Summer passed safely.

Even though I was just living my daily life without any significant changes, perhaps because my thoughts had changed, it was a time when I was unexpectedly busy every day, not even realizing that the seasons were changing.

After deciding to show some respect for life, the first thing I implemented was to stop investing entire days solely in training, as I had done until now.

The proposition that all training becomes skill is undeniable, but since I had been too compulsively acting like I was performing a ritual until now, I’m taking a short recovery period.

So I had some conversations with my fellow disciples whom I had unintentionally been distant with, and occasionally read ordinary books.

‘In Taoism, ordinary books usually mean Taoist scriptures.’

I think it’s meaningful in terms of building knowledge and cultivating the mind.

When I increased the time to hold the sword again after training just enough not to lose touch and doing other things for the rest, I started by eliminating the instinctive fear of pointing a sword at others, letting go of my modern consciousness.

As I tried, I had a few small realizations in martial arts.

My sword path became much more refined and hesitation disappeared, allowing me to display sword techniques much more delicately than before, so the rest was worthwhile.

Just changing my thoughts a little led to many changes in a better direction.

Due to many things happening in a short period, it wasn’t until after Chuseo (處暑) that I suddenly remembered my past goal that had become meaningless.

‘Was it to safely spend being eighteen? If nothing special happens in the remaining few months, I might achieve that meaningless goal in retrospect…’

Thinking like this makes me feel like something is bound to happen, but logically, that’s not possible.

That’s because the sect leader, who heard about the demonic cult from me right after the last Seongchang merchant incident, is deliberately and secretly inspecting within the sect.

Of course, since ‘secretly’ is the basic stance, the investigation speed isn’t fast, so no problems have been revealed or changes seen yet.

‘Still, this is better than rushing and having spies notice and run away.’

Hwasan was so large that even if investigated urgently, there would inevitably be time for spies to escape. Since we can’t close the gates when there’s no visible turmoil, the current cautious method is reasonable.

‘Anyway, things are being stirred up below the surface, so it feels generally peaceful on the surface.’

There are many problems that can’t be solved right away, but I’ve learned that sometimes taking time helps, so rather than recalling and conflicting over each one now, I’ll take time and observe carefully as I have for the past few months.

For now, I need to focus on the current task.

And that task is going out with my disciple.

Looking back, I used to be so focused on the original work that at some point I even avoided going outside the mountain gate.

‘Was it after breaking the curse?’

Well, when it was isn’t important now.

The reason I acted that way then was because ‘Haheun’ would receive paper with magic written on it that would drive the master into a demonic trance on the street of the village right below Hwasan, which is also our current destination.

‘So if I needed something, I asked Hahyeon or senior disciples…’

Now I’ve just changed direction to go down myself.

Like most things in the world, once you try it, you realize it’s not a big deal. Going out was the same.

‘I also realized that having my daily life invaded because of bad guys who think nothing of ruining other people’s lives is much more unfair than I thought…’

In fact, now there’s no reason for a demonic cult member to come all the way here to give me paper with instructions on how to cast spells.

Walking along the path that somehow clings to the steep cliff, I suddenly became nostalgic and spoke.

“There was a time when it took a long time to climb this.”

Hahyeon, who was following behind, chuckled and replied.

“It feels like quite a long time ago.”

“Well, it really was a long time ago, right?”

“Indeed, it’s already been 5 years.”

Not only Hahyeon, who was a commoner at the time, but I was also just a second-generation disciple in name, with the age and martial arts level of a third-generation disciple, so going outside the mountain gate itself was a kind of adventure.

Even now, third-generation disciples are not sent outside the mountain gate without a guardian unless there’s a special reason.

‘Because stepping wrong and dying is no joke.’

But although my age might be similar to third-generation disciples, I’m at least a second-generation disciple in name, and since I entered a few years earlier than the third-generation disciples, this doesn’t apply to Hahyeon and me.

We both came down the cliff path without any problems. The remaining rough paths were the same.

The village we arrived at somehow had a more lively atmosphere than usual.

“There are more people than usual today?”

“It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival.”

“Ah.”

“I thought you knew and came out.”

“I didn’t even think about it…”

As we entered the street where the shops were gathered, there were even more people. We should have been able to avoid colliding with passersby, but there was no space because it was so cramped everywhere.

