Chapter 33
By the time I'd finished wondering about the secrets of the mask-changing performance, it was already over.
How do the masks keep changing? Are they layered?
As I couldn't take my eyes off the darkened stage, Namgung Hwi whispered, "They're changing the masks by pulling threads connected to them."
"You could see that?"
His dynamic visual acuity is impressive. I couldn't see it.
At my question, Namgung Hwi puffed out his cheeks sulkily.
"Of course, I could see it. So-hye, you keep forgetting that I'm a swordsman."
"Oh, come on. How could I? I saw the Young Patriarch handsomely beating up those gamblers, no, scolding them. It's just that I couldn't see the threads, so I was amazed."
"...Handsome?"
The corners of Namgung Hwi's lips twitched upward as he asked again.
"Of course. You were handsome. I thought, 'Ah, that's the Namgung Family's sword.'"
When I quickly agreed, Namgung Hwi lifted his chin with a proud look. He seemed to like the compliment.
I could see his inner thoughts so clearly that I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Let's go get dinner now. I saw a long line in front of the noodle shop earlier. Their cooking must be good. Shall we go there?"
"Yeah! Let's eat noodles."
The boy answered energetically and matched his pace to mine. We blended into the crowd.
* * *
Namgung Hwi seemed stimulated by the word "handsome" and tried to act like an adult.
The boy waited in the long line at the street stall without a single complaint, his face full of eagerness to be praised.
"Two noodle soups and a plate of dumplings, please."
"Two noodle soups and a plate of dumplings!"
He was trying to look dignified, glaring with his eyes, which seemed like he was imitating his father, Namgung Sang.
Of course, Namgung Hwi's awkward facial expressions were far from adult-like. I had to think about something else to avoid laughing.
"Are you going back to Anhui tomorrow?"
"Yeah. We're scheduled to leave at Sishi."
"That's early."
"It's over four thousand li. It'll take about half a month."
"Half a month?"
Does it take that long?
Surprised, I asked again, and Namgung Hwi scratched his head awkwardly.
"It's a bit slower because I'm riding a horse with you. My father could do it in less than a week alone."
The premise is wrong. It's strange for a person to be faster than a horse.
Just as I was feeling bewildered by the common sense of the Martial Arts World that defied common sense, the server called out.
"Your order is ready."
Soon, noodle soups topped with finely shredded boiled chicken and fluffy dumplings were placed on the table.
They looked as appetizing as in a restaurant advertisement.
"You must be hungry. Eat quickly."
"Yeah. Let's eat."
I pushed the dumplings toward him and encouraged him to eat. Namgung Hwi nodded and picked up his chopsticks.
Namgung Hwi gracefully picked up a mouthful of noodles and put it in his mouth, then his cheeks twitched slightly.
"Delicious."
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah. So-hye, you should try it too."
The boy nodded, and his chopsticks moved faster and faster. Watching him eat so deliciously made my mouth water.
I also put my spoon into my portion of noodle soup.
The milky white broth was refreshing and savory.
The chewy noodles were easy to swallow, and I could see why people were lining up for this restaurant.
"It was worth the wait."
"I agree."
The boy, munching on the dumplings contentedly, had a noodle stuck to his cheek. He didn't even seem to know it was there.
How do you even get it there?
I stifled a chuckle and leaned forward.
"Young Patriarch. Just a moment."
"Yeah?"
"Look at me. Yes. That's right."
I reached out and took the noodle off his cheek, and Namgung Hwi jumped back, chair and all.
"W-what are you doing?"
"What's wrong? My hands are clean."
"It's not that... Ugh."
Namgung Hwi turned his head away and pursed his lips. His face was as red as a ripe apple.
He had been trying so hard to act like an adult, but he must have been embarrassed to have food on his face like a child.
Since he's embarrassed, I'll pretend I didn't see it.
I put a dumpling in my mouth as if nothing had happened.
* * *
As the saying goes, hunger is the best sauce, and it didn't take long to empty the bowls. After paying for the food, we left the street stall without any regrets.
It was quite late, but the night market showed no signs of closing.
Looking at the bustling street, the desires I had been suppressing began to peek out.
"Young Patriarch, I'm going to buy something."
"What do you need?"
"I'm going to buy it even if I don't need it."
"...Huh? O-okay."
It's shopping desire.
The Tang Clan provides food and clothes, so I didn't really need anything. But night markets are for buying pretty and useless things.
Everyone has at least one cute but useless doll or earrings that are pretty but can't be worn outside, right?
...Don't they? Is it just me?
Anyway, I scanned each stall lined up on the street, fueled by my desire for material possessions.
I was so engrossed in looking at the goods that I was walking slowly when Namgung Hwi suddenly pulled me back.
"Be careful."
Surprised, I stepped back and saw a horse-drawn cart passing by where I had just been standing.
The dust kicked up by the cartwheels made me cough involuntarily.
"Cough, cough!"
I rubbed my nose and glared at the horse's rear end as it moved away.
That bastard, were they going to run me over if I didn't move? I should cut off its tail and sell it.
"Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm okay."
Namgung Hwi checked me over and sighed in relief, then took my hand.
"Come here. You'll fall if you're not careful. You have to watch where you're going."
Namgung Hwi scolded me and gently pulled me along.
The hand he held was warm and firm, unlike its soft appearance. The rough calluses on his palm clearly showed the marks of swordsmanship training.
