The corridor leading to the inner chamber felt as dark as a tiger's den. I felt as if I were suffocating.
“Why were you looking for me?”
Tang Hye-seo's reply was calm.
"It's nothing important. I told her what happened at the black market, and she said she had a few things to ask you."
Her aunt was alone, reading a book. I untied my long blade, handed it to Tang Hye-seo, and went inside. The door closed behind me.
"Sit."
Across the table, a teacup was set out for me. Steam rose from it, as if it had just been poured. My hand wouldn't move, but I forced it to pick up the teacup.
This high-ranking middle-aged woman sees me as nothing more than a wandering swordsman. If she deemed it necessary, she would use poison without a second thought. But not now.
There was no reason to go through such trouble just to kill a lowly wandering swordsman. I brought the cup to my lips and took a sip of the tea. Perhaps because of my tension, I couldn't really taste it.
I couldn't tell the type of tea either, but I was satisfied just knowing it wasn't poisoned.
“The aroma is nice.”
Was she pleased with the courage I showed? I felt that the aunt's cold expression had softened slightly.
“You’re from the Western Village here?”
“That’s right. I became an orphan when I was young and wandered around before returning this spring.”
“... A yearning for home, is it?”
With a somewhat wistful expression, the aunt nodded.
Huh?
A strange sense of unease made me tilt my head. No, this was déjà vu. I had heard the exact same words from someone before.
Even the tone, expression, and gesture were similar to that time. It must be a coincidence.
‘A fox returning to its home hill to die’ is a common phrase used to express a longing for one's hometown.
The expressions and actions of those who hold such longing are bound to be similar.
“Hye-seo is a bright and curious child. I don’t know how she became interested in you, but…”
The aunt fiddled with her teacup, studying me intently, as if trying to find what part of my face could have possibly caught her niece’s interest. Unable to avoid her gaze, I met her eyes.
It was the fading face of a middle-aged woman, unable to hide her age spots and fine wrinkles, yet clear traces of a once dazzling beauty remained. Perhaps because they were family, her eyes and the bridge of her nose faintly resembled Tang Hye-seo's. My aunt continued speaking slowly.
“Martial artists are a breed that desires to roam the world freely and live without restraint. Female heroes are no different. They all wish to cast off the shackles of responsibility and tradition placed on the daughters of the clan and soar freely. It's only natural. Female heroes are also martial artists, born into martial families, who have trained in martial arts from a young age to become strong…”
In any city I went to, there were no women among the wandering swordsmen. The rough, bottom-rung world, swarming with dark-skinned males, was not a place where women could endure. The occasional female heroes were mostly daughters of martial families, and they never traveled the martial world alone.
There was no shortage of men who preyed on female heroes, from shameless martial artists with 'lust' in their titles to all sorts of dark path followers, wastrels, ruffians, and even bandits.
“The path of a female hero is different from that of the women of the great families, who quietly do embroidery before being married off to men they’ve never even seen. They never know what might happen, so they are honest with their emotions, more daring than men, and sometimes willingly throw themselves into deadly situations. Do you understand what I mean?”
I didn't. But I couldn't answer that way, so I just listened in silence.
“Playing with fire is their own business, so it’s none of my concern. I’m just telling you to be careful not to bring shame or harm to the Tang Clan. If you continue to act carelessly, it will be no use blaming me later…”
I was stunned by the shocking words, which I could hardly believe. I had never imagined I would hear such a thing here. I couldn't figure out how to react or what to say.
It didn't seem like she was seeking an answer from me. Her aunt had already made her decision and was simply informing me. As I was listening with a troubled mind, I heard a presence outside.
“Aunt, the black market merchant has arrived.”
“Bring him in.”
The door opened, and Tang Clan members brought in a middle-aged man of small stature. Merchants of illicit salt or opium often worked in the field themselves, so they were all quite ruthless. They had to survive scuffles with men who would draw their blades during a deal and punish traitors, so they couldn't last without personal martial skill.
