A Glittering Homecoming
"Manor Lord! At last, at last! Young Master Seok Geum-ryong is returning!"
News of Seok Geum-ryong’s astonishing achievements and safe return spread to the main residence of Seokga Manor.
Rumble!
At that, not only the people inside Seokga Manor but also its senior figures and high-ranking retainers were forced to marvel.
And for good reason. Seok Geum-ryong’s accomplishments were by no means small.
First, he had sold the valuable blood-sweating horses that even experienced merchants found difficult to move at the Xi'an horse market, despite the territorial hostility and interference of Jeokma-dang. What was more, he had sold those same horses to provincial lords and high officials alike, greatly enhancing Seokga Manor’s reputation and standing.
Was that all?
By turning those blood-sweating horses into a stunning total of over 4,000 gold slips, he had not only earned a monstrous profit but also brought Jeokma-dang to ruin in the process.
The fall of Jeokma-dang meant the collapse of Ma Sang-dan, the finest horse market force in the martial world, and Seokga Manor had finally gained an opening to set foot in that long-coveted market in earnest.
It was enough to make them dream of securing yet another monopoly commodity.
"Geum-ryong is here? Then there’s no time to waste!"
Seok Ji-sung, who had always held a particular affection for Seok Geum-ryong, that especially troublesome thorn in his side, quickly rose with a broad smile and hurried to the entrance of Seokga Manor.
When he arrived with Chief Butler Jo Seung-pyo and the other senior figures, sure enough...
"Seok Geum-ryong! Seok Geum-ryong!"
"He sparked miracles from his very first commercial expedition, and now he’s followed that with a spectacular peony windfall and a blood-sweating horse triumph!"
"How can a young master be so handsome?"
The lower-ranking members of Seokga Manor were already welcoming him, turning the whole place into a scene of glittering homecoming festivities.
How could Seok Ji-sung’s feelings have been otherwise?
"Geum-ryong!"
"Manor Lord!"
Seok Geum-ryong and Seok Ji-sung approached one another and exchanged greetings with all the emotion of lovers parted for far too long.
"Well done. Truly, well done!"
Seok Ji-sung was so delighted by the miraculous achievements Seok Geum-ryong had brought back that he was almost speechless.
I was afraid that if I showed him too much favoritism, it might cut his life short, so I never gave him anything...
And yet now that most neglected child was on the verge of becoming the brightest finger in the hand before he had even finished growing.
Even if he did not shine brightest, Seok Geum-ryong had become, in Seok Ji-sung’s heart, the finger he cherished most.
"Not at all. I do regret that the return from selling the blood-sweating horses caused some danger along the way."
Seok Geum-ryong spoke those words sincerely, but few agreed with his self-criticism.
"What nonsense is that? The problem lies with those who looked down on you and, by extension, looked down on Seokga Manor’s prestige. The fault is not yours. Forget your little flaw and look at the brilliant merit you have achieved instead."
So saying, Seok Ji-sung formally received from the blue-robed scholar, Gong Sang-pil, the slip certifying a total of more than 4,000 gold.
Wow! Wowww!
At the sight of that handover, the many retainers of Seokga Manor cheered and shouted aloud.
In truth, this was no ordinary scene.
Until now, only the eldest son, Seok Dong-seo, and the second son, Seok Ju-woo, had ever stood before the Manor Lord and presented achievements of such brilliance.
"First and second ahead of him, and yet the fifth young master has surged out first."
"Exactly. I thought Third Young Master Seok Ho-in would be the one to take the lead."
"Quiet, you there! Keep your mouths shut!"
Since Seok Ho-in and the other younger generation were also gathered there, the gossiping onlookers were chattering without restraint when they suddenly spotted the Mad Tiger Prince Seok Ho-in trembling in the distance, and immediately clamped their mouths shut.
Shiver, shiver!
Seok Geum-ryong, you bastard... again?
Seok Ho-in was hurling a murderous glare at Seok Geum-ryong, who had once again outstripped him and earned greater merit than he had.
Yet he did not dare act rashly before the Manor Lord, so he clenched his fists around nothing and swallowed down his resentment.
He was not the only one unable to contain his anger.
Look at this one.
Even Seok Dong-seo, the eldest of Seokga Manor, twitched an eyebrow as he watched Seok Geum-ryong receive his glittering homecoming.
Seok Ju-woo, the second son, had always seen Seok Geum-ryong’s talent from the beginning and moved to kill him, but Seok Dong-seo was so arrogant that he did not truly acknowledge even Seok Ju-woo. That made his surprise twice as great.
"Furthermore, Ma Gwan-pil, the Mad Horse Elder whom you subdued through combined effort, was a parasite gnawing away at Hebei’s martial and commercial world. And Gui Jong-ak, the master of Jeokma-dang whom you captured alive, was a vicious wretch who had dared to lay hands on Seokga Manor’s wealth and succession. Despite so many threats and crises, you did not break, and instead made flowers bloom from your brilliant achievements..."
What Seok Ji-sung, the retainers, and the senior figures valued most in Seok Geum-ryong’s accomplishments this time was precisely this.
It was not simply that Jeokma-dang had fallen, and that was a good thing. It was what Jeokma-dang had possessed.
In other words, Seok Geum-ryong had not only secured the chance to seize the finest horse market and horse transport force in the Central Plains, but by selling blood-sweating horses he had also forged a deep network of connections in the Xi'an horse market, opening the possibility of monopolizing goods related to horses.
"In most cases, heirs distinguish themselves on their fifteenth birthday, when they take the family succession test. But look at Geum-ryong. At twelve, he made an enormous fortune from peonies, and then at thirteen he became the owner of Bukcheon-won and sold blood-sweating horses for a massive profit! Truly, he is an heir whose future is worth looking forward to."
