Chapter 59
Perhaps it was thanks to being wrapped in Bing Yuhwa’s skirt.
Hong Seol seemed to have successfully calmed the surge of emotions she had just felt.
But Cheon Tonggae was not someone to be taken lightly.
“Who dares to call me ‘Grandfather’ recklessly?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Hong Seol, intimidated, quickly corrected her words.
“From now on, I’ll properly call you Elder of Gaebangju.”
“That’s better. And just so you know, I have no intention of helping you. Helping you would be the same as helping that Namgung-ho old man!”
Hong Seol tilted her head slightly.
“Uh… that’s strange…”
“What’s strange?”
“Changtian Daejoo said that the Gaebang are among the most righteous and chivalrous people in the orthodox sects.”
“Is that so? Hmph, it seems there’s at least one sensible person in the Namgung clan. You actually know about the Gaebang properly.”
“The head of the Gaebang, who is said to be righteous, wouldn’t possibly ignore a sick child abandoned at home like me! Right, Head of the House?”
Hong Seol peeked her head out from Bing Yuhwa’s skirt and looked at Namgung On.
“Ah, indeed. The Elder of the Gaebang is extremely righteous,” Namgung On said, nodding with a bright smile as he understood her intention.
If Cheon Tonggae refused their request here, he would obviously become someone who selfishly put the child in a difficult situation out of personal grudge.
That would disqualify him as the head of the Gaebang.
Cheon Tonggae rubbed his throbbing forehead and spoke.
“Ugh… these little brats, always so annoying through generations.”
He scratched himself irritably all over his body, then seemed to come to a decision and banged his knee.
“Fine! As you said, I’m the head of the Gaebang, who values chivalry. I cannot ignore someone who asks for my help.”
“Thank you, Elder!”
Namgung On and Bing Yuhwa’s faces brightened.
“But Namgung-ho is essentially my enemy. I cannot just help blindly. I will give a test.”
“A test?”
“No, not you, On. I will test this child.”
“Wha—what?”
For Hong Seol, it was like lightning out of a clear sky.
She clasped her small hands together and swallowed nervously.
“If you pass this test, I will recognize you as someone capable enough, and I will find the ‘Manri Will’ that can cure your illness, swearing on the honor of the Gaebang.”
Hong Seol’s eyes wavered. It was an offer she could not refuse.
She nodded frantically, waiting for Cheon Tonggae’s next words.
“However, you must not receive help from the Namgung family during this process. Now, will you take my test?”
“Th-then… what is it?”
“You need to find a person.”
Hong Seol’s face lit up at those words.
Finding something—that was exactly what she was best at.
Late at night, after the Namgung family party had all left.
A gentle ripple ran through the clear liquor filling a chipped cup.
“You’re here,” Cheon Tonggae said, setting down the cup and standing.
A cold wind blew through, and the sound of a flag fluttering in front of the shop marked ‘Cheongi Nuseol’ could be heard.
Creak.
With an eerie sound, the door opened wide, and a chill swept inside.
The aura belonged to a shadowy woman wearing a deep black hat.
“It’s been a while, Cheon Tonggae.”
“You’ve come. Please, have a seat.”
The relationship between the two, sitting across a cup of liquor, was peculiar.
Their age difference alone was striking.
One had a white beard reaching his chest, while the other had not a wrinkle on her hands.
Yet their tone of speech was as if they had known each other for a long time.
“Cheon Tonggae, how’s the task I asked of you?”
“If it’s that, don’t worry—it’s boiling nicely. Sit quietly at some inn and wait.”
“An inn?”
“Yes. Shall I recommend one? In Hapbi, there’s a place called Honghwa Inn that’s famous.”
The woman, her face hidden beneath the black hat, flinched at the name.
“…I can’t go there due to circumstances.”
“I see. Anyway, any place will do. Stay somewhere noticeable. Soon, that child will come find you herself.”
The woman twisted her lips upward in a half-smile.
