Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: A Bother
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As soon as they disembarked, men from the Wuhan branch of the Underworld Sect approached.
They handled the unloading on their own.
Valuables from the ship were carefully packed and brought out separately, while ordinary items were stacked neatly onto large carts.
A separate cargo cart was prepared for the pills brought from the waterway.
Byeok Taesan's party disembarked before the unloading began.
Everyone was quiet, and the reason was Yeon Harin.
Now that they had arrived in Wuhan, Yeon Harin had to return to the Yeon Clan.
She had just gotten used to traveling with Byeok Taesan, and the thought of parting again made her heart ache.
"What will you do, Warrior Yu?"
Yeon Harin asked Yu Seoyeon, trying to bear the pain of her impending separation from Byeok Taesan.
She was prepared to do whatever Yu Seoyeon wished.
No, at this point, she even thought it might be better for Yu Seoyeon if she let her go.
‘We’ll all be living together soon enough, anyway.’
With a determined expression, Yeon Harin looked back and forth between Yu Seoyeon and Byeok Taesan.
Yu Seoyeon quietly gazed at Yeon Harin.
She truly wanted to say she would follow Yeon Harin.
Partly because she wanted to be with her, but the much larger reason was her desire to escape, even for a moment, from that hellish training.
On the boat to Wuhan, Yu Seoyeon had literally dipped a toe in hell and returned.
She had felt to her very bones, in the most excruciating way, what it meant to train in the Limitless Steps on a swaying ship.
And she had clearly heard Byeok Taesan, after watching her, mutter that he would have to apply this to their training when they returned home.
The hell that awaited would surely be worse than what she had experienced so far, never less.
Whether she was falling behind Cheon Gyeongwan or not was no longer important.
It was probably the same for him.
She would be dragged back to the Golden Jade Manor eventually. Byeok Taesan probably wouldn't let her go.
But she wanted to savor freedom and comfort, even if only for a few days.
Yu Seoyeon took a slow, deep breath.
She was about to state her wish.
At that moment, the Divine Doctor of the Ages stepped forward.
"What do you mean, what will she do? It's only natural for the thread to follow the needle."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages said, looking back and forth between Yu Seoyeon and Cheon Gyeongwan. He wore a deeply suggestive expression.
Seeing this, Yeon Harin's eyes widened as she looked at him.
"Pardon? D-Don't tell me...!"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages chuckled and said,
"What, you didn't know? You're as clueless as our Young Master. They're just one step away. Would it be right to separate them now?"
Having missed her chance to speak, Yu Seoyeon could only stare blankly at the Divine Doctor of the Ages with her mouth agape.
Her head slowly turned toward Yeon Harin, her eyes filled with utter desperation.
"You don't have to look at me like that. I'm sorry, I had no idea. I understand. From now on, Warrior Yu, you stay with our Young Master. I... I'll manage on my own. Just wait a little while. Alright?"
At Yeon Harin's words, Yu Seoyeon felt as if the sky was falling.
She shook her head vigorously.
"No, my lady. You don't have to do that."
"Come on, if I hadn't known, it would be one thing, but how can I do that now that I know everything?"
"That's right, that's right. To pretend not to know would be against human decency."
As the Divine Doctor of the Ages stepped in to say so, Yu Seoyeon whipped her head around to glare at him.
It looked as if sparks would fly from her eyes.
If she went with Yeon Harin, she might get three days of rest at most. No, perhaps not even a full day. But to have that snatched away.
Seeing her glare, the Divine Doctor of the Ages smiled benignly.
"You don't have to look at me with such gratitude. If I don't look out for you, who will? Will my self-centered brother here do it, or will our Young Master, who doesn't have a shred of perceptiveness, do it?"
After saying this, the Divine Doctor of the Ages quickly gestured to Yeon Harin.
"There's no good in dragging this out here, so you should hurry along, my lady. Go pay your respects and report what happened at the Hubei Martial Alliance. And don't you have a lot of other things to do?"
At his words, Yeon Harin bit her lip and nodded.
She then looked at Byeok Taesan with wistful eyes.
"Young Master. I'll be back soon. So... so please wait for me, just for a little while."
"Well... do as you wish."
At Byeok Taesan's reply, Yeon Harin's face broke into the brightest of smiles.
It was as if her surroundings had brightened.