Thanks to Hahyeon pulling me towards him just before colliding, we barely avoided it.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“No problem.”

After briefly exchanging apologies with the person I almost collided with, I stuck closer to Hahyeon since it had come to this. Hahyeon also seemed to think this was reasonable, as he silently wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I looked around lightly and asked.

“Was it always this crowded around this time?”

I should have seen it before. Knowing my long history of refusing to go out, Hahyeon casually replied.

“I think so. It’s a holiday after all.”

“Let’s just buy what we need and go back quickly…”

Maybe because there were so many people, I felt tired for no particular reason. There are many people inside the mountain gate too, but it’s not this noisy since it’s inside the Taoist sect, so that might be why it feels worse.

I didn’t like noisy environments to begin with, but after living in a quiet place for 6 years, it felt like I’d lost my immunity to noise.

“Alright.”

Hahyeon smiled lightly and made a path. His head was already much higher than others, so just stretching out his arm created a path.

“Then shall we take care of what we were asked to do first?”

“Yes.”

Since going down and up Hwasan isn’t a simple task, it’s common for busy people or those with circumstances to ask people with plans to go out for what they need. That’s why I could ask senior disciples for this and that in the past.

In fact, most items are provided by the sect, so requests were usually just for things like hair ties, sword decorations, or books. After purchasing everything we were asked for and what we personally needed, I felt a bit like I’d completed a mission.

After eating lunch and leaving the inn, we were on our way back to Hwasan. Hahyeon, carrying the luggage in one hand, suddenly nodded towards a nearby shop selling sweets and asked.

“Don’t you need any snacks? Senior disciples like sweets, don’t they?”

“I do like them, but the elders and senior and junior disciples keep giving them to me.”

Even though I’m not young anymore, this treatment hasn’t changed from the past to now. Actually, it’s almost always the same people giving them, and sometimes I suspect that for them, this act might be a kind of pleasure…

“No, I think I do need some.”

“Hm?”

“I want to try sharing with my junior disciples too.”

Hahyeon laughed dryly.

“You’re talking like you’re giving grass to rabbits.”

I did feel like my senior disciple was giving me sweets with that kind of feeling at some point.

When we went to the shop and bought some sweets, the kindly looking owner added extra, saying we were from Hwasan. I tried to decline, but the owner immediately added without pause.

“Just take it, take it. It’s my first time seeing a young disciple, but actually, Taoist masters often come to our shop. Some buy them saying they’re for young disciples.”

“Ah.”

While I hesitated at those words, the owner, who had skillfully finished packaging, handed me the sweets and gently patted the back of my hand.

“My, the young disciple is so pretty. Come often, young disciple.”

“…Thank you.”

In the end, I took it as is, thanked them, and came out, wondering if the person buying for young disciples was our senior disciple and if the young disciple was me.

When I turned to look at Hahyeon unconsciously, he spoke first as if he knew what question I was about to ask, even though I hadn’t said anything yet.

“It’s probably Ha Sung senior disciple.”

“I, I see.”

“Shall we really go back now?”

“Um…”

Did he know by intuition? My curiosity was resolved, but I felt somehow flustered.

As we left the village, the number of people gradually decreased. There seemed to be some going to worship at the temple at the foot of Hwasan, but soon the paths diverged.

There was still plenty of time before sunset, so we were walking unhurriedly when I saw a bird flying quickly ahead of us in the direction we were going.

If it had been just a bird, I wouldn’t have paid attention, but even at a glance, it was a messenger hawk, so it caught my eye.

‘Is there some urgent news?’

While carrier pigeons are surprisingly common, messenger hawks are quite rare. It’s natural since it’s harder to obtain a hawk than a pigeon. I watched the hawk’s wingbeats for a moment as it flew away, then lowered my eyes again.

‘I hope it’s not bad news.’

I was a bit worried since the search for demonic cult spies was still ongoing.

When we entered through the main gate after arriving at the mountain gate around dinner time, there was a different atmosphere from when we left in the morning.

“…It seems a bit noisy somehow?”

“It does.”

It’s when everyone finishes their daily schedule and eats, but it wasn’t like this usually.