episode_0123

***

A few days after returning to Seomhwachon, I was almost able to finish the backlog of work.

Investigation into payment for goods received from Cheonghoe Merchants or how much goods to be imported in connection with Cheonghoe Merchants will be sold.

In addition to sending them back to Yangsateong for sale, they also investigated gold mines.

And when I came out after struggling for several days to settle the taxes I had to pay every year.

“Ah. It’s snowing.”

Snowflakes were falling from the sky, as if to let us know that although the backlog was over, winter was not over yet.

The housekeepers and servants complained about white poop falling from the sky, but the scene of snow piling up still looked quite believable.

I headed to the backyard and sat down on a bench hidden by a large roof.

Is it because of the brazier in front of the chair? I feel warm.

“Yap.”

Then there was a sound behind me. When I turned around, I saw Chaejin wearing comfortable clothes. She smiled brightly and tapped my shoulder with her finger, then jumped up and sat down next to me and asked.

“Yohwan gave me some roasted chestnuts to eat. Do you want to eat?”

“That’s right. Anyway, it’s time for patrol…”

“Who is on patrol today?”

“Well?”

Geomseong continued patrolling while we were away and for several days after we returned.

Hongryeon, Hyeonhwi, and Sayun went out and returned to practice sharing with their students what they had missed or what they had learned at Munwoljeong.

“They say patrol tickets will be brought out soon, so let’s wait.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Smiling, Chaejin put yams and chestnuts in the brazier. While watching it being baked, Chaejin spoke in a low voice.

“This year is already over. It really seems like a lot happened this year.”

I agree. I glanced at the woman next to me who seemed to be deeply in love with me.

I remembered her saying that she would confess to me when she was ready, so I deliberately didn’t show it, but I was being as nice to her as I could anyway.

Of course, the same applies to Hongryeon.

“I feel really good these days.”

“In what way?”

“Hmm. In many ways? It’s a bit hard to explain in words, though. It seems like the owner of the guesthouse treats me better. Hehehe. Is it just my mood?”

Chaejin tilted her head and rummaged around in the brazier with a poker. When the crackling shell of the chestnut began to open, I stretched out my hand.

Is it because it contains firearms using Oh Geum-hee? Even when I caught the chestnuts roasting on the brazier, I didn’t think it was that hot.

When I held out the chestnuts, Chaejin, who was munching on them, smiled.

“Your martial arts skills have increased considerably?”

“The teacher who teaches you is so great.”

“Aye~! Such praise. It was very good. Please do more~!”

Slap slap. Chaejin patted my shoulder pleasantly and joked. But the smile on his face didn’t disappear, as if he didn’t like it.

“We’re here!”

There were people walking while avoiding snow with umbrellas. Sayun is a girl with gray hair that goes well with her pure white eyes. And walking next to her was Hongryeon, a beauty with red hair.

When the two came in, Chaejin tilted her head.

“Has it become normal now?”

“Yes!”

“Sleep.”

Hongryeon handed over the newly updated patrol ticket. I received it, read it, and put it in my arms. I’ll have to send it to the government office separately later.

“You’ve arrived just in time. Because it was cold, I was roasting chestnuts and yam. Please eat them before you go.”

After declining several times, the two sat down. When the four of us were huddled in front of the brazier eating chestnuts and yams, Sayun spoke as if she remembered him.

“Ah. And we are planning to visit Seokseonchon, a village on Chilhonsan Mountain, tomorrow. Do you have anything to buy?”

Seokseonchon, the village where Chilhonsan Mountain is located, is famous for medicinal herbs and charcoal. Accordingly, Sayoon offered to buy charcoal from there if charcoal was needed for cooking at the guest house.

“Chilhonsan Mountain. It was a place half a day away from here, right? Why are you going there?”

“To meet someone.”

Hongryeon answered Chaejin’s question instead of Sayun.

Meet someone. I guess I’m going to meet Gwiyo.

Last time, I asked Hao Wen to confirm that there is an old woman named Guiyao in Seokseon Village in Chilhonsan Mountain, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

“Then buy me some charcoal.”

Yohwan, who came out from behind, said. I left the kitchen to you, so if you need her, that’s it. I took out the slip from my pocket and placed it on Hongryeon’s hand.

“Oh. I have enough money to buy charcoal.”

“Still, since it has to be used here, it is right for me to pay it.”

“I understand.”

“Hmm. Would you like to go with me?”

“Ahaha. It’s a distance that doesn’t even take a day. Just me, Sayun, and Yoohee can go. Don’t worry too much.”

“Hongseongsan Mountain is okay, but other places are said to be affected by Donggui. You’d better be careful.”

“I understand. ruler. Well then, we’ll just go on patrol~.”

***

It takes half a day from Hongseongmun Gate to Seokseonchon on Chilhonsan Mountain.

As such, there was nothing special to take care of.

Hongryeon, who came out first as soon as the sun rose, flinched as she waited for Sayun and Yuhee to come out with their weapons.

“…Master?”

“Um.”

“Where are you going?”

While Hongryeon was puzzled as she saw Geomseong trudging forward, Geomseong looked back.

When Sayun and Yuhui, who were walking out from there, also looked puzzled, she spoke in a low voice.

