123. Toward the Northern Sea
The next morning, the children discovered an unfamiliar carriage parked in front of the Seowon [a traditional Korean private educational institution].
“Oh? A carriage!”
“Did Teacher buy a new one?”
The children’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at the sight of the rather luxurious carriage. Soso muttered from behind.
“Don’t tell me Teacher is going somewhere again?”
Aeng-aeng soon looked tearful. The children rushed into the Seowon.
“Teacher! Are you going somewhere again?”
“Nooo!”
Sunbin, the children’s teacher, was standing in the Seowon’s courtyard. He opened his arms and hugged each of the children.
“Teacher!”
Soso, the fastest, ran and hugged Sunbin first.
“Where are you going?”
He stroked her head and said,
“I’m going to pick up a pretty older sister teacher.”
“A pretty older sister teacher?”
Aeng-aeng, who arrived late, panting, had sparkling eyes.
“The pretty older sister teacher who braids hair?”
“Wow. Really? Then let’s go quickly. Hurry!”
She was crying not to go, but now she was telling him to hurry up. Sunbin laughed.
“So, study hard and be good, okay?”
“Yes!”
The children said as if in unison.
Sunbin stood up. No-gun, Dang Wora, and Seorin were already ready to leave. Shin-ui and Lady Jeok Se-hwa, who had decided to stay at the Seowon, were also there.
“Take this with you.”
Shin-ui took something out. They were two rather thick pills, tightly wrapped in clean paper.
“This is for Yeon-a. It may not be as good as you hugging her like you did back then.”
Sunbin’s face turned red. He recalled the time he hugged her tightly at the Deungwang Pavilion. Jeok Se-hwa, who remembered that scene, smiled quietly.
“And the other one is for you.”
“For me?”
“I once researched the Shaolin Daehwandan [a legendary elixir of Shaolin monks], having heard that it could even revive the dead.”
Shin-ui said with a nonchalant expression.
“What? Daehwandan?”
No-gun was surprised. The Shaolin Daehwandan was considered an absolute panacea. Any martial artist would be wide-eyed.
“So? You made it?”
“No.”
To No-gun’s disappointment, Shin-ui shook his head.
“The Shaolin abbot would never tell me. I couldn’t get the ingredients or the manufacturing method, so I couldn’t get proper results.”
“What.”
No-gun said with a deflated expression.
“But just once, he showed me the real thing. It was only for a moment, but I could smell the scent.”
Shin-ui chuckled.
“It may not be as good as the Daehwandan, but it will help in an emergency.”
Sunbin looked at the two pills placed on his hand.
“Thank you.”
Sunbin sincerely thanked Shin-ui.
“Can’t you make another one?”
No-gun asked slyly.
“I don’t have the ingredients.”
“You can get them again.”
“It’s a fruit that blooms once every hundred years. I got one twenty years ago, so I’ll make it for you in eighty years.”
“Damn it.”
Leaving No-gun’s grumbling behind, Dang Wora approached Shin-ui.
“If our paths diverge, hang this flag at the Seowon.”
Dang Wora took out a small yellow flag from her bosom and handed it to Shin-ui.
“Then someone will come. You can tell him the message.”
“How long will it take?”
Shin-ui asked.
“It depends on the distance.”
Dang Wora said.
“But for a message, it will be faster than the imperial messenger.”
Sunbin looked at Dang Wora with surprised eyes. The imperial messenger could change horses at the post stations and run without rest.
Assuming they followed the well-maintained main roads, they could theoretically maintain the horse’s top speed at all times, so it was incredibly fast.
“Still slower than a beacon fire.”
No-gun grumbled and interjected. But Dang Wora retreated silently without answering. It seemed she was omitting further details.
“So, we have a way to contact you…”
No-gun said with a leisurely expression. For the Silver Sword Unit, leaving a mark was nothing. Using their excellent lightness skill and the Dang Family’s dense organization throughout the world, delivering a message would be easy.
No-gun was convinced. Sunbin still didn’t understand, but he vaguely guessed that they were using the power of the Dang Family.
“Let’s go.”
No-gun said and got into the carriage first, taking a seat. The carriage, shaded from the sunlight, was not very large, but it was pleasant and comfortable. They were able to get this carriage in just one day thanks to the help of Soeun Escort Agency.
