Myeongmyeong Merchant Group (2)
There was a saying passed around among those who traveled in processions or merchant caravans.
Never touch the cub when the beast is with its young.
A beast that sees its cub die will seek revenge even if it means turning into a ghost after death.
If even beasts were like that, how much less would human grudges be?
Isn't it fine since Young Master Yu-jin didn't actually die?
Even if Young Master Yu-jin hadn't died, they'd seen him on the brink of death right before their eyes.
It was no different from seeing him die.
First, they needed to calm Seong Cheong-min, the small unit leader.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah, yes."
I unwound the cloth around his neck and said,
"Shouldn't we bind this guy and use him as a witness?"
"Ah! You're right."
Jin Yu warrior and I subdued the masked man, bound him, and gagged him.
"By the way, do you know his face?"
"He's my younger brother Jun-min's guard warrior. If he coveted the small unit leader position, he should have competed fairly and squarely—how could he resort to such despicable tricks!"
"You know well that the world is full of despicable people, don't you?"
"Of course. But... I never imagined one of them would be my own brother."
His face looked utterly bitter as he said that.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
There was no need for further searches, so Seong the small unit leader gathered his people and headed for the castle city.
But not to the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group—instead, they went first to the Eunhae Merchant Group's Sichuan branch.
"You've arrived?"
The warrior at the gate greeted me.
"These are the small unit leader and his wife from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group."
"Ah! I see. Please come in."
We entered, and Uncle, who came out at the sound of the bell, welcomed us.
"You're here."
"Yes, Uncle. We're back."
"I was wondering what the rush was about when you dashed out like that."
It seemed Jeong Ho hyung hadn't told Uncle about the incident.
Of course—it was something to handle with utmost caution.
Uncle turned his head and was startled.
"My goodness! Who do we have here? Isn't this the small unit leader couple from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group?"
"Yes, it's us. Pleased to meet you. I heard my son is under your care here."
"Ah, you mean Young Master Yu-jin."
"Yes. Thank you for taking good care of my son."
"Don't say that. Thanks to Young Master Yu-jin, I've had plenty to smile about lately."
"Is that so?"
"At my age, just seeing the kids makes me grin. Heh heh."
Come to think of it, Dae-seok hyung was already married with a child.
Chung-seok hyung was about to marry.
Hyang-ok noona was a disciple of the Ami Sect, so marriage was out of the question.
Ryeo-ok was...
Just then, Jeong Ho hyung and Young Master Yu-jin came out.
They looked like they'd rushed out after hearing we'd arrived.
"Father! Mother!"
Young Master Yu-jin called out energetically to Small Unit Leader Seong Cheong-min and his wife as he ran over.
"Yu-jin!"
Young Master Yu-jin ran straight into his parents' arms.
He'd been so mature lately, but he was still just ten years old.
How much he'd missed his parents all this time.
Seong Cheong-min the small unit leader and his wife reunited with Young Master Seong Yu-jin, embracing and sobbing loudly.
Jeong Ho hyung's eyes reddened at the sight.
He was probably thinking of his own family back at the Eunhae Merchant Group headquarters, who anxiously awaited his safe return.
A moment later, once he'd composed himself, Seong Cheong-min stood and bowed to Jeong Ho hyung with clasped hands.
"Thank you for saving my son. Thanks to you, he survived. And I'm sorry... and grateful... that you suffered because of my child in the process."
"Please, don't say that. It was my choice. How could I stand by when a child was about to drown right in front of me?"
Seong Cheong-min admired those words, then grew serious.
"I'd love to take Yu-jin with me right now, but he doesn't seem ready yet. So, I earnestly ask the branch manager and Young Small Unit Leader Eun to protect him a little longer."
We'd already discussed this on the way.
"Of course."
"I'll do my utmost."
Then Seong Cheong-min bent down to look at Yu-jin and said,
"Wait just a bit longer. Father will make the house safe and come get you."
