Parting Letters and Final Selections
* * *
"What in the world is this mess?"
Danmok Hyeon-yo let out a sigh. She wasn't snapping in frustration only because her daughter, Danmok Seong, had played a key role in resolving the incident.
"What mess? It's all been sorted out nicely."
"Father! Is this really something we can just brush off? What will people think? They'll say we can't even manage our branch families properly, and that's why this disaster happened during disciple selection."
Danmok Hyeon-yo said sharply. Danmok Cheon-gi clicked his tongue at her tone, which dripped with barely contained outrage.
"If Geuk-rim hadn't been allowed to stay with the family because of this, that might have been the case."
Being late to the final exam was a deduction in itself, and failing to realize his poor condition stemmed from someone else's scheme would have been another strike against him.
'Thank goodness Ryeon stepped in.'
That's when Danmok Cheon-gi realized it. The way Ryeon had gently seized Seo Geuk-rim's wrist was none other than his own Geumna-su technique—snatching with the hand. He'd once grabbed Ryeon's wrist to check her condition, and she'd replicated it perfectly after seeing it just that one time. In that moment, despite the gravity of the situation, Danmok Cheon-gi had nearly jumped up clapping. His reason as the retired family head had held him back.
"Well, you're right about that. How could a child be so vicious? I was truly shocked. Still, it would have been better if they'd handled it quietly after the final exam, away from prying eyes..."
Danmok Hyeon-yo murmured regretfully. It wasn't anyone else but her own daughter who had burst in yelling, so her heartache outweighed any scolding.
"Seong has a spirited temperament—that's all it is. Don't blame her; she's got a noble heart."
"Of course. I know her best of all. Our Seong is so upright! So that's why..."
Danmok Hyeon-yo smoothly concealed her slight regret and continued.
"Ryeon went to all that trouble, and right there on the spot, Seong praised her highly. That's not something she'd normally do."
Thanks to that, Seong had done all the yelling and forcing Danmok Jun to his knees, yet Ryeon ended up being hailed as the real hero.
'She was impressive, though... How did she know to send someone right away?'
How had she realized, the moment she saw Seo Geuk-rim's state, that his food poisoning was due to foul play? And how had she known Danmok Jun was behind it?
'Does some kind of intuition just hit her?'
In truth, Danmok Hyeon-yo rarely took a liking to people, so she seldom judged someone's character at a glance. She'd nearly botched her first meeting with Seok Ban-an because of it. But Danmok Seong was different. If she glanced at someone and said, "That one's no good," they always caused trouble later. If she said, "They seem decent enough on the surface," they proved loyal. Perhaps Ryeon, as Seong's cousin, had that same instinct?
"Anyway, we should banish that lot from the family entirely! How could a child think to steal meat, spoil it, and feed it to someone?"
"We'll handle that according to family law. So, no objections to keeping these children?"
Danmok Hyeon-yo just nodded along, while Danmok Hyeon-u grinned in satisfaction. Danmok Han-so scanned the list thoroughly before replying.
"Yes. This should be fine for the announcement."
"Shouldn't we show it to Ryeon first?"
Danmok Hyeon-yo, who had been quiet, asked pointedly. Her own daughter hadn't been allowed on the training ground stage because she was "too young," so having Ryeon act as an examiner didn't sit well.
"I've already shown it to Ryeon."
"What? When?"
"You all said you knew, so why complain now? What does it matter when I showed her?"
"I thought you hadn't shown it to her yet!"
Danmok Hyeon-yo cried out primly.
"So, do you have any complaints about this list? Want to add or remove someone? You must have a valid reason."
"N-no, no complaints. I was just asking."
Danmok Hyeon-yo clamped her mouth shut. Danmok Cheon-gi shook his head and rose, waving them out—it was time to go.
Once everyone had left, Danmok Cheon-gi turned to Gang-rip at his side.
"Where's Ryeon?"
"Still dispensing medicine at the pharmacy."
"With so many laid up, she's probably worried."
"Yes. But the prescriptions are quick, and the ingredients top-notch, so they're all recovering fast. Especially Seo Geuk-rim—he's already back on his feet."
"That boy got special treatment from Ryeon..."
Recalling his granddaughter's pale face as she rushed to the staggering Seo Geuk-rim, Danmok Cheon-gi sighed. He'd spotted the boy's shining talent the moment he faced Danmok Hyeon-u's sword. And his grit, performing that well in such a state. Seo Geuk-rim was the kind of disciple who could become a pillar of the family.
But if his condition had worsened to the point he couldn't take the final exam, and no one thought to keep him... Ryeon would have insisted, saying, "You said I could pick one disciple, right?" He had a feeling.
"Yes, and he's already bowing and kowtowing to the young miss, making a huge fuss."
"Heh."
From Seo Geuk-rim's perspective, Ryeon had pulled some strings at the last moment to let him take the exam—he had every reason to be grateful. Danmok Cheon-gi smiled inwardly but caught Gang-rip's gaze and quickly schooled his expression.
"Ahem. With heaven's grace, so many talented children are shining already. Great things ahead."
"The outer hall master and pharmacy master are preparing diligently to teach them properly."
"Good, good. By the way..."
As Danmok Cheon-gi started toward the pharmacy to see Ryeon, a sudden thought struck him.
"How did you know the morning meal at the reception hall was chicken porridge that day?"
Gang-rip's face stiffened momentarily. He cleared his throat awkwardly and replied in a hushed voice.
"Jeon ssi... his cooking is truly excellent."
"I know."
"He insisted I take some, saying one bowl of porridge makes two more with just a splash of water..."
"He insisted, or you asked?"
Gang-rip coughed again and confessed honestly.
"Truth be told, meat was short that dawn, so I fetched a couple more pieces myself..."
"And? Was the porridge good?"
"Yes. The chicken was simmered tender, the rice half-mashed and half-whole—warm, smooth, with a perfect chew. The chicken broth gave it such umami..."
"Heavens. Good, you say."
"Ahem. I showed poor judgment. Forgive me... please forgive me."
"Tell Jeon ssi to handle meals properly as penance for mismanaging ingredients until the patients recover. Once they're all better, he returns to Wolyeongjae."
"Yes, understood!"
* * *
When the accepted list was announced, half sighed in regret with teary eyes, while the other half couldn't hide their joy. Some who'd bonded jumped up and down, hands clasped.
"We did it! We did it!"
"Waaaaah! I passed!"
"I passed! We're in!"
"Aigoo, what to do..."
"Don't cry, young master..."
Amid the mix of joy and sorrow, the failures—now with no reason to stay at the main house—swallowed their grief and prepared to leave. Meanwhile, Ryeon visited each one, handing out small letters.
"Young miss? What's... this?"
The red-eyed girl Danmok Jin ran out mid-packing at the news of Ryeon's arrival, blinking at the letter.
"I saw you swinging your sword in the final exam and thought this might help improve it, so I wrote it down..."
Ryeon scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed. Timing mattered in learning martial arts. Starting too late stiffened the muscles and bones, limiting future growth. These children were already at the edge of acceptable age. Danmok Cheon-gi had said hard work might bring them back, but it was unlikely. That's why the regret stung so much—this was their last chance.
"Learning martial arts is the same whether in Hangzhou or elsewhere—as long as your heart is true."
She recited a grand line on purpose, hoping it'd make them take the letter seriously.
"Y-yes! I'll train hard and definitely come back next time, young miss!"
Of the nine leaving, four—mostly direct kin—were deeply moved that Ryeon saw them off, tearing up. Three were dying of curiosity about the letters, and two looked utterly indifferent.