Those Who Meet Must Part, Those Who Leave Must Return
The hub of the masters of myriad poisons, who look down upon all under heaven in the arts of hidden weapons and their mastery.
Though belonging to the orthodox path, those whose names resound far more for notoriety than virtue, owing to their ruthless family style and merciless methods.
The Sichuan Dang Clan.
In the very heart of those who flaunt such fearsome renown, Seomun Hwi sat calmly, lifting a cup of tea.
"How is the tea? Hearing that the Young Master of the Seomun Clan was coming, I prepared it specially."
A profound, seasoned, yet overbearing aura that was not easy to approach.
Gazing at Clan Lord Dang Hyeongeuk, who radiated an energy similar yet entirely different in texture from his own father's, Seomun Hwi nodded slightly.
"I do not particularly know the taste of tea, but it does seem a little different from those I have drunk before."
Seeing Seomun Hwi observe propriety without empty formalities, a faint smile spread across Dang Hyeongeuk's lips.
"Truly the spitting image."
A brief look of bewilderment crossed Seomun Hwi's face, but he soon asked calmly.
"What do you mean by that..."
"Just something I said thinking of your father, so pay it no mind."
"I understand."
Though they had exchanged no particular words, what could he have seen to say he resembled his father?
Thinking so, Seomun Hwi took from his bosom a letter stamped with the Clan Lord's seal and held it out.
"This is the letter I was told to deliver to Lord Dang."
"Hmm."
Dang Hyeongeuk quickly scanned the letter up and down, then roughly folded it and pushed it aside.
"Nothing but words that could have been sent by ordinary missive. In my view, the letter is merely a pretext."
"Pardon?"
"Why so surprised? You yourself did not come solely for clan business, did you?"
Speaking as if it were no great matter, Dang Hyeongeuk looked at Seomun Hwi.
They said he was making a name across the Central Plains as the most outstanding dragon among the rising talents, and indeed it seemed no empty reputation.
His refined energy is no ordinary thing. His appearance is also quite fine... At this level, Sohye would have no complaints.
On the surface his daughter seemed to quietly train only in poison arts and hidden weapon techniques, but that was merely the exterior.
In truth her temperament was so picky that how much of a headache she had given him all this time.
It was no exaggeration to say he had inquired after every marriageable man in the land of Sichuan.
But one thing that weighed on his mind was that Seomun Hwi was also the Young Master of one of the Six Great Clans, so he could not take him as a live-in son-in-law.
...It cannot be helped. This is not the time to crouch low, but to bare our claws.
Upholding upright ideals, clashing with each other while staking their convictions.
Thus a complex struggle where good and evil are not simply divided.
If he could only protect the clan amid those flames that could burn the entire Central Plains, Dang Hyeongeuk was prepared to endure anything.
"It is not boasting, but my daughter's martial arts are quite outstanding. And not just as a father speaking, her appearance is not lacking either. So..."
Before he could finish speaking, the door to the Clan Lord's chamber opened with a clatter.
Though there was no one guarding the door, it was a place within the Dang Clan that one could least freely enter and exit.
The only one who could open such a place without permission as if it were her own room was a single person.
The pride of the Sichuan Dang Clan and Dang Hyeongeuk's precious jewel.
And among the rising talents, the woman called the Poison Phoenix, Dang Sohye.
"I heard you called for me."
Unlike her earlier action that could be called rude, Dang Sohye's voice was polite and calm as she offered her greetings to the Clan Lord.
"You came at just the right time. I was just about to bring up talk of you. Young Master, this is my daughter Dang Sohye whom I mentioned earlier. Sohye, as you know from seeing him a few times before, this is Young Master Seomun Hwi."
Dang Sohye glanced at Seomun Hwi with an indifferent gaze, then without a word strode over and sat down beside him.
Until now, whenever he brought men who might be suitable as spouses, she would take one look at their face and turn away on the spot.
But this time she was clearly showing interest, so Dang Hyeongeuk's expression grew subtle.
He had thought he wanted him as a son-in-law, but seeing his daughter's attitude the complete opposite of before, he almost found Seomun Hwi annoying.
After all, for a man, appearance is not everything.
But Dang Sohye, who could not know her father's inner thoughts, simply stared fixedly at Seomun Hwi.
"I recall we have exchanged greetings a few times before. I am Seomun Hwi, Young Master of the Seomun Clan."
Even as he offered greetings first, he once again felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from Dang Sohye's face.
