The Estate's Electric Buzz
The inner chambers of Wolyeongjae were so deathly still that even ghosts might hold their breath, but outside, barely suppressed tension and excitement roiled like a storm about to break.
Danmok Cheon-gi had been a titan who dominated an era. In his prime, legend had it that even birds would halt mid-flight before the gates of the Danmok estate. Though he'd been humbled somewhat by the wounds from his battle with Blood Valley, the fact remained: Moomwolgeom Danmok Cheon-gi was still a giant of this age.
And the stride of a crane differs vastly from that of a sparrow. Everyone was eager for a glimpse of the enlightenment he would attain this time.
"How can it be this..."
"Shall we finally throw a feast this time?"
With the entire estate abuzz, even Rejing Pavilion was no exception. Cho-il, sorting documents from the Mansong Merchant Group, bubbled over with excitement.
"When did it start getting like this?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
The change had been slow, yet swift. Like watching the tide recede—you notice nothing at first, but look away and return to find the sea vanished overnight.
Seol Gwan-hui pondered when vitality had first stirred in Rejing Pavilion. He remembered clearly the moment shadows had settled over the estate.
The day Dang Yu-byeok, that poison master of unyielding pride, wore a face of utter defeat, declaring no cure for Danmok Cheon-gi's injuries.
The day they learned Danmok Ryeon was little more than a breathing corpse, neither crying nor laughing, her eyes fixed on nothing.
The day of Danmok Hyeon-seong's funeral, when raindrops chilled clothes and cheeks alike, steaming faintly in the gloom.
And when had light begun to pierce the darkness? That, too, was clear.
From the moment Danmok Ryeon awoke after her Balsa Sesu.
Seol Gwan-hui's mind sharpened like a blade. There are people like that in the world—ones who reshape everything before and after their arrival. Not through raw skill alone, but by shifting fortune's flow, or even the era's tide.
"As expected of the young miss..."
"Shall we prepare a feast?"
Cho-il asked with sparkling eyes. Seol Gwan-hui scowled fiercely and shook his head.
"Nonsense. Don't even dream of it. More importantly, why are the servants making such a racket outside? Didn't they say the Supreme Patriarch is attaining enlightenment? Go tell them to quiet down at once."
Cho-il, shooed out, chatted with the servants before returning with wide-eyed shock.
"It seems the officials are posting exam results everywhere."
"What results?"
"The provincial exam passers! The list of successful candidates."
"What does that have to do with our estate's folk..."
Seol Gwan-hui trailed off, realization dawning. Rejing Pavilion had plenty of literate servants. Spotting a familiar name on those posters would naturally cause a stir.
And among the names they knew, one on that list could only mean...
Cho-il blurted innocently, "Get this—they say the Mansong Merchant Group's third young master topped the provincial exam! Everyone's whispering about it... Pavilion Master Seol? Are you all right?"
Seol Gwan-hui staggered, and Cho-il rushed forward in alarm. Seol stared blankly out the window, fireworks exploding wildly in his mind, before his lips twitched.
"...You."
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"Rip that poster down! The one saying Mansong's third young master aced the exam—bring it here!"
Cho-il yelped, clapped hands over his ears, and bolted out. He soon returned with a slightly tattered poster.
"Heavens..."
Just as Cho-il said. Finding Gyeon Wihak's name was easy—it topped the list!
Gyeon Wihak really topped the provincial exam?
Seol Gwan-hui's hand trembled holding the paper. Managing the estate's finances, he'd heard about Qinglian Water sales. Danmok Ryeon had singled out Mansong's third son as her Qinglian Water contact, saying if he passed the exam, sales of the tonic he'd used would skyrocket—no better outcome.
Even then, it'd stunned him. That would win Gyeon Wiun's favor, and since the third son had to take the exams anyway, Gyeon Wiun herself would likely oversee Danmok dealings directly. No one else could handle direct trades with the main line.
Seol had thought that windfall enough. But for the third son to actually top the exam?
Then the Qinglian Water he'd used would now...
"Where's the young miss?"
"Huh?"
"I mean Ryeon!"
"The young miss is, uh, with Pharmacy Master Uncle today..."
But Seol couldn't rush to Ryeon. Mansong Merchant Group folk swarmed in—faces dazed as if possessed.
They, too, had never dreamed their third young master would achieve such glory.
"All gifts from the Mansong Merchant Group for you."
"For me?"
Ryeon blinked in bewilderment. Seol Gwan-hui, overseeing the warehouse as crates piled up, hurried over at the sight of her and Danmok Hyeon-u.
"Young miss! Pharmacy Master, you've come."
"Heard gifts arrived for Ryeon, so I came to see. Where are the Mansong people?"
"They apologized profusely for not knowing sooner about the good news for the Supreme Patriarch and rushed off saying they'd bring more gifts later."
"No need for all that..."
Danmok Hyeon-u said so, but his pleasure showed—he hid a grin behind his sleeve.
Ryeon scanned the mountain of goods. "But shouldn't the top scholar uncle receive these gifts? Why send them to me?"
Wasn't the giver and receiver mixed up? Seol Gwan-hui straightened proudly, smiling.
"Because your Qinglian Water led their young master to this great fortune—what could be more natural? These are just hasty thanks upon hearing the news; proper gifts will follow."
They'd been thrown into their own frenzy by the news, scrambling to express gratitude first to the maker of the Qinglian Water.
But that wasn't the point. Ryeon stared dazedly at the stacking boxes and treasures, then snapped to.
Top of the provincial exam...!
He'd really done it. Someone using her Qinglian Water had topped the exam!
From now on, her handmade Qinglian Water would fetch double, triple the price. Demand through the medical halls would surge. At last, the estate's finances could breathe.
"Your Qinglian Water truly works miracles. How else could he just up and top the exam?"
"Less the water's merit, more that uncle's sheer brilliance..."
"It's Young Master Wihak, Ryeon-ah."
"Huh?"
Danmok Hyeon-u poked her pouting lips, lost in thought. Ryeon looked up from the inlaid box.
"Your uncle is my uncle; he's a Gyeon, so Young Master Gyeon. Look—a lovely white jade flute."
The topic shifted smoother than a snake over a wall—nay, as if he'd picked it up and plopped it elsewhere. He seemed miffed she'd called another "uncle."
Ryeon stifled a laugh and nodded. "Yes, yes!"
"Try holding the flute?"
The cool touch of white jade enveloped her hand, words floating before her eyes.
Whoa. Does it work with any fine gem?
Seol Gwan-hui beside her cleared his throat, explaining the flute.
"Your eye is sharp as ever, young miss. It's the most precious item here—the Hyangrinjeok flute, carved from white jade. Legend says it could make the moon palace's jar tremble when played. Must've been in Mansong's vaults."
Ryeon nearly asked its price but held back. Danmok Hyeon-u smiled contentedly beside her.
"Know that magnolia is also called hyangrin? Because every petal carries fragrance. If you play melodies on this flute, the notes themselves might waft perfume."
Anticipation laced Danmok Hyeon-u's voice. Ryeon, pleased at the flute holding spiritual energy, looked up late; he couldn't wait.
"I'm no match for my eldest brother, but I play flute well enough. Perfect to teach you! And now we have such a fine one."
Danmok Hyeon-u beamed. Ryeon gazed softly at her uncle, finally able to speak of her late father, and nodded.