Chapter 36

Chapter 36: How to Build Trust – 4

It was the time when the morning star rose in the sky. People were gathered near Yangwi Fortress, a place that would normally be deserted.

Relief was written on their faces. And for good reason.

The soldiers led by the Lord of Yangwi Fortress, who were, in truth, subordinates of Chon Il-hwa, had resolved the disappearance cases they had set out to solve.

Of course, it wasn’t just the soldiers who were rejoicing. Even those who didn’t belong with the soldiers were smiling brightly.

“Daddy!!”

The hulking man, who embraced the girl running toward him with tears streaming down her face, was also shedding tears, despite his fierce appearance. He hugged her so tightly with his thick arms that it seemed as if she might break, but of course, he wouldn’t really do that.

Other families and acquaintances of those who had become mindless husks were also weeping with relief.

After all, becoming a mindless husk meant losing one’s sanity and being controlled by others. Leaving them in that state wouldn’t do any good. If the mindless husk state persisted for too long, the body would also deteriorate, which was often the case.

The only fortunate thing was that the mindless husks controlled by Yang Myung hadn’t suffered much harm beyond a bit of physical exhaustion.

Their vitality had been drained by her, but the husk state was completely lifted, and they would recover by taking some tonics to replenish their strength.

“Thank you so much!”

“Really, thank you!”

The people who had escaped the husk state, along with their families and relatives, bowed repeatedly to Chaejin and me, expressing their gratitude. Since I didn’t take on the job to receive thanks, I simply nodded slightly.

Besides, Chaejin had done most of the hard work. She was the one who caught Yang Myung and defeated most of the mindless husks.

“As a chivalrous warrior of the orthodox sect, I merely did what I was supposed to do! Ohhoho!”

“Ahem, ahem. Still, could we at least know your name?”

“It’s not really a name worth mentioning. Hmph.”

Her lips were itching to boast, that much was obvious. But even she felt too embarrassed to praise herself.

Though, looking at her tight-fitting outfit and the emblem on it, didn’t everyone already know who she was?

I spoke on her behalf, as she was struggling to keep a straight face.

“This is Chaejin, the great disciple of Moonlight Manor and the Moonlight Saber Heroine.”

“Oh, ooooh!!”

“Moonlight Manor! Isn’t that the dojo’s?!”

“Wow! Amazing! Thank you! Thank you!”

As soon as I revealed her name, the people began chanting Chaejin’s name. She looked flustered at being praised but was also clearly proud of herself.

Failed to maintain her expression, didn’t she?

“Oh, come on. I didn’t want to reveal it. What did I really do?”

“Ooooh! So humble too!”

They were absolutely delighted. When I glanced at her, she seemed to be fidgeting, her lips twitching as if they were about to curl into a smile.

At that moment, a burly man approached me. He had a stern look about him.

“…Were you the one who saved my daughter?”

The man, who had been hugging Oh Yuna and crying earlier, was Oh Chil, the owner of the back alleys in Yangwi Fortress. His eyes were swollen from all the crying, and his voice was hoarse.

“Yes, that’s what happened.”

“…I will never forget this favor.”

“I didn’t do it for thanks.”

Right. What I wanted was to collect enough points to use against the Iron Blood Bandits.

Of course, Oh Chil was a capable martial artist, but I couldn’t ask him to join the fight against the Iron Blood Bandits. He had to remain stationed in Yangwi Fortress, after all.

“Still, I can’t just let this pass. Though I make a living by the sword, I’m not so ungrateful as to ignore such a favor.”

“If you think so, you can repay me with a favor someday.”

“Anything.”

With a bow, he expressed his gratitude again and approached Chaejin. Orthodox and unorthodox factions were like cats and dogs in the martial world.

Yet, Oh Chil bowed.

Because she had saved his daughter.

“I owe a debt to Moonlight Manor.”

“Remember that. I will collect on it.”

“Of course. See you again.”

After giving her a fist salute, Oh Chil glanced at me. He seemed to have something to say…

“I suppose you’re wondering how I got information on Yang Myung. I asked Hao Moon.”

“…Hao Moon. I see. Thank you.”

At the mention of Hao Moon, Oh Chil’s expression hardened. Though I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, I figured I should say something to him here.

“You can ignore this if you like, but if possible, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere with Hao Moon in Yangwi Fortress. It’ll be troublesome.”

It wasn’t about repaying a favor. I wasn’t indebted to Hao Moon, and the Jin Gwon Clan hadn’t incurred a debt to them either.

I just asked not to bother Hao Moon for my own sake. There’s no Hao Moon in Seomhwa Village, so if I needed to contact them, I’d have to use the branch in Yangwi Fortress.

If not, I’d have to go even farther, which would be a hassle.

“…I’ll think about it.”

Of course, how each sect handled their affairs was up to them. It wasn’t something I could control. Still, it was a relief that Oh Chil was considering it positively.

Once he left, and the soldiers were tidying up the area, I stood up.

“Alright, let’s head back.”

“To Seomhwa Village?”

“No.”

Since we’d finished the request, we needed to report it. Chon Il-hwa probably already knew that the issue had been resolved, but I had a favor to ask as well, so it was better to report it in person.

By the time Chaejin and I returned to Yangwi Fortress, it was already quite late, but the Chunghwa Pavilion was still bustling and noisy. The sound of drunkards chatting, drinks being carried around, and courtesans playing the lute or singing filled the air.

As I climbed the pavilion, the noise from the outside gradually disappeared. At the end of the corridor, two skilled martial artists greeted us.

