The Dew Falls on an Inconclusive Path

A merchant caravan descended the ridgeline of the mountain range straddling Cheonmok Mountain.

Before the horses' heads in the vanguard, the red sunset had already set.

Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter!

By this time, the awkward atmosphere with Hwang Haeng-su had completely thawed.

The nanny's true identity remained hidden while riding in the escort carriage, but... no need to probe further, Gwak Yeon thought.

And there was no need to.

He had been fawning over them far too much lately.

"Hwang Haeng-su, your head must be feeling much better now, Gwak 'Gangju'?"

"Yes."

"I see. Ah! Look at the sky, the clouds flowing by resemble our very lives, do they not, Gwak 'Gangju'?"

"Ah..."

"Ah, that cloud over there, Gwak 'Gangju'."

"...I understand. You needn't emphasize it so much now."

"What do you mean?"

"You keep calling me 'Gangju'."

"...Have you noticed?"

"...Yes."

"Precisely why your head is... ah, my apologies. That conversation with Im Cheon-hak keeps sticking to my tongue."

"Haha, it's all right."

"Ah, but what did you bring back from the mountain stronghold yesterday?"

"Just the most expensive-looking jar. We'll open the contents once we reach the overnight stop."

"Ha ha ha!"

Hwang Pil laughed, slapping his knee as he took the answer to heart.

Wiping away the teardrop that had formed at the corner of his eye, he nodded vigorously at Gwak Yeon.

"...As expected, you are Gwak Gangju!"

"Anyway, please take good care of that jar."

"Rest assured, I shall see to it myself!"

But Gwak Yeon already knew.

That jar loaded into the carriage trailing behind.

Therefore.

The jar brought from the mountain stronghold with Im Cheon-hak's permission contained Lingcao.

'My luck was too good.'

The sharp senses that could be honed to surpass human limits had allowed him to find it.

Of course, he had not recalled the invisible Lingcao's scent one by one. If he had, he would have been roaming the mountains and forests, collecting the arrogant Lingcao long ago.

'Transmigration was useful in times like this.'

In his previous life, the Lingcao had been intensely memorable.

Precisely, to extract its poison rapidly, the jar required ingredients that had to be simmered together.

Wild ginger and fish sauce.

The combination he had brought home from his friend's house for safekeeping had been so pungent it remained vivid even beyond life itself.

And above all.

"Anything! Weapons if you want, jars if you want! That leather hanging over there is fine too! If you desire something, take it freely, hahaha!"

When Im Cheon-hak had pointed to one of the dozens of jars, his reaction had been telling.

"That one? There are much better things."

"Hah, a whole jar?"

"A whole jar would be heavy, wouldn't it? Ah, I did say that, but—"

"Or how about this fine soy sauce here?"

"Uuuh?!"

"Oh! Do I look like someone you can speak freely to!"

"How many times did I pat you for my judgment to be clouded?"

"Y-yes! Take it!"

Gwak Yeon had barely held back the laughter rising in his throat.

In truth, that reaction was not merely meaningful—it had been transparently obvious.

There had to be Lingcao that raised one's internal energy.

And that.

'It wasn't even a single stalk...'

Repeatedly consuming the same medicinal herb caused the effect to plummet sharply, but it was irrelevant.

After all, there were only so many to go around.

What remained would be given to Cheon Gang or Ho-shin.

"You seem in high spirits, Gwak 'Gangju'!"

"Haha, indeed. How are you, Haeng-su-nim?"

"I am finally at ease, having nothing more to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hide. He he he!"

The atmosphere had thawed on both sides.

"People are so foolish—! So foolish!"

"What?"

"Barking like goats—! Aigoo—!"

"Prince, how was my fight? Perfect, right? This is the power of training, you crow's brat."

"Acting high and mighty—! I don't want to hear it—!"

"Hehe hehe."

Watching Gwak Yeon and Cheon Gang fight from above, Heoksijo descended and chattered at Cheon Gang's side.

Yeo Baek-rang, who had poked his head out from the carriage window, began speaking to them in earnest.

"Huff... h-here is the sparrow well?"

"...Young Master?"

"...Young Master? I—I!?"

A bewildered expression etched across Cheon Gang's and Heoksijo's faces as they turned their heads.

Despite the fuss, Yeo Baek-rang's face flushed with embarrassment, but he kept his head inside, apparently eager to continue the conversation with Heoksijo.

Surprisingly, Ju Hwa-jeong inside the carriage said little either, though she seemed to have been moved by Yeo Baek-rang's clumsy courage shown at the mountain stronghold yesterday.

