A Bear, a Beating, and a Feast
Dusk was settling over the land. Irongha, who had been lying unconscious, suddenly snapped back to his senses. What on earth happened? He was completely bewildered. Memories of only moments ago floated back to him in fragments. The moment he tried to rise, he swallowed a cry of pain. His whole body ached as if he had been beaten from head to toe. From somewhere up the slope, someone was moaning. "Hey! Who's there?" "...Irongha, is that you, brother?" Irongha recognized Husureogai's voice. "...You got caught in it too?" "Looks like it." The two men stared at each other blankly. Irongha muttered under his breath. "We got laid out with a single blow." "What are we going to do now?" "What else... we go back." When they returned to the spot where Lee Go-nap-hap had been, they could hardly believe their eyes. The grassy field was strewn with the traces of a fierce struggle. Marks of something trampled flat, drag-marks where bodies had been hauled away — and above all, two corpses. Irongha doubted his own eyes. Aren't those Pannu and Muhashan? What in the world...? "Where did you two slink off to now?" Lee Go-nap-hap's gruff voice rang out. The two men turned to see him surrounded by Olanggamokya and his men, and they hurried over. "Ah, Dudu, what in the world happened here?" "We were—" "Enough." "I beg your pardon?" "I mean I don't need to hear it to know. You got done in by Tung Jugang and Temusi'i, didn't you?" "Y-yes..." The two men admitted it awkwardly. Lee Go-nap-hap clicked his tongue. "Tsk tsk, what a pair of useless wretches." "It's just... they ambushed us like cowards." There could hardly have been an excuse more shameless — it was rather like two men whining about unfair play after ganging up to torment a woman — but Irongha offered it anyway. "Ah, forget it." "Then what in the world happened here, my lord?" "A bear." Lee Go-nap-hap spat out the answer flatly, cutting short Irongha's careful probing. "A... bear, my lord?" "You can see for yourself, can't you?" Irongha looked down at the corpses of Pannu and Muhashan. Their bodies were so gruesome to behold that he turned his gaze away. Lee Go-nap-hap rose to his feet, shrugging off Olanggamokya's hand when the man moved to support him. "Never mind. I had that wench of a maidservant captured and brought to her knees, when out of nowhere a bear appeared and killed Muhashan and Pannu. I drove the beast off somehow, but that was exactly when Tung Jugang and Temusi'i showed up. I couldn't handle them all alone, and so it came to this." He pointed at the drag-marks in the grass as he went on. "They hauled the bear I caught away with them, too." "Oh, the shame of it!" "What an indignity, my lord." Lee Go-nap-hap was brazenly padding the story in front of his men. For the sake of his honor, he could not tell the truth, and he had resolved to hide the fact that he had signed a written oath to Hong-wi's party. "Then surely we can't just let those dogs go unpunished! Dudu, the moment you return, we should—" "No. No, we won't." Lee Go-nap-hap waved his hand hastily. Irongha's eyes went round. "Then what do you intend to do, my lord?" "So long as they keep their mouths shut about today, it's best to leave them be for now. As for Tung Jugang and Temusi'i — someday, when the chance comes, we'll teach those two their place." What Lee Go-nap-hap truly feared, should today's affair ever come to light, was above all else his father's reaction. The objections of Onyan Isiha and the Onyan clan hardly troubled him at all — Lee Man-ju was a man who would brush aside such things as beneath his notice. No, what would enrage his father was the fact that a man holding the rank of vice-commissioner of the Jianzhou Guard had been cowed by threats into signing an oath and released. Fortunately, it doesn't look like those two intend to dig up today's business either. Lee Go-nap-hap bit his lip. But Tung Jugang and Temusi'i — someday, he would pay those two back for this debt, every last bit of it. "Let's be off." "Yes, Dudu."
