Chapter 60
“Miss, I think this mountain is nice too.”
Hyang-a, who had been whining about how tiring it was to climb the mountain, spoke up. After taking a break at the mid-slope and having lunch, her impression seemed to have changed quite a bit.
Well, that’s understandable. Once your body feels comfortable, everything feels different. Besides, the lunch that Uncle Wang had prepared was really delicious.
“Yeah. This place is nice too.”
Woon-young nodded, simply saying it felt good. She liked that this mountain belonged to her, and even more so that Woon-cheol was buried somewhere on this mountain.
Thanks to that, her mind felt as expansive as a vast river.
“It’s really beautiful. Everything I see is pretty.”
She meant it. In Woon-young’s eyes, even the smallest pebble at her feet looked charming.
“There are plenty of things here that you like, too.”
“Oh? Really?”
Woon-young looked around to see what Hyang-a meant but couldn’t easily find anything.
“Do you see that? That’s Yongsa-cho. That one is Sojeon-cho. And over there, there’s Hong-ra-do.”
All of these were ingredients Woon-young had used to make things up until now. Perhaps because Hyang-a had been gathering materials all this time, she was excellent at spotting them.
“Ah, it really is.”
As Woon-young nodded, Hyang-a, excited, asked,
“Then should we dig them all up and take them with us?”
“No, it’s okay, Hyang-a.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it be good to take them?”
“Hmm. Everything here will soon come to Seolgajang anyway.”
“Really? So I don’t have to go searching for them anymore?”
Hyang-a’s eyes sparkled. Even though she hadn’t said it, gathering ingredients had been tiring for her.
“Yes. You don’t need to do that anymore.”
“Hehe. I was just joking, Miss. If you need anything else, just tell me. I’ll bring it all.”
“Oh… y-yeah.”
Woon-young stammered in response, flustered by Hyang-a’s teasing.
“Pff.”
Woon-young’s gaze turned toward the source of the sound. So-kyo was biting her lips, trying to hold back a laugh.
“So-kyo, it’s okay to laugh.”
“No, no… pff.”
“Hahaha, So-kyo, what’s that?”
The loud laughter came from Hyang-a, and eventually, So-kyo quietly chuckled as well.
“Hahaha.”
Even the nanny who had been listening quietly, Seol Do-jin and Seol Won-pyeong standing at a distance, and the martial artists from the Hoga-tai including Geum Dae-ju and Bang Gi-jin all burst into laughter.
Seeing this, Woon-young also lifted the corners of her mouth. And then she laughed out loud.
She was delighted that everyone could laugh together.
“But, Miss, how will all the herbs here make it to Seolgajang?”
After the laughter died down, Hyang-a asked again.
“A few days ago, I talked with Chief Officer Wi. We decided to buy the ingredients for the things we make. So, they inform the commoners in Hong-an County. They say if you bring this or that, Seolgajang will buy it.”
“So the commoners bring the ingredients and get money for them.”
Hyang-a clapped her hands in delight.
“Yes. Right now, they’re doing that with Hyang-yuk mushrooms. Soon, other things will be like that too.”
“Then the commoners in Hong-an County will become rich.”
“That would be nice, right?”
“Wow. I thought you only did strange things every day, Miss, but you’re actually doing good things.”
“Ahem. Yes. That’s who I am.”
Woon-young lifted her chin and pouted proudly.
“Yesterday, Father and Chief Officer Wi went to the Murim Alliance, right? If good results come from there, both Seolgajang and the commoners of Hong-an County will become even wealthier.”
“That’s wonderful. Miss, you’re really admirable.”
Woon-young felt a little shy at Hyang-a’s praise, but it made her feel good. Hearing that she was doing well reassured her and boosted her spirits.
Hong-an County had always been important to Woon-young.
But perhaps because of what she heard from Seol Won-pyeong while coming here, she first thought about developing Hong-an County even more.
Although they had started buying mushrooms and herbs little by little, the volume would inevitably grow in the future.
Moreover, while the products were currently made roughly at Yeon-hongwon, soon, artisans to produce goods in large quantities would also be needed.
As Hong-an County’s work increased, more people in need of work would come seeking opportunities.
Seol Won-sangdan would grow as well, but Woon-young envisioned the growth of the entire Hong-an County. If things went according to her plan, even the “world’s strongest family” dream wouldn’t be impossible.
‘No, they say the entire Hong-an County belongs to us. Unbelievable.’
Her heart still raced when thinking of Seol Won-pyeong’s words.
