Book 22 Chapter 5
Mysterious and a little wicked
―True Exchange
‘Should I reconsider this one more time?’
At the end of the dead-end corridor, Namgung Sang stopped in front of a slightly ajar door. He had a feeling that if he entered carelessly, it would be hard to turn back.
‘Ah, it’ll be fine.’
Namgung Sang shrugged, thinking so. His shoulders had been getting heavier since he became the leader, whether by his own will or by others. Macheongak was practically enemy territory. Having been pushed into leadership in the very heart of that enemy territory, the burden was considerable.
He wished he could ask for advice from Yeom Do, Bing Geom, Yu Eun-seong, and Jin So-ryeong, but they maintained an attitude of not interfering in trivial matters between students. Since they were here as a delegation, they meant that unless it was a life-or-death crisis, they should resolve matters themselves as ‘warriors of Cheonmu Academy.’
The problem was that they knew too little about Macheongak to resolve things themselves. It was no different from fumbling around in the dark. Furthermore, at the time a man who suddenly appeared talking about Mipok-guk left behind a strange invitation, Namgung Sang desperately needed light to illuminate the darkness of his ignorance.
Since he had decided to accept the invitation, he had to quickly gather information if he didn’t want to face dire consequences. So, as soon as the meeting ended, he immediately pinpointed the location and came to this door at the end of the corridor, belonging to Bi Yeon-tae, who had been appointed the information officer.
Namgung Sang hesitated for a moment, recalling Maharyeong’s displeased reaction and the hostile evaluations from the female scholars. Then, hardening his resolve, he knocked on the door. There was no time to hesitate any longer.
Knock, knock!
When he heard a voice tell him to enter, Namgung Sang opened the door and stepped inside.
As he entered the room, a scorching heat enveloped his entire body. Bi Yeon-tae’s room was unexpectedly crowded.
The culprits behind the fiery atmosphere were three large, stout men sitting around a small table, spreading out documents and engaged in heated debate. Bi Yeon-tae, Byeon Tae-nam, and another man were sitting with their backs turned, all exhibiting frightening concentration.
“Are you all preparing for some kind of exam?”
“Ah, Captain Namgung. Please wait a moment. The work isn’t quite finished yet.”
Bi Yeon-tae replied from his seat.
“It’s fine. I’ll wait.”
Curious about what they were doing, Namgung Sang readily agreed. Bi Yeon-tae nodded and opened his mouth.
“Next is Gwanseolji.”
Gwanseolji? Namgung Sang tilted his head at the sudden mention.
“Two characters, one inch.”
Byeon Tae-nam, Bi Yeon-tae’s colleague and vice-president of the Ae So-jeo Council, answered immediately.
“Information rank is second class, information unit price is applied at two jeo and three hang.”
The man whose back Namgung Sang could see answered consecutively. It was a familiar voice.
“Good. Next, Hwaseol-ok.”
“Two characters.”
As Byeon Tae-nam answered immediately, the other man eagerly replied.
“Information rank is third class, public unit price is applied at three jeo and one hang.”
‘Whose voice is that?’
Namgung Sang finally realized who the owner of the voice was. It was undoubtedly Geum Yeong-ho, one of the Suzaku Squad. What on earth were they doing?
“Hmm, Namgung Sansan.”
This time, it was a name Namgung Sang knew very well. He was family, and a twin at that, so it was natural. Namgung Sang’s confusion grew with the unusual conversation.
“Still two characters.”
“Wait a moment!”
Geum Yeong-ho stopped Byeon Tae-nam’s answer. Bi Yeon-tae’s eyes gleamed as he urged him on.
“Tell us.”
“That’s old information. Namgung Sansan recently reduced it from two characters to one character and nine inches through dietary control. I request information renewal.”
“Approved. Namgung Sansan, change from two characters to one character and nine inches approved.”
“Confirmed. As it is new information, it will be classified as first class, with a unit price of one jeo and nine hang.”
“Then let’s continue. Maharyeong?”
Bi Yeon-tae began to ask again. Namgung Sang became increasingly confused.
“Two characters and one inch, and one unconfirmed measurement.”
Silence ensued among the men for a moment.
“Hmm… let’s seal that measurement. It could cause a bloodbath. Don’t forget whose daughter she is.”
“Understood, Chairman.”
As they all replied in unison, Bi Yeon-tae closed the document and declared,
“We’ll stop here for today since we have a guest.”
