Jin-ho's Wedding Banquet (5)

Eun Seo-ho wore a gentle smile as he spoke.

"Your voice seemed raised, so I came to see if something was amiss."

Bang-u let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.

Fortunately, it didn't seem like he'd caught on to the relationship between him and the warriors.

So he brushed it off casually.

"I was just giving these warriors a little reprimand."

"I see. Did our warriors make some mistake?"

"Ahem, it was nothing serious."

"Even so, shouldn't you tell me what happened so we can prevent such mistakes in the future?"

Bang-u pondered for a moment before lifting the corner of his mouth.

"These guys were badmouthing me."

"Is that so? My apologies."

"I've scolded them enough, so it's fine."

"We're truly sorry."

"Well, I'll be off then. Manage your warriors properly. Ahem."

Bang-u cleared his throat awkwardly and left.

After unleashing his tirade, his anger had subsided somewhat.

'Seeing that guy bow his head to me feels pretty good. Heh heh heh.'

And with that line about them badmouthing him, those two warriors were in for a beating.

He'd heard Eun Seo-ho was mild-mannered usually, but ruthless and strict when it mattered.

Any flimsy excuses would only make it worse for them.

The two warriors would grovel and take their punishment from Eun Seo-ho.

'If the young branch leader disciplines those two in my stead, I won't have to ruin my own mood. Heh heh heh.'

But soon, a heavy sigh escaped him.

He was once again realizing that this plan had failed completely, costing him a fortune.

'Damn it! That filthy bastard! I never should have trusted some lowborn whose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠origins I didn't even know from the start.'

Things looked bleak on how to salvage this, but there was one thing he had to do first.

"Go and... kill that bastard Heukwa."

"Understood."

I watched Branch Leader Bang-u's retreating figure, barely holding back a laugh.

These two warriors badmouthed him? He needed to come up with something believable if he was going to lie.

He must have hoped I'd discipline them in his place with that fib...

Did he think I was that stupid?

I waited until he was out of sight, then asked Warrior Bae Cheol and Warrior Go Ju-sang.

"Why did that guy summon you two?"

"Well... he was grilling us on why no one was getting sick from the food."

"I see."

Sick? Of course not.

The drugs were fake—how could they cause stomachaches?

Then Warrior Go Ju-sang asked slyly.

"B-but why did you bow your head for us earlier?"

"When warriors under the Eunhae Merchant Group err, isn't it natural for me, as a young branch leader, to apologize?"

"..."

Their faces stiffened at my matter-of-fact words.

"Not just me—Father and my brothers would do the same."

"But we..."

"Still, on the surface, you're warriors of our Eunhae Group's Silver Wind Corps, aren't you?"

They looked moved by my words.

Was it that touching?

"Anyway, you did well. Keep cooperating like this, and I'll ensure you stay in the Silver Wind Corps as you wish."

"We pledge our loyalty."

"I trust you."

I nodded and took my leave.

By the way, I thought I'd heard Branch Leader Bang-u tell his subordinate earlier, "Go and... kill that bastard Heukwa"?

A peak expert's hearing far surpasses that of ordinary people.

He must have thought he was far enough away, but I heard every word.

Bang-u hurried to the Jinse Pharmacy.

He needed to assess the situation and devise countermeasures.

His mind raced with calculations of how much gold he'd lost to thin air on this fiasco.

His face grew paler with every figure.

Soon, he arrived at the Jinse Pharmacy.

Lights blazed even late at night, but scarcely any customers remained.

"Ah! You've come."

The pharmacy owner bowed to him.

"But... those drugs you ordered in bulk must be discarded by tonight if unused. When can we use them?"

"Those drugs... they're unusable now."

"Pardon?"

He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ground his teeth and said,

"Dispose of them."

"Understood, but... that means we can't cover the herbal ingredient costs."

"..."

"And... as you know, tomorrow's payday."

"..."

"Plus, headquarters demands the pharmacy's profit-loss report the day after."

Bang-u wanted to smash the owner's mouth with his fist.

Of course, he could explain to headquarters and get more funding.

But this pharmacy was his pride.

The cornerstone solidifying his shaky branch leader position.

If they deemed that cornerstone faulty, they'd remove it.

And the pillar standing atop it—himself—would naturally collapse.

'Can't let that happen.'

In the end, he had no choice. He'd have to empty his personal coffers...

Blood tears welled up.

Soon, a bonfire blazed in the Jinse Pharmacy courtyard.

Crackle, pop.

Watching the drugs burn felt like his money going up in flames, stabbing at his chest.

'Why haven't those guys shown up yet? Dealing with that bastard Heukwa should be quick...'

Then, a group of warriors burst into the Jinse Pharmacy.

They were escorts for the Jinse Merchant Group's leader, faces grim.

That alone signaled trouble.

"Branch Leader Bang-u. Come with us for a moment."

"What's this about?"

"The Group Leader summons you."

.

.

.

Bang-u arrived at the Jinse Merchant Group's headquarters with a tense expression.

He was led to the Sesajeon Hall, where the Group Leader handled public affairs.

Entering, he saw the group's executives lined on either side.

His adult half-brothers were present too.

But his biggest rival, the eldest, was absent.

Then.

Thud, thud, thud.

Footsteps echoed as his bedridden father appeared.

