Chapter 482: The Hundred-Year Spirit Horse (1)
At the guard's words, Father asked urgently.
"What do you mean something's happened? What exactly?"
"A messenger from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group is here right now. You'll need to read the letter he brought yourself to know for sure. But he said it's quite urgent."
I told Palgap to escort the Yun Gang-man father and son back to their quarters, then hurried with Father to the Eunryung Pavilion.
Someone was standing in front of Father's office.
Judging by his clothes, he seemed to be the messenger from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group.
"Are you the leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group?"
"Yes."
"I'm Do Kyung, squad leader of the Myeongmyeong Vanguard. I've brought a letter from our leader for you."
"Come inside."
"Yes, sir."
We entered the office, and Squad Leader Do followed us in.
He handed over a scroll, and Father took it and read it.
From the ever-changing expression on Father's face, I could tell something serious had happened.
"Hoo...."
Father set the letter down on the table, sat in his chair, and rubbed his dry face.
"Father, what is it?"
"Hoo, read it yourself."
"Yes, sir."
I picked up the letter and unrolled it.
"......!"
Sung Woo-shin, leader of the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group, sends greetings to the leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. First, I apologize deeply for having to deliver such regrettable news.
The letter began with a polite apology.
It conveyed news about Brother Jeong Ho.
Your Eunhae's sub-branch leader, Eun Jeong-ho, has gone missing...
Missing?
Missing?
The letter detailed the whole story.
Sichuan Province's capital city, where the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group was based.
While heading upstream along the Min River there, the incident occurred.
There were raging rapids at the time, and the leader's grandson either fell off the boat playing around or something.
Brother Jeong Ho, who was nearby, tried to grab the boy and ended up falling in with him.
They were swept away by the rapids, and though the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group sent out search parties, they hadn't been found yet.
Thud.
I set the letter down.
Normally, getting swept away by rapids like that means death. Even the body is hard to find.
In other words, Brother Jeong Ho's chances of survival were extremely slim.
Damn it!
Father spoke in a trembling voice.
"I have to go to Sichuan. At least the body... hoo, at least find the body."
Father's expression looked so anguished.
I felt the same.
This emotion—it was even more painful because it was the same one I'd felt right before my death in my previous life.
Ha! What the hell is this? What kind of bullshit situation is this!
"Deputy Im, please escort Squad Leader Do and the others to their lodgings."
"Yes, sir."
"And Deputy Yu, prepare for the trip to Sichuan."
"Understood."
I returned to my pavilion.
There was nothing for me to do there.
Going to Sichuan, though.
Father had a lot on his plate.
But how could I stop him from wanting to at least find his son's body...?
"What on earth happened, young master? What could make your face look so scary?"
Palgap, who had escorted the Yun Gang-man pair to their quarters and returned to the pavilion, looked startled at my face and asked.
"Hoo, well."
"Yes?"
"Brother Jeong Ho... he's missing."
"Pardon?"
"He got swept away by rapids. And you know how vicious the rapids of the Min River in Sichuan are. If he got caught in those..."
I couldn't continue.
I'd thought that if it was fallout from the future I'd changed, I could handle it myself...
"So does that mean Young Master Jeong Ho is definitely gone?"
"We don't know yet. But..."
"Young master. I know your heart aches right now. But moping like this isn't like you."
"Huh?"
"It's not confirmed he's gone, right? And the young master I know always finds a way out of any crisis."
But what could I do in this situation?
"How about some deep breaths?"
At Palgap's suggestion, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths in and out.
As my chaotic emotions calmed, I began to sense my surroundings.
The snowy weather.
The humidity.
The wind.
And the sounds around me.
From outside came the voices of the Yi Pil warrior and Seo-hyang Sojeo.
"Oh? Deputy Gwak. What are you doing?"
"Prepping for a business trip."
"I see. Then we should prepare too."
My mind flashed clear in an instant.
