Surviving as a Maid of the Sichuan Tang Clan

I could not tear my eyes from the spot where Yeon Ryang had disappeared, so Jinseong pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit.

“You should eat first. Is steamed fish all right?”

“Yes. But Yeon Ryang...”

“There is no need to worry. My master went with him, so nothing will happen.”

“You’re sure no one knows?”

“Yes. If my master wishes to keep it hidden, then hidden it will remain. There is, however, something I neglected to tell you beforehand...”

Jinseong folded his hands neatly over his knees and continued in a calm voice.

“My master instructed me to draw everyone’s attention to you instead of his movements. As such, I may have embellished the news of your visit somewhat... You may attract a fair amount of attention once we ascend Mount Wudang.”

So I was supposed to distract the Daoists and keep their eyes off Yeon Ryang.

When I hesitated, Jinseong added,

“If that would make you uncomfortable, you may remain here in Jun County.”

“No, it’s fine. It isn’t anything difficult. I’d be happy to stay at Wudang.”

It was not as though Wudang never received visitors. Their curiosity about an outsider would last a day or two at most.

Besides, chances to stay at a great sect did not come often. I wanted to use the opportunity to see what a sword sect was truly like.

And, if I was honest, I wanted to learn exactly what made Wudang’s swordsmanship unique.

My answer seemed to reassure Jinseong. A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Then we should stay at the inn tonight and ascend the main mountain after sunrise.”

“All right. We’ll do as you say, Daoist Jinseong.”

Would he agree if I asked him to spar once we arrived? I wanted to know how much of the distance between us I had closed.

As I stared thoughtfully at Jinseong’s Pine-Pattern Sword, the waiter crept over and cautiously addressed him.

“Excuse me, Daoist. Do you happen to know the Immortal who just left?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

The waiter’s eyes immediately grew moist.

“Well, you see... the Immortal left without paying for his drinks...”

“I will cover his bill.”

Jinseong calmly took out a silver coin and handed it to him. The waiter’s expression did not brighten.

“He drank ten bottles of spirits...”

“...”

Jinseong pressed his fingers against the corners of his eyes as though at a loss for words. Then he drew out another handful of silver and gave it to the waiter.

I felt a little sorry for him.

It seemed he suffered quite a bit because of his master too.

*****

Perhaps it was the dreary weather.

Or perhaps Yeon Ryang was still weighing on my mind.

Either way, I slept poorly.

The maid who brought wash water before dawn reminded me of the children near the safe house.

We had left them all the food we had, but... would it really last them until spring?

I washed my face to shake off the restless feeling, straightened my clothes, and rolled my stiff shoulders. Then I sat cross-legged.

I had just closed my eyes to circulate my inner force when I heard Jinseong’s troubled voice from some distance away.

“No.”

“Ki?”

“Breakfast is almost ready. You must not eat snacks immediately before a meal. Wait a little longer.”

“Kyuuk!”

Jinseong was trying to reason with Cane, who was demanding a snack.

When did that little beast sneak over there? A Daoist who did not even eat meat himself could not possibly carry snacks around.

Suppressing a laugh, I rose and hurriedly threw on my outer robe. When I stopped outside Jinseong’s room and announced myself, I sensed him turn toward the door.

“Daoist Jinseong, may I come in?”

“Yes. That is fine.”

“I’ll take Cane back. I’m sorry he’s been bothering...”

I opened the door mid-apology, only to rub my eyes at the unexpected sight.

Jinseong was feeding Cane strips of jerky cut into bite-sized pieces.

“You brought jerky?”

“Your sable seemed fond of it, so I prepared a little.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Daoist Jinseong. He eats more than enough already, so you don’t have to give him anything. What are you doing over here?”

“Kyah!”

“Hey. Get over here. I’m truly sorry, Daoist Jinseong.”

I snatched Cane up as I apologized, but Jinseong shook his head.

“It is quite all right. Please do not concern yourself.”

“Kiyuuu!”

Cane thrashed in my arms, struggling to return to Jinseong. I had never seen him resist this fiercely before.

“What’s gotten into you? You like meat, but not enough to lose your mind over it...”

“Ah. I coated the jerky with a little poison. It appears to suit his palate.”

“What? Where did you get poison?”

Jinseong closed his mouth and conspicuously looked away.

Had he enjoyed petting Cane the other day? He must have prepared it because he wanted to become friends with him.

The sight was so at odds with his imposing build that I chuckled and set Cane back down.

Drool dripping from his mouth, Cane raced to Jinseong, flopped onto his back across his lap, and wriggled shamelessly as he begged for more jerky.

What a spectacle.

Yeon Ryang would be hurt if he saw this.

“You can give him the snack. I’ll just make him skip breakfast. When would you like to eat?”

“Ah, I will get ready and come down immediately.”

“All right. I’ll go ahead, then. Take your time.”

I dipped my head, shot one last glare at Cane—who had found himself a new human bed—and left Jinseong’s room.

*****

After an early breakfast, we set out for Mount Wudang at once.

Perhaps it was because the fog was unusually thick, but the mountain seemed to exude a mystical air the moment we stepped onto its lower slopes.

