Visiting the Maternal Home (1)
Back in Beijing, I was diligently stamping documents.
Even after three straight days of work, the backlog wasn't cleared yet.
That didn't mean I could sign off carelessly, though.
Stamping a document meant I'd reviewed it and found no issues, so proceed—but as the final decision-maker, my signature carried another weight.
It meant I was taking responsibility.
That's why I had to scrutinize every one.
Besides, one wrong stamp from me could harm dozens, even hundreds.
Creak.
"Young master, didn't you have a dinner appointment tonight?"
"Dinner appointment?"
"You're meeting Young Master Seon-il and his wife, right?"
"Ah!"
At Palgap's words, I looked up.
Tonight, I had to head to the Yeonjun Merchant Group, invited by Seon-il hyung-nim and his wife.
A short while later.
I arrived at the Yeonjun Merchant Group.
"Come on in."
Seon-il hyung-nim came out to the gate himself and greeted me warmly.
"Heard you went to Yoneung?"
"Yes. I attended a close friend's wedding."
Seon-il hyung-nim gave a light smile at my words.
"You should get married soon too... No, never mind."
"Pardon?"
"From my experience, nagging someone to marry feels like huge pressure. That's why I decided not to say it."
"Thank you."
"If I don't like it, the other person won't either. I almost made that mistake."
As expected of Seon-il hyung-nim.
Always striving to live rightly—a good man.
"You're smart, so you'll handle it well on your own."
"Thank you. Where are Uncle and Aunt?"
"Oh, they went to a couples' gathering."
"I see."
"Anyway, come on in."
I headed to the banquet hall with Seon-il hyung-nim.
Today's feast was to thank me for helping with Princess Sina's wedding last time, or so I'd heard.
Entering the hall, Princess Sina—no, my sister-in-law—was waiting.
"Welcome."
"Thank you for the invitation."
"It's been a while. Please, sit comfortably."
I exchanged greetings with her and took my seat. Soon, dishes began appearing one by one.
"Not much prepared, huh?"
"What do you mean, not much? We'll burst if we eat all this!"
So many dishes were laid out that I couldn't help but laugh heartily.
As I chatted with her, I felt a slight awkwardness.
Something about her appearance seemed different from before.
Ah... right.
After some time passes, she'll become known as the Jewel of the Mara Nation for her beauty.
By then, the two princes who missed out on sister-in-law will be writhing in regret.
But there's nothing they can do.
Their marriage was officiated by His Majesty the Emperor himself.
We spent the time in warm harmony before I returned to the Beijing branch.
Yet, despite the late hour, an unexpected visitor was waiting for me.
"Long time no see!"
"Ah! Daehyeop!"
It was Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"I didn't know you'd come."
"You were at Seon-il's place? I stopped them from notifying you."
"I see. But what brings you here so late...?"
To my question, Jin Yeong Daehyeop replied matter-of-factly, curtly.
"He's summoning you. Fix your attire and come."
Ah...
His Majesty the Emperor was calling.
A short while later.
After adjusting my ceremonial robes, I headed to the imperial palace with Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
But why summon me so late?
And as we entered the palace, my doubts grew.
No matter the hour, there were usually people around, but the paths to me were completely empty.
As if on purpose.
I hoped it wasn't anything troublesome.
Soon, we reached His Majesty's office.
"Eun Seo-ho, branch leader, admitted."
The doors opened immediately, and I entered, offering the utmost courtesy.
"Your subject, Eun Seo-ho, pays respects to His Exalted Majesty the Emperor. Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand times ten thousand!"
"Raise your head."
I looked up at the Emperor. He still appeared hale and hearty.
"You're wondering why I called you so late and cleared the Gold Guards from your path."
Gasp, how did he know?
Well, His Majesty was one of the few I acknowledged.
In other words, terrifying in every sense.
No, he really was terrifying.
One word from him, and the Eunhae Merchant Group would crumble in no time.
"Your subject is simply overjoyed at His Majesty's summons."
"Hah, you talk well."
I quietly bowed my head at the Emperor's scoff.
"So, how was Yoneung?"
"It went well, Your Majesty."
"Feeling good about swallowing the Zhuqiang horses all by yourself?"
"......"
He really was terrifying. He already knew about that too!
I quickly prostrated myself before him.
"Your Majesty! Forgive your subject for not presenting the Zhuqiang horses to you! This is..."
"Tsk tsk. Do you think I don't know you? If you thought offering them would benefit you, you'd have done it the moment you returned to Beijing. So, what's wrong? A defect?"
"Well... the horses only obey my commands. If someone else rides them, I can't guarantee safety."
The Emperor nodded gravely, knowing falls and deaths from horses were more common than thought.
"That's a big issue."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"But when did you prostrate again? Tsk tsk, stand up."
I rose quickly.
"With reactions like that, I just want to tease you more."
So... that line about enjoying the Zhuqiang horses was just teasing me.
No, Your Majesty!
Your teasing makes my heart pound!
But I couldn't complain outright. Sigh.
"Anyway, you just returned, but with the Zhuqiang horses, you can go and come back quickly. I need you to head to Gansu Province."
"Pardon?"
I blurted out involuntarily.
Gansu Province?
The one next to Shaanxi?
The Emperor continued.
"Of course, if you don't want to go, you don't have to. I'd pay handsomely for handling this... but no helping it."
Whew, he knows me too well.
- Kkweee!
