Chapter 85: Chapter 85
Stepping outside roughly slipping on his clothes, Jang Geon saw Red Wind and One-Eyed Cloud sitting by the campfire next to the tent under the dawning morning sky, chewing on something. As he approached and sat down while fastening his clothes, Red Wind handed over a bowl filled with thick porridge without saying much.
When he was about two spoonfuls in, One-Eyed Cloud beside him opened his mouth while looking at the campfire.
“Did you see what you wanted to see?”
“I saw it.”
“Then did you find the answer?”
“…Somewhat.”
Jang Geon answered while eating the porridge. The old shaman let out a faint laugh.
“Then that is enough. The prairie spirit fulfilled its duty, and you found what you sought.”
“…What about Bi-rang?”
“Then I shall thank you in advance on behalf of our friends of the prairie. For when you visit next time, there is no telling whether I will still be alive or whether my mind will have gone…”
“Elder, the morning air is chilly. Let us head in.”
Faint smoke rose from the campfire at the powder he scattered. Seeing that, Red Wind, who had been eating, set down his bowl, approached One-Eyed Cloud, and helped him up. After watching the smoke for a moment, One-Eyed Cloud quietly let Red Wind lead him into the tent.
Watching him, Jang Geon noticed that his sword was placed where One-Eyed Cloud had sat. Immediately picking it up and tucking it into his waist, he scooped up the remaining porridge while looking at the dawning eastern sky. Unlike the evening sunset, a bright yellow light that seemed to awaken the whole world filled the sky brilliantly.
Jang Geon chewed silently while quietly gazing at that sky. It was time to depart again.
* * *
He was unable to say goodbye to One-Eyed Cloud that he was leaving. It was because he had fallen asleep, perhaps having stayed up outside the previous night. Jang Geon decided to consider their morning conversation as the farewell and simply depart.
As he was organizing Jojo’s saddle, Bi-rang and Red Wind approached carrying an armful of things.
“…What is this?”
“Our friend is departing, so we must give a gift. We packed a little food as well.”
Well-trimmed hides and dried jerky. Jang Geon had silver ingots and adequate provisions, but he did not refuse the gift. It would be improper to decline when they had prepared it with care.
“We also packed some tobacco dried in the style Central Plains people smoke. Travel well, Jang Geon. Come visit often in the future as well.”
At Red Wind’s words, Jang Geon smiled softly and nodded his head. And as he was about to mount Jojo, Bi-rang took his reins first.
“I will see you off.”
Saying that, she led Jojo’s reins and took the lead. Watching her somewhat blankly, Jang Geon soon smiled again and bowed his head slightly to Red Wind and the tribe members who had come out to say goodbye. Several tribe members had come out to greet Jang Geon even amidst their busy morning.
Having offered his greetings, Jang Geon caught up to Bi-rang and Jojo leading ahead. Thereupon, Bi-rang spoke up first.
“Will you come again?”
“If I pass by, I might come again.”
Pulling Jojo’s reins, she let out a *hmmm* nasal hum. Jang Geon wondered what that meant, yet did not speak up first. Sometimes silence is the answer.
Bi-rang led until around the boundary between the village and the forest, then stopped short. And pulling out the black spearhead from her chest fold, she held it out.
“The memories and power contained within this have already dispersed greatly. However, it will at least be able to inform you if a calamity is nearby.”
Jang Geon accepted the spearhead she held out. Indeed, the strange energy that had flowed throughout the entire object had vanished. To the point where it could even be seen as just a blackish piece of metal.
Just then, she spoke.
“…Will you come again?”
It was the question she had asked earlier. Yet the trembling contained in those words and the gaze looking up at Jang Geon were not the same. Quietly meeting her eyes, Jang Geon smiled faintly.
“I heard the shaman cannot have a companion.”
“A companion?”
Bi-rang questioned back at Jang Geon’s words and laughed loudly. And wiping away tears gathering slightly in her eyes, she spoke,
“Well now, tradition is something that can be changed as much as desired. For as the world changes, so too must the way of life adapt. However, Jang Geon. If you wish to become my companion, you will at least have to take root in this tribe. For I will become the tribe’s shaman. Can you do that? Building a home, tilling fields… raising children. You will have to live a settled life. It would be rewarding and beautiful, yet at the same time a tedious life.”
