A Fragrant Cup of Tea (3)
A new study was set up for Im Yeon-jeong at the estate.
Unlike before, it wasn’t hidden underground or equipped with layers of mechanical devices.
The space was designed like a library.
Im Yeon-jeong spent most of her time there reading.
Though it wasn’t a grand laboratory, various items began to arrive one by one.
Every night, a carriage would bring in goods. Some were herbs, others were books, and some were sealed so tightly that their contents remained a mystery.
These items were neatly stacked in a corner of the library.
“Handle that with care.”
Im Yeon-jeong instructed Chil-ho, who was cleaning. There were no servants or maids at the estate, so Chil-ho took care of the cooking and cleaning himself.
Im Yeon-jeong had offered to clean her own room, but Chil-ho had firmly refused.
“Yes, I’ll be careful.”
Chil-ho gingerly handled the wooden box he was dusting.
From her seat, where she was engrossed in a book, Im Yeon-jeong suddenly spoke.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“Pardon?”
Chil-ho turned around, but Im Yeon-jeong continued to focus on her book.
“Aren’t you curious about what we’ll be doing in the future?”
“No, I’m not curious.”
“Really?”
Im Yeon-jeong turned her head to look at Chil-ho.
“I don’t need to know. My job is to protect you.”
“Senior?”
“Ah, I couldn’t think of a proper title. What should I call you? Just let me know, and I’ll use it.”
“Then call me ‘sister.’”
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can.”
Im Yeon-jeong said firmly. Chil-ho understood that this was a gesture of kindness towards him.
“I don’t understand why you’re so kind to me.”
Chil-ho had been taught to always be suspicious when someone was kind. Humans don’t do good for others without ulterior motives.
Then, Im Yeon-jeong mentioned an unexpected name.
“You know the Nameless Hero, right?”
The mention of the Nameless Hero caught Chil-ho off guard. He was one of the people who had recently stirred his heart.
“Yes.”
“There were many events, but to get to the point, I almost died back then. That person saved me.”
“I see.”
“After that, my perspective changed a bit. Honestly, I hadn’t thought deeply about death until then. But it hit me—I could die too. It could happen in an instant, unexpectedly. It wasn’t just something that happened to others.”
Having lived with the constant awareness of death, Chil-ho deeply resonated with Im Yeon-jeong’s words.
“Did that answer your question?”
“No.”
While he could empathize with her thoughts on death, it didn’t explain why she was so kind to him. Was it because anyone could die at any moment? Could that be a reason to be kind?
Having never received kindness without reason, Chil-ho found it hard to accept Im Yeon-jeong’s generosity.
Im Yeon-jeong smiled.
Usually, in such situations, people would just nod and move on.
‘Why be kind? Because you make me want to be.’
But she didn’t express that sentiment.
“Let’s just say you feel like a younger sibling to me.”
“Understood.”
Chil-ho resumed cleaning, meticulously dusting and wiping.
Im Yeon-jeong, returning to her book, asked again.
“You haven’t contacted Byeok-gun-sa, have you?”
Chil-ho’s hand paused momentarily before continuing.
“No.”
“Shall we go and set up a meeting now?”
At that, Chil-ho put down the cloth and turned to her.
“As you know, I can’t live an ordinary life.”
Their gazes met in the air.
Im Yeon-jeong spoke to Chil-ho.
“I’m not saying you should marry him and live a normal life. There’s no guarantee he’d reciprocate your feelings.”
“Then why?”
“I’m just saying you should express the feelings you have. We never know when life will end, right? Whether you become friends, lovers, or it turns into a mess, it’s better than keeping it hidden.”
“My duty comes first.”
“No, your life comes first.”
Chil-ho could sense it. Those words, so out of place for someone from their world, were not meant for him but for Im Yeon-jeong herself.
Im Yeon-jeong closed her book and stood up.
“Follow me.”