Namgung Sang blankly watched the men neatly organize the documents, then turned a suspicious gaze toward Bi Yeon-tae.
“Senior Bi Yeon-tae, what are these documents used for?”
“Ah, they are precious academic materials.”
Namgung Sang tilted his head.
“Academic materials? Are they really academic materials?”
“Of course! Essential for academic pursuits, um… rather, it’s more accurate to say they are research materials for the culmination of learning.”
Bi Yeon-tae’s eyes sparkled with a serious expression. He didn’t look like he was lying at all.
“I-I see. I didn’t know you had such a side, Senior. Seeing complex numbers and monetary units discussed, is it a type of accounting?”
Namgung Sang carefully asked, deliberately ignoring the female scholars’ names that were constantly mentioned. However, Bi Yeon-tae’s answer was as expected.
“Certainly not. It’s a type of women’s studies.”
“…W-women’s studies?”
“Indeed. Specifically, today’s documents are the ultimate materials combining the three-part measurements of beauties and information accounting. Once this academic system is fully established, it will become the ultimate field of study that men must learn in the future. What do you say, would you like to research with us?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. By the way, Geum Yeong-ho, why are you here?”
Namgung Sang politely declined and changed the subject. It was awkward, but more than anything, he was curious why Geum Yeong-ho was here. Geum Yeong-ho, the son of Geumho Sanghoe, who Namgung Sang knew very well, the same Geum Yeong-ho who was the Golden Toad of the Suzaku Squad, when did he become someone to engage in mysterious debates with Bi Yeon-tae and Byeon Tae-nam? However, Geum Yeong-ho himself opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“Ah, you didn’t know? I’m in charge of accounting for the Ae So-jeo Council here.”
His tone suggested it was nothing new.
“Seniors, is that true?”
Namgung Sang looked at Bi Yeon-tae and Byeon Tae-nam with a bewildered expression. Bi Yeon-tae answered after a brief recollection.
“Of course it’s true. It’s been about a year.”
“Yes, around that time.”
Byeon Tae-nam, who was busy organizing documents, also chimed in lightly. As a fellow member of the Suzaku Squad, and as its captain, not knowing that fact for a year was a significant shock. And it wasn't just Geum Yeong-ho.
Due to his weak presence, Namgung Sang shifted his gaze to the corner of the room, which had only been perceived as a shadow in the periphery of his vision. On the bed, a slender young man was crouched, fiddling with the bedspread with his finger. Seemingly pushed aside by the suspicious heat emanating from the center of the room, the young man wore a pale pink outfit embroidered with plum blossoms.
“Isn’t that Jun-ho?”
What Namgung Sang found in the corner of the room was none other than Yun Jun-ho, a disciple of the Huashan Sect.
“Yes, it is. You recognized me surprisingly well.”
Yun Jun-ho sat hunched in the dark shadow, unable to join the conversation of the elite members of the Ae So-jeo Council, feeling excluded. His complexion was pale.
“Why are you here?”
Seeing Namgung Sang look at him with disappointment, as if he hadn’t expected him to be like this, Yun Jun-ho became flustered and stammered.
“Ah, no. Actually, I didn’t really have anywhere else to go today, and this room is my room…”
“…Even if you said you were participating in the Ae So-jeo Council’s academic activities, I wouldn’t have said anything.”
Yun Jun-ho’s face turned as if he were about to cough up blood from Namgung Sang’s distrustful gaze.
“I-it’s not a lie. I was just assigned to the same room because I’m in the same group as Senior Bi Yeon-tae.”
“……”
Namgung Sang was speechless for a moment. The principle of dormitory assignment was that two people in the same group shared one room. This was indeed a problematic room assignment in many ways.
“Did you ask Senior Yu Eun-seong for help?”
At his question, Yun Jun-ho’s spirit was further crushed, and he replied weakly.
“I did visit Senior and asked him, and he said he would swap if there was someone in the same group who wanted to change rooms, but…”
“And then?”
“Everyone just refused…”
‘I can somehow understand their feelings.’
Namgung Sang offered his condolences to Yun Jun-ho in his heart.
“I’m sorry, but try to adapt.”
“I am trying, but…”
He couldn’t be sure. Namgung Sang didn’t expect that far either. However, as Namgung Sang casually turned his gaze, he was startled.
‘How many people are crammed into this small room!’
Including himself, there were already three people over the limit, but it turned out there was another person sitting next to Yun Jun-ho, facing the wall!
