A Friend's Wedding (1)
A short while later, as dawn began to break, Manager Bokdeok and his group arrived with Palgap.
"You've come."
"What in the world... what happened here?"
It was no wonder he reacted that way. Their missing horses were all gathered together, and the black道 thugs were bound and kneeling beside them.
"These are the ones behind this."
"Pardon?"
"They deliberately tampered with the tracks so you couldn't pursue the escaped horses."
"You mean..."
Manager Bokdeok quickly grasped my meaning.
"They intentionally let the horses escape?"
I nodded, and he exploded in fury, demanding of me,
"What was their purpose? What could they possibly want?!"
"They said they were hired."
I had already finished interrogating them before Manager Bokdeok arrived.
So their leader, a peak expert martial artist, was groaning from the sword wound I'd inflicted.
"Hired... by whom?"
"The Sambu Merchant Group."
"But... didn't they go bankrupt?"
I cleared up that doubt as well.
"They did collapse, but being a group founded by black道 remnants, they're tenacious. They scraped together money somehow to hire these thugs."
"Damn it!"
"Those filthy bastards!"
"I thought we'd finally be rid of their dirty schemes! And now this...!"
Naturally, Manager Bokdeok and his men were outraged.
"At least we recovered the horses. Escort these men away for now."
"Understood."
"And it might be best to send a messenger ahead to report this."
Manager Bokdeok nodded and dispatched a man.
In the meantime, we prepared to transport the black道 thugs.
At that moment, Manager Bokdeok tilted his head.
"By the way, what about those horses in the back?"
"Ah, these..."
"Gasp!"
Manager Bokdeok gasped and nearly toppled over before I could even finish.
He must have recognized them.
"You see what they are."
"Of course! How could I not recognize Azure River Steeds after years handling horses here in Yonyeong?"
He clasped his hands together and said,
"Among us horse handlers in Yonyeong, they say seeing an Azure River Steed grants your deepest wish. To behold them like this... and ten of them, no less..."
Azure River Steeds were incredibly sensitive, fleeing like arrows at the slightest human presence.
That rarity gave rise to such legends.
"But why are Azure River Steeds here?"
"Thanks to these Azure River Steeds, the thugs couldn't make off with the horses in time. They blocked the way."
"We've received a great favor from the Azure River Steeds."
He bowed deeply before them, and the steeds proudly lifted their heads.
Prrrng!
A small sound rang out then.
"Kui?"
At that noise, the Azure River Steeds hastily lowered their heads. I chuckled inwardly and said,
"And the Azure River Steeds say they'll follow me."
"Pardon?"
"Anyway, let's get going."
"Ah. Yes."
And so we safely recovered all forty horses and headed to the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
With the thugs to escort, our pace was slower than the journey out.
And managing forty horses wasn't easy either.
Leading horses on foot without riding was no simple task.
But not this time.
"Heavens... the horses are moving so obediently?"
"Unbelievable."
It was possible thanks to the ten Azure River Steeds.
Horses, being herd animals, readily submitted to a leader.
And we had the Azure River Steeds following me.
Especially the lead one holding steady at the center, preventing the others from bolting or acting up.
Thanks to them, though our speed was reduced, the return was effortless.
When we arrived at the Gwangjun Merchant Group's horse ranch, Sub-leader Bokyun was already waiting outside, having received word in advance.
Slightly behind him stood Seo-u Warrior, providing solid protection.
I quickly dismounted and approached Sub-leader Bokyun.
"Shouldn't the man preparing for his wedding be inside?"
He shook his head, eyes gleaming as he said,
"How could I stay put after hearing you'd recovered the horses—and caught the culprits to boot? Truly, thank you."
"Isn't it what brothers do? I only helped where I could."
"Even so, I'm deeply grateful."
Sub-leader Bokyun kept expressing his thanks.
Glancing at the horses behind me, he tilted his head.
"Hm? Those horses..."
And his reaction was much the same as Manager Bokdeok's.
"Gasp! Azure River Steeds?"
"Yes. That's right."
"My goodness! To see Azure River Steeds with my own eyes! My wish is finally coming true."
I smiled and asked,
"What's Sub-leader Bok's wish, then?"
"For our group to rank among the top fifty merchants in the world."
"That wish will come true."
I said that and led over one of the ten steeds.
"Do you like this one?"
Startled, he blinked rapidly.
I offered the horse and said,
"It's my wedding gift to you."
"Pardon?"
"I did bring tea as a gift, but with how much tea you're already using, it didn't feel right. Looks like the heavens heard my dilemma."
Sub-leader Bokyun stammered in shock.
"R-Really? I mean, th-that is..."
"Yes. My gift."
Gifting peaches to a peach farmer might fall flat, but if those were heavenly peaches, it changed everything.
An Azure River Steed was just that to Sub-leader Bok.
"This one agrees too. Just feed it well and stable it comfortably."
"Ah, understood. I will."
His eyes welled up again.
"Recovering the lost horses and receiving such a precious gift—this is truly the best day."
"You're not actually crying, are you? Tears before the wedding would leave you with puffy eyes, and as your brother, I can't allow that."
"Hahaha. Got it."
We handed the horses to the ranch and returned to the Gwangjun Merchant Group's main compound, then went to see the Group Leader.
After hearing the full report, the Group Leader's eyes flashed.
"If they haven't come to their senses yet, we must make them."
And he issued an expulsion order.
We left the office, and Sub-leader Bokyun swallowed hard.
"What's wrong?"
"I've never seen such a terrifying father."