“We’ve received word from Cheonmanghoe.”
From Gal Sa-ryang’s excited tone, I could predict a positive outcome.
“They’ve agreed to join forces with us.”
A strategic alliance had been formed. They would provide us with the information we needed, and we would lend them our strength.
“That’s excellent news. It’s all thanks to you, Gal-gun-sa.”
“Not at all. It’s all due to your fortune, my lord.”
Indeed, it could be said that it was thanks to the fortune of having Gal Sa-ryang on my side.
Without the special relationship between Gal Sa-ryang and Ban Seo-jeong, this wouldn’t have been easily achieved.
Of course, they wouldn’t have made a decision based solely on personal relationships. Gal Sa-ryang must have made a proposal that moved them. That’s how he worked.
“Make sure not to demand any documents that could serve as evidence in the future. Ensure that the information they pass to us is handled with utmost secrecy, and let them know they can completely deny any association with us if necessary.”
This was a consideration for Cheonmanghoe.
“They’ll appreciate that very much.”
“Did you mention anything about me?”
“I only mentioned that there is someone I serve, but it seems you’ll need to meet the leader of Cheonmanghoe soon.”
“Understood.”
I intended to meet them, if only for Gal Sa-ryang’s sake.
With the addition of Cheonmanghoe’s information to Samangak, our intelligence network would be on par with Jeonguigak’s.
This would make us even stronger.
Just then, a martial artist came to deliver a message.
“A guest is waiting outside for you, sir.”
A guest? I wasn’t expecting anyone.
When I went out, two women were waiting for me. They were Im Yeon-jeong and Chil-ho.
“You must keep your promise.”
Their sudden visit caught me off guard.
“Promise?”
“You promised, remember?”
Ah, yes, I had promised to show them around Wuhon. But I hadn’t expected them to actually come.
“Very well, please wait a moment.”
After asking the women to wait, I went to Gal Sa-ryang.
“I’ll be stepping out for a while.”
“Isn’t there a saying about heroes and beautiful women? It seems beautiful women have come to find you.”
He must have been watching us from the window.
I gave him a look that said he was incorrigible and stepped outside.
“So, where shall I take you?”
“Wherever you think best.”
And so, I took the two women to several famous spots around Wuhon.
I never imagined I’d be out on a trip with two women.
We visited a temple known for its renowned monks and strolled along the lakeside below it. Both places boasted beautiful scenery. We dined at an inn with a skilled chef and took a walk through a lovely forest path.
Even though I hadn’t ventured out much, I was familiar enough with Wuhon, where the main base of the Martial Alliance was located, to guide them for a day.
Fortunately, the two women enjoyed it immensely.
Initially, I suspected there might be another motive behind their visit, but it didn’t seem that way.
In the evening, we decided to have a drink.
While pondering where to go, Chil-ho suggested, “Let’s go to that place where we drank last time.”
I had been thinking of that field as well.
“Sounds good.”
We bought some drinks and headed to the field where we had shared drinks before.
“Ah, this place is nice.”
Im Yeon-jeong was equally delighted.
Remembering how we had run out of drinks last time, I made sure to buy plenty this time.
We drank, using the breeze as our side dish, and shared various stories.
Both women had special connections with me, making the drinks we shared feel just as special.
Amidst our conversations, Im Yeon-jeong suddenly asked me, “Do you have someone you like?”
The unexpected question caught me off guard. Song Hwa-rin came to mind, but I couldn’t answer immediately. We had kissed, so I should have said yes, but I wasn’t sure what my feelings for her truly were.
Seeing my hesitation, Im Yeon-jeong quickly apologized, “I’m sorry. Forgive me if I was rude.”
“It’s fine.”
“Oh, I just remembered an appointment I forgot about. I should get going. Thank you for today.”
She left, and I sensed she was giving us space for Chil-ho’s sake. Perhaps she mistakenly thought my earlier fluster was because of Chil-ho.
