Chapter 38
At those words, Namgung Ho’s expression darkened.
“Well, according to Gaebang’s investigation, the heretics took the poisoned Cheonma back to their stronghold, the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains (십만대산).”
He said that since then, the Cheonma had never again appeared prominently in history.
Each sect had been too busy repairing the damage from the Great Demon-Slaying War.
“Ah, even some of the foreign forces, like the North Sea Ice Palace, joined us and fought together.”
“The foreign martial arts world?”
Hong Seol recalled the knowledge she had learned from Namgung Ho about the martial world.
‘The North Sea Ice Palace—a place so cold it can’t even be compared to the top of Daechoksan.’
It was said that people there had hearts as warm as spring, even though the exterior was as cold as a blizzard.
And there was one more thing.
Surely there was a place in the hot south… what was it again?
As if reading her thoughts, Namgung Ho spoke.
“The Southern Wild Beast Palace also sided with us and fought with all their strength against the Cheonma. Because of this, the heretics had to contend with a herd of beasts they would never have imagined in their lives.”
Hong Seol blinked in surprise.
“Not beastmen, but actual beasts?”
“That’s right. Some of the people from the Southern Wild Beast Palace had the ability to communicate with animals.”
Hong Seol tilted her head in curiosity.
Could it be the same ability she had when talking to Seohan Eol?
‘But I’ve only ever communicated with rats.’
The beasts at the Southern Wild Beast Palace must be much larger and scarier predators.
Bears, tigers, venomous snakes…
The idea of being able to converse with such creatures was unimaginable to Hong Seol.
“Their feats were so impressive that the Celestial Sword Master at the time became sworn brothers with the head of the Southern Wild Beast Palace.”
“Reaally?”
“And the head of the Southern Wild Beast Palace was a cat beastman, just like you, Seola.”
“Reaaaally?”
“That’s why the world sometimes calls the place the ‘Meow Wild Beast Palace.’ Not exactly a compliment, of course.”
‘Meow Wild Beast Palace?’
Was this similar to how people mockingly call the Namgung family the “Dog Clan”?
‘No, actually…’
Hong Seol compared the heroic Southern Wild Beast Palace and the noble Namgung family in her mind.
‘They don’t suit each other at all!’
How on earth did a dog and a cat become sworn brothers?
“Could it be that they got along because they share the same Namgung name?”
“What?”
“The Southern Wild… Beast… Palace… because of Namgung…”
“Hahaha!”
Hong Seol blinked, completely clueless.
Meanwhile, Namgung Ho laughed so hard he nearly cried.
He didn’t stop until Hong Seol’s lips pouted like a duck’s.
“Seola, Namgung in Southern Wild Beast Palace is not a surname!”
Slightly sulking, Hong Seol pressed her lips together and looked away.
“Our Seola needs to study the martial world more—to understand justice and chivalry down to her bones!”
Thunk.
Namgung Ho tapped on the pile of books stacked as high as Hong Seol beside him.
“Now, go back to reading.”
“Eeehh.”
With drooping eyebrows, Hong Seol buried her nose in the books again.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the martial arts hall.
“Esteemed Head of the Namgung Family, pardon my intrusion, but we have come to escort the young lady.”
“What is it?”
“Madam Hong from the fabric store you commissioned has arrived.”
“Madam Hong?”
“Yes, she was highly valued by the head of the medical hall…”
As the topic of daughter-in-law Bing Yuhwa came up, Namgung Ho’s expression softened.
“I see. Today’s training ends here, so please take Seola with you.”
Hong Seol bowed to Namgung Ho and followed Maeran, who led her to her quarters.
Fifty sets of new clothes.
This was the reward from Namgung On, the family head who had won in martial arts, to Hong Seol.
“Within the city, I will summon a skilled tailor to make you complete garments.”
“But… that would be so expensive…”
“You are fully worthy of such a gift. Besides, there will be many occasions where you must wear fine clothes.”
Hong Seol sat neatly on the bed, her feet dangling.
Recalling her recent conversation with Namgung On, her heart thumped with excitement.
