Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Wedding Ceremony
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The scale of the War King Gate, located outside the Nine Dragons Fortress, was immense—comparable to the entire inner fortress.
It hadn't been built so large from the start, but it had expanded this much when we began incorporating warhorses.
On that note, I’d like to express my gratitude to the real estate mogul who brokered the land for me at a bargain.
In any case, Myo San was just staring blankly at the sign of the War King Gate.
War Dragon Hall.
“Wh-what is this…”
“Jeez, I told you it was real. Try trusting people for once. Haven't you heard of a society built on trust?”
Just then, about twenty members of the Black Dragon Corps, returning from outside, saw me and hurriedly saluted.
“War! Dragon!”
“War Dragon. Everything alright?”
“Yes! Thanks to the Hall Master's boundless grace, we have been training our martial arts and living comfortably!”
Every one of them looked sharp and disciplined.
“Uhhh…”
Seeing this, Myo San let out a strange groan, as if his thought process had completely shut down.
In truth, I could easily guess why Myo San was reacting this way.
The year he and I turned nineteen, I graduated from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, and Myo San left Nine Dragons Fortress for Nanjing to pursue his studies.
Six years had passed.
It was hardly a long time in a man's life to be talking about success, but in that period, I had become a transcendent master, the leader of a great sect, and a Hall Master of the inner fortress.
And was that all?
With my master, the Hall Master I served during my time in the Outer Hall, becoming the Lord of Nine Dragons Fortress, I had unofficially become its Grand Young Lord.
As for personal achievements, I had become a master strong enough to claim a spot among the Seven Hegemons of the World.
Even I, the person in question, sometimes found it hard to believe. It must be even more incredible for Myo San.
“Uhhhhh…?”
Sure enough, Myo San seemed to have regressed to infancy.
“Let's go see your sister now.”
“Uhhh.”
“You'll calm down a bit after some good food and a drink.”
“Uh-huh.”
“There, there, come here. Coochie-coo.”
Just as we settled into the War King Hall, the Sect Leader's... no, the Hall Master's residence of the War Dragon Hall, Myo Hyang returned.
Seeing the beads of sweat on her forehead, it seemed she had run here after hearing the news of my arrival.
Delighted, I opened my arms to embrace her.
“You, you scoundrel!”
She grabbed me by the collar and shook me.
How could she treat her husband, who was as high as the heavens, like this?
* * *
Fortunately, Myo Hyang's anger was quickly quelled.
“How could you leave with just a single letter to travel eight thousand li! Do you have any idea how worried I was?! No matter how concerned you were for San, of all places... Huh?”
It was because Myo San was standing right next to me.
“S-San?”
“Sister…”
“San!”
“Sister!”
They rushed into each other's arms.
The two of them embraced and burst into tears.
They were two people who had missed each other for nearly six years.
Only recently had they been able to afford the expensive fees for Gugutalk to exchange letters; before that, they must have lived by the motto 'no news is good news.'
How happy must they be to see each other in person after all that time?
“*Sob*, I missed you.”
“*Sob*! I-I missed you too, San.”
It was a veritable melting pot of emotion.
Not only U Je-jun, but even Sama Heun, known for his usual composure, wiped his eyes. The warriors guarding the main hall were shedding thick tears.
‘Tsk, tsk. How do they expect to navigate the ruthless martial world being so sentimental...’
Seeing them, as the head of a sect, I grew worried for their future.
“*Sniffle. Hmph!*”
After the emotional moment passed, Myo Hyang, having heard the full story from Myo San, tightly gripped my hand.
“Thank you so much for saving San. I don't know how I can ever repay this debt.”
“Hah! Is my wife's family not my own? It is only natural for a brother-in-law to step up when his wife's brother is in danger.”
I nailed it.
“M-my lord…”
I raised my hand and wiped away the tears welling in Myo Hyang's eyes.
“So don't you worry your heart over it, my wife.”
Of course, though I said that, I was actually hoping she would never forget it for the rest of her life.
‘What? A Red Hare? Do you know how much the children's education costs? What do you mean, a Red Hare! Go and bring in the laundry!’
‘Ahem! If your husband, who is like the heavens, wants to buy something, he buys it. Why so many words? I'm the man who ran eight thousand li and burned down the Imperial Palace to save your brother. Have you forgotten?!’
‘Ah, no, that's not what I meant…’
Just acquiring this 'get out of jail free card' that I could use for the rest of my life made this journey worthwhile.
However, showing it off right now would seem a bit cheap, so I simply gave Myo Hyang a gentle hug.
“It's alright, so spend today with San. Go eat something delicious and catch up on everything. Understood?”
*Drip.*
At that, tears like jade beads fell from Myo Hyang's eyes, soaking the front of my robes.
“Hey now, stop crying. You'll ruin your pretty face.”
“But... *sob*, I'm just so, *sob sob*, grateful...”
“San is waiting. Go on now. If you really miss me, you can come find me tonight.”
“…Yes, then I'll visit your room later.”
Myo Hyang, blushing, took Myo San and left.
Watching them leave, U Je-jun and Sama Heun nodded with meaningful looks in their eyes.
“This turned out very well. For both Lady Myo and the Hall Master.”
“I agree.”
They probably guessed that I had now seized the upper hand in our future married life.
Oh, and for the record, both of them are married men.
“You two worked hard as well.”
I took out two money pouches and handed one to each of them.
