Donating Elixir: Never Touched - 2
I raced straight from Seoan to Kaepyeong and arrived in no time flat. The moment I stepped inside the gates, a strange sense of peace washed over me. Maybe people really are meant to live in their hometowns.
But rather than lounging around and soaking in that calm, I opted to quickly hand over the funerary goods. Finishing work first would be easier for both me and the Hanlim Academy.
"Oh ho, so these are the treasures from Baek Gi's tomb?"
"Yes. I've brought all the martial manuals and artworks."
Since I'd already sent a messenger pigeon from Seomseo about the incoming artifacts, the Hanlim Academy scholar greeted me personally and inspected the haul. Each piece held immense value, and his eyes gleamed as he examined them. Among the academy's many duties were scholarly pursuits and historical compilation, so they went mad for stuff like this. No wonder they even stored murim artifacts under the excuse of "They handle these things so well."
"Myeol Yuk Guk Pyeong Cheon Sin Geom! A name truly befitting the great general Mu-an-gun!"
The scholar picked up the martial manual whose title he'd successfully deciphered, flashing a faint smile as he checked its contents.
"And it's been ages since I've had something this fun to translate."
What a nightmare: the hard-won manual was written in ancient script. A situation that would make most people tremble, yet the scholar chuckled and gently caressed the pages. I knew it was rude, but he seemed like a total pervert. Do all these overzealous scholars end up like this?
"Whoever wrote this has such a peculiar personality."
"Peculiar, you say?"
For a split second, You're the peculiar one nearly flew out of my mouth, but I swallowed it. No matter his lower rank, I couldn't disrespect the head of an institution.
"Yes, most peculiar. For a Jin dynasty martial manual, it should be on bamboo slips, not paper books. If it's on paper, that means it's not by Baek Gi himself, but a descendant who learned from him. No need to use Jin script then."
"True. That makes sense."
"The author must have valued the power and history embedded in the script. Since it was a technique used by the Jin general Baek Gi, writing it in that era's characters was the true inheritance—"
But watching the scholar rattle on endlessly about my casual question, the pervert label stuck firmly in my head again. Sure, the mismatch between Jin script and paper books had puzzled me too, but I didn't want this level of detail. As a martial artist, who cares what era the script's from? A lost technique resurfacing was victory enough.
"...Ah, I've gotten too excited and bothered the busy Left Vice Inspector General."
"It's fine. You've broadened my horizons."
"Haha, well said! Nothing beats the joy of new knowledge and artifacts! As both warrior and scholar, you must enjoy it twice as much as I do! I'm envious!"
Strange. Wasn't "I've bothered you" the signal for conversation's end? Why was round two starting?
Twice the joy my ass. As a warrior, I'd peaked at first-rate and stalled; as a scholar, I owed my position to connections. Far from double, it felt like a quarter of the fun. Of course, I kept that to myself. Saying it would just trigger "Poor you, unable to appreciate learning's joy" and launch round three.
"Speaking of new artifacts, it reminds me of something from Zhejiang—"
No? Already underway?
It took three hours of being held captive before I finally escaped the scholar's grasp. Without martial arts, my ears would've bled, or my impatience would've led me to physically seal his mouth.
"I'll let you know what the manual describes once it's translated! Though you might not be in Kaepyeong by then!"
Damn it.
As I left the academy, his innocent jab echoed, and I closed my eyes in gloom. I knew full well I spent more time away than in Kaepyeong. But hearing it from someone else? That hit different. Like fretting over job hunting only for a relative to nag, "When are you getting employed?" Heartbreaking.
"All done?"
Stumbling out, Jo Wi-cheo approached from a safe distance. Sneaky bastard. He'd ditched me to avoid the scholar, the traitor. After all I'd done for him.
"You've had a rough time, sir."
"Thanks."
My grudges melted at the sight of the liquor bottle he offered. Petty resentments dissolve with petty fixes, after all.
"We'll rest three days, then head to Hubei."
