Things Gone Awry (6)
I gave an awkward smile and said,
"Haha, that's too much of a joke."
"It's no joke."
Yeon Ju-hyeok's face was deadly serious as he replied.
"Your guidance just now has convinced me. I've never met a master who would give so much for me and worry about me so sincerely."
"Don't you have a master from the Hyeongsan Sect?"
"Honestly, it's just the honor of teaching the son of the Pojeongsa and the master-disciple bond funded by my family's donation."
He continued,
"My current level is solely due to my own efforts."
"……."
Determined, isn't he?
"I want to formally take you, Young Branch Leader, as my master."
"How old are you, Young Master?"
"I'm thirty-one this year."
"I'm twenty-one. A master ten years younger? People will laugh."
"Let them laugh! I don't care."
"……."
I do care, though?
"I won't move from this spot until you accept."
I glanced at Yeon Ju-hyeok's bodyguard standing beside him.
But no sooner had he caught my eye than he knelt down as well.
"Please, grant my lord's request."
Hey, wait a minute?
You can't do that.
Ah, this is really tricky.
With a stubbornness tougher than a cow's sinew, he wouldn't give up easily.
Of course, I could turn away coldly or gently explain until he relented.
But I hesitated because, in my previous life, he'd helped me a great deal.
He'd protected me until the end and died doing it.
"Meeting my lord, serving him, and being able to die for him— these are joys without a shred of regret for me."
With those final words, he'd charged into the enemy ranks and fallen.
I couldn't forget those last words of his.
I looked at him with complicated eyes.
"Can't you find a better master than me?"
"To me, you, Young Branch Leader Eun, are the finest master."
"Sigh, alright. Let's do this, then."
His gaze turned to me at my words.
"I won't formally bind us as master and disciple. To be frank, it's a huge burden for me. And this decision right now might just be a fleeting impulse."
I continued softly,
"So, train diligently under my guidance for three years. If your heart hasn't changed then, come find me. But if you don't accept my proposal, we'll pretend this never happened. What do you say?"
He pondered my question for a moment, then nodded.
"That means you'll teach me martial arts, right? Understood. Three years will fly by."
I knew that too.
It felt like just yesterday I'd returned to fifteen, and now I was already twenty-one.
And I knew he wouldn't back down in three years either.
The reason I'd set a three-year grace period was that his training path was already set.
Even without me as his master, he'd do fine on his own by then.
And I hadn't promised to take him as a disciple in three years.
I'd just told him to come find me.
"So, stand up now."
At my words, the two men rose.
"Listen carefully."
I explained the training he needed to do.
"Stop lurking around Lake Dongjeong. Experts at the level you want to spar with know the web of grudges in the martial world. They won't stir up needless trouble."
I went on,
"You'll obviously provoke them to draw out a fight..."
His face flushed, confirming I was right.
"The only experts who fall for that provocation are unorthodox types who don't think about consequences. And their methods are卑鄙 and vicious."
Yeon Ju-hyeok's bodyguard nodded at my words, his eyes lighting up as if I'd scratched an itch.
"You only have one life. And your life isn't just yours—it's your parents', siblings', wife's, and children's too."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"And..."
I instructed him to do the three basic drills and nine fundamental sword forms that our Eunhae Merchant Group's Silver Wind Corps warriors practiced daily—each a thousand times a day.
It wouldn't be easy, of course.
But this would change his life.
I glanced at the moon in the sky.
Oh no, more time had passed than I'd thought.
"Well, I'll be off then."
"Let me see you out..."
"Do you remember everything I told you?"
"Uh..."
"No need to see me out—write it down before you forget."
"Got it."
I brushed off his offer and left under the servant's guidance once more.
As I followed the servant, I subtly looked for a chance to slip away.
Unlike the outer quarters, the inner quarters were more complexly structured, making it easy to duck out.
I felt a bit sorry for the flustered servant who'd realize I was gone, but it couldn't be helped.
I focused my senses to track the unorthodox energy I'd felt earlier.
The fourth young master should be there.
Hm?
But the unorthodox energy wasn't from just one person.
Still, since multiple auras emanated from one building, they were probably dispatched to aid the fourth young master.
Whoosh!
I shot toward it with my lightness skill.
Moments later,
I arrived at a building.
It was about the size of the second young master's annex, but since he wasn't married yet, fewer people stayed there.
I sensed their auras and headed to where the unorthodox energy felt strongest.
But...
It wasn't the fourth young master.
Who was this?
His attire suggested he wasn't high-status—more like a servant...
Looking around suspiciously as he exited the main gate.
Wandering at this late hour, wary even in his own quarters...
It meant he didn't want his actions discovered.
My instincts screamed to tail him. Sometimes you had to trust your gut, and this was that time.
I carefully followed.
At a tree in the inner quarters, he pulled something from his sleeve and stuck it into the tree hollow.
It was up high, cleverly hidden—unnoticeable at a glance.
