Chapter 10 - Bar Inn

Four days ago; at the entrance to Yeongsong.

"'I have never been here, but I think that this village should be considered a town or a small city instead of holding on to a village status,' I quickly suggested as we entered Yeongsong. The latest records that I have read about Yeongsong is at least ten winters old, and those records talk about a frontier village with a trading hub for other frontier villages within a hundred leagues from it. The village is around two hours' travel away from the main road—which is the primary reason why it was an attractive place to resupply. It was the perfect place for people who do not wish to be found and find whatever they need for the road.

"'I second that! Can't you have that suggested to your father or uncle or grandfather so that they can raise it to the Council of…well…I don't know…Council of getting-villages-elevated-to-towns or something,' Ianme suggested with a childish grin. His eyes immediately studied the architectural designs of the buildings which are odd for a village—or any settlement—in the kingdom of Zeiken-Shi. The houses of Yeongsong is built using a combination of stone and metal. The summer days in the lands of Zeiken-Shi can be terribly hot and having metal pieces used as walls can make the interior of the houses hot as an oven during summer.

"Ianme remained silent—which I find strange—as he studied the structures as well as the road of this unusual village that we found ourselves in.

"'We can go straight to a market and resupply then stay at an inn so that we can rest,' Lynn suggested. Everyone was visibly tired from the travel except for Mingmei, who looked relaxed and confident. When we were kids, Mingmei would only look relaxed and confident whenever she was beside Mingmai. I decided not to ask her if she has been here before. Even if she was ever here before, it would've been at least sixteen years ago, and whatever she remembers of this village would definitely be older than the records that I have read. Khyn was silent as well. He has been silent since we left the temple.

"Lynn immediately approached a resident of the village and ask for directions to the market. To our surprise, the entire village is one big market. Most of the buildings are two or three stories and the lower floor or part of the lower floor has been converted into a commercial space. The main living area of the houses is the second floor. We passed through buildings on our way to the Traveler's Square—where most of the merchants that dealt with travel supplies were located. The bottom two floors of these houses have been converted into a commercial space and their living spaces are found on the third floor and above. The houses we've seen that are only single floors are those that sell potted plants. The commercial area of these houses is the front yard or the back garden of their houses.

"Ianme and Khyn decided to separate from us to look for weapon shops. They suggested that it was important for them to look armed and ready for a fight since we have disguised ourselves—Mingmei, Lynn, and myself—as a group of traveling merchants and Ianme and Khyn are our bodyguards. We gave them instructions on what weapons to purchase for us and they, in turn, provided us with instructions on what traveling provisions and clothing that they would need so that we might purchase it for them.

"We quickly bought masterfully made equipment for ourselves as well as for Ianme and Khyn. In a way, it was a good thing that we had to undergo the Ritual of Cleansing because we were able to let go of our old equipment. Some of that equipment has been with us since childhood. We were now all masters of our clan's teachings and have undertaken missions in the name of the kingdom, we should be using the best equipment that will help ensure the success of our mission.

"After purchasing what we needed from the different shops, we immediately found an inn and restaurant where we can eat and then stay to rest before we continue on our journey. Once we were inside, we were surprised at how well-decorated the restaurant was. There was a sweet smell of wood slowly burning for cooking and the scent of steaming juices of seasoned meat roasting over the fire. It took more than the usual amount of will for me to stay lady-like and professional to avoid revealing our true identities.

"We were immediately greeted by a female waitress in shiny red and gold uniform. Mingmei immediately whispered something to her and she guided us to a table that was for a big group in the opposite wall of the restaurant. It was an area where other similar tables were located. It was close to a small bar that serves a brew that smelled sweet and spicy at the same time. As soon as we were seated, I used a Wind Message to let Ianme and Khyn know where we were. Lynn asked me to remind the two boys that the disguise was already in effect, hence, they should enter and treat us as both merchants and masters. Lynn and Mingmei started talking about business nonsense on purpose as the food arrived so that the people inside the restaurant will not doubt that we were what we said we were—textile merchants from the capital on our way to the border city of Haan-Dar to establish a store. Luckily, we were the only ones who were seated in our area and it wasn't hard to talk naturally once all of our orders have arrived. Mingmei had several spells in effect to help conceal our identities—especially ones that will change critical words in case there is a slip-up.