Looking at Bi-rang speaking like that, Jang Geon shook his head and tucked the received spearhead into his waist.
“…That seems a bit difficult. At least for now.”
“Right? I thought Jang Geon would be like that. For your soul is boundlessly free like a wind that can neither be suppressed nor caught.”
Smiling yet speaking as if already having become the native shaman, Bi-rang soon lowered her eyes and looked at the ground. As she looked at the ground, Jang Geon also had nothing to say, and silence quickly filled the space between the two. After keeping her eyes on the ground for a moment, she slowly raised her head to look back up at Jang Geon.
“…I do not hope to catch the wind. I merely hope that when that wind passes nearby, it remembers me and visits, rests briefly from the heat of hot summer, and stays briefly to avoid the snowstorm of cold winter… Would even that be difficult?”
Jang Geon slowly shook his head.
“No. It is not difficult.”
Bi-rang smiled again.
“Yes. That is enough then.”
Reaching out her hand, she lightly brushed and adjusted Jang Geon’s clothing. And she stepped back a few paces.
“Farewell, Jang Geon. See you next time.”
Watching her smile as she stepped back, Jang Geon unfastened the bamboo hat hanging on his saddle and put it on his head. Climbing onto Jojo’s saddle, he tipped the brim of his hat slightly toward Bi-rang and made a clicking sound with his tongue. Hearing that tongue click, Jojo snorted lightly as if greeting her himself, then began to gallop.
Bi-rang stood in that spot for a while watching Jang Geon and Jojo recede into the distance, then turned back toward the village. She still had much to learn from the former shaman and the valley spirit. Since One-Eyed Cloud did not have much time left, she had to learn and master things busily.
However, she soon halted her steps, turned back, and ended up checking Jang Geon’s back once more. As she returned to the village, she turned back several times to check the far west.
* * *
The scenery on the path toward Gamsan City was a bit different from the south.
Many rivers flowed and dense conifer forests existed, while parched wilderness like in the south was hardly seen. In those forests and rivers were also many large and small animals and fish. Water was easy to obtain, so the journey was comfortable. Though he felt damp every morning due to fog, it was far better than being covered in yellow dust like in the south.
Thus, within a week of heading west, Jang Geon was able to arrive at Gamsan City.
One of the three major cities of the New Continent, Gamsan City.
Above this place, in slightly colder regions, were two small port cities trading logs and hides, but people usually thought of this Gamsan City when speaking of the northern city. One of the three cities where Central Plains people first set foot on this New Continent, and though a bit smaller than the other two cities, still a large city worthy of being called a metropolis.
Perhaps because it rained frequently and fogged up as regularly as eating meals all year round, there were many cynical people, yet strangely amidst that, nightlife was immensely developed to the point where numerous courtesan houses, restaurants, and inns formed respective streets in this unique city.
It was also a land where new Central Plains people coming along the northern sea route, natives who lived from before, and a small number of indigenous natives mixed together, causing all sorts of trouble.
Beside Jang Geon and Jojo advancing toward that Gamsan City, numerous people passed by. Those departing and those returning were complexly mixed, making the street boisterous. Unlike New Sichuan which had a clear sky, the sky of Gamsan City was somewhat overcast and gloomy, and the ground was damply soaked and muddy.
Jojo continuously snorted as if annoyed by the mud clinging to his hooves and dirtying his coat. Jang Geon tapped his neck and stepped inside Gamsan.
He intended to find a meal and lodging first, heading toward the inn street. Although he had entered Gamsan, whether because there were too many people or because it was too far, the black spearhead showed no reaction. It seemed he would have to expend some footwork.
Just then, beside Jojo walking along, a group of kids rushed over and began chattering.
“Warrior-nim! Warrior-nim! Let me guide you to Wang Family Inn, the best inn in Gamsan!”
“No! Our Lee Family Inn is the true number one inn in Gamsan! I will serve you, Warrior-nim!”
“The best inn in Gamsan is only our Five Dragons Inn! Let’s go to our inn! If you go now, a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green is half price!”
“No, Warrior-nim! Why go to an inn! Just come to our courtesan house! It’s still broad daylight, but I will make a special big-loss deal just for you, Warrior-nim!”
They were kids acting as touts. Since there were dozens of inns between the start and end of the street, it was natural to pull in guests. But among them, what caught Jang Geon’s interest was the kid who abruptly shouted to come to their courtesan house amidst the children arguing about whose inn was good or bad.
