Now We're Family
"Ugh... hngh... hngh..."
A boy who seemed about thirteen pounded on the closed gate in frustration before being shoved away from the wall by the rough hand of the servant beside him.
"Time to go home now. We can't dawdle any longer."
"Hngh... hngh... I, I'll definitely..."
The boy glared at the servant with eyes brimming with tears and venom, then abruptly bowed his head.
"You know the elders are doing you a favor even escorting you back. You planning to go alone?"
The servant said coldly.
The boy bit his lip hard but couldn't bring himself to say he'd go by himself.
As the servant strode ahead, the boy startled and hurried after him.
Baek Ui-myeong, who had been about to ask if he was supposed to follow the boy, was startled by the coldest look he'd ever seen in the kid's eyes.
What the...? His eyes on me were always so warm.
"Follow him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
"Uh... what do you mean by 'stupid' exactly...?"
"You know, plotting assassination or whatever."
"Pardon?"
Assassination? The word was so brutal that Baek Ui-myeong flinched.
The kid seemed to have gotten in some trouble, sure, but at that age, even if he held a grudge, would he really go as far as assassination?
"That includes spreading rumors out of spite against the clan."
He flinched again at the word clan.
But he couldn't exactly ask "What clan?", so he went with something else.
"B-but if I see him doing something like that... what should I do?"
"What do you mean, what? Deal with... "
The boy cut himself off mid-sentence, then irritably ruffled his own hair.
"Argh... I just wanted to pay back some dumplings, and now it's blown up like this."
He grumbled, let out a deep sigh, and continued.
"If anything seems off, come find me. Just come here and say you want to see Hwaryun for a bit."
"I-I can do that?"
"Yeah. If nothing's wrong, no need to report."
If I don't come report, does that mean he won't see me again? Then I won't learn anything more?
Baek Ui-myeong glanced anxiously at the boy and servant walking away.
Should I hope he tries something?
"What are you waiting for?"
"G-going! Yes! Right away!"
Baek Ui-myeong bowed deeply to the boy and scurried after them.
Hwaryun clicked his tongue as he watched the thief's retreating figure, then slipped through the back gate beside the wall.
"Ryun-ah, back from your outing? The young lady's looking for you. Seems she's prepared some reward herself since you did such great work this time."
The gatekeeper spotted Hwaryun and greeted him warmly.
Hwaryun paused at the words, nodded, and quickened his pace.
As he did, he let out a sigh too quiet for anyone to hear.
"Stayed up all night boiling herbs at the pharmacy, writing letters, running around... and now what else did she prepare? Aish... can't win with her."
The clan estate, buzzing all afternoon after the acceptance announcements, finally quieted as the sun set.
The branch family children's quarters were set at Yeonginsa Hall, right by the training grounds—a space prepared from the start for nurturing disciples, with the grounds, a small library, and dorms all connected.
Some kids had brought piles of belongings; others arrived with just the clothes on their backs.
Seo Geuk-rim, one of the latter, had bathed in warm water, eaten soft porridge for dinner, and now wandered the garden behind the dorms with a dazed expression.
I'm... staying.
He couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.
When the envoy from Danmok Clan arrived, his parents had been stunned and excited, but he'd felt little.
His grandmother had taught him martial arts on the side, but he'd never thought much of his talent.
Still, he'd made it this far thanks to her insistence.
— Rim-ah, they say the Grand Patriarch had an enlightenment. This is a huge chance.
His father had shrugged it off: might as well sightsee Hangzhou while we're at it.
Seo Geuk-rim had agreed.
Only his grandmother had been serious.
She'd insisted he had talent, that he'd do well.
Only she had cried when he left with Danmok Jun.
She'd seen him off with eyes mixed joy and sorrow, as if it might be ten years before they met again.
I should write Grandma a letter...
The clan said they'd notify families, but he wanted to write to her himself.
"Huh? Geuk-rim?"
"Y-young lady!?"
He'd been thinking of heading in to write and sleep when a burst of osmanthus scent wafted from behind, and a girl appeared.
Danmok Ryeon.
"Wh-what brings you here?"
Seo Geuk-rim, always praised for his maturity and calm, now stammered uncontrollably for some reason.
He realized his disheveled clothes—belt tied haphazardly—and inwardly despaired.
"Figured you'd all be unpacked by now, so I brought today's exam answer keys."
"Pardon?"
At "answer keys," he looked up involuntarily.
The girl, a bit shorter than him, smiled brightly.
"You worked so hard today—should you really be out here? Feeling okay?"
"I-I'm fine! Thanks to your concern. Otherwise, I'd be on a cart back home by now..."
He remembered vividly the moment she'd grasped his wrist.
Only once had he seen koi in Danmok Jun's pond—beautiful white fish with red patterns gliding gracefully.
Her touch had been just as fluid.
From that instant, the nausea, dizziness, and churning in his gut had washed away like ice water.
No coincidence.
"You think so?"
"Pardon?"
"That staying here is thanks to me?"
At her subtle question, he nodded without hesitation.
He'd thought he didn't care about training at the main house, but that wasn't true—he'd realized it only at the end.
As Danmok Jun watched him retch, clutching his sour stomach... that was when he'd first felt it.
Otherwise, why run staggering to the training grounds, even knowing he was late?
Danmok Ryeon had thrown him that final lifeline.
He had no skills or possessions to repay her now, but if she wanted something, he'd give his all.
"Then work hard. Got it?"
"Pardon?"
"You could be a big deal someday, Geuk-rim. Just work hard. Eat well, sleep well."
"Ah, yes!"
That's... all?
He was a bit flustered.
When Danmok Jun had given him old clothes, he'd hauled grain, spread manure, helped with harvest.
"Everyone must be resting."
Danmok Ryeon glanced at the building, took a basket from her guard, and offered it to him.
"Wish I'd come earlier. Could you distribute these by name later? Didn't want to bother them now."
"Yes! I'll... see to it."
"No need to be so formal."
She waved it off, but he cradled the basket preciously.
Seeing that, she encouraged him to do his best starting tomorrow and turned away.
He overheard the servant chattering beside her.
"Get inside and rest. You stayed up writing these... Could've just given them to me."
"But now they're family—better to show my face once more."
"Still, you wrote all night, then ran to the pharmacy at dawn..."
The voices faded.
Seo Geuk-rim stood holding the basket of ten letters, gazing at her back until she turned, waved, and he bowed hastily.
He mulled their words.
More victims from Danmok Jun's stunt—she'd helped at the pharmacy making medicine.
Of course.
Not logic, but instinct convinced him.
He chewed on her last words.
— But now they're family.
One family now.
Repeating it in his mind, the daze lifted; the cool autumn night air hit him.
Everyone too excited to sleep, so once Danmok Ryeon left, Seo Geuk-rim gathered the kids and distributed the letters.
"Wh-what's this...?"
Danmok Wan clutched hers hesitantly.
"Young lady brought it. Said it's answer keys—dunno exactly. Here, grab your own."
"She came by...?"
"Yeah, just now. Didn't want to disturb, so she left these."
"I see..."
Danmok Wan nodded wistfully and headed to her room with the letter.
Finally, the sharp-featured boy Mae Sin-yu snatched his and opened it right there.