He wore a thin piece of cloth the color of the wall on his head and even wore clothes the same color as the wall. At first glance, he looked like a bumpy protrusion in the wall; he seemed to be deliberately in hiding. Even so, Namgung Sang, who had trained in martial arts, couldn’t easily find him, so whoever he was, he was no ordinary person.
“Who is that over there?”
Namgung Sang asked with a wary, formal tone.
“…You have good eyes. It’s okay if you just didn’t see me.”
His voice was extremely dejected, but Namgung Sang knew who it was as soon as he heard it.
“Isn’t that voice Jang Hyung? No, Jang Hyung, what are you doing here? And in such a peculiar outfit.”
“I’m just in hiding for a while, so don’t worry about it and continue your conversation.”
The usual confident Jang Hong was nowhere to be found, and his voice even trembled slightly at the end of his sentence.
“Hiding? From what, exactly?”
“From the scariest thing in this world. You don’t need to know more. It’s just a simple personal matter.”
Jang Hong lowered the cloth covering his head, turned to Namgung Sang, and waved his hand. His face was dark. However, Namgung Sang did not easily back down. It might be presumptuous, but as the leader, he needed to be aware of the problems of the scholars. Especially when there was a high probability of them developing into incidents.
“Hmm. A feud? As the leader, it would be better if you at least informed me about the kind of threat Jang Hyung feels…”
At the mention of a feud, Jang Hong flinched.
“A feud… I guess so. Probably…”
His voice was filled with regret. Namgung Sang became even more worried. If he was trying to hide like this after mentioning a feud, it was clear to anyone that Jang Hong was the one who had ‘made enemies.’
“Then would hiding in a place like this be effective? People come and go here, so you’ll be found out soon.”
Jang Hong shook his head.
“As for that, I’m supplementing it with my concealment technique. And this is the safest place. No woman would possibly come this far.”
It seemed the person he was avoiding was a woman. Especially a woman who avoided the Ae So-jeo Council, she was likely to be a beauty.
‘Then this place would indeed be safe.’
As Namgung Sang licked his lips, Bi Yeon-tae asked,
“But what do you want?”
“Ah! I came to ask you to serve as the information officer, Senior. And there’s some information I’d like you to collect.”
“Information officer? Hohoho. Finally, my value is shining externally. Good. Information gathering is my job, after all. So, whose information do you want to know? Miss Jin?”
Bi Yeon-tae nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Miss Jin?”
Namgung Sang blinked and replied.
“Wouldn’t you, of all people, ask for Miss Jin’s information?”
As expected, Bi Yeon-tae, being an information expert, was also knowledgeable about romantic information.
“Absolutely not. At least, it has nothing to do with the information you call women’s studies.”
Namgung Sang replied in a firm tone.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about besides that?”
For Bi Yeon-tae, there was no problem more pressing than that. However, Namgung Sang had pressing and urgent problems piling up.
“First, I need information about where we are invited to. Hmm, I will explain it to you slowly from now on.”
The next morning, in a cozy flower garden not far from the accommodation of the Cheonmu Academy delegation, women of the Mipok Guardian Corps, who were picking petals and carrying them to baskets, piled high with red flowers obtained from who knows where, had to greet a terrible visitor. It was Bi Yeon-tae.
“Kyaaak! Pervert!”
As soon as the women saw Bi Yeon-tae, they shrieked and scattered in all directions. A fat man was looking at them with lascivious eyes, sweating profusely, causing screams of visceral disgust to erupt sporadically.
However, Bi Yeon-tae, without showing any particular reaction, scanned the beautiful women all around, his eyes gleaming sharply. He seemed determined to engrave every noticeable beauty into his memory. He had a habit of remembering women’s appearances and three-part measurements.
At the edge of Bi Yeon-tae’s wandering gaze, he saw a handsome young man sitting in a small pavilion in the corner of the garden, surrounded by flower baskets. It was Ja-gun. He had a habit of remembering women’s appearances and three-part measurements.
Ja-gun, who was sitting at a table with two or three dishes, frowned and said coldly when his eyes met Bi Yeon-tae’s.
“Whoever you are, you’d better leave. No one ugly can approach the place where our Mipok Guardian Corps and I, Prince Mipok, are staying!”
