LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 5
As the scattered plum blossoms caught the moonlight, dew fell drop by drop, and I picked up my brush.
Normally, I’d be getting ready to sleep for my early morning training, but for some reason, my eyes just wouldn’t close, probably due to the throbbing pulse in my chest.
Today was the second happiest day of my life.
The first was when I met my Master.
I had clearly realized that there was no one in the world on my side, and my future was nothing but cold and dark. I was living day by day amidst dust and garbage when a hand of salvation was extended to me.
It was my Master’s hand.
To someone who was nothing, that hand offered by someone who had no connection to me made me feel that the world wasn’t entirely cold.
And today, I felt that again.
For the first time, I could share what I had with my Master and the senior sisters of the sect, which allowed me to savor a little happiness from the joy of those I love.
Thank you.
I know I can’t repay the grace you have shown me, someone who has nothing and is insignificant, with just a letter.
Would you kindly grant me the opportunity to repay this grace?
P.S.
Mister, or maybe Madam.
Or perhaps it should be Elder Brother? If not, should I call you Elder Sister?
The senior sister still casts doubtful eyes toward my benefactor, but in my imagination, the benefactor is a very wonderful person.
Just like my Master, who extended a hand to me.
Because you reached out to someone like me!
.
.
.
After reading all the way to the end, I read the letter again.
Having awkwardly learned how to write a letter, I started with a standard opening, but as it went on, revealing my inner thoughts just made me chuckle.
I neatly folded the letter and tucked it away in the drawer, momentarily closing my mouth in pride.
Sayoon was always alone. She lost her sect, lost the villagers, and lost even a friend she had barely made.
Since then, she couldn’t bear the pain of watching her loved ones die, closing her heart and pushing away those who tried to get close.
It wouldn’t be until the middle of Part 4 that she finally met someone she could call a friend, but during that time, she had constantly been suffering.
And now, she discovered joy in giving to those she loves and found happiness?
Ah, I can’t stand this.
Let’s keep going like this!
The pride that swelled in one corner of my heart kept lifting the corners of my mouth.
“Hmm…”
By the way, Hongryeon is suspicious.
Well, that’s probably a normal reaction.
I suddenly sent a guest a letter, and there was barely a line of content.
I did well to avoid direct contact.
But even if she’s aware, she probably can’t trace me, so there’s nothing to worry about. No matter how much Na Yerin is the benefactor of the post office, the Hongseong courier service offers free delivery, the secrecy of the post office is strict, so there’s no way they’ll reveal anything about me.
So, even though Hongryeon is suspicious of me, there’s truly nothing to worry about.
Without evidence, what can she do?
-Swoosh… Swoosh…
I immediately ground some ink and quickly scribbled a line on the paper before sealing it in an envelope. I need to call the post office person again to send it tomorrow.
-Crash!!
“What’s that?”
The ruckus from downstairs made my previously joyful mood plummet into the abyss.
Is it coming from the inn?
Since it’s a place for drinks and food, and where courtesans sing, it wouldn’t be strange if fights broke out.
However, I’ve never heard it this loud since entering this world.
I quickly opened the door and stepped outside. When I reached the first floor, I saw several burly men grabbing Jeomsoi by the collar.
“Tell the owner to come out!!”
“Damn it!! Is this how you run an inn?! Is this even an inn?!”
In places where sects exist, especially those with a fair bit of fame, ruffians generally can’t just barge in.
It’s only natural. If that sect belongs to the righteous path, they would be enemies with ruffians, and if they belong to the unorthodox path, they pay a protection fee, so they will be kept safe.
Thus, random drifters usually keep quiet in places with strong sects.
Seomhwa Village, as expected, was under the influence of Hongseong.
Of course, the village didn’t pay any protection fees to Hongseong.
In fact, they had no intention of accepting anything anyway.
Thus, Seomhwa Village supported Hongseong with items instead of money, saying things like “This is just a test piece, so give it a try,” and Hongseong, unable to refuse even that, seemed to accept at least a minimum level and allowed the name of Hongseong to be used for their protection.
But suddenly, a ruffian appeared in Seomhwa Village?
It was quite a shocking situation for those who came after work, either for a drink or for dinner.
“Owner, come out!! Damn it! Huh? Let’s put it on credit!! Do you think I’ve been here for a day or two?! And if there’s a courtesan, huh? She should be a bit undressed!! I already…!! Huh? Went to the restroom yesterday! Huh?! Drank too?! Huh?! Did it all!!”
A group of four or five burly men stood up and started causing a ruckus.
The cheapest noodles were sitting on the table they had been at in the inn.
I watched them and picked up an empty bottle from a nearby table.
“Owner, I—”
-KLANG!!
The guy who was proudly laughing while gripping Jeomsoi by the collar had a bottle smashed over his head.
Looking down at the guy crumpled on the floor, I turned to the bewildered onlookers.
“What, what the hell! Who are you?!”
