Chapter 38
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At those words, Namgung Ho’s expression clouded over.
“I’m not so sure. What the Beggars' Sect confirmed was that the Demonic Cult members took the poisoned Heavenly Demon back to their stronghold, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
Since then, he said, the Heavenly Demon had never again appeared on the stage of history.
The various clans had been too busy recovering from the damage of the Great War between the Orthodox and Demonic Factions.
“Ah, and some of the outer factions, like the North Sea Ice Palace, fought alongside us.”
“The Outer factions?”
Hong-seol tried to recall what she had learned about the martial world from Namgung Uigyeol.
‘The North Sea Ice Palace, located in a place incomparably colder than the peak of Mount Daechok.’
He had said that the people there, though as cold as a blizzard on the outside, had hearts as warm as spring.
And there was one more.
It was definitely in the sweltering south… what was it again?
As if reading her mind, Namgung Ho spoke.
“The Southern Beast Palace also stood with us and fought the Heavenly Demon with all their might. Because of them, the Demonic Cult had to deal with an unexpected horde of beasts.”
Startled, Hong-seol blinked.
“Not Beastkin, but actual beasts?”
“That’s right. Some of the people from the Southern Beast Palace had the ability to communicate with animals.”
At that, Hong-seol tilted her head again.
Could it be the same kind of ability she had to talk with Seo Han-eol?
‘But I’ve only ever talked to a mouse.’
The beasts commanded by the Southern Beast Palace were probably much larger and more fearsome predators.
Bears, tigers, venomous snakes…
To be able to communicate with such creatures was something Hong-seol couldn't even imagine.
“Their contribution was so impressive that the Azure Sky Sword Emperor was said to have become sworn brothers with the Master of the Southern Beast Palace at the time.”
“He did?”
“And the Master of the Southern Beast Palace was a cat Beastkin, just like you, Seol-ah.”
“He was?!”
“That’s why people also call that place the ‘Meow-man Beast Palace.’ Of course, it’s not meant as a compliment.”
Meow-man Beast Palace?
Was it similar to how people disparagingly called the Namgung Clan the ‘Woof-gung Clan’?
‘No, more importantly…’
Hong-seol compared the gallant Southern Beast Palace and the noble Namgung Clan in her mind.
‘They don’t match at all!’
How on earth did a dog and a cat become sworn brothers?
“Could it be that they became close because they share the ‘Nam’ name?”
“What?”
“Nam…man Beast Palace… so.”
“Bwahahahaha!”
Knowing nothing, Hong-seol just blinked her eyes.
Meanwhile, Namgung Ho was laughing so hard he was nearly in tears.
His laughter didn’t stop until Hong-seol’s lips pouted out like a duck’s bill.
“The ‘Nam’ in Southern Beast Palace isn’t a surname, Seol-ah!”
Slightly miffed, Hong-seol pressed her lips together and looked away.
“It seems our Seol-ah needs to study more about the martial world. And while you’re at it, you can engrave the meaning of righteousness and chivalry into your bones!”
Thump.
Namgung Ho tapped the stack of books next to him, which was as tall as Hong-seol.
“Now, get back to your reading.”
“Hmph.”
Her eyebrows drooping, Hong-seol buried her nose in a book once more.
Just then, Maeran’s voice came from outside the training ground gate.
“Grand Patriarch, excuse me, but I have come to escort the young lady.”
“What is it?”
“Lady Hong from the fabric shop, sent by the Clan Lord, has arrived.”
“Lady Hong?”
“Yes, the one who was highly regarded by the Head of the Medical Hall…”
At the mention of his daughter-in-law, Bing Yuhwa, Namgung Ho’s expression softened.
“I see. That’s enough training for today. You may take Seol-ah.”
After bowing to Namgung Ho with a cupped fist, Hong-seol was led by Maeran toward her quarters.
Fifty new sets of clothes.
This was the reward from the Clan Lord, Namgung On, for winning the duel.
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“I’ll summon a skilled artisan from the city to make clothes that are truly yours.”
“But, wouldn’t that be too expensive…?”
“You are more than deserving of such a gift. Besides, there will be many occasions in the future where you’ll need to wear fine clothes.”
Hong-seol sat quietly on the bed, her feet dangling.
Recalling her recent conversation with Namgung On made one side of her chest pound.
‘He said I’m more than deserving of a gift.’
Those words were like a honey-cake; the more she mulled them over, the sweeter and more savory they became.
And there was something else that made her heart flutter.
