"Ah, the monk is here."

Yugang stood up from his seat.

Seolhwa lifted her gaze.

Before long, a monk in robes emerged from beyond the thicket.

“Monk!”

Yugang ran toward the monk.

Watching the two of them exchange cheerful words about how it was fortunate the meal had just been set, Seolhwa also rose to her feet.

She drew the sealed letter from inside her robe and held it in her hand.

‘So that’s Monk Gwangcheon...’

He was more than two heads shorter than her and had a frail frame.

Small eyes that made it unclear whether they were open or closed, and lips curled into a soft smile.

There was a completely different feeling from Beopgong’s benevolent expression.

If Beopgong’s was a dignified, calm kindness, Gwangcheon’s was more like the affable warmth of ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) a grandfather from the same village.

No, it wasn’t just the appearance.

A Hyeongyeong-level master...

Without realizing it, Seolhwa swallowed dryly.

What was shocking was that she felt no energy or inner force from Gwangcheon.

Had she not known he was in the Hyeongyeong realm, she might have thought he was just an ordinary old monk—he gave off no more presence than a person who had never learned martial arts.

If she had met him on the road, she wouldn’t have even realized he was a martial artist.

Even up to the moment her throat was slit and her breath stopped, she wouldn’t have sensed a thing. No precautions. No awareness.

That was what made it terrifying.

The fact that he was hiding his strength.

“?”

Gwangcheon, who had been listening to Yugang, turned his gaze toward Seolhwa.

In that instant, a tingling sensation swept through her entire body.

‘...What was that?’

It wasn’t just goosebumps—something altogether stranger.

In the midst of that odd feeling, Seolhwa approached the two and offered a respectful cupped-fist salute toward Gwangcheon.

“I greet the former Abbot of Shaolin. I am Namgoong Seolhwa of the Namgoong Clan.”

But no matter how long she waited, there was no response.

With a puzzled expression, she lifted her head.

Gwangcheon was still smiling serenely.

— Monk Gwangcheon is currently observing a vow of silence.

Yugang’s voice came through via sound transmission.

When she looked at him, Yugang gave a slight nod.

Ah...

So that was it. A vow of silence.

Seolhwa straightened her posture and respectfully held out the letter that Beopgong had given her.

“This is a letter from the Abbot, meant for you.”

With slow movements, Gwangcheon took the letter from her hand.

The hand that received it was deeply wrinkled.

“He said I should return with your reply.”

Still with slow movements, Gwangcheon opened the letter and began to read.

Seolhwa exchanged a tense glance with Yugang.

After a brief rustling, he folded the letter back up.

Then he gave her a gentle nod along with a faint smile.

Seolhwa’s expression brightened.

‘Good.’

Gwangcheon began walking toward the hermitage.

Seolhwa and Yugang shared a quick smile and followed behind him.

Gwangcheon went straight into his room.

Yugang and Seolhwa sat side by side on the wooden porch in front of his door.

“Once you get the reply, your business is done?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you’ll head back right away?”

“Probably? If I want to return before sunset, I should hurry.”

Yugang’s eyebrows drooped.

It seemed he was disappointed by the idea of her leaving so soon.

Seolhwa looked at his slumped shoulders and asked,

“How long are you staying here?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Did your master not say when he’d be back?”

Yugang nodded.

Then he pulled something from around his neck.

It was a silver ring, carved with multiple sun emblems in a row.

“He left me with this. Said it’s a token proving I’m the successor of Guyangmun.”

“He gave you a token?”

“Yeah.”

Seolhwa tilted her head in confusion.

He told you to wait here, didn’t he?

What was the point of leaving such a token deep in the mountains like this?

And it wasn’t just any ordinary item—this was a symbol of the successor to Guyangmun.

It was the kind of object that left no room for doubt that Yugang was Guyangdo’s successor. In fact, it could be said that he had entrusted the entirety of Guyangmun itself.

To leave behind such an important item as just a “token”—it was almost as if...

‘...He’s considering the possibility he might never return.’

Seolhwa studied Yugang’s face.

His expression as he looked at the token was somber, as if he understood its significance.

But then, slipping the ring back into his robe, Yugang quickly returned to a bright expression.

“He’ll be back soon. Until then, I’ll probably stay here. Taking care of the monk.”

Yugang laughed cheerfully.

But Seolhwa, knowing he was hiding his true feelings behind that innocent smile, didn’t see it as simply bright.

Still, she didn’t want to dig into worries that didn’t need to be spoken.

Seolhwa gave a faint smile and nodded.

“I’ll come visit again. Before I return to the clan estate.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Only then did Yugang’s expression light up with genuine joy. He nodded enthusiastically.

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

****

A full shichen passed. Then two.

The sun was already sinking past the trees.