With her Bingjeongan eyes that see the future, Seo-hyang Sojeo saying that meant...
I said to Palgap,
"Let's head to the Georyang Pavilion right now!"
"Now you look like yourself, young master."
I used lightness skill to head to the Georyang Pavilion.
Having heard the news, Big Sister-in-Law and everyone there had dark expressions.
"Ah, Young Master Seo-ho."
Spotting me, Big Sister-in-Law's eyes welled with tears.
"He..."
"I know. More importantly, I need something of Brother's. Anything light, but preferably something with his strong scent."
"Pardon?"
Big Sister-in-Law blinked in surprise, but seeing my serious expression, she soon fetched something.
"It's his undershirt."
"Thank you."
I took it back to my pavilion and summoned Geumryeong.
"Geumryeong!"
"Kkwi!"
"This is Brother Jeong Ho's clothes. Find where Brother Jeong Ho is!"
"Kkwi!"
"And..."
I tied the letter to Geumryeong's tail and asked,
"If Brother Jeong Ho is alive, deliver this letter to him."
"Kkwi!"
"Move as fast as you can! I'll give you gold ingots."
I offered Geumryeong the best reward, and it vanished from before me in an instant.
I turned and looked at Palgap.
"Palgap."
"Yes?"
"Thanks."
At my words, Palgap looked embarrassed and stared into space.
Hoo, I nearly lost my reason again because it was Brother Jeong Ho who went missing.
Last time it was Brother Jin Ho.
Palgap's advice had been a huge help to me.
Still, this was much better than when Brother Jin Ho got trapped in the Wuchul Musan and went missing.
I had all the groundwork I'd built up struggling until now.
Right, like Palgap said, wallowing isn't my style.
I'm the guy who struggles to the very end.
I stayed up all night wide-eyed. As dawn began to break.
"Kkwi."
Geumryeong entered through the open window.
I quickly caught it in both hands and checked its tail. The letter on the tail... was gone.
That meant.
"Kkwi! Kku! Kkwiik!"
"Brother Jeong Ho and the kid are alive? So you delivered the letter?"
"Kkwi!"
"Thanks, really, thank you."
Tension released at Geumryeong's news, tears welled up.
"Kkwiik! Kkwiik! Kkwiik!"
But Geumryeong wasn't done.
"What? He's injured? And exhausted, on the verge of collapse?"
Well, that made sense.
Surviving the rapids was miracle enough.
No time to waste here.
We had to rescue Brother Jeong Ho and the kid as soon as possible.
So...
"Geumryeong. Will you deliver something from me to Brother Jeong Ho?"
"Kkwi."
"I'm worried, though. Without you, I couldn't find Brother Jeong Ho... and you can't guard him and scout at the same time."
If only there was some spirit beast like that.
Then Geumryeong said,
"Kkwi!"
"Huh? Don't worry?"
"Kkwi! Kku!"
"On the way to Brother Jeong Ho, you made a subordinate to leave behind?"
Damn, at times like this, it's really something else.
I don't get it, but if Geumryeong says so, then it is.
I immediately sent Geumryeong back with a small vial of its saliva and a box of stamina-restoring pills.
Then I hurried to the Eunryung Pavilion.
Early as it was, Father would be in his office as I'd guessed.
.
.
.
"Father inside?"
I knew he was, but asked politely.
Deputy Jo, just coming out, nodded.
"Ah, yes."
"Any guests?"
"No."
"Father! It's Seo-ho."
I called loudly and opened the door, entering.
Father, with a dark expression, asked me,
"What is it?"
"Father! I'll go to Sichuan."
"Huh?"
"Brother's still alive!"
Father looked dazed, as if he couldn't comprehend, then his eyes widened.
"I-is that true? Jeong Ho's alive?"
"Yes! Confirmed through Geumryeong."
I continued,
"As you know, Geumryeong's master is me. That's why I have to go."
Father let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
"I see. Take care of it."
"Of course. He's your son, but my brother too."