“Tsk, it’s a shame there’s no one who can drive the carriage.”
No-gun, who had taken a seat on the driver’s seat, grumbled and grabbed the reins. But Dang Wora and Seorin quickly got into the carriage without a hint of apology.
“Then, we’ll be back.”
Sunbin bowed to Shin-ui and Jeok Se-hwa. And after smiling at the children, he got into the carriage.
“Come back safely!”
“Come quickly!”
“Bring us something delicious!”
Amid the noisy shouts, No-gun grabbed the reins.
“Giddy up!”
As the carriage began to move, the Seowon quickly receded into the distance. Even after the children’s figures disappeared from sight, Sunbin continued to look back.
Clatter, clatter.
After leaving Cheongwon and starting to run on the main road, Sunbin finally turned his head.
“Lady Wora.”
Dang Wora turned her head and looked at Sunbin. Suddenly, a strange light flashed in Dang Wora’s eyes. It was because Sunbin was holding a long wooden box in his hand.
“This is a gift for you.”
Sunbin held out the wooden box to her. But Dang Wora remained still as if frozen, unable to receive the box.
Only after a long time did she reach out and receive the wooden box. Dang Wora’s fingertips, slowly stroking the wooden box, trembled slightly.
Clunk.
Dang Wora opened the wooden box.
“To be exact, only half of it is a gift.”
Sunbin said. Inside the opened wooden box was a sword. It was about half the length of a normal sword, and if classified, it could be called a short sword.
“The handle originally belongs to the Dang Family, so it can’t be called a gift.”
The handle of the sword in the wooden box originally belonged to ‘Hoa’. It was the sword of the Fierce Tiger, Dang Baek-ho, and the very handle that Seolgeom, Dang Hwa-ryeon, had said she would definitely come to find.
‘I returned it to the Dang Family, so that young lady shouldn’t have any complaints.’
Sunbin smiled, thinking it was a brilliant idea. The gem embedded in the handle was said to have good effects on the body, so it would also be helpful to Lady Wora.
‘Ah, come to think of it, maybe Lady Wora knows that girl named Seolgeom…’
It was the moment Sunbin was about to ask if she knew Seolgeom, Dang Hwa-ryeon.
Swish.
Dang Wora drew the sword. The handle, decorated with colorful gems, sparkled in the sunlight. But even more beautiful was the flowing blade with its glossy sheen.
“It’s a beautiful sword.”
Dang Wora said, looking at the blade. Judging by her tone, it sounded like just a formality, but Dang Wora’s sparkling eyes told the truth.
“And it’s a strong sword.”
It wasn’t that she had never held a sword before. But without exception, none of them could withstand her poison energy.
Holding the sword, Dang Wora could intuitively know. This sword could fully contain her Wora Poison Energy.
“What’s its name?”
Dang Wora asked, looking at Sunbin.
“It doesn’t have one yet.”
“Can I name it?”
“Of course.”
Dang Wora was silent for a moment. But soon she said,
“Then, I’ll call it Sowol (素月) [White Moon].”
Sowol means white moon. Her name is Wora, so it must be a name derived from it.
“It’s a good name.”
Sunbin said. Dang Wora stared quietly at Sowol, which had now become her sword.
The blade, sparkling in the sunlight, was like a thin moonlight shining through a window. Like the white moonlight that was the only outside scenery the young Dang Wora could see.
Swish.
After staring at it for a long time, Dang Wora sheathed Sowol. Even after putting it in its scabbard, Dang Wora did not take her hand off Sowol. She looked very pleased, so Sunbin, who had given it as a gift, felt proud.
“What about me?”
Seorin suddenly asked from the side. Seorin’s eyes were full of envy.
“Just take good care of your Buljin! [a type of rope dart]”
No-gun, who was driving, looked back and spat out the words.
“You don’t even know how great that is… Aigoo [expression of frustration].”
Seorin flinched and hid behind Sunbin. She quickly wrapped the Buljin, Hongjinmanri, which was rolling around next to her, around her chest.
“I’ll buy you something delicious later.”
Sunbin said, stroking Seorin’s head. Seorin smiled contentedly.
“Me too.”
This time, Dang Wora added a word in a low voice.