The women, who were gathering by Prince Mipok Ja-gun’s side, holding their flower baskets as if they were their lives, looked at him with rapturous eyes and chattered. They spoke of how they liked sickly beautiful boys, but princes were even more dashing, and how the Mipok Kingdom’s pursuit of beauty would last forever— conversations that were utterly incomprehensible to a normal person.
Bi Yeon-tae was not flustered even as he witnessed the formation of the Mipok Kingdom’s unique intangible closed space. He had fully anticipated such a reaction. After working all night, he had mobilized the executives of the Ae So-jeo Council and was fully prepared.
Prince Mipok Ja-gun, it was said that he was as gentle as clouds to women, but tended to ignore the presence of men. However, Bi Yeon-tae was different. To him, men were always valuable customers and colleagues. The romantic endeavors they undertook had a significant impact on updating information about Miss Miso. How could he ignore the presence of men?
While Ja-gun had the strengths of possessing a handsome appearance, combined with both martial and literary skills, and being able to accommodate women’s peculiar tastes, neglecting men was bound to be a fatal flaw. Bi Yeon-tae decided to enlighten the immature Ja-gun.
“Hmm. The body is that of a warrior, but the personality is timid, liking beautiful and noble things, and being easily frightened. A spirit that pursues nobility, ideals, and uniqueness. Daily life always feels tedious. In other words, Prince Mipok’s true ideal type is, with a probability of 9 out of 10, not among the young ladies there. Isn’t that right?”
Bi Yeon-tae muttered in a monotonous and leisurely voice. Although his voice was not loud, the Mipok Guardian Corps women froze.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The women drew their weapons and exuded terrifying killing intent.
“H-헛소리! Our Prince Ja-gun does not belong to one person!”
“That’s right, right! Get lost, pervert! Before you become a skewer!”
Watching the enraged women’s reactions, Bi Yeon-tae laughed leisurely.
“Oh my, oh my. Please don’t misunderstand. What the young ladies say is correct. An ideal type is just an ideal type; it can differ from reality. But is it bad to know the type he likes?”
“Th-that’s…!”
Unable to refute, the women murmured and glanced at Ja-gun. Ja-gun, who was drinking alone in a staged pose, laughed and drank. This time, he seemed to be trying to emulate the image of a lonely wandering swordsman.
“The world is vast, but how many true friends does a man have! Someone I don’t know is cawing like a crow.”
Bi Yeon-tae didn’t respond to his words and said what he had to say.
“Hmph. Your ideal type is a strong goddess! Cold, intelligent, mysterious, and a little wicked. And the most important thing is that she must be cruel to you! The more aloof the beauty who doesn’t even look at you, the more your heart is drawn to her! Isn’t that right?”
“……”
As Ja-gun flinched, a silence fell over the assembly. It seemed Bi Yeon-tae’s words were indeed correct.
Clang! Clang! The sound of the Mipok Guardian Corps dropping their weapons could be heard from all sides.
“So, Prince Ja-gun liked wicked women?”
“Sob, sob. I tried my best to be kind and gentle.”
As Ja-gun was about to say something to calm the murmuring women, Bi Yeon-tae intervened once more.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. If there’s a problem, there’s a solution. If you find the executives of the Ae So-jeo Council in the outdoor pavilion east of Macheon Thirteen, after careful consultation, we will research a clever plan tailored to each young lady’s personality. Remember the Ae So-jeo Council.”
“Nonsense! We don’t need a pervert’s help!”
“Right, right, we believe in you, Prince Ja-gun!”
As the women shouted so, they each took out scrolls from their bosoms and diligently wrote something. Some, unable to bring writing tools, tore their skirts and wrote contact information with lipstick, while others closed their eyes tightly and left bloody records by biting their little fingers.
Ja-gun, who was blankly watching the scene, quickly regained his composure and turned his gaze to Bi Yeon-tae.
“Ae So-jeo Council? To cause a commotion in our Mipok Kingdom to promote such a suspicious organization! Hurry back, peddler!”
“What are you talking about? I originally came to do business with you. Please consider what I just did as simple attention-grabbing.”
“Business? I don’t engage in such unseemly acts…”
Swish!
While Ja-gun was speaking, Bi Yeon-tae casually threw him a booklet.
“You won’t regret it.”
A beauty catalog (美人圖鑑).
Upon recognizing the title written on the cover, Ja-gun quickly opened the book and skimmed through it. Then, he waved his hand, asked the Mipok Guardian Corps women to step outside the pavilion, and invited Bi Yeon-tae inside. After a while, he flipped through the pages without saying a word, and finally exclaimed in admiration.
