Altered Future (1)
Jiangsu Province seemed to wrap up its troubles nicely.
…Of course, the fact that he hadn't managed to block Moyong Shin at the very end still nagged at him now and then.
Still, he tried to console himself. Yeah, the imperial seal from the front lines only gained its full value once all the fragments were gathered.
Just like in those card games where collecting every body part lets you win.
…Though the Blazing Flower Island's Lotus Sword wasn't even close to that level.
Pushing aside the lingering regret, before heading back to Zhejiang Province, he wandered Suzhou's streets to bid farewell to the connections he'd made here.
He received another invitation to Bijong's estate—the visit that had been canceled due to the recent incident.
Only then did he realize that, in the chaos, the gifts he'd bought from Gwakssi's shop had gone missing.
With no choice, he headed to Uncle Gwakssi's general store to check on him and sell the items anyway.
'Huh? Where'd Uncle Gwakssi go?'
The man who always manned his post was nowhere in sight.
More than that, the shop—once overflowing with goods—looked utterly abandoned, as if no human hand had touched it in ages.
'…No way.'
He recalled the faces of those who'd joined the uprising. The clashes with the military had been fierce and passionate. Had Uncle Gwakssi been there too?
…Given how well-connected the man was, he might've even been one of the ringleaders.
Worried that something terrible had happened, a heavy feeling settled in. If there was trouble, he'd want to help, if only out of their acquaintance.
That day, Uncle Gwakssi's usual friendly demeanor had seemed unusually curt—maybe it was his way of warning him.
To stay alert. To sense the danger.
"Hope we meet again someday."
He was a good guy. Please be safe.
With a brief prayer for his safety, he stood.
Settling for the most eye-catching gift shop on the street corner, he bought some prettily packaged dried tea leaves and headed to Bijong's house.
"Young master! You said just name-dropping you would fix everything, so I trusted you!"
"Ah, haha… …I'm ashamed."
He bowed his head deeply to Yurin's scolding—there was no dodging it. And hearing the full story, the blame was entirely his, leaving him utterly mortified.
Good thing it worked out; otherwise, disaster could've struck. No more slacking off. He whipped himself mentally.
"Don't be too hard on him. The young master was startled too but came right away."
"…I know. But if the young master hadn't been there…"
"Yurin."
Bijong pulled her into a hug, patting her back to stop dwelling on the horror. She accepted it quietly.
Since the incident, their already close bond had grown even tighter. Yeah, he'd probably do the same in their shoes.
Soon, shaking off the earlier playful mood, Yurin bowed solemnly before him.
"Thank you so much for helping Bijong and me."
Her heartfelt gratitude warmed him as Bijong knelt on one knee.
"For enabling me to protect what's dearer than my own life, I thank you sincerely."
This debt, I will repay one day, no matter what.
Really, it was nothing to fuss over. But knowing Bijong's character, he'd want to express it somehow.
Meanwhile, Yurin fidgeted, cheeks flushed at his words.
Getting all lovey-dovey in front of everyone.
'Childhood sweethearts are the best.'
He suddenly craved some Lak-su-on-do-rak rice wine.
"Heh, you two, just live happily. That's repayment enough for me."
And if trouble hits again, drop my name.
Everyone laughed at his joke, Yurin huffing, "We won't!"
With that exchange, his ties in Jiangsu came to a close.
Even as he packed to leave, Bijong, Yurin, and the soldiers he'd toiled alongside greeted him warmly.
"Safe travels!"
"Great work, young master!"
Watching their backs, pride swelled, drawing a grin.
"Pup, you're popular."
Joo Hyejin sat by the waiting room window, gazing out.
"Yeah, probably more than you here in Jiangsu."
"Where does that confidence come from?"
She chuckled at his banter.
"Young master, the carriage is ready."
Time to wrap up Jiangsu and return to Zhejiang.
With public order and administration stabilizing, he left oversight to Inspector General Dohyang, boarding the carriage with Hyejin.
"Careful getting on."
"Thanks!"
Since he'd rushed to Nanjing without one, she was sharing his. Or so he figured—now quite close, it didn't feel awkward unless he slipped up.
They traded light jokes as the carriage sped past Suzhou, familiar cityscapes blurring by.
Crossing the Jiangsu-Zhejiang border, he couldn't resist.
"We're home!"
"Welcome back."
She smiled. Having someone greet him warmly felt great. Truly.
Thus ended his Jiangsu stint.
'What an incredible person.'
Lately, helplessness had gnawed at him relentlessly.
The pirates grew bolder, smarter. Bandits and waterborne thugs, once holed up in mountains, now swelled in numbers, creeping along the Yangtze.
But the military couldn't keep pace.
They just took hits like punching bags, eroding the people's trust.
"What do we even eat for?" Sparks of resentment bred internal strife.
Then, before Bijong and Jiangsu's soldiers, a man appeared. From neighboring Zhejiang, the mighty hero who'd crushed pirates.
Rumors sounded exaggerated. Humans can't do that.
But seeing him firsthand, he knew it was true.
Things started fixing themselves upon his arrival.
More than that—in their short time together, he couldn't ignore comrades' injustices.
He still recalled it: the 'greatest ally' he'd never known.
—When cannon fire shook the heavens, nothing felt more reassuring.
On pirate-swept coasts, at the surrounded patrol office.
Not just him and Yurin—the man armed for the people, risking traitor labels, for his comrades.
He'd wondered: If it were me? Lucky it worked out, but could I step up, bearing all that risk?
—Dunno.
So he resolved.
'I want to be like him.'
Strong in body and spirit.
Thus, instead of routine sword drills, he added grueling physical training.
—Bijong.
A man born to lose his love, become a bandit lord terrorizing the empire.
But one man's intervention shattered that fate.
Main Scenario, 'Bandit Lord of the Green Forest', storyline has been altered.
New scenario unlocked: 'First Commoner Chief Artillery Commander'.
Such a small yet monumental shift.
—Imperial soldier Bijong.
Unprecedented: the empire's youngest commoner staff officer,
soon to helm Jiangsu's artillery as chief commander—a legendary rise.
His changed path bolstered Princess Hyejin's faction, signaling the debut of the rising force, Donglim Mubang, in the military landscape.