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**

Is that the Infimyeonggu?

Did you penetrate that at once?

I checked my face to see if it had fallen. The woman laughed.

“Not fallen. I just have sharp observational skills. Don’t worry. I have no intention of telling anyone else. Your target is Eungmin?”

“…That’s correct.”

“What you’re aiming for is Turtle Messenger Black Wild Dan, right?”

“It’s similar, I suppose.”

The woman scanned my body with a glance.

“I can see the exterior, but the interior is a mystery. Pretty well-kept. But one thing I can tell, your prayer is sharp as a sword, so you’ve been living off of swordsmanship for quite a while.”

“Isn’t that similar for you, Lady So?”

“Can you see it?”

I took a good look at her. The first thing that caught my eye was her blackened, dead fingernails.

What appeared to be beautiful fingers were gathering an insidious energy. It’s something I wouldn’t have seen in the past.

And that’s not all.

Her prayer also felt strange. It swayed slightly, giving off the vibe of someone who has trained martial arts to their limits. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly where…

Not someone to be underestimated.

She’s a martial artist. A martial artist with several hidden cards.

“Same goes for you. But I can see one thing.”

“What can you see?”

“You’re also a hard worker.”

“Complimenting me? Funny. Still, it’s not bad. I didn’t put in the effort just because I wanted to, though.”

She chuckled.

“Where are you from?”

“Didn’t you see me using Infimyeonggu? I can’t say.”

“Oh, my mistake. By the way, why did you really give me jerky?”

“As I said earlier, Lady So asked for it, so I gave it to you. There’s no other intention.”

“You’re a rare person. A real oddity. Judging by the fact that your jerky seems top-notch… are you a rich young master on a journey?”

“Not at all.”

“Is that so?”

She extended her hand, waving it lazily.

“Anyway, I’ll enjoy it. Thanks.”

The anchor was lifted. The ship began to slowly move away from the harbor.

A fair wind. The wind blowing in just at the right time pushed the ship along. The medium-sized vessel glided smoothly over the water.

It was an unfamiliar sensation. I had only been on a ship a few times in my life, so it felt quite curious.

A few people rushed out and started throwing up into the river. Fortunately, I didn’t experience such side effects, and I rested comfortably against the railing.

A man whose eyes met mine approached.

“Warrior. Where do you come from?”

“I came from afar.”

“…Haha, I see. I’m Yang Do-hyun, a trader working at Gongryong Bureau. I may not have impressive skills, but here I am, wielding a sword.”

His tone seemed polite, yet there was a sense of pride in it.

“The reason I approached you is that I have a curious question. Warrior, may I ask why you carry four swords?”

“There’s no particular reason. They’re spare swords. The martial arts I practice can be a bit fierce, so the swords often break, which is why I carry multiple.”

“A fierce sword technique… I’d like to see it. But, since we’re on a ship, that won’t be possible.”

Trader Yang Do-hyun stood beside me. He seemed to be contemplating how to introduce the main subject.

“This vessel from Gongryong Bureau is headed towards Eungmin. Along the way, we’ll encounter Ansasugwi. I know those Sujeok, armed with a few boats, have great power and influence. Our bureau plans to pay a toll to minimize losses, but… I expect not everything will go as planned.”

“……”

“Warrior, I know this may be a rude request, but we hope to minimize risky options. If we enter the territory of Ansasugwi, could you please follow our guidance?”

“Are you suggesting we hide?”

“Just a brief period of silence will suffice.”

I thought about it.

“I’ve heard they collect money and blood. If that’s true, I’d also like to contribute my sword.”

“I appreciate the thought, but the toll is somewhat of a customary fee. Thanks to Ansasugwi holding this area tightly, the number of Sujeok forces that would ordinarily clash has decreased. In the grand scheme, the toll we need to pay has actually lessened. To put it another way, Ansasugwi has paved the way for us to safely traverse the waterways. The route to Eungmin was infinitely more treacherous before they appeared. Accidents still happen, but the real damage has been significantly reduced.”

“…Even so…”

“This matter lies between Ansasugwi and our bureau. I appreciate your intentions, but please understand. Everyone aboard this ship has agreed to this, and it would actually benefit us if you do not draw your sword.”

I eventually nodded. Yang Do-hyun bowed his head.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Yang Do-hyun continued to seek cooperation from others on the ship.

The woman I had seen earlier casually leaned against the railing next to me.

“They sure are busy. Living off borrowed food isn’t easy.”

“Lady So, have you come here because you’re hungry?”

“Busted.”

I offered her another piece of jerky.

She eagerly ripped it open under her veil. I couldn’t see how she was eating, but it looked like she was enjoying it, which made me feel a bit good.

I turned my head, gazing at the river.

“The bureau seems to be quite anxious.”

“Ansasugwi. A dreadful creature. Their grip is terrible, and their temper is even worse.”

“Do you know that person as well?”

“I’ve never seen them directly. But I’ve heard enough to know, like a fly in your ear. I had to know who they were for a reason.”

She started sucking her fingers.

“Let’s introduce ourselves. What’s your name?”

“I’ll go with Mu Myung.”

“What kind of name is that? It sounds like a blatant pseudonym. I’m Ju Ryeongryeong. Mu Myung, does everything in your backpack consist of food?”

“To some extent, yes…”

“Let’s stick together.”