And it was not only her.

The warriors of the Cheonhae Merchant Group following at the rear of the carriage shouted loudly at Cheon Gang and Heoksijo, whom they had grown close to over the few days' journey.

"Hey, what are you doing! Our Young Master wants to talk with Heoksijo!"

"Shake it up nicely for us!"

"Our Young Master!"

"Young Master! That fellow won't respond unless you give him food— a cheeky one!"

They were the same ones who had treated Yeo Baek-rang with difficulty until now. Truth be told, Yeo Baek-rang had had little interaction with the workers in the sect due to his sheltered upbringing.

But after the incident yesterday, seeing the warriors now treating him warmly, Yeo Baek-rang felt a sense of acceptance and grew pleased.

Rustle.

Yeo Baek-rang quickly pulled out a small bag and offered a treat.

It was one of his favorites: Mabal.

The crisp sesame-and-honey-coated fried rice cake.

Heoksijo, who had flown over at the sight, snatched it.

"Mabal is delicious—! So good—!"

After gobbling it up with his beak, Yeo Baek-rang said.

"Thank you—! Thank you—!"

"Waaah."

At that moment.

Yeo Baek-rang's peripheral vision caught a figure in the distance watching this way from the front.

Seeing Gwak Yeon's still somewhat awkward gaze, he felt a sudden tension.

Nod.

Gwak Yeon nodded with a smile, as if acknowledging him.

'...Tch.'

Yeo Baek-rang felt dual emotions.

He was grateful for the face he had upheld before everyone yesterday, yet envious that the final battle had drawn all eyes to him.

'I could fight from afar too...!'

But.

Even so, his lips moved restlessly at the moment.

Shiver.

With the first feeling of this kind, Yeo Baek-rang, face flushed, spoke to Heoksijo.

"You, you—! What is your name!"

"I am Heoksijo—! Heoksijo—!"

"Eh hem! I am called Yeo Baek-rang!"

Cheon Gang watched the scene, chuckling.

Of course, it was not mockery.

'In the past, the little one showed amazing courage.'

But when it came to greatness, one could not leave out the Prince.

Cheon Gang looked at Gwak Yeon, who was leading the horses up front.

'How did you do that?'

Subduing the Green Forest bandit leader with only a few instructions!

It was possible only by mastering every form and stance of the technique and analyzing every situation accurately in an instant.

'I had felt his head was sharp since before, but... this much?'

Even the iron staff he had recommended felt unexpectedly good—not only for the subtle distance but for the swing and thrust.

Leaving Heoksijo, who had begun speaking to Yeo Baek-rang instead, to his own devices, Cheon Gang recalled the fight with the bandit leader from earlier in his mind.

"Hooom."

Thus, how long had it been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠since they left the mountain stronghold, all having changed slightly.

Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter!

Clank, clank.

As the sun was dipping low, light rain began to fall.

A light drizzle.

Yet, the Haeng-su who had roughly estimated the weather from the clouds tilted his head and suggested.

"It looks like a sudden downpour tonight. Getting to the next post station by nightfall might be difficult..."

"There is a large inn over there. What do you think?"

"Ah, that would be good."

Far ahead, a large inn came into view.

A dalu meant a two-story or higher pavilion-style resting place.

"Everyone, we will rest at the dalu visible over there for one night!"

If pushed, they could make it to the next post station, but Haeng-su, who had already laid out the sleeping arrangements early for the sake of the escort and Gwak Yeon, was worried about the rain.

Clunk.

Thus, the caravan was settled at the dalu.

Fortunately, as they spread out the bedding and installed screens around the pavilion, the downpour began.

Swoosh━━━

Having completed the complex day's journey, the group, aside from the watch rotation, soon fell into deep sleep, snoring.

.

.

.

The watch was two men on duty.

Swoosh━━━

Among them, during the deepest sleep hour, Cheon Gang and Gwak Ho-shin had taken the watch from the first floor of the pavilion.

Second floor of the pavilion.

Ju Hwa-jeong, leaning against the railing beside Yeo Baek-rang with eyes closed, heard a faint voice through the rain.

Swoosh━━━

"Not sleeping? Let us talk for a moment."

Ju Hwa-jeong opened her eyes as if she had been waiting.

Turning her head, she saw Gwak Yeon standing alone amid the sleeping figures.

"What is the matter?"

"Ah, I hope there is no misunderstanding."

Facing Ju Hwa-jeong, who had already drawn her sword, Gwak Yeon calmly extended his hand.

In it was something that looked precious just by looking.

