Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Gradually Changing
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As the day of the sparring matches wore on into evening, the competition grew even fiercer.
While watching the tournament, I couldn't help but feel a quiet admiration.
The unorthodox faction's later-generation disciples were at a higher level than I'd expected.
Still, no one truly eye-catching had appeared yet.
Probably, once the posers were weeded out, the real heavyweights would show up starting tomorrow.
I was looking forward to it just a little.
When I mentioned the mountain folk were coming, everyone in the group said they wanted to go to Hwaryeong Village together, so we all headed there without leaving anyone behind.
"When did you prepare a whole village for the mountain folk to live in?"
"We found it while scouting for a place for ourselves to stay."
Cheongyo followed along, marveling at my thorough preparations.
Mak Jimong grumbled as he watched the matches, only to see Scholar Cheon leading his group out of Yeongbin Pavilion.
"What a joke. It's like they're at their own home. Walking in and out so casually."
One of his sycophantic subordinates, who had been flattering him from the side, chimed in slyly.
"Young master, they've gone outside. Shall we give them a little lesson?"
Mak Jimong responded reflexively to his subordinate, pointing at him.
"Yeah, that's a good idea."
"Right away..."
The subordinate approached at his gesture.
"Any special instructions?"
Pow!
Mak Jimong's fist smashed into the bridge of the subordinate's nose.
"You bastard! It's Father's sixtieth birthday banquet, and you're talking about stirring up trouble? Even if I hate that guy's guts, he's Father's guest!"
"S-Sorry!"
The subordinate clutched his nose, bowing and scraping.
"I'm telling you to come up with ideas that actually help me!"
The subordinate stared at Mak Jimong with eyes full of confusion.
He couldn't fathom why the young master, who took the most pleasure in harming others, was snapping like this.
Just a few days ago, hadn't he been obsessing over ways to beat that scholar senseless?
"You, get lost! If you show your face around me anytime soon, you'll be the first one I kill!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
As the subordinate scurried away, Mak Jimong calmed his anger.
Then a strange feeling washed over him.
At first, when the subordinate suggested harming Scholar Cheon, he'd thought it was a great idea.
But suddenly, nausea had risen in him.
He'd even felt murderous intent toward the subordinate for suggesting it.
'What's wrong with me? Do I feel some shred of affection for that scholar? Me?'
He sensed a subtle disconnect in his own words and actions.
'Right, it must be because I'm holding back for Father's birthday banquet—no causing trouble. See? I'm a filial son in my own way.'
Mak Jimong nodded, convincing himself.
I greeted the mountain folk as they entered Hwaryeong Village.
"You've had a hard journey getting here."
Gold Heaven Escort Agency had loaded the mountain folk and their belongings onto carts, arriving even earlier than planned.
It seemed like a gesture of consideration toward me.
With men, women, and children of all ages among them, walking the whole way would have taken over half a month.
Dozens of carts filed steadily into Hwaryeong Village.
The village head approached.
"You even sent escorts with them... We are truly grateful. How can we ever repay this kindness?"
The village head knelt before me as if bowing in prostration.
"Please don't do that."
As I helped him up, all the mountain folk prostrated themselves toward me in thanks.
"Oh dear."
The village head addressed them.
"This wasn't something I ordered. It's all from the heart—a genuine expression of gratitude toward Scholar Cheon. We faced a fate of starving to death at any moment. Thanks to Scholar Cheon, we have land to feed our families. How could we not be thankful?"
I'd been a Murim Alliance scholar on a modest stipend, so I'd never gone hungry.
But there were people who fought desperately just for one meal a day.
To them, my goodwill must have been a true lifeline.
The thought that a simple act of kindness had saved so many lives filled me with quiet pride.
"This village was abandoned long ago after everyone left, turning it into ruins. Rumors of ghosts drove them away. But just recently, I dealt with those ghosts myself."
It was a ridiculous claim, but I said it upfront for the mountain folk's sake.
Someone might leave if they heard it was haunted land.
"Even if ghosts appear, we don't mind. Better to live with ghosts than starve and become hungry spirits ourselves."
Laughter erupted at someone's shout.
"I've already taken care of it, so no ghosts will appear. We'll assign houses based on family size. We can't give a lone person a house with three or four rooms. I hope you understand."
"No one will complain about Scholar Cheon's decisions. We know that would be ungrateful."
The village head deliberately spoke loudly to preempt any dissenters among the mountain folk.
"Three escorts, please assign houses to everyone based on family size."
Nangong Cheolwoong, Nangong Hwajun, and Nangong Pyo followed my orders, distributing houses to the mountain folk according to their family numbers.
"Also, these houses aren't personal property—they belong to the village as a whole. So keep in mind they may be reassigned based on changes in family composition."
I announced it early to prevent disputes over housing.
"Understood."
One sturdy man asked.
"Where's the farmland?"
The mountain folk were keenly interested in arable land for survival.
"Do you see the land stretching out behind the village all the way to the horizon?"
"Yes. It's been ages since we've seen fields that far."
"We'll farm that land. Everyone will get an equal share. Though you'll be tenant farmers, the rent will only be one-tenth, to cover village operating costs."
One-tenth was practically giving away the land.
Current tenant rents ranged from as low as half to as high as seven-tenths.
"Really?"
"I'm the owner of this land. This is the landowner's promise."
At those words, some women began sobbing softly.
They'd become mountain folk because even after paying rent, there often wasn't enough grain left to feed their families, forcing them to eke out a living in the hills.
