108. Seungdeok Manor (3)
Seungdeok Manor (3)
108. Seungdeok Manor (3)
"Effective immediately, the five elders who joined the insubordination are stripped of their posts and confined to their residences. When Peng Il-su returns, I will retire as Clan Head and appoint him Young Clan Head."
The Clan Head spoke, turning to look back at the martial artists. Peng Seok, who had kept his silence until then, quietly stepped forward toward him.
"Clan Head. I have always told you, have I not? That I would retire before you. This internal injury nearly made me abandon not only the martial path but life itself. I have lived my entire life for the Peng Clan, so I intend to live the remaining years granted by Heaven as I please."
"Yah! You bastard! You dare retire before your older brother?"
"I will look after Kang. And so that my benefactor, Yeongsan Sect, and my root, the Peng Clan, may have no further discomfort, from now on I will fulfill that role here at Seungdeok Manor, which is like my own home."
"Tch. Come on. If you say that at a time like this, you leave me with nothing to say. I don't care that you're leaving, but Peng Mu can't go. Peng Mu has to remain as an elder."
"Hyung, if you ever miss So-a, come visit anytime. I will receive you as a guest."
Peng Seok stood beside Peng Gang, laughing quietly. The elder ranked among the Top Hundred Masters, a man nearing eighty, prostrated himself before the Sect Leader and lowered his head as he spoke.
"Sect Leader, I wish to devote the life you saved to Yeongsan Sect as a member of Seungdeok Manor. We will never forget this debt and will labor to make Yeongsan Sect's name resound throughout Hebei."
"P-please get up, Great Hero Peng!"
My master flinched in dismay at Peng Seok's extreme courtesy.
"Kang is still young. I beg you to grant me the position of head of Seungdeok Manor."
"Ha... do it! Do as you please, and please just get up!!"
My flustered master lifted Peng Seok to his feet, utterly at a loss.
"Sect Leader! This poor bastard here never even got to be Young Clan Head. You are making me Junior Manor Head, right?"
Seizing the moment, Peng Gang swiftly approached my master and secured the position of Junior Manor Head. At last, a bright smile returned to Hong Seon-hwa's face.
And so a new sect was born here in Seungdeok, Hebei, and our Yeongsan Sect gained its second subordinate power led by one of the Top Hundred Masters. Peng Clan Head—indeed a man of outstanding political skill. Despite a disastrous situation, he had wrapped it all up in fine and heartwarming fashion.
"Pardon me, Clan Head. I'm glad you settled the matter so cleanly, but have you not forgotten something? Three hundred taels of gold. It would be awkward for us to visit the Peng Clan now, so please pay it here."
"Three hundred taels? Seok's treatment costs? Why are you asking me for that? Seok is on your side now."
"Wasn't he treated while still a martial artist of the Peng Clan? You loudly boasted that you had more money than Murong—why are you changing your tune now, sir?"
"Do you think now is the same as then? The invincible hero of Liaoning smashed eighty of our martial artists to pieces and left five elders in that state. And on top of that, the only one still in decent shape, Seok, a Top Hundred Master, you've snatched away completely. So now your own power is the greater. Show the magnanimity of a victor and let it go."
Shameless, brazen-faced behavior was a Peng Clan tradition. For the sake of future plans, even the Clan Head could keep an iron face like this.
"Can't be helped. Senior Sister. Those old gents are set to suffer for a few months, so let's sell off the remaining Jeong-hyang Pills. You said earlier the Peng Clan would purchase the medicine at a price we wouldn't find lacking, didn't you?"
"The Jeong-hyang Pills are already gone. The Spirit Jade Pills I made today are rather expensive, but since the Peng Clan has agreed to purchase them, I will gladly sell them."
This was why I liked Lee Eun-ha. She was speaking now, fully leveraging our superior position. I'd meant to tease Peng Clan Head a little, but he nodded and answered as though it was only natural.
"Those bastards are loaded. If they don't want to suffer in their old age, they'll have to cough up the money. Ah, for the other house members I'll pay myself, so I'll ask you for the cheapest possible medicine."
Infuriated by the elders' disgraceful behavior, the Clan Head spoke rather cheerfully. Yet his concern for his house members was indeed befitting a Clan Head.