"...I bring this to you."

"...The stairs."

Despite the rain's intensity, both spoke in hushed voices as a precaution and headed for the staircase connecting the pavilion floors.

Swoosh━━━

Gwak Yeon, opening his mouth quietly, was still treated cautiously by Ju Hwa-jeong.

"What is this?"

"Lingcao."

"The one brought from the mountain stronghold earlier?"

"My luck was good."

"But why give it to me?"

"Because you have the authority to decide."

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"The Young Master gives orders to Haeng-su-nim, and the one he follows most closely is you."

".........!"

Ju Hwa-jeong's eyes widened.

"Do not ask how I knew. Children with an escort warrior and a nanny have different expressions from the moment they eat."

"...You are quick to notice."

She had no way of knowing.

That she possessed the ability to eavesdrop on every conversation she and Yeo Baek-rang had in whispers inside the carriage or the inn's side rooms if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she simply willed it, that she lived with a monster.

Nevertheless, since the secret had been revealed, Ju Hwa-jeong decided to believe Gwak Yeon's explanation for now.

"Therefore, please accept it. Whether loved or hated, you have already formed a connection with them."

"Is there another reason you dislike it?"

"There are too many secrets."

"Still, I am grateful you kept it for me."

"Because I sat on the same boat. Do you remember the advice I gave you right before parting from Im Cheon-hak today?"

Of course she did.

The final piece of advice Gwak Yeon had given her just before handing over the jar and leaving.

"By the way, beware of strange guys pretending to be famous post stations near Beijing lately. Well, there probably won't be any major trouble..."

Even the muttering of that caution Gwak Yeon had muttered in his mind.

"Why do you think the person who needs it most should receive it? From what I see, it looks like Lingcao that does not suit one's constitution."

Thus, Gwak Yeon placed the Lingcao in Ju Hwa-jeong's hand.

And the follow-up words that carried meaning.

"Well, you know better than Haeng-su-nim, do you not."

"......!"

"Then, I shall go report to the protectors of our children. No need to worry about the watch."

Leaving only that, Gwak Yeon descended the stairs.

Swoosh━━

Ju Hwa-jeong watched his retreating figure blankly.

As if facing an unfamiliar stranger.

* * *

Morning broke.

"Come on, let's go! The road is urgent!"

As if the heavy rain of the previous night had been a lie, the day dawned, and the caravan prepared to depart in a flash under the sparkling sunlight.

Though some horses sulked at the puddles dotting the ground, it was no major issue.

"Oh! Why are these fellows so wild today?"

"I will check on them."

"Haeng-su-nim, do you know how to handle horses?"

"Haha, I'm just pretending."

"Hooh."

Except for the minor issue Gwak Yeon had settled as the caravan's experienced rider, all was smooth.

After everyone—drivers, porters, and warriors—lined up in their respective positions, they set off again.

Pitter-patter!

Pitter-patter!

Between the carriages traveling in succession.

Cheon Gang and Gwak Ho-shin, responsible for the left and right flanks of the procession, exchanged nods across the gap.

'Prince, this is...?'

'Hooom!'

For some reason, both their eyes sparkled.

It was only natural.

Thanks to the Lingcao Gwak Yeon had secretly given them the night before.

Having completely absorbed the Lingcao's aura thanks to their duty as protectors, Cheon Gang and Gwak Ho-shin.

Twinkle━!

In their eyes, not only did crystalline light shine, it overflowed.

And that precious energy had even been stored in their dantians.

'Too... too good!'

Gwak Ho-shin was ecstatic.

To the point of a killer smile appearing.

"What, what is it."

"You look like you didn't sleep well..."

"Was there bad news?"

The Cheonhae Merchant Group warriors who caught a glimpse of it were startled, but of course, such things did not concern Gwak Ho-shin at all.

'As expected, following Brother was the right choice...!'

Looking at Gwak Yeon ahead, Gwak Ho-shin let out a chuckle that others might have taken as mocking.

'So, with power like this, how much further can I step into the truth? Then, when I unleash the romantic stances in the next fight...'

Like someone caught in the rain alone, Cheon Gang murmured the breath of the martial arts he had memorized and the sequence of stances while on horseback.

Thump.

All still felt their chests pounding from the internal energy that had risen sharply the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠night before.

But.

In truth, the one most surprised by the Lingcao's effect from the previous night was someone else.

Pitter-patter!

On horseback, Gwak Yeon still wore an expression of disbelief.

'...Ueng?'

In the previous night, he had discovered a new ability of the vampire.