The weather was favorable for setting out on a journey, with no rain and clear skies. Hyun and I greeted our master one last time before completely leaving the temple grounds.

“Then master, we’ll be going.”

“We’ll be going.”

In fact, we had already bid farewell to the master the previous evening. But it seems he was still worried, as he had come out to the main gate earlier than Hyun and me today, conversing with the elders.

So this was essentially the second farewell we were offering.

When I raised my lowered head, the master’s expression looked somewhat complicated. He let out a small sigh, then began to repeat almost the same advice he had given the day before.

“Ha Eun, Ha Hyun. As I said yesterday, if any problem arises, be sure to inform your elders. Even if it seems like a small issue, don’t hesitate. As much as possible, don’t stray from your elders or the carriage, always be careful with your words and actions, and if any trouble occurs…”

“Master, that’s enough…”

Elder Yu, who had gone out first, came back over the gate, shaking his head and grabbing Hyun and me by the shoulders with both hands.

“Elder brother.”

“You only get long-winded at times like this. Still not used to it, are you?”

I heard Elder Yu chuckling lightly behind me.

“Anyway, I’ll take good care of the disciples, so stop worrying and go inside.”

“…I leave them in your care.”

Only then did the master seem to calm down, looking somewhat sheepish. He reached out to stroke my cheek once, lightly patted Hyun’s shoulder, and finally took a step back.

I’ve never raised disciples or children myself, so I can’t fully understand what the master is feeling right now. But I know well that all the actions the master is showing now stem from affection.

“Take care on your journey.”

After all, worry that can’t be let go of basically arises because one cares for the subject.

“Yes, don’t worry too much.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you.”

“We know, master.”

At that point, Hyun, who had been quiet all along, smiled slightly, bowed his head in greeting, and stepped out of the temple grounds first. Seeing that out of the corner of my eye, I also bowed my head to the master one last time before quickly following after Hyun.

Elder Yu, who came out last, laughed and lightly draped his arms over Hyun’s and my shoulders.

“I was going to give some advice before leaving, but it seems unnecessary. You’ve probably heard a lot since yesterday, so I won’t repeat the same things. Let’s head down first.”

“Yes.”

“Yu Sung, I’ll take care of the disciples from the rear, so you lead the way.”

“Understood!”

It was the real departure.

The journey was peaceful throughout.

Hyun might have a different opinion, having to share a room with two elders at the inns, but I had no inconveniences as I shared a room with the elder sister.

When we crossed from Xi’an to Shangluo, we had to pass through mountain paths, but nothing particularly dangerous occurred even in the mountains.

Since it was near Xi’an where the Zhongnan Sect is located, there didn’t seem to be any bandit camps in the mountains, and no wild animals jumped out either.

It was exactly as I had thought before leaving.

Thus, on the evening of the third day after leaving Huashan, our party was able to arrive at our destination, the estate of the Chengchang Trading Company.

The head of the company himself ran out to the main gate to greet us. He was a middle-aged man with neatly tied-up hair and a plain hat, with no particularly sharp features.

“Thank you so much for coming. I am Sung Hong Min. Following in the footsteps of my grandfather and father, I have humbly assumed the position of company head.”

He had a rather ordinary, unremarkable appearance. Given that his children had all fallen ill for unknown reasons, his complexion was not particularly good.

But upon closer inspection, despite the severe mental anguish that even affected his complexion, his behavior still exuded courtesy. His manner of speech was neither obsequious nor frivolous, maintaining an appropriate line.

‘What’s visible on the surface isn’t everything, I suppose.’

Leading a large-scale trading company is not something just anyone can do. Just because his first impression is ordinary doesn’t mean he’s truly an ordinary person.

While I was inwardly impressed anew, Elder Yu, who was in charge of this itinerary, stepped forward to receive the company head’s greeting.

“Amitabha Buddha. Given the deep connection between Chengchang Trading Company and Huashan, there’s no need to thank us specially. I am Yu Baek of Huashan. Beside me is my junior disciple Yu Sung, and behind are my three junior disciples.”

While the elder was greeting, we stood like a folding screen behind him and slightly put our hands together in greeting when mentioned. The company head smiled faintly and replied.

“I’m overjoyed to meet such renowned Taoist priests of Huashan like this. It’s late, so please come in first.”