‘And Woon-cheol is here too.’
All of a sudden, the entire mountain seemed like gold in Woon-young’s eyes.
“…Ah, Yeong-a?”
Seol Do-jin called out, bringing Woon-young back from her happy daydream.
“Yes, oppa. What is it?”
“Grandfather and I are thinking of climbing to the peak. Do you want to come?”
“Yes. I want to go too.”
Woon-young jumped up from her spot and answered loudly. She had already wanted to go higher, so this was perfect.
“Leave the nanny and Sibi here. Half of the Hoga-tai will stay here too.”
“As you wish, sir.”
When Woon-young turned her gaze to Hyang-a, Hyang-a avoided eye contact. She probably thought she couldn’t climb any further.
Woon-young laughed quietly as air escaped, exchanging glances with So-kyo. So-kyo nodded, understanding Woon-young’s silent instruction to stay near the nanny.
“Then, we’ll be back soon.”
Woon-young greeted them and ran toward Seol Won-pyeong and Seol Do-jin.
Well, when you climb the tallest peak of that mountain, you pass a mid-slope with a small spring. That’s where the iron ore rises. The commoners wouldn’t have known it. No one did.
For the past few days, Woon-young had been trying to remember everything she had heard about Woon-cheol. Seeing Bang Gi-jin training jogged her memory.
Sure enough, it was Bang Gi-jin who had told Woon-young about this treasure.
Someone sharp-eyed found it, they say. But they got into trouble because of it. Treasures feed on blood, after all.
Bang Gi-jin would always end his story with the part about blood, even while saying he wanted to find the elixir or rare treasures.
‘I’ll protect it. I can protect it.’
Woon-young stroked the egg hidden in her sleeve, making the promise to herself over and over.
“Yeong-a, will you be okay?”
Seol Won-pyeong asked with a worried expression.
“I managed to climb well last time. If it’s too hard, oppa will carry me, I guess.”
“Yeah, I’ll carry you.”
“Haha. That’ll do. Then, let’s go.”
Seol Won-pyeong led the way. Do-jin and Woon-young followed. Geum Tae-san and the warriors soon came up from behind to provide escort.
‘I need to find the sound of water, a small water sound.’
Woon-young focused her inner energy and sharpened her hearing.
Cheon-ri Ji-cheong Technique (Thousand-Mile Earth Hearing Technique).
A tracking technique that enhances hearing to catch distant sounds. She had learned it from a book on tracking techniques in Hwang-san’s library.
It was a technique she had also used effectively during her Sword Ghost days.
‘This is why people need to learn things.’
Humming a tune, Woon-young climbed the mountain.
“Yeong-a seems very happy.”
“Haha. Seems so. It’s nice to be outside.”
A little embarrassed by Seol Won-pyeong’s comment, Woon-young smiled.
“I see. I should go out more often with Yeong-a from now on.”
“Yes. Let’s go out often.”
“Yeong-a, oppa should come along too.”
“Yes, oppa too. Haha. Next time, it would be nice if Father came as well.”
While continuously using the Cheon-ri Ji-cheong Technique, Woon-young chatted with Seol Won-pyeong and Seol Do-jin.
It was truly wonderful to spend time with family.
‘This is the sound of water. Yes, it is. Could it be over there?’
Woon-young pinpointed the direction of the water sound.
“I want to go over there.”
“Okay. Let’s go that way.”
They walked for a while, and the faint water sound grew gradually louder.
“Oh? There seems to be a spring over there.”
Approaching the source, Woon-young casually said,
“It’s time to use this. I’ll show Grandfather too.”
Woon-young grabbed the bamboo container for filtering water and ran toward what she assumed was the spring.
“Yeong-a, be careful. Take care.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll be careful.”
Answering half-heartedly, she approached the spring.
Water was gushing between the rocks. As she had heard, the surrounding rocks were dark red from rust, caused by Woon-cheol.
She had found it precisely.
Woon-young’s eyes went wide.
“Water is coming out here. There’s really a spring.”
She spoke loudly so everyone following could hear.
“Hmm. But why is the water like this? Rust water? Why would rust come out of a spring?”
Her words were awkward, but no one paid attention. Seol Won-pyeong’s expression had become serious.
“Yeong-a, come this way.”
He studied the spring for a long while, tasted the water, and examined the rocks around it.
Watching Seol Won-pyeong’s actions, Woon-young tried desperately to hold back her laughter.
The Seol Won-pyeong she knew was a sharp-eyed person.
