Chapter 37
“Miss. Would you mind showing me around the garden?”
The day after they had inspected the ancestral mountain of the Seol family, it was Jegaldam who first requested a walk.
“Of course.”
Unyeong, who had plenty she wanted to say anyway, readily agreed.
The Seol family estate was vast, with many gardens throughout.
Unyeong led Jegaldam to Yeonhong Garden. It was the best place to have a comfortable conversation.
Walking together through the garden meant they didn’t have to worry about being overheard.
“It’s a beautiful garden. It seems old, but not worn. In fact, that gives it an air of elegance. Much like this estate.”
“Isn’t it? Both the Seol family and Yeonhong Garden have their own refined charm.”
“And… a lot of poison, too.”
“You noticed. I told you, didn’t I? There are many secrets here.”
Unyeong shrugged lightly as she spoke.
She had expected Jegaldam to pick up on the uniqueness of Yeonhong Garden.
“Then… these aren’t plants you grew yourself, are they?”
“No. But now, they belong to me.”
“I see.”
From their short exchange, Jegaldam deduced that the poisonous plants had originally been grown by Unyeong’s mother.
It was something one could easily figure out.
There was no lady of the Seol household, and the current owner of this garden was Unyeong.
But what frustrated Jegaldam was Unyeong herself. No matter how much he observed her, there was so much he still didn’t know.
The Seol family clearly held many secrets—but those, at least, could be uncovered by going back to the main house and researching the records.
But Seol Unyeong? What exactly was she?
“Let me tell you an old tale.”
“Please do.”
Unyeong smiled faintly.
“Long ago, a ruler of the Song dynasty named Duke Xiao of Song was driven from his throne and forced to flee.”
“Driven out? A rebellion?”
“Yes, that’s right. It was a common occurrence in turbulent times. Rulers were often replaced.”
“True enough.”
Jegaldam nodded and continued calmly.
“Duke Xiao reflected on his fate and lamented, ‘I know why I failed. My ministers only ever called me a wise king, and my servants only ever praised my appearance. Since no one, inside or outside, pointed out my faults, how could I possibly have seen my own flaws?’”
“He understood his own mistakes well. Did he regain his throne afterward?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“What? He didn’t?”
Unyeong asked again in surprise.
Wasn’t it typical for someone who recognized their own errors to fix them and reclaim their position?
“No. He was killed by his political enemies.”
“Ah… I see.”
Unyeong answered with a displeased expression.
Jegaldam raised the corners of his lips in a smile as he looked at her.
“Still, I like this story.”
“Why?”
“Because it reminds us that we shouldn’t blame others for not pointing out our faults.”
“That’s a good point.”
“It’s not that there weren’t people who could have pointed out his flaws from the beginning.”
“Ah, now I see.”
Finally understanding Jegaldam’s point, Unyeong nodded with a brightened expression.
It meant he accepted the criticism she had given him.
“So, that’s why you’ve decided to follow what I said?”
“You’re quick to catch on. Yes. Rather than regret things too late, I prefer to dig into anything that feels suspicious. That’s why I keep repeating Duke Xiao’s story to myself.”
“…That’s admirable.”
Unyeong smiled faintly. She had worried that his pride might be too great, but he seemed to have taken it to heart.
“But…”
Jegaldam stopped walking. Unyeong stopped as well and turned to look at him.
“Before that, there’s something I need you to do.”
“Ah… and what might that be?”
Unyeong’s expression twisted.
She had known he was not an easy person to deal with, but to bring up a condition now?
Truly a difficult man.
“That mountain over there.”
Jegaldam pointed to the ancestral mountain behind the Seol estate. Unyeong’s gaze followed his finger to the summit.
“Yes. That’s the ancestral mountain.”
“Have you ever climbed it?”
“Hmm. No… I haven’t.”
Unyeong searched her memories but couldn’t recall ever climbing that mountain.
Now that she thought about it, it was odd. She had been pleased to hear that mushrooms grew there—so why had she never thought of climbing it?
