Filled with the Fragrance of Tea (3)
Lin Yan-Qing’s research room was created again in the manor.
However, unlike back then, it was not made underground, nor were several layers of mechanisms installed.
The space was decorated like a study.
Lin Yan-Qing mainly read books there.
Although no grand research laboratory had been set up, all kinds of items began arriving one by one.
Every night, carriages brought things in. Some were medicinal herbs, and others were books. Others were tightly sealed, so it was impossible to tell what they were.
They were stacked neatly on one side of the study.
“You have to handle that carefully.”
Lin Yan-Qing said this to Number Seven, who was cleaning. There was not a single manservant or maidservant in this manor. Because of that, Number Seven personally handled the cooking and cleaning.
Lin Yan-Qing had said she would clean her own room herself, but Number Seven refused, saying that absolutely could not be allowed.
“Yes, I will be careful.”
Number Seven carefully handled the wooden box she had been dusting.
Lin Yan-Qing, who had been reading a book from her seat, suddenly spoke.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“Yes?”
Number Seven turned around, but Lin Yan-Qing still kept her gaze on the book as she spoke.
“I’m asking whether you aren’t curious about what we’re going to do from now on.”
“No. I am not curious.”
“Really?”
Lin Yan-Qing turned her head and looked at Number Seven.
“Because there is no need for me to know. My mission is to protect you, seonbae.”
“Seonbae?”
“Ah, I could not think of a suitable way to address you. What should I call you? If you tell me anything, I will call you that.”
“Then call me unnie.”
“I cannot do that.”
“You can.”
Lin Yan-Qing spoke firmly. Number Seven knew that this came from goodwill toward her.
“I do not know why you are treating me so well.”
Number Seven had been educated. If someone treats you well, you must always suspect them. Humans are not beings who treat others well unless they have bad intentions.
At that moment, Lin Yan-Qing mentioned a name Number Seven had not expected.
“You know the Nameless Great Hero, don’t you?”
When the Nameless Great Hero was suddenly mentioned, Number Seven was inwardly surprised. He was one of the people who had shaken her heart recently.
“Yes.”
“Many things happened, but to put the core of it simply, I almost died back then. That person saved me.”
“I see.”
“After that, my thoughts changed a little. To be honest, until then, I had never thought deeply about death. But then I had this thought. I can die too. I can suddenly be gone at a moment I never expected. It was not just something that happened to other people.”
Because Number Seven had always lived with death in mind, she deeply sympathized with Lin Yan-Qing’s words.
“Did that answer your question?”
“No.”
Sympathy about death was sympathy, but why did that mean she was treating her so well? Because one could die at any time? Could that become some sort of reason to treat her well?
Because Number Seven had never received goodwill from someone without a reason, she could not easily accept Lin Yan-Qing’s kindness.
Lin Yan-Qing smiled.
Usually, in situations like this, people would just say yes and move on.
‘Why am I treating you well? Because you make me want to treat you well.’
Lin Yan-Qing did not reveal that feeling.
“Let’s just say it’s because you feel like a younger sister.”
“Understood.”
Number Seven continued cleaning again. She carefully dusted and wiped things down.
Lin Yan-Qing, who had gone back to reading, asked again.
“You didn’t contact Strategist Byeok, did you?”
For a moment, Number Seven’s hand flinched to a stop, then moved again.
“No.”
“Shall we go now and make an appointment?”
At that, Number Seven put down the cloth she was holding and turned toward her.
“As you know, I cannot live an ordinary life.”
Their gazes tangled in midair.
Lin Yan-Qing said to Number Seven,
“I am not telling you to marry that person and live an ordinary life. There is no guarantee that he will accept you just because you like him either.”
“Yes? Then why?”
“I simply mean you should express the feeling in your heart. We live lives where we do not know when we will die, don’t we? Whether you become friends, lovers, or even if it becomes a complete mess, I think it is better than hiding it only in your heart.”
“My mission comes first.”
“No. The mission comes later. Your life comes first.”
Number Seven could feel it. Those words, which did not suit a person of the Jianghu at all, especially when considering their organization, were not words Lin Yan-Qing was saying to her, but words Lin Yan-Qing was saying to herself.
Lin Yan-Qing closed the book and rose from her seat.
