Chapter 44. Dream of the Jade-Blue Sea
After returning from the Buddhist Holy Land to Beopsindang, Cheongyeon and the priests became overwhelmingly busy preparing for the Fifteenth-Day Festival.
Lower-ranking priests rushed around comparing supply lists with the goods brought by servants from the Lang Merchant Guild.
They carefully counted small tables, larger tables, ritual wine cups, and flower vases.
They decorated the streets with incense candles and lanterns.
Large pieces of timber and stone had been stacked in the courtyard.
They would be used to build a platform at the royal palace.
Craftsmen had been invited to create paper lanterns shaped like dragons, phoenixes, and various sacred beasts.
They were busy painting them.
At that same time, the owner of the Lang Merchant Guild, Lang Bam, had also come to Beopsindang with her mercenary, Nam Hyeon.
Their colorful presence stood out even more inside the neat and restrained atmosphere of Beopsindang.
Bam’s rich platinum-blonde hair moved softly around her.
She wore a short top exposing her stomach, wide trousers, and a loose silk outer robe.
Hyeon looked completely different.
He wore black clothes over his firm, muscular body.
The red collar stood sharply upright.
Arm guards and a leather belt completed the outfit of a wandering mercenary warrior.
His cold eyes and finely shaped face possessed a dignity and confidence that seemed strangely unsuitable for a simple mercenary.
Hyeon lowered his head toward Bam.
“Young Lady.”
“I need to visit Beopsindang’s Administrative Office.”
“There are matters to discuss, including where the Lang Merchant Guild will sit during the festival and the order of events.”
As always, Hyeon carefully hid his true thoughts.
Yet for some reason, Bam let him leave without suspicion.
“Fine.”
“I have something else to do today too.”
“Let’s meet again at the inn.”
After Hyeon left with the mercenaries under him...
Bam began wandering freely around Beopsindang while whistling.
Her blue eyes observed everything sharply.
She stopped before a large warehouse to examine the Hui Kingdom’s ritual equipment.
Priests were taking out a Yellow Dragon Flag and temporary tents while shaking dust from them.
Several rows of clothing racks stood outside the warehouse.
They held various costumes for the festival procession...
along with dozens of Human Effigies.
The Human Effigies were dolls made by sewing cloth into the shape of people.
They were meant to be used once and discarded, so most looked rather crude.
However, faces had been painted onto them and clothes had been added.
From a distance, they could probably fool a crowd.
Bam stared at the faces one by one.
She frowned.
“Things that imitate people like this always feel unpleasant.”
Then she moved on.
Meanwhile, Cheongyeon was preparing to leave Cheonsingak with Jeongyo.
Several carts had been loaded with blankets, clothing, food, and other supplies.
A group of Cheonsingak maids suddenly appeared before Cheongyeon and bowed.
“Heavenly Maiden.”
“There is something important we must report.”
Cheongyeon looked at them.
“What is it?”
One maid spoke.
“Recently, Jeongyo has not been doing her work properly.”
“We have also seen her leaving the servants’ quarters late at night and returning afterward.”
“She has been acting suspiciously.”
Another maid stepped forward.
“Please look at this.”
They handed Cheongyeon a small box.
When she opened it...
a needle covered in black poison lay inside.
“We found this stuck inside one of the Heavenly Maiden’s clothes.”
“Jeongyo has been the servant responsible for managing your clothing.”
“We do not know who may have ordered her to do it, but...”
The maid lowered her voice.
“We fear she may intend to harm you.”
Cheongyeon looked down at Jeongyo.
The girl certainly seemed different from usual.
Her bright eyes had lost their light.
She avoided Cheongyeon’s gaze as though hiding something.
Jeongyo finally forced herself to speak.
Her voice sounded weak.
“Heavenly Maiden, it wasn’t me...”
Then she looked up desperately.
“You know better than anyone how much I respect and follow you.”