“I… I hate to admit it, but it’s magnificent!”
This was Ja-gun’s final impression after closing the last page. His posture, as if exhaling all the breath he had held, showed how focused he had been.
“How is it? Do you think it will be a suitable material for trade?”
“Ahem, with this much data, it is certainly worth trading. This could be the foundation for the construction of Mipok Kingdom in the future. It’s truly admirable.”
Ja-gun, whose attitude had become friendly and his tone much more polite, said.
“Hearing that mentioned so often, it seems the construction of Mipok Kingdom is truly not a joke.”
“Ah, it could be said to be my long-held desire. To create a paradise where beautiful women can laugh, chat, and play. And I will be the ruler of that paradise.”
Of course, in that paradise, he was the only man.
“Hoho, that’s a very noble dream. A true man should at least have such a dream. But the Mipok Kingdom you speak of seems quite similar to my own dream.”
At this moment, there was no excellent teacher present to clearly distinguish the difference between dreams and delusions for them.
“Are you also dreaming of building Mipok Kingdom?”
Ja-gun asked in a wary voice. He was not happy even if he found a comrade in such a matter. Beautiful women, as a rare and precious resource, were always limited. Therefore, an increase in competitors would only be a disadvantage. Especially such an unusual competitor.
“No, the place I dream of is not Mipok Kingdom.”
“Then what?”
To the sharp question, Bi Yeon-tae paused for a moment and replied.
“Munranruju!”
“Munranruju?”
“That’s right. More precisely, becoming the owner of a pavilion named ‘Munranru.’ A place where top beauties sell the best dances and the best songs, that is Munranru. My mission in this world is to spread supreme beauty to as many people as possible.”
“Oh! Such a noble sense of mission!”
Ja-gun said with an impressed voice. He had never met a man with such a noble sense of mission before.
However, there were things to point out.
“But Munranru (紋蘭樓), doesn’t the name sound a bit vulgar? I believe naming anything is the most important thing.”
“Vulgar… Perhaps so. But!”
He said, glaring.
“Isn’t it a name you’d want to visit at least once?”
“Th-that’s true.”
Ja-gun readily admitted.
“Furthermore, it’s not ‘munran’ (紊亂, disorder), but ‘munran’ (紋蘭, patterned orchid). That is, it means a round pattern. A spinning water wheel will be the symbol of that Munranru.”
“Oh, a water wheel!”
“At first, I considered using a windmill, but a water wheel is more fitting. That water wheel will become a legendary symbol in the Jianghu entertainment industry. Numerous beauties will sell their dances and songs there. Dressed in flowing clothes, I might add. My theory is that the lighter the clothes, the better.”
“I agree with that.”
The two men, who recognized each other as kindred spirits, clasped hands firmly. Their gazes, filled with passionate souls, exchanged between them.
“So, what do you say? Have your mind changed now?”
“Hmm, in celebration of meeting a kindred spirit, I will agree to the trade.”
“Good. We will adjust the details and format of the trade step-by-step, taking into account the value and difficulty of the information to ensure fairness. So, for now, tell me about the woman whose information you are curious about.”
“Black Swallow.”
Ja-gun answered without hesitation. Lately, all he could think about was how to win the heart of this beauty. With his existing methods, relying solely on his excellent looks and charm, her heart showed no signs of yielding easily. Therefore, learning even a little more about her was a prerequisite.
“Black Swallow, you mean Yeonbi, that mysterious beauty in black?”
“Precisely. Miss Yeon is the future mistress of Mipok Kingdom, my future companion.”
Ja-gun had no intention of hiding his sincere feelings. If anything, he wanted to announce it indiscriminately to everyone.
“I see, I understand. Then, I will also state my trading conditions. What I want to know is…”
Bi Yeon-tae calmly began to speak about the first piece of information to be traded. It was truly the moment when genuine exchange activities began between the Black and White Yang Dao since the delegation’s arrival.
* * *
The next evening, at the hour of Xu (戌時).
As stated in the invitation, the delegation gathered at the dock at the entrance of Dongjeong Lake. The invitation stated to take the boat that would come to ‘that place.’
Following that instruction, Namgung Sang led the entire delegation to the pier. Since it was an invitation for everyone, they had no choice but to comply, regardless of the hidden agenda.
“Is this really that place?”
