Seonmi's Wedding (2)
Not only Won Kyung heard that sound.
"Huh? What was that?"
"Probably some beast prowling around nearby."
"A beast? What kind of beast? This is the marketplace."
"……!"
Those who realized the truth flinched, and soon the door to the warehouse where they were shattered.
"Don't move!"
The figures who appeared from beyond the door were four warriors and a beautiful young man standing in the middle.
The moment their eyes met the young man's gaze, a chill ran down their spines despite the midsummer heat.
"Anyone who moves from now on dies."
* * *
With Gold Spirit's help, I located Won Si-gang and rushed there in a hurry.
But the place Gold Spirit guided me to was unexpectedly the bustling marketplace lined with shops.
They'd searched this area pretty thoroughly already, hadn't they?
Still, Gold Spirit had never been wrong about things like this, so we followed it to the warehouse in the back.
Several presences could be felt.
And a sharp killing intent!
I smashed through the warehouse door and charged in, where Won Si-gang was tied to a pillar.
Seeing someone who should soon be married and enjoying happy times in such a state, fury surged within me unbidden.
At that moment, someone moved toward Won Si-gang.
At the same time, Yi-pil Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior sprang into action.
Thwack-!
Thud-!
Yi-pil Warrior's dagger embedded in his arm.
Jin Yu Warrior's short sword pierced his leg and went straight through to the wall behind.
"Kugh……."
"Why ignore my warning?"
I turned to the remaining two men.
"Arghhh!"
"Gahhh!"
They screamed as they charged at me, and I drew my Silver Mist Sword, subduing them effortlessly.
Slash-!
Swish-!
They collapsed, each with gashes on their sides and shoulders. Their faces twisted in frustration.
"So why did you do this?"
The answer came not from them, but from Won Si-gang.
"They said it's resentment toward my grandfather."
"……?"
"They claim my grandfather destroyed their family."
What did that mean?
The Won family might have a bit of a high nose, but they weren't the type to slander or harm others.
Was there something I didn't know about?
Anyway, that was one thing—this was no excuse to detain an innocent person.
"Subdue them."
"Yes!"
Seo-u Warrior immediately stepped forward and sealed their pressure points, immobilizing them.
In the meantime, I approached Won Si-gang and untied the ropes.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. Th-thank you for saving me."
"I'm glad you're safe. Seonmi was very worried."
"Pardon? You know Seonmi?"
"Of course."
I smiled as I replied.
"I'm Seonmi's cousin from her mother's side."
"Gasp!"
He bowed in shock.
"N-nice to meet you."
His shoulders trembled as he looked at me.
He must have been really terrified.
Of course—who wouldn't be after nearly dying?
A dagger had been embedded right next to his face.
"Take good care of our Seonmi."
"O-of course! I'll make her happy!"
"And don't worry her like this again."
"Understood. I won't let anything like this happen again."
"That's more like it."
At that moment, the sound of a group rushing over reached us.
"Kyung-ah!"
"Young master!"
It was the group Yeo Eung-am Warrior had summoned.
I stepped back. This was their reunion time.
.
.
.
A short while later.
I headed to Won Si-gang's house.
His family had invited me after hearing I'd saved him.
Probably to thank me properly, and also curious how I'd found him.
I sat in the reception room, where they served me tea.
It was expensive stuff.
Yujeong tea, worth its weight in silver?
It showed just how earnestly they were treating me.
"We're truly grateful. You're the savior of our Kyung's life."
I smiled at Won I-bu-si-rang's heartfelt words.
"I could save him in time thanks to heaven's grace."
"That's thanks to your efforts as well. By the way, weren't you at Sae-ah's house earlier?"
Already calling Seonmi "Sae-ah," I see.
"Yes, the situation was urgent, so the introductions were delayed. I'm Seonmi's maternal cousin and the third young division head of the Eunhae Merchant Group, Eun Seo-ho."
"Then you're the son-in-law family's…?"
"Yes, my aunt is your elder sister."
"Ah, I've heard of you."
Won I-bu-si-rang continued.
"You were entrusted with selling the Jakpungki to His Majesty the Emperor, right?"
"Yes."
"And you're called Seonhyeopmirang, aren't you?"
Ugh!
Hearing that nickname here of all places…….
"It's an undeserved reputation."
"Not at all."
Won I-bu-si-rang shook his head.
"Just saving my son proves it's well-earned."
He went on.
"But how did you know Kyung was there?"
"Ah, that was good fortune too."
I continued my explanation.
"I happened to pass by and thought something was off. I saw light from a warehouse that's supposedly been unused for ages. So I checked it out on a hunch and found him."
"I see. What great memory and sharp eyes!"
I couldn't say I'd asked Gold Spirit, so I fudged it—and luckily, Won I-bu-si-rang bought it easily.
"Truly, it must be heaven's will."
Won I-bu-si-rang clasped his hands in a formal salute toward me.
"In any case, thank you again."
I quickly returned the gesture.
"This is a token of our sincerity."
He brought over a box from beside him and offered it.
"No need. Really."
"Don't make me feel ashamed. You deserve this."
It looked like something extraordinary was inside…….
He was insisting so much, I couldn't refuse.
"Very well. I'll accept it gratefully."
I slid the box toward me and cautiously asked.
"But why did those villains do this? It sounded like they had a grudge against your family elder……."
