Juhyangwol walked toward the inn entrance.
A martial artist from the Hwangdo Trading Company recognized her and greeted her.
"Young Lady Ju, have you arrived?"
"What is the matter?"
"It is nothing. If you enter, the young master will arrive shortly."
Juhyangwol looked at the man who had been arguing. She turned her head without much thought, but inwardly she flinched.
The gaze of the young, handsome man was clear and deep. His unforgettable appearance captivated her gaze.
Behind the young man stood a middle-aged man. He was not looking this way. With his arms crossed, he was looking at the people passing by on the street.
The moment she saw them, some indescribable emotion surged up abruptly, then vanished. Since this was her first time experiencing such a thing, she could not tell what emotion it was.
At any rate, the moment she saw the two men, she could sense it.
'They are father and son.'
They did not resemble each other in face, yet somehow their auras were alike.
And behind the middle-aged man stood another man.
'A bodyguard?'
They were none other than Geom Mugeuk, Geom Woojin, and Hwi.
Hwi had said he would eat separately, but Geom Mugeuk had forcibly dragged him along. This trip was a journey for him and his father, yet at the same time, he wished for it to become a journey for Hwi and his father as well.
At least during this trip, he wanted Hwi to walk on his own two feet as much as possible rather than remaining hidden. To meet eyes with his father and eat together.
That was why this moment was precious. Once the trip ended and they returned, they would go back to their original lives.
If asked why he was going this far for him—
—it was because he knew. He knew Hwi's life, who had gladly given his life for his father. Having protected his father all his life, he ended his life by sacrificing it in the end.
Juhyangwol asked the martial artist of the Hwangdo Trading Company.
"Why are you preventing these people from entering?"
"Today, Young Master Hwang has rented out this entire inn."
Juhyangwol's expression hardened.
It was Young Master Hwang who had set the meeting place at this inn. It had been strange that he insisted on meeting here when he could have simply come to the Ju Clan Sword Manor; it seemed he had done so to flaunt the wealth capable of renting out the entire inn.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to her.
"I am a man traveling with his father. I have come a long way to treat my father to the cuisine here."
She looked at Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin. Normally, she would have sent them away, telling them to go to another inn. That would have been the right thing for them as well, because more bad than good would come of entering.
But today's choice was different.
"Let them in."
"Young Master Hwang ordered that no one be allowed inside."
"I will take responsibility. Come, let us enter together."
As Juhyangwol tried to enter with the three of them, the martial artists still blocked the way.
When Juhyangwol looked at them coldly, only then did the martial artists step aside.
"I am truly grateful. Thanks to the young lady, I can treat my father to a meal."
And so Juhyangwol led the three of them inside.
She was not originally this kind of person.
'Yes, it was because he said he was traveling with his father.'
Because on her way here, she had been thinking of her late father the entire time.
"Was there a reason it had to be this inn?"
"Among the dishes here, the cold platter made with twelve kinds of vegetables and the duck boiled with fine medicinal herbs are truly delicacies. They are good for one's health as well. I desperately wished to treat my father to them."
She envied the man before her eyes.
If her father were alive, she would truly dote on him. She would have bought him all the healthy, delicious food he wanted as they traveled together. But by the time she had come of age, it was already too late.
"Still, making a scene with the Hwangdo Trading Company's martial artists was not a wise choice."
Recently, the Hwangdo Trading Company's influence was formidable, so she had thought the men before her would know of them. Yet the young man regarded them as no great matter.
"Even if it were the Murim Alliance blocking the way, not the Hwangdo Trading Company, I would have to enter. It is my first trip with my father."
Still, to go so far as to bring up the Murim Alliance so grandiosely? As if he didn't even know what kind of place the Murim Alliance was.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Geom Woojin and added,
"It is a chance that was somehow obtained."
Geom Woojin was simply going along with what his son wanted.
The one most surprised by that sight was Hwi.
While Geom Mugeuk was arguing in front of the inn, the Cult Leader had silently waited. It was something unimaginable given the personality of the Cult Leader he knew.
"Mister, please choose something you'd like to eat as well."
"I am fine."
"No, you must. You absolutely must choose. If you don't choose, I won't order. Did you just hear that? The growling sound from Father's stomach? Ah, our poor father. Unable to maintain his dignity……"
"I will choose."
How could anyone win against Geom Mugeuk? In the end, Hwi chose a dish as well.
