episode_0145

In Heaven’s Myeongwol, ghost places used to be treated as special areas, similar to places where spiritual energy gathers.

Of course, unlike places like Hongseong Mountain or Cheongho, it is not a place that significantly intervenes in the story.

However, you can get quite good rewards every time you purify a ghost land, and you can acquire equipment with special abilities under certain conditions, for example, by purifying it when the ghost is at its strongest on the night of the New Year.

Therefore, many people purified the ghost land according to the conditions of being able to see it, and the ghost land near Seomhwachon was also one of the places where quite a lot of people purified.

“Ghost land…”

It seems that Hongryeon also knew about the place where demonic energy gathers. I don’t think I knew that it was located about a day south of Seomhwachon.

” They say that if you purify this ghost land, you can obtain equipment with mysterious power. Of course, I know how to do it, so don’t worry. I’ve read about the method of purifying the ghost land in a book before, and I’ve also heard about it through Hano. I’m planning to do it now that I have some free time… Don’t you like it?”

“That can’t be right. But what kind of equipment is it?”

“They say it’s a device that wards off ghosts.”

“…Is there a ghost in the guesthouse?”

“No. It appears in Hongseongmun.”

This is one of the reasons why I take Hongryeon with me.

It is often said that Hongseongsan Mountain naturally gathers ghosts and that ghosts appear from time to time, and that these ghosts interfere with the training of Sayun and other Hongseongmun disciples.

Of course, since they have mastered the Hongseong Divine Technique, they will not be harmed in any way by their ears, but they may surprise you sometimes, so it would be better to take this opportunity to prevent it.

“Is it for… Hong Seong-moon?”

“There is that, and I heard that there are other items that can be obtained in the process of purifying the ghost land, so I would like to get some of those as well. I’m also quite interested in objects.”

Hongryeon stared at me without blinking. Only when I felt that gaze stinging did I ask her.

“What’s on my face?”

“…just like that.”

Our bodies slowly become closer. I felt the warmth coming from where I was sitting, slightly reducing the chill of the winter night, and I looked around.

“It would be better to take a break here and then go.”

Perhaps because it was close to the end of the year, the surroundings were extremely gloomy.

At the end of a quiet road where not even the sound of insects could be heard, there was a shelter that appeared to be a campsite. Let’s warm up there for a while and then move on.

The moving cart stopped, and I got off the cart and piled up the dry firewood I had brought with me.

“Ah. I’ll make a fire.”

“It’s okay. I have to do something like this.”

I piled up the dry firewood I had brought with me and grabbed one.

-Good luck!

I spoke after making a bonfire by igniting firewood with a firearm made according to Oh Geum-hee’s firearm.

“Now. Let’s warm up.”

“…Yes.”

I took a deep breath, saw her approaching, and took out a kettle from the cart.

After putting clean water in a kettle and boiling it for a while, I smiled and said to the quiet Hongryeon.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“Yes? Oh, no. That’s it.”

“You can clean up the ghost land on your own, so don’t feel too burdened.”

“No… it’s not because of that.”

“Hmm? Then what is it for?”

Hongryeon opened and closed her lips repeatedly. And in the end, all he could do was shake his head with a slightly red face.

“It’s nothing. But hey.”

“Hmm?”

“Woman, can I come a little closer to the side?”

Hongryeon, who was hesitant, looked at me and asked.

I looked at her, and only when Hongryeon’s face gradually turned red and the corners of her eyes became moist did I nod.

“Sure.”

Looking at it this way, Hongryeon has changed a lot.

My first impression of Hongryeon was that of a sharp and alert cat.

A sensitive cat who has to protect Hong Seong-moon and wants to protect her sisters.

It is so wary that it exposes its sharp claws to those that approach and makes its fur stand on end.

It was an untamed cat that was always struggling and looking for a place to rest.

It was refreshing from the first meeting, and she was confident anytime and anywhere.

If you take a step closer, the red cat will be startled and try to move away, but if you step back, it will become sullen and lower its tail, so you have to hold out your hand and wait quietly for it to let down its guard and gently approach you to bring you its nose.

Now I was hoping he would lean in next to me.

How can I reject something like that?

I brewed tea with boiled water while watching Hongryeon sit down next to me.

“Sometimes it’s not bad to drink tea outdoors like this.”

“That’s right…”

We enjoyed midnight tea while listening to Hongryeon’s languid voice.

***

It was a pity.

The answer to the letter sent to the Murim League did not arrive until after departure.

Because of that, Hongryeon could not relax.

If so, should I ask? Or not?

It’s not that Hongryeon doesn’t know the saying, “A handshake comes at the end of a long game,” but she also knew well the saying that if you move hastily without thinking, you’ll be in trouble.

Finally, after thinking about it until the day of departure, she made a decision.

Let’s find out through this journey.

When she met him after making that decision, Yuwol smiled bitterly at herself.

I flinched when I saw that smile.

Is there something wrong?

Should he have come wearing the Murim League uniform that he said would suit him well?

iced coffee. I didn’t wear it on purpose because it felt too revealing.

If I had known it would be like this, I would have worn it instead.

For a split second, a thousand thoughts run through my head.

and. He calmly held out his clothes.