“Isn’t that a bit too transparent?”

“Better than being invisible, right?”

Ju Ryeongryeong.

She, whose face was hidden under a veil, was quite the bold character. But her boldness didn’t sit uncomfortably with me.

She didn’t hesitate to share her own things as well.

“It might not be as delicious as jerky, but my food should taste pretty good too. What do you think?”

She offered me some dried fruit.

I took a bite.

It was slightly tangy. However, the lingering sweetness that followed created a unique flavor explosion in my mouth.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Very much.”

“Dried it well, right? I worked hard to dry it. Not all fruits dry well just because you put them out. There are bugs, and if you rush it, mold will grow… It’s actually quite labor-intensive. It’s all about the skill. The skill.”

“To think you made this yourself…”

I smiled.

“You’re impressive, Lady So.”

Ju Ryeongryeong’s hands twitched slightly.

“I never thought I’d receive such high praise for a piece of dried fruit… Ah! Finish it! Have some of this too! Should I teach you how to make it?”

“Sure, if you offer, then I’d be happy.”

“To make it, you have to…”

The ship steadily moved on. But as I expected, it took quite a while.

There were limitations to how to spend time aboard. I couldn’t train my sword nor my body.

Yet, I couldn’t just circulate the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique aimlessly. In order to perform the mental practice, I needed to ensure safety around me.

If someone bothered me during the cultivation, it would be dangerous. In the end, I settled for lightly training my stamina.

As I sat on deck and moved my body, Ju Ryeongryeong approached me.

“Your physique is chiseled, like it was carved. Are you a martial arts practitioner?”

“Something like that.”

“You don’t say anything with certainty. It’s funny. Can I practice next to you?”

“What martial arts do you practice, Lady So?”

“I don’t handle swords. Mostly mental techniques. If there’s anything specialized, it’d be my nails.”

She waved her hand.

“Aren’t they pretty?”

“They are pretty.”

“Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually say that. Aren’t you scared?”

“What’s inside is even more beautiful than it appears on the outside, so it’s natural to say it’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“…Hmm?”

She patted my back playfully.

“Trying to charm me here? We don’t even know each other’s faces yet, right?”

“I wasn’t trying to charm you.”

“Speaking of, aren’t you curious about my face? I was surprised it’s never come up in eight days.”

“I assumed there was a reason for that. Since you considered my situation, I must follow suit.”

“…You’re quite straightforward. A rare type, indeed?”

Ju Ryeongryeong swung her arms around.

“It feels weird to chat like this during training time. Alright, let’s put in some effort together, shall we?”

Training commenced.

Ju Ryeongryeong sprinted first.

“Why aren’t you getting tired?!”

“I’m used to it.”

“What kind of martial arts did you learn…?!”

Rather than sitting still, I preferred practicing martial arts, so since I couldn’t train my internal energy, I was only able to train my external power.

During the continued days on the ship, I became accustomed to the swaying. When the weather got rough and the ship rocked violently, there was no difficulty in maintaining my balance.

“You could be a sailor.”

“Still, I prefer land over the river.”

“What about the ocean?”

“I have no idea since I’ve never seen it. An endless surface of water… it does make me curious.”

“Right? When you see it, your mouth will drop open.”

“Lady So, have you seen it?”

“No. I’ve only heard about it.”

“……?”

“Your face looks funny.”

It was on the thirteenth day after boarding that an incident occurred.

From the morning, the traders were bustling about. They raised their voices.

“We’re approaching the territory of Ansasugwi!”

The traders opened a space they had covered with cargo. A heavy and long passage leading inward.

It seemed they had modified a spot that had originally held fish, the fishy smell from the wood stinging my nose. Trader Yang Do-hyun repeatedly urged everyone.

“Do not make a sound. Once we pass through Ansasugwi’s territory, I will open the doors for you. It’s for everyone’s safety.”

We crammed into the narrow interior of the ship. Although the number of people was small, it wasn’t too few, so we had to stick closely together.

—Kuwung.

A vibration shook us. It felt as if another ship had bumped against ours, and activity began to stir above us.

We held our breaths. Ju Ryeongryeong did the same.

We couldn’t hear much from outside. But the harsh swearing and the sound of someone being thrown to the ground were unmistakable.

There were sounds of checking the cargo as well. A nearby voice muttered.

“Nothing wrong… but there’s nothing being hidden, right?”

“Nothing.”

“Set the ship upright. The captain is coming soon. They’ll take a quick look and set the toll. Don’t try anything funny if you want to avoid bloodshed.”

“Of course.”

The voice receded.

Ju Ryeongryeong asked in a small voice.

“Isn’t this suffocating?”

“I’m uncomfortable, but isn’t it something we have to endure? If someone pulls out who wasn’t invited, there’d be no difference between me and the Sujeok.”

“That’s true. But you know, I’m not heading to Eungmin. There was another reason I boarded this ship.”

“…What?”

“Just as the bureau and Ansasugwi are linked, I also have ties to Ansasugwi. It’s not a good story, just an unpleasant one. Mu Myung, you stay here quietly until it’s all over.”

Ju Ryeongryeong rose. Energy flared from her fingertips.

“This is my business with Ansasugwi. Don’t meddle.”

—KWAaaAAaang!!!

The door, hidden behind the cargo, burst open as if it had exploded.

 

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