Oh no. The vegetables I planted a while ago had all turned yellow and withered away. It was dumbfounding. The midsummer sun was harsh, but the grass on the mountains and in the fields was fine.
“Why is it only my vegetable patch?”
As I stared in dismay, I tried to recall the last time I had watered them. I couldn't remember. I was only focused on practicing my sword art; the vegetable patch was always an afterthought.
I was sure I had learned how to farm from my parents when I was young, so how could I not even grow a single vegetable properly? It seemed I had held a sword for too long. At this rate, even with land, farming was a lost cause for me.
Without even a taste of the vegetables I had worked so hard to plant, I pulled them all out, threw them over the fence, and lay down on the wooden floor. The scorching sun, beating down as if summer were at its peak, was as fierce as a whip. I had no motivation to do anything at all.
Thankfully, the humidity wasn't high, so the shade was cool, which was a great relief. As I was leisurely chewing on some jerky and enjoying the gentle breeze coming through the window, someone knocked on the main gate. It was a boy on an errand.
“You're from the Dojeong Smithy?”
“Yes. You're the one who ordered a new long blade, right? They said it's finished and you should come pick it up.”
When I went to check exactly a month ago, they said it was in the final stages and would take a bit longer. It seems they've finally finished it. I quickly strapped the willow blade to my back and headed for the smithy.
“You've come?”
The master smith, who had been organizing iron ingots, wiped his hands and stood up to greet me. The smithy was terribly hot. Even in this heat, the fire in the furnace was still burning.
It looked like they had been working just a moment ago.
“Aren't you hot?”
The master smith wiped his forehead with the towel around his neck and shook his head.
“Not at all. If a blacksmith can't take the heat, he might as well put down his hammer. Come in.”
I passed through the heat-filled workshop and went out into the courtyard. As I stood in the shade of the eaves, the master smith brought the new long blade.
“Here it is. Take a look.”
The hilt and scabbard were also newly made, but they were the same black color as before. When I drew the long blade, its long, flawless blade gleamed coldly in the shade. The edge was so finely honed that just looking at it sent a chill down my spine.
The length and curve were the same as before. The weight felt slightly lighter.
“It feels a bit light.”
“The weight is the same. It's probably because of the center of balance.”
I went to the middle of the courtyard and executed some forms as they came to mind.
Whoosh!
The sharpness of the blade cutting through the air was as crisp as slicing through cotton cloth. There was no resistance, no wobble. Just as the master smith had said, the center of balance felt about half a hand's span closer to my body.
Being lighter, it definitely carried a little less force. If it clashed with an enemy's weapon, its ability to withstand the impact would be weaker as well. The speed and movement of my swings were slightly faster than before.
Weighing the pros and cons, it wasn't bad. In a real fight, being even a little faster is better. When I moved beyond the forms and swung it erratically here and there, the true value of this long blade was revealed.
The balance of speed and power was much more stable than before, making my response to sudden movements that much quicker. Only after I was convinced of the new long blade's quality did I stop and sheathe it. Catching my breath, I checked the hilt, which fit snugly in my palm.
Even though it was wrapped in new leather, it wasn't slippery at all because it had been roughly tanned.
“Your sword art is fluid and pleasing to watch. Are you satisfied with the sword?”
“It's much better than the previous one.”
Seeing my satisfaction, the master smith nodded with a pleased expression.
“Just making an identical one wouldn't have been satisfying. I considered your height and arm length and made a few improvements here and there, so I'm glad you like it.”
“I can pay with the willow blade, right?”
“Let's see.”
The master smith drew my willow blade, examined the edge, and his eyebrows twitched.
“This shows signs of use, doesn't it?”
“The blade isn't damaged.”
I cut some bamboo and exchanged a few blows with Won Seo-gang, but the blade was fine.
“That may be, but... look here. Aren't there quite a few scratches on the blade? It's almost a new sword, but if it were you, would you pay full price for this?”
I had nothing to say. If I were buying this sword, I'd probably use this as an excuse to haggle for about one silver tael off the price. An almost new sword is just that, almost new, not truly new.
“How much extra do I need to pay?”
“Just give me half a silver tael.”