‘Occasions where I’ll need to wear fine clothes. Could he be planning to take me to the marketplace?’
She had overheard that the marketplace was full of delicious food and fascinating things.
‘I want to go there someday, just once.’
While Hong-seol was lost in thought, the seamstress brought by Lady Hong from the fabric shop set up a folding screen in the inner room.
It was to shield the small young lady from view while her measurements were being taken.
‘She’s being considerate of me.’
Hong-seol took a liking to the thoughtful Lady Hong.
With her brown hair and brown eyes, she didn’t seem as sharp or shrewd as a typical merchant. Instead, she gave off a gentle impression, like a willow tree by a river.
That’s why Hong-seol liked her.
She was a stranger, but she wasn’t scary.
“Young lady, we will take your measurements first, and then I will show you the fabrics.”
Hong-seol obediently followed her lead.
Perhaps because of her short limbs, the measuring was over in a flash after just a few touches of the measuring tape.
A moment later, a dazzling array of beautiful fabrics was spread out before Hong-seol like a flower garden.
“Wow!”
Even Maeran, who had worked at the Namgung Clan for a long time and was accustomed to most luxuries, was left gaping.
Hong-seol couldn’t take her eyes off them, gently stroking the fabrics with the back of her hand.
“Aren’t they pretty?”
Lady Hong smiled brightly.
“I brought only the finest goods from our shop. The Clan Lord said they were for a very precious young lady.”
At those words, Hong-seol’s heart fluttered endlessly again.
“A very precious young lady… you say?”
Lady Hong’s eyes crinkled into a beautiful smile.
“Yes, but I didn’t know she would be not only precious but also adorable. Now, please choose a fabric you like! Though I’m sure anything would look wonderful on you.”
“Okay!”
Excited, Hong-seol began to rummage through the fabrics with Maeran.
In the process, a small scrap of cloth that had been tucked between the bolts fluttered to the ground.
Hong-seol casually picked it up.
“Hm?”
The scrap of cloth was unbelievably soft to the touch. Moreover, its pure blue color perfectly suited Hong-seol’s fair face.
“What kind of fabric is this?”
It was no wonder, then, that Hong-seol showed curiosity.
“Ah, that’s called iris silk…”
For a moment, Lady Hong’s expression darkened. It was brief, but Hong-seol didn’t miss it.
‘Is something wrong?’
Perhaps this was a matter that required her ‘righteousness and chivalry.’
‘Grandfather said that a martial artist must help those in difficult situations!’
Forgetting that she was in the middle of choosing fabric, Hong-seol furrowed her brow.
Lady Hong forced a bright tone as she continued.
“My apologies, young lady. It must have gotten mixed in by mistake. This item is currently unavailable.”
“Why?”
“That is…”
As if it were an unexpected question, Lady Hong’s voice trailed off.
It was the seamstress who had come with her who urged her on.
“Tell her, Mistress! Perhaps the young lady of the Namgung Clan can resolve the issue!”
At those words, Hong-seol’s shoulders slumped slightly.
‘But I’m not a young lady of the Namgung Clan.’
And Lady Hong from the fabric shop surely knew that as well.
“Then perhaps I shall try telling the young lady.”
As if to save Hong-seol’s face, Lady Hong slowly began to speak.
Her story was this.
Most of the goods handled by Lady Hong’s fabric shop were sourced from the ‘Weaving Hall.’
The Weaving Hall was a place Lady Hong had created to provide jobs for women with nowhere else to go.
Women like widows who had lost their husbands in the war, or girls who had been sold to brothels but ran away, refusing to become courtesans.
Listening to the story, Hong-seol shivered.
‘I might have had to stay in a place like that.’
If the Namgung Clan hadn’t taken her in, that would have certainly been her fate.
Perhaps that was why.
Hong-seol found herself completely absorbed in Lady Hong’s story.
“Thanks to the women with their nimble fingers, both the fabric shop and the Weaving Hall were running well, but…”
Then one day, the supply of raw materials for the Weaving Hall suddenly stopped.
“Especially the irises used to dye the silk thread blue. They aren’t coming in anymore. And so…”
It meant they could no longer sell iris silk.
“Why aren’t the irises coming in anymore?”
“That’s because…”
It was the seamstress who once again cut off the hesitant Lady Hong.
“It’s because of the Myosu Trading Company!”
She was so furious that her shoulders were heaving as she seethed.
“The Myosu Trading Company?”
The name sounded familiar, and Hong-seol tilted her head.
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