The Proposal That Shook the Fields
Suddenly, he stepped forward. “I apologize, but may I make one small suggestion?”
Yoo Eunhyeon’s words carried across the farmyard. Every pair of eyes turned to him at once. For a heartbeat surprise flickered on the workers’ faces, but then Byeon-wok gave the barest nod, as if to say, *Go ahead and speak.*
“Only if you’ll allow me to work double shifts while Mr. Cheoldong recovers.”
“You plan to do the work of two men?”
Byeon-wok narrowed his eyes. The other laborers around them began to murmur.
“That’s right. But if you do, I’ll have to double the wages for Cheoldong-ssi as well.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever heard such an offer. We don’t even need new hands, but… do you truly believe it’s possible?”
“Yes. It is.”
Yoo Eunhyeon spoke with perfect calm. Byeon-wok threw his head back and laughed until his belly shook.
“If you talk like that, I might actually believe you. Still, I can’t just hand over the job without conditions. Shall we hear them?”
“What are the conditions?”
“If you fail to complete the work of both of you, I’m afraid Mr. Cheoldong and you yourself will have to leave this place. And the pay will be only half of what you’ve already earned. Sound fair?”
Byeon-wok’s mouth curled in a smile that held no warmth. The very air around him felt cold and sharp, like a cultivator of the Demonic Cult who had learned to mask his malice.
From the side, Mo Cheoldong gave Yoo Eunhyeon’s ribs a discreet nudge.
“You don’t have to do this much. I’m already struggling alone—how could I ask you to shoulder two men’s work?”
“I can manage on my own. And you taught me so much during the journey here. This is simply my way of returning the favor.”
“…Mm.”
Mo Cheoldong’s lips parted as though he meant to protest further, then closed again. His eyes were already reddening.
“Very well. Let’s settle it here. For the rest of the morning, everyone rest. In the afternoon another team leader will arrive to take over.”
Byeon-wok turned to leave, then paused and glanced back at Yoo Eunhyeon. Expectation and curiosity warred in his gaze. A moment later he strode away without another word.
The instant he was gone, the surrounding workers surged toward Yoo Eunhyeon like a wave.
“You idiot! What possessed you to say something that could get us killed! Didn’t you see what the original team leader just did?!”
“Run over there right now and beg him to forgive us! Hurry!”
The men shoved his back, urging him on. At any moment Byeon-wok might drag him away by force.
Yet Yoo Eunhyeon did not flinch. He stood rooted, lost in thought.
*It’s been a while since I’ve truly swung a hoe…*
The laborers’ worries meant nothing to him. On the contrary, the chance to loosen his muscles after so long stirred a strange excitement in his chest.
He could not stop the faint smile that tugged at his lips and muttered to himself, “There’s no help for it. I have to show him what I can do.”
* *
After the commotion died down, the group finished their early lunch and were resting outside when a figure appeared striding toward them from the far edge of the field.
“I’m sorry. I hurried as fast as I could, but I’m late. The work kept piling up and I couldn’t free my hands all morning. Haha.”
“Who…?”
“Ah, too late for introductions. My name is Yeo Chang-dong, head of the fourth team.”
The man who called himself Yeo Chang-dong looked about ten years older than Yoo Eunhyeon. His hair was tied in a rough knot, and the sparse beard on his face carried the same unpolished vigor. He carried himself with the sturdy build of a farmer who had worked the land for years, yet his clothes were unmistakably those of a cultivator.
“Head of the fourth team? I’ve heard you’re the most reliable man here!”
“I’ve been told you combine skill with character and never take it easy on the job.”
“Indeed… Cheoldong-ssi’s sacrifice was not in vain.”
Byeon-wok’s reputation seemed well-earned. Fresh from finishing his own shift, he was covered head to toe in soil, and his presence radiated a far higher level than that of the late team leader.
“Wait… sending the head of the fourth team means you intend to watch every single move of that friend, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, it won’t be easy.”
And if his ability truly matched the legend, his oversight would be meticulous. The workers who understood this looked at Yoo Eunhyeon with pity.
But to Yoo Eunhyeon those glances were meaningless.
*He’s no ordinary man… I’m not certain, yet I feel the aura of someone who has cultivated. Moreover, the flow of natural energy around him is faint yet unmistakable.*
The subtle difference only confirmed it. If Yeo Chang-dong had reached the realm where even Yoo Eunhyeon could not penetrate with a single glance, he was not a foe to be taken lightly.
While Yoo Eunhyeon remained lost in thought, Yeo Chang-dong smiled pleasantly at the workers.
“Have you all eaten?”
“Yes. We’ve had a hearty meal.”