“If you’re thirsty for a woman, go hire a courtesan or go home and deal with your daughter. What’s with the fuss here? Do you want to die?”
“What the hell?!”
“I’m the innkeeper who didn’t go to the restroom with this guy yesterday, didn’t go hire a courtesan, didn’t eat, and didn’t drink with him.”
Ignoring the suddenly tense atmosphere, I fixed my gaze on the guy at the back of the group.
The guy who was still chuckling despite his subordinate’s head being smashed.
His face had two impressive scars across it.
I recognized him.
“Hey. You. You’re Jang Woo-cheol of the Iron Wire sect, right?”
“…You know me?”
Only then did his laughter stop.
How could I not know?
He was the one fighting Sayoon right as the first chapter started.
The so-called introductory mob.
The guy acting like a leader of the Iron Wire sect, claiming he would naturally take over Seomhwa Village after Hongseong got wiped out.
As for his skill…
Not much at all.
“If you know, this’ll be over quickly. From now on, this inn will pay protection fees to our Iron Wire sect. There’s no guarantee that guys like this won’t pop up, right? Hongseong will just lend their name, but we’re different. We…”
“If it weren’t for you guys, this wouldn’t even be happening for a lifetime.”
I scoffed, and his expression twisted. As the atmosphere naturally turned hostile, the customers began to uneasily rise from their seats.
-CRASH!!
A long sword emerged from the sheath at Jang Woo-cheol’s waist. With that signal, the others also drew their weapons.
“Oh oh… Amitabha… What wickedness! Are you really planning to spill blood today?!”
“Yeah! Let’s see some blood!!”
“Greed is even a luxury for you scum!! I’ll slaughter you all!! Hey, guys!!”
At my shout, the innkeepers rushed out with clubs, kitchen knives, or even bladed tools that looked like they could butcher anything.
“Shall we put on a scene more dangerous than war for children under eighteen?!”
Tension began to swell like a balloon at my growl.
The atmosphere was ready to burst into a knife fight at any moment.
“Enough.”
The tension was punctured by a slightly lower, melodious voice coming from the inn’s entrance.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed there. Standing was a young woman in martial attire.
Her hair was red, like rose petals or fresh blood spilling out.
Was it casually disheveled, or left untamed on purpose? Her wild beauty stood out.
Inside her raven-black eyes was a look of indifference.
Noble yet violently attractive, her beauty captured the ruffians’ glances who had just been about to draw their swords.
Desire sparked in the eyes of the chunks I was trying to grab.
It wasn’t anything strange. After all, she was so beautiful, and her white dress was puffed out enough to highlight her feminine charm.
However, Jang Woo-cheol’s complexion turned as pale as the woman’s attire.
He couldn’t help it, he knew exactly who she was.
“…The Fallen Sun Sword… Shit. Didn’t they say the Hongseong Clan wouldn’t come down here…?!”
The Fallen Sun Sword Hongryeon.
The top disciple of Sword Saint Na Yerin and the grand disciple of the Hongseong Clan.
A martial arts powerhouse that could slice evil monsters in half with just one sword strike.
At Jang Woo-cheol’s words, the other chunks stiffened.
Especially the ones who had just been expressing their lust toward her.
“It’s fine to show desire upon seeing my beauty and body… but it’s truly unsettling when it’s just lustful gazes without true love.”
“Ugh.”
“And considering you don’t seem to be unaware that Seomhwa Village is under the protection of Hongseong…”
She slowly placed her hand on the sword hilt.
“Someone is going to lose an arm or leg.”
It was just one sentence. But that one sentence was enough to turn the chilly air into an ice storm, freezing most of the people present.
And I, who didn’t belong to that majority, raised my bottle.
-Clang!!
The bottle shattered, and so did Jang Woo-cheol’s head.
I kicked the fallen guy lightly and, as he was barely conscious, I patted his cheeks and said, “From now on, your name is Chun-sik.”
The guy couldn’t even respond before he fainted, and at that moment, the Jeomsois and the innkeeper began to beat Chun-sik’s subordinates with clubs.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
His skills weren’t that great, so his subordinates were no better than low-level thugs.
Looking down at those who were being hit with clubs, I whispered to the glancing Jeomsoi, “Contact the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild. Tell them we’ve captured Chun-sik’s group.”
There was once a rumor that circulated in the gallery about how to prevent the destruction of the Hongseong Clan.
Of course, I participated in that gossip, and among the reasonable methods, I had prepared quite a few things in recent days.
One of them was a connection with the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild.
The Cheonghoe Merchant Guild was the faction I had met and made connections with not too long ago, and they don’t appear until the middle of the third part in the main story.
On the surface, they are a wholesaler selling various goods, but their true identity is one of the conscription departments directly under the Empire’s Emperor.
They quietly abduct those who are clueless in the martial world to turn them into soldiers for the Empire.
It’s kind of like a military recruitment office that turns anyone into active duty.
And, by making connections with them, I promised to send useful recruits.