Among the black market merchants, there were occasionally notorious villains like Choi Sa-deuk. But most were businessmen who protected their own shops and made a profit, like the herbalist at the black market. This black market merchant, who had revealed himself after his tracking was discovered, looked and felt far from a martial artist.
With a stiffly frozen face, the black market merchant clasped his hands and bowed.
“I am Mu-seok, and I run a black market in White Rooster County.”
"You dared to use a tracking scent on a Tang Clan member. I trust you are prepared for the consequences?"
Mu-seok, who looked as if he had held a ledger more than a blade in his life, quickly pointed at me and denied it.
“It’s a misunderstanding. I did not use it on a Tang Clan member. I only sprinkled a little on that man. That man is not a member of the Tang Clan, is he?”
The Tang Clan must be truly frightening. He didn't dare approach when Tang Hye-seo and Bi-hyeon were together, fearing the repercussions, but sent a clumsy drunkard when I was alone. Tang Hye-seo would have noticed the tracking scent the moment it was used, so he probably had no other choice.
Tang Hye-seo suddenly interjected from the side. Mu-seok flinched and turned his head.
"Is the tracking dog that followed us outside?"
“Yes, but why that dog…”
“Consider it an apology and hand it over to our clan. It seems like an improperly trained dog, so it won’t be a great loss. Song-hu, go and get the yellow dog.”
Without waiting for the owner's consent, the Tang Clan member who received the order left the inner chamber. Mu-seok could only look on with a troubled expression, unable to refuse due to his guilt. My aunt's interrogation continued.
“What was your reason for using the tracking scent to follow him?”
“I intended to have a quiet conversation. There are too many watchful eyes in White Rooster County…”
“Were you planning to locate us and then hire an assassin's guild?”
Mu-seok was horrified and waved his hands in denial.
“That’s absurd! I am just a humble black market merchant. I have no grudge against the Tang Clan…”
"Don't try to deceive me!"
The angered aunt threw her teacup. Mu-seok, struck in the chest, trembled with fear and froze. His tea-soaked shirt was stained dark.
My aunt sighed and leaned back in her chair.
“I went too far. Go change your clothes and come back.”
“I-It’s alright. It will dry if I leave it.”
“Hye-seo, bring him a new set of clothes.”
The aunt paid no heed to the black market merchant's refusal. Mu-seok was almost forcibly dragged out. The aunt took out a new teacup and poured tea.
Her complexion and actions were calm, as if her recent outburst had never happened. It seemed throwing the teacup was no mistake. What was she aiming for with this move?
A body search would have been done outside. Was her purpose to firmly establish dominance before the real conversation began? Being stripped of his clothes in the den of the notoriously infamous Tang Clan members would initially bring shame and humiliation, but ultimately, it would amplify his fear.
A short while later, Mu-seok returned, changed into clothes provided by the Tang Clan. It was a nondescript martial arts uniform, but the fact that it was the same as what the Tang Clan members standing behind him wore was quite meaningful.
Perhaps while giving him the clothes, they had persuaded him that if he cooperated, he would be taken under the Tang Clan’s protection. For a black market merchant, joining hands with the Tang Clan wouldn't be a bad thing.
I didn't know if this was their usual method or if things just fell into place without words, but this veteran female hero’s scheming was extraordinary. It was clear she wasn't leading this group simply because of her high seniority.
“Sit and talk.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
As Mu-seok carefully perched on the edge of the seat I had occupied, a new teacup was placed before him. The aunt asked.
“Where is the carrier pigeon sent by the Sichuan black market merchant?”
Mu-seok, with a somewhat more relaxed expression, opened his mouth.
“It is true that I often communicated with a black market merchant named Gye-yeong in Sichuan via carrier pigeon. However, there has been no word this year. The last time we communicated was last autumn…”
The aunt raised her hand to stop him and looked at me.
“You may leave now. From here on, this is clan business.”
I had been looking for a chance to leave anyway, so I quickly clasped my fists and went outside. * “Hoo-o-o-o.” Even in the cool air, my chaotic mind did not easily settle. As I looked at the half-moon in the night sky, the aunt's words jumbled together in my head.