It wasn't that I didn't have the money, nor was it an unreasonable request. I didn't know when this long blade might need repairs or a replacement either. There was no point in getting on bad terms with such a skilled smith.
I took out my pouch and paid. The mention of half a silver tael suddenly reminded me of something.
“By any chance, does this smithy also pay tribute to the Black Night Gang?”
“Tribute? Haha, us?”
The master smith let out a hearty laugh as if he found the idea absurd. Jong-su, who was listening from behind, also grinned.
“Our smithy has ties with the Dragon Sky Escort Agency, so we have no business with those Black Night Gang bastards. Sometimes, some clueless punks come in saying they want to buy a sword, pick one up, and try to threaten us. Jong-su, what did we do with those rascals last time?”
Jong-su folded his arms as if to show off his massive, muscular limbs and spoke boastfully.
“We beat them to a pulp and then tied them up good and tight. When we started sharpening a knife on the whetstone right in front of them, they completely lost it. And when we pretended to throw them into the furnace alive, they started crying and sniveling and even wet themselves, wailing about their non-existent old mothers and families.”
There was probably some bluff and exaggeration mixed in, but it didn't seem like he was making it all up. The raw strength and nerve of a blacksmith, honed by a lifetime of physical labor, were more than enough to deal with a mediocre martial artist. There's a reason they say you shouldn't mess with butchers and blacksmiths.
I strapped the new long blade to my back, exchanged farewells, and turned to leave. The condition of the knife was better than I expected, and I was in such a good mood that I felt like humming. After walking a short distance, I stopped.
The entrance to the alley was blocked by a crowd of people.
“What's going on?”
“We're just making way for the Dragon Sky Escort Agency's procession.”
“An escort agency?”
As I watched in silence, I saw the banner of the Dragon Sky Escort Agency over the heads of the people. A large group of people, enough to fill the wide main road that cut through the bustling street, was approaching, kicking up dust. There were five escort leaders on horseback, and more than twenty cargo carts.
There were also dozens of escorts, and even more porters carrying luggage. It looked like the large-scale escort mission to Sichuan that had been planned for months. Come to think of it, it was about time for them to leave.
To prepare for this mission, the agency had to pull escorts from the establishments it managed. Thanks to that, I was also able to work at the Deep Fragrance Pavilion for a month. I spotted a few familiar faces.
The Chief Escort Leader, Pung Kang-ik, the escorts I had worked with… Jo Gyeong-jik would still be guarding the Deep Fragrance Pavilion. The giant of a man built like Zhang Fei was nowhere to be seen, so he must have stayed at the agency.
The procession, heavily loaded with escorted goods, soon left the main road and exited the Western Village. The street vendors who had taken refuge in the alleys set up their stalls again, and the passersby went on their way. After watching the agency's carts slowly move toward the distant and rugged Sichuan, I also started walking.
The Wind River Inn was as quiet as usual. Two farmers, who always came at the same time, were sitting in the same spot, eating noodles. I was about to sit near the window when I paused.
“Hey, you're here?”
Won Seo-gang, who must have arrived sometime earlier, recognized me and raised his hand. I didn't think we were on such friendly terms to be greeting each other so warmly. It felt awkward to just turn around, but also awkward to sit somewhere else.
I had no choice but to sit across from Won Seo-gang.
“Did you come looking for me?”
Won Seo-gang answered as he picked up some noodles with his chopsticks.
“That's right.”
“How did you know I would come here? Were you tailing me?”
“Tailing you? Not at all. The pavilion master was about to send someone to summon you, so I said I'd bring you myself. She said you'd show up if I waited at this inn.”
As expected, the pavilion master had already figured out all my movements. She probably even knows where I live. I never felt like I was being followed, but the eyes of the Underworld Information Clan are everywhere, so keeping watch on me would be nothing for them.
“Why does the pavilion master want to see me?”
“I heard you agreed to work as a guest?”
“Is there a job?”
“I suppose so.”
“What kind of job?”
“You'll find out when we get there. By the way, the cook here is quite good. Noodles are easy to make, but getting the broth right is pretty tricky." "It's been a long time since I've had such a refreshing broth without any gamey taste. It's not too crowded either, I should come here more often.”
