Chapter 491. The Liquor Tasting Gathering (1)
I headed straight to my private pavilion.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop was staying in the building right next to it.
It seemed they'd given him that place since he was my guest.
I'd only just returned home, but I couldn't keep him waiting.
I summoned Yi Pil the warrior to escort Jin Yeong Daehyeop to the reception hall, then quickly freshened up with Palgap's help before heading there myself.
"Greetings, Jin Yeong Daehyeop."
"It's been a while. Sit."
"Yes, sir."
I sat down in front of him.
"You're wondering why I'm here."
No. Not curious at all.
I hid my true feelings and just smiled. At that, Jin Yeong Daehyeop spoke.
"We're planning another poetry contest this time."
"I see."
"We'll push the date back a bit to spring. Naturally, Sebin Merchant Group and Eunhae Merchant Group will take the lead again."
The imperial family must have profited handsomely from the last one.
Of course, the Emperor had gotten the talent he wanted, too.
But that didn't resolve all my questions.
For something like this, they could just send a decree via messenger.
It wasn't important enough for Jin Yeong Daehyeop to come all the way here.
So why had he come?
I listened tensely for his next words.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop pulled something from his sleeve and held it out to me. It was a slender, very small box.
"It's yours. Open it."
I accepted it respectfully and opened it.
I couldn't help but be startled.
"This... it's a hidden weapon?"
"Correct. It's called Gwijuhwa."
Flower Returning to Its Master...
True to its name, the hidden weapon was shaped like a flower. It reminded me of the Tang Clan of Sichuan's weapons.
They had butterfly-shaped ones.
"No matter how you throw this, it'll return to its owner within the count of five."
"How does it recognize its owner, then?"
"Smear it with your blood and keep it on your body for five days."
"I see. But why give it to me?"
Jin Yeong Daehyeop answered.
"His Majesty hasn't forgotten how you put the traders to sleep to prevent information leaks on their return, or how you nearly thwarted the grain theft en route to Beijing."
Ah... so this was the reward for that.
Truth be told, I'd felt a bit slighted that they hadn't rewarded me for it.
But receiving something as valuable as this Gwijuhwa melted away any lingering resentment like snow in the sun.
"It's quite precious, so I brought it myself."
"I see. Thank you for going to such lengths for me."
"No trouble at all. I was passing by anyway."
"Pardon? Where to?"
Jin Yeong Daehyeop spoke as if I'd forgotten.
"Hasn't the time come to break the ice in the upper reaches of the Yangzi?"
"Ah! Right."
But that wouldn't take much longer anyway.
If we could just hold out until next year, winter temperatures would return to normal.
And then the years of bountiful harvests would follow.
From that point on, trade caravans would need to carry things other than grain.
Only then did I truly relax.
Come to think of it, when I'd been agonizing over fleeing, Geum-ryeong had stopped me.
Did it know I'd receive this weapon?
It had a nose for money in the future, so it was entirely possible.
Whew, glad I didn't run.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop rolled his shoulders and said,
"I've delivered my message. Shall we spar?"
"Pardon?"
"A round with palace martial arts."
"......"
Glad I didn't run? Take it back?
.
.
.
A short while later.
We faced each other in the courtyard of my pavilion, swords in hand.
We'd already been at it for half a shichen.
Honestly, it wasn't taxing for me. But Jin Yeong Daehyeop was panting, watching for any opening.
His current realm was first-rate.
Thanks to the advanced palace martial arts, he could perform near peak-level, but not quite true peak.
"You're stronger than I thought."
"You're too kind."
I demurred.
I hadn't hidden my realm from him. The Emperor already knew it anyway.
At the victory banquet for top performers in the poetry contest, the Jegal Supreme Patriarch had mentioned it.
That among the Emperor's guards were those in the Transcendent Realm.
So he likely knew my level already. Though the uniqueness of my Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art might obscure it, the Emperor was the Emperor.
Being grilled later for hiding it would be a hassle.
Besides, gifting me the Thousand Silent Threads meant he knew something about my inner energy.
"Haat!"
Jin Yeong Daehyeop charged, and I parried with my sword.
Clang!
When I'd first learned palace arts, my inexperience led to losses sometimes. Not anymore.
I lightly twisted my blade, shoving his aside.
Taat!
I couldn't use lethal moves against him, but at this rate, it wouldn't end.
His tenacity was relentless, almost frightening.
I seized an opening and charged.
"Hup!"
Startled by my attack, he gasped and thrust his sword at me.
Shuk!
His blade grazed my arm.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine."
Plip, plip.
Blood dripped to the ground, and his face filled with even more regret.
Really, it was fine. I'd done it on purpose.
"Sparring assumes injury, doesn't it? No need to worry."
I casually pressed an acupoint to staunch the bleeding.
"Still, I'm sorry."
He clasped his hands in a po-gwan and bowed.
"I knew you'd just arrived and were tired, yet I pushed for this. My apologies."
Ah, so he knew I was tired.
And still did this!
Irritation flared, but I quelled it. I could guess why.
"Is it that your realm isn't advancing, making you anxious?"
"......!"
Bingo.
I smiled and said,
"In my humble opinion, you needn't rush."
"No."
He shook his head.
"When I nearly died in Nanzhou last time, and when I can't better serve His Majesty—it's all because I'm lacking."
First-rate wasn't lacking at all.
It was just relatively weaker than peak or super first-rate. True first-rates were rare even in the murim.
Why else call the top "first-rate"?