Seeing this, the Divine Doctor of the Ages whispered to the One-Needle Eccentric beside him.
"Isn't she truly beautiful? What do you think? Compared to that so-called Queen of Medicine, even among the Three Flowers of the Martial World, I doubt there's anyone prettier than our young lady here."
"How would a self-centered person know about such things?"
"Come on, why are you getting sulky over something so trivial? My brother has certainly gotten old."
The One-Needle Eccentric's eyes blazed as he glared at the Divine Doctor of the Ages.
"Why are you bringing up age now?"
"They say people become like children when they get old. That's why you're sulking like a child."
"Haaaah."
The One-Needle Eccentric let out a deep sigh. Then, he glared at the Divine Doctor of the Ages with a terrifying look.
"I'll cut your legs and make you as small as a child."
"Brother, why do you always have to turn so morbid when things are going well? Look around you. You're making everyone jump."
At the Divine Doctor of the Ages' words, the One-Needle Eccentric glanced around hastily.
In that instant, the Divine Doctor of the Ages quickly slipped away and moved behind Byeok Taesan.
Then he grinned at the One-Needle Eccentric.
The One-Needle Eccentric watched him, his fists clenched and trembling.
He resolved then and there that today, he would definitely, absolutely land a punch.
While the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric were bickering, the unloading was finished, and Yeon Harin returned to the Yeon Clan.
And Byeok Taesan, with the carts fully loaded with luggage, headed for the Golden Jade Manor.
* * *
There were people waiting for Byeok Taesan in front of the main gate.
The Golden Jade Trading Company had been constantly checking the docks for several days to welcome Byeok Taesan.
It was so they could be notified the moment he arrived.
All to prepare a reception like this.
The highest-ranking person among those at the main gate was the General Manager, Ga Mujin.
The moment Byeok Taesan came into view in the distance, Ga Mujin rushed toward him like a shot.
Following behind him, a group of men holding fairly high positions in the Golden Jade Trading Company scrambled after.
There were seven of them in total.
They ran, panting, and as soon as they reached Byeok Taesan, they bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
"Welcome, Young Master."
Byeok Taesan narrowed his eyes and looked down at the General Manager, wondering what on earth these people were doing.
When Byeok Taesan didn't reply, the General Manager slowly straightened up. He then put on a wide smile, trying his best to appear friendly.
"Young Master, we are so relieved you have returned safely."
Byeok Taesan didn't answer, instead sweeping his gaze over the men standing respectfully behind the General Manager.
As always, in times like these, someone had to step up.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages smoothly moved in front of Byeok Taesan.
"Ah, we offer our greetings to the Divine Doctor and the Eccentric as well."
They bowed their heads repeatedly to the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric.
"We appreciate the welcome, but... your attitude seems to have changed from when we left, which is rather bewildering. Did something happen?"
"Ahahaha. A change in attitude? Absolutely not. It was just a very busy period back then, so we couldn't pay proper attention. We have a bit more leisure now, which is why we came out to greet you. Yes, indeed. Hahahaha."
Though he said that, anyone could tell it wasn't true.
The General Manager speaking probably thought so as well.
"Well now, please come inside. I have made all the preparations so the Young Master can properly recover from his journey."
A man nearby quickly chimed in.
"That's right. We have heated the water, prepared plenty of nourishing dishes, and have also arranged for fine liquor for the others, so please enjoy and rest without any worries."
It seemed he was the one who had prepared everything. He had stepped forward to make sure he got credit for it.
Byeok Taesan nodded once and strode forward.
It was all things he could have taken care of himself even if they hadn't prepared them.
They were simply trying to make a show of it.
The General Manager quickly fell into step beside Byeok Taesan.
"Um... Young Master. How about seeing the Manor Lord today?"
At the unexpected words, Byeok Taesan turned his head to look at the General Manager.
"My brother?"
Even as he said it, Byeok Taesan found it a bit strange. The word 'brother' had come out so naturally.
He had expected it to be incredibly awkward, but surprisingly, it rolled off his tongue and felt quite familiar.
‘Hoh. Is this a reaction etched into the body, or a remnant of the soul?’
Either way, it was an interesting development.
Byeok Taesan walked on, pondering this and that.
Lost in thought, his lips were sealed shut, which made the trailing General Manager extremely anxious.
"Um... Young Master?"
"I understand."
The General Manager's expression instantly brightened.
