My Close Friend's Wedding (2)

The leader of the Yusung Sect tilted his head at the frozen young man and asked,

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"W-Why is that person here...?"

"You know him, then."

At that moment, a woman followed behind him into our space, cradling a child in her arms.

"Ah!"

She started in surprise, then hurried over to me and bowed her head.

"I see my benefactor."

"Benefactor?"

In response to the sect leader's question, she explained,

"Yes. This is the one who saved Kyung-i."

The sect leader and his second younger brother seemed to recall something.

"Dear wife, is this the person who saved Kyung-i at the inn?"

"This is him?"

"Yes, that's right."

The child named Kyung-i seemed to remember me, reaching out with a beaming smile.

"Hyung! Hyung!"

It looked like he was calling me "hyung," big brother.

Sorry, kiddo, but I'm not quite at the age to be your big bro.

Uncle, maybe.

The sect leader's second brother clasped his hands in a formal salute toward me.

"Thank you so much for saving my son, great hero."

"Great hero? I just had a fated connection with the child, that's all—it allowed me to save him."

"Easy for you to say, but how many could actually do it? Allow me to thank you again."

The sect leader also gave me a deep, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠respectful salute.

In the meantime, the young man called Yu-seok approached me hesitantly.

"I'm sorry. Back then, I couldn't even greet you properly or apologize right."

He bowed deeply and continued,

"Thank you truly for saving my nephew. And I apologize for my rudeness."

I nodded and replied,

"Don't worry about it. In an unfamiliar situation, it's natural to misunderstand."

"Thank you for saying that."

This is drawing too much attention to me. No matter what anyone says, today's stars are the groom and bride.

I said gently,

"I think that's enough thanks for me. Today's protagonists aren't me, but my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠close friend—please understand."

"Ah, right! How rude of me, with my son-in-law right here... My apologies."

At those words, Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader shook his head with a laugh.

"Not at all. My close friend did a good deed, didn't he? Especially saving a child from your family! Looks like I chose well."

"Glad you think so. Then, let me finish the introductions."

The one who had apologized to me was the sect leader's third brother, he said.

"My eldest brother is away on business right now."

"I see."

But the age gap seems pretty big?

Noticing my thought, the sect leader explained,

"My third brother here is the child my parents had late in life."

"I see."

"And Kyung-i is the child my second ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brother waited so long for."

With the rest of the family introduced, we moved to another spot.

"Alright, now go rest."

"Yes."

As I headed elsewhere, I scratched my cheek.

To where the bride was.

This feels kinda awkward.

I knew why I was seeing the bride's face before Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader did—it wasn't a burden.

It was just the connection from my previous life.

Back then in Yonyeong, I had to do business with one of the local magnates.

He had a greedy face, nitpicking endlessly and reluctant to pay.

A woman who had been sitting nearby approached and said,

"Gasp! W-Why are you here...?"

"I-I'm sorry."

She said no more, leaving only those words as she exited.

The magnate stopped nitpicking and paid me immediately.

"Who is that lady, anyway?"

"Hah! You lowly merchant! Who? That's the wife of the second young master of the Moyong family!"

That's how I learned who she was, and I vowed to repay the favor someday.

But back then, I couldn't.

Soon after, I heard she'd taken her own life... And two years later, when the Yusung Sect was destroyed, I finally learned she was the sect leader's eldest daughter.

The maid guiding me said,

"Miss, Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader's close friend has arrived."

"Show him in."

The resolute voice I'd heard in my previous life.

The door opened, and I entered.

A woman sat at the table.

Her face was far brighter and more radiant than in my previous life.

I gave a formal salute and bowed.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Eun Seo-ho, close friend to Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader and sub-branch leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."

"I'm In Jeong-yeon, eldest daughter of the Yusung Sect leader."

In Jeong-yeon.

Right, that was her name.

The maid brought tea and poured for us both.

A close friend doesn't just glimpse the bride's face—he converses until a full pot of tea is drunk.

It was a custom unique to Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader's family, but apparently most Yonyeong clans had something similar, with slight variations in names and roles.

Right now, Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader was probably chatting with the bride's side close friend.

The bride's close friend's role was similar: block the marriage if the groom seemed unworthy, preventing entry to the bridal chamber.

The groom's side could halt the wedding too if needed.

Hope things go smoothly with her close friend.

I sipped my tea, thinking that.

"The tea has a nice nutty flavor."

"We roast barley and add it."

"Ah, that explains the savoriness."

I set down my cup and began,

"My close friend looks the part and has no gaps in his work, but he's got a bit of a bearish side. He might make you feel neglected at times, but please understand with a generous heart."