But words like that wouldn't comfort him.
So I decided to give simple advice.
I knew what the issue was.
"You think a lot when wielding your sword."
In other words, you fought cleverly.
Like me.
"True. That's my style."
"You're heading to break ice, right? Perfect timing."
"Hm? For what?"
"When you go, swing your sword at the ice without thinking."
"Without thinking?"
"You won't overthink against ice, will you?"
"Of course not."
"Exactly. So just swing wildly for once, no thoughts."
He looked puzzled, then nodded.
"Got it. I'll try. Thanks for the advice."
"No trouble."
"I'd like to continue, but your injury..."
"Truly sorry."
With that, Jin Yeong Daehyeop returned to his quarters, and I to mine.
And then...
"Aaaagh! It stings... Palgap. It hurts."
"Sigh... Was this really the only way, young master?"
I grinned sheepishly at Palgap's question.
He'd already figured out why I'd injured myself on purpose. Yeo Eung-am the warrior sighed beside him.
"Do you know how startled we were?"
"Sorry."
"Give us a heads-up next time."
"I'll remember."
Palgap opened a vial, poured its clear liquid onto a cloth, and applied it to my arm.
The wound healed in seconds.
Wait... could this be...
"What salve is that?"
"The leftover Jeongan Water you used before, young master."
It was still around?
Hold on—that was over a year old?
"Why? Something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing."
Geum-ryeong's saliva had no expiration, apparently. Too effective; it was sad.
- Kurgh?
.
.
.
The next morning.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop set off early.
The night before, I'd briefed Father on the meeting with Myeongmyeong Merchant Group, sending him into a flurry.
Jeong Ho-hyung, who'd passed out from relief, quickly came to and was surrounded by his wife and two kids.
He wouldn't shake them for a while, but he had plenty to do...
"Father, take care of yourself."
"I will."
"Father, if you make this girl sad again, she'll hate you!"
"Gasp! Can't have that."
I sipped tea with my sister-in-law at the Georyang Pavilion, watching Jeong Ho-hyung get scolded by the kids.
A new hairpin gleamed in her hair.
The one hyung had shown me before—the one that saved his life.
"The hairpin suits you."
"Oh? Does it?"
"Yes. Jeong Ho-hyung put real thought into picking it."
"He said it saved his life."
"Ah, I heard."
I nodded emphatically.
"Truly a grateful hairpin."
"That's why it's even more special."
Then it happened.
As I lifted my teacup, I flinched at an approaching presence near the pavilion.
Huh? This aura?
"Huff huff! Hyung! What happened? You okay?"
It was Jin Ho-hyung, rushing in breathless.
"Oh? You're back?"
"Hyung, you're here?"
I'd heard he was due back from the trade route today. He'd probably heard the story from second sister-in-law.
He'd changed clothes already.
"You really okay?"
Jeong Ho-hyung nodded at Jin Ho-hyung's question.
"Yeah, fine."
"Then why're you in bed?"
"The clan lord told me to rest. I'm fine otherwise—just tired—so don't look at me like that."
"Still... you have no idea how scared I was."
Tears welled in Jin Ho-hyung's eyes, and Jeong Ho-hyung awkwardly looked away.
"Kid... so weepy."
True, Jin Ho-hyung had a tough exterior—manly flair and spirit—but a soft heart.
Then drums sounded.
"I should head out."
I smiled and continued,
"Time for Dai Viet language lessons."
Jeong Ho-hyung asked curiously,
"Dai Viet language?"
"Ah, well..."
I explained. Listening, he said,
"I want to learn too."
"You too, hyung?"
"Yeah. You know we climbed to twentieth place?"
"Of course."
"To go higher, we need trade with other nations, like you said. Can't have the branch leader ignorant of Dai Viet's language when it's a key partner."
"Fair point."
I turned to Jin Ho-hyung.
"You wanna join, Jin Ho-hyung?"
He burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Oh yeah, I forgot something! I'll go first. Hahaha!"
Knew it.
A short while later.
Jeong Ho-hyung and my group entered one of the merchant group's meeting rooms.
It was one of the general-use ones.
Soon, Captain Yong Eung-wan's mother arrived.
"Hello."
"Please take good care of us."
She was with Yong Eung-wan, probably to help since her imperial tongue was still weak.
"My name is Ho Su-eon."
Captain Yong explained.
"Mother's clan is Ho, given name Su-eon."
"And you, Captain?"
"Yong Eung-wan is actually my clan name, but here it's become my given name."
"Your real name?"
"Yong Eung-wan Gong Heung. Too long, so just call me Yong Eung-wan."
"Understood."
I gave her a po-gwan.
"Looking forward to it, Instructor Ho Su-eon."
Days passed, and more people wanted to learn Dai Viet from her.
Some employees, hearing we were learning, requested lessons.
I told them,
"Free learning breeds sloth. Two conditions: pay tuition, and dropping out affects your evaluations."
Of a hundred applicants, only about thirty remained.
The evaluation clause was key.
Time flowed, winter passed.
Spring was coming.
Master's trade trip was taking long. I had things to ask.
With the thaw, it was time for me to head to Beijing and execute my plans.
But the Dai Viet lessons weren't done.
Taking Instructor Ho would leave the locals without classes...
After days of thought, one solution.
Bring Captain Yong's brother to Beijing.
Couldn't take his sister, after all.
Decision made, I headed to the training grounds.
"Oh, official sparring?"
"Looks like it."
I stepped between the sparring pair.