Palace God (4)
I entrusted the matter of the assassin squad to Ak Dae-in and headed back to the Palace God's residence.
We had come together originally, but I sent him back midway because his face was etched with worry for his father.
Of course, I'd left the Myeongjong warrior and the Changun warrior as escorts, but it seemed unavoidable that he'd still fret.
Entering the Palace God's house, I saw Seo-hyang ladling medicine while holding a fan.
"You've arrived?"
"Ah, Lieutenant Kwak. What are you doing there?"
"Brewing Cheon Yeong-geun."
In truth, Cheon Yeong-geun was most effective when eaten raw, but the Palace God's family head was in no condition to chew it uncooked.
For five long years, he'd survived on nothing but the thin gruel his son fed him by hand—barely more than water.
Honestly, for a martial artist, this was impressive; any ordinary person would have long since passed away.
That's why I'd given them the Cheon Yeong-geun.
It was the only elixir capable of restoring the family head in short order.
There were other spirit medicines, of course, but they focused more on enhancement than recovery.
And procuring alternatives would take too much time.
Geum-ryeong hadn't gifted it to me expecting me to eat it myself.
She knew full well I was healthy enough not to need it.
When I'd said I'd put it to good use, her nod was proof.
Suddenly, it struck me—had Geum-ryeong foreseen that I'd need it and given it preemptively?
Only if his father recovered swiftly would the Palace God devote himself fully to my cause.
Requesting the transmission of his family's archery was tantamount to demanding they reveal their martial secrets.
So, bestowing that level of grace would ensure he wouldn't refuse my plea.
The Palace God's family archery would save countless lives in the Eunhae Merchant Group and safeguard fortunes beyond measure; the Palace God himself was a precious talent to teach it.
But... could Seo-hyang really brew medicine?
Decocting herbs was trickier than it seemed.
"Have you brewed medicine before?"
"Yes. Actually, high-ranking officials' families often handle their own brewing."
"Why is that? Don't maids usually do it?"
"You can't have maids brewing the tonics bestowed by His Majesty or the imperial clan."
"Ah... I see."
Of course—doing so would be seen as slighting the imperial grace.
"So Mother taught me how. I've even brewed Father's medicine myself."
"I see."
The Palace God's family head drank the Cheon Yeong-geun tonic that Seo-hyang had personally brewed and fell into a deep slumber.
It was sleep for recovery, so there was no need to worry.
I turned to the Palace God and said,
"The matter's been handled. Ak Dae-in will eradicate that assassin squad, and your family head will recover soon enough."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Pardon?"
"I haven't heard your introduction yet, young master."
"Ah!"
Startled by my words, he quickly knelt before me and said,
"Forgive my belated introduction to my benefactor. My name is Man Jeong, descendant of the Yun-gang Man family."
"I see. As you know, I'm Eun Seo-ho, young division head of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Yes."
"Here, take this."
I held out a pouch to him.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
At my words, he cautiously untied the pouch, his eyes widening in shock.
It brimmed with a substantial sum of silver.
"We found it in that quack doctor's house. It's the money he embezzled from your family over the years."
"Ah..."
"This belongs to you and your family head. Take it."
"Th-thank you."
His eyes reddened, and tears finally spilled over.
Memories of scrambling to cure his father's illness must have flooded back.
"To endure so steadfastly... truly admirable."
"Sob... sob..."
Of course, his sobs tugged at the heart.
Two days passed after that.
The Palace God's family head, who had slept soundly for nearly two full days, opened his eyes and rose.
His complexion was incomparable to two days prior.
And he could even get up and move about, if only briefly.
Cheon Yeong-geun truly lived up to its reputation.
I'd have to repay Geum-ryeong with some gold ingots.
"This Man household owes you a great debt, my lord."
As the family head moved to prostrate himself, I quickly stopped him.
"No need! There's no call for such formalities."
"But the grace you've shown is immense."
"This was all a fair transaction."
"A transaction?"
The Palace God, Man Jeong, stepped forward.
"Father, I've pledged my skills to my lord."
He explained the full story.
"In exchange for avenging me, I offered my talents."
"I see."
"So please, accept your son's resolve."
I added my own explanation for the family head.
"Truth be told, I have a request for you, family head."
"What is it?"
"The Eunhae Merchant Group has no intention of confining itself to this empire. We aim to cross distant seas and spread our name far and wide. But pirates are the problem."
"..."
"To protect lives and assets from those pirates, we plan to form an archery unit. Inevitably, that means your family's archery techniques might spread. So I humbly ask: permit the unit under my command to learn the Yun-gang Man family's archery."
I knelt before him.
The family head recoiled in shock, leaping back.
"N-no! Why do this? How can you kneel before a rustic like me?"
"I beg you."
"Very well. Please, rise."
"You'll permit it, then?"
"Of course."
The family head sighed in relief as I stood.
"Whew, I know a bit of physiognomy. And your bearing, my lord—it marks you as a celestial dragon destined to command the world."
Huh... a celestial dragon body, and he calls me one...
Impressive insight.
"To grant us the chance to join such a one's path, and to save me and my son besides... how could I refuse?"
He continued,
"Moreover, eradicating pirates upholds the legacy handed down through our house—what reason to hesitate?"
"Pardon? A family legacy?"
He nodded at my question.
"Yes. Our family's archery, Cheonpa Palace, was born to defend against pirates."