Clatter, clatter.
The carriage, which had come out onto the wide main road, began to pick up speed. The main road, stretching as if it would reach the end of the sky, lay before them. The long journey to the Northern Sea had now begun.
*
*
*
Sa Su-yeon rode her horse slowly. The streets were full of people with unfamiliar clothes and strange hairstyles. This place, which looked like a market street, was very large and full of energy.
Perhaps because people in various costumes were mixed together, Sa Su-yeon’s appearance did not attract much attention. The affectionate gazes of the men who glanced at her were still there, though.
‘Is this the Northern Sea?’
Sa Su-yeon had arrived in the Northern Sea, but she didn’t really feel it. The weather didn’t feel that cold, and rather, some women’s clothes were quite revealing.
Clatter, clatter.
‘It took longer than I thought.’
Before arriving here in the Northern Sea, Sa Su-yeon went to the place where she had lived with her father, Sa Ja-hyeok, and recovered the remaining relics. It was a place with nothing but dirt and sandstorms, so the abandoned house had already become half-ruined.
There were not many things that could be called relics. Sa Su-yeon collected the remaining things and left the place. The dilapidated house, which looked like it would collapse soon, was the last sight Sa Su-yeon looked back on.
After leaving that land for several days, Sa Su-yeon finally arrived in the Northern Sea.
‘Northern Sea…’
It was her mother’s hometown, but it was a completely unfamiliar place to Sa Su-yeon. Only the sad melody of the song her mother used to sing and the intensely colored clothes that she thought were pretty came to mind.
‘I have to find my mother’s family.’
Sa Su-yeon shook off her thoughts. As the surroundings seemed to be getting more crowded, she got off her horse. And holding the reins, she walked slowly. The voices of passers-by and the lively voices busy with business filled the surroundings.
As she walked down the street, Sa Su-yeon stopped in front of a stall. A middle-aged woman with a gentle feeling was selling dried fruit.
“Excuse me, but can I ask you something for a moment?”
Sa Su-yeon said. But the middle-aged woman at the stall did not understand Sa Su-yeon’s words. She smiled and spread her fingers, saying something, probably meaning how much the dried fruit was.
“No, that’s not it.”
Sa Su-yeon said, shaking her head.
“Do you happen to know someone with three hundred and thirty-six sons and one daughter…”
Crash.
Sa Su-yeon turned her head at the sound that suddenly came from behind. It seemed that a middle-aged, beautiful woman had dropped the basket she was holding.
The young woman next to her was fussing and picking up the broken things, but the middle-aged woman was staring at Sa Su-yeon with surprised eyes. It was as if she had seen a sight she couldn’t possibly believe.
Sa Su-yeon tilted her head. Because they were faces she had no memory of at all.
Sa Su-yeon turned her head back to the stall woman. Since she didn’t seem to understand her at all, she had to find a place where people would gather.
“Then, an inn or…”
Whoosh.
Sa Su-yeon, who was talking, quickly turned her body and took a step back. The middle-aged, beautiful woman was standing right in front of her.
“What’s going on?”
Sa Su-yeon asked in a sharp tone. Her hand was already reaching for the sword handle.
The middle-aged, beautiful woman mumbled something incomprehensible in a stammering voice. Sa Su-yeon shook her head with a cold look.
“I don’t know the language here.”
The middle-aged woman’s eyes were somehow filled with tears. It didn’t seem like she had bad intentions, but this was an unfamiliar place. Sa Su-yeon did not let her guard down.
In the meantime, the young woman who was picking up the things approached.
“Did you come from the South?”
Sa Su-yeon’s face brightened at the young woman’s words. She had met someone who could speak her language.
“Yes. You know our language.”
As Sa Su-yeon and the young woman seemed to understand each other, the middle-aged, beautiful woman next to her spoke again. The young woman tilted her head and asked Sa Su-yeon with a suspicious expression.
“She’s asking if your mother is from the Northern Sea?”
A light of vigilance rose again in Sa Su-yeon’s eyes. Originally, there was no reason to answer, but the earnest eyes of the middle-aged, beautiful woman moved Sa Su-yeon’s heart.
“That’s right.”
Did she understand those words? The middle-aged, beautiful woman asked something with an even more urgent expression. Even if she didn’t know what she was saying, it was clear that she was desperate.