While Lee Go-nap-hap's party gathered up their dead companions and withdrew, a great feast was underway at Anchuunbugu. Tung Jugang and Hong-wi, who had brought back the greatest prizes of the hunt, received the Grand Chieftain's personal commendation and enjoyed the honor of seated at his right and left hand. All eyes at the feast were fixed on the two men, as a matter of course. Hong-wi was no longer a stranger from Joseon; he had become a great hunter celebrated across the village in a single day — the man who had taken both a colossal boar and a bear, beasts no one had ever caught before. Yet there was one more person who commanded attention at tonight's feast. "This is unbelievable — what a flavor!" The villagers tasted the food served at the feast and each of them went wide-eyed. It was finer than anything they had ever eaten. Ho-in had prepared it with his own hands the moment he returned from the hunt: grilled wild boar and sliced boiled boar, white kimchi, and above all, a rich meat stew. "You boiled the meat and there's hardly any gamey smell at all." Wild boar was notoriously gamy, and the stench grew far worse if the blood wasn't drained properly after the kill. Roasting over a fire killed most of the off-flavors, which was why the frontier folk usually just grilled it. But somehow — heaven only knew what secret trick Ho-in had used — the boiled meat carried almost no gaminess, and even the grilled cuts smelled milder than usual. "The meat's fine and all, but this broth is splendid too." The greatest praise went to the stew: pork bones simmered long into a deep broth, seasoned with soybean paste and brimming with bean sprouts and chunks of meat, served piping hot. The frontier folk had always loved the chew of half-cooked grain, and when they scooped the stew over their rice, it was simply perfect. Even Onyan Isiha was greatly pleased. "The food is excellent today. I hear a man of Lord Temusi'i's household made it himself?" "Yes, that's right. I made it myself." At Onyan Isiha's question, Hong-wi answered with a hand resting on Ho-in's shoulder. "Fine work indeed. It suits this old man's palate." "You honor me too much." Ho-in flushed red and stammered out his reply in the frontier tongue. No man alive, whatever his station, was displeased to have his skill praised. Kushinu leaned in as well. "No, no flattery in it. We old men are apt to have weak teeth, you see, and this boiled meat is wonderfully tender. Hardly any gaminess at all. How did you manage it?" "It's my own little recipe, learned from my father. I boil it with some chives, green onion, and wild chives, along with a splash of makgeolli and soybean paste. If I'd had a little more time to prepare, it would have been even better — that's my only regret." Ho-in smiled brightly. "The broth dishes are excellent too. They suit my taste just fine." "Thank you. Tomorrow morning I'll make you a broth with fresh blood curd in it. It's just the thing to settle a hangover." "Is that so?" It was a rare moment — Ho-in, of all people, holding court before the village elders. Hong-wi watched the scene with a smile, then quietly slipped away. Tung Jugang, cheeks bulging with meat, called out to him. "Truly magnificent! Temusi'i, my friend, I envy you beyond words — to think you can eat food this delicious every single day!" Even Tung Jugang, a manly soul who was disciplined in all things, was thoroughly satisfied. "You must come visit our mountain stronghold sometime. No — you must come! Isn't that right, Elder Keshine?" He turned to Keshine, who had likewise been absorbed in the food, and the elder nodded. "That's right. Never mind everything else — if I could eat this stew every day, I'd want for nothing." "If you invite me so warmly, how could I refuse! But I'll need to return to Hwangseongpyeong for a time." "Good! When will you come?" Hong-wi thought for a moment. With Utai's group newly arrived, he would have to reorganize the expanded ranks of his trading company. And he had to look after Cheon-noin and his daughter as well. "I'll settle the urgent business at Hwangseongpyeong and come back. Give me about a fortnight. I'll return before winter sets in." "Good enough." Tung Jugang swallowed his food and went on. "Our stronghold lies north of here, in a valley called Soeburigol." "Why 'Soeburi'?" "I couldn't tell you myself. According to the elders, long ago Jin Taizu — Onyan Aguda — forged and honed his blades there. That is how Anchuunbugu became sacred ground to the Onyan clan." "Ah, so blades were forged there... No wonder the Grand Chieftain welcomed me so graciously to such hallowed ground." "Indeed. And that's why all of us brothers are grateful to him. The