I felt a strange sensation at this newfound realization.
Namgung Hwi of <Namgung's World> didn't earn the title of Sword Emperor for nothing.
It was the result of not neglecting his training since he was a child.
I stared intently at Namgung Hwi's clear face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Just because. You seem amazing today, Young Patriarch."
"Huh? W-what?"
Namgung Hwi rolled his eyes as if wondering what I was talking about. I pretended not to hear and changed the subject.
"Young Patriarch, I'm going to look at those hair ornaments."
"Okay."
Namgung Hwi nodded and stopped obediently.
Several young women were gathered in front of a stall selling knots and hair ornaments made of colorful threads.
Watching a child my age choosing a hair ornament reminded me of Kyung-ah and Songji.
I slowly began to browse the accessories.
Kyung-ah would look good in a yellow hair tie, and Songji would like a sky-blue knot ornament. Since she likes to dress up, maybe a powder compact would be better?
"How much is the powder compact?"
"One silver liang, young lady."
"How much are the knot ornaments?"
"Those are one copper cash each. Pretty, aren't they?"
...The powder compact is expensive. Songji, let's settle for the knot ornament.
"Then I'll take these."
"Yes, young lady. They will look very good on you."
The stall owner said something she didn't mean and handed me the hair tie and knot ornament I had chosen. Namgung Hwi, who had been staring at the hair tie, asked.
"Are you buying a new hair tie?"
"I'm going to give it to a friend in the next residence."
"Ah."
Namgung Hwi answered awkwardly and kept glancing at me.
It seemed like he wanted to receive a gift too. Should I buy him one since we're out together?
As I looked around for something suitable, I held up a bright red knot ornament.
"Young Patriarch, how about this?"
"Huh?"
Namgung Hwi made an ambiguous expression when he saw the knot. Well, it didn't seem like there was a good place to use it.
It would be a bit strange to hang it on his waist, it's too thin to use as a hair tie, and if you tie it to your pouch string... It wouldn't match the blue silk.
Scratching my head, I rolled up Namgung Hwi's sleeve. When I placed the red knot on his wrist, his fair skin stood out.
"W-what are you doing?"
"I'm going to tie it for you. Stay still."
When I wrapped the long knot around Namgung Hwi's wrist and tied it, it looked like a thread bracelet. I made a fuss.
"Oh, it looks so good. It's a color for the Young Patriarch."
"Really?"
"Of course. Really. Now, wear it until it breaks. They say your wish will come true if you do."
"Is there such a custom in Sichuan?"
Namgung Hwi tilted his head as if asking if it was true.
...I wonder. Do they have wish bracelets here too?
I tidied up Namgung Hwi's sleeve and mumbled.
"Haha, ha. I think so."
Namgung Hwi, blinking his round eyes, fiddled with the knot ornament tied to his wrist.
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah. But aren't you going to buy one for yourself, So-hye?"
At Namgung Hwi's question, the stall owner, who had been watching, subtly pointed to her stall.
"Young lady, why don't you take a look at the hairpins too? This hairpin would look good on you."
"That's right. It would look good on you."
Namgung Hwi chimed in.
I glanced at the hairpin the stall owner was recommending. The end of the smooth wooden hairpin was engraved with a cloud pattern.
"Well, I don't use hairpins."
"Ah, haven't you had your coming-of-age ceremony yet? You'll need it soon, though."
"No. I'll just buy what I picked out. How much is it?"
"Three copper cash."
I ignored the stall owner's eyes, which were full of regret, and paid the price.
As the stall owner walked away, Namgung Hwi coughed and asked.
"When are you planning to have your coming-of-age ceremony?"
"Well, I don't know."
I don't even know what that is. What is a coming-of-age ceremony?
As I scratched my head, Namgung Hwi said as if to inform me.
"You know, I'm scheduled to have my coming-of-age ceremony in two years."
What is that again? I guess it's a coming-of-age ceremony. I guess the coming-of-age ceremonies for girls and boys are different.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. So, I can get married in two years too."
"Oh, come on, fifteen is too early, Young Patriarch. You should be at least eighteen."
"...Really? Eighteen? Isn't that too late?"
"Do you think starting a family is easy? You have to be an adult who can take responsibility for yourself to take responsibility for your family."
Namgung Hwi's face became serious at my nagging. After moving his lips for a while, he sighed as if he had given up.
"...Okay. Anyway, So-hye, you're hiding something from me."
At his tone, as if telling me to confess on my own, I flinched and stopped.
Did he notice that I was tricked by the gamblers?
As I smiled awkwardly, Namgung Hwi lowered his voice and whispered.
"I saw you calling Poison King Grandfather yesterday."
Ah, that's what he meant.
Now that I think about it, that's not the title a maid would use for the Grand Elder. I hurriedly made excuses.
"Ahaha. W-well, you see. The Elder thinks highly of me..."
"The Elder is teaching you directly, right? Why would the Poison King teach a maid? I also saw you calling Young Master Lee 'Older Brother' last time. Young Master Lee seemed to care about you too."
"W-well..."
You're perceptive. I swallowed hard. I couldn't think of an answer that Namgung Hwi would accept.
"So-hye, you..."
Namgung Hwi, who had been hesitating, sparkled his eyes as if he knew everything. He opened his mouth confidently.
"You're receiving successor training, aren't you? You have to hide your identity and be recognized among the maids, right?"
What are you talking about? You're all wrong, you idiot.
