The next day.
I woke up early and set out alone to look for another inn.
“This place isn’t too good.”
“How much for a double room per day?”
“Why is it so expensive?”
No matter how many inns I checked out, none of them were to my liking.
If I were staying alone, I would have searched for the cheapest place, but I needed to find a suitable place to avoid a repeat of last time.
“Our inn has great soundproofing.”
After some legwork, I finally found an inn that felt like a reasonably priced business hotel.
“Is your companion male or female?”
As I checked the facilities and was about to pay, the innkeeper asked.
“She’s a woman.”
“Then do you really need a room with two beds? If you need soundproofing, it might be busy right now, but I can assign you a larger room with better soundproofing; it will cost a bit more.”
It’s definitely strange for a man and woman to share a room with two beds.
“She’s not a girlfriend; she’s my wife.”
I said to the innkeeper with a face like a poor, scared married man.
“Oh, I see… But you still seem quite young.”
The innkeeper momentarily showed an understanding but still clung to his sales instincts.
At times like this, you’ve got to act like you understand things.
“My wife is from the Martial Arts World, but I have not learned any martial arts.”
“I’ll give you the room that is the best soundproofing and has the most distance between beds.”
“Thank you.”
“Keep it up.”
The innkeeper encouraged me with a sympathetic look while patting my shoulder.
After moving to the new inn, no such issues arose.
However, every time we went up to our room after dinner in the evenings, the innkeeper would often regard us with pitying eyes.
——-
“Are you the black-haired performance artist I’ve seen in the marketplace lately?”
After the performance, while waiting for So-hee to come down from the stage, a group of swordsmen clad in heroic attire approached me.
“Yes, that’s me. Where are you gentlemen from?”
Whenever guys like this wielding swords approach me, it usually leads to trouble.
“We’re from the Sword and Spear Sect.”
One of the middle-aged swordsmen, looking in his 40s, spoke to me.
“The Sword and Spear Sect? Aren’t you the heroes of Chilgok County? What business do you have with me?”
I could only think of one reason.
Did that little coward Yoon report me?
With a confused look on my face, I hurriedly glanced around for the Heavenly Killing Star.
“Where’s the woman next to you?”
Ignoring my words, the middle-aged swordsman began scanning the surroundings. The other swordsmen actively started to search around.
Did they come as a group because they heard I was quite skilled in martial arts? They probably think they can take me on.
What should I do?
The situation changes depending on how the Sword and Spear Sect members act. There might even be some swordplay.
How would the Heavenly Killing Star respond? No matter how strong she is, it might be better to hide and ambush from the shadows.
Then what about me? Can I break through their encirclement and escape on my own?
“I’m here.”
Surprisingly, she appeared right before the swordsmen.
The swordsmen suddenly grew tense at her unexpected appearance and began to encircle her, keeping their hands on their swords.
Heavenly Killing Star strode right up to me, unbothered by what they were doing.
“Yoon-ho, stay behind me.”
She blocked the way between the swordsmen and me as she reached for her sword.
“That girl, where’s she going with a sword!”
“Should I draw mine first?”
As So-hee reached for her sword, the Sword and Spear Sect members hastily attempted to draw their own blades.
“If you draw them… everyone dies.”
Heavenly Killing Star’s voice was low but cooled the heated atmosphere like a splash of cold water.
“Wha-what?!”
At her words, all the members of the Sword and Spear Sect hesitated back for a moment.
She took that opportunity to quickly extend her arms and hid me behind her back.
What a scene! Like a tiger among a pack of wolves. The wolf pack may be scary, but I have a tiger protecting me, so I don’t think it’ll lose!
“Does that girl really think she can oppose the Sword and Spear Sect?!”
“That girl is quite audacious!”
“Sirs! We don’t have time; let’s subdue her and take her away!”
Did they not sense the level difference? The Sword and Spear Sect warriors began to show their fangs at Heavenly Killing Star.
“Enough!”
The middle-aged swordsman raised a hand to restrain the other warriors.
So, they aren’t planning to draw swords right away. Then maybe we can talk.
“Step out for a moment.”
I grabbed the shoulders of my tiger sister and spoke in the Joseon dialect.
“It’s dangerous; step back.”
“The ones in danger are them. With you here, what do I have to worry about? Just give me a moment to speak.”
She shot me a look that clearly said she wouldn’t allow it, but my resolve was stronger.
Hey, I may be scared of them swinging their swords, but if you start swinging yours, there’s no guarantee my neck will come out unscathed either.
Let’s avoid the swords for now. I need to try settling this with words first.
“Just a moment.”
In the end, she couldn’t hold back and stepped aside.
“Could you explain why you’re trying to bully us?”
I spoke firmly to the middle-aged swordsman who seemed to be in charge.
There’s a chance they could have gathered here for revenge against that scoundrel Yoon.
If he had informed them of her level, the swordsmen shouldn’t be acting so arrogantly; they should be on high alert.
Perhaps they didn’t come for the reason I thought.
“I received a report.”
The middle-aged swordsman looked at me while speaking.
“A report?”
“The black-haired performance artist is said to be traveling with a hired assassin of the Kapsu Merchant Guild.”
What the Sword and Spear Sect member said was out of the blue.
So it wasn’t because of that little coward Yoon after all.
While unexpected, this reason was more dangerous. They could indeed be ready to draw blades to subdue Heavenly Killing Star.
I want to avoid her getting into a killing situation at all costs.
Even if I insisted that she wouldn’t draw her sword, if they draw theirs, she will undeniably have to defend herself.
“Assassin? Where did you hear such nonsense?”
“The black-haired performance artist has a name that resonates with an assassin. The name was Yuk-bin, right? Yuk-bin is the name of the Kapsu Merchant Guild’s assassin.”
