Real Misunderstanding (3)
That night.
I quietly summoned Jin Yu Warrior.
"You called for me?"
"Yes. I have some urgent business tonight that requires moving discreetly. Are you up for it?"
"Of course."
A short while later.
We slipped out through the merchant group's secret passage.
The reason for this covert operation was to secure irrefutable evidence.
One of the places I'd decided to inspect was the brewery operating under the name Yang Family Green Liquor.
Oddly enough, the liquor they brewed had a faint green hue.
On the surface, they were stubborn artisans upholding a tradition over a century old.
The taste was quite good, too, so people trusted and bought their brew. They couldn't forget the flavor and kept coming back for more.
And in my previous life, once brewing for trade was permitted—unlike now—countless merchant groups jumped into the liquor business.
The word spread fast: selling liquor abroad meant big profits.
In the midst of that, one merchant group partnered with Yang Family Green Liquor to sell it to Dai Viet.
But just then, an internal whistleblower exposed the secret ingredient in the liquor, turning it into an international incident.
Trade nearly ground to a halt, bankrupting not just Yang Family Green Liquor but their partner merchant group as well.
Since they'd gathered famous brewers from various regions, a few problematic ones like Yang Family Green Liquor had slipped in among them.
Still, it was a relief to catch this before full-scale liquor trade kicked off.
We soon left the compound and changed into black attire at a safe house I'd prepared in advance.
"Safe travels."
"Yes."
Seo-u Warrior and Yi-pil Warrior saw us off.
We began checking off the list one by one. This was a true undercover inspection.
The first stop: Yang Family Green Liquor.
A quick look around showed the liquor was already fully brewed.
Green liquor could be made relatively quickly compared to others.
Which meant the secret ingredient had to be hidden nearby.
I started searching for where they stashed the materials. From my past life's memories, they hid it in places no one would think to look.
Like the ceiling, for instance.
Sure enough, one low section caught my eye, and I rummaged through it.
Oh! Jackpot.
I pocketed a small, carefully wrapped sample.
— Let's get out of here.
— Yes.
Jin Yu Warrior nodded at my sound transmission, and we headed to the next brewery.
Not as bad as Yang Family Green Liquor, but still problematic.
.
.
.
.
We inspected every spot on the list—problematic ones and all—before returning to the safe house.
"You're back?"
"Any results?"
Seo-u Warrior and Yi-pil Warrior greeted me, and I nodded.
"Yes. Let's go."
As we left the safe house, Palgap remarked,
"Whoa, the sun's rising."
"Huh?"
Sure enough, as Palgap said, the eastern sky was lightening.
We'd pulled an all-nighter.
Just yesterday, I'd sworn not to overdo it—that losing my health would only grieve my family...
Why the hell am I tearing up?
Back at my pavilion, I immediately organized the evidence I'd gathered and began meditating to circulate my energy.
Whew. Meditation helped—I felt a bit better.
As I rose, a welcome face entered the courtyard.
"Master!"
It was Master Kwak Myeong-hyeon.
"It's been a while."
"Yes, I'm sorry for being away so long."
"No need. I heard from Hyeongjin that you'd returned."
Oh...
Come to think of it, Master was one of the people I absolutely had to inform upon my return.
I was the young palace lord of Seolpung Palace, after all! What a blunder.
I quickly knelt before him.
"Forgive me! This foolish disciple failed to notify you of my return."
Seeing this, Master panicked and tried to stop me.
"No, no. I knew you were busy—rise."
"No. This unworthy disciple is too ashamed to lift his head before you."
"I'm not the type to care about such things."
Master spoke sternly.
"So get up. And as young palace lord of Seolpung Palace, you can't kneel recklessly anywhere—not even to me."
His eyes burned with unyielding resolve, leaving me no choice but to stand.
"I'll overlook it as a son on merchant business. But as young palace lord? No mercy. Understood?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Good."
Only then did Master's expression soften a touch.
By the way, he looked even more robust than before...
His realm felt higher, too.
He'd always been like a towering iceberg, impossibly distant. Now, that peak seemed even loftier.
"Truth be told, I came to check your training progress after so long..."
Master shook his head as he eyed my face.
"But right now, you need rest, not training."
"Pardon?"
Wasn't this the master who always pushed me mercilessly, saying people don't die that easily?
The one who never skipped even a day of stamina training?
For him to prescribe rest—did I look that wrecked?
"But even if I say that, you won't rest, will you?"
"I'm sorry. I have too much to do..."
"Then handle your most urgent tasks and summon me after. Can you do that?"
That much, I could manage.
And when Master asked like that, how could I refuse?
"Understood."
"Then rest a little, at least."
With that, Master left the pavilion.
Alright, time to get moving.
After breakfast, I went straight to my father.
"Father, the inspection is complete."
"Already?"
"Yes. I did it covertly last night."
"Tsk tsk. No wonder you look exhausted."
Father clicked his tongue, gazing at me with pity.
"So, what were the results?"
"I've summarized them here."
Father took the scroll I offered, unrolled it, and furrowed his brow.
"Hm... Out of fifteen, four are unfit?"
"Yes. Three can be corrected with orders to improve, but one is absolutely unacceptable."
I continued,
"Today, I'll visit them to issue correction orders for those three and notify the last one that we're withdrawing all support."
Father pondered briefly, then nodded in approval.
"Do as you see fit."
I headed first to Yang Family Green Liquor.