With the words that it will be cold.

My heart pounded at those words.

iced coffee. You are the same as always.

It’s just me who’s scared for no reason.

In the end, she quietly put on the clothes he gave her.

With the bitter scent of tobacco on his clothes.

His strong scent remained.

So thick that you feel as if you are being held in his arms.

I couldn’t show anything and came to the shelter.

With the bonfire glowing in the darkness, where not even a single moonlight could be seen, there was a comfortable, pleasant silence.

Hongryeon glanced at his face, thinking that the comfort seemed to soothe her confused mind.

Come to think of it, there was a scene like this in the Travels of a Samun.

[The bonfire was burning brightly, as if revealing her love. As indifferent as always, he didn’t even touch her, but that only made her bonfire-like love burn even more.

To that, his voice was like oil that made the flames stronger.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah… Yes. It’s okay.”

“It’s cold, so come closer.”

Unable to hide her passionate feelings even in the chill of the winter night, she quietly approached him. and…]

“Are you okay?”

“Hi!”

Suddenly, Hongryeon was thinking about the contents of the Samun Travels that came to mind without her knowledge, and came to her senses when she heard his voice.

“Ah… Yes. It’s okay.”

“It’s cold, so come closer.”

uh?

Ugh?!

Hongryeon was embarrassed.

For some reason, things were going strangely.

Of course, I still didn’t know whether he knew my heart or not. Still, is it just a thought? Hongryeon’s heart began to pound.

“Me. Hey.”

-Krrr…!!

And then a monster appeared.

A monster approaching from the darkness, revealing its sinister eyes. It often comes out at night and attacks people who travel at night.

It was a monster called Yaguja with the body of a large giant and the head of a dog.

“…No, I knew that.”

okay. I knew that traveling at night was dangerous and that monsters were common.

Also, this place is outside the territory of Seomhwachon. In other words, it was not affected by the spiritual energy of Hongseongsan Mountain, so it was not strange for monsters to appear.

But why now?!

The atmosphere was so good!!

“…….”

“Hongryeon?”

“Please sit down.”

Hongryeon smiled brightly and raised her great sword. And then he sent a cold gaze towards the approaching baseball player.

“I’ll handle it soon.”

Of course, the baseball player could not withstand Hongryeon’s sword. Hongryeon laughed awkwardly as she watched the monster whose body was destroyed in a single blow turn into gray ash and disappear.

What do we do?

Would it be better to repeat that line from before?

“I feel like my body has melted, so let’s go quickly.”

“…Yes.”

Unable to hide her regret, Hongryeon followed his words.

When they moved on until daybreak, the place they arrived at was an abandoned village.

In a small village where only traces of human life remained, the same coldness that I felt when I climbed Mt. Hongseong remained.

“Now that I’m in, I’ll know for sure. This place is a ghost.”

Hongryeon nodded.

Most ghosts crave yang energy. In other words, Yuwol could have been in danger due to being possessed by the ghost of Gwiryeongji.

then.

There is no time for useless thoughts.

“From now on, never leave my side. Even if it’s daytime, you can’t ignore your ghost.”

“Don’t worry.”

Yuwol calmly approached her side.

“Because I will not fall from your side.”

At those words, Hongryeon felt a part of her heart heating up.

really.

This man is not good for your heart.

We arrived at Gwiryeongji and explored the abandoned village during the day. In the process, what Yuwol discovered was a wooden doll and a small old dagger.

Recalling the memories of purifying the ghost land in the past, Hongryeon brought them to the center of the village. Now, all we have to do is wait for night to come.

“Aren’t you tired? I drove the cart all night.”

“I’m fine.”

Hongryeon looked at him worriedly.

Although he himself possesses strong martial arts skills, he is not Yuwol.

What’s more, last time I overexerted myself and even collapsed.

That’s why she smiled softly.

“Let’s get some sleep. And then I collapse again? You might have to stay up all night, so get some sleep now.”

Yuwol thought for a moment about Hongryeon’s repeated suggestions and then nodded.

Then, after lying down on the cloth spread on the floor, a short while later, you can hear the sound of soft breathing.

Looking at him like that, Hongryeon smiled.

Even though he is as strong as a giant tree, he is so defenseless when he sleeps. It almost makes me want to joke around.

Hongryeon, who had been smiling down at him like that, swallowed her saliva when she saw him tossing and turning, frowning slightly as if the seat was uncomfortable.

Then, she gently lifted his head and placed it on her thigh. Only then did I see his expression relax, perhaps as he became more comfortable.

Hongryeon gazed endlessly at him, who was sleeping comfortably on her thighs.

As she gently stroked his head, she felt very relieved.

iced coffee.

…If time stopped like this…

How much time did you spend like that?

She looked down at Yuwol’s face until the surroundings became dark, then raised her head when she heard a strong ear around her.

At the end of the forest, a black-haired woman wearing a pure white uniform with black clouds surrounding her suddenly opened her eyes and was glaring at me.

Hongryeon made eye contact with her.

He did not avoid that cold, hateful gaze and showed his teeth.

At his will not to disturb his rest and to come later, the woman in simple clothes flinched and slowly disappeared, and she smiled leisurely again.