"Understood, sir."
I downed the bottle in one go, then made for Akwangjeo. Official duties done; time for personal fun. I felt like a prodigal son prioritizing fiancée over family, but whatever. Going home first would just get me shooed off to my betrothed anyway.
Every day is pure bliss.
The joy of letters from Gaga amid his busy schedule, the delight of reading his heartfelt words, the thrill of penning replies.
Though I can't see his face or hear his voice, his handwriting and heart are always with me. How could I not be happy?
Moreover, he meticulously recounts his nationwide travels, making me feel like I'm journeying with him.
— Those once called murim were indeed wild and ignorant of propriety, but a rare few knew manners and the Way. Finding and showing mercy to them is the official's duty as well. From his letter sent from Jinju in Habuk.
— The Pang family is still greedy. Are they unrepentant, or steeling themselves to survive? From his letter after exposing their corruption.
— Hang-san-pa aided Grandfather in his great cause. It's tragic seeing such loyalists eke out a living in ruined Hang-san, but His Majesty's boundless mercy granted them a new home. The sect leader was overjoyed. From his letter after witnessing the relocation decision.
His letters never stopped after that. When Baek Gi's tomb was found, I worried for him venturing into the unknown. When Zhongnan-pa and Huashan-pa's bout ended in a draw, I envied seeing the spectacle.
But most memorable was:
— Murim's silence when they should have risen for the realm and people is an unforgivable sin. Thus, the court's wariness and displeasure are natural. Yet innocents suffer as murim pays the price—truly lamentable.
Official Gaga confiding what he couldn't say publicly. His anguish and the people's plight were heartbreaking. Yet a smug pride bloomed: he'd shared everything with me, leaning on me.
Selfish. I should comfort him, not feel this way. He'd written from frustration.
Can't even help, and my heart's unkind too.
I smiled wryly, stroking his letter. Worthless fourth-rate, mere outlier—I couldn't aid him. Least I could do was listen and soothe. Not gloat.
Pathetic.
What if qi deviation hadn't broken me? Even stuck below peak, still first-rate, I could've traveled at his side like Inspector Jo Wi-cheo does now?
The thought heated my eyes. My greed had stolen twelve hours daily with him. Tears welled inevitably.
Plip.
Plop.
"Hm?"
A familiar shadow and sound flitted past the window.
No way.
Heart pounding, I cautiously opened it. Larger than memory, but that shape—definitely them.
Kki-iing!
Kki-oong~
"Oh my."
Two deer shoved their heads in the moment the door opened. Colors changed, but Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i for sure.
"If you're here, that means..."
My heart raced faster. They traveled with Gaga. If they were here...
"Looks like the young lady missed them too. Didn't expect them to beat their master."
The door opened, and Gaga entered with a soft smile.
"G-Gaga?"
"Came stealthily to surprise you—glad it worked."
I blinked dazedly, then beamed. Such ambushes? Always welcome.
Watching Ak I-yeon pet the deer licking her face and hands, I chuckled. My surprise for her nearly ruined by those guys. Good thing I followed right after; a delay would've spoiled it.
"Gaga, how did you get to Kaepyeong so fast...?"
"My longing for you was too great—I put work aside and raced here."
"Really?"
"Truth is, work brought me."
She turned away, pouting.
"Too much. There, you could've lied and said yes."
"I won't even fib to you—understand?"
Her poking giggles said no real hurt. But she'd started the tease; time to play along. I was the man soothing his sulky lover now.
"Young lady. Though work called me to Kaepyeong, thoughts of you always trump duty. That's why I sped from Seoan without sleep."
I pulled a gourd from my bosom.
"Even prepared a little gift, thinking of you—"
Kki-iiiiing!
Kki-ooooong!
The spirit beasts reacted wildly the instant I drew it out.
"Hey, you two ate elixir too!"
Their frenzy shattered my commoner cosplay before Ak I-yeon. I'd aimed for solemn intellectual...