“I wonder if I can help…”

“Ahaha… You can just rest.”

“It’s okay. ruler. Let’s go. I’ll watch your training as I go.”

In the end, Hongryeon could not refuse Geomseong’s offer. So she joined them and the group climbed Hongseong Mountain. If you go down Hongseongsan Mountain and follow the road, you can reach Seokseonchon on Chilhonsan Mountain in half a day.

” Mountain paths covered in snow are dangerous. Move using Chuhaengbo and Hwiseongbo.”

As soon as the swordsman from behind said something, Sayun and Yuhee immediately started using foot techniques.

Footprints on the lightly piled snow pass by. As their movements gradually became faster, the swordsman who was following them spoke.

“You need to develop your eyesight. Avoid the ice hidden by snow and find exactly where you need to step. If you move like that, you can save your stamina.”

“Yes!”

“Okay!”

Hongryeon chuckled as she heard Sayun and Yuhee answer.

He is a swordsman who enjoys teaching his students. I guess the reason they followed me like this was because I was worried that they might get hurt on the snowy mountain path.

Hongryeon glanced at her and increased her speed. After climbing to the top of Hongseong Mountain so quickly, I slid down the mountain range and reached another mountain.

Hongryeon lightly raised her hand.

There is something ahead.

– Rattling. Rattling.

Monsters made of ice were moving.

Donggwi, a monster that appears in winter.

Hongryeon looked back at the appearance of the monster that appeared as soon as she left the territory of Hongseongsan Mountain. This is a great opportunity. As Sayun and Yuhee grabbed their weapons and quickly ran out, Hongryeon looked around.

Currently, there are seven Donggwis around here. Sayoon and Yoohee would be easy to catch.

And that judgment was right. Geomseong smiled at the sight of Sayun and Yuhee catching the dongwis with ease.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Because a lot happened.”

Sayoon’s growth to that extent in just less than a year is fast enough. Therefore, Hongryeon was satisfied, and Geomseong slightly nodded.

After catching Donggwi, which we encountered a few more times, we arrived at a village where many fires had been lit even though it was broad daylight.

Since it is a place where charcoal is made, the kiln emits a lot of heat, but I thought it was to prepare for Donggui.

When four people entered the village, the old man, who appeared to be the village chief, looked puzzled and asked.

“ing? Looking at you holding a weapon, you look like a martial artist… Did you come all this way to see something?”

“Hello. This is Hong Seong-moon’s Sayoon.”

“Oh. Hong Seong-moon. Some precious people came?”

Is it because of the reputation that Hongseongmun has built so far?

The village chief showed a favorable attitude. Sayoon, who felt proud of that, smiled brightly.

“I heard that there is a person named Gwiyo here. Where should I go?”

“Grandma Gwiyo? I live in the house to the right of the abandoned kiln in the back. Why that old man?”

“I have something to ask you. Thank you!”

The village chief seemed to like Sayun’s nodding greeting and smiled. Sayoon, who headed to the house the village chief had mentioned, was surprised.

“Huh? Grandma?!”

An old woman with a bent back was sweeping snow on the roof. It looked dangerous at first glance, so Sayun jumped up and went up to the roof. The old woman who saw that was surprised and asked.

“Oh my. Dangerous. Go down. Go down.”

“No! I’ve learned martial arts… so I’ll give it to you. Are you shoveling snow?!”

“Oh my… Since the old man lives alone, there is no one to clean things up like this…”

“I’ll clean it up right away!”

Sayun put the old woman down and swung his sword. Just by casting Herbivory a few times, the momentum of the attack caused the eyes to fall to the floor, and the old woman smiled in satisfaction.

“Ugh. You’re amazing!”

“This is nothing.”

When Sayun jumped down and laughed, the old woman smiled with her beady eyes.

“But who are you…?”

“Ah. We are people from Hongseongmun.”

“Oh my. At Hongseongmun? The samurai say there is something to see here…?”

“Ah. That’s it. Hey.”

What should I say? Sayun took out Geumja from her pocket and held it out.

“ing?”

“I came to repay the debt of the seven evils.”

“Hoo.”

The old woman tilted her head, smiled, and went inside. And after a while, he came out and held out a small box and took the gold medal from Sayun’s hand.

“It’s been quite a while, but I didn’t expect to receive this now.”

Sayun opened the box, and what was inside the box was a quite precious-looking prayer beads made of white jade.

And, what is written there.

“…Army.”

Hongryeon knew what it was.

That’s because it was a white jade beads given only to high priests of Amipa, which had the effect of stabilizing internal energy when worn, and which could naturally possess invincible power.

“Why is this here?”

The old woman spoke indifferently to Hongryeon, who looked puzzled.

“In the past, an old man stayed at my house and left this behind when he left. If anyone says they have come to repay the debt of the seven evils and offers you a piece of gold, take that and hand over this.”

“Do you know who that monk is?”

“Um… that. I remember it well…”

at that time.

Geomseong opened his mouth.

“Hye-hwan…”

“Ah. That’s right. that’s right. He was a person who went by the Buddhist name Hyehwan. No, but how do you know?”

Sword Saint looked at the prayer beads with bitter eyes and said.

“…Because it was a prayer beads worn by a friend of my teacher who interacted with the teacher and always discussed the subject.”