Ah...
No wonder it seemed perfect for pirates.
And Shandong jutted out into the sea, with seafaring trade long plagued by them.
"But those who coveted our art dragged us this way and that, until one ancestor, fed up, relocated inland to start anew."
"I see."
He said to me,
"My son offered his skills, but as head of the Yun-gang Man family, I judge this commits our entire house."
The family head bowed to me.
"Please, take our family under your wing."
I'd only meant to take the son... but now I had the whole house.
This painted a picture of thoroughly humiliating the pirates who'd tormented the Eunhae Merchant Group in my past life.
Nice.
"Very well. I, Eun Seo-ho, young division head of the Eunhae Merchant Group, accept you as my retainers."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, my lord."
I told them,
"Focus on recovery, then. We're heading back to the Eunhae Merchant Group's Hubei headquarters anyway—come with us."
"Understood."
The Yun-gang Man family head, Man Juk, took his name from the bamboo radical—fitting for such a resolute man.
While Man Juk recovered, his son repurchased their old house.
"Did you spend too much? Is that alright?"
"Yes. Father insisted on buying it back, even if it took every coin Lord returned to us."
Why?
Some reason?
Man Jeong returned and informed his father.
"We've got the house back."
"Good. When can they vacate?"
"Tomorrow, they said. The clan head who bought it wasn't living there—just wanted it as a villa for the fine views."
"Then we'll move the day after."
"Yes."
And moving day arrived.
My escort warriors helped. Not much to move, but a move was a move.
We arrived at what had once been the Yun-gang Man family home.
Hop.
But Geum-ryeong hopped into the courtyard and started pawing at the ground excitedly.
"What's up?"
"Kkwi!"
"You're in the way of the move. Come back."
"Kkwi..."
What? Gold buried down there or something?
Nothing to do about it now.
By the time the move wrapped up, night had fully fallen.
"Jeong-ah."
"Yes, Father."
"Prepare three or four shovels and mattocks."
"Got it."
Man Jeong nodded and fetched them.
Digging?
Ah, no way!
Man Juk said to me,
"My lord, may we borrow your warriors' help?"
"Of course."
I nodded, and had my escorts take up the tools.
"Dig here, please."
The spot Man Juk indicated was where Geum-ryeong had been pawing.
Everyone dug eagerly at the courtyard's center.
How deep did they go?
About waist-deep, when—
Thud!
A different sound rang out. Eyes sharpened; they carefully dug around it.
What emerged was a preserved wooden chest.
A long one, coffin-shaped.
Man Juk descended with a crowbar and pried open the lid himself.
His recovery now allowed such exertions.
Inside were several smaller boxes; he opened one and pulled out an old manual, handing it to me.
"This is the Yun-gang Man family's archery, the Cheonpa Palace manual. I offer it to my lord."
I couldn't hide my shock.
"You're giving this to me? Isn't this your family's secret manual?"
"Yes. You've saved our house, my lord. This is our sincerity, our heart."
To think the Cheonpa Palace manual was hidden here!
The Eunsa Group hadn't known—truly fortunate.
But I stared at it a moment, then shook my head.
"I can't accept it."
"Wh-why not?"
Man Juk looked bewildered.
"I'm grateful for the gesture, but having you two as my retainers is thanks enough. How could I take your family's manual too? It belongs to your house."
I continued gently,
"Pass it down through generations. It'll be the strength that guards the Yun-gang Man family."
Smiling, I clasped the hand holding the manual.
"This is my request."
"Ugh! My lord..."
Man Juk burst into tears.
Were my words that moving?
I'd only stated the obvious.
What if my descendants turned rotten? Or someone coveted the Yun-gang Man family?
The difference between having that manual and not was vast.
I'd only advised for the sake of those who trusted and followed me...
Wouldn't want them devoured later and feel guilty.
Somehow, it felt awkward.
"Ahem, as expected of the young master—Seonhyeopmirang incarnate."
"What're you on about?"
I lightly scolded Palgap. Then Seo-hyang smiled faintly.
Come to think of it, when she'd come to help with the move, she'd looked mildly surprised...
Probably this.
She hadn't warned me, knowing it wasn't dangerous.
Or maybe she wanted to see my reaction.
"Father, what are these boxes?"
The long chest held several smaller ones; Man Jeong asked about them.
Man Juk said,
"Open them."
"Yes."
Man Jeong did, then fell back on his rear in astonishment.
"Gasp! F-Father! These are...?"
Each box overflowed with gold and jewels.
Geum-ryeong pawing there earlier—I'd guessed gold, and there it was.
Geum-ryeong never missed.
"What our ancestors brought when they came here. No need for them till now, so they stayed sealed."
That explained why Man Juk hadn't wavered despite the Eunsa Group's massive bribe for Ak Dae-in's assassination.
Conviction, yes—but practical reasons too.
Man Juk said,
"These too, I offer to my lord."
I shook my head.
"I can't take those either. They belong to your family."
"But they'd aid your great undertaking."
"No doubt. Yet I have ample funds, and I'm no pauper needing retainers' coin to chase my dreams."
Man Juk nodded.
"Understood. Pressing further would insult you."
"Thank you for understanding."
Once more, fortunate the Eunsa Group hadn't known.
With that wealth, no danger of them being bought off to betray me.
Then I can squeeze them a bit harder than planned... right?