Piiik!
He blew a whistle.
Almost silent, but I felt a special energy when he did.
Then he returned to the inner quarters.
I scanned the surroundings, confirmed no one was near, and approached.
I retrieved what he'd hidden.
It was a letter.
I unfolded and read it.
"……!"
Report: Today, a messenger from the White Orchid household arrived with news that her condition has improved. We received a report from Room 26 that her petals were about to fall and that they had withdrawn. Confirmation and appropriate measures are required.
The fourth branch seems to have grown suspicious. We may need to eliminate him soon.
My instincts had been spot on. Tailing that shady figure was the right call.
White Orchid clearly referred to Lady Jaryeong.
The magnolia called Baekryeon sheds after the first frost, so its bloom is unexpectedly short.
In other words, "White Orchid" symbolized a flower quick to scatter—her impending death.
Chills ran down my spine.
Leaving it here was for regular reports, no doubt.
What if it had fallen into their hands?
Forget the headache—it could've cost Lady Jaryeong her life.
I read on.
Hm? What's this?
"Fourth branch" obviously meant the fourth son.
But "grown suspicious" implied he shouldn't know.
What? Does that mean...?
The fourth wasn't a conspirator but a pawn being used?
I'd puzzle that out later. For now, what to do with this letter...
After a moment's thought, I realized it was simple.
Just say I found it.
The world was full of surprises—a bird could land, drop it, and fly off.
Bird? Wait...
I sensed a faint but distinct unorthodox aura from the sky and understood how they'd retrieve it.
A trained bird delivered these letters. The whistle had summoned it.
I'd wondered how they'd pass messages inside the inner quarters—turns out they had a way.
Then I felt a presence approaching.
A familiar aura. The servant who'd guided me.
Perfect timing.
"Oh? You're here?"
He rushed over, pale-faced, and sighed in relief.
"We searched everywhere."
"Haha, sorry. I saw something interesting and got distracted, lost track of you. I was trying to find my way, but yelling would've bothered others..."
"You wandered all the way here, huh."
"Yes, exactly."
"Good thing we found you. The inner quarters have been expanded so many times, people get lost all the time."
"Ah, that explains why I couldn't navigate. I'm not usually directionally challenged... I was stumped."
I continued naturally,
"Oh, and I found this dropped here."
I held out the letter.
"A bird was perched on this tree, startled by my presence, flapped off, and dropped this."
"Isn't that... a letter?"
"Yes, but the contents are odd. Could I see the Pojeongsa now?"
He hesitated, then nodded.
"It's not his bedtime yet, so it should be fine."
I headed straight to the Pojeongsa's office. He'd said he'd handle remaining work from the outer office.
I was granted an audience and entered.
"What brings you here so late?"
"This letter, sir."
I handed it over and explained—omitting the true circumstances, of course.
The Hubei Province Pojeongsa read it, his expression hardening.
He knew.
How suspicious it was. We'd announced Lady Jaryeong's recovery today, and it was right there.
"I thought you needed to know, so I came at this hour."
"Sigh, thank you."
He glared at the letter, then chuckled.
"Since it's come to this, I'll be direct. Why are you really here?"
"Pardon?"
"Spare me the 'I couldn't refuse a favor from the Guizhou Pojeongsa' bit. You probably made a deal with him."
Wow... time to lay my cards on the table.
"And wandering the inner quarters? From an expert like you? Please."
He continued,
"You have a reason for coming here, and it ties to this letter, doesn't it?"
His insight is no joke.
Like the Guizhou Pojeongsa, Hubei's was on the younger side.
I'd looked into him for this matter—he was a capable official.
Caught the Emperor's eye, rose quickly, and was posted here.
Hubei was resource-rich with vast granaries—an important post.
I met his gaze.
Good thing I'd found this letter.
It confirmed the Hubei Pojeongsa wasn't involved.
The Emperor would've been disappointed otherwise.
I smiled inwardly.
Competence meant a solid ally.
That's why I'd come—to enlist his aid.
I needed his help to shake up this household.
I cupped my fists in salute.
"To be honest, Lady Jaryeong's illness wasn't mere sickness—it was poisoning."
"Poisoning?"
"Yes. And coincidentally, the poison was in tea sent from this household."
"What? Is that true?"
The Pojeongsa looked shocked.
"Yes, it's true."
"How could this..."
He sighed deeply.
"That's why I'm here—to uncover the truth."
"This is grave for me too. To think someone tried to harm a woman marrying into our family! Lady Jaryeong, no less..."
Friendly terms.
"You care for Lady Jaryeong."
He nodded.
"Pojeongsa hold regular meetings. Families mingle, and we got close."
"I see."
"I pushed for the engagement, dying to have her as a daughter-in-law, and now this..."
He furrowed his brow.
"Sigh, this is far worse than I imagined."
"Pardon?"
Did that mean the Hubei Pojeongsa had suspected something too?