Ah, but... those medicinal pills were the cheapest ones there were, actually.
In the end, our journey was delayed a little. Demanding an unreasonable treatment fee from individuals after we had initiated the fight pricked my conscience, so I quoted fifty taels of gold for each internal-injury pill. Peng Clan Head became furious and ordered me to charge one hundred taels. Only moments earlier he'd complained that the clan was in difficult straits; now he insisted the Peng Clan was wealthy and told me to squeeze one hundred taels from every elder. At first they hesitated. Then the elder who had been struck by Geo Am and could barely move bought a Spirit Jade Pill in a voice full of doubt. Before one tea interval had passed, he had completely recovered, and the remaining elders rushed to purchase pills as well.
As the Clan Head said, they were now to be confined when they returned to the Peng Clan, and could hardly expect proper treatment. At their age, if they didn't want their bones to ache, they had no choice but to buy Spirit Jade Pills.
"They called you Medicine Immortal? Forgive my impertinence, but may I ask a favor? If you have any of these Spirit Jade Pills remaining, could you sell them all to us? After going through such an event and seeing Elder Peng Seok, I think it would be prudent to keep a few pills in reserve."
"W-wait! I'll pay one hundred and ten taels! Sell the remaining pill to me!"
Hopeless as they looked, they were still the Peng Clan. Having been thoroughly beaten like this, they quickly changed tack and were now speaking shamelessly to secure these astonishing pills.
"I do have one left, but a Spirit Jade Pill spoils after five days."
"Five days? I see. With efficacy this extraordinary, one hundred taels would be absurdly cheap if it didn't even have that drawback."
The elders expressed disappointment and seriously considered whether to purchase the last remaining pill. Their own internal injuries were healed, but at their age they would have mountains of decrepit old friends. Then, just as the situation was winding down, Peng So, who had been hiding in the manor knowing nothing, came trotting up to Lee Eun-ha and tugged at her sleeve.
"Medicine Immortal, Medicine Immortal. I want something sweet too."
At Peng So's adorable words, Lee Eun-ha gave a warm smile and popped a white medicinal pill into her small mouth. Peng So began hopping and skipping around, utterly delighted.
"Wah! Today's one tastes the best!"
Even Cho-ryeong, a child herself, watched the adorable girl with a pleased smile. So you too were a kid from a good family who knew what tasted best. To be honest, I also found Master's breast milk more delicious than Jeong-hyang's or Son Yeong's. The elders were disappointed but could hardly object to young Peng So. Admiring how Lee Eun-ha had given a child a Spirit Jade Pill worth one hundred taels of gold without hesitation, they returned to the Peng Clan with the Clan Head. Lee Eun-ha then examined the remaining warriors and wrote down the medicinal ingredients Madam Hong needed to order.
"Seungdeok Manor, with a master of the Top Hundred Masters, seeking to become a Yeongsan subordinate—I never could have imagined it in spring."
My master spoke in hollow disbelief as she walked back toward the manor.
"The world does change. Master, you've become quite courageous yourself now."
"Seungdeok Manor is different from White Tiger Sect. If things go on like this and some calamity should befall our Yeongsan, Hero Peng and his family, along with Young Hero Peng's family at Seungdeok Manor, will simply return to the Peng Clan and that will be the end of it. But if we fall, White Tiger Sect will become Green Forest bandits once more. And then the common people of Liaodong will suffer."
"That's precisely what has changed, Master. Before you knew it, you have become the master of a region, thinking not only of Yeongsan Sect but of the entire Liaodong area."
"This isn't what I wished for. But if my disciple, my husband, wishes this of me, then I have no choice but to change with it."
Just as I thought of her, she thought of me. She was small and adorable, but she was my master—not Cho-ryeong.
Before long, Hong Seon-hwa had emptied a pharmacy to stock the medicine hall to the brim. Lee Eun-ha abruptly took Hwa-ran into the medicine hall and began manufacturing pills.
"Here. This ointment treats burns. These pills treat bruises, and this oddly shaped one is Golden Wound Medicine for cuts. You won't need them today, but I've also made digestive medicine, headache medicine, and diarrhea medicine. After I leave, you'll manage the medicine hall."