Cheongyeon did not like this situation.
Evidence had appeared far too conveniently.
And every maid seemed united in accusing a child.
Cheongyeon’s expression hardened.
“You all...”
Her voice became cold.
“You’re very different from the people I remember.”
“When did Beopsindang become a place where people slander one another and create divisions?”
The maids fell silent.
Cheongyeon continued.
“How can people who refuse to discipline their own hearts serve the gods and work in a sacred place responsible for the nation’s rituals?”
But even under Cheongyeon’s harsh criticism, the maids did not retreat.
Instead, some became shameless.
“Heavenly Maiden, isn’t that too much?”
“You believe only Jeongyo and immediately call us liars?”
Another maid frowned.
“You always keep Jeongyo beside you and favor her.”
“How are we supposed to not feel hurt?”
Cheongyeon was speechless.
She had been away for only several weeks to collect the seals.
Yet the family-like atmosphere of Beopsindang had already fallen apart.
Huyeong’s people had been planted everywhere.
Cheongyeon felt bitter.
Could people truly be tempted so easily?
Could their hearts change this quickly?
Then a familiar voice interrupted.
“Of course the servants cannot continue following a false Heavenly Maiden.”
Nam Huyeong appeared as if she had been waiting for the perfect moment.
She wore clothing so extravagant it almost hurt to look at.
A long procession of attendants followed her.
Even though Cheongyeon had solved Beopsindang’s financial problems and returned with the sacred-site seals, Huyeong had still refused to leave.
If anything...
she looked more confident than ever.
As though she were preparing something even greater.
Huyeong smiled.
“I also heard that the Heavenly Maiden is worshipped by the heretical Jeongil Society.”
She tilted her head.
“You even defended those people before His Majesty and the State Preceptor without any fear.”
Because of the commoners who had come to the Buddhist Holy Land, Cheongyeon had attracted serious attention from the ruling class.
All kinds of rumors had begun spreading afterward.
Her position had become difficult.
Huyeong stepped closer.
“Only death awaits heretics.”
One step.
Then another.
She approached Cheongyeon like a hunter cornering a rabbit.
“Transform into that wicked form again.”
“Come on.”
“Show everyone what you really are.”
Huyeong’s pupils were completely black, like the eyes of a corpse.
The sight was unsettling.
Cheongyeon felt threatened.
But she did not step back.
“I don’t care what the world says about me.”
Her voice was firm.
“I went to collect the sacred-site seals because I believed it was my duty as Beopsindang’s Heavenly Maiden.”
She suppressed her anger.
Then she spoke each word clearly.
“But I will never forgive you for turning my people against each other and corrupting their hearts.”
Cheongyeon and Huyeong stared at one another.
Cheongyeon refused to lower her eyes.
Eventually...
Huyeong’s gaze trembled slightly.
Her lips stiffened.
Beside them, Jeongyo kept her head lowered.
She stared only at her own shoes, not knowing what to do.
Then another woman suddenly interrupted.
“Wait, wait.”
“Let me join in too.”
She moved lightly, almost like a butterfly flying into the middle of the confrontation.
It was Bam.
As the little tyrant of the Lang Merchant Guild, she had naturally been unable to ignore an interesting fight involving the Heavenly Maiden.
Bam laughed loudly.
“Heavenly Maiden, I’m disappointed.”
“If something this entertaining was happening, you should have invited me.”
Then she placed one hand on her hip and looked crookedly toward Huyeong.
“I’ve been listening, and I really don’t like what I’m hearing.”
She pointed toward Cheongyeon.
“This lady is a customer of our Merchant Guild.”
“Until our transaction is completely finished, it’s our policy to keep our customers safe.”
Foreigner?
What country is she from?
Huyeong nervously studied Bam from head to toe.
Bam’s features were so clear and beautiful that even her large accessories could not overwhelm them.
She was more than simply pretty.
There was a deep, unusual charm around her.