‘I’m worthy of receiving a gift?’
The words were like a sweet confection, growing more delightful the more she thought about them.
And there was another phrase that made her heart flutter.
‘Many occasions to wear fine clothes… Could he be taking me to the market exhibition?’
She had heard over her shoulder that the market exhibition had delicious food and intriguing items.
‘Someday, I must go.’
While Hong Seol was lost in thought, Madam Hong’s attendants set up a folding screen in the inner chamber.
It was to keep the young lady’s measurements hidden from outsiders.
‘They’re thinking of me.’
Hong Seol admired Madam Hong’s thoughtfulness.
With brown hair and brown eyes, she didn’t look calculating or firm like a typical merchant. Instead, she gave a gentle, pliable impression, like a willow by the river.
And Hong Seol liked that.
Strange, yet not frightening.
“Miss, first we will take your measurements, then I will show you the fabrics.”
Hong Seol obediently followed her.
Due to her short limbs, it didn’t take long to measure her dimensions.
Soon, all kinds of beautiful fabrics were spread before Hong Seol like a flower garden.
“Wow!”
Even Maeran, used to luxury from the Namgung family, was left speechless.
Hong Seol couldn’t take her eyes off them, gently running her hand over the fabrics.
“Aren’t they beautiful?”
Madam Hong smiled warmly.
“These are the finest pieces from our store. The head of the family said they are for a very precious young lady.”
At those words, Hong Seol’s heart fluttered endlessly.
“A very precious young lady…?”
Madam Hong folded her eyes into a gentle smile.
“Yes, but I didn’t realize she would be so adorable as well. Now, choose the fabrics you like! Everything will suit you.”
“Yes!”
Hong Seol excitedly sifted through the fabrics with Maeran.
A scrap of fabric fluttered out from between the pieces.
Hong Seol picked it up absentmindedly.
“Hm?”
The piece was incredibly soft, and the delicate blue suited Hong Seol’s fair face perfectly.
“What kind of fabric is this?”
It was natural for her to be curious.
“Oh, this is iris silk…”
Madam Hong’s expression darkened for a moment. Hong Seol noticed immediately.
‘What’s wrong?’
Perhaps it was a matter requiring her sense of justice and chivalry.
‘Grandfather always said: a martial artist must help those in difficult circumstances!’
Forgetting that she was choosing fabrics, Hong Seol furrowed her brows.
Madam Hong forced herself to continue brightly.
“I apologize, miss. It must have been mixed in by mistake. This is an item that cannot be obtained now.”
“Why not?”
“That is…”
Caught off guard, Madam Hong trailed off.
Encouraged by an attendant, she continued,
“Please tell her, Madam! Perhaps the young lady from the Namgung family can resolve this!”
Hong Seol flinched slightly.
‘I’m not the young lady from the Namgung family.’
Madam Hong likely knew that too.
“Then, shall I report it to the young lady?”
To save Hong Seol’s pride, Madam Hong spoke slowly.
Her story went like this:
Most goods handled by Madam Hong’s store came from the Weaving Hall.
The Weaving Hall was created by Madam Hong to provide jobs for women with nowhere else to go.
Widows who lost their husbands in the chaos, girls sold to brothels but who fled to avoid becoming courtesans.
Hearing this, Hong Seol shivered.
‘I might have ended up there too, if the Namgung family hadn’t taken me in.’
Perhaps that was why Hong Seol became engrossed in Madam Hong’s story.
“Thanks to the skilled hands of these women, both the fabric store and Weaving Hall ran smoothly….”
But suddenly, the supply of materials for fabrics ceased.
“Especially the irises used to dye the silk blue have stopped coming in. So…”
This meant the iris silk could no longer be sold.
“Why have the irises stopped coming in?”
Before Madam Hong could answer, the attendant interjected.
“It’s because of the Mysterious Merchants’ Association!”
So infuriated, the attendant even shook with indignation.
“The Mysterious Merchants’ Association?”
The name sounded familiar, and Hong Seol tilted her head.
