Chapter 49
Boom!
A loud crash rang out from outside Yeonhongwon. The construction for the training hall was well underway.
Bang! Bang!
The noise didn’t stop—it continued relentlessly.
“Phew. Just when the guests had left and it finally felt peaceful again. Miss, shall I close the window?”
Hyang-ah grumbled as she asked.
“No, this much is fine. It can’t be helped. They said it’ll be done in a few days anyway,”
Unyeong replied as she gently stroked the egg in her hands.
“If you’re alright with it, then…”
The noise didn’t bother her. It wasn’t the sound of clashing blades, after all.
Things had just been too quiet lately. A bit of noise, in fact, helped put her at ease.
“Hyang-ah. Is everything ready? Go check for me.”
“Yes, Miss!”
Hyang-ah responded quickly and ran out with a clatter of footsteps.
“Ahh… That girl gets scolded by her nanny every day but still hasn’t fixed her habit of running.”
Unyeong sighed and shook her head. A soft laugh came from nearby—it was Sogyo.
“She’s cute.”
“Really? You think she’s cute?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Unyeong simply nodded at Sogyo’s answer.
“Sogyo.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“You heard someone’s coming this afternoon to apply as a martial arts teacher, right?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“Come with me to meet him.”
It was a casual remark, but Sogyo didn’t reply.
When Unyeong looked up, she saw that Sogyo’s face had gone stiff.
“Do you think it might be dangerous?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then…”
“You should be properly trained in martial arts, too. When the new instructor arrives, I’ll ask him to help you as well.”
Back when she trained at Bicheo in Hwangsan, Elder Deung Noya had also overseen Sogyo’s training.
Now that they were starting even earlier, Sogyo would likely grow stronger, faster than she had then.
“Miss, I can’t allow that.”
“Why not?”
“I am your attendant. It’s more important for me to look after you than to learn martial arts.”
“No.”
Unyeong cut her off and shook her head.
“Sogyo. Sit down.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Sogyo sat down beside her. Unyeong placed her small hand over Sogyo’s.
“Sogyo. I…”
For some reason, her throat tightened.
A small cough cleared her voice, and she continued.
“I consider you family.”
Family. As close as blood.
It wasn’t a lie.
In the past, Sogyo had been like an older sister, a protector, and even a sanctuary to her. She was the one who had saved Unyeong’s life.
“M-Miss…”
“So please, just do as I ask. You will, right?”
“I will.”
“Good. Let’s do that.”
Unyeong gently patted Sogyo’s hand—the same way Sogyo had comforted her in the past.
“But please allow me to train separately.”
“No, train with me. I know you’re an assassin who’s mastered killing techniques.”
“H-How did you…?”
Sogyo’s face turned pale. Unyeong patted her hand again.
“It’s fine. If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. So there’s no need to be so startled.”
Despite her words, Sogyo looked completely lost.
Unyeong bit her lip.
What could she say to comfort someone? She had no idea.
But she did know what words could move Sogyo.
“I didn’t want to say this…”
Unyeong let out a quiet sigh and spoke.
“…Protect me, Sogyo.”
She still didn’t know what connection Sogyo had to Yeonhongwon. Even when they had been together in Hwangsan, Sogyo had never talked about her past.
Why she had learned deadly techniques, how she had ended up here, or what drove her to guard Unyeong so fiercely.
She had said nothing.
But it didn’t matter. Sogyo had chosen to protect her.
“Grow stronger, and protect me.”
“Yes… Yes, Miss. I will. I’ll grow stronger.”
As if freed from a binding curse, Sogyo finally nodded.
No… I’ll protect you. I’ll be the one to protect you.
Watching Sogyo nod over and over again, Unyeong made up her mind once more.
The two of them sat there in silence for a long time.
“Miss! They say everything is ready!”
Hyang-ah burst in again with a loud voice, and the heavy atmosphere vanished in an instant.
“Hahaha! Alright, good job, Hyang-ah.”