For a while, Chil-ho and I stood side by side, watching the sunset over the field and the horizon beyond. Our faces, clothes, and even the sky were tinged with a reddish hue.
After a long silence, Chil-ho suddenly spoke.
“Leave.”
She still kept her gaze far away. I, too, looked at the horizon she was watching and asked.
“Where to?”
“Anywhere.”
She finally turned to look at me. I met her gaze.
“If you stay with Gal-gun-sa, you’ll die with him.”
How long had she hesitated before telling me this? If I had pressed for reasons, how would she have answered? If she had worried about that, she wouldn’t have said anything.
I asked her in return.
“Aren’t you in danger?”
“I’m… fine.”
Her words sounded less like she wasn’t in danger and more like she didn’t care if she died.
I spoke calmly but firmly.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Why not?”
“Where would a martial artist go if not the martial world?”
The ones who should leave are those who drive martial artists out of the martial world.
But I didn’t say that. If I did, she would include herself among “those people.”
“Thank you for today.”
With that, Chil-ho left.
Though she walked away, I felt the distance between us growing closer.
As soon as Chil-ho returned to the estate, Im Yeon-jeong asked with a curious expression.
“What happened? What did you two talk about?”
“Nothing much, really.”
“I gave you plenty of time alone, you know.”
“I just went for a walk by myself.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! I spent the whole day wandering around those pointless places just for that moment.”
“Did you?”
“Of course! My legs nearly gave out, but I endured it because I wanted things to go well for you two. A temple tour? I can’t stand monks!”
“I see.”
“Well, there’s nothing for it. I’ll have to arrange another opportunity. He seems like a good person. Give it a shot.”
In truth, it was more than that. Im Yeon-jeong found herself drawn to Byeok Lidan. There was something intriguing about him—comforting yet keeping her on edge. She could fully understand why Chil-ho liked him.
Chil-ho sensed Yeon-jeong’s interest in Byeok Lidan, but it wasn’t enough to stir jealousy.
Just then, there was a noise outside.
“It’s Il-ho.”
“Come in.”
Beside Il-ho was a large box.
“This was sent from above.”
A white line was drawn along one corner of the box. To an outsider, it might seem insignificant, but it was a mark used for sending something very important.
“And this letter came with it.”
The moment Yeon-jeong saw the letter, her eyes wavered. Chil-ho had never seen her so visibly shaken. She held the letter close to her chest.
The box was too large and heavy for her to move alone.
“Could you help me?”
Il-ho quickly stepped forward.
“I’ll move it. Where should I—”
“No!”
Yeon-jeong cut him off firmly and looked at Chil-ho. It was clear she wanted Chil-ho’s help, not Il-ho’s.
Il-ho glanced between Yeon-jeong and Chil-ho before speaking politely.
“Understood. I’ll take my leave.”
After Il-ho left, Chil-ho carefully moved the box to the side.
“Did Il-ho do something wrong?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I don’t like him.”
“Why not?”
“Because he…”
‘Because he likes you. And I think that love is misplaced.’
Yeon-jeong knew that Chil-ho had been trained by Il-ho.
‘Falling in love during training? Don’t make me laugh. That’s not love. If you truly loved her, you would have taken her hand and run away from this madness.’
Yeon-jeong smiled at Chil-ho.
“I’m just being sensitive.”
“Okay.”
“Now, step back.”
Chil-ho stepped back.
Yeon-jeong carefully opened the box.
Inside were ominous artifacts. There were masks the size of a human face, daggers, gourds, clothing, and even a skull, all exuding a powerful aura.
Even from a distance, the energy made Chil-ho feel nauseous and uneasy.
Despite her relatively weaker martial skills, Yeon-jeong handled them with ease.
Holding up a mirror engraved with a sinister ghostly pattern, Yeon-jeong asked Chil-ho, “Aren’t you curious about what we’re going to do with these?”