Juhyangwol, watching that scene, flinched in surprise. Without realizing it, she had been watching them with a smile on her lips.
"If anyone comes and asks why you are here, give them my name. I am Juhyangwol of the Ju Clan Sword Manor."
"Thanks to the young lady, I was able to become a dutiful son."
As she turned to leave, she offered a piece of advice.
"If this is fate, then let me speak out of goodwill. Your swords stand out too much."
Geom Mugeuk had wrapped his sword in top-grade heavenly silk, while Geom Woojin had wrapped his in bandages. She meant that the sight of father and son both hiding their swords stood out instead. In truth, it was not the swords that stood out, but the two men themselves; yet she was not aware of this herself.
"It is because they would stand out even more if the cloth were removed."
"What do you mean?"
Geom Mugeuk merely smiled. No matter how much they stood out, one could not roam the Central Plains carrying the Cheonma Sword.
"Please enjoy your meal. You likely won't need to pay for the food."
She said this because he had rented out the entire inn.
"I appreciate the words, but I don't think we can do that."
"What do you mean?"
"Those people likely did not pay money when renting this place. At least we should pay."
Juhyangwol was startled.
"We heard it together, didn't we? That he rented out the entire inn."
"Then go ask the innkeeper how much was agreed upon as compensation. They likely did not set an amount. Avoid the martial artists at the entrance and ask the innkeeper discreetly."
She went to speak with the innkeeper and returned.
"How did you know?"
The innkeeper had said this: "It's fine. Since esteemed guests are holding an important meeting, I should help out."
In other words, he would not be properly paid.
"It is something martial sects often do. They say they will settle everything later, but you'd be fortunate if they even threw down payment for the food they ate when leaving. There are few cases where they compensate for the other guests they turned away."
Juhyangwol's face flushed slightly.
If that was the case, then strictly speaking, it was shameful that she had tried to curry favor with them.
"I will verify it when Young Master Hwang arrives."
"If you confront him about it, think carefully about who will suffer the damage."
She understood what he meant. In the end, it was the innkeeper here who would suffer.
"Still, I will surely repay the favor I owe the young lady when the opportunity arises."
It was then that a man entered the inn.
"Lady Ju, have you arrived already?"
He was Hwang In, the successor of the Hwangdo Trading Company. She had thought he would come laden with bodyguards, but surprisingly, he had come alone.
As Hwang In walked toward her, his gaze naturally shifted to the people with her.
"Who might these people be?"
Then the martial artist at the entrance came in and whispered to him what had transpired earlier.
Hwang In thought it unexpected. Based on prior investigation, Juhyangwol was not someone who meddled in others' affairs so broadly.
Since they might have been chased away had she not intervened, Juhyangwol said to Hwang In,
"They are my guests."
"Ah, I see."
Hwang In responded gently but was inwardly puzzled.
'She is not someone who would go this far. Was the investigation wrong?'
Then one thought came to mind.
'Could they be on her side, pretending not to be?'
He thought it might be so. The family head must have been uneasy sending her daughter alone.
"It is an honor to meet you."
They were truly three extraordinary individuals.
Since there had been no such individuals in the prior investigation, they must surely have been called in from outside.
"I am Hwang In of the Hwangdo Trading Company."
Geom Mugeuk then greeted him on behalf of the others.
"We are merely passing travelers; you need not concern yourself with us."
Hwang In thought the other party was intentionally concealing their identities.
'Are they hired hands? Or are there still those who remain to help the Ju Clan Sword Manor?'
It didn't matter anyway. Today's matter was not something to be resolved by force.
Just then, the food Geom Mugeuk had ordered arrived.
"Ah, Father. Please try this first."
As if he were truly someone who had come here to eat, Geom Mugeuk focused on the food.
He placed the food into small bowls and served them to his father and Hwi.
Their disregard for him only strengthened Hwang In's conviction.
'They are striving not to be suspected because they are on the same side.'
The pride of martial artists, indeed!
If asked who was easiest to deal with as a merchant, Hwang In could say with confidence: martial artists. That foolish pride.
"Come, let us go as well."
Hwang In sat across from Juhyangwol at the center table of the inn.
"Have a drink."
Hwang In poured her a drink, but Juhyangwol set the cup down and did not drink.
"Why did you choose me?"
"I suppose I thought young people would have an easier time understanding each other."
Juhyangwol had never heard rumors about Hwang In. He was a man with neither particularly good nor bad reputation.
