taking..."
"Thanks to your massage, I can work better. That's a fair trade. Actually, maybe not enough."
"N-not enough! It's plenty! Right, Senior Sister Yuhee?!"
"Yeah. Next time, I'll do it too. Back home, I give my dad and uncle massages. They all say it's refreshing, so you'll like it too."
"That's appreciated. Anyway, take it."
She refused several times, but couldn't beat my insistence. They took the cakes and left, and I watched them warmly.
"You like the kids, huh? Seem closer than I thought."
A voice from the stairs. She came down leisurely, sat at her now-almost-reserved spot near the backyard, and asked. I started to reply indifferently but paused.
Eh?
Wait a minute.
Is this a sales pitch?
"Why? Doesn't Senior Sister Chae like it?"
"It's not about like or dislike. I just don't mix much with the kids."
"Then how about getting friendly this time?"
I smiled as I spoke, and Chaejin thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Not easy."
"Doesn't sound like something from someone who challenges the unknown without fear."
"Who? Me?"
"You're training the Dull Blade to gain slowness alongside extreme speed, right? Extremes clash as counters but can unite. Not easy at all. But challenging to grow stronger? Doesn't seem like you hate trying new things."
I recalled her earlier training and asked. She seemed at a loss for words, mouth shut, then downed a shot and replied.
"That... just some ideas that came up while teaching you. Trying them out."
"Then try this too. I'll set up a meeting later. Same righteous faction, rivals or whatever aside—building good ties now isn't bad. Plus, Crimson Star Sect disciples are all good kids, and Sayoon's really kind, not just 'cause we're close..."
"Haa. Fine, fine. You'll talk endlessly if I leave it. But our Full Moon Pavilion kids are good too, you know? Sure, Ryeon has a fierce temper, but she's good. When you meet Full Moon Pavilion kids later, no funny talk, okay?"
Chaejin took another sip and retorted.
Good. Sales success?
Yeah, I think so.
Alright, back to work.
Back in my room, I lit the lamp and reviewed documents when...
A knock at the window.
Second one today.
The usual Postal Gate disciple held a letter.
"...Jinquandang?"
Express seal. Why express?
I opened it and clicked my tongue.
Messy handwriting, written in haste. But that showed Ochil's sincerity.
"Gohwadan and Jugyeongdae, huh..."
Both bought by Iron Blood Clan, mercenaries who attacked Crimson Star Sect from outside.
Absorbed by Iron Blood Clan later.
In other words.
Their movement meant the invasion was about to start. I'd planned to hire Omun to watch them after their faction battle, but learned this way. Saved money.
Signs of the invasion starting, but not scared.
No, maybe I'd been waiting for this moment.
Memories of old Celestial Moon veterans discussing ways Crimson Star Sect could survive the invasion in IF scenarios.
Time to borrow the power of collective intelligence.
I took up my brush without hesitation.