She tilted her head at my words.

"No questions about me? You sound like you've already decided."

"Yes, exactly."

I smiled.

Though our previous-life meeting was brief, it confirmed she was a good person.

As long as character wasn't an issue, everything else could be worked out in life.

Marriage joins two people from different worlds into one family.

Everything fitting perfectly?

That doesn't happen.

Even siblings from the same parents and home struggle with it.

But without explanation, she might think I was too casual.

"I already know about you. Merchant families are serious about gathering info—more than you might think. Sorry if it's rude, but it applied to this marriage too."

"I suppose so."

"Don't take it badly. See it as proof we approached this life-changing choice with sincerity."

I continued,

"And you did the same, I'm sure."

She smiled faintly and nodded.

"Yes. We investigated thoroughly too."

"I trust my friend's judgment. And seeing you now, his eye is impeccable."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

We laughed together.

"So, what about your sword?"

"Pardon?"

"You're not planning to give it up, are you?"

Her eyes flickered. My guess was right.

"No choice. As proper wife and homemaker, there won't be much time for it."

I shook my head and advised,

"Never set it aside. Merchant houses face sudden crises just like martial clans. Don't regret being unarmed then."

She pondered, then nodded.

"I won't."

Now, the main point.

"If trouble arises, call on me anytime. I'll help gladly."

"Because you're Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader's close friend?"

Of course, but I also wanted to repay the favor from my previous life.

One might say saving Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader changed her fate, repaying it.

But that's that, this is this.

Anyway, I couldn't say that, so I nodded.

"Yes."

"Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader has a reliable friend. And a hero of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament too!"

"You know about me?"

She nodded.

"Yes. Father told me, but I also read about you in a book he saved from Luoyang."

"Book?"

As if to clarify, she stood and fetched a book.

"This one."

The title hit me, and I choked.

"Cough, cough!"

"Oh! Are you okay?"

"Ah, yes. Fine."

I calmed the tickle with tea.

"Any other questions?"

"None."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Makes me feel bad. My close friend prepared over a hundred questions..."

"Ah..."

.

.

.

I finished with Lady In and headed to Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader.

"Oh no..."

He was slumped over the table.

"You okay?"

He barely lifted his head.

"It was rough."

...Not okay, huh.

Figures—with over a hundred questions, he must've sweated bullets.

"So, how was she?"

I chuckled.

"Why laugh?"

"Just impressed by your judgment again."

"Ah..."

His face brightened.

That day, preparations complete, the bride emerged.

Unlike when I'd seen her, now veiled in red.

The bride's side was ready to depart too.

Normally, the wedding would be here, departure tomorrow—but it was set for the Gwangjun Merchant Group.

The bride boarded the carriage, and the party set off for Gwangjun.

No lively musicians ahead as usual; they moved quietly.

Gwangjun warriors and Yusung Sect disciples surrounded them.

After a long journey, we arrived at Gwangjun Merchant Group.

"The bride's here!"

"Woooah!"

Cheers erupted, and the wedding ceremony truly began.

.

.

.

Night deepened.

The wedded couple entered the bridal chamber. Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader approved, so the bride's close friend permitted it.

Several days passed after that.

Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader's wedding ended, but I hadn't returned to Beijing yet.

I had to accompany his new wife, Lady In, for her return visit to her family home.

That marked the end of the close friend's duties here.

And today was that visit.

After breakfast, preparations to go to her family were done.

Lady Bok-yun wanted to ride horseback but took the carriage due to her attire.

Upon reaching Yusung Sect, the sect leader and his wife welcomed us warmly.

"Welcome. Good timing."

"Greetings to father- and mother-in-law."

"Daughter greets her parents."

We entered, and workers began unloading gifts from the cart.

"What's all this?"

Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader replied,

"Humble gifts from my parents. Please accept them."

"Tell your father-in-law thanks for thinking of us."

We unpacked and began the formal return visit.

Its main purpose: proper greetings at the bride's family.

Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader greeted his in-laws and relatives one by one, with gifts.

By the time greetings ended, dusk fell, and the banquet started.

For the bride's family guests who missed the wedding.

The bride left to spend time with her close friends.

So only Bok-yun Sub-branch Leader attended ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the late-night banquet—perfectly normal.

No reason for the bride to be there.

Then a servant called me.

"Th-the sect leader summons you."

The sect leader? What for?

I rose and headed there.

"He's in the rear garden."

"Got it."

Entering the garden, I saw two figures in the pavilion.

One the sect leader; a prior guest?

The distance was there, but my deep inner energy and sharp senses caught their words.

Huh? What's this about?