"Ah..."
The Sambu Merchant Group was in for it now.
Not my concern, though.
They brought it on themselves.
With those thoughts, I returned to my quarters and found a servant bound there.
"What happened?"
Jin Yu Warrior explained.
"This rat was relaying our situation outside."
A literal rat, then.
I approached him and asked,
"So, who did you report to?"
"Th-That is..."
"The Sambu Merchant Group?"
His eyes widened at my question. Bingo.
I told Palgap,
"Go to the Sub-leader right now and tell him we've caught a rat."
Good thing I sent those two warriors to the Gwangjun Merchant Group in advance.
.
.
.
The next morning.
Palgap informed me that the Gwangjun Merchant Group's enforcers had moved out secretly the night before.
Hopefully, they'd root them out completely this time.
A few days passed like that, and finally, the day of Sub-leader Bokyun's wedding arrived.
"Please wear this."
The maid assigned to me brought ceremonial robes—the same vivid red as the groom's.
The bride and groom wore red.
So guests never wore red to the banquet.
But these flashy red robes!
Wasn't this basically announcing to everyone that I was the groom's brother-in-arms?
"How is it? Quite dashing, right? Wearing this will let all the guests know you're our Sub-leader's sworn brother."
Ah...
Exactly for that.
"But do we really need to tell everyone?"
"What do you mean...?"
"If someone fears revenge from Ally A and harms Ally B as well, it makes it hard for A's family to carry on. Hiding the identity might be wiser."
The maid replied,
"I suppose you could see it that way. But allies have no duty of revenge, so no need to worry there."
"I see."
"Besides, being an ally isn't primarily about revenge. And these robes elevate that ally's status."
Treating me like a family benefactor.
A reminder not to slight the ally.
"It also firmly informs the bride, her family, that you're the ally."
I nodded.
Reasons aplenty.
"Then, allow me to help you dress."
With the maid and Palgap's assistance, I donned the robes.
"Uh-heh?"
"What? Why the weird noise?"
Palgap nodded with a pleased grin.
"As expected, Young Master looks splendid."
"I do look pretty good, don't I?"
I left my quarters and headed to the procession.
Time to fetch the bride.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
I rode abreast with the groom. A ornate carriage followed behind us.
The groom should ride in the carriage, but Sub-leader Bokyun got carsick easily on horseback.
It didn't take long to reach the bride's home.
An hour or two, perhaps?
We arrived at the bride's house after riding.
"Oh my! They've come!"
"So tall and handsome!"
"Goodness!"
Ignoring the murmurs, we dismounted.
The household welcomed us warmly as we entered.
Then I spotted the plaque over the gate.
[Yuseongmun]
Seeing it stirred mixed feelings.
I knew about Yuseongmun, and the woman who would become Sub-leader Bokyun's wife.
Yuseongmun drew inspiration from falling stars, specializing in the Meteor Sword technique.
Located where stars shone brightly, creating star-based martial arts was only natural.
The Meteor Sword was a ferocious, lightning-fast style—fiercer than expected.
At the upcoming Yongbong Tournament, eyes would turn to the Meteor Sword.
Wielded by the sect leader's eldest daughter—the bride today.
But that event marked the prelude to tragedy for her and Yuseongmun.
She rose to fame then, even marrying a Moyong Clan man arranged by the Martial Alliance Leader.
Yet just five years later, she took her own life.
Two years after, Yuseongmun was exterminated for allegedly colluding with black道 to enslave nearby villagers.
And the absurdity followed: the Moyong Clan she married into began teaching a sword style eerily similar to the Meteor Sword.
But now, that tragedy wouldn't happen.
The eldest daughter who would publicize Yuseongmun was marrying the Sub-leader Bokyun I'd saved, skipping the Yongbong Tournament.
And the Moyong Clan young heir was different too.
Futures I'd changed.
I did well, right?
We first approached the in-laws.
"Son-in-law Bokyun bows to Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."
Sub-leader Bokyun bowed deeply before them.
"Come in."
"Take good care of our daughter from now on..."
"Worry not. I stake my name and fortune on it."
The father-in-law looked slightly taken aback.
"Ahem."
I quickly elaborated.
"To a merchant, money is like martial arts to a warrior."
"Ah. I see."
The Yuseongmun Lord composed himself and looked at me.
"You're my son-in-law's ally. But... you look familiar."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Sub-leader Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Eun Seo-ho... oh! The Seonhyeopmirang!"
Er... he knew me?
"I saw your exploits at the last Yongbong Tournament myself."
He'd even witnessed them personally!
"I'm flattered."
At the mention of my title, the crowd's gazes shifted.
Most here were martial artists, after all.
Heroes were objects of admiration for them.
"My son-in-law's ally—reassuring indeed. Let me introduce the family."
The Yuseongmun Lord rose and presented each one.
"This is my mother."
I greeted the grandmother, then the man beside her.
"This is my second brother."
We exchanged greetings.
"His wife and child aren't here yet?"
"They'll arrive soon. Brother, Gyyeong ate late today."
"Haha, I see. No worries."
"Kids, right? I understand completely."
"Thanks."
The Lord glanced around.
"Hm? Where's Yuseok gone now?"
Footsteps rushed in then.
"S-Sorry! Forgive my tardiness!"
I blinked at the approaching youth.
He looked familiar...
Ah!
The young man from the inn we stopped at entering Yonyeong—who mistook me for a kidnapper.
And he recognized me too, freezing in place.
Good grief, what kind of coincidence is this?