Chapter 419. Wedding Gift (1)
The night before departing Hangzhou.
Goldling returned.
This time, it had visited no fewer than three places.
First, it had informed the North Sea Ice Palace and my master about the relocation of Yangyang Martial Hall. Then, it delivered a letter to my father stating that I had successfully acquired the businesses and would be heading to Beijing and Yonyeong.
"Cheep! Cheep!"
Yes, yes, good job.
Perched on the desk, Goldling tapped the surface with its front paws.
It had worked hard on its errands and was now demanding payment.
I pulled out three silver coins and held them out.
"Here, your errand fee."
"Cheeep!"
The moment it saw the silver, it rolled left, then right... It must really love them.
I chuckled as Goldling scampered over and gobbled up the coins.
The next morning.
We set out at the crack of dawn.
The employees of the businesses we'd acquired were deeply regretful to see us go.
But we couldn't stay here forever.
And so, we left Hangzhou behind.
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"It's not hot here at all."
I nodded at Palgap's words.
We had reached the outskirts of Yonyeong, and the weather felt markedly different.
It was now the seventh month.
In Hubei or Hangzhou, we'd be sweating buckets, but here in Yonyeong, it was refreshingly cool.
"That's why they're holding the wedding at this time of year."
We chatted as we pressed on, urging our horses forward.
Among our group, only Seo-hyang Branch Leader had stayed behind in Beijing.
This was my personal matter, so there was no need for her to trouble herself.
Besides, the journey to Yonyeong was quite arduous, and there was plenty of work waiting at the Beijing branch—like sorting through the documents for the businesses we'd acquired in Hangzhou.
Before long, we arrived at an inn.
"We'll rest here tonight."
Everyone nodded at my words.
As we approached the entrance, a waiter hurried over.
"Welcome! Uh... are you planning to stay the night?"
I nodded at his question.
"Yes. Just one night."
The waiter bowed with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, but we're fully booked tonight."
"No rooms?"
"Yes. There's a major wedding for a sub-leader of one of Yonyeong's prominent merchant groups. We're swamped compared to usual."
Even this large inn with eight floors had no vacancies? It really drove home the prestige of the Gwangjun Merchant Group in Yonyeong.
No helping it, then.
"Can we at least get a meal?"
"Of course, meals are available."
It seemed there would be space for lunch after a while.
"In that case, we'll just eat and be on our way."
We entered the inn and placed our orders.
"Looks like we'll be camping out tonight after all."
Seo-u Warrior nodded at my remark.
"Seems so."
"Gwangjun Merchant Group really lives up to the name."
"It's one of the top hundred merchant groups. The best in Yonyeong, even. And with the famine and unrest making things tough, this is still packed—otherwise, it'd be even busier."
We finished our meal and left the inn. We had to hurry and find a spot to camp.
That was when it happened.
Something felt like it was falling from above.
Startled, I looked up—and locked eyes with a child.
A child?
Why was a child...?
But there was no time for further thought. I leaped forward and caught the child.
Thud!
"Phew..."
I let out a sigh of relief, and the child in my arms, thoroughly frightened, burst into tears.
"Waaah!"
Crying like that was a good sign, at least.
If a shocked child turned pale without crying, that would be serious trouble.
"There, there, stop crying now. You'll hurt your throat if you keep it up."
The child, who had been wailing hysterically, suddenly stopped upon seeing my face.
It stared at me intently, eyes wide with surprise.
Then... it broke into a grin.
Palgap muttered beside me.
"Even babies light up at that face. What a rotten world."
"Hm? What was that?"
"Nothing at all."
Come to think of it, Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon had done the same.
That's when someone came running toward us.
"You lot! What do you think you're doing with my nephew?"
"Pardon?"
"Tell the truth! Where were you planning to take my nephew?"
What the hell?
"Are you trying to kidnap my nephew?"
Growing more outrageous by the second, he even drew his sword and pointed it at us.
As I stood there dumbfounded, a man nearby raised his hand and stepped forward.
"I don't know the details, but it looks like a big misunderstanding. That gentleman just saved your nephew."
The others nodded in agreement.
"I saw it. The kid was falling from up there, and this hero caught him."
"If not for him, the child might not be with us anymore."
"Instead of thanks, this is how you repay him? Tsk tsk."
At the crowd's reaction, the young man sheathed his sword with an embarrassed look.
"Is what they're saying true?"
"Yes. It is."
I continued.
"We were leaving the inn when the child fell. Looks like it was playing in a room and slipped out the window."
"Uh..."
He seemed stunned, unable to form words.
Then a woman came dashing up, her face ashen.
"Gyeong-i!"
The child reacted to her voice, turning its head and reaching out.
"Ma! Mama!"
I handed the child over to her.
"Here, take him."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
She hugged the child tightly and bowed repeatedly to me.
"I'm so glad the baby is safe."
"How can we ever repay this kindness..."