And seeing Gold Spirit's reaction, I guess I have to go.
"I'll consider it positively."
"Good. Then listen. Recent intel from Dongchang says a sword tomb was found in Mount Yeonji, Gansu Province."
Sword tomb? Mount Yeonji?
Ah! Could it be that one?
I recalled something about a sword tomb in Mount Yeonji, Gansu.
A sword tomb was literally a grave of swords.
But rarely did they hold intact blades; most were rusted and decayed.
Still, when one was found, martial sects swarmed, fighting bloodily for it.
Not just swords, but treasures, gold, silver—and sometimes peerless martial arts manuals.
The Mount Yeonji sword tomb belonged to the hero monk Hyeolgon Seungseng, who cornered the Cheonma Divine Cult five hundred years ago.
Legend said he lost his family to cultists, became a Shaolin monk, and smashed them with his staff wherever he saw them.
His prowess was so immense even the Cheonma couldn't handle him, shrinking the cult's power.
Resolved to fight the cult even in death, he made his sword tomb and entered nirvana within.
But it had stayed hidden until now, discovered by a herb gatherer.
Logically, as a Shaolin monk's tomb, Shaolin should claim it.
But complications arose.
In his later years, stained with blood, Shaolin had excommunicated him.
So even they couldn't assert ownership clearly.
Rumors spread that the secret to his status as the world's greatest lay in the tomb, drawing not just righteous sects but the Cheonma Divine Cult too.
Added rumors of vast treasures pulled in evil sects and black道 forces.
It was destined for chaos—and indeed became so.
Sending me to a place with constant fights?
Your Majesty.
Are you in your right mind... No, isn't this too much?
Why me, of all people?
As if reading my mind, the Emperor spoke.
"Actually, Gold Guard warriors already headed there. Reports say Hyeolgon Seungseng's prowess came from an imperial palace artifact he obtained."
Ah... so that's why the secret summons.
"Surveillance...?"
The Emperor smiled. My guess was right.
Surveillance worked best with someone utterly unexpected.
"I trust you'll handle the rest."
"......"
.
.
.
I returned to the Beijing branch.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop said I had to depart within at least three days.
Meaning, finish paperwork and leave without rest.
Damn.
Going to Gansu for no reason would raise suspicions.
Need a good excuse...
Ah!
A great idea struck.
Yeongseon Minga, the martial family in Gansu, was Mother's maternal home.
In my previous life, I'd rarely visited and regretted it.
Why not go now?
I wrote a letter immediately and sent it to Father via Gold Spirit.
The next day.
Gold Spirit returned with Father's letter.
"Visiting your maternal home? Something must be up. Martial forces are gathering there lately—will you be alright?"
"A little digging will show Gansu's unrest. If you still go, there's reason. Safe travels. Give my regards to your grandparents and uncle too."
Eun Myung-wha
That's why I'm going—for that very matter, Father.
Yes, Father.
I muttered as I burned the letter. It had slightly sensitive info.
Two days later, it was time to depart for Gansu.
"We'll hold down the fort."
"Don't worry, come back safe."
Seo-hyang Sojeo and the Hyeonpung Hall members saw me off. Seo-hyang Sojeo would stay at the Beijing branch again.
Gansu was a hotbed of clashing factions.
Couldn't drag her into danger.
And so, we set off for Gansu.
The Zhuqiang horses were filthy fast.
Was the three-day grace period because His Majesty knew they could move quickly?
Truly, no letting guard down around him.
Anyway, traveling far faster than planned, we camped in a Shanxi forest.
Camp prep went smoothly.
While Palgap built the fire, warriors split into three teams: one foraged food, one scouted, one guarded me nearby.
Soon, camp was set, and we gathered around the fire.
Our destination: Gansu Province.
Riding horses, we'd take the northern route.
Through northern Shanxi and Shaanxi to Lanzhou in Gansu.
Despite the hot summer, we avoided the worst heat.
Well, except me.
I never suffered heat anywhere.
Crackle, crackle.
Sparks popped from the firewood.
"All done, young master."
Palgap offered fish skewers, perfectly grilled.
With roasted flatbread, it was decent fare.
After eating, I stared into the flames and spoke.
"Do you know why we're heading to Gansu this time?"
Palgap answered my question.
"To Madam's maternal home, right?"
"Right. My maternal home. But if that was all, I wouldn't ask."
All eyes turned to me.
"Truth is, I received His Majesty's command."
The real reason was top secret, of course. But my companions deserved a heads-up.
Sending them blindly into danger under "just protect me" would be deceiving them.
And they weren't loose-lipped.
"We're going to Mount Yeonji. That's where Hyeolgon Seungseng's sword tomb was found."
At my words, a Mingjong warrior asked as if recalling something.
"That hero who smashed the Demonic Cultists?"
"Exactly."
"Heaven preserve us..."
It was the kind of thing that made even a Mingjong warrior sigh like that.
Seo-u Warrior said gravely.
"Dangerous. Clashes between countless factions are inevitable."
"Yes. But I don't plan to get close."
His Majesty ordered surveillance, not retrieval.
I'd fulfill it from the safest spot possible.
"Still, a sword tomb must have amazing stuff, right? Whoever gets it, I'm super jealous."
I chuckled at Palgap's words.
I knew about Hyeolgon Seungseng's Mount Yeonji tomb yet hadn't moved.
If it really had great things as rumored, I'd have gone first.
Yes.
There is... nothing there.