White Dew Wine (1)
I excused myself from the High Merchant Leader and hurried to the Beijing branch.
“Seo-ho!”
Jeong Ho hyung lit up when he saw me.
“What's going on? One of our liquor breweries has a problem?”
“Well, you see... sigh.”
Jeong Ho hyung sighed and continued.
“One of the breweries' master brewers has gone missing.”
“Gone missing? What do you mean? Wait, that's not the point—who is it?”
“It's Master Yeong Gu-jin.”
Master Yeong Gu-jin... that was Seo-hyang's eldest brother Dong Hyeok-su's childhood friend.
I'd met him just recently during an inspection with Dong Hyeok-su Daehyeop.
“Did you ask his close friend, Dong Daehyeop?”
“Of course I went there first. But he didn't know either. He's out searching for Master Yeong with his warriors right now.”
It could be that he'd given up on entering the evaluation, but the man I knew wasn't the type to vanish without a word.
If he was going to withdraw, he'd declare it boldly and without regret.
Just like the crisp, lingering finish of the White Dew Wine he brewed.
“Dong Daehyeop said Master Yeong Gu-jin was quite the skilled martial artist. Apparently, he'd served as a military officer for quite some time.”
“Really?”
“For someone like that to disappear so suddenly... something must have happened.”
That was my thought exactly.
The problem was that his entry deadline was tomorrow.
After all the hard work he'd put in for this evaluation, it'd be heartbreaking if it all went to waste.
Just then, Dong Hyeok-su Daehyeop entered the Beijing branch.
“Any luck finding him?”
He shook his head at my question.
“Not yet. That damn fool! Where the hell did he go... sigh.”
“At least we noticed he was missing right away, so we'll find him soon.”
As Jeong Ho hyung comforted Dong Daehyeop, I turned to Palgap.
“Palgap. Where was Master Yeong's quarters?”
Jeong Ho hyung caught on to my intent and started to speak.
“Ah! The gol—”
Thwack!
—Quiet!
I hurriedly sent a sound transmission to Jeong Ho hyung and gave his leg a light kick.
It was light... but it must've hurt.
“Eek!”
My hyung, a peak expert martial artist in his own right, let out a scream and collapsed.
“What's wrong, hyung?”
“Why are you suddenly...?”
“Ah... must be a cramp in my leg.”
“Oh dear...”
I massaged Jeong Ho hyung's leg, and he grumbled back via sound transmission.
—Ow, that hurts.
—Sorry. But hyung, I told you before—Geum-ryeong's existence should be kept secret as much as possible.
—Sure, Geum-ryeong's amazing, but do we have to go that far? To others, it's just a cute little piglet.
—Geum-ryeong's shy.
After reminding him once more, I stood and offered my hand.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah...”
Jeong Ho hyung took my hand and got up.
“That's why I keep telling you to ease up on training... If it hurts again, see a physician.”
“...Got it.”
I headed to Master Yeong's quarters.
Oh, I forgot to tell him not to mention the leg kick to sis-in-law.
Eh, she'll understand.
I soon arrived at Master Yeong's quarters. The boy who brewed with him was there, looking worried.
He wanted to search too, but he had to guard the liquor and ingredients, so he couldn't leave.
The boy was the grandson of the old man who'd taught Master Yeong brewing. After the old man passed, he'd been living and brewing with Master Yeong.
His name was Maeng Hyeon, I think?
“Ah! Young branch leader. Did you find Uncle Gu-jin?”
“Not yet.”
“I see.”
His face fell, so I comforted him.
“He'll be back soon, so don't worry too much.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Mind if I take a look around Master Yeong's quarters?”
“Uncle's room?”
My main goal was to get something of his for Geum-ryeong to track his scent.
But I couldn't say that outright.
“Yeah. To find someone, you start with clues.”
“Ah, right!”
I asked the Myeongjong warrior and Changun warrior to watch the liquor and ingredients for a bit, then entered the quarters with Maeng Hyeon.
The room was much like the others.
Two beds, a versatile low table, and a small stove.