"M-me? But I'm just a servant girl?"
"When I return from Henan, I'll stop by from time to time and teach you basic pharmacy. Pharmacy resembles cooking, so it shouldn't be hard for you. Instead, if my Junior Brother visits Seungdeok Manor alone, see to it that you attend to him without the slightest hitch. Our Junior Brother has mastered special Taoist arts and has come to possess desires far greater than an ordinary man's."
In an instant, my face grew hot. I had received Lee Eun-ha's thoughtful care countless times, but I couldn't help turning red at such explicit consideration.
"That suits me wonderfully too. Though even if it weren't me, the Madam will probably try to attend to him first, you know?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Our Madam is not joking around anymore. She looks ready to abandon even the Third Young Master and follow the Elder. The Elder's member really is extraordinary. You saw her this morning—her legs had given out so completely she couldn't even walk."
At those words, Lee Eun-ha was shocked.
"Don't tell me—Lady Hong actually shared a bed with Junior Brother?"
"Of course. Dozens of times."
"Good heavens! So you didn't attend Junior Brother and enjoy yourselves in the same place as Young Hero Peng and his wife—Lady Hong enjoyed herself with Junior Brother, and you enjoyed yourself with Young Hero Peng?"
"No. I was held in the Elder's arms last night as well. The Madam and I merely took turns using our hands and feet to make the Third Young Master ejaculate."
At those words, Lee Eun-ha's face turned deathly pale. Her expression was far more dreadful than when the Peng Clan's martial artists had come swarming.
"It's fine. It's what the Third Young Master wished for, after all. I'm telling only you, Medicine Immortal—I'm going to bear the Third Young Master's son and become a concubine. Once my belly is full, attending your esteemed senior will be difficult, but the Madam can't possibly get pregnant, so there's no need to worry about his nightly care. And if by chance I am also pregnant and the Madam is on her monthly courses, I will select a pretty girl and send her to his chambers."
Even amid this mind-numbing conversation, perhaps because the Shennong Art was at work in front of the fire, Lee Eun-ha barely managed a smiling face as she spoke to Hwa-ran.
"Congratulations on becoming a concubine. Some might laugh, but as a former servant girl, I know what a tremendous blessing this is. Madam Hong excels at managing external affairs, while you excel at managing the household. This will be good for Seungdeok Manor."
"Then, Medicine Immortal, is there any medicine that helps a woman conceive a son? Once I become a concubine, I will be the only woman to bear an heir, so I will wield as much authority as the Madam. I'll reward you generously then."
"That will take a long time, so I'll make it for you when I return from Henan. Now go out and see to your work."
"You've promised!"
Hwa-ran left the medicine hall in high spirits. Watching her retreating figure, Lee Eun-ha finally sank into a chair.
"The world is indeed wide. The bawdy tales the aunties told me back in Joseon were nothing at all."
"I'm truly embarrassed, but I think so too."
"Do Master and the senior sisters know?"
"They gave me permission."
"Hoo... everyone's truly gone mad, haven't they? Now I feel like the only fool left. All this business of men and women. I don't understand a thing anymore."
Lee Eun-ha sighed. I suddenly grew curious. She had now met many people in the martial world, starting with White Tiger Sect. At an age when adolescent boys and girls open their eyes to love—was there no one she held in her heart? I'd never once thought about it, but picturing her loving another man and leaving with him made my heart feel deeply uneasy. I knew I wasn't in any position to feel this way, already having three wives, but had I been unconsciously thinking of her as mine too, just like Murong Rin? To be honest, I couldn't have purely rejoiced at the sight of her in another man's arms the way Peng Gang did.
"Senior Sister, is there no man you like?"
"Why would I not? Did you think I was Junior Sister Cho? Judging by your expression, you had no idea. I-I have secretly devoted myself to you, Junior Brother. You're the only man around us and our benefactor. Of course I had every reason to fall for you."
Without a second of hesitation or a hint of shyness, Lee Eun-ha spoke bluntly. Like a true disciple of Yeongsan Sect, at a thoroughly absurd moment, here in this dark medicine hall utterly unsuited to a confession of love, she confessed her affection to me.