In return, I would receive military support and expert assistance whenever I needed it.
Though there were ‘a few’ bumps along the way, it was a good deal.
I could borrow military power during a crisis, Chun-sik could escape his trashy life bullying others to work for the Empire, and the Empire could always replenish its shortage of soldiers.
It would be good for everyone.
Those thrashing over there would be reborn as excellent heroes to make the Empire great again as first-class military resources.
“Hey, boys. Don’t forget me if you succeed later. You guys will be great people. Take good care of them.”
They can be stripped and tied up somewhere like a pillar.
Though Jang Woo-cheol trained in martial arts, he was nothing but third-rate, so if he’s properly tied up, he won’t escape.
The Jeomsois moved quickly. The tied-up ones were dragged out, but the frozen atmosphere didn’t loosen a bit. Therefore, as the owner of this inn, I felt the duty to lighten the mood.
“I apologize for the disturbance. In compensation for interrupting your meal, I won’t charge you for your meal today. Surin, play a song. A song.”
“Yes? Ah, yes~.”
As the courtesan holding the golden instrument responded loudly, I clapped lightly, and soon after, her music—a BGM I was quite familiar with—began to echo.
“Additionally, I’ll give everyone a bottle of cheongju. I hope this helps soothe your startled hearts a little.”
“Well, if that’s the case….”
“Hey…”
No one hates free stuff, right?
Only then did the people continue to eat, laughing, and I turned my gaze to Hongryeon.
She was staring at me intently, just having touched the sword handle at the entrance.
“Hmm… I was going to handle them myself.”
“It happened in my store, so it’s only right that I handle it. But since I did receive help, I can’t just let you go empty-handed.”
The cold rose, which had been quite brusque, now sparkled a bit.
I approached the store next to the inn, facing the uplifted corners of her mouth. Everyone had their eyes wide open due to the commotion at the inn, but they seemed relieved that it was resolved without much fuss.
“Pack some sweets.”
“Yes!”
The staff busily moved and quickly brought out several bamboo boxes.
I held out the bamboo box to Hongryeon, who was standing there looking puzzled.
“Hongseong doesn’t charge for such matters. It may be insufficient for the help received, but please take this at least.”
“Oh… sweets? But I didn’t really expect this.”
“Isn’t a girl made up of sugar, spices, and everything nice? Then she must need a recharge.”
“A girl?”
“No?”
Compared to me, Hongryeon is definitely a girl.
“This is the first time I’ve been treated as a girl.”
“Hmm. If being treated like a girl offended you, I apologize.”
“Ah, no, no. I was just surprised by the unexpected reaction. Hehe. The grandmaster of Hongseong being a girl… Haha. Right, you still have the sensibilities of a girl.”
You know, it’s a bit embarrassing to say things that might sound silly to others, so could you please refrain?
She laughed off the previous frown as if it was all a lie, shrugging her shoulders lightly.
“Actually, it’s because of something that happened recently.”
Hongryeon’s pretty brow furrowed slightly. She looked a bit displeased.
That reminded me of what was written in Sayoon’s letter.
Hongryeon is suspicious.
“Hmm… Is there something going on?”
I glanced at the cleaning Jeomsois, pretending to properly place the glass on the table as I ‘hints’ asked. Perhaps because of that?
Hongryeon didn’t catch my true intentions and replied casually.
“I just came back from the Murim Alliance. Some crazy guy sent a strange letter to a girl.”
“A strange… letter?”
Cold sweat dripped down my back.
It couldn’t possibly be the letter I sent, right?
Um…
Yeah, that’s not it.
What I sent was purely out of concern and care, asking if she was eating well.
Definitely not strange!
“Well, it said something like let’s marry when we grow up, or what’s your underwear today, or let’s meet secretly soon, or let’s have a secret friend without love, just driven by selfish desires… something like that.”
“…You really do meet all sorts of crazy people.”
…Good thing I scrapped the secret friend operation.
But seriously, what kind of crazy person would do such a thing?
“Maybe it’s because the world has been weirdly chaotic lately? Earlier, that kind of guy sent a strange letter to our youngest too. Could it be the same guy?”
Things are getting chilly again.
A knife pierces my heart.
“I don’t think it’s the job of a righteous faction member to suspect people without evidence.”
In an instant, Hongryeon’s gaze sharpened toward me!
That gaze is nasty!
As the external inspector of the Murim Alliance, Hongryeon started to scrutinize me.
With a look that seemed to pierce through people, sensing others’ malice, of course, I didn’t mind at all.
I’m the kind of person who lives without a shred of shame looking up at the sky.
“Having lived as the grandmaster of Hongseong, I’ve learned to know a bit about a person just by looking into their eyes.”
“And so?”
“You are a good person.”
Seeing her nasty expression return to normal, I finally laughed.
Seems like she has a lot of pride in her own eyes…
But at least she knows how to see people.
There are no bad people among those who like Sayoon.