Is There Anyone in the World Who Knows Me? (9)
Is There Anyone in the World Who Knows Me? (9)
"Have you heard the rumor? They say a fire broke out in Venerable Geumbok's warehouse, and dozens of bolts of silk went up in smoke. The man in charge was off drinking at a brothel when it happened, so he couldn't do a thing. Heh. You know that Jong Yuseop, the direct disciple of the Zhongnan Sect? Word is, he was the one put in charge of that task this time."
Someone clicked their tongue. The listener nodded and added another story.
"And have you heard this rumor? They say the deal between Venerable Geumbok and Lord Dongjeo fell through this time. From what I hear, Jong Yuseop pleaded desperately, so Dongjeo went to see him in person. But the chairs and the tea at that mansion were all shoddy—tea spilled from the cup, and the chair collapsed, so Lord Dongjeo went sprawling flat on his back."
"Oh dear, and what happened then?"
"That fellow Dongjeo hurt his back, so he's stuck lying still for the time being, and Venerable Geumbok's side is going to have to cover all of Dongjeo's medical expenses and damages on top of that. Venerable Geumbok lost an unbelievable amount of face and money. The deal went bust, the goods he'd brought in as bribes all burned up, and on top of that he has to pay a huge sum and build a new warehouse in Chang'an too."
"Isn't this all that Jong Yuseop's fault? I heard Venerable Geumbok treated him like a son. That man is repaying kindness with enmity, for sure."
"Hey now, watch your mouth. Haven't you heard about people who badmouthed the Zhongnan Sect in Shaanxi and lost their heads? The killing intent is running high right now. If we get caught, we'll be dead men."
"Oh dear, the world's a frightful place. Terrifying."
********
While the outlines of the incident spread through Shaanxi in humiliating fashion, the sound of wailing echoed from Venerable Geumbok's mansion. A man bound in rope raised his tattered face and pleaded with Venerable Geumbok. But Venerable Geumbok was not present. He was in the inner quarters, drinking tea with Jong Yuseop.
The man now faced Venerable Geumbok's confidant, whose expression was cold and troubled.
"S-Sir! I, I did my best! Please, just spare my life!"
"You're the one who dragged Great Hero Yuseop off to the brothel, aren't you? Can't be helped. Eh? You know how it is."
The confidant furrowed his brow as he looked at the man. Even he was not one to coldly cut a person down without feeling it. When a situation arose where he had to sacrifice a familiar face like this as a scapegoat, his face would usually crumple with an unpleasant feeling.
The man shouted at the confidant.
"That, that was standard practice! When you came to Chang'an, you drank with me too! Eh? We went to the brothel together and drank, so how can you—!"
The confidant waved his hand. Zhongnan Mountain was a mountain of considerable height. No matter how desperately the man cried out his innocence, only the disciples of the Zhongnan Sect would shut their ears to his wailing; there was no one there to console him on his way to death. The man was dragged toward the cliff, screaming as he went.
"Jong Yuseop, you cowardly bastard!! If it weren't for me, not just the warehouse but all of Chang'an would have burned down! Is this how you repay kindness! I'm the one who snapped you out of it when you were blubbering! Is the direct disciple of the Zhongnan Sect hiding away in the inner quarters, sniveling like a little girl! Why do I have to die! Jong Yuseop, you son of a bitch! Save me! I said save me! Uwaaaaaaah! I don't want to die! I don't want to die, I said! Please spare me! Lord Venerable Geumbok! Please, just spare my life! Uwaaaaaaaah!"
The mansion gates closed. The man's screams cut off abruptly. Killing him in one stroke was the last consideration extended to him, the scapegoat. The confidant put a cigarette in his mouth, grimaced, and said,
"Fuck. Try to understand, yeah? You and me, we get paid so that when this kind of thing happens, we go and die, don't we?"
Of course, the man had hoped the day of his own death would never come.
*******
"Jong Yuseop, you son of a bitch! Save me! I said save me! Uwaaaaaaah! I don't want to die! I don't want to die, I said! Please spare me! Lord Venerable Geumbok! Please, just spare my life! Uwaaaaaaaah!"
Jong Yuseop's shoulders flinched. Sitting in a private audience with the old man, the air in the room was far too cold. Huddled up, Jong Yuseop endured the chill and nibbled at his lips. In his mind's eye, the face of the man who had died in his stead flickered past.
Jong Yuseop spoke cautiously.
"...Was it truly necessary to kill him?"
Venerable Geumbok gazed at Jong Yuseop. Jong Yuseop hunched his shoulders under that gaze. The eyes that always looked upon him affectionately held no warmth today. The old man toyed with his teacup and said,
"When a matter is of great scale, someone must take responsibility. How could I lay a hand on the direct disciple of the Zhongnan Sect over something like this? He took you to the brothel, he let the fire grow, he neglected the mansion's upkeep. The fault lies with him."
