A Quiet Morning and an Act of Justice
Dan Yuseon and Jin Yeongyeong were overjoyed.
Hwa Yuhwa was staying at the Dan Manor.
They had thought their son was as immovable as stone, yet it seemed real progress was finally being made.
Dan Yuseon had been worried.
His son had wandered the rivers and lakes, the mountains and forests—perhaps some vital part of him had been damaged along the way.
That was why he showed no interest in women, he feared.
“No.”
Dan Hyunwoo spoke firmly.
One look at his father’s face told him everything.
Dan Yuseon shifted his body and said, “This is quite difficult. It’s called the Harmonious Strength Qi Regulation Method, some sort of breathing and qi circulation technique?”
“Begin slowly. It will take time for your stamina to return, so please don’t overdo it.”
“I’ve lain down far too long. It’s time to move quickly. I can’t leave the Danhwa Silk Shop neglected forever.”
It was obvious at a glance that his father was pushing himself.
Having risen from his sickbed after so long, the man ignored Hwa Yuhwa’s attempts to restrain him and threw himself into the breathing method the family practiced every morning.
Because of it, Hwa Yuhwa watched over him with an anxious expression.
Dan Hyunwoo smiled at the sight of her.
Of course, he kept the smile inside. If he showed it outwardly, she would cling to him like glue again.
It was dizzying when she declared she was settling down, but there’s no denying the household atmosphere has brightened because of her. Still… why is she dressed like that?
The woman who usually strutted about with her thighs completely exposed dressed modestly whenever she met his parents and the rest of the family.
Yet whenever she sneaked into his room, she wore even more revealing clothes than usual.
A perfectly ordinary question.
Aside from when she was asleep, this was the first time Hwa Yuhwa—who cared for his parents with utmost devotion—looked beautiful to him.
Not as a woman, but as a physician.
Ever since she arrived, the previously stiff atmosphere had loosened considerably, no doubt thanks to her natural disposition.
Her refined and pure aura had won the family’s favor.
Of course, they had yet to witness her madwoman side.
Since I called for her, I must take responsibility. She is my subordinate and my physician.
In truth, she probably would have come even if he hadn’t called.
She would have bought the entire Hao Gate if necessary to locate him.
Or beaten the Hao Gate’s leader until he told her.
Her obsession was burdensome, but the sound of his family’s laughter diluted that weight.
In any case, ever since Hwa Yuhwa’s arrival, the family had grown noticeably healthier.
Since this was an undeniable fact, Dan Hyunwoo tucked his feelings away with a bitter smile and approached Eun Hyeongyeom.
Besides the Harmonious Strength Qi Regulation Method, the man practiced martial arts every morning as well.
“Quit the escort agency.”
“If I quit, how will I earn money?”
“If you keep working as an escort with the martial arts you’ve learned, my sister will become a widow. At the earliest, within a year.”
“Thank you for saying something terrifying with a smile, my friend.”
“What is the name of the martial art you learned?”
“It’s called Heavenly Tiger’s Fierce Strength.”
“The heavenly tiger fiercely divides? There was a martial art with that meaning?”
“The name is grandiose, but it’s just a technique from the manuals the agency sells. To join, you either need prior training or must learn from the manuals they offer to qualify.”
“Can I see the book?”
“It’s in my room. Wait a moment.”
Eun Hyeongyeom hurried off and returned with the book.
Dan Hyunwoo identified the technique’s true nature from the first page. By the time he reached the middle, a strange feeling settled over him.
It’s a mishmash of the Three Talents Sword Technique and Tai Chi sold in the streets. They’ve even mixed in techniques from the imperial palace archives. That one was definitely called Heavenly Transformation Qi Flow.
Heavenly Transformation Qi Flow was a now-lost divine skill, a supreme art.
Dan Hyunwoo had once taken interest in it himself.
However, its principles were already contained within the Ten Thousand Martial Divine Art he practiced, so he had passed it to Hwa Yuhwa, where it became part of her.
He had judged it suited her best.
One of the seven martial arts she mastered, Heavenly Transformation Qi Flow slaughtered enemies mercilessly on the battlefield.
Why was such a technique inside an escort agency manual?
Interesting. Though it’s only a tiny fragment, it still allows considerable progress. But no one can truly grow strong with this. It’s as if they deliberately removed the divine elements just to keep selling the book.
One might grow strong after a hundred years of practice.
If they lived that long, they could become a mid-tier martial artist in the murim—barely enough to earn a nickname.
“Is this the Heavenly Transformation Qi Flow?”
Hwa Yuhwa, who had been glancing at the pages from the side, stepped closer.
Her face showed clear interest.
“Shall I teach him? If the commander gives the word, I’ll do it.”