With a satisfied expression, Won Seo-gang lifted his bowl and drank the broth. Watching him eat so heartily made me feel hungry, but I felt I would get indigestion if I ate now, so I just sipped on some cold tea. To get a job offer right after picking up my new long blade...
I couldn't tell if this was a good omen or a bad one.
“Aren't you going to climb over the wall today?”
The question was half-serious. As we headed for the main gate of the Deep Fragrance Pavilion, Won Seo-gang replied nonchalantly.
“Can't be climbing walls in broad daylight. Too many prying eyes.”
Seeing two martial artists wearing swords approach, the gatekeepers who had been chatting tensed up. Won Seo-gang lifted the brim of his bamboo hat to show his face.
“Good work.”
“Ah, a guest from the detached houses. And this one is... umm...”
One of the gatekeepers recognized me. Ever since Bang Jo-in died, everyone had avoided speaking to me, so there was no need to acknowledge them. The gatekeeper opened the passage gate.
This was my first time visiting the Deep Fragrance Pavilion since I quit working here. Nothing had changed in the meantime. The main hall was the same, and the people working there were familiar.
When we reached the pavilion master's residence, located in the deepest part of the detached houses area, Geuk-hwan opened the door for us. We exchanged simple greetings and were guided, along with Won Seo-gang, to that same reception room as before. There was someone else already there.
A middle-aged monk in monk's robes. When Won Seo-gang and I entered, he glanced at us sideways just once before closing his eyes and fiddling with his prayer beads again. Won Seo-gang sat down in an empty seat without a word.
I, too, perched on the edge of the chair closest to the door. The atmosphere wasn't right for exchanging names, so everyone kept silent. Savoring the tea, I wondered what this was about.
I re-examined my own standards for what I would accept and what I would refuse. I also didn't forget to review my escape routes. Hong Hee, the head of the Western Village branch of the Underworld Information Clan and the owner of the Deep Fragrance Pavilion, appeared about a quarter of an hour later.
She sat at the head seat, looked over the three people she had summoned, and then spoke.
“Thank you all for coming. Let's get straight to the point. This evening, a client who is chasing a murderer will be arriving in the Western Village. They requested support from our main office, and our branch has been assigned the job.”
The monk was the first to speak.
“You mean you need hunting dogs?”
“For now, they have requested an escort.”
“An escort?”
“They wish to hire a few reliable first-rate masters. They've requested a guide separately.”
“This is no place for me, then.”
As the monk gripped his prayer beads and stood up, Hong Hee continued calmly.
“The clients are from the capital. If you do well, you might be able to obtain what you desire. Are you sure you want to back out?”
The monk looked down at Hong Hee with empty eyes. His deep, indifferent gaze, seemingly devoid of emotion, made him look like a monk of high spiritual power, but it was so clear that it was chilling. It was so inhuman that I flinched without realizing it.
He may have a shaved head and wear monk's robes, but that man was unmistakably a martial artist soaked in blood. Geuk-hwan opened the door and entered. I thought he had been waiting outside and came in to intervene after sensing the monk's sharp aura, but that wasn't it.
As Geuk-hwan approached and whispered in her ear, a gentle smile spread across Hong Hee's face.
“We have located the murderer. It seems he stopped by the Wandering Swordsmen Inn, hired some swordsmen, and left in a hurry.”
“Wandering Swordsmen Inn? Is there such a place in the Western Village?”
Hearing this for the first time, I tilted my head in confusion, and Won Seo-gang sighed teasingly.
“Your fortunes must have improved lately. A swordsman who doesn't even know about the Wandering Swordsmen Inn.”
Geuk-hwan left, and the monk sat back down. Perhaps having changed his mind, he raised the teacup to his lips, his face expressionless once more. Then it was my turn to feel uneasy.
“When you say the capital, do you mean the capital of Sichuan?”
“That's right. The clients are from Sichuan.”
At the mention of people from that rough place I didn't even want to think about, I frowned instinctively with a sense of foreboding. Hong Hee seemed to find my reaction amusing and said with a faint smile, “They are from the Tang Clan.”