“Welcome, Teacher Yu. As expected of you.”

Qichao greeted us with a chuckle, waving his hand. Beside him, Wiyul twitched his eyebrows slightly, but that was all. He simply opened the door silently.

Beyond the open door, Chon Il-hwa welcomed us.

“You’ve worked hard, Teacher Yu. Hahaha. I’m curious, how did you resolve this so quickly?”

“It was nothing. I simply made a request to Hao Moon. They had the information.”

As Chon Il-hwa poured tea for us with a satisfied smile, his movements paused for a moment. But only briefly. He calmly poured the tea for me and for Chaejin, whom he had previously intended to exclude from this meeting.

“I see. Hao Moon… Hao Moon, huh…”

“You know about the matter between Hao Moon and the government, don’t you?”

“Of course. Trust is hard to build, but easily destroyed. Who wouldn’t know that fool who acted out of greed?”

Chon Il-hwa spoke bluntly, and Chaejin nodded in agreement, her head bobbing in acknowledgment.

I felt the same. A promise is meant to be kept, not broken.

“They are weak. Weak people are fearful and suspicious. It may take years for the government to ease their suspicions.”

Though it would eventually be resolved.

But there was no need to talk about that here, so I kept quiet.

“In any case, you’ve worked hard. I’m not sure how to repay you… Do you want an official position? Money? Or perhaps a gift?”

“I don’t need an official position… Just don’t forget if I ever come asking for help in the future.”

I wasn’t interested in an official position, and I could earn money on my own. As for gifts, I could always buy them. But for a martial artist, asking for help wasn’t so easy, which is why I made the request this way.

Given the military’s lack of provisions, even if I asked for elixirs, they probably wouldn’t give them to me anyway.

Chon Il-hwa nodded slightly.

“I promise.”

“Oh, and could you take a look at this?”

I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to him. It was like a business proposal, asking him to introduce officials to sell Red Star Sect’s medicinal herbs and incense pouches.

“Hmm. This seems like it would sell well. It depends on the packaging, but once you have a sample ready, bring it to me.”

“Thank you.”

Chaejin didn’t seem very interested. After all, as a martial artist to the core, she wouldn’t be concerned with such matters.

Moonlight Manor, unlike Red Star Sect, had vast lands and buildings, received donations, and charged entrance fees for accepting disciples. They were well off even without starting a business.

When the report was over, we were invited to eat, and we headed down to the first floor of Chunghwa Pavilion. Though they offered us the fourth floor, we didn’t feel the need to eat there.

Chaejin seemed to feel the same, as she had no complaints and followed me to the first-floor seats outside Chunghwa Pavilion.

I had gotten what I wanted, and the Chunghwa Trading Group—no, the Imperial Conscription Division

—had also accepted my proposal favorably.

Maybe that’s why the tension was easing, and I felt like smoking a cigarette.

As I stood up to move a little farther away, Chaejin chuckled as she looked at me.

“Just smoke here. It’s fine.”

Well then.

With her permission, I took out a cigarette case from my pocket. I hadn’t noticed before, but now I saw that the wooden case was cracked in several places, probably from the fight with the mindless husks.

Good thing I didn’t bring the bamboo case Hongryeon gave me. It would’ve broken during the fight.

“Did you know? There’s a sect that uses cigarettes for sorcery?”

“I’ve heard of it. A family founded by a secular branch of Mosan Sect, right? Wasn’t it the Chung Family Manor? They use the awakening effect of the cigarettes.”

“Oh. You know more about the martial world than I expected?”

“I know more than someone who doesn’t know how to deal with mindless husks.”

Chaejin glared at me with a pout, and I turned my head away. I put the cigarette in my mouth and tried to take out a fire striker.

But it was out of fuel.

Using fire energy was an option, but… oh well.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The pavilion probably had a fire striker. Just as I was about to get up, Chaejin smiled and extended her hand.

-Fwoosh.

A flame flickered at her fingertips, ignited by her internal energy.

“Thank you. But you used quite a bit of internal energy, didn’t you?”

She had to capture Yang Myung quickly and incapacitate the mindless husks. Since then, she hadn’t had time to rest or circulate her energy.

Was it really okay to use internal energy like this?

I’d heard that producing fire purely through internal energy, without adding external techniques like Five Elements Fire, was quite inefficient.

“This much is nothing. But, innkeeper, can I try this?”

“I don’t mind, but… it’s your first time, isn’t it? I wouldn’t recommend it.”

I didn’t intend to stop her from trying, but I wouldn’t encourage a first-timer either. However, Chaejin shook her head and simply reached out.

“My father used to smoke often, so I’m familiar with the smell. Anyway, I’ll take one~.”

She took out a cigarette and placed it in her mouth. Just like before, she ignited it with her internal energy, but this time she stared at me—or more specifically, the cigarette in my mouth.

“What is it?”

“Uh, could I… never mind.”

Her fingers fidgeting, she seemed to want to ask something. But with a deep sigh, she gave up.

Then, she gently inhaled from the cigarette, just as I had done.

And immediately—

“Cough! Cough!”

I knew this would happen.

Being familiar with the smell and actually smoking it are two different things…

“Ugh, why do people smoke this?”

There are plenty of reasons.

Some use the awakening effect for focus, like the sect you mentioned earlier, while others seek enlightenment in that awakened state.

But what could I say to someone coughing uncontrollably, her neck turning red?

I simply put out my cigarette and smiled.

“Good question.”