“The flow of Heavenly Transformation Qi Flow has already taken root in Hyeongyeom’s body. You’re the perfect teacher.”
Eun Hyeongyeom cut in.
“You’re really going to teach me?”
“I’ll begin tomorrow morning. I’ll make you a renowned martial artist within half a year.”
“Ah……”
To turn the essentially blank Hyeongyeom into a renowned martial artist in half a year meant nearly killing him in the process.
Survive this. Don’t make my sister a real widow.
Just as he was thinking that, the family finished their session of the Harmonious Strength Qi Regulation Method and stood sweating with bright faces.
Having learned up to the seventh form out of twenty, their bodies now flowed with clear, pure energy.
Dan Hyunwoo smiled.
Everything was falling perfectly into place.
They were regaining their health through the breathing method, and Hwa Yuhwa was curing every ailment with her medical arts.
She had already treated Eun Hyeongyeom’s chronic ankle condition.
She had healed the wrist pain Dan Seoyeon developed while working at the inn.
And their father improved daily; soon he would completely shake off his illness.
Jin Yeongyeong said, “Now let’s all eat breakfast together. These days, nothing makes me happier than meals with everyone present. The whole family gathering every morning… I keep wondering if this is a dream or reality……”
Every morning, their mother repeated the same words.
They heard it daily, yet the family smiled every single time.
This, it seemed, was happiness.
The kind of happiness that could only be felt within the circle of family.
Hwa Yuhwa had entered that circle, but nothing had changed.
She was family now too.
Of course, it was still burdensome when the two of them were alone.
Returning to Hangzhou while dreaming of such a harmonious family had been the right choice.
Feeling his eyes grow slightly moist, Dan Hyunwoo turned his head away.
“Hyeongyeom, I’ll go tell the escort agency you’re quitting.”
Before the warm tears could fall, Dan Hyunwoo quickly left the Dan Manor.
It had been a long time since he remembered that too much happiness could also bring tears.
Jeon Akgwan asked Yu Sucheon, “What should I make for lunch today?”
“Sweet and sour pork, shredded pork in Beijing sauce, and kung pao chicken. Those three.”
“That’s a lot of ingredients to buy. The mother-in-law has started nagging about the ingredients too, so I’ll need to choose carefully.”
“Let’s hurry so we don’t get scolded. By the way, did you finish cleaning the walls?”
“I ordered Cheon Ilseong to do it.”
“If he slacks off, beat him.”
“That’s my specialty.”
Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan entered the now-familiar market.
When exactly had this place become so familiar?
As they stepped inside, the woman who had once shown them the stall with fresh vegetables was staring at something with a pitying expression.
“What’s wrong? You look troubled.”
“Oh? Isn’t that Lord Yu? My lord, look at those men over there. Does that make any sense?”
Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan turned in the direction she pointed.
There, a familiar man was grabbing a merchant by the collar as if catching a rat.
Kang Podu from the county office?
The other two were mere constables—nobodies.
But Kang Podu was fairly well-known.
That same Kang Podu snarled at the merchant, “This is fraud!”
“Aigoo, Podu-nim. How is this fraud?”
“You called this chrysanthemum bread, didn’t you? Then why isn’t there any chrysanthemum in it? That’s why it’s fraud!”
“It’s named that because of the shape. Who in the world puts actual chrysanthemums in bread?”
“Enough. Boys, drag him away. If you don’t want to be dragged off, pay the additional tax. It’s only right to pay extra taxes with money earned through lies, isn’t it?”
“Additional tax?”
“Two taels of silver. Pay up quickly or you’ll be hauled to the county office!”
The chrysanthemum bread seller bowed his head and endured.
His fists trembled with injustice, but he couldn’t risk his livelihood by fighting back.
He could only pull money from his pocket for the ridiculous accusation.
Taxes were originally collected by the Provincial Administration Commission that managed the city’s livelihood.
The county office had no business with taxes.
Yet once a month, Kang Podu appeared and demanded additional taxes.
Everyone who ran stalls in the market knew what happened to those who refused.
They would be dragged away, beaten nearly to death with clubs, and never allowed to do business again.
That was the reality of Hangzhou’s market.
Having taken the money, Kang Podu said, “Be careful from now on. You should be grateful I’m only making you pay this much extra tax. Understand?”
“Th-thank you.”
Holding back tears, the chrysanthemum bread seller gritted his teeth.
A family’s monthly living expenses were roughly one tael of silver.
To earn that, one had to work every day of the month, whether in cold or heat.
Yet two taels had just been taken.
This month, his wife who mended clothes would have to manage the household.
As if finished with the chrysanthemum bread seller, Kang Podu slowly walked over to the chicken seller.
“For you, the additional tax is three taels of silver.”
“Podu-nim! What did I do wrong to have to pay taxes again?”