What on earth did Tang Hye-seo say about me for the aunt to say such things? I wandered aimlessly before my senses sharpened. I noticed the Tang Clan members standing guard throughout the rear garden.
None were hostile towards me, but the mere proximity of their tricky poisons and hidden weapons was unsettling. It's time to head back. I scratched my head and turned around.
Tang Hye-seo was in a corner of the garden, petting the yellow dog. Somehow, the creature that wouldn't come within a hundred paces was now on its back, panting happily.
“Doesn’t the Tang Clan have plenty of tracking dogs?”
"We do."
Tang Hye-seo playfully rubbed the yellow dog's belly.
“This one is a failure. It likes people too much, so it has a hard time staying focused on its mission. It seems a black market merchant who got his hands on some low-grade tracking scent tried to train it clumsily. Even if we take it to the main clan, it will probably be outshone by the other tracking dogs and eventually disposed of.”
“Then why did you ask for it?”
It couldn't be just because the yellow dog was cute. There were plenty of stray dogs in the Western Village too. Many had been tamed by people, so it was easy to befriend them by tossing them some food.
With a little effort, one could even get a puppy or two. Tang Hye-seo stroked the yellow dog and turned her head towards the inner chamber. Her eyes were deep in thought.
“If that black market merchant, Mu-seok, has deceived us or left something unsaid, then this one will have to step in. As its long-time master, it will find him no matter where he hides.”
It was a scheme that left me speechless. Using the tracking dog that followed us to track the black market merchant. "We've also sealed the clothes he was wearing to preserve his scent, so we probably won't lose him.
Since it loves people, it will probably lead us to its old master with excitement.” Was this the purpose of splashing tea on him and taking his clothes from the beginning? It seemed Tang Hye-seo and her aunt were not just similar in appearance.
Listening to her made me feel uneasy.
“What should I do about the tracking scent on my clothes?”
Tang Hye-seo took out a small bamboo tube from her robes.
“Mix this with water and soak your clothes thoroughly before washing them, and the tracking scent will disappear. It would be good to wash your body as well.”
My business was done, and now I could go back. I patted the yellow dog’s head and started to get up, but then I paused. Did Tang Hye-seo hear what her aunt said to me from outside?
“What’s wrong?”
Tang Hye-seo tilted her head as I stared at her.
“... Nothing. I’ll see you later.”
I shook my head, left the detached house, and headed home. * The next day, I met Bok Ha-gyu at the Wandering Swordsmen Inn. Perhaps because blood had been shed recently, the Black Night Gang members were spread out all over the outside and the first floor of the inn.
The innkeeper looked distressed upon seeing me, but this was something I couldn't do anything about.
“Did you finish off the Blood Snake Gang for good?”
“It’s done.”
“The security is tight, so there must be some remnants left?”
Bok Ha-gyu, holding his teacup, gave a bitter smile.
“It can’t be helped. I can’t chase down and kill every single one of them who jumps over the wall and flees in the middle of the night.”
“I heard in White Rooster County that the head of the martial arts tournament there is the Blood Snake Gang master’s older brother.”
"You mean that stubborn old man with the white hair?"
“You know him?”
Bok Ha-gyu nodded nonchalantly.
“In his younger days, he was a saber wielder known as the Blood Yaksha. He and his brother used to swing their blades in some dark path faction in Hunan, then they took down the master and swallowed the organization. That's how he ended up here.”
“Did you kill him?”
Bok Ha-gyu scratched his chin with an awkward expression.
“I cut off one of his arms up to the shoulder, so he should be dead. I also stabbed him in the stomach. It had been a while, but he had gotten much older. Still, like the savage villain he was, his saber technique was quite fierce.”
“He could still be alive, then.”
“Even so, he’s on his last legs. At his age, even a common cold would have him knocking on death’s door. With an arm gone, he won’t last.”
“Did you get what you wanted?”
“I did. Want to see it?”
Bok Ha-gyu looked at me as if to test me.
“Let’s see it.”
Bok Ha-gyu took out a book from his robes. Nothing was written on the cover. I took the book and opened it.
The first page revealed the origins of the inner cultivation method.