“Could it be…”
Doubt and embarrassment arose together on the young woman’s face. After hesitating for a moment, she continued with difficulty.
“Your mother said that in the dawn sky, there is a blue breath… No, that’s not it, could you be Chilgungjusin [Seven Palaces Divine]?”
The young woman’s words were disjointed, as if she was trying to translate some complex word.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sa Su-yeon shook her head.
The young woman looked back at the middle-aged, beautiful woman. But the middle-aged, beautiful woman shook her head firmly as if that couldn’t be. Her eyes, looking at Sa Su-yeon, were clearly convinced.
“I’m sorry, but can you tell me your mother’s name?”
The young woman asked again. Sa Su-yeon hesitated for a moment. It was not wise to tell a stranger her mother’s name. But perhaps it could be a clue to finding her mother’s family.
“I’ll tell you if you answer what I ask.”
The middle-aged, beautiful woman nodded after hearing Sa Su-yeon’s words. Sa Su-yeon asked.
“Where is the family in the Northern Sea with three hundred and thirty-six sons and one daughter?”
That was the only clue Sa Su-yeon’s mother had left about her family.
When she was young, she thought, ‘Wow, there are so many uncles?’ and when she grew up a little, she thought it was nonsense. Now, all that remains is her mother’s words.
“Yes?”
At that moment, the young woman asked back and made a strange expression. It was an expression mixed with surprise and embarrassment. The young woman, who was flustered, asked.
“What is your mother’s name?”
“Answer me first.”
Sa Su-yeon did not back down. The young woman said urgently.
“The only place in the Northern Sea that is called a family with three hundred and thirty-six sons and only one daughter is Bukhae Ice Palace [Northern Sea Ice Palace].”
‘Bukhae Ice Palace.’
Sa Su-yeon was surprised. Then was her mother a member of the Ice Palace?
‘Then…’
“U-uh, your mother’s name.”
The young woman asked again. Her eyes were the same as the middle-aged, beautiful woman’s. Desperate and urgent, and above all, earnest eyes.
“My mother.”
Sa Su-yeon said.
“Used the characters Ga (嘉) and Ryeo (麗).”
The young woman’s face hardened. And the middle-aged, beautiful woman began to cry.
Rustle.
Sa Su-yeon was startled. The hand of the middle-aged, beautiful woman, who had approached before she knew it, had reached Sa Su-yeon’s face. It was as if she didn’t even think that Sa Su-yeon’s sword could be drawn towards her at any moment.
The expression of the middle-aged, beautiful woman, who was crying, was so sad that Sa Su-yeon couldn’t bring herself to shake off her touch.
The middle-aged, beautiful woman slowly touched Sa Su-yeon’s face and said something. She couldn’t understand a word, but it was clear that her voice was full of longing and sadness.
“Like a white breath rising under the dawn sky…”
The young woman muttered with a blank expression. And soon she said something in a high voice. It was a word that Sa Su-yeon could not understand.
But the result was clear. The bustling street instantly sank into silence.
“What did you say? What does it mean?”
Sa Su-yeon asked in a sharp tone. Countless people stopped moving and were watching this way. The atmosphere of murmuring in low voices was quite unusual.
Sa Su-yeon thought that she might have to leave this place, when she heard the woman’s sobbing voice.
“You are the daughter of that person.”
The young woman was also crying. The face of the middle-aged, beautiful woman, stained with tears, was overflowing with indescribable emotion.
Rustle.
Sa Su-yeon was flustered, but the middle-aged, beautiful woman put her hands together on her chest. And she knelt down on one knee towards Sa Su-yeon and bowed deeply.
“What…”
Sa Su-yeon frowned, but the young woman next to her also put her hands together on her chest, bowed her head, and knelt down. Not only them. The stall woman who was watching, and all the people around, were the same.
Whoosh.
People put their hands together on their chests and knelt down all at once. Men and women, old and young, everyone in that place.
Sa Su-yeon could not hide her embarrassment at the sight, which even felt like religious reverence.
“Finally, that person’s light has returned to the Northern Sea.”
The young woman said. The face of the middle-aged, beautiful woman, stained with tears, was overflowing with indescribable emotion.