"Yes, Father. I'll wait."
He straightened up and turned toward the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group. His eyes were chillingly cold, unlike moments before.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After Seong Cheong-min's group left, Jeon U-jin warrior approached Jeong Ho hyung.
"My lord, you're alive... What a relief."
He prostrated himself right there.
"If you'd died, I would have followed you."
No sooner had Jeon U-jin warrior finished than tears soaked the ground drop by drop.
"That's why..."
I could guess the rest of what Jeon U-jin wanted to say.
Even if it's selfish, prioritize your own survival...
Look after yourself first.
That's what he wanted to say, but with Young Master Yu-jin there, he couldn't voice it and just wept.
Thud.
Jeong Ho hyung knelt before him.
"...!"
No one had expected it, and Jeon U-jin was flustered.
"I'm sorry."
"M-my lord."
"I'm truly sorry. For worrying you, for hurting you—I'm so sorry."
"Please stand! How can you do this?"
"But... if something like that happens again, I'll do the same."
Hyung was declaring his resolve proudly.
"I am the small unit leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. And I will become the merchant group leader someday."
Hyung looked at me, and I nodded.
"The Eunhae Merchant Group values trust above all. How can we trust someone who ignores another's crisis right in front of them?"
Hyung looked at Jeon U-jin warrior.
"So, please understand that."
Jeon U-jin nodded.
"That's the kind of person you are, my lord. That's why I nearly forgot—I pledge my life to such a lord."
He continued,
"Jeon U-jin asks your permission to walk the path you tread."
"From the moment I chose you as my guard, we've been walking it together."
"Ugh! My lord..."
I cleared my throat.
"Ahem, I get it's a touching moment and all... but how long are you gonna stay like that?"
"Huh?"
"I'm hungry. Aren't we eating?"
At my words, Jeong Ho hyung jumped up, chuckling.
"Ah, sorry. I got carried away."
Anyway, Young Master Yu-jin's face looked much more at ease—probably because he sensed hyung's sincerity.
He now knew his rescue stemmed from hyung's sense of justice.
And that hyung didn't resent him for it.
We dispersed to our rooms, washed up, and changed clothes.
Then we had lunch together.
The Sichuan region was incredibly prosperous.
While most of the empire suffered from ongoing famines, it wasn't as bad here.
Not overflowing with grain like years ago, but still no widespread starvation.
After lunch, I went to find Jeon U-jin warrior. He was with Jeong Ho hyung, and luckily, no one else was around.
"Congratulations on getting your position back."
Jeon U-jin clasped his hands to me and said,
"I heard from my lord. It would have been impossible without Young Small Unit Leader Eun's timely aid. Thank you truly."
"No big deal. He's my brother."
I grinned.
"By the way, have you noticed anything different?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
He hadn't noticed yet, it seemed.
"Hyung's energy. It's changed, hasn't it?"
He tilted his head at my words, then said to Jeong Ho hyung,
"My apologies. May I check your wrist for a moment?"
Jeong Ho hyung extended his hand willingly, and Jeon U-jin grasped his wrist, closing his eyes.
"...!"
He soon opened his eyes wide in shock.
"H-how... how is this possible..."
Jeon U-jin was a peak expert warrior, so he quickly sensed the change in Jeong Ho hyung.
"How has my lord's internal energy suddenly increased so much? It's more than doubled."
"Well, the thing I ate to avoid starving turned out to be a spiritual medicine," hyung said.
I chimed in smoothly.
"Jeong Ho hyung ate a Century Spirit Horse mushroom. That's what boosted his internal energy. Same for Young Master Yu-jin."
I continued,
"This must be what they call turning misfortune into fortune."
"Heh, such a stroke of luck..."
"I figure it'll be a while before the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group comes for Young Master Yu-jin. And I hear internal energy gained from spiritual medicines needs to be adapted quickly to avoid issues."
"That's correct."
