Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Let's Catch the Rat (3)
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To an outsider, Shanxi Golden Basin Yi Gil-hwan might have looked a bit gaunt, but still full of vitality.
But I knew my maternal grandfather was desperately putting on a show of vigor.
'His nape is already slick with sweat.'
The acupoints my master had advised me to seal were just a temporary fix, borrowing tomorrow's strength today.
And even that only restored support to his waist and legs.
Moving them required tremendous mental fortitude.
'If he were an ordinary elder from a regular family, he'd be bedridden, focusing entirely on recovery. Out in the wind like this, collapsing suddenly wouldn't be strange at all.'
So even for my grandfather, he had to be at his limit.
'I can't let the old man's efforts go to waste.'
Confirming that, I quickly led the group inside.
"Let's head in for now."
"Very well."
"You too."
Seeing my subtle haste, Jeong-hyeon and So-rung, who had shared hardships with me for quite some time, stepped forward without thinking.
But when I grabbed their sleeves and pulled them back.
"Hm?"
"Brother Eon?"
Zhuge Seolji, grasping my intent, provided a fitting excuse.
"Jeong-hyeon, So-rung! This could be seen as the Righteous Martial Academy's public support team formally meeting Elder Shanxi Golden Basin. We should march in formation!"
She then grabbed the sleeves of Cheon Jang-ho and Eon Yong-myeong beside her, completing the human wall.
Even Cheon Jang-ho, who would normally scold us harshly, sensed the mood and knew spouting nonsense now would get him no supper, so he silently matched our pace.
From within that wall of people, I sent Yong-myeong a transmission.
[Grandfather is giving his all right now. Once we cross the threshold, I'll lock the door. You support him.] [Yes! Brother!] And sure enough.
The moment I crossed the threshold and casually shut the hall's door, Grandfather's legs gave out as expected.
"……!"
Yong-myeong's eyes widened like a startled rabbit as he dashed forward and wrapped an arm around Grandfather's waist.
Unlike the others' shocked expressions.
A smile played on Grandfather—no, Shanxi Golden Basin Yi Gil-hwan's—face.
"Heh heh heh. My age had me forgetting where I stashed my nursing strength, but today I hauled it all out proper. What do you think, Yong-un? That should rattle the rats hiding in the estate, eh?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ - Hah. A scoundrel is ever the scoundrel.
'True enough.'
- Now I see your guts have rubbed off on you from that outer relative.
That shouldn't be it, right?
'No, wait. Thinking back on how the old Yong-un squandered the Eon Family's wealth, his liver was pretty big after all?'
Anyway.
While exchanging a few words with my master, Yong-myeong finished carrying Grandfather to the bed.
"Not like this. Support my waist. I'll recline halfway."
"...Grandfather. But."
"But what but? My body's just weary, but my mind and throat are fine. With things turning dire and guests arrived, I can't very well lie flat."
I introduced him to Professor No Sam.
"Professor. This is my grandfather."
"This ragged beggar greets Elder Shanxi Golden Basin."
"Grandfather. This is Professor No Sam, the dormitory supervisor of Blue Bamboo Hall where this child resides."
"Ragged beggar? Though it's my first time meeting you in person, I've long remembered the name No Sam, and admired Hero No's exploits many times. You're the one watching over my grandson, a noble among nobles, so forgive this old man for rudely greeting you while seated."
"Rudeness? Nonsense. This beggar was truly awed by the spirit you showed outside the hall just now. It's rare at my age to feel like I'm learning something new, but I felt it then."
"I'm ashamed. I did lecture Zhong-ying on the principles of cultivating virtue, regulating the family, governing the state, and pacifying the world, but truth be told, I failed to manage my own house, so praising my loose tongue shames me."
But at some point, their initially warm conversation veered into strange territory.
"However, you mentioned passing Yi Family matters through Yong-un. That doesn't mean permanently, does it? Just while we're here briefly?"
"Heh heh heh. If he desires it and has the ability, I could entrust it fully, but this old man wonders why Hero No is curious about that?"
"He still has his academy days ahead of him. I worry you might overestimate him."
"There's withdrawal from school, isn't there?"
"But he's caused quite a few incidents."
"That I can cover with interest to boot."
Their exchange felt like an elegant tug-of-war over me.
"Not everything can be solved with money. What of the cadets who follow him?"
"Oh? Many Blue Bamboo Hall cadets follow Yong-un?"
"Just Blue Bamboo? Zhuge Seolji here is from Yun Nation Hall but volunteered to join this trip because she wanted to..."
"Pr-Professor!"
"...Anyway, not to mention the other cadets, the headmaster, ah! Even Alliance Leader melts at his name these days. Last time..."
"Heh heh heh. You can guess from his features, but it's all because he's thick with outer connections. Even our Young-young never appeared at events while under my wing, so how do these rumors spread..."
One side spitting saliva, the other smirking, it hardly seemed like a conversation at all.
Anyway, I had to stop it before it devolved further.
"...Grandfather? And Professor? This isn't the time for this, is it?"
At my words, No Sam and Grandfather simultaneously cleared their throats with excuses.
"Ahem. A short break is fine."
"Indeed, Hero No is right. They'll calm their startled hearts and gather their thoughts anyway, observing if my display is a final burst before death or true recovery."
"I hesitated to mention it out of concern, but you're right, Elder."
"Your words make sense, but haven't matters regarding your illness piled up hugely?"
Either way, both nodded at my point.