Unyeong laughed heartily and praised her. Sogyo laughed along with her.
“Oh, it was nothing. Let’s go, Miss!”
Looking flustered by their praise, Hyang-ah quickly turned to lead the way.
“Let’s go, Sogyo.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Unyeong and Sogyo rose and followed her.
“Uncle Wang the cook prepared so many delicious things!”
“Did he?”
“He said the laborers need to eat well to build a sturdy training hall.”
“He’s right.”
“…Wait, Miss. Don’t tell me! Is that why you had all this prepared?”
“Yes. That’s part of it.”
The construction of the training hall was a big project.
Originally, it wasn’t meant to be this extensive, but Seoljadan had expanded the plan.
They wanted the best materials to build the most beautiful training hall—a strange request.
As a result, they had hired a lot of laborers.
There were civilians from Hongan-hyeon, and workers from other regions too.
“Well, I mostly just wanted them to try the mushroom pork.”
If they went back and spread rumors about how delicious it was, that would be even better.
“Oh no… Once they taste it, they’ll crave it again…”
“You too?”
“Of course! It’s so good I want it every day!”
“Right? It’s delicious. Mushroom pork.”
A pleased smile spread across Unyeong’s face. Her steps toward the training hall felt light.
“Wow… It’s huge!”
Just as Hyang-ah had exclaimed, the under-construction training hall was truly enormous. Even though the backyard of Yeonhongwon was spacious, Unyeong hadn’t expected it to be this big.
“…You’re right. It really is huge.”
Of course, the bigger the training hall, the better—but this was supposed to be a private space for her. It was excessive.
And then they were all taken aback.
“Miss, is that building part of the training hall?”
“…It looks like it.”
Unyeong answered, just as surprised.
She had expected them to flatten the ground and maybe lay some stone. Instead, they were putting up actual pillars. It wasn’t an outdoor field—it was going to be an indoor training hall.
“Wow… Amazing.”
It really was. The Seol family truly had deep pockets.
“Is that cheonggangseok? That stone that’s supposed to be as strong as iron? They said it had a jade tint, and… it’s true!”
Unyeong followed Hyang-ah’s pointing finger. There was a large pile of white stones with a pale green sheen—cheonggangseok.
“Hyang-ah, is there anything you don’t know?”
“Well, I am pretty clever!”
“Where’d you hear that from?”
“From the Hogadae martial artists. They said it’s rare, and only found in the training halls of the Five Great Clans or Ten Great Sects…”
Cheonggangseok was incredibly hard and difficult to work with—making it very expensive.
“Looks like the young master really cherishes you, Miss.”
“Yes. I should be grateful.”
“When the training hall is complete, it’ll be magnificent.”
“I think so too.”
Nodding, Unyeong looked at the laborers working.
“…They’re working hard.”
That’s what she said—but her gaze had grown sharp.
A major construction like this is the perfect chance for spies to slip in. Now that the heirs of the Five Great Clans have visited, some are bound to get curious…
Unyeong had insisted on personally serving the food so she could weed out any spies.
“Miss, everything is ready.”
Just then, Uncle Wang the cook came over and informed her.
“Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Wang.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. Right this way.”
On the table he had prepared, large plates of food were piled high, with small dishes neatly set beside them.
“Well done. Thank you, Uncle Wang.”
“Of course, Miss. You just stand here. We’ll handle the distribution.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Unyeong stood in front of the table. It was the perfect spot to observe the laborers as they came up to receive their food.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please take care of the rest.”
Unyeong greeted each laborer with gratitude.
“Ah, thank you, Miss. I’ll eat well.”
And then she spotted a spy.
A big catch.
Why are you here?
None other than Wang Sam—the inn servant from Hwayoung Guesthouse.
Now playing the role of laborer Wang Sam, the woman was Ye Haeshin.
Welcome… future master of Haomun.
To Unyeong, she was just a familiar face.
Not quite a friend—more like an easy mark?