“Follow me.”
“The Heavenly Net Association has contacted us.”
From Gal Sa-Ryang’s excited voice, I could predict a positive result.
“They have decided to join hands with us.”
The strategic alliance had been formed. They would give us the information we needed, and we would lend them our strength.
“That is truly good news. This is all thanks to Strategist Gal.”
“Not at all. This is all my lord’s fortune.”
Yes, one could say it was thanks to the fortune of making Gal Sa-Ryang my person.
If not for the special relationship between Gal Sa-Ryang and Ban Seo-Jeong, it would not have been accomplished so easily.
Of course, they would not have made their decision solely based on personal relations either. Gal Sa-Ryang must have made a proposal that moved their hearts. That was Gal Sa-Ryang’s way of working.
“From now on, do not ask them for any documents that could remain as evidence. Have the information they pass to us treated as top secret as well, and tell them that if an emergency occurs, they may completely deny their relationship with us.”
It was consideration for the Heavenly Net Association.
“They will like that very much as well.”
“Did you inform them about me?”
“I only told them that there is someone I serve, but I think you will have to meet the head of the Heavenly Net Association once before long.”
“Understood.”
Leaving business aside, I intended to meet her for Gal Sa-Ryang’s sake as well.
In any case, if the information of the Heavenly Net Association was added to the Three Eyes Pavilion, our information network would not fall short of the Justice Pavilion’s.
With this, our strength had grown even stronger.
At that moment, a warrior came and delivered news.
“There are guests waiting outside who have come to see the responsible strategist.”
Guests? There should be no one who would come all the way here to find me.
When I went out, two women were waiting for me. They were none other than Lin Yan-Qing and Number Seven.
“You have to keep your promise.”
I was flustered by their sudden visit.
“Promise?”
“You clearly made one.”
Yes, I had certainly made that promise that day. I had said I would show them around Wuhan. But I had never expected them to actually come looking for me like this.
“Very well. Please wait a moment.”
After making the women wait, I went to Gal Sa-Ryang.
“I will step out for a while.”
“Was it said that heroes love beauties? Beautiful women are coming to find the hero.”
It seemed he had been watching us through the window.
I gave him a look that said he was impossible and came outside.
“Now then, where shall I escort you?”
“Wherever Strategist Byeok wishes.”
Like that, I took the two women and went around several famous places near Wuhan.
Truly, to think I would end up going on an outing with two women.
We stopped by a temple where a famous high monk resided, then walked along the lakeside below it. Both places had beautiful scenery. We ate at an inn with a skilled cook, and walked along a beautiful forest path.
Even if I had not gone outside often, this was Wuhan, where the main headquarters of the Murim Alliance stood. I was fully capable of acting as a guide and showing the two women around for about a day.
Fortunately, the two women liked it very much.
At first, I had suspected there might be some other intention behind their visit, but it did not seem that way.
In the evening, we decided to have a drink.
While I was wondering where to go, Number Seven spoke.
“Let’s go there. The place where we drank last time.”
In truth, I had also briefly thought of that field.
“Very well.”
We bought alcohol and went to the field where I had drunk with her last time.
“Ah, this place is nice.”
Lin Yan-Qing was delighted as well.
Since one more mouth had been added, and I remembered that we had run short of alcohol last time, this time I bought plenty.
We drank while using the wind as our side dish and talking about this and that.
Both women had special ties with me, so the alcohol I drank with them felt as special as those relationships.
Among the many things we talked about, Lin Yan-Qing suddenly asked me,
“Do you perhaps have someone you like?”
I was flustered by the unexpected question. Song Hwa-Rin came to mind, but I could not answer immediately. Since we had even kissed, naturally I should have answered that I did. Perhaps it was because I still did not clearly know what my feelings for her were.
When I became flustered, Lin Yan-Qing quickly said,
“I’m sorry. Forgive me if that was rude.”
“It is not.”
“Ah, I just remembered a promise I had forgotten. I’ll go first. Thank you for today.”
She left her seat. I could feel that she was deliberately giving us space for Number Seven’s sake. I thought she might have misunderstood my earlier flustered reaction as being because of Number Seven.
For a while, I stood side by side with Number Seven and looked at the field where the sunset was falling, and at the horizon beyond it. Our faces and the hems of our clothes, and even the sky, were dyed red.