Most had also lost what little land they had to bandit clans.
"Come on, before nightfall, let's get houses assigned and cleaned. Move quickly now."
Urged by the village head, the mountain folk bowed to me and scattered into bustling activity.
Cheongyo described the scene to Songran.
"Scholar Cheon is truly a rare person. He even looks after the lowest of the low. Who else would do something like this? Seeing the mountain folk so happy makes me feel good too."
"Sister, does seeing the mountain folk remind you of your family?"
Cheongyo gave a wistful smile.
"It does. I don't even know if they're alive or dead. We got separated in the chaos. But we have family here too, don't we? You and me, Ran-i."
"You're my family too, sister."
Cheongyo stroked Songran's hair.
Cheongyo turned to me.
"Gaining houses and land seems to have energized everyone. I didn't do anything, but seeing them smile so brightly really lifts my spirits."
Taking Yeoseol's hand, I said.
"They say a happy family is a glimpse of heaven in advance. Seeing heaven warms the heart."
"Brother, then we're in heaven too."
I grinned at Yeoseol.
"Exactly. We're a happy family."
"Hehehe. So am I an angel in heaven?"
"Maybe?"
As I played along, Yeoseol beamed.
Even as her body grew swiftly, Yeoseol still had that pure, childlike innocence in parts of her mind.
Cheongyo asked.
"Do we have a place to stay here too?"
"Of course. See that two-story house over there? The one in front is for me and Yeoseol, and the next two-story one is for you and little Song."
"How can I live in a bigger house than Scholar Cheon's?"
"It's space for whoever learns gold craftsmanship from you later."
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness. When do we move in?"
"I'll have someone clean our places first."
"Brother, are we all living together in that house?"
"Sure. Until Yeoseol regains her memories."
Yeoseol flinched slightly at that.
"Really?"
"Of course. Once your memories come back, would you want to live with this big brother of yours?"
"Huh? No."
"Hahaha, just wait. When your memories return, you'll throw a fit and refuse to live with me."
I said it loudly on purpose so others could hear, but Yeoseol shrank back.
Stroking her head, I said.
"Kiddo, live as long as you want."
She grabbed my hand as it stroked her hair and giggled happily.
Myung Woojong, seeing Scholar Cheon's group leave Hyeoncheon Gate entirely, had his able-bodied escort warrior accompany him as he followed.
Witnessing him distribute houses and land to the mountain folk without asking anything in return, Myung Woojong watched with a pleased expression.
"Isn't that the true image of a scholar? How beautiful it is when those who have give to those who have not."
"It's a sight I've never seen in my life."
"Ha ha ha! Watching this, I feel both ashamed and grateful. It makes me reflect—have I ever truly considered mountain folk as my people? What do you think? Still believe my decision was rash?"
"No, sir. It was an excellent choice. I've seen many officials, but only one or two ever truly cared for the common folk from the heart. If that scholar became an official, he'd have been a model of incorruptible integrity."
Myung Woojong couldn't disagree with his escort's words.
Even he had never encountered a scholar like this before.
"Do you know what the true meaning of 'official' is?"
"How could I presume to know?"
"When speaking of bureaucrats, amid all those characters, we use 'gwanryo' with 'ryo' meaning colleague. Why is that?"
Not expecting an answer, Myung Woojong continued.
'Ryo' means bright, like firewood burning brightly in a brazier shaped like a man with legs. I believe officials should be that firewood, illuminating the brazier. But today's officials don't enter the fire themselves—they toss in innocent commoners and stoke the flames."
Myung Woojong sighed.
"I don't truly act for the people either. My aim in going to Payang County as inspector was to investigate my friend's disappearance. But seeing Scholar Cheon shames me."
"No, Inspector. You are an upright official."
Myung Woojong fell into thought, gazing at the joyful mountain folk.
"What is it? The Shadow Lord appears before me first."
When his close-protection chief subordinate, the Shadow Lord, revealed himself, Mak Yeohyeon grew curious.
"Scholar Cheon took his group and left the main pavilion, so I sent subordinates to follow."
"Didn't this lord tell you not to monitor him?"
Irritation and faint anger laced his tone.
"It wasn't monitoring. When Scholar Cheon's group left the pavilion, I sent them to investigate what was happening."
"I see. And?"
"It turns out he's settled mountain folk on the land you granted him. About two hundred people, assigned houses in Ghost Village."
"In the ghost-haunted place? What about the ghosts?"
"According to reports, Scholar Cheon said himself that he's dealt with them."
"Hm. Interesting fellow. Could be a lie. It's not like the rumors are recent."
"Time will tell if his words are true."
"But why report this to me?"
The Shadow Lord smiled faintly.
"Because you've shown interest, my lord. No other reason."
"Fine. He's housing mountain folk on his own land? Good. I was wondering if it'd turn into ruins with no one there. Definitely not your average guy. It'll be fun to watch. No monitoring—just keep an eye out and report anything amusing."
"Yes, my lord."
"What about that wastrel? He hasn't gone picking fights with Scholar Cheon, has he?"
The Shadow Lord shook his head.
"I was worried about that too, but strangely, he's been showing less interest in Scholar Cheon as time passes."
"Probably because this lord ordered it, so he's complying for now. Anyone else, I wouldn't care, but watch that one closely. Who knows what he'll do."
"Understood."
As the Shadow Lord departed, Mak Yeohyeon turned back toward his training chamber.
Though he had reached the Flower Realm, Mak Yeohyeon was still not satisfied.