A Gift for Brother Jin-ho (1)
It hadn't been many days since my return from Uichang, and the tenth month was already upon us.
The biggest event of the month was Brother Jin-ho's birthday, but this year held something special.
Finally, Brother Jin-ho was to become a branch leader.
That meant I needed to prepare a splendid gift for him.
I recalled what had happened at Brother Jin-ho's branch leader announcement ceremony in my previous life.
There wasn't anything major... no, wait.
There was an incident.
At Brother Jeong-ho's ceremony, assassins had burst in.
At mine, Brother Jeong-ho and Sub-leader Jin So-mi had confirmed their feelings for each other, and soon after, Sub-leader Jin So-mi became my sister-in-law.
Truth be told, even I hadn't seen that coming.
After all, I'd become a branch leader three years earlier than in my previous life.
Back then, my ceremony had been a drab affair—no alcohol due to the national liquor ban amid the famine, just a meager gathering.
It was a pity how something always cropped up at these branch leader announcements.
I rose from my bed.
Time to start the day.
As I stepped out the door, the Yeon Gye-seung warrior standing guard bowed his head.
He'd asked me to call him by a different name than Yeon Gye-seung.
The Alliance Leader had given him that name, he said—it could spell trouble if word got out.
"What should I call you, then?"
"Call me Jin Yu (Jin Yu), please."
"Did you come up with it yourself?"
"No."
"……?"
"It's my original name, forgotten by the world."
And so Yeon Gye-seung became Jin Yu.
Jin Yu warrior now resided with us at Mungokdang.
His official affiliation: my personal guard unit.
Branch leaders could maintain their own guard units, and the escorts assigned upon promotion belonged to them.
"Personal" meant footing the bill yourself.
The Eunhae Merchant Group covered salaries for two guards, but nothing beyond that.
"You've had a rough time of it."
Jin Yu responded with a formal bow.
"Not at all. It was a valuable learning experience."
Until yesterday, he'd been training with the Eunpungdae and returned only last evening.
Escorts for the merchant house often operated alongside Eunpungdae warriors.
To avoid any gaps when coordinating, there were protocols to master.
In other words, half a month of joint drills with the Eunpungdae was standard.
It was mandatory for outsiders joining as guards.
To my eyes, it seemed like a vetting process to gauge trustworthiness.
Father had voiced concerns about the former assassin, but on Jin Yu's return to Mungokdang, he'd told me, "I'll respect your choice."
I trusted my decision as well.
Jin Yu carried no sinister aura despite his past.
If anything, he felt strangely familiar.
And there was something oddly recognizable about his swordsmanship.
"I officially welcome you to my guard."
"Thank you for the second chance. I pledge my full loyalty to you, my lord."
"Save your thanks for the sect leader. Just prove your loyalty to me."
I smiled at the three warriors.
"I'll meditate now—keep watch."
Yeo Eung-am warrior said to Jin Yu, "Do as I described yesterday."
"Understood."
They moved to their posts, and I sat cross-legged in the courtyard center to begin my meditation.
One thing I'd noticed: meditation grew more efficient as the weather turned colder.
Likely because my art was an ice technique.
Last time, battling that mad warrior while acquiring the Eunmu Sword, I'd broken through the wall to the Super First-rate realm.
Master had said not to rush— the stage would come in time.
Impatience could cripple me.
My inner power, honed by the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art, was razor-sharp; it might tear my meridians.
I wanted to approach this new realm with utmost caution.
Becoming a cripple before avenging myself on the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Merchant Group? I'd die with my eyes open.
Thanks to my steady daily practice without forcing it, I'd adapted faster than expected.
Master was right—the wall crumbles when the time is ripe.
But at not even twenty, already Super First-rate?
Master warned me to hide my strength; word could draw unwanted scrutiny.
I agreed.
My martial prowess was a hidden claw aimed at the Murim Alliance.
That said, the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art truly lived up to its reputation as a divine art—the deeper the cultivation, the more its might revealed itself.
I understood Master's words about feeling its power grow with one's realm.
"Hoo……."
I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes.
No sooner had I stood than Master entered.
His timing was always impeccable.
"Good morning, Master."
"Yes, good morning. Shall we begin training?"
Jin Yu warrior asked his senior guard, Yeo Eung-am warrior.
"One thing I'd like to ask."
"What is it?"
"Who is the master instructing our lord in martial arts?"
Yeo Eung-am replied, "Kwak Myeong-hyeon. Head of Changin Escort Agency, our allies."
"I see... Do you know anything about his art, Senior?"
The "Senior" made Yeo Eung-am smile unwittingly before he schooled his expression.
"Not much, but it's an ice art."
"I see."
Jin Yu nodded.
"For a man to cultivate ice arts, his constitution must be unique... So the lord's is..."
"Planning to tell others?"
"If circumstances forced me to betray the man who gave me a second chance, I'd take my own life."