It was money I'd gotten from selling the land in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, that the Left Commander had given me.
Though I had to sell it for a low price due to lack of time, quality is quality. Selling a plot of land just over a thousand pyeong let me give them six nyang each.
“*Gasp!*”
“Th-this is…!”
As expected, after checking the contents, both of them reacted as if they were about to faint from shock.
“You risked your lives fighting. You deserve at least this much of a reward, don't you think?”
In fact, it was a natural reaction.
In modern terms, U Je-jun's annual salary, equivalent to that of a high-level corporate executive, was slightly less than two gold nyang.
In that context, six gold nyang was a fortune, enough to buy a detached house with a yard within Nine Dragons Fortress.
“There will be plenty more opportunities to make money in the future. What's the use in being so shocked already?”
“But, isn't this a bit excessive…?”
“It's not excessive at all, so put it away. Ah, and let me tell you in advance, don't take it home. Open an account at the Myriad Gold Bank and deposit it. For that amount, and for men of your stature, they'll hold it for you.”
“Suddenly?”
“A man needs a full purse to get by in society. Give your entire monthly salary to your family, but keep this on you and use it little by little when you need to. A harmonious home and a heavy wallet—that's how a man truly lives.”
“If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to invest in the West River Merchant Guild run by Lady Myo?”
“She may be my wife, but... will the secret truly be kept?”
“Mm! Indeed, this subordinate is in awe of the Hall Master's insight.”
The two men bowed. It was obvious at a glance.
Their actions stemmed from respect.
“Well then, shall I let my subordinates, who've just earned a fortune, buy me a drink?”
“I'll treat you today.”
“No, allow me.”
Just as we were all laughing in the heartwarming atmosphere of them both trying to open their wallets...
“The Lord of the Fortress is looking for you.”
News came that the troublesome old man was looking for me.
* * *
Arriving at a small thatched hut with a vegetable garden in the rear garden of the Fortress Lord's Palace, I saw my master drinking.
“Jeez, you know I'm tired from just getting back, so why call for me? You have no consideration at all. This is why you're still not married, Master.”
“…”
I gave him such timely advice, and my master sighed and gestured with his hand.
*KABOOM!*
The space where my torso had been just a moment ago exploded.
If I hadn't dodged, I would have been sent flying dozens of meters.
“This guy, seriously!”
“Do you want to die?”
“No.”
“Come and sit.”
“Yessir.”
“Take it.”
He poured me a cup.
As I accepted the drink and downed it, my master watched me with an impassive gaze.
“How was Nanjing?”
“Mm... well, it was nice. The pavilions were large, and there were many curious things.”
“I'm not asking about the shell.”
At my master's question, I recalled the image of Nanjing I had witnessed.
“…It was not good.”
“Why?”
“The volume of goods was overflowing, but they were all luxury items for the nobility. There was nothing useful for the common people.”
“…”
“The price of grain had skyrocketed to make expensive liquor, while the common people were subsisting on things like arrowroot and turnips from who knows where.”
My master waited for my next words with a calm expression.
“Even if they worked a full day of menial labor to earn money, it seemed difficult for them to even support themselves with it.”
If even I could see it after staying for only seven days, it couldn't have been going on for just a year or two. That way of life must have persisted for nearly a hundred years.
“Is that all?”
“Of course not.”
I continued speaking as I refilled my master's cup.
“The heads of the Six Ministries are only concerned with seizing power; they do not govern for the people. The few upright officials who managed to hold their positions were framed for treason and thrown into prison.”
“Oh? Is it that bad?”
“If you had seen it, Master, you would have been shocked. They really weren't human.”
“You saw it clearly.”
“A gentleman's every step carries the weight of a thousand catties. This disciple has learned much.”
“Right. So, is that why you set fire to the Imperial Palace?”
“Ah, that was unavoidable in order to esc... Huh?”
For a moment, my heart sank. How could my master know that I had set fire to the Imperial Palace?
“D-did you have someone follow me?”
“If I had, you would have known.”
“Then…?”
“Shortly after you went to Nanjing, a fire broke out in the Imperial Palace. Who do you think the culprit is?”
“…”
If my master knew, it was highly likely the Grand Chancellor knew as well.
‘I'm screwed…’
I could already hear the nagging.
‘I'd better avoid facing the Grand Chancellor for a while.’
My master gave me a look that said, ‘There's no one else who would do such a thing,’ and offered his advice.
“One's usual conduct is important, isn't it?”
“Somehow, I find that offensive.”
It was even more upsetting hearing it from my master, of all people.
“…Does the Grand Chancellor know too?”
I asked my master, hoping for a glimmer of hope.
“He knows.”
“Damn it.”
At the expected answer, I cursed and threw back my drink.
“You don't fear thousands of Imperial Guards, but you seem to fear the Grand Chancellor.”
“It's not fear. It's annoyance.”
My master, oblivious to my inner turmoil, laughed as if he found it amusing.
“You've returned safely, so that's what matters. It seems you've learned a lot, too. Though I didn't expect you to cause this kind of trouble.”
“…”
“Alright, it seems things around you have mostly settled... When do you plan to hold the wedding ceremony?”
“My trip to Nanjing delayed things, so I plan to prepare as quickly as possible.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you about the wedding.”
“What is it?”
“You're preparing a good congratulatory speech, right?”
“…Isn't that just wishing you to live well?”
“No.”
He was being so careless, just because it wasn't his wedding.