As I looked around, I asked Maeng Hyeon,
“Anything that comes to mind? Even something small.”
“Something that comes to mind?”
“Yeah. Anything at all.”
He thought for a moment before answering.
“Come to think of it, Uncle Gu-jin got a letter.”
“A letter?”
Receiving letters wasn't unusual. But in this situation, it might be.
This was Beijing, not Hubei Province.
Who in Beijing would send him a letter? Who could it be?
Maeng Hyeon said,
“Yes. But Uncle's face looked strange after reading it.”
“Really? Do you know where that letter is?”
Maeng Hyeon shook his head.
“No. Uncle burned it.”
“That's definitely something.”
Burning a letter meant leaving no trace.
The room was impeccably clean.
You'd never guess two men lived there.
Palgap was impressed.
“Wow! It's really spotless.”
Maeng Hyeon sighed at that.
“He's got real OCD levels of neatness. Grandpa took him as a disciple because he was so good at cleaning and organizing.”
Then Dong Daehyeop's voice came from behind.
“Old habits die hard.”
“Pardon?”
“In the military, training instills habits of tidiness. But Gu-jin was always like that from the start. Later, I heard he'd lived that way since childhood.”
“What kind of family...?”
“Ah... you wouldn't know.”
He continued.
“Gu-jin is the third son of the Seonju Yeong family. His father, Lord Chun Bu-jang, is the Provincial Military Commander of Guiju Province. He oversees training.”
A Provincial Military Commander was a high-ranking third-grade officer.
“He said even as a kid, he cleaned his own room. If it wasn't tidy, his father would give him hell.”
“I see.”
“And right now, his brothers are in Beijing.”
Something smells off...
I have a feeling Master Yeong Gu-jin is at that mansion.
Still, just in case, I'd use Geum-ryeong's help.
I slipped one of Master Yeong Gu-jin's items—a sleeve—into my pocket and sent a sound transmission to Geum-ryeong.
—Remember this scent.
—Oink!
Telling Geum-ryeong to memorize a scent meant money for him, so he responded eagerly.
“I've seen enough.”
As I stepped out, I sent another sound transmission to Geum-ryeong.
—Find the owner of that scent I just mentioned.
—Oink!
Geum-ryeong shot out from my sleeve.
In a mansion in Beijing.
Yeong Gu-jin sat tied to a chair in one of the rooms, sighing.
“Sigh, this is driving me crazy.”
The door opened, revealing a familiar face.
“Not a trace of giving up on your face.”
His second brother, Yeong Gu-sang, approached and said it bluntly.
He furrowed his brow and demanded answers.
“What the hell is this? You said in the letter just to show my face for a bit, so I came... and you drugged my tea?!”
“How else was I supposed to keep you here without drugs? Promise you won't run, and I'll untie you.”
“Hyung, I'm your brother. Don't you know me? How can I promise when you won't even tell me why?”
“I'm your brother. That's why I knew you'd say that and tied you up.”
Yeong Gu-jin let out a deep sigh.
“So, what is it? When I said I was brewing liquor, you acted like I was cutting ties...”
“Yeah. It was a shock when you declared that. After years of solid military service, you suddenly resigned.”
“Does Father or eldest brother know you're doing this?”
He pulled up a chair and sat in front of him.
“Of course not. They're career soldiers to the bone. They'd never tolerate this.”
“Then why are you—?”
Yeong Gu-sang cut in abruptly.
“Get married.”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that out of nowhere?”
“Planning to grow old alone?”
“Stop beating around the bush! Tell me the point—why push marriage on me?!”
As Yeong Gu-jin raised his voice, Yeong Gu-sang replied calmly.
“The Ministry of War Vice Minister has a daughter. But there's a problem.”
“...What problem?”
“She's got manic episodes.”
“...Pardon?”
“She's of marriageable age, but no suitable match, so he's worried sick. If you marry her, we ease his concerns, I build connections... win-win, right?”
Yeong Gu-jin looked utterly dumbfounded.
It meant they'd imprisoned him to sell him off as the Vice Minister's son-in-law.
“Hyung!”