“What kind of trick has this old man played?”
“He’s simply using the child’s cleverness to his advantage,” Cheon Tonggae replied.
Thud.
The woman set down her cup. It was empty now.
“I suppose it’s time to leave.”
As she turned, Cheon Tonggae shouted after her.
“With this, I’ve repaid the debt of saving my disciple!”
The woman nodded slightly and disappeared into the darkness.
Early afternoon, the inner hall of Changcheon Pavilion was bustling.
“Chirp! (Master, I found the woman)!”
“Chirp-chirp! (I couldn’t see her face because of the black hat, but she definitely had a pipa on her back)!”
Filling the table were a multitude of mice, all chattering.
Each of them was snow-white, resembling Seohan-eol and his wife.
“Really? You found her?”
One mouse unfolded the small rolled paper on its back.
It was a portrait of the woman drawn by Cheon Tonggae.
A woman around twenty, with a pipa on her back.
Seeing the drawing, the mouse said proudly:
“Chirp! (It’s definitely her)!”
“I have to go right now!”
Having already been tasked with this mission, Hong Seol hurriedly dressed herself, but didn’t forget to prepare snacks for the hardworking mice.
“Here, have these!”
She placed a large plate on the table, filled with sweet red bean rice cakes, crunchy walnuts, and fragrant roasted chestnuts.
“Chirp! (Wow, you really are our Cat Lady)!”
The young mice’s black eyes sparkled like obsidian with excitement.
Hong Seol then stepped out the door.
“Miss, where are you going alone?”
Though some guards tried to stop her, she managed to avoid trouble using the wooden tag she carried.
“Here’s my travel pass! The Head of the House gave it to me.”
“So you have permission. Please be careful.”
Thus, Hong Seol could proudly step out of the Namgung estate alone.
“When I first came to the Namgung estate, I was scared to even leave my room alone…”
Now, she could travel this far.
“Is it because I learned external martial arts, or did I just get bolder through everything I’ve experienced?”
Or maybe it was because she had so many people supporting her.
Hong Seol’s mind flashed through countless faces from the Namgung family, all smiling warmly at her.
“It’s thanks to the people of the Namgung family,” she thought.
Even though she felt a little afraid, thinking of them gave her courage.
“I’ll pass the Gaebang Elder’s test on my own strength!”
Hong Seol clenched her small fists tightly.
“If Namgung-ho old man finds out I went out secretly, he might be upset… but it can’t be helped. This is a test I have to pass on my own.”
She jingled the sachet hanging from her belt as she headed toward the mission.
To be safe, she kept her black hat pulled down, making her look like a child who disliked sunlight.
“Right here, then turn right, and after fifty paces from the hair accessory shop, I’ll find the Minstrel Inn…”
If she got lost, she could unfold the map the mice had drawn carefully for her.
“Almost there!”
Hong Seol’s eyes sparkled when she saw the destination.
The sign looked new, and there seemed to be very few visitors—perfect for her.
“There, I just need to ask the pipa-wearing lady to come with me to see Grandpa Cheon Tonggae, right?”
Her palms sweaty, she rubbed them on her skirt.
“She won’t be a scary lady, right?”
Although the goal was in sight, her feet felt glued to the ground.
“I… I can do this, right…?”
Repeating this, she clenched her fist the size of a tangerine tightly.
And there was a group clutching their hearts watching her.
Oh my, such a little bundle of blood!
A young lady coming to a mission alone! How frightened and tense she must be.
Unbeknownst to Hong Seol, Namgung Uigyeol and four warriors from Changcheon Pavilion were secretly following her.
It was Namgung On’s precaution to protect her from any danger.
Namgung Uigyeol’s sharp eyes scanned the inn.
I’ll go in first to check for danger. Guard the young lady without fail!
Yes!
Sending the signal, Namgung Uigyeol quickened his pace and passed Hong Seol, then flung open the door to the Minstrel Inn that she was aiming for.