After staring at the sunset like that for a long while, Number Seven suddenly said,
“Leave.”
Her gaze was still fixed far away. I also looked at the horizon she was looking at and asked,
“Where to?”
“Anywhere.”
Only then did she turn to look at me. I also looked at her.
“If you stay with Strategist Gal, you will die with him.”
How much must she have hesitated in order to say these words? If I pressed her and asked every reason in detail, how was she planning to answer? If she had worried about that, she would not have been able to say this.
This time, I asked,
“Are you not in danger?”
“I am… fine.”
Those words did not sound like she was not in danger. They sounded as if she meant that it did not matter even if she died.
In a calm and firm tone, I said,
“I will not leave.”
“Why?”
“Where would a person of the Jianghu go after leaving the Jianghu?”
The ones who should leave are those who make people of the Jianghu leave the Jianghu.
But I did not say those words. If she heard them, she would include herself among “those people.”
“Thank you for today.”
After saying goodbye, Number Seven left that place.
She moved farther away, but I felt that the distance between us was gradually growing closer.
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As soon as Number Seven returned to the manor, Lin Yan-Qing asked with a curious expression,
“How did it go? What did you talk about?”
“We did not really say anything special.”
“I stepped aside for quite some time, though.”
“I walked alone for a bit before coming back.”
“My God! I went around all those useless places all day today for that moment.”
“Was that so?”
“Of course. My legs were about to kill me, but I endured it because I wanted things to go well between you two. A temple tour? I absolutely hate monks!”
“I see.”
“It cannot be helped. I will have to create another opportunity next time. That person seemed quite good. Give it a try.”
In truth, it was more than that. Lin Yan-Qing felt charm from Byeok Ri-Dan. He gave off a strange feeling. He felt comfortable, yet also gave a tension that made it impossible to treat him carelessly. She could fully understand why Number Seven liked him.
Number Seven sensed Lin Yan-Qing’s favorable impression of Byeok Ri-Dan, but it was not large enough to lead to jealousy.
At that moment, a presence was felt outside.
“It is Number One.”
“Come in.”
Beside Number One was a large box.
“The higher-ups sent this.”
A single white line was drawn on the corner of the box. To anyone else, it would seem like nothing, but it was the mark used when sending something extremely important.
“And this letter came with it as well.”
The moment she saw the letter, Lin Yan-Qing’s eyes trembled. It was the first time Number Seven had seen Lin Yan-Qing so greatly shaken. Lin Yan-Qing carefully kept the letter close to her chest.
The box was too large and heavy for her to move alone.
“Please help me a little.”
At that, Number One quickly stepped forward.
“I will move it. Where should I put—”
“No!”
After firmly stopping him, Lin Yan-Qing looked at Number Seven. It was an action containing a clear will that she would receive help from Number Seven, not Number One.
Number One looked back and forth between Lin Yan-Qing and Number Seven for a moment, then soon spoke politely.
“Understood. I will take my leave now.”
Number One bowed and withdrew. Number Seven came and carefully moved the box to one side.
“Did Number One perhaps make some mistake?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I dislike that person.”
“Why?”
“That person is…”
‘Because he likes you. And I think that love is unjust.’
Lin Yan-Qing knew that Number Seven had been trained by Number One.
‘And then he fell in love? Don’t make me laugh. That kind of feeling is not love. If you truly loved this woman, you should have immediately taken her hand and run away from this insane place.’
Lin Yan-Qing smiled at Number Seven and said,
“I am just feeling sensitive.”
“Yes.”
“Now, step back.”
Number Seven stepped back.
Lin Yan-Qing carefully opened the box.
Inside were demonic artifacts. There was a bronze mirror the size of a person’s face, daggers, gourds, clothing, objects whose use could not be known, and even white bones.
Tremendous demonic energy flowed from them. Even though Number Seven was standing far away, the demonic energy made her feel nauseous and suffocated.
On the other hand, although her Martial Arts were relatively weak, Lin Yan-Qing handled them freely.
Lin Yan-Qing lifted a bronze mirror engraved with a chilling evil ghost pattern and asked Number Seven,
“Even after seeing this, are you still not curious about what we are going to do?”
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