“Do you think only one or two people have reported to the county office that the chickens you sell still have their feathers? Huh?”
“Where in the world are there chickens without feathers? You know perfectly well it’s impossible to raise featherless chickens. Living is hard these days, and business isn’t what it used to be. Please, have mercy.”
“This bastard still hasn’t learned. Boys!”
At Kang Podu’s command, the two constables drew their weapons.
The chicken seller Jang turned deathly pale and trembled.
He had no choice.
Either pay or borrow from loan sharks if he had no money.
Eventually he might be dragged off by those same loan sharks and beaten half to death.
Something about this doesn’t sit right.
Watching the merchants they had grown close to suffer, Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan felt a surge of anger.
Yu Sucheon said, “That chrysanthemum bread seller, Mr. Song, just had twins. He told us he needed to work hard to earn money. If they take two taels, how will he raise those children?”
“And the chicken seller, Mr. Jang. That man taught me his incredible feather-plucking technique. Thanks to him, I can prepare ingredients comfortably. And Mr. Song—remember when we first started coming to the market after getting beaten by Dan Hyunwoo?”
“Yeah. When we kept failing at cooking and were starving, he gave us chrysanthemum bread for free. We filled our stomachs with those. How could I forget?”
Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan’s faces gradually flushed bright red.
Why were they so angry?
These market merchants had once been nothing more than food to them. Why now?
He didn’t know the reason, nor did he want to think about it too deeply.
He simply surrendered his judgment to the boiling rage.
That was the way of the Sapa.
Yu Sucheon stepped forward.
“Kang Podu, that’s enough!”
“Lord Yu Sucheon? Why are you interfering? Don’t you know the law of Non-Aggression between Government and Wulin? Even you should know that officials and martial artists are like water and oil.”
“The Non-Aggression between Government and Wulin is indeed an absolute law between officials and martial artists, but there is no clause ordering us to keep our mouths shut.”
“That may be true, but……”
“Even as a Sapa man, I don’t touch the pockets of the people in this market. Kang Podu, I know exactly how hard these people struggle to survive, and you aren’t ignorant of it either.”
“This is ta-tax! You must not interfere in official business!”
Kang Podu held his ground until the end.
The Non-Aggression between Government and Wulin was an awkward matter for both sides, yet it remained the only shield preventing direct conflict.
To shatter that shield required paying a heavy price.
Yu Sucheon knew this well.
The awkward, uncomfortable government was an opponent one had to handle with care.
In that case……
Clench.
Yu Sucheon gripped the sword guard tightly.
He did not draw the blade—merely rested his hand on it.
Kang Podu ground his teeth at the sight.
Drawing the sword would violate the Non-Aggression between Government and Wulin, so he’s threatening me by placing his hand on the guard. As expected from an experienced fighter.
A drop of cold sweat slid down Kang Podu’s temple.
Hangzhou’s greatest expert.
He didn’t understand why such a man was shopping in the market.
But he knew one thing for certain: in terms of pure martial power, Yu Sucheon could annihilate everyone in the county office without receiving so much as a scratch.
That was why simply resting a hand on the sword guard was enough to deliver silent threat and pressure.
In the end, Kang Podu took one step back.
Yu Sucheon said, “The money you took from the chrysanthemum bread seller Song. Or rather, the tax. Return it. It seems you collected far too much.”
“Fine. But you will definitely regret this. Just remember that those who interfere in official affairs usually meet miserable ends.”
“I’ll remember. Though I’ll probably forget once today passes.”
Kang Podu took out the money and threw it onto the table where Mr. Song conducted his business.
“Boys! We’re leaving.”
As Kang Podu retreated, Yu Sucheon gave a cold smile.
“Regret? What regret. Don’t ever show your face here again, you son of a bitch. Hey, Mr. Song. Keep that money safe so it doesn’t get taken again.”
“Aigoo, Lord Yu! Thank you! This is for my twins’ food! How can I ever repay this kindness?”
“How many of your chrysanthemum breads have I eaten over the years? This is nothing.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
At Mr. Song’s words, cheers erupted throughout the market.
Every merchant bowed their heads in gratitude.
The old woman selling vegetables held hands with her neighbor and wept.
The fish seller, Mr. Mun, limped forward with tears in his eyes.
Everyone offered their thanks.
The cheers continued for a long time.
Feeling strangely embarrassed, Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan scratched their heads vigorously.
Damn it, is this why people become heroes? It feels strange. So strange. We’re clearly villains.
For some reason, the excitement in his chest refused to settle.
The more thanks he received, the warmer his heart grew.
An unfamiliar sensation.
At that strange feeling, Yu Sucheon clutched his head and shouted.
“Aaaagh! Ever since I met that bastard Dan Hyunwoo, I’ve become weird! Really weird! Me, a hero? Does that even make sense?”