Chapter 35
“Baekgwang.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
At Namgung Hwi’s call, a warrior stepped forward and answered. He was the most skilled among the escorts, with excellent martial abilities and exceptional lightness skills (Qinggong).
“You must return to the family estate now.”
“But I’m your escort. I must remain by your side…”
“No. We have plenty of martial artists with us already. There are even warriors from the Jegal Clan.”
Namgung Hwi cut him off firmly.
“This is more important. This letter must be delivered immediately.”
Namgung Hwi extended a sealed letter toward Baekgwang. It contained the location of Gosan-Mansu-Gilgeonggeun.
Yun-young had said the medicine might not be there, but Namgung Hwi wanted to believe it was.
He had to begin searching as soon as possible. Since Namgung Hwi was heading to the Jegal Clan, it would be faster for someone to search from their main household.
“Shall I deliver it to the clan head?”
As he tucked the letter into his chest, Baekgwang asked again for confirmation.
“Yes. No one else must know of this. You must deliver it directly to Father.”
Realizing the gravity of the matter from Namgung Hwi’s serious tone, Baekgwang bowed deeply.
“As you command.”
“You’ll have to cross Daebyeolsan quickly.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Daebyeolsan was a treacherous mountain range located on the border of Hubei and Anhui provinces. It was a difficult path to cross alone, but Namgung Hwi trusted Baekgwang’s abilities.
“Though I hope it doesn’t come to this…”
Namgung Hwi bit his lip tightly.
It was never easy to prepare for danger. What if he was putting his household at risk through a misjudgment?
Namgung Hwi did not take the name Namgung of Changcheon lightly.
“If you ever find yourself in danger, burn the letter or swallow it. Under no circumstances should it fall into another’s hands.”
Rare treasures often invited disaster.
No one would dare covet what belonged to Namgung, but since this was a medicine for his mother, he had to be cautious.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Then I shall take my leave.”
With a respectful bow, Baekgwang turned and left the room.
Hoo…
Namgung Hwi let out a deep sigh and wiped his face.
Even that didn’t ease his anxiety, so he gulped down the tea on the table.
It had gone cold, but the fragrant aroma of Huangshan Maofeng still lingered. His eyes dimmed as he stared into the teacup.
“…Such a mysterious place.”
Huangshan Maofeng was indeed a precious tea—fitting for the heirs of the Five Great Clans.
“Was it too much of my brother to prepare this?”
Yet the fact that Huangshan Maofeng had been specifically prepared was meaningful.
It was tea from the southern region of Anhui province, named after Mount Huangshan.
— Huangshan Maofeng is Anhui’s pride. This mother adores this tea that resembles the clear sky of Changcheon.
Though born of the Jegal Clan, Namgung Hwi’s mother, Jegal Hwaryeong, a woman who loved the blue sky, cherished this tea the most.
Namgung Clan had done everything in their power to help his mother, who suffered from a disease hardening her lungs. They had summoned renowned physicians and used rare elixirs.
But the most they could do was slow the disease’s progression.
— They say Gosan-Mansu-Gilgeonggeun can cure even the worst lung diseases.
That was something one of the doctors had found in an ancient text.
A crucial piece of information uncovered with great difficulty.
Both the Namgung and Jegal Clans had searched for the mythical ten-thousand-year-old bellflower root, though its existence was uncertain.
— When the first batch of Huangshan Maofeng is roasted this year, could you send it to Yangyang? This mother is waiting for that day.
Last year, Jegal Hwaryeong had gone to Yangyang, the Jegal Clan’s main house, for recuperation.
Though officially for recovery, Namgung Hwi knew it was akin to giving up treatment.
The Jegal Clan, known for their mastery of formations, had created a comfortable environment for her. While he wished for her peace, he couldn’t give up yet.
— Who decides whether the hand you use is right or wrong? It’s just a little different.
It was his mother who held Namgung Hwi’s left hand when he despaired over being unable to use it.
Even if the entire world turned against him, she would be the one to embrace him.
— What if you tried holding a sword with your left hand?
His mother’s gentle voice brought back Yun-young’s words.
A strange girl.
Seol Yun-young of the Seol Household.
He had thought she was merely a pretty girl, but now that he looked back, everything about her was odd.
Perhaps it was natural for Jegal Dam to be wary of her.
Namgung Hwi quietly looked down at his left palm.