"Anyone here?"
At Palgap's call, someone emerged after a moment.
"Who might you be?"
"From Eunhae Merchant Group. It's Young Division Leader Eun Seo-ho."
"Gasp!"
He rushed inside, and soon a group came out to greet me.
"What brings you here?"
"Just checking if the brewing is going well."
"Of course. We've just finished a batch—care for a taste?"
"Sure."
They brought a bottle and cup, pouring the liquor before me.
A shimmering green liquid.
As I brought the cup to my lips, sly smiles crept across their faces.
Foo.
I merely touched it to my lips and set it down.
"What ingredient is in this? What is it?"
"Pardon?"
"Is the secret to your green liquor poison grass?"
They flinched in shock but quickly erupted in anger.
"What do you mean? Poison grass?!"
"How dare you slander our family brew like that?"
"Think being Eunhae Merchant Group's young division leader lets you bully us? Trashing our liquor like this?"
They bellowed loud enough to wake the neighborhood, drawing a crowd wondering what the commotion was.
Ha, playing the victim card?
What shameless audacity.
"Aigoo! We're wronged to death!"
"Poison in our century-old family brew? We're dying of injustice!"
They collapsed to the ground, wailing their grievances.
People usually see the rich and powerful as villains, the poor and powerless as victims.
A common prejudice.
No—less prejudice, more empathy.
It's easier to empathize with those in a position like your own.
Of course, not all wealthy or powerful are innocent; plenty suck blood to build fortunes or seize power, so they're often the bad guys.
But not always.
Not like this.
They figured the gathering crowd would side with them, curse me and Eunhae Merchant Group, and take their part.
But these folks were new to the area—they didn't know.
The weight of Eunhae Merchant Group and Eun Seo-ho in Hubei Province.
"What's going on?"
"Huh? They say there's poison grass in their liquor and he's insulting them?"
"Seonhyeopmirang wouldn't say that without reason."
"Exactly! Eunhae Merchant Group wouldn't act without cause."
"......"
The Yang Family brewers looked utterly flustered at the response.
They ramped up the hysterics, but I didn't blink.
"Keep causing a scene if you want. I've got time."
"Huff... huff..."
Making a fuss takes stamina, too.
They soon tired, panting heavily.
Perfect. Time for my say.
I held out the cup they'd given me.
"Yang Family Green Liquor is famous for its premium green brew. Truth be told, I'd never tried it before—only heard of it. But just now, I smelled it... and uncovered its secret."
I pressed on.
"Gu-gal Grass."
They startled but quickly masked it.
"Gu-gal Grass was once used as a green dye. But now, due to its toxicity, it's banned. Prolonged exposure makes you crave it endlessly."
That's right.
The secret of Yang Family Green Liquor: addicting drinkers with gu-gal grass.
"Thus, gu-gal grass is forbidden by national law—not just as dye, but even to color food or drink."
"W-We... we're innocent!"
"We never used that poison!"
"And how do you know from just the smell?"
"Eunhae Merchant Group is renowned for medicinal herbs. And I'm its young division leader. Think I wouldn't know?"
"......"
"You tried masking it with other herbs, but you can't fool my senses."
I continued.
"And if you didn't use gu-gal grass, why is that hem dyed green?"
All eyes followed my pointing finger.
The man at the end glanced down at his hem and panicked.
"Wh-When did this get on me? I was careful not to... Gasp!"
Too late—he clapped a hand over his mouth, but everyone had heard.
Part of his hem was stained green.
I'd made dye from the gu-gal grass sample I'd pocketed at dawn and discreetly applied it earlier.
It worked fast—even a touch soaked right in.
"Search the place thoroughly. You'll find the gu-gal grass."
"Yes!"
My guards began ransacking the brewery.
And Jin Yu Warrior—who'd come with me at dawn—returned with it.
Good—they hadn't moved it yet.
"This calls for the magistrate."
I handed them over to the authorities.
Violating national law meant Eunhae Merchant Group couldn't punish them ourselves.
With Yang Family Green Liquor dealt with, I visited the other three breweries.
Their failures stemmed from hygiene or poor ingredients.
I pointed out each issue, and they kowtowed, trembling.
No wonder—Eunhae Merchant Group was their lifeline.
Without our contract, brewing wouldn't just be impossible; surviving famines would be, too.
No malice involved, so I stopped at correction orders.
But not Yang Family—they could've caused us massive losses and breached our deal.
Time to collect hefty compensation.
Anyway, I told them,
"This is your final warning. Get caught again, and it's contract breach. We'll demand the penalties stipulated—and enforce labor if needed."
"Y-Yes!"
"We'll remember."
"Get back to brewing."
"Yes."
With corrections complete, I returned to my pavilion.
Master said to summon him after the urgent tasks.
I sent a messenger bird via my golden falcon.
It returned swiftly, and soon Master arrived.
"Urgent matters done, I see."
I clasped my hands in salute.
"Yes, Master. All handled."
"How many days of leeway now?"
Why ask that? Some task for me?
I mentally reviewed my schedule.
"Three days, give or take."
"I see."
Master nodded and approached with a grin.
Eh? Why the smile...?
But my thoughts cut short. Master's fist slammed into my gut.
Thud!
As consciousness faded, I heard his voice.
"I puzzled over how to make you rest properly. This seemed most effective."
Now I understood why he'd told me to summon him after.
Knocking me out cold... that, I hadn't seen coming.