"Hahaha. An excellent decision. Actually, since we're on the topic, the Manor Lord has been so..."
The General Manager trailed off, abruptly closing his mouth.
The fact that the Manor Lord, Byeok Taesu, deeply cared for and cherished Byeok Taesan was not something to be said carelessly in a place like this.
Especially not when he was with the key figures of the trading company.
Some of them were surely people loyal to Byeok Taesu's wife, Chae Miryeong.
Nothing good would come from the news that Byeok Taesu held a special regard for Byeok Taesan reaching Chae Miryeong's ears.
This was even more true at a time like this.
Soon, Byeok Taesan entered the Golden Jade Manor.
He headed for his own quarters first.
The General Manager saw this and panicked.
"Wait, Young Master. You were going to see the Manor Lord..."
"Seeing my people comes first."
Byeok Taesan said in an utterly firm tone and continued walking.
The General Manager scrambled to follow him. Or he tried to.
But Byeok Taesan raised a hand to stop him.
"I know the way."
"Pardon?"
Byeok Taesan glanced over the General Manager and the company men standing behind him.
"It means don't follow me."
It was said calmly, yet the words pressed down on their hearts with considerable weight.
"Ahem."
Someone couldn't hold back a dry cough. Of course, it changed nothing.
Byeok Taesan turned on his heel and strode away.
And his entourage followed him in a group.
The General Manager and the company men could only stare blankly at their departing backs.
As soon as Byeok Taesan was out of sight, they all let out a sigh they hadn't realized they were holding.
"Hoo. This... doesn't it seem like the Second Young Master has changed a lot from before?"
At someone's remark, everyone nodded.
"Perhaps as his illness improves, his original nature is returning."
They were men who had watched Byeok Taesan in his childhood.
The Byeok Taesan of that time had been truly formidable.
The General Manager suddenly felt a sense of unease.
‘Seeing this, Madam Chae will certainly not remain idle...’
* * *
As if they had heard news of Byeok Taesan's arrival, everyone in his residence came out and lined up to greet him.
Among them, the six remaining maids were particularly conspicuous.
The two physicians from the Heavenly Medicine Hall who had followed them this far stared blankly at the maids.
They had thought themselves somewhat accustomed to beautiful women.
After all, hadn't they spent the entire journey with beautiful ladies like Yeon Harin, Soso, Danyeong, Chaewol, and Hwaok?
This wasn't a matter of more or less beautiful.
It was simply a feast for the eyes.
The two physicians looked at Byeok Taesan with renewed wonder.
What kind of fortune must one be born with to live like this?
"What are you rolling your eyes for? Don't just stand there awkwardly, hurry and get inside."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages sidled up to the physicians and said. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at them again.
"Hm? But wait, weren't you guys supposed to be staying somewhere else?"
"Pardon? W-what do you mean by that?"
"You were supposed to stay with the Hubei Martial Alliance people. Why are you sneakily following us?"
At the Divine Doctor of the Ages' words, the two physicians became visibly flustered.
They did not want to leave this place.
Considering their future work, it was much more convenient to stick around here.
Living with beautiful maids was just a bonus.
"Still, for a proper exchange with our Heavenly Medicine Hall, wouldn't it be better if we were together?"
"Nope, it wouldn't, so just go. I heard the Hubei Martial Alliance people are here, so find them yourselves."
The two physicians looked at Byeok Taesan with pleading eyes.
Only Byeok Taesan could resolve this situation.
"A bother."
Leaving only those words, Byeok Taesan walked inside without even glancing at the two physicians.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages cackled.
Then, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon stepped forward to block the physicians' path.
Knowing full well the two's skills and ruthlessness, the physicians had no choice but to dejectedly leave the Golden Jade Manor.
Before entering his room, Byeok Taesan turned to look at the people who had followed him.
He saw the ten maids, now standing neatly together.
Beside them were the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric, and then Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon.
Next, he saw Black One, Black Two, and Black Three, the men he had brought from the Underworld and employed as servants.
Looking at them, it finally felt like he had returned.
The corners of Byeok Taesan's mouth lifted ever so slightly before settling back down.
"Go and do your work."
Byeok Taesan turned again and entered his room.
Though his greeting was far from affectionate, everyone felt a comforting warmth in a corner of their hearts, and smiles bloomed on their faces.
< A Bother > End