Trailing behind was the missing eldest brother.

All bowed as the Group Leader sat.

"We see the Group Leader."

"Sorry to summon you all so suddenly."

"Not at all."

Despite his illness, the Group Leader's presence was undiminished.

"I've called this meeting to discuss whether Bang-u should retain his branch leader position."

"...!"

Bang-u bit his lip.

His lips, bitten raw all day, stung fiercely.

"Father, you're discussing my position? I was elected branch leader by the executives' vote."

"You're right. But if there's an issue with that branch leader, we can replace him anytime."

"An issue? What issue do I have?"

The Group Leader clicked his tongue at his feigned ignorance.

"Bring in the witnesses."

"Yes!"

Soon, guards from the Group Leader's escort brought in three men.

'Why those bastards...!'

Heukwa and his escort warriors.

The escorts looked far from fine.

Bruises mottled their faces, clothes dirtied and torn.

Only then did Bang-u realize things had gone seriously wrong.

The Group Leader asked Heukwa,

"What did that man demand of you?"

"Well..."

Out poured the tale of Bang-u ordering stomachache-inducing drugs.

And the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠purpose behind it.

'Damn! We're screwed.'

But he didn't give up, racking his brain swiftly.

"These two are your escort warriors, Bang-u. And they've confessed you ordered them to kill this man and silence him."

"Father, I'm innocent! This is a frame-up! I don't know this Heukwa at all, and I never gave such orders to my escorts. In fact, I just fired them today for their poor conduct. They must harbor grudges and cooked this up."

His escort warriors shot him betrayed glares.

They knew his character from guarding him.

But after such loyal service, to discard them like worn rags!

"Bang-u."

"Yes, Father."

"You claim you don't know the poison maker at all?"

"Ah! Yes! Never met him."

"Then how did you know his name is Heukwa?"

"...!"

"And I've heard you ordered the pharmacy to produce loads of stomachache remedies. Even dipping into your personal funds."

"..."

"There's only one reason you did that. You knew it wouldn't be a loss."

"..."

He was speechless.

He saw the executives' expressions.

Sneering, contemptuous.

And the eldest brother's face ahead.

The face that had feigned composure after the recent vote now wore a smile.

A victor's smile.

"As Leader of the Jinse Merchant Group, I declare: Effective immediately, Bang-u is stripped of his branch leader position."

At the proclamation, he squeezed his eyes shut.

He was finished.

The day after Jin-ho's wedding.

I began my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠morning training energetically as usual.

"Good work. That's enough for today's session."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

I cupped my fists and bowed deeply.

"You were at the banquet late last night... Aren't you tired?"

Master shook his head slowly, serene as ever.

"Not at all."

No wonder he'd pushed me this hard today.

"Truth be told, I wanted to retire early, but I had to keep Ha Pyodu company, so it got late. No one else could handle conversing with him."

That made sense. With more experience than even Master, few escorts could match Ha Pyodu.

He'd likely mentored far more.

Others would find him intimidating.

But my master here was the Palace Lord of the Snow Wind Palace.

"Thank you once more. Without the National Lord, Ha Pyosa would have died early, and Ha Pyodu would have suffered greatly in grief."

"Don't say that. It was all because Jin-ho's love for his second sister-in-law moved the heavens."

"...Understood. I'll think of it that way."

I smiled and asked cautiously,

"By the way... is Second Sister-in-law's mother... a disciple of the North Sea Ice Palace?"

"..."

Master hesitated briefly, then nodded.

So that woman I saw yesterday was indeed Jin-ho's mother-in-law.

"You saw her yesterday."

"Yes. Huh? How did you know?"

"Once you reach the peak realm cultivating the Snow Wind Palace's heart method, you become sensitive to the North Sea Ice Palace's energy."

Ah...

That explained why her disciples' auras felt so distinct.

.

.

.

From that day, one more person joined our family's morning meals.

Right beside Jin-ho.

Mealtimes brimmed with warmth and cheer.

Seeing the happy Jin-ho and Second Sister-in-law lifted my spirits.

After breakfast, I returned to my pavilion, Mungok Hall.

"My lord."

Seo-u Warrior approached immediately.

"I have something to report."

"Yes, go ahead."

"A meeting was held at the Jinse Merchant Group yesterday, and Branch Leader Bang-u was stripped of his position."

As expected.

Yesterday, I'd sent a letter to Lord Bang Jin.

Offering Heukwa and Bang-u—no, now just Lord Bang-u's—escort warriors as gifts.

And Lord Bang Jin had whipped up a delicious dish from my ingredients.

Not bad.

"They'll likely hold a revote soon to elect a new branch leader."

"Of course. They can't leave the post vacant long."

Lord Bang Jin would take it smoothly.

He had in my previous life too.

By the way, I hear Lord Bang-u spent heavily from his personal funds this time, and with the drugs unsold, he'd emptied his remaining coffers to cover losses.

Aigoo, what a pity.

His stomach must be in knots.

Hearing such gut-clearing news first thing in the morning put me in a great mood all day.

...Or so I thought.

That evening, Jin-ho visited with unexpected words.

I wondered if I'd misheard and asked again.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"I want to go to the North Sea Ice Palace."

"Why there all of a sudden?"

"To pay respects to Mother-in-law."