“Good. You’ll need strength to face the hard work ahead. Shall we begin? Before we do… have any of you seen Yeo Geumhyeon?”
As he stroked his beard, Yeo Chang-dong scanned the group with curious eyes. Yoo Eunhyeon raised his hand.
“I am Yeo Geumhyeon.”
“Ah. You… hmm?”
Yeo Chang-dong’s gaze lingered on him longer than necessary. The look felt unnervingly penetrating. A chill of pressure brushed Yoo Eunhyeon’s spine. He straightened and opened his mouth.
“Is something wrong? Are you inquiring for some reason…?”
“No, nothing like that. But you do have a decent build, you know. Honestly, I was surprised. I thought you were nothing more than a glib talker when I heard the stories.”
“You flatter me.”
“Oh? Even humble? Well, you’ll need that attitude to handle two men’s work, so it’s only natural. Haha!”
Yeo Chang-dong’s laughter boomed as he clapped Yoo Eunhyeon heartily on the back. The gesture was understandable. After all, the years of farming had already forged a sturdy frame, and the additional muscles gained through cultivation made him appear formidable.
*He seems fine on the surface… but something feels off. I’ll be careful not to reveal my inner energy even by accident.*
Yet Yoo Eunhyeon sensed a subtle mismatch in the words. It was not the casual assessment of someone judging by appearance alone.
“Then let’s move! No more time for second thoughts!”
Without waiting for a reply, Yeo Chang-dong strode ahead. The group followed, and soon they reached the distant persimmon orchard that had been the site of the previous night’s incident.
“Absolute chaos. They cut down the trees like this? If it hadn’t rained I don’t know what would have happened, but at least they should have prepared beforehand.”
Predicting rain had been impossible, yet even if they had, they could have taken measures to protect the site.
“Well, today we’ll clean this up. The ground is still soft from the recent rain, so half a day should be enough.”
“Understood!”
The workers nodded and entered the orchard.
Yoo Eunhyeon followed the others, but Yeo Chang-dong suddenly grabbed his arm.
“You stay here. Come with me.”
“As you wish.”
Yeo Chang-dong led him toward a quiet field separated from the persimmon trees. Within it, chili plants grew thick and lush.
“If the two of us are working together, it will be easy to verify whether he’s truly doing double the work. Anyone else could step in without notice.”
“…Yes, that’s true.”
A faint smile touched Yeo Chang-dong’s lips. Yoo Eunhyeon clicked his tongue inwardly.
*Even working side by side would have been enough. He really means to measure me down to the last grain? I don’t have an ounce of flexibility when it comes to labor.*
He understood now why the workers had looked at him with that sorrowful gaze. Peering at the chilies with a casual frown, Yoo Eunhyeon muttered to himself.
“Chilies are still a relatively new crop. He probably hopes the accumulated experience will make it impossible to push through…”
He narrowed his eyes after one thorough sweep.
“Moreover, there’s a hint of testing in his manner.”
Of course, to Yoo Eunhyeon this was no problem. He knew everything there was to know about farming.
From behind, Yeo Chang-dong spoke in a low tone meant only for him.
“Do you know the characteristics of chilies?”
“I know the basics. The fruit ripens at different times, so it must be harvested periodically. It’s also prone to disease when grown close to the ground, and the stems are weak, so stakes are necessary. After rain, soil-borne diseases spread easily, so proper drainage is important.”
“Hoho. Not so arrogant after all!”
Yeo Chang-dong nodded with satisfaction. Yet his next words carried clear intent.
“Knowledge without practice has no value. So let us begin. If you have any questions, ask anytime. I’ll follow slowly behind.”
A low groan escaped Yoo Eunhyeon’s throat. But the moment passed. Hoe in hand, he stepped resolutely into the chili patch.
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A gust of wind swept across the field, carrying the faint scent of rain-soaked earth. The chili plants swayed gently, their leaves glistening under the morning sun. Yeo Chang-dong watched from the edge, arms folded, his expression unreadable. He had chosen this spot deliberately—isolated, with no nearby trees or structures to obstruct his view. If Yoo Eunhyeon faltered, no one would be the wiser. The test was simple, yet precise. He wanted to know whether the man truly possessed the strength to handle double the labor, or whether his words were mere bluff. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Minutes stretched into minutes, the only sound the rhythmic chopping of the hoe and the occasional snap of a stem. Yeo Chang-dong’s eyes narrowed slightly, searching for any sign of fatigue, any tremor in the shoulders, any hesitation in the stance. None appeared. Instead, the rhythm remained steady, efficient, almost meditative. A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth. He had underestimated the man. Or perhaps not. Either way, the game had only just begun.