A tingling sensation. The left hand he had always resented now felt strange.
He opened and closed his hand repeatedly.
“I thought it was just a joke… but I was wrong.”
Even bringing the heirs of the Five Great Clans to the Seol Household through a letter—wasn’t normal.
“Was her goal not the Jegal Clan… but our family?”
— I like Anhui cuisine too.
“No, no way.”
It was strange how Anhui dishes, like Hong Shao Rou, kept appearing.
“Could it be… me, Namgung Hwi?”
His eyes wavered. His face flushed slowly. Even after gulping down the tea, the heat wouldn’t go down.
Thump thump, his heartbeat spread through the quiet room. Worried someone might hear, he placed a hand over his chest.
As if doing so could stop the strange, racing heart.
* * *
“Young Master, it’s Bang Gijin.”
“Come in.”
While changing for his dawn training, Seol Dojin was approached from outside.
“Young Miss sent this.”
Bang Gijin entered and placed a jar of Geumchang Ointment on the table.
“Thanks. Please tell her I received it well.”
“I will do so. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Bowing his head, Bang Gijin turned to leave.
Seol Dojin stared at the ointment. He recalled his sister’s face when she had handed it to him days ago.
— Brother, try applying this before training.
— Huh?
He had been utterly shocked at her sudden offer.
Learning the clan’s secret martial arts was a secret. Not good at lying, Seol Dojin found it burdensome.
Especially keeping it from Yun-young—it was a heavy burden.
— I heard you were learning martial arts for self-defense.
— Yes, yes…
— You’ll need it when you start managing the trade routes, right?
— …Right.
That was the official story. It was his excuse to include training in his daily schedule.
Everyone thought he was simply practicing some calming art like Tai Chi.
— Aren’t you going to take it?
— Thanks. But what is this?
— I heard applying it during training really helps.
— Really?
— I’ve been using it lately myself.
Seol Dojin was a martial artist. Of course he was curious if it helped with training.
— Wait… isn’t this Geumchang Ointment?
Opening the jar to check, he asked.
— Oh wow, how’d you know? It’s mixed with a secret ingredient. It’s super effective—try it!
— Thanks, Yeong-ah.
He liked that his sister cared for him. And he liked that he could now talk to her more, as she too was training in martial arts.
Still, he hadn’t believed in it. What could an external wound ointment possibly do for training?
But he applied it anyway, for her sake.
And it turned out… it was strange. Very strange.
Just as Yun-young said, it was very effective. Too effective.
During strength training, the difference wasn’t huge—just slightly less muscle fatigue.
But when using internal energy, the efficiency was astounding. Somehow, applying the ointment enhanced the strength channeled into his muscles. Even after washing it off, the muscles remembered that power.
It greatly aided his training.
Tremendously so.
The biggest mystery for Seol Dojin now was—how did Yun-young know this?
“Wait a second.”
He called out to Bang Gijin as he was about to leave.
“Yes, Young Master? Is something wrong?”
“Sit down a moment. Have you used this too?”
Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked bluntly.
“Ah… yes.”
“How was it?”
“Well, I…”
Bang Gijin hesitated. He had promised Yun-young to keep the Yongsa grass powder a secret.
“It’s okay. I’ve used it too—that’s why I’m asking.”
Hoo. Bang Gijin let out a deep sigh and looked at Seol Dojin.
“At first, I thought the Young Miss was just playing a prank.”
“I see.”
“But it’s real. It’s really effective.”
“Right?”
“You felt it too, Young Master?”
“Yes. That’s why I asked.”
“I see.”
Aside from Yun-young, only Seol Dojin and Bang Gijin had used the ointment containing Yongsa grass.
They were forming a subtle bond, forgetting their usual roles.
“And… what do you think Yeong-ah is planning?”
“Well…”
Closing his eyes tightly, Bang Gijin finally spoke again.
“I think… she’s trying to sell it.”
“What? Sell this? Such a secret?”
Seol Dojin jumped up in shock.
Secret techniques. Hidden, passed down methods.
There were many of them in the martial world. Even the Seol Clan’s family martial arts were secret techniques.
“She’s going to… sell it?”
And so, the Seol Clan’s secretive heir, Seol Dojin, clashed—
“…That’s incredible.”
—With the heir of the Seol Trading Group, also Seol Dojin.