With attention refocused, I opened my mouth to get to the main topic.
"On our way here from the public support team..."
But then.
Professor No Sam raised his palm to halt me and stared at Chief Steward Geum.
'Wondering if Chief Steward Geum is trustworthy.'
But Chief Steward Geum was trustworthy.
For good reason.
When the Demonic Cult's forces later ambushed the entire northern region,
He, alongside Paeng Mu-hyeok who arrived alone, had rallied the remnants of the Taiwon Yi Family for the sole support force that came.
'An orphan from Yi Jin-jang, the Taiwon Yi Family's orphanage, so his loyalty is ironclad.'
Thus, I spoke confidently.
"You can trust Chief Steward Geum."
At my words, Chief Steward Geum's eyes flickered faintly.
"...Young Master."
Grandfather stroked his beard contentedly and spoke.
"Yong-un is right. Chief Steward Geum Hyeon-pil here was like a son I risked my life to save when my family was swept into the Beijing political upheaval and framed. I've kept him and had him assist Zhong-ying thinking it his duty to protect the Yi Family, nothing more."
Professor No Sam then cupped his fists toward Chief Steward Geum.
"Given the gravity, I had no choice but to suspect unwittingly."
"No. You should suspect as such."
In the now settled atmosphere, I spoke again.
"Then, continuing from before, during our academy schedule, we discovered an organization..."
With that opener, I detailed the assassin attack, the demonized victim at the bandit lair we passed, and Grandfather's curse—omitting only what needed omitting.
"...That's how it happened."
"I suspected inwardly, but one of your maternal uncles must be involved. Forbidden before the family laws tightened due to the family grave. Only Zhong-ying, Yun-yeong, and Gwon-yeong could access that water jar besides me."
Grandfather pondered my words alone for a moment.
"Zhong-ying would have everything without stirring, but cared for his brothers most. Yun-yeong, as bastard-born, harbors grudges. Gwon-yeong always lets ambition outpace ability. All three have motive."
Suddenly looking at me, he spoke.
"All three must have been provoked anyway. Isn't that so?"
Grandfather was right.
The eldest uncle lost what he claimed as his, so provoked.
The younger uncle gained the unexpected, but not purely, so provoked.
'The youngest envied his little brother or me taking it all.'
Even Professor No Sam fretted I'd settle in fully and spat objections.
Those competing for succession were naturally provoked.
'Even without full details, Grandfather saw this far and said to route Yi Family matters through me?'
Well, that insight lets him play Shanxi Merchant Alliance Leader since before southern development boomed.
Anyway.
His guess aligning with mine, I nodded.
Then Grandfather's eyes sharpened like a bird of prey, his voice turning to Chief Steward Geum.
"While I kept my seat, what was the Peng Trailing Squadron doing?"
Peng Trailing Squadron.
Come to think of it, in the original, that's what they called the support troops from Yi Jin-jang led by Chief Steward Geum.
"With the Family Head bedridden, per family law, we assisted the Young Family Head... no, Young Master Zhong-yeong."
"Send half here. The rest assist Yun-yeong, but select the light-footed and discreet among them to secretly attach to my three sons."
Hearing that, I stepped forward.
"Grandfather? What if we handle Uncle Gwon-yeong's side?"
"Because he's the most suspicious?"
"Honestly, yes."
"Then attach more men. Why you?"
But Grandfather's tone opposed, so I explained point by point why I must go.
"Warriors from Yi Jin-jang, like my classmates, are trustworthy to you. And considering the Demonic Cult's involvement, I should go."
"Dangerous. No."
Now I saw his opposition wasn't logical, but from danger.
Then change tack.
I patted So-rung's shoulder among my classmates and spoke.
"If it seems risky, I'll relay through this friend. Despite looks, he's the sole inheritor of Thunderclap Thousand Blessings secret art. You've heard the name, Grandfather?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the way back from the rear garden.
Yi Gwon-yeong furrowed his brow at his wife's words.
"Father really seems better. As if he was never ill. Even Eldest Uncle got harshly scolded and stripped of stamps and plaques. Is the sun finally shining on you?"
"Eldest Uncle? Then who am I?!"
"...H-husband. With Young Master Yun-yeong here, I distinguished mentally and misspoke."
"And now that filthy-blooded Yi Yun-yeong and Young-young's brat are set to split Taiwon Yi half-and-half? What sun shining?!"
"S-sorry."
"I can't stand the sight, so stay back a few steps."
Dismissing his wife, Yi Gwon-yeong pondered deeply.
'Where did it go wrong?'
Yi Gil-hwan, who overlooked him while secretly bolstering Yi Yun-yeong, was paying the price by dying slowly.
Lee Jung-yeong, as Young Family Head, was swayed by rumors of devouring his father, growing arrogant with power.
Had Shanxi Golden Basin just breathed his last, everything would be Yi Gwon-yeong's.
'If it's just a final flare before Father's death?'
Then, as his clueless wife said, sunlight might shine.
Either way, things grew far more complex than planned.
'Young-young followed that Yi Yun-yeong bastard over me since childhood.'
Lee Jung-yeong fallen, neither Yi Yun-yeong nor the nephews matched his legitimacy, but if Yi Gil-hwan still had vigor and those two allied, headache.
'Damn. Throwing away a corpse to feed dogs?!'
All because the supposedly unbreakable curse broke.
'If Father truly rose, I must meet the Cult folks and devise another way.'