“Don't get so mad. Honestly, becoming the Vice Minister's son-in-law is good for you too.”
Yeong Gu-sang coaxed him gently.
“Just get married, and they won't care if you brew liquor or tea. So close your eyes and help me out.”
“...”
Yeong Gu-jin ground his teeth.
“So you deliberately did this now, right before tomorrow's deadline?”
“Exactly.”
To rush him into poor judgment.
'He's always been sharp-headed.'
Yeong Gu-sang didn't even want to call him brother after all the times he'd been outmaneuvered.
“And one more thing.”
Yeong Gu-sang's expression turned cold.
“Decide by tomorrow morning at In-si, or I'll destroy the two things you cherish.”
“...!”
“Your brewery and that kid, Maeng Hyeon.”
Yeong Gu-jin clenched his teeth.
“How low will you sink?”
“I didn't start out like this. But working in the court as an official... to survive, I had to get my hands dirty.”
“...”
“Think it over.”
Yeong Gu-sang stood and left. Yeong Gu-jin kicked over the chair his brother had sat in.
“You son of a—!”
Crash!
A small pig peeked through the room's tiny window, watching the scene.
I was heading to the evaluation hall. I couldn't be away too long.
Something wriggled in my sleeve.
Huh? Geum-ryeong's back already?
I reached in and felt him there.
That meant Master Yeong Gu-jin was nearby.
“Lead the way.”
“Oink!”
Following Geum-ryeong's guidance, we arrived at a mansion.
Seonju Yeong Family
My hunch was right.
I said to Jin Yu warrior,
“Follow me discreetly.”
“Understood.”
I used Shadowless Steps to slip into the mansion undetected, and with Geum-ryeong's help, reached where Master Yeong Gu-jin was.
Peering through a small window, I saw him tied to a chair back, imprisoned.
Damn...
The Seonju Yeong family was counted among the prestigious martial clans.
And they pull something like this?
I scanned the surroundings.
It was in a secluded spot, no servants or maids in sight.
Only the auras of presumed warriors nearby.
I sense it...
This is happening without the Provincial Military Commander or most of the family knowing.
So barging in and demanding Master Yeong would be problematic.
No proof he was even here...
Bring the Crown Prince?
No, that'd blow it up too big.
After a moment's thought, one person came to mind.
Someone hot-tempered enough to storm in without causing a huge incident.
And no one cherished Master Yeong Gu-jin more than his close friend.
I immediately left the mansion and headed back to the Beijing branch.
“Huh? Weren't you going to the evaluation hall? Why're you back?”
Jeong Ho hyung asked, and I said urgently,
“I just found out where Master Yeong Gu-jin is.”
Dong Hyeok-su Daehyeop rushed over at my words.
“Where is he? That guy?”
“I remembered you mentioning the Seonju Yeong family mansion in Beijing, so I focused there. He went in this morning.”
“Let's go, now!”
As expected, he bolted off, and we followed.
We soon reached the Seonju Yeong family mansion.
“Who might you be?”
“I'm Dong Hyeok-su, close friend of Yeong Gu-jin gongja. Here to see my friend.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Yes. We planned to meet today.”
He declared it confidently. The gatekeeper's reaction confirmed Master Yeong Gu-jin was inside.
Otherwise, they'd have said, “The young master isn't here.”
“Please enter. I'll notify inside.”
They didn't know he was detained either.
That's why they'd notify inside.
We entered and, ignoring the guide, headed straight to where Master Yeong Gu-jin was held.
Two warriors I'd sensed earlier guarded the door.
“Halt!”
“I'm here to see Yeong Gu-jin gongja.”
“Why look for him here?”
“He told me to come here. So step aside.”
“Impossible. Second Young Master ordered no visitors.”
Dong Hyeok-su Daehyeop rolled up his sleeves.
“I've never liked that brother of his.”
Suddenly, he pointed aside with a shocked expression and yelled.
“Gasp! What the hell is that?!”
As the warriors' eyes turned, Dong Daehyeop drew something from his belt and hurled it at the door.
Boom!
Wa-wait, did he just throw an AXE?!