Namgung Sang asked the group with a bewildered expression.
“It seems so…”
Baek Mu-yeong’s reply trailed off ambiguously. The reactions of Yong Cheon-myeong and Maharyeong, who were beside him, were the same.
“This is truly surprising.”
The Guimun pier, which had intimidated them with its terrifying ghost-like appearance on their way in, was now brilliantly lit with dazzling lanterns. The gate was wide open, and bonfires lined the surroundings, burning brightly. It looked as if they were being sent off with well wishes. The delegation, who had come out tense, felt like fools.
“I thought it would be a more eerie experience when they told us to come out to the dock at night to wait for a boat, but this is completely like a festival day.”
Yeonbi, who was among the delegation, couldn’t help but say to Na Yerim standing next to her. The pier was extremely bustling due to the immense crowd swarming around the port.
“I know, right? I never expected it to be so noisy and crowded… There are too many people.”
Na Yerim also looked around and expressed her thoughts. Macheongak couldn’t possibly have invited so many people, so why was the dock so crowded at this hour?
As she said, too many people were gathered here, waiting to board a boat. Like people attending a festival, they laughed and chatted, moving in small groups. Regardless of age or gender, everyone seemed excited.
Besides Yeonbi and Na Yerim, the Cheonmu Academy people who had gathered were all murmuring and looking around. If the purpose of Macheongak’s strange invitation was to fluster the delegation, they had already achieved their goal.
“Lin, are you okay? Your complexion is a little off?”
Yeonbi observed Na Yerim with a worried gaze. To others, the difference might have been negligible, but she noticed Na Yerim’s expression was slightly stiff.
“No, I’m fine. I’m just flustered by the sheer number of people. It’s because my mental training is insufficient.”
However, no matter how much one trained, some things would happen and some wouldn’t. Na Yerim did not like places where many people gathered. It was partly due to her innate disposition, but she always felt like she was caught in the vortex of a massive consciousness. If she was defenseless, a huge mass of thoughts would flow into her just by standing there.
Even while mingling with the other Cheonmu Academy members, passing pedestrians would turn back from their paths to glance at Na Yerim and Yeonbi. While she had become somewhat accustomed to it, Na Yerim still found their gazes uncomfortable.
“Oh dear, do they always get lost when they come here? I don’t know why they keep looking around and peeking. What if Lin’s face wears out?”
Yeonbi grumbled after looking around.
“Actually, aren’t they all looking at Yeonbi?”
Na Yerim said, loosening her stiffened face, and smiled. To others, it might not have been much, but it was the biggest joke she could make at that moment. Perhaps it was because Yeonbi was by her side that she could afford to be so casual.
“Ugh. Is that possible? The mere thought gives me goosebumps.”
As she said this, Yeonbi opened her black umbrella, Hyeoncheon Eunrin, which she always carried. Then, she gently pulled Yerim to her side. The shadow of the umbrella enveloped them both.
“How is it? Is it a bit hidden like this?”
More people passed by looking at them, thinking ‘What’s with the umbrella,’ but it was certainly effective in hiding their faces from people’s gazes.
However, among the delegation, there were two who envied Yeonbi upon seeing this scene: Lee Jin-seol and Jang Hong.
In Lee Jin-seol’s case, it was just about clutching her clothes and saying, ‘Me too, me too, I’ll buy an umbrella and share it with Unnie Yerim!’ But Jang Hong’s case was more serious.
“Hmm, so there was such a useful concealment tool. Excuse me, Hyoryong, Hui, I’m sorry, but could you please press closer to this side? It would be inconvenient if anyone realized that a human named me exists between you two.”
Jang Hong spoke in the lowest possible voice, trying not to let his voice leak out, sweating profusely. He looked like a timid corrupt official, trembling in fear as if an poisoned arrow might fly at him. Hyoryong and Moyong Hui stood stiffly with displeased expressions. Both wanted to ask why they had to do this when they were lined up in an open area, but seeing his pale face and desperate plea, they just let it pass.
In any case, from Yeonbi to Moyong Hui, everyone present wanted the same thing.
“I wish the boat would arrive soon.”
Yeonbi shrugged and said. If so, it would be better to board the boat as soon as possible.
Just then, a commotion could be heard from the left side of the delegation. Two women were looking around, searching for someone.
“Miss, Miss?”
They repeatedly looked around, but the person they were looking for did not seem to be in sight. Judging by their attire and speech, they seemed to be maids who had followed someone from Macheongak.