truth is, neither I nor Elder Keshine here are Anchuunbugu men by birth. In exchange for letting us open our stronghold in Soeburigol, he set exactly two conditions." "And what were they?" "First, that we help the weak and the wretched. Second, that we thrash anyone who makes such people suffer." The two of them looked anew toward Onyan Isiha. He was deep in conversation with Ho-in, and his bearing carried not a trace of prejudice against an outsider. It was rare indeed to find a frontier man who bore no resentment whatsoever toward Joseon. Hong-wi marveled. "Truly a magnanimous man!" "You're telling me?" Keshine broke in with an easy grin. "Among us, the Grand Chieftain is a living legend. In his youth, he rode the frontier alongside the great Tung Mentemu himself, wandering every corner of Jianzhou — befriending heroes wherever he went, cutting down villains, and making it his life's work to aid the innocent." "We can hardly claim to repay all we owe him, but whenever he needs an extra pair of hands, we drop everything else and come running." "With a history like that, no wonder he treats even an outsider like me without prejudice." Hong-wi murmured. The Jurchen clans prized bloodline above all, living gathered together in kinship groups. Anyone whose family lineage was unclear became an object of suspicion. Keshine chuckled. "He raised Jugang under his own wing, so the boy has none of that prejudice. He wanders off, and whenever he finds men whose spirit matches his own, he simply brings them home. Didn't he bring in that little brother Sonata, and Tasbuka and Dartai the same way?" "That's right. They're members of our Eight Stalwarts now, but originally—" Tung Jugang was nodding along at Keshine's words when he caught Hong-wi's expression and added an explanation. "Ah — you wouldn't know. Sonata ranks third among the Eight Stalwarts, after me and Elder Keshine, and Tasbuka and Dartai are fifth and sixth. None of the three are of our blood: Sonata is descended from the old Khitan people of Liao, and Tasbuka and Dartai are Mongols." "I see — so that's how it is!" Hong-wi nodded. For a man raised among a people who shunned outsiders, Tung Jugang was unmistakably different. "Come to think of it, I was a wanderer myself. And if you judge men by blood alone — what a waste that is. To think of all the fine men you could never befriend simply because of the blood they happened to be born with." Tung Jugang smiled easily. Hong-wi was struck by the words. "That's true enough. Shun a man for his tribe, and you'll miss out on good people." "Then it's settled — come visit our stronghold, and I'll introduce you to my brothers." "Truly? If you'll do that, the honor is mine." Hong-wi laughed. Then, after a moment's thought, he went on. "Though I am a Joseon man, and that worries me a little. Your brothers, they might..." "Set your mind at ease. I won't deny there's been bad blood between our people and Joseon. I've no intention of sorting out who was at fault now, and I doubt it's even possible at this late date. Joseon has done wrong, but our frontier folk have hardly been blameless either." "Blood calls to blood, and grievance begets grievance." Keshine added. "But you are a man I have vouched for. I trust my brothers will come around in the end. What do you think, Elder Keshine?" "Me? If Jugang has vouched for you, I've nothing to object to. And I agree that Lord Temusi'i is a fine man besides." "Then it's done!" Tung Jugang grinned from ear to ear. "A man knows a man. The only difference is whether it takes more time or less." "You think so?" Hong-wi laughed. "Of course! And that Ho-in fellow, was it? Look here." Tung Jugang pointed at Ho-in. "A man who can brew broth like that — what's there to worry about? In my experience, nobody throws out a man who can feed you hot, delicious soup like this." Tung Jugang guffawed, and Hong-wi laughed too. "Good! But tell me — how do I find this stronghold of yours, Soeburigol?" "Come to Anchuunbugu. Even if I'm not here, Elder Keshine will be, so ask for us through him." "I'll do that." They drank merrily deep into the night. After a long stretch of drinking, Hong-wi felt the need for a breath of air. "I'll step out for a moment and clear my head." "Go on, then." Tung Jugang, who was cheerfully bellowing songs with Keshine, nodded. Ho-in, by now pleasantly flushed with drink, had been captured by the village maidens and they showed no signs of letting him go. Cha Gyeong-yeon, who had been keeping an eye on the poor fellow, started to rise, but Hong-wi waved him back down. "I want to get some air alone. Look after Ho-in for me." "Understood, my lord." Cha Gyeong-yeon bowed his head in assent.