Eyes tinged with a subtle green.
Beauty that could not be hidden even amid a calm atmosphere.
At least among those he knew there was no one who resembled her, so why did he feel this way every time?
"I am Dang Sohye, daughter of the Sichuan Dang Clan. I do not know what the future holds, but I look forward to working with you."
Watching their gazes meet, Dang Hyeongeuk quietly clicked his tongue.
There was no need for me to step in.
"Well then, we'll be going now."
"We are truly indebted to you!"
Before leaving, Cheongwol and Ak Seo-a standing at the door offered their final greetings to the innkeeper and his wife.
Though it was a short acquaintance, perhaps because they had gone through experiences they would never forget for a lifetime.
A bittersweet expression lingered on both their faces.
The innkeeper seemed to share that feeling, as he grinned and placed a rather heavy bundle into Ak Seo-a's hands.
"What is this?"
"I looked around and found some leftover ingredients, so I packed a bit of food. If you share it, it should easily cover two meals, so take it with you."
"Innkeeper...!"
At his thoughtful consideration felt to the very end, Ak Seo-a's eyes welled up as if moved.
"We didn't really do anything grand, yet it feels like we're causing too much trouble."
Cheongwol made an apologetic expression, but the innkeeper shook his head.
"That performing righteousness and chivalry is not a grand thing is only natural. Rather, that is why it is all the more difficult. Since you accomplished that difficult thing, you ought to properly receive this much goodwill."
"...You only say such nice things to hear."
"It's a skill honed while running the inn. This is how one makes a living."
At his unexpected joke, everyone including Cheongwol burst into laughter.
A moment later, as the laughter gradually subsided, the four people finally realized that the time for farewell had come.
"I hope that someday fate will bring us together again so we can meet."
Cheongwol first politely bowed her head in a martial salute, and Ak Seo-a followed with her own.
"Where there is meeting, there is also parting! But as long as we walk the same path of the Way, there will surely come a day when our roads cross again!"
Was it because of Cheongwol's salute imbued with spirit?
Or because of Ak Seo-a's vigorous salute?
In the innkeeper's chest, which he had thought left not even ashes, a tiny spark of an ember raised its head.
It was so shabby and precarious that it was embarrassing to even call it an ember, but it was clearly shining as if to announce its existence.
He firmly clenched his right hand and wrapped it with his left, fiercely fanning that spark that might be the last.
"Dang Gwoncheol of the Dang Clan! I offer my final greetings to my benefactors!"
What does it matter if it is a flame that once died down, or an ember that can never burn again?
At this moment, is not the flame kindled by one martial artist burning so brightly and beautifully?
Knowing that someday they too would kindle such a flame, Cheongwol and Ak Seo-a simply smiled and set off on the road again.
Like the chivalrous heroes from stories who chase the wind and lead the clouds.
Even after the two disappeared beyond the hill, the innkeeper did not relax his posture for a long while.
Knowing that it was his own way of farewell, his wife silently stayed by his side.
He was not only seeing off Cheongwol and Ak Seo-a now, but also laying down the self as a martial artist that he had never been able to let go of even while running the inn.
"Dear..."
How much time had passed like that?
Around the time when the sun that had hung high in the sky had tilted halfway to the west, the innkeeper finally moved his head.
Then, with an awkward smile, he pulled into his arms the wife who had been watching over him.
"I made a fool of myself, not acting my age, wife. Since I've already made a fool of myself, I'll say it now. Thank you so much for living with me."
At her husband's sincere, clumsy confession, the wife also smiled and nodded slightly.
"If you know, do better from now on. Of course... you've done well so far too."
"Wife..."
The two held each other a little longer, then slightly separated their bodies and gazed at the path where Cheongwol and Ak Seo-a had disappeared.
"But are you really all right?"
"About what?"
"The item you gave to Miss Cheongwol. You cherished it so much."
At his wife's words, the innkeeper shook his head as if to say not to worry.
"Just as a sword that cannot be swung has no meaning, a hidden weapon that only stays in one's bosom also has no meaning. Moreover, having left a poor master to meet one far beyond its station, it must surely be even happier."
"...I fretted for nothing."
"No. And... to be honest, there was another reason as well."
"Another reason?"
At his wife's question, the innkeeper nodded, recalling the face of a woman that time could not erase.
"I was reminded of the young lady I served when I was in the Dang Clan. Miss Cheongwol resembles that young lady so much that, honestly, I was a little surprised."