“Macheongak has two maids, not one. Their owner might be quite wealthy,” Yeonbi whispered to Na Yerim in passing.
The two, with vastly contrasting colors, pushed their way through the assembled crowd, constantly looking around.
“Are you sure Miss Yeong-ryeong disappeared this way?”
“Yes. I remember it this way.”
From the livelier-looking maid, a name was mentioned. However, that name, which she should have heard for the first time, was not unfamiliar to Na Yerim.
‘Yeong-ryeong? I’ve heard that name somewhere. Definitely…’
She searched her memory for a moment and a fleeting memory surfaced.
‘Ah, I see. That’s the person Instructor Ok mentioned.’
It made sense now. She had thought about wanting to meet her once, having heard she was comparable to Na Yerim in her potential. It wasn’t a competitive spirit. She just wanted to meet her once. As someone walking the same path. However, it seemed it wasn’t the right opportunity.
‘Coming here means boarding that boat, right? Then perhaps I might meet her where the boat arrives.’
If fate willed it, it would happen so.
“Why? What are you thinking, Lin?”
Yeonbi pulled Na Yerim, who had been lost in thought, back to reality.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I just thought of someone at Macheongak whom it would be nice to meet later.”
Na Yerim replied with a slight smile.
“Oh my, that’s an unusual thing. Is it perhaps a man?”
“No, it’s a woman.”
“I see. That’s a relief. Because I don’t have to get my hands dirty.”
Yeonbi muttered to herself with a slight smile.
“Huh? What did you just say…?”
“No, it was just a muttering.”
As if nothing had happened, Yeonbi looked at Na Yerim and smiled brightly again.
Just then, a light appeared in the distance across the dark water and began to grow larger. It wasn’t one light, but three. After all, one wouldn’t be enough to carry so many people.
“The boat has arrived. Surprisingly.”
Na Yerim said, looking at the three boats that had just arrived.
“I know, right? That boat, it’s… more than I expected…”
Yeonbi folded her umbrella and searched for words for a moment.
“It’s quite splendid.”
Na Yerim finished her sentence. Yeonbi immediately nodded and clapped her hands together with a snap.
“That’s right. I expected a spooky boat like it was about to carry ghosts.”
The arriving boats were very different from what they had imagined. They were not tattered ghost ships, nor were they ordinary. They were simply, perhaps excessively, magnificent. It was as if they had spent money lavishly on the boats.
“Surely, we’re not going somewhere like a red-light district?”
The appearance of the boats was such that Yeonbi couldn’t find any other words to describe them. The boats, adorned with decorations and displaying dazzling colored lanterns in the light, seemed to emit a frivolous light, like the colored lanterns hanging in a red-light district. However, most people seemed excited by such lights.
This was evident from the fact that people from Macheongak, dressed in rather ornate attire, were lining up to board those boats.
“There’s no end in sight. I wonder if there will be seats for us to take…”
“Where on earth are we heading?”
The destination had not yet been revealed.
“Well, with so many people here, shouldn’t we be able to ask now?”
The fact that three boats were operating in one night meant that a considerable number of people were heading to the destination of these boats.
“Alright, everyone, let’s move!”
Someone shouted loudly from the front of the pier. Led by Namgung Sang, the group began to board their designated boats under the guidance of the escort.
The boat the delegation boarded was the most elaborately decorated one, with colorful lights of red, green, yellow, orange, and blue shining splendidly above. Far from being gloomy, it was so dazzling that it hurt to look directly at it. Gold ornaments installed in various places glittered in the light, beckoning the delegation boarding the boat.
* * *
Yeong-ryeong’s kneeling posture toward a shadow cast beyond a bamboo screen was exceedingly respectful and reverent. It was understandable, as the person beyond the bamboo screen was the master of her body and mind. It was an absolute command etched deep in her memory, so Yeong-ryeong could not disobey it. It was only a pity that she could not recall his face.
“Then, I entrust this to you, Ryeong.”
The man said in a quiet voice.
“Don’t worry.”
Yeong-ryeong, kneeling on one knee and bowing her head, lowered her head deeply.
“My life belongs to my lord, and I will surely complete my mission.”
At that single moment, the eyes of the silhouette looking down at Yeong-ryeong flickered slightly. However, Yeong-ryeong, who was bowing her head from across the shadow to show her obedience, could not see that brief flicker.