Gwangcheon, who had taken the letter and gone into the room, was still silent.

Only once had the door opened—just long enough for a tray with empty dishes to be placed outside.

Thinking she’d be able to receive the reply quickly, Seolhwa had chatted idly with Yugang, but eventually their conversation grew sparse.

Both had realized something was off.

“Do you think the monk’s sleeping...?”

Yugang glanced at Seolhwa, gauging her reaction.

“Maybe.”

Why wasn’t he giving her the reply?

She needed that reply to prove she had successfully delivered the letter.

He had accepted the letter like he’d respond right away—so why was there nothing?

“...I don’t think we can go back today.”

At Yugang’s words, Seolhwa looked up at the sky.

In the mountains, the sun sets quickly.

Though returning after nightfall wouldn’t be impossible, traveling in the dark would be disrespectful to Shaolin.

However...

‘There are only two rooms.’

Seolhwa looked around the hermitage.

One was Gwangcheon’s, and the other...

‘...I guess I’ll have to sleep outside tonight.’

She had just formed the thought when Yugang suddenly shot to his feet.

“I’ll head back now!”

“...?”

Seolhwa stared at him as if to say, What are you talking about?

“Where exactly are you going back to?”

“Ahh, right, you didn’t know? I don’t sleep here!”

“...Then?”

“Over there—just a little further ahead, there’s another place I stay! Ah! You can sleep here tonight!”

With exaggerated gestures and tone, Yugang waved his arms around, then suddenly yelped and ran into the remaining room.

Moments later, he emerged with an armful of belongings.

“Ahaha, just happened to spend the night here yesterday.”

“You...”

“Well, sleep well!”

And before she could stop him, he dashed off somewhere with his things.

It was obvious he was heading into the forest to sleep outdoors.

‘I could’ve done that too...’

She was used to sleeping outside. She had done so plenty in her previous life.

But with Yugang gone to who-knows-where, it would be harder to track him down again—so she let it go.

‘It’s just for one night anyway.’

Seolhwa glanced up at the sky, which was rapidly darkening, and stood to enter the room.

She hoped that by tomorrow, she’d have the reply and could return to Shaolin.

****

As usual, after finishing her dawn training nearby, she came back to find that Yugang had returned—he hadn’t been there when she’d left.

“You’re back?”

Spotting her, Yugang greeted her with a bright smile.

Seolhwa plopped down on the porch and wiped away her sweat, looking at him.

“What are you up to?”

“About to go dig up some greens. Oh, you can eat that—it’s breakfast.”

A few rice balls were placed on one side of the porch.

Seolhwa picked one up and took a big bite.

As he watched her chewing, Yugang smiled contentedly.

“Taste good?”

“Yeah.”

She’d noticed it since yesterday—he was a good cook.

“Can I have two?”

“Eat them all if you want.”

“What about the monk’s?”

“Ah...”

Yugang’s face fell awkwardly.

“He... left? Didn’t you get the reply?”

Seolhwa nodded.

He had still seemed to be inside when she left for morning training.

“Where’d he go?”

“No idea...”

“Didn’t he say when he’d be back?”

“He... doesn’t speak, remember...”

Ah, the vow of silence.

“But usually he’s back a little after noon. Sometimes he doesn’t come back, but... since he needs to give you the reply, I’m sure he will...?”

“...”

“Want to come dig greens?” 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Seolhwa looked at him.

In one hand he held a nojak (a traditional digging tool), and in the other, a woven sack—Yugang gave a sheepish laugh.

Kaak, k-kak.

The nojak dug into the hardened earth without resistance.

Yugang clearly already knew where all the edible plants grew—everywhere he went was abundant.

“We live fully self-sufficient here. Shaolin brings some supplies every two weeks, but I eat a lot, so food runs short.”

Yugang scratched his head, laughing bashfully.

Seolhwa glanced at the veins bulging on the back of his hand as he dug, then looked around.

Wondering if she could help, her eyes caught sight of a herb she remembered harvesting with Seop Mugwang in Heunghyeon.

It was the same one she’d been scolded for damaging the roots while trying to eat it.

Seolhwa quietly rose and approached it.

There was only one tool, so she began digging with her hands.

It was better that way if she wanted to avoid damaging the roots anyway.

Who knows how long she had been at it—

“You’re not supposed to do it like that.”

Before she knew it, Yugang was squatting beside her, watching her dig.

His eyes were filled with concern, so Seolhwa pulled back and stepped aside. As if waiting for her to move, Yugang immediately took over.

And before long—

“All done.”

The herb was in his hand, fresh and intact without a single fine root broken. It even looked like it was glowing.

Seeing the perfect shape of the herb, Seolhwa’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘...He’s good.’

Why is he good at everything?