"Think of it as fate. No need to feel burdened."
"But..."
"If the child grows up to help others like I did, that would be repayment enough."
I turned to leave. In the meantime, Palgap had prepared the horses.
We mounted up and rode off, leaving the inn behind.
That child's mother had been dressed quite finely, suggesting a well-off family... but that wasn't important now.
Finding a campsite was the priority.
"Shall we head to that spot we camped at before?"
He meant the place we'd stayed when delivering supplies to the North Sea Ice Palace.
I nodded readily.
"Sounds good."
Fortunately, it was empty.
We quickly set up camp and lay down our weary bodies.
Another exhausting day.
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Morning came.
I woke refreshed, stretching as I rose.
After traveling so much, sleeping on the ground barely fazed me anymore.
"You're up, sir?"
Turning, I saw Myeongjong Warrior approaching.
"Yes. You took the last watch."
"That's right. Yeo Eung-am Warrior went to scout the area."
"Got it. I'll circulate my qi then—keep watch for me."
"Of course."
I sat and began my meditation.
Cool, pure energy filled my body. Finishing, I stood and started training.
Push-ups to warm up...
As I trained, I noticed Myeongjong Warrior watching me differently than before.
Not like a guard, but with respect—almost reverence.
Hm, it's distracting.
I paused and asked.
"Something on your mind?"
"Oh, no. Sorry for bothering you."
He shook his head hastily.
But I held his gaze steadily.
Unable to withstand it, he scratched his cheek and spoke.
"Truth be told, I was impressed."
"By me?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
"At your level, one might slack on training, but you train harder than anyone."
"I don't know about others, but if I don't train like this, I feel off."
I wiped sweat with a towel.
My constitution—or perhaps my martial arts—meant I rarely sweated.
So sweating meant the intensity was right.
And it felt refreshing after.
Blame my master for that.
And I trained so diligently because my goals were sky-high.
To avenge myself on the Murim Alliance and protect my family, I needed far greater heights.
Myeongjong Warrior marveled.
"No wonder you reached this realm. Not luck or chance—perhaps it was inevitable."
"Haha, who knows? But luck can be fortune or misfortune depending on how you receive it. So I work to turn approaching luck into fortune."
He bowed his head.
"Hearing that... I realize I've grown arrogant. Always the center of attention at Mount Hua Sect..."
I got the gist.
In any sect, martial prowess was paramount.
Skill brought respect and privileges.
Myeongjong Warrior had been a prized talent of Mount Hua. Cheongun Warrior likely the same.
"If I hadn't been arrogant... if I'd trained just a bit more..."
Deep regret laced his words.
He hadn't gotten over it yet.
I wouldn't have either, in his shoes.
But it couldn't become a heart demon.
"There's a saying: 'If my past self knew my current regrets, my present self wouldn't exist.' What do you think it means?"
He pondered, then shook his head.
"No matter my past mistakes or current regrets, they all shaped who I am now."
He nodded emphatically, and I continued.
"I'm no sage with all the answers. But I hope you don't torment yourself over the past. What's done can't be undone by regret."
Unless you get a one-in-a-million chance like I did.
Even then, it's incredibly hard.
Reversing my biggest regret—that day I died...
I gave a wry smile.
"Sometimes a tree just stands still, yet the wind shakes its branches fiercely. What can the tree do about the wind?"
"True enough."
"So don't dwell on it. The world has many unavoidable things. Think positively—like how your dantian wasn't shattered."
He touched his lower abdomen and nodded.
"You're right. If it had..."
Memories of my past life brought another wry smile.
"Truthfully, I don't plan to keep you and Cheongun Warrior as guards forever. You'll return to your sect someday."
"Is that... possible?"
"Asking like that means I haven't earned your full trust yet."
"N-no! That's not..."
Flustered expression.
I chuckled.
"Just in time—Yeo Eung-am Warrior's back. Best cure for stray thoughts is intense training. Care to join?"
Were Myeongjong Warrior's eyes flickering? Or was it my imagination?
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After morning training and breakfast prepared by Palgap, we packed up and hit the road again.
Thanks to our steady pace, we arrived at the Gwangjun Merchant Group as dusk fell.
Visitors were already lining up at the main gate.
We joined the queue when someone came rushing over.
"Isn't that Eun Seo-ho Sub-leader?"
"Ah..."
A familiar face after ages.
Bokyoung Young Master, younger brother of Bokyun Sub-leader, studying at Haengwha Academy.
"Long time no see."
"Yes, indeed. But why are you in line?"
"We're guests too."
He realized with an "oh" expression.
"My brother must not have explained properly. I learned in Beijing that it's not just our family custom."
"What do you mean?"
"You got the invitation directly from him, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"And it was quite ornate?"
"Yes."
I nodded, and he grinned, explaining.
"That means my brother wants you to attend as his true friend at the wedding."
True friend?