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
When those words came not from just anyone, but from Seokga Manor’s lord himself, declaring that Seok Geum-ryong was an heir whose future was most worth anticipating, the entire manor stirred once more.
How dare he!
Especially Seok Ju-woo, the second son of Seokga Manor, whose terrifying glare seemed to leap across the distance and strike the back of Seok Geum-ryong’s head.
With this event, not only Seok Ju-woo and Seok Ho-in but even Seok Dong-seo, who had always looked down on Seok Geum-ryong, came to recognize his danger.
Despite the jealous resentment of a host of petty men, the ceremony praising Seok Geum-ryong continued.
He had achieved a tremendous merit, so he deserved an equally lavish reward.
"Manor Lord, I believe Young Master Seok Geum-ryong should receive a great reward appropriate to his deeds."
That was the view of Seokga Manor’s chief butler, the Sword Discussant, Jo Seung-pyo.
"Indeed. Having accompanied him, I too was greatly impressed by Young Master Seok Geum-ryong’s insight."
Not only that, but the words of the second butler, the Water Ghost, Gongson Ban, who faithfully practiced the art of true neutrality and never took anyone’s side, startled everyone once again.
"Of course. From this moment on, Seok Geum-ryong’s status is no longer merely that of my fifth heir... but he is formally granted the qualification of a village lord, allowing him to participate in family council meetings and use a portion of this manor’s assets."
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
It was a shockingly unprecedented promotion, a shocking elevation in status, and everyone was stunned speechless.
After all, Seok Geum-ryong was already the owner of Bukcheon-won, a vast estate, and that alone was highly unusual.
But a village lord was a rank even higher than that, one that allowed him to own several large estates; unlike a manor owner, who merely held the property of a single estate, a village lord was formally granted the right to take part in Seokga Manor’s family regulations.
In particular, for a teenager still in his teens to become a village lord was truly unprecedented. Even Seok Dong-seo and Seok Ju-woo, who now held ranks above that of village lord, could not have dared to dream of such a position when they were that age.
Seok Ji-sung’s declaration, strict and fair in accordance with the principle of rewarding good and punishing evil, did not end there.
"Now that Seok Geum-ryong has been elevated to village lord, he should possess an estate or a building equivalent to one. Therefore... I will grant Seokma-gwan to Village Lord Seok Geum-ryong and transfer all authority over it to him."
When a person was too shocked, no words came out.
Remarkably, the many people of Seokga Manor who had been freely exclaiming in admiration up until now fell silent, forgetting even to breathe in awe.
That was because Seokma-gwan was a unique place in Seokga Manor, one that possessed all authority over horses and served as a vast stable complex.
To become its master meant...
"From now on, all matters related to horses and the horse market that this Seokga Manor monopolizes shall be entrusted entirely to Village Lord Seok Geum-ryong!"
It meant that Seok Geum-ryong would now handle one of the major goods managed by this enormous merchant conglomerate called Seokga Manor, namely horses, a newly important commodity. He would receive full backing and, by his own judgment, could act independently without upper approval.
Of course, greater authority meant greater responsibility, but Seok Geum-ryong was not the least bit afraid.
This is even better!
Seok Geum-ryong clenched his fist tightly and gave an inward cry of triumph.
From manor owner to village lord, from a single chance to sell blood-sweating horses to becoming the master of Seokma-gwan, the place now in charge of horses. Even the phrase “dramatic promotion” seemed inadequate.
"From here on, for the sake of this manor, I would like to present Geum-ryong, who will continue to toil until his bones are ground to powder, with a personal title of my own..."
If the rewards so far had been those of a manor lord, then this one felt more like a father’s private gift to his son.
Seok Ji-sung looked down at Seok Geum-ryong with warmer eyes than ever before and said,
"As a martial artist, an outstanding merchant, and furthermore an excellent physician, I would like to dare call you... Golden Young Master."
Golden Young Master!
Seok Geum-ryong, too, was surprised and deeply pleased by the tremendous title bestowed upon him with such affection.
Gold was, after all, something of immense worth that shone brilliantly, and the title fit Seok Geum-ryong perfectly, for he stood out in every field without exception.
"If you find it displeasing, you need not use it."
"Not at all! I truly like it!"
Seok Geum-ryong waved his hands and smiled sincerely.
Golden Young Master. In Seokga Manor, an empire of gold in every sense, what title could be more splendid, more dazzling than that?
He liked it from the heart, and he was deeply pleased.
"To hear you say that makes this father happy as well. Good! Your elevation to village lord and the transfer of authority over Seokma-gwan will follow at once, so I ask for your continued efforts."
"I will feel the weight of the greater authority and do my utmost."
Seok Geum-ryong bowed once more and entered the brilliantly opened era of his own golden age, his time of glory.
Young Master. Can you see this? Can you feel it?
Seok Geum-ryong was rejoicing as he recalled the former Seok Geum-ryong of his past life, who had never even dared to dream of such things, who had gazed up at the position of village lord and even at the estate-owner rank from below.
More than anything, becoming a village lord meant he would no longer be limited to bodyguards or support from his maternal clan; it meant he could formally build up his own troops, and that doubled his joy.
"Geum-ryong. The expectations I have for you are enormous. I look forward to your growth."
On top of that, he could now feel even Seok Ji-sung’s warm paternal affection, which in his previous life had never been properly expressed and had always seemed distant. Nothing could have satisfied him more.
"I will continue to refine myself, and to refine myself again."
Thus, the glorious homecoming ended in triumph.
Seok Geum-ryong, no, Golden Young Master Seok Geum-ryong’s fame would now pass through Hebei, cross Shanxi and Shaanxi, and at last ring throughout the Central Plains.
Golden Young Master Seok Geum-ryong, only thirteen years old when it happened.
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