Now came the important part.
We quickly prepared to depart for Sichuan, finishing before lunch.
After a simple meal, we headed to the stables.
"Young Master Seo-ho."
Big Sister-in-Law had come out with Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon to see us off.
"Why come out this far? It's cold."
"But you're going through hardship to save him—how could I not see you off?"
I looked at Big Sister-in-Law and lowered my head.
Six-year-old Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon.
Young as they were, the smart kids seemed to already sense something had happened to their father.
"Uncle. You have to come back with Father."
"Got it."
"Uncle. Please."
"Don't worry."
I smiled softly, crouched to eye level, and said,
"I promise."
Standing, I bowed to Grandfather, Grandmother, and my parents behind her.
"We'll be back."
Then I mounted up.
We'd only take me and my group, since we needed to move fast.
No faster way than riding Jukangma.
Plus, with me and the guards, no worries on combat.
That's why we prepped in half a day. We're pros at business trips.
Squad Leader Do Kyung of the Myeongmyeong Vanguard traveled with us; the others headed separately to their group.
We needed someone who knew the situation and could cooperate.
Of course, we had our Sichuan branch in the capital.
But not as influential as the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group.
Once clear of houses, I said to the Jukangma,
"Let's go!"
"Hiiing!"
The Jukangma neighed loudly once, then accelerated in a flash.
The scenery blurred past in the blink of an eye.
"Hnggh! Urgh!"
Squad Leader Do, riding with Seo-u Warrior, freaked at the speed, but we, used to it, galloped on without pause.
Even Seo-hyang Sojeo kept up.
The Yangtze was midway, but it didn't hinder us.
Jukangma cross rivers at a run.
Thus, we reached eastern Sichuan in two days.
"T-two days to Sichuan...?"
Squad Leader Do looked incredulous. I sent a sound transmission to Geumryeong.
- Guide us to Brother Jeong Ho.
- Kkwi!
Geumryeong led the way.
Eastern Sichuan is full of basins and hills.
We navigated the rugged paths swiftly.
How much time passed?
Seo-u Warrior said worriedly,
"My lord, rain's coming soon."
"We need to hurry."
We pressed on without rest, and as he said, rain began to pour.
Shwaaaa-!
But we didn't stop.
Even in Sichuan, winter rain chills the body—life-threatening.
Especially with a kid.
Then, far off, a familiar energy.
Brother Jeong Ho.
Galloping harder, we saw him leaning against a tree with a young boy.
"Brother!"
Dismounting, I ran shouting.
But something was off.
After so long dehydrated and suffering, his face should be pale...
The stuff I sent worked well, but not that well?
"Brother, it's me. Seo-ho."
His complexion was good, but he'd lost consciousness.
The kid beside him too.
Of all times, rain...
"Damn it! Seriously!"
I took a deep breath and unleashed palm strikes at Brother Jeong Ho.
Slap! Slap! Smack!
"......!"
Suddenly slapped, Brother Jeong Ho's eyes flew open in shock.
"Gasp!"
"Brother Jeong Ho? You with us?"
"......"
"Need more slaps?"
"N-no! I'm awake! Awake, I said!"
Should've woken up sooner.
"Good! Really good!"
Brother Jeong Ho said to me,
"True to the promise in the letter, you really came."
"Of course! I always keep promises. Get up. Let's go home."
"Yeah."
Brother Jeong Ho pushed up from the ground.
The commotion woke the kid; rubbing his eyes, he looked scared at us.
"It's okay. Uncle's little brother."
"The handsome one?"
"Yeah. That's right. Let's go home now."
Brother Jeong Ho helped the boy up.
This must be the Myeongmyeong leader's grandson.
"By the way... you hold a grudge or something? That hurt."
"Good if you learned."
"......Sorry."
But something was weird.
After hits like that, his cheeks should be swollen...
And his energy felt different from before.
In this situation, the most likely...
No way?
"Brother. What the hell did you pick up and eat?"