"....I am ashamed beyond words."
Venerable Geumbok shook his head.
"There's no need to speak that way. You tried hard enough. If you fail this time, you can do better next time. Who am I? Am I not Venerable Geumbok, the man who holds sway over all of Shaanxi? I won't be undone by something like this. The failure you suffered this time can simply be made up for with other work."
At Venerable Geumbok's words, Jong Yuseop sniffled. Venerable Geumbok had always supported him, always been the one who offered him his faith. It had been that way since he was very young. Unlike his father, who was strict and stingy with praise, Venerable Geumbok never spared him a compliment.
[Sir. Look at this! This is the sword art I learned from Father!]
When he was a child, he had once clumsily imitated the sword art he saw the martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect practicing. Watching him swing the sword awkwardly, Venerable Geumbok had laughed heartily, as if watching a grandchild performing a cute trick.
[Aigo! The way you swing that sword is breathtaking! Heo-heo-heo. Yuseop. What do you want to be when you grow up?]
Venerable Geumbok would chuckle heartily and ask Jong Yuseop that question. Then, Jong Yuseop would puff out his chest and say,
[I want to become a great martial artist whose name rings out through the world! I'll save suffering people and bring peace to all under heaven!]
It was a grand dream, the kind that could only be dreamed at a young age. Venerable Geumbok would listen to those dreams seriously, grip his hand tightly, and cheer him on.
[You could do it.]
That was what Venerable Geumbok said.
He was different from Father. His father, whenever Jong Yuseop spoke of his dreams, would always deliver a harsh scolding.
[Rather than wasting time on such pie-in-the-sky talk, train! Train! Do you know how your father built up his skill? Purely through training! I was able to rise to this position because I tempered my body and mind through training!]
His father was cold, while Venerable Geumbok always welcomed him warmly. Whenever his father was away, Jong Yuseop would always stay at Venerable Geumbok's house, and Venerable Geumbok raised him like a son. It was only natural that Jong Yuseop's heart leaned more toward Venerable Geumbok than his own father.
When his father wounded his pride, Venerable Geumbok bestowed love. Whenever he became mentally withdrawn, Venerable Geumbok filled him back up, so Jong Yuseop naturally clung to Venerable Geumbok.
And today, having lost his confidence once again, Jong Yuseop was studying the mood with a timid face. After being rejected by Hong Ye, Jong Yuseop's mental state had been unstable. Even more withdrawn after this failure, he spoke carefully.
"Can I truly do well? Having failed again this time, I have no confidence."
Venerable Geumbok took firm hold of Jong Yuseop's hand. Even though the weather was cold, his hand was warm. Venerable Geumbok said in a low voice,
"You will be able to do well."
At those words, moisture welled up in Jong Yuseop's eyes.
Venerable Geumbok stroked Jong Yuseop's back and said,
"First, return to your sect and get some rest. Don't dwell on bad thoughts. Just rest well."
And upon hearing those words, Jong Yuseop's face darkened again.
******
Upon returning to the Zhongnan Sect, Jong Yuseop met the eyes of his father, who had come to the sect for the first time in a long while. Occupying a key post in the Murim Alliance Shaanxi Branch and serving as one of the elders of the Zhongnan Sect, Jonghwan quietly gazed upon his worthless son, who had trudged back in.
"I have returned."
Jong Yuseop stiffened and carefully opened his mouth. Even with his head bowed, Jong Yuseop studied his father's expression. Jonghwan scrutinized him with a furrowed brow. After looking him over from head to toe once, he said,
"Pathetic fool."
The sound shook Jong Yuseop all over again. Jonghwan let out a sigh and said,
"You act complacent, so you bring disgrace upon yourself. Have I not told you time and time again?"
It was a lecture he deserved to hear.
But Jong Yuseop wished, just once, that Jonghwan would worry about him. Jong Yuseop fell to his knees on the spot, and Jonghwan continued his speech for a while. The disciples of the Zhongnan Sect looked upon Jong Yuseop and murmured.
Loudly enough for him to hear that they were whispering.
But softly enough that he could not make out the words.
There was only one thing for Jong Yuseop to say.
"I am ashamed beyond words, Father."
The wind was cold. Jong Yuseop clutched the dirt of the courtyard tightly with his fingers.
He knew he was in the wrong.
But still, he wanted his father to be on his side.
Jonghwan had never once shielded or comforted Jong Yuseop.
"Have you understood me?"
"Yes, Father."
"Then go inside. Reflect on your carelessness and temper yourself further."
"Yes."