Jang Geon pulled Jojo’s reins to stop his walk, rested both elbows on the saddle pommel, and looked down at the children. Specifically, he looked at the kid who said to come to the courtesan house.
Seeing that gaze, the kid’s complexion brightened dramatically, and he shouted again,
“Do you want a meal? Our Great Peace Pavilion’s chef is first-rate! You can have a meal more splendid than most restaurants! Lodging? Our Great Peace Pavilion’s rooms and bedding are always kept clean, and their comfort is so far superior to other inn rooms that it’s incomparable! Once you lie down, you won’t want to get up the next day! And decisively, at our Great Peace Pavilion, you can enjoy the true song, dance, and liquor of this Gamsan City! The true figure of Gamsan, which can be called a nightless city comparable to Chang’an!”
While the kid who likely had never even been to Chang’an shouted like that, Jang Geon pulled out small paper and tobacco pouch with slow hands and rolled a cigarette. As he put it in his mouth and naturally lit it with his index finger, the kid’s words ended. Jang Geon blew smoke up into the sky, *hoo-*, and looked back at the kid.
The other children had already mostly scattered. This street was an inn street, so in fact, this kid touting for a courtesan house was half breaking commercial etiquette. Yet though the other inn tout kids sent hostile gazes toward him, they showed no signs of stopping or interfering.
That would mean this kid had a backing corresponding to that, or was such a tremendous tough nut compared to his small frame that no one dared touch him. Looking at the scar extending past the kid’s eyebrow onto his forehead, Jang Geon guessed it was likely the latter.
Thinking up to that point, Jang Geon soon smirked softly, held the cigarette in his mouth, and spoke.
“Good. Let us go to that place called Great Peace Pavilion.”
“Thank you, Warrior-nim!”
The kid bowed his waist flat in greeting, then trotted over to grab Jojo’s reins and began leading. Amidst complexly moving horses, carriages, and people, the kid fearlessly led the reins forward with stride. Watching his figure with quite some approval, Jang Geon suddenly asked,
“What is your name?”
“My name? I am called Gwan-ryang, Warrior-nim!”
“I am Jang Geon.”
“…Pardon?”
The kid who had been speaking clearly until a moment ago looked blank as if failing to understand Jang Geon’s words for a second. At that, Jang Geon spoke again.
“Is introducing names unfamiliar?”
“…Ah, yes. Many people asked my name, but no one abruptly told me their own name first.”
Jang Geon smirked softly.
“Then you can get used to it. Nice to meet you, Gwan-ryang. I am the wanderer Jang Geon.”
With an enigmatic expression, the kid tilted his head and answered,
“…Nice to meet you, Jang Wanderer—no, Warrior-nim. Uh, that… I will lead you to Great Peace Pavilion.”
Seeing Jang Geon’s smile, Gwan-ryang also smiled slyly, tightened his grip on the reins, and took the lead again. Seeing the kid’s stiff expression soften a bit, Jang Geon adjusted his bamboo hat once and followed him leisurely.
“It’s over there. Sorry to repeat myself, but our courtesan house really has delicious food and clean bedding. Even if you don’t enjoy song and dance, it’s a good place to stay.”
Jang Geon looked where Gwan-ryang pointed. Compared to the inn street from a moment ago, a quiet courtesan house street was visible. That was likely because it was time to rest here. And among them, the courtesan house pointed to by Gwan-ryang’s hand was not overly large, but looked neat from the outside, and the signboard was written in stylish handwriting.
“That signboard was written by Master Wang Sang-hoon, who was a regular at our Great Peace Pavilion. From what I heard, he replaced half a year’s tab with that single signboard, though considering Aunt Jang’s personality, it’s likely just a rumor—”
Just then, screams of several people were heard from inside, and someone crashed through the first-floor window of Great Peace Pavilion and bounced out. The man who rolled around while messily breaking wooden frames and paper was already badly beaten before being thrown out, his face a mess. After that, the men who opened the door of Great Peace Pavilion and walked out striding were tough-looking men who clearly yelled ‘I am a thug.’
Rolling his cigarette to the opposite corner of his mouth, Jang Geon stared blankly at that sight. As soon as he entered Gamsan City, the city’s messiness was already greeting him.