What?! I thought they were bringing some incredible evidence!
I thought I’d have to break it to the Martial Arts World that the Heavenly Killing Star wasn’t just a man or a woman, but a TS Heavenly Killing Star level shocker. This was disappointing.
“Haha. If that’s why you came, then there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Huh? Misunderstanding?”
“It seems you’ve misunderstood because ‘Yuk-bin’ is a common name in Joseon. The warriors from Kapsu Merchant Guild had also received reports and came to see us before leaving.”
“Black hair and red eyes. The name is Yuk-bin, and you say it’s a misunderstanding?”
The middle-aged swordsman queried without dispelling his suspicion.
“Yes. If you are still in doubt, send someone from Kapsu Merchant Guild to confirm; you’ll realize the truth.”
I said to them with a confident demeanor and a smile.
“Really?”
The expression of suspicion on the middle-aged swordsman began to soften.
“Logically, why would an assassin remain in Chilgok County, using the name ‘Yuk-bin’ so proudly?”
“Well, I guess that’s true.”
“I’ll be up on stage, so once you confirm, we’ll take our leave.”
“Then we’ll send someone to confirm.”
Time didn’t take long at all.
“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. We’ll take our leave now.”
The middle-aged swordsman, unlike that little coward Yoon, bowed politely before leading his companions away.
They even apologized.
I feel like I found a person with two eyes in a one-eyed world.
Not everyone in the orthodox faction is like that little coward Yoon, huh?
Thinking back, that little coward actually seems to have kept his word for his own survival. The Sword and Spear Sect had no idea about that incident.
“So-hee, let’s go.”
After hearing why the Sword and Spear Sect had approached us, I felt a bit more at ease, but she still stayed on her guard, making sure they wouldn’t get too close to me.
“Okay.”
Only after the members of the Sword and Spear Sect went out of sight did Cheon So-hee finally let go of her sword.
—————-
On the way back to the inn.
Heavenly Killing Star appeared to be in a heavier mood than usual, likely still caught up in what had just occurred.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I was because of you just now. Why are there so many people looking for trouble?”
In these moments, compliments are key. There’s a saying that even whales dance on a hot iron plate because of praises.
“Relieved, huh?”
“Of course! When it was just me traveling through the Central Plains, there were people looking for trouble left and right. Not long ago, some guys from Cheon Sal-pa beat me up and stole my money. But now, with you around, that doesn’t happen.”
Since So-hee began handling things in the marketplace, you could say the only ones bringing swords were little coward Yoon and members of the Sword and Spear Sect, but there had been other conflicts too.
Every time that happened, So-hee would step in and easily subdue them, allowing the performance to go on smoothly.
“Right.”
I wonder if she felt good after my compliment; the tension in her eyes relaxed a bit.
“By the way, So-hee, I have a proposal.”
Now that the good atmosphere was set, it was time to bring up what I originally intended to say.
“What is it?”
“About the name Yuk-bin. Can you change it?”
It’s a name like the root of all evil. It’s time for a change.
Initially, I didn’t even dare to mention changing the name in life-threatening situations, but after today, it felt appropriate to say something.
“Why?”
“That name, you used it when you joined the acrobat troupe, right? Since it caused trouble twice already, if it’s a pseudonym, I think it’s time to change it.”
“I don’t want to.”
Why not?
It’s a name that’s always causing trouble; there’s no reason to cling to a pseudonym.
Is it because she believes she can handle things with brute force? But surely she should consider my feelings too.
If it had been the first time, I would have cowered and backed down, but for my safety, I need to be more proactive with my opinions.
“Yuk-bin is such an outdated name. I really don’t think it suits you as a pseudonym.”
“It’s an outdated name?”
“Yeah! Who uses that name these days? Why don’t you change it to something like Jisoo or Nayeon instead?”
Japanese names would be fine with a ninja outfit, but I think a Korean name would be better.
“Yuk-bin…”
Her voice, which had only just relaxed, suddenly grew heavy.
Did I press too hard?
“Huh?”
“My mother’s name.”
“……”
Ah.
My brain just hit pause.
The look she gave me held a hint of anger, albeit weak but undeniable.
“So, So-hee! I just said it to be easy to call you by… I didn’t think about your mother’s name at all…”
I desperately searched for excuses in this panic-induced scenario, but she suddenly turned her head away sharply.
“I-I’ll go ahead.”
With that, she vanished from my line of sight.
“So-hee!”
I’ve messed this up.
—–
I was about to dash straight to the inn but then halted my steps.
It’s not like my excuse wouldn’t hold up. But calling her mother’s name outdated, I certainly wouldn’t expect her to be easily appeased.
Even if I returned to the room, it would feel as awkward as a forced reconciliation scene between a player who threw a deadly curveball and the one who threw the first punch.
She could use some time to cool down.
‘I wonder if I should visit that shanty after a long time.’
Suddenly, the writing materials I left in the shack came to mind.
They were very poor quality tools, and under normal circumstances, I would not have gone searching for them, but perhaps I could take a trip to get them now.
‘Sometime, I’ll need to write another story.’
Though the timing isn’t right, eventually, I will need to write again.
I had buried them deep to prevent any thieves from taking them away, so I should be able to retrieve them when I go to the shack.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen the guys from Cheon Sal-pa.’
It’s also been a while since those Cheon Sal-pa guys disappeared from Chilgok County.
I’m confident I could take down a few thugs, even without So-hee, so there shouldn’t be any major issue.
I took a moment to head towards the shack.
“Wait! Who is this? Isn’t that our pouch of money? It’s nice to see you back in Chilgok County! Long time no see!”
Oh, sh*t.