A bitter expression crossed his face.
"It was a misunderstanding."
"Pardon? So they did this to Seonmi's groom over a misunderstanding?"
He nodded gravely.
"They were brothers from a fallen house. But the one who ruined their family wasn't my father—it was another man with the same name."
"……."
"We let them go since Kyung was safe, but they went off to end their own lives."
"……."
It left a bitter taste.
Then why didn't this happen in my previous life?
Seonmi's wedding was in June then…….
Ah, if they'd come to the capital in July for revenge this time?
It fit together.
The exams were in August, so the Hanlim Academy was still on duty shifts.
Si-gang's position involved lecturing the Emperor.
Someone so learned would have been drafted for exam prep.
This time, with the wedding in July, he wasn't drafted—and they could abduct him.
In the past, exam duty kept him inside the palace to prevent cheating, so no outings.
No further incidents meant the misunderstanding cleared up in the interim.
So it really was my intervention that caused this.
Still, it was resolved safely, and I even got a gift as thanks.
Plus, knowing I—the savior of Won Si-gang—was Seonmi's cousin would make them treat her even better.
With that, my talk with Won I-bu-si-rang ended, and I headed back to the Yeonjun Merchant Group.
I needed to explain to my aunt's family too.
The Won house and Yeonjun Merchant Group were closer than I'd thought.
About half a shichen on foot.
When I arrived at Yeonjun, everyone was waiting in the courtyard.
"Seo-ho!"
My aunt ran to me.
"What happened? We got word from Seonmi's in-laws. You saved Master Won?"
"Yes, that's right."
I nodded.
"Please calm down and come inside. I'll explain everything."
We all went to the reception room—the largest space.
And I laid out the whole situation.
"……."
A brief silence fell.
Seonmi broke it.
"So, my husband-to-be is definitely safe? You rescued him, cousin?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god…… thank you. Thank you so much, cousin. Sniff……."
Seonmi burst into tears.
The tension melted away, unleashing her sobs.
I handed her a handkerchief.
"Stop it! The wedding's in a few days— you gonna do it with puffy eyes?"
"N-no, sniff! I won't……."
"Exactly. Cut it out."
"……Yes. Sniff."
"Whew……."
Beside her, my uncle let out a sigh of relief and thanked me.
"Anyway, truly grateful."
"As I said, good luck."
"From what I've seen, luck favors the worthy. And you have it in spades. A blessing you're in Beijing now."
I think so too.
Anyway, to handle incidents from changes I'd made, I needed to stay more vigilant.
"Revenge, of all things…… a purposeless vendetta."
Grandfather looked regretful.
"I know a bit about that case. It ruined their house."
"So the one who destroyed them……."
"Wiped out six years ago."
"……!"
"They ambushed His Majesty on his way to Beijing when summoned. It leaked, and……."
"I see."
"Tragic. Explains why revenge is called futile."
"……."
I smiled wryly at Grandfather's words.
Because one of my driving forces now was revenge.
Against Baekcheon Merchant Group and the Murim Alliance.
Grandfather called revenge futile…….
Maybe so.
But if I didn't avenge those who took my life by the sword and stole everything my family built…….
History would repeat.
So my revenge was not just for the past, but to avoid the same fate in the future.
Come to think of it, the Murim Alliance had been quiet lately…….
.
.
.
I returned to my temporary lodgings.
My aunt and uncle insisted I stay, but I had work tonight.
"By the way, what the heck is this?"
I turned at Palgap's words to the box on the table.
The one Won I-bu-si-rang had given me—I hadn't opened it there.
"Beats me……."
Gold Spirit had slipped from my sleeve and was drooling over the box.
"Ah! Gold Spirit! You're drooling on the box!"
"Kui! Kui!"
"No. Eat this instead."
I quickly pulled out a silver coin. Thanks to it, I'd found Won Si-gang.
It could have that much.
Gold Spirit gulped it down contentedly and flopped over.
I chuckled at it and slowly opened the box lid.
"Uh……."
Now I knew why Gold Spirit coveted it.
"A key?"
Inside was a gold key.
And a sealed letter, which I unfolded first.
First, thank you so much for saving my son. I pondered how to repay you and recalled this golden key that entered our Won family long ago.
I still haven't figured out what it unlocks.
But since it's made of gold, I thought it could serve as modest repayment.
— Won I-bu-si-rang —
A gold key…….
I added it to my secret pouch. No sense returning a gift.
.
.
.
A few days later.
The Yeonjun Merchant Group erupted in lively music and joyful lion dances, kicking off the banquet.
Seonmi's wedding feast.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Blessings on your family's joy."
"Thank you. The spread is modest, but please enjoy."
My aunt and uncle were busy greeting arriving guests.
Then, three men in merchant attire appeared in the distance.
Gold Guard members, as Jin Yeong Daehyeop had mentioned.
"Over here!"
I called them over and naturally introduced them to my aunt and uncle as my guests.
"Who are these gentlemen?"
"Ah, the clients I mentioned before."
My uncle's eyes gleamed slightly as he saluted.
"Thank you for coming."
"Congratulations."
After the greetings, we settled in a corner.
"Much obliged."
"No trouble."
"He really came, huh."
"Pardon?"
One of the three Gold Guard daehyeops pointed to a man seated far off at my question.
"That's the one we're surveilling this time."