"What is your reason for wanting to invest in us?"
"There is only ever one reason a trading company seeks to join hands with a sword family: we need the power of the sword."
"Could you not invest that money directly and establish a sword troop within the trading company?"
"Of course, we are raising our own martial artists. But do you know? The Murim does not acknowledge a merchant's sword. They openly look down on you for buying your sword with money. That is why it is difficult to recruit experts. They hate hearing that they were sold for money. Honestly, do you not think so as well?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Juhyangwol could not answer no. She had indeed harbored such feelings, at least a little.
"That is why. To do great business in the Murim, the name value of the Ju Clan Sword Manor is necessary. Ah, of course, I do not mean to belittle you or your family, so please do not misunderstand. We desire a relationship of mutual aid and coexistence."
But Juhyangwol did not wish to join hands with them.
It was not because she knew the Hwangdo Trading Company well, nor because she knew the internal affairs of the sword manor. Nor could she predict what results this cooperation would bring.
It was because she could not trust her mother's judgment. Because her mother always made mistakes when hasty.
She should not judge matters with the Hwangdo Trading Company that way, but emotionally, she kept thinking so.
Was it because her expectations were low? Hwang In seemed decent, at least better than she had thought. She had assumed he would be a man who only flaunted his money and chased women, but he appeared to be someone with considerable purpose and thought.
"How do you propose we join hands?"
"We merchants do not believe in promises made with words. We only believe in contracts."
Hwang In handed her the documents he had brought.
"This is an agreement stating that our trading company and the Ju Clan Sword Manor will join forces. You need only read it and sign. Normally, the family head should do this, but since the family head sent you as a representative and you are also her daughter, Young Lady Ju is fully qualified. Take your time reading it, even if it takes a while. Documents that require a signature must be read carefully."
Juhyangwol was inwardly flustered. She had thought they would meet today and have various discussions, but she had not known he would prepare an agreement.
'Did Mother know?'
At least one thing was certain: if she returned having reached an agreement with them, her mother would be pleased. After all, it was her mother who had tried to send her out dressed in a splendid palatial gown.
She wanted nothing more than to refuse and storm out, but given the sword manor's current circumstances and her mother, she could not.
Juhyangwol read through the agreement.
Some parts were understandable at a glance, while other passages remained confusing even upon rereading.
Such unnecessary words—why were they needed? She wanted to say: erase it all and write only this.
She wanted to say this, but the problem was that she could not concretely say what should remain.
And certain clauses seemed necessary yet also seemed unnecessary at the same time. There were many ambiguous parts.
'To roughly understand is to know nothing at all.'
No, it was worse than knowing nothing. She was glossing over uncertain clauses with vague understanding.
'How dare they toy with us?'
She read to the last page but could not find any passage worthy of such an outburst.
Should she just sign it and take it to her mother? Shouting that it had been her mother's will, not her own, so don't regret it later?
She wished she could return to a few years ago, to those immature days.
'If only Father were still alive......'
At that moment, her gaze unconsciously turned toward where Geom Mugeuk sat.
As if aware that this was an important occasion, they were conversing quietly as they ate. Only when she pricked her ears did their conversation reach her.
"Is it delicious?"
"It is decent."
"What about you, mister?"
"It is delicious."
"You see, didn't I say it was delicious? Let us travel to every famous inn in the Central Plains, then kidnap the best chef from the tastiest place and take him back home! Or rather, one chef each to suit our tastes—three in total!"
At his joke, Juhyangwol smiled without realizing it. Though it was no time to laugh, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief merely from watching them.
She had been plagued by nightmares lately and her mind was unstable; why did she feel so at ease? They were people she had met today for the first time.
Then, her eyes met Geom Mugeuk's.
Could eyes that had been speaking such frivolous words truly be so deep?
The moment that thought crossed her mind, she surrendered herself to the pull of fate.
She sprang up from her seat, took the agreement, and began walking toward Geom Mugeuk.
Hwang In was inwardly flustered by her sudden action, but he watched carefully for the time being.
As she walked up to Geom Mugeuk, she thought,
'This is madness.'
Today was truly a day when her instincts ran wild.
"You said you would repay the favor you owe me, did you not?"
"I did."
"Can you repay that favor right now?"
"We are martial artists, not merchants; we are people who cannot stand being in debt."
She held out the agreement to Geom Mugeuk.
"Then find me a reason to tear this up."
Absolute Regression, Episode 452