Chapter 38 …
Seon-woo took out the 음석 (yin stone) and several small bone fragments he had carefully hidden deep inside the pouch within his robes and examined them. He paid no attention to the seed.
Because of someone’s sudden interference, his plan had gone far more awry than expected. Fortunately, the outcome itself had not changed.
On-gang, too, had passed through Cheongpa River and happened to obtain this yin stone here. However, he had failed to collect these bone fragments, not realizing what they truly were.
These bone fragments were the very reason countless yokai had offered sacrifices to the Golden Salamander.
“They said that if you grind the bone the creature spits out after digesting all the offerings, even a low-ranking yokai can perform dark arts.”
Using it, they had lured humans with sorcery and killed them. That alone was horrific enough—but Seon-woo had another reason for taking the bones.
“I need to find out whether this bone powder works on Transcendents as well.”
Now that it had been revealed there was something capable of brainwashing Transcendents, he had to confirm whether the bone powder spat out by the Golden Salamander was responsible.
Securing Yaweolbang’s cooperation had been an excellent choice. Otherwise, he would have had to take the bone fragments to the Emperor. He couldn’t analyze them alone.
And this yin stone…
“……”
Seon-woo squeezed the smooth red stone tightly. A faint, ticklish vibration pulsed into his palm, and he held his breath.
“Just like the book described.”
Reassured, he tucked everything securely back into the inner pouch of his robe and rose to his feet. Since the ghost carriage had vanished, he would have to walk diligently to his next destination.
For no reason in particular, Seon-woo glanced up at the sky once more. Gong-un might be tailing him again.
In truth, Gong-un’s suspicion had its logic. Seon-woo had known beforehand that the Golden Salamander’s fortress was here—and that there was a yin stone inside its stomach.
“…He’s not going to go back and spread rumors, is he?”
That would be troublesome. If others learned that obtaining the Golden Salamander’s bones had not been mere coincidence, Hwan—who had only just agreed to cooperate—would grow suspicious of him again. And others’ doubts would deepen as well.
At that moment, Cheong-eum’s face flashed through his mind—the calm expression she had worn while questioning him.
“May I ask how you knew about that place?”
She must suspect him too.
His head already felt like it might split apart. Thinking of Gong-un barging in and nearly ruining his plan made his insides boil. He felt at his neck just in case, but there was no trace left. That poison was likely something only Gong-un could neutralize.
“Ugh. Wi Gong-un, you dog bastard. Soaked through with slyness.”
Taking advantage of the brief pause to curse Gong-un under his breath, Seon-woo prayed the man wasn’t the type to chatter like a magpie. He then pulled out the directional compass he had brought along.
“Good. I’ve secured the yin stone. On to the next step.”
After checking his bearings with the compass, Seon-woo rose without even waiting for his clothes to fully dry and set off briskly—
Unaware that someone was watching his departing figure.
On the way to his next destination, Seon-woo stopped by an inn to wash and change into fresh clothes. Ignoring the mouthwatering smells wafting from the kitchen, he soon resumed his journey.
Thanks to Hwan’s liquor, he had been perfectly fine despite not eating for several days.
Of course, it didn’t solve the issue of sleep, so he still had to stop at an inn every two days or so.
The first few times, he would sleep briefly, wash, and head straight back out. After that, however, he deliberately sat in the inn’s dining hall and carefully eavesdropped on the surrounding travelers’ conversations.
“Have you heard? Lady Bu So-yun has already sprouted her seed!”
“What? Already? The Bu family must be celebrating a thousand-year blessing!”
Through travelers coming and going from various regions, he could gauge the progress of the competition.
“Just like in the original story.”
In the original as well, Bu So-yun had been the first to sprout her seed—and had deliberately spread the news far and wide to crush the morale of the other candidates.
Since news of So-yun had spread, there had been no word of other candidates yet—but by now, Gi-rim must have sprouted his seed as well.
Fortunately, no travelers mentioned Seon-woo, which meant Gong-un was still keeping his mouth shut.
“When I get back, how should I discipline that brat?”
Lost in the headache-inducing thought, Seon-woo idly spun the teacup he hadn’t taken a single sip from.
“Um… miss, you dropped this.”
A cautious voice spoke up.
Turning, Seon-woo saw a shy little girl holding something out to him. She looked about ten years old.
In her palm lay Seon-woo’s hair tie.
It must have fallen from the table. Taking it back, Seon-woo smiled warmly.
“Thank you. What’s your name?”
“I’m Seol.”
“That’s a pretty name. Thank you, Seol. My father bought this for me—if you hadn’t noticed, that would’ve been trouble.”
“It’s nothing.”
After giving a final shy reply and a small bow, Seol returned to her seat.
A man who had been watching smiled at her warmly. Since he looked so much like her, he must have been her father. He said something to her with a gentle smile.
A large bundle stuffed with goods and a peddler’s hat bearing the merchant’s mark lay beside him. He appeared to be a traveling merchant.
Seon-woo noticed that Seol’s own bundle was quite full as well—packed as if carrying everyday necessities.
If a peddler had brought his daughter this deep into the mountains, then perhaps…
“He has no one to leave her with.”
Making the quiet guess, Seon-woo watched the affectionate father and daughter. His own father had been an exceptionally loving man. Because of that, he recognized the tenderness in that man’s eyes.
For a brief moment, warmed by the sight that reminded him of his own father, Seon-woo turned to leave.
“Those two—the father and daughter.”
A low, secretive voice drifted behind him.
Seon-woo paused mid-rise and subtly shifted his gaze.
Three men who had been eating since before he arrived exchanged silent looks and nodded.
“…The father and daughter? That sounded like they were choosing goods.”
One of them looked back toward the pair, as if confirming a target. A foreboding chill crept up Seon-woo’s neck.
Ever since arriving in this world, it felt as though some instinct for sensing danger had sharpened.
“Human traffickers?”
In a world crawling with yokai and chaos, criminals inevitably flourished.
While Seon-woo hesitated briefly at the unexpected complication, the father and daughter finished their meal, gathered their belongings, and stood. After politely thanking the innkeeper, they left.
Not long after, the three men stood as well.
As expected, they followed the father and daughter out of the inn. Seon-woo’s expression darkened.
“Ah, seriously.”
I don’t have time for this.
Muttering under his breath, he pushed back his chair and followed after them.
“Dad, I think it’d be better to put a few more things in my bundle. It’s not heavy at all!”
“Really? But it’s not heavy for Dad either. And today we have to cross this mountain, so you need to save your strength, Seol.”
“I can cross two mountains, Dad!”
“Wow, our Seol is amazing! Then when we stop at the next village, I’ll buy you the rice cakes you like.”
Encouraged by her father’s praise, the girl’s steps grew light and lively.
For two years now, Seol and her father had been traveling across the vast continent, making a living as peddlers. Three years ago, Seol’s mother had passed away from a chronic illness, leaving no one to care for her.
For the first year, Seol had stayed with distant relatives. But when her father, Noh Mun-ung, learned that she was being mistreated and forced to walk on eggshells there, he took her hand and left that very day.
He had been anxious about bringing her along into such a dangerous life—where yokai could appear anywhere—but he had no other choice. And Seol was so happy traveling with him that he couldn’t bear to part from her.
So he planned to travel the continent for just two years, save enough money, then settle down and open a shop.
That goal was now close at hand. Once he sold this batch of goods, he would end this precarious life and settle somewhere with his daughter.
A smile touched his lips at the thought of finally ending his young daughter’s hardships. As soon as they settled in the village he had in mind, he resolved to send her to school right away.
It was at that very moment—