"Ianme and Khyn arrived as soon as the last orders were brought to our table. They were already wearing their armed disguises and carried two large, wrapped packages. The packages likely contained our weapons, but in order to maintain our disguises, Lynn's weapon and mine will have to stay with Ianme and Khyn respectively. Only Mingmei's weapon was small and inconspicuous enough to be carried by her. We were to travel closely with Ianme and Khyn so that we can immediately access our weapons in case we have need it. I am comfortable enough with using eizou and I am sure Lynn is as well so we might not have any problems even if we remain unarmed. It is a small sacrifice to ensure the success of our respective disguises. It is the first time we've done disguise as a group. We were all trained for individual disguises and some of us are excellent with it. However, group disguises are completely different and more complex to pull off.

"Lynn provided her permission for the 'two bodyguards' to join and eat with us. It was not long when we started eating and talking about the next few stages of the plan. Lynn and Mingmei talked loudly about finances each time someone ventured close to our table or the bar. There was no bartender at the bar—maybe it was still early because it was only barely afternoon. The two people who approached the bar looked like they were looking for the source of the sweet-spicy smell rather than looking for a bartender to order a drink. They both look sensible enough not to drink that early.

"'Khyn here has discovered what the metal plates are for,' Ianme boasted when the area was clear to talk normally.

"'You mean the metal parts of the walls have a common purpose?' I asked surprised.

"'Apparently, the village has a central heating and cooling system, and those metal plates help transfer the cold or hot temperature into the buildings during summer or winter,' Ianme explained slowly.

"'How did they manage to have a central cooling and heating system and distribute the cold or hot air?' Lynn asked with a frown. 'Slaves? Horses?' she continued. The idea of slaves visibly disgusted Lynn and she almost spat out the roasted rib back into her plate in revulsion. She looked almost ready to get up from her seat and charge into the center of government in Yeongsong and demolish their system of slavery and animal cruelty single-handedly.

"'Neither,' Ianme replied proudly. 'The village has fully embraced steam power.'

"'Really?' Lynn asked. She looked so surprised that she almost looked embarrassed.

"'There is no clan house here. Not for any major or minor clans. Without that resistance, Yeongsong is free to implement policies that will improve their town. It's surprising to think that only kashin sees the clear advantages of steam power. And only people from the clans are the only ones pushing it back, hoping to stop progress,' Ianme explained in a manner that we rarely see from him.

"We were surprised by what we heard from Ianme's story. Khyn nodded sadly when we turned to him for confirmation.

"The heart of steam power in the world of Paragon is emberstone. It is a naturally occurring mineral that reacts with water, turning it into steam on contact without generating heat. Emberstone is fairly abundant and has been around for almost a millennium. It was used all over the world to quickly dry various items. However, it was almost a century ago when someone from the continent of the Untamed West discovered that steam could move things as long as there was enough of it present. This started the surge of steam research globally. Unfortunately, the development of steam technology has been slow. The kingdoms of the Untamed West are in a constant state of war with each other while the continent of the Old Orient preferred to rely on martial arts and magic to accomplish most tasks. Steam power has just started to take root in our kingdom but has always faced stoic resistance from the different clans because the knowledge of martial arts is mostly consolidated in the clans. The leaders of the clans foresee that the propagation of steam technology would eventually lead to the abolishment of clans, martial arts, and magic usage. This is the reason why they fear steam technology. The leaders of the different clans are doing everything in their power to stop the spread of steam power. However, even the most powerful clans cannot establish a stronghold in all the towns and villages in the kingdom. And that is why a village like Yeongsong can embrace steam power and benefit from it. The Imperial Railroad took almost a decade before it was approved. Only members of the Ruling Clans and the Imperial Clans can use it.

"Surprisingly, the former backwater village of Yeongsong has proven that steam technology can accelerate progress and turn a small village where no one almost travels to into a center of trade among similar villages who have likely embraced steam power as well.

"Our conversation quickly turned into the philosophical side of steam power where I pointed out to the group that in our unbending traditions, we have become blind to the progress that steam power can provide; that in our clans' fear of change, we have become guardians of a way of life that has started to crumble from within. Mingmei remained silent, but Lynn agreed to my point. She said that it would've only taken us a few hours to get to Yeongsong from the Capital if there was a railroad that passes through the major towns, villages, and cities. That it wouldn't take us a day to complete the mission and rescue the abducted elderly folks.