Yeo Eung-am and Lee Pil warriors simply watched his resolute face.
"A warning, though—never act rashly around Escort Leader Kwak."
"Pardon?"
"He told me to step out for the lesson and just stared... Felt like my blood was freezing."
Lee Pil shuddered too.
"An experience I never want to repeat."
"Understood. I'll be mindful."
"Anyway."
Yeo Eung-am continued, "Now that you're officially with Mungokdang's guard unit, I'd like to gauge the current guard's skills."
Lee Pil added, "To protect the lord, we need to know each other's capabilities for emergencies, right?"
"I agree fully."
Jin Yu consented readily.
"Then we'll seek the lord's permission and spar properly."
"Yes."
As guards, the three watched from a spot overlooking the courtyard—where Eun Seo-ho tumbled about in training, observed by the stone-faced Kwak Myeong-hyeon.
Jin Yu's gaze grew complicated.
The energy I sensed during the lord's meditation felt familiar...
The moment he'd seen the pig spirit Han Ho-su, which the lord called Geum-ryeong, suspicion had dawned.
It was the spirit beast guarding Seolpung Palace's lord.
But given its love of money, he'd brushed it off.
Today, though, shock had nearly buckled his knees upon seeing Kwak Myeong-hyeon enter Mungokdang.
To meet like this...
It meant heaven hadn't forsaken him—or Seolpung Palace.
His survival and second chance proved it.
Training ended; Eun Seo-ho bowed to Kwak Myeong-hyeon.
As Kwak headed for the door, Jin Yu said to the other two guards, "May I step away briefly?"
"Go ahead."
With permission, he hurried over and called out.
"Escort Leader Kwak."
Kwak turned.
"You called?"
"Yes."
"Don't think we've met."
"Jin Yu, the warrior guarding Lord Eun Seo-ho starting today."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise."
"Just for a greeting...?"
"You seemed familiar."
"...?"
Jin Yu gathered his energy and drew his sword—but not from the sheath.
"What is this?"
Kwak looked baffled at the suddenness, but Jin Yu was certain.
This would explain more surely than words.
Slowly, sheathed, he executed a single sword form.
Kwak's eyes widened in shock.
Finishing, Jin Yu bowed respectfully.
"Do you recognize it?"
"...How could I not know that sword art?"
"It's been too long... since we last met."
I tilted my head.
What was that about?
Suddenly Jin Yu warrior had called out to Master and demonstrated a sword form—sheathed.
And that form... it felt familiar somehow.
But Master's reaction was more startling— the same look he'd had upon seeing my Eunmu Sword.
Meaning Jin Yu had a deep connection to Master.
Moments later, Master addressed me.
"Guild Leader."
"Y-yes, Master!"
"May I speak privately with this warrior?"
I nodded readily.
"Of course."
Master and Jin Yu stepped out of Mungokdang. Steadying my trembling legs, I watched them go.
Another grueling day.
"Gu! Guut!"
Geum-ryeong poked out from my sleeve, perching on my shoulder with encouraging chirps. Sort of comforting, in its way.
Yeah, yeah—thanks.
Palgap darted over with a towel and water.
He wore that look again—like he couldn't stand losing to Geum-ryeong.
Palgap...
Geum-ryeong's a spirit beast, you're human. Why's a man jealous of a spirit?
Or... was Palgap more bear than man?
Then Yeo Eung-am and Lee Pil warriors approached.
"My lord. A word."
"Go ahead."
"Tonight, we'd like to spar with Jin Yu warrior. Your permission?"
"Do it."
"Pardon?"
They hadn't expected such quick approval, faces puzzled.
"You need to gauge each other's skills to plug any gaps in protection, right?"
"...Yes. But how did you know?"
I chuckled.
"I just do."
More than that, I was dying to know what Master and Jin Yu were discussing.
What on earth?
But no time to dwell—I wolfed down lunch and headed to my office.
Work was piling up.
.
.
.
Another day flew by.
The self-moving dolls and wind-up toys were still hugely popular.
And the new self-playing zither was a runaway smash.
Less from the promo as Jeong-ho's wedding gift, more because it was a genuinely wondrous device.
Even I was amazed.
In other words, my workload kept growing.
Folks called it "self-inflicted busyness."
No helping it.
To take on Baekcheon Merchant Group, we needed to expand.
With Hubei salt retailing, we'd climbed from the bottom of the top hundred merchants to sixtieth last winter solstice. This time, even higher?
No moves from Baekcheon yet—they were probably "amusingly" observing, as before.
Blind to the dagger at their throat.
Back at the annex for dinner, I headed to the courtyard afterward.
As Yeo Eung-am had mentioned, the three warriors were set to spar tonight.
For any contingencies, I'd invited a special guest.
"Hahaha! Honored to be invited to a branch leader's annex."
"The honor's mine, External Manager."
None other than External Manager Go Il-pyeong.