Chapter 52:

Chapter 52:

“D-d-do you know who gave you this letter?”

When Ryu Seol-hwa asked with a flushed face, the child shook his head with a bright smile.

“I couldn’t see because they had their face covered!”

“You-you-you don’t know who it was?”

“Hehe. Yes!”

Ryu Seol-hwa sighed in disappointment at the child’s answer and added one more question.

“Did you happen to read what was written in the letter?”

“I don’t know how to read.”

At the child’s innocent response, Ryu Seol-hwa showed a regretful expression, and the child added one more thing.

“Oh! The person who gave me the letter said that sister should read it ‘alone’.”

“Yes, that would be proper.”

Replying thus, Ryu Seol-hwa hurriedly folded the letter and tucked it into her sleeve. It was too embarrassing to show such a love letter to anyone else.

A moment later, Hong So-hee, who had gone out to help Mu-jin, returned to her side.

“So-So-So-hee, do you think it’s okay to head back now?”

Struggling to speak with a reddened face, Ryu Seol-hwa was met with a brief stern look from Hong So-hee.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Only after a few seconds had passed did Hong So-hee’s words of ‘permission’ come out.

That evening.

Back at her pavilion in the Cheonryu Sangdan, Ryu Seol-hwa looked at Hong So-hee with slightly nervous eyes.

Despite being in a mistress and maid relationship.

“S-sorry, Hong So.”

“I’m fine.”

When Ryu Seol-hwa apologized in a melancholic tone, Hong So-hee responded in a monotone voice.

After accepting Ryu Seol-hwa’s apology with indifference, Hong So-hee added more.

“But continually putting off your tasks is not good for you.”

“But this was something you suggested, Hong So...”

“My lady.”

The maid Hong So-hee cut her off abruptly.

“I merely ‘suggested’ an idea. I said that if you actively helped with the new business that the Sangdanju Lord started, he would surely be pleased. But the decision is entirely yours, my lady.”

“Uh, okay.”

As Ryu Seol-hwa nodded with a disheartened face, Hong So-hee added with a gentle smile.

“This practice must begin between you and me. If the Sangdanju Lord asks whose idea it was, and you mistakenly say it was mine, the Lord will be disappointed. Those in high positions should take credit even for the suggestions of their subordinates.”

Hong So-hee’s words seemed reasonable, and Ryu Seol-hwa nodded slightly.

Although things had changed a bit recently, her father, Ryu Ji-gwang, was a Sangdanju obsessed with work and a cold man who believed in the supremacy of ability.

As Hong So-hee said, if she acted according to her maid’s words and succeeded, her father would indeed be disappointed.

While she was organizing her thoughts, Hong So-hee spoke again.

“Next time, you must endure a little longer. You are the young lady of the Cheonryu Sangdan, one of the five great merchant groups in the world. You don’t need to be mindful of anyone. Not even the Shaolin.”

“But...”

Ryu Seol-hwa tried to say something, but upon seeing Hong So-hee’s stern expression, she lowered her head.

After watching her for a moment, Hong So-hee approached and gently stroked her head.

“This is necessary for you to gain the recognition of the Sangdanju Lord. Please hold on a little longer.”

“Okay.”

Ryu Seol-hwa responded resolutely to Hong So-hee’s advice in her own way.

Ryu Seol-hwa was terrified of Hong So-hee leaving her, just like those who had been with her before.

‘Y-yeah. I need to do well! I can’t lose Hong So like the previous maids and nannies.’

Her mother had died giving birth to her, and her father was a Sangdanju obsessed with work.

Shaolin, which had always maintained a high and mighty stance on the mountain, had suddenly partnered with the Cheonryu Sangdan. Although no information was provided to a low-ranking spy like her, she could instinctively tell.

This matter would certainly interfere with the grand scheme of the organization she belonged to.

As she pondered these thoughts, she found herself arriving at her destination.

When she entered the pavilion, an old man addressed her in a stern tone.

“You’re late today.”

“There was some work.”

Hong So-hee handed over a letter written in their code.

“Is this about that place?”

“Yes.”

After briefly answering, Hong So-hee bowed her head and tried to leave the pavilion. Staying too long at such a late hour could arouse unnecessary suspicion.

However, as she was about to leave, the old man spoke to her.

“Aren’t you being too greedy lately?”

“I’m only doing it for the sake of the grand scheme.”

They exchanged a brief, intense gaze.

“Go on, then.”

At the old man’s words, Hong So-hee bowed her head and left the room.

But as she bowed her head, she suppressed her anger inwardly.

‘Hmph. The old man must be afraid of losing his position.’

Hong So-hee thought the old man was jealous of her.

He was issuing a warning over the simple task of deceiving a foolish monk from the mountain and the naive Ryu Seol-hwa.

Meanwhile, at that time.

In an abandoned house on the outskirts of Deungbong-hyeon.

“Hm.”

There, Mu-jin hid, completely covered in black attire, concealing his body and face.

“So, it’s not Ryu Seol-hwa.”

She hadn’t reacted to the bait he had thrown.

That meant she likely hadn’t yet made contact with the mastermind.

“Then, is it Hong So-hee’s turn?”

Muttering to himself, Mu-jin began to write another letter.

A few days later.

Ryu Seol-hwa and Hong So-hee visited the clinic again.

For some reason, despite sweating profusely, Ryu Seol-hwa stayed at the clinic for quite a long time, longer than the previous visit.

“Shall we go out together this time?”

Due to overlapping treatment times, Mu-jin, who had not been able to have a proper conversation with them, headed to the clinic entrance after finishing his treatment.

At the clinic entrance, as usual, the elderly folks warmly welcomed Mu-jin, calling him the Buddha-Handed Novice.

Mu-jin approached them, gave some massages, and taught them a few simple exercises. He subtly called Ryu Seol-hwa over as well.

“Would you like to join us today, Seol-hwa benefactor?”

Ryu Seol-hwa hesitated for a moment and looked to the side. When Hong So-hee nodded, she approached Mu-jin.

As Hong So-hee watched the two with a sharp gaze.

“Pretty sister~!”

A different child than last time, one who frequented the clinic daily with his grandfather, approached her.

The child tactfully used his body to block the view of others as he handed Hong So-hee a letter.

Hong So-hee coolly accepted the letter. She read the contents of the letter for a moment.

“!!”

She quickly hid the letter in her sleeve, struggling to conceal her surprised expression.