He stepped aside and extended his arm as if guiding us. The elder lightly greeted and walked ahead.

The estate we entered past the main gate was considerably spacious at a glance.

With lights lit here and there, the inside of the walls was bright without shadows despite the dark sky, but separately from that, the overall atmosphere was clearly subdued.

“You must be tired from your long journey, so I’ll guide you to your lodgings first. Please rest and recover from your travel fatigue.”

Walking alongside Elder Yu, the company head spoke in a calm tone. The elder looked back at him with a slightly bewildered expression.

“You must be going through a difficult time, it’s alright if we check on your children’s condition first…”

“I can’t do that when I’ve welcomed such esteemed guests. My children will be asleep now anyway.”

“Company head.”

“Please don’t worry and come this way.”

Even as we walked, the exchange between the elder and company head continued a few more times.

Although he would naturally be the most anxious given his children’s illness, his attitude of trying to be so considerate of our party clearly revealed how important he considered Huashan to be.

The elder seemed to be trying to persuade the company head in turn because he knew this, but in the end, it was the elder who was defeated.

The company head didn’t even call a servant, but personally guided us to a pavilion on one side of the estate. It was quite large for five people to stay in, and there was even a small, carefully tended garden right in front.

“Everything should be prepared, so please rest comfortably. I’ll send a servant separately tomorrow, so please let them know if you need anything.”

“We appreciate your hospitality.”

“Not at all. Then…”

After bowing his head, the company head finally withdrew. Elder Yu let out a light sigh.

“The company head is showing considerable courtesy.”

“That means he considers Huashan very important.”

Elder Yu Sung smiled bitterly and replied, then turned to look at me, the elder sister, and Hyun.

“Anyway, since it’s turned out like this… let’s go in and rest for today. Come to think of it, this was the first long journey for Ha Eun and Ha Hyun. You must have had a hard time.”

“Not at all.”

Perhaps because Hyun was nearby, he patted Hyun’s back and added jokingly:

“Actually, you both behaved so quietly that I almost forgot it was your first time out.”

I don’t know about Hyun, but I was just consciously letting go of tension, so I didn’t have the luxury of feeling anticipation.

Since it was awkward to answer, I just responded with a light laugh. I saw Hyun about to say something in reply to the elder.

But at that very moment.

I was suddenly distracted by a faint wind that blew.

I could hear the sound of the breeze gently rustling the leaves of the garden trees. It was truly a trivial phenomenon, to the point where even I didn’t understand why I was paying attention to such a thing.

But for some reason, I felt a lukewarm and indescribably strange sensation brushing the nape of my neck.

‘Is it just my imagination?’

I tilted my head for a moment.

When I unconsciously stopped walking, the elder sister turned to look at me as if asking what was wrong.

“Ha Eun?”

“Ah, yes. Let’s go.”

I reflexively replied and started walking again.

‘…I did think the atmosphere inside the estate was subdued since we entered.’

A gloomy atmosphere can sometimes make people a bit sensitive. I may have been unknowingly affected by it.

As if dust had gotten into my eyes from the wind that just blew, I felt a slightly gritty sensation, so I raised my hand to lightly rub my eyes as I followed the elder sister into the pavilion.

From the unpleasant atmosphere I just felt to the unfamiliar scenery entering my view, I was freshly reminded that this wasn’t Huashan.

A day in an unfamiliar place was coming to an end.

As night passed and morning came, the elders immediately began to move.

After meeting with the company head first to hear the detailed story, Elder Yu Sung concluded that in his opinion as well, this incident seemed to be related to a curse.

“It’s rare for people to fall ill and become bedridden in this season when there hasn’t even been an epidemic in the area. Isn’t that right?”

“My junior disciple is correct. I inquired right away, and it seems the last epidemic was two years ago. And even that was quickly dealt with and well contained.”

“Hmm. If several physicians have come but couldn’t provide a proper diagnosis, turning in this direction is indeed the right approach.”

He asked a servant to bring the wooden box that should be in his luggage. And when the servant brought the wooden box, he took Elder Ha Jin with him to search for traces of the curse.

“All curses leave traces, so I’ll check and come back.”

“Be careful.”

After seeing off Elder Yu Sung, Elder Yu Baek took Hyun and me to examine the patients.