“Then, when you look at that mountain, do you feel anything?”
“Pardon?”
Unyeong turned to look at Jegaldam in surprise. He was not someone to say things without a reason.
“W-What do you mean?”
“Miss Unyeong. Have you ever heard of a natural formation (자연진, jayeonjin)?”
“Natural formation?”
She could only repeat his words. Jegaldam’s expression was deadly serious.
“Yes. I’m sure you know that the Jegal family is skilled in Qi Men Dun Jia (기문진법).”
“Of course. Is there anyone in the martial world who doesn’t know that?”
Though her tone was curt, Jegaldam simply smiled softly.
“Since the days of Wu Hou (Zhuge Liang), who used the Eight Formations, our family has continued to develop the art of formations.”
“Yes.”
Yeah, yeah. Your family is amazing.
Unyeong made a sour face.
“But that’s not the whole story.”
“What?”
“There is something even more fundamental. Mountains, rivers, lakes, rocks, trees—natural elements in their own right—but depending on how they are arranged, they can emit a specific energy.”
“Ah…”
“You must have seen formations before. Ones that show illusions, create special spaces, or emit certain auras.”
Unyeong thought of Hwangsan and Noya’s hidden location, then shook her head.
“That is a natural formation. The root of the Jegal family’s Qi Men techniques lies in studying natural formations.”
Seeing her dazed expression, Jegaldam smiled and continued.
“Many people have tried to understand the principles of nature. Their discoveries became a form of study.”
Unyeong nodded along to the gentle explanation.
“Among the Jegal ancestors, some researched natural formations and turned them into a field of academic study.”
“Ah…”
“Yes. After many iterations of creation and dismantling, they became the current formations we use. Man-made formations were born from naturally occurring ones.”
“I see.”
It was fascinating. Even when she had read books on formations as the sword ghost in the past, she had never understood it this clearly.
“But there’s a natural formation halfway up that mountain.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I climbed the mountain yesterday and confirmed it.”
Thump. Unyeong’s heart raced. It felt like she had found a clue.
Could it be… the family secret?
“Then why didn’t we know about it? Even I didn’t feel anything unusual.”
“Even for someone sensitive to energy or a martial master, without knowledge of formations, it’s difficult to detect such anomalies from this distance.”
“I see.”
Nodding, Unyeong clenched her fist and asked again.
“Did you go inside?”
“No. I didn’t enter.”
“Why not?”
“I found the gate, but it seemed to push me away.”
“Hmm. That happens?”
Unyeong had many questions, but she started with the basics, since Jegaldam seemed willing to explain.
“It can, if the formation has an owner.”
“An owner…? Are you saying there’s something inside?”
“That’s what I believe.”
“What kinds of things become owners?”
“In the records I’ve seen, it’s often sacred beasts, spiritual creatures, or spirits.”
“Hmm. Certainly special things.”
Unyeong fell into thought, and Jegaldam watched her quietly.
“Then should we inform the elders?”
She asked, trying to suppress her urge to run there immediately.
“Well… that’s up to you, Miss Unyeong.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I told you, there’s a condition.”
“Ah…”
Unyeong sighed. The fox-like man had managed to maintain control of the conversation, despite all her efforts.
The story had been so interesting, she had forgotten.
He had mentioned a condition.
“Let me guess. The condition is that I go up the mountain with you?”
A low chuckle escaped Jegaldam’s lips.
“Correct. That is what I want.”
“But why? Didn’t you say the gate pushed you away?”
“I think… you can open it.”
Jegaldam let out a small sigh and replied.
“Hmm. Is that your belief, sir?”
“Yes. That’s my judgment.”
“I’ll go.”
“What?”
Jegaldam was surprised by Unyeong’s straightforward answer. But Unyeong had no reason to refuse.
“Because you believe I can.”
Jegaldam. The strategist’s judgment.
His intuition was something ordinary people couldn’t comprehend.
Unyeong had seen it countless times.
His judgment was always right.
“Let’s go together.”
That’s why she could smile so brightly.