Jeon U-jin affirmed.
"The best way to adapt sudden internal energy growth is physical activity, right? So, I leave it to you."
Jeon U-jin thought for a moment, then nodded.
"It's my duty, of course."
I turned to Do team leader—he'd been sticking close as Yu-jin's guard.
"By any chance, does the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group teach any special martial arts?"
He shook his head.
"No. And the merchant group leader's family doesn't learn martial arts separately either."
"Then, Team Leader Do, why don't you teach Young Master Yu-jin martial arts?"
"Me?"
He looked shocked. I nodded.
"Yes. He'll need to stick close to learn, and we can't do that."
"True, but..."
"And at your level, guiding the young master should be no problem."
Yu-jin was a beginner, and Do was near the top of first-rate.
Then Young Master Yu-jin asked,
"If I learn martial arts, can I protect my parents and the merchant group?"
An unexpected question.
I hadn't thought a ten-year-old would ask that.
But he'd already tasted bitterness no ordinary person endures, so it wasn't a normal situation.
And I could guess why he asked.
I smiled and said,
"Yes, exactly. Learning martial arts makes you strong, and the stronger you are, the easier it is to protect what you cherish."
"Then I want to learn martial arts."
He clasped hands to Do team leader.
"I take you as my master."
"Y-young master..."
"I must become strong. To protect my parents and the merchant group. Please accept me as your disciple."
Do team leader clasped hands in gratitude.
"Since you trust me, I'll give my all."
I placed a hand on Young Master Yu-jin's head.
"But, young master, there's one thing you must never forget."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Whether protecting someone or seeking revenge, never be impatient. Impatience only eats away at yourself."
I turned to hyung and asked,
"You think the same, right, hyung?"
"Yeah. Impatience is just poison. So, Yu-jin."
"Yes, Uncle."
"Let's make a promise. No getting impatient."
Young Master Yu-jin nodded.
"Yes. I won't get impatient. I promise."
"Thanks for promising me."
Then Jeon U-jin said,
"Then, my lord, we'll start adaptation training. First... the Silver Wind Corps' basic stamina training..."
"The three fundamentals?"
"Yes."
Jeong Ho hyung's face twisted.
No wonder—he'd done it daily under High Il-pyeong's external affairs manager.
Running, push-ups, horse stance endurance.
For a full hour.
I knew from experience it was brutal, but what could we do?
It was all for hyung's long, healthy life.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Myeongmyeong Merchant Group.
Word reached Seong Jun-min, the merchant group leader's fourth son.
"B-big trouble! Song Pyeong, whom we assigned, failed and was captured!"
"What? That idiot! If he thought he'd fail, he should have killed himself!"
He'd failed to kill his older brother Seong Cheong-min, and now his nephew Seong Yu-jin too.
He'd learned a few days ago that Seong Yu-jin had survived by a hair and was at the Eunhae Merchant Group's Sichuan branch.
And today, Seong Cheong-min had returned.
But his group included an unexpected figure.
Seong Jun-min's own guard warrior.
If he testified as ordered, it'd corner him.
But that was fine.
He could easily overturn the testimony.
The problem was his eldest brother.
What Small Unit Leader Seong Cheong-min would do was unpredictable.
Seong Jun-min knew well how terrifying his wrath could be.
That's why he'd resorted to such卑劣 methods—otherwise, he had no way to beat Seong Cheong-min.
To calm his frustrated mind, he picked up the teapot the maid had just brought.
A note beneath it.
"...!"
A note from them.
He quickly unfolded it.
[Eliminate him without fail]
He crumpled the note tightly and asked his confidant,
"You said Yu-jin is at the Eunhae Merchant Group's Sichuan branch now."
"Yes."
"Get rid of him."
In truth, he'd targeted Seong Yu-jin to shake his brother and create an opening, but eliminating the boy was a goal in itself.
Seong Yu-jin had seen what he shouldn't have.