"We were so focused on our conversation about the abducted elderly folks and how it could be a sign that we have to embrace progress and allow steam power to guide us to possibilities that we have never even dreamed of that we didn't notice the stranger who was sitting at the bar and was silently watching and listening to our conversation.

"His face was so expressionless as he stared at us that one would immediately think that he was deaf and mute and was merely watching us. The topics that we were arguing about have made even Lynn and Mingmei react to our conversation and yet this man managed to remain expressionless. I immediately thought that he was merely watching us but cannot really hear us speak—possibly a protection spell that Mingmei used to protect us from eavesdropping. It was not long when everyone in the group stopped speaking and noticed that I was staring at the man who sat silently at the bar and watched us.

"'I apologize for eavesdropping, I overheard you speak about abducted elderly folks and I became interested right away,' he said in a polite voice. He was probably around our age, but his living conditions as a farmer or delivery man have made him look slightly older than us. He was wearing a black commoner's clothing. He was carrying a long piece of thick bamboo strapped to his back. The bartender approached him and handed him two empty baskets and a small pouch of coins before we could reply. The bartender was limping while he walked.

"'Were you all talking? I didn't notice,' the bartender said apologetically.

"'No, no. I was just leaving,' the young man said. He unstrapped the bamboo rod from his back and carried the two empty baskets using the pole: one basket on each end of the bamboo pole.

"'Enjoy your meal, guests!' the bartender said to us as he walked away limping.

"'That was really strange,' Lynn whispered.

"'Well, he probably hurt his foot. That's perfectly normal,' Ianme replied as he returned right back to his food.

"'I wasn't talking about the bartender,' Lynn said as he turned towards Ianme.

"'What's odd about a guy who just made a delivery? Probably a delivery of herbs for making wine since he was talking with the bartender,' Ianme commented with a shrug. Mingmei and Lynn stared at Ianme with disbelief then they stared at each other. 'Besides, we were just talking about the abducted elderly folks and how it could be a sign that we should start adopting steam technology. We didn���t say anything that could compromise our disguise to that delivery man.'

"'I am not too concerned about him listening to us. I have a spell that protected us from revealing information about our true identities,' Mingmei said flatly with a concerned expression.

"'What is it, Mingmei?' Khyn asked with concern in his voice. He noticed that Mingmei was suddenly worried. We traveled from the capital and into a mission from a man with questionable intentions and Mingmei never looked worried. However, a delivery man who probably heard a few seconds' worth of conversation made her look worried. Something worried Lynn and Mingmei, but they were keeping it between them for now. However, because of what just happened, the worry on Mingmei's face made my heart race. I was about to use a scrying eizou when Lynn held out her hand to stop me.

"'Not yet, Eunshi. We have to make sure that no one is watching or listening to us,' Lynn whispered. She then nodded to Mingmei to go ahead. Mingmei used a khayantor that masked our voices and made our face look as if we were simply eating. After Mingmei activated her spell, Lynn signaled me and I activated my scrying eizou.

"For a brief moment, we all saw an image of the delivery man walking the streets of Yeongsong while singing an old folksong. He carried the two baskets on the wooden rod, the same way that he did when he left the restaurant.

"'There is nothing magical in him,' I said immediately. 'My spell is supposed to light up anything magical in his being, even if it is underneath a pile of clothes,' I added.

"'That makes it even stranger, then,' Lynn said as she slowly turned to Mingmei who turned to Lynn at the same time.

"'Why? What is so strange about him?' Khyn asked. The situation was slowly eating at him.

"'I never heard him approach us,' Lynn confessed.

"'That means you were distracted. There's nothing strange about that,' Ianme teased with a grin.

"'I had a zhougeru on myself to greatly enhance my hearing. I can hear the people on the street breathing,' Lynn pointed out. Ianme nearly spat out the meat that he just placed inside his mouth when he heard Lynn.

"'And I placed a spell on us that would alert me if anyone with evil intent against us or the kingdom approached within fifty paces,' Mingmei added. 'He didn't trigger that as well,' she continued.

"'So, he doesn't have any malicious intent. What's so odd about that?' Ianme asked.

"'It requires great skill to become undetectable by Lynn's spell. If he had such a skill, why is he just a delivery man? And do you really believe that a man with such a skill would approach us accidentally while making a delivery that he is not supposed to be doing? And why would he approach us silently? Why not walk towards us like a normal person?' Mingmei said with a foreboding tone."