No wonder people called it a sacred mountain.

The most striking sight was the gorge cutting between countless peaks wrapped in mist. It looked as though the mountains had been split in a single straight stroke of a sword. I could not stop admiring it.

“Wow. That’s incredible. It looks just like a sword stroke.”

“It is a sword stroke.”

“What?”

“My master carved it on the day he attained enlightenment.”

“What?”

A human being had created that gorge with a sword?

My mouth fell open at a landscape that looked impossible for human hands to make.

It seemed the title of greatest swordsman in the world had not been empty praise.

My admiration for the scenery, however, soon dried up as we continued along the rugged trail with no end in sight.

“Daoist Jinseong.”

“Yes?”

“Why did Wudang build its monastery in a place like this?”

“...The founder had profound intentions.”

And what exactly were those intentions?

To refuse worshippers who could not climb mountains?

At my disgusted expression, Jinseong spoke as though making excuses.

“Mount Hua is higher than this. Mount Wudang is not particularly rugged.”

Was ascending to immortality just what they called falling off a cliff while cultivating the Way?

Only now did I understand the Taiji Sword Immortal’s questions.

“Do you like mountains? You are not afraid of heights, are you? What about places high enough to be covered in mist? The slope is somewhat steep.”

I had wondered why he kept asking.

Apparently the mountain path was so brutal that inviting someone without warning would have been downright discourteous.

I was fine because I was a martial artist. An ordinary person might already have collapsed somewhere below, sobbing that they could go no farther.

Jinseong studied my expression before cautiously speaking.

“If the climb is difficult, I can guide you to the road used by carriages.”

“There’s a separate carriage road?”

“Yes. It is used to transport supplies. However, it does not reach the monastery itself, so we would eventually have to rejoin this path.”

I scratched my cheek and looked back the way we had come.

Nothing could be seen beneath the cliffs, only fog.

...Going back down would be an ordeal too.

“Let’s just keep going this way. Turning around now would be strange.”

“Very well.”

As we continued in silence, I began to understand the desperate hearts of those who climbed this treacherous trail to burn incense and pray.

The monastery at the peak of this sacred mountain was where the hopes of those searching for something to rely upon eventually came to rest.

A place whose mere existence offered comfort and support to some.

So that was why everyone treated Wudang’s Daoists so warmly.

After walking for a long while, we reached a small pond and pavilion.

Beside them stood an enormous tree that looked several centuries old. All manner of weapons—swords, sabers, spears—hung densely from its branches.

Was that the Sword-Surrendering Pond?

Then that must be the Sword-Hanging Tree.

“We have to leave our weapons here, don’t we?”

I began rummaging through my sleeves, but Jinseong shook his head.

“You have come as a guest rather than a pilgrim, Miss Tang. You may keep your weapons. This way.”

He led me onto a side path beside the main gate.

The Daoists guarding the halls glanced at me, but perhaps because I was with Jinseong, none tried to stop us.

“Properly, we should first pay our respects to the founder. But you must be tired, so I will take you directly to the guest quarters in the outer compound.”

“All right.”

“The paths in the outer compound can be confusing. Guests often lose their way, so please call for me whenever you wish to go somewhere.”

“I will.”

I obediently followed Jinseong up the stairs.

The moment we passed several unfamiliar halls and entered the guest quarters, an elderly Daoist came rushing over and seized Jinseong by the shoulders.

“Jinseong! What is this I hear about you leaving the order? You should at least have told me!”

“...What?”

Jinseong frowned in bewilderment, but the old Daoist paid no attention and began shaking him violently.

“After all the years I spent raising you, you mean to leave the mountain without so much as a word?”

“I do not know what you are talking about. There is a guest present, so please lower your voice.”

The chill in Jinseong’s flat reply finally made the old Daoist notice me.

“Ah! You must be the young lady...!”

“Brother.”

At Jinseong’s ice-cold warning, the old Daoist released him and burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Fine, fine. I understand, you rascal.”

He gave Jinseong a teasing look, then greeted me politely.

“I am Jinok of Wudang. You are Miss Tang, correct?”

“It is an honor to meet a senior of Wudang. I am Tang Sohae, from Sichuan.”

“The mountain path must have been difficult. You had a hard journey. By the way, how old are you? How many siblings do you have?”

“What? I...”

Just as the old Daoist’s interrogation was about to begin, Jinseong quickly stepped between us.

“Brother. Those questions are discourteous.”

“Discourteous? Surely I ought to know at least that much. According to what Songgwang told me—”

“Songgwang again?”

Jinseong cut him off with a raised voice and ground his teeth.

Biting his lip as though struggling to restrain his anger, he turned to me.

“Miss Tang, would you wait here in the guest quarters for a moment? It appears something urgent has come up.”

“Yes. I’ll stay right here. Go ahead.”

“My apologies. Please excuse me briefly.”

“Off you go. I will look after the guest.”

“No. You will be coming with me.”

Jinseong’s tone left no room for argument.

He seized Jinok, bowed once to me, and dragged him out of the guest quarters.