Let's Establish the Academy (3)
I needed to find Old Man Mae's son first...
To do that, I'd need something he'd used, something with his scent.
As I pondered how to get it, one door caught my eye.
"Then, is that your son's room, by any chance?"
"...Yes, it is."
"May I take a quick look inside?"
"Do as you like."
I eased the door open.
The room was spotless, despite having been empty for nearly fifteen years.
But there were no traces of daily life.
It meant the old man cleaned it every day. He truly believed, deep in his heart, that his son would return.
I sent a sound transmission to Geumryeong.
- Geumryeong, go into that room and sniff around for clothes or something.
- Kkwi!
Then I closed the door.
Geumryeong was half-spirit, so passing through walls was no issue for him.
Though I couldn't fathom why he always fussed and insisted on coming through the window when I asked him to run an errand.
"It's remarkably clean. You must tidy it often."
"He should be able to rest comfortably whenever he comes back, right?"
"I see. Do you have any guess where your son might be?"
"If I did, I'd have gone looking ages ago."
True enough. In fifteen years, he'd have searched every possible place.
I returned to the Beijing branch.
Geumryeong had left at my request to track down Old Man Mae's son.
There was a high chance he was already dead, but I hoped he was alive.
The old man couldn't move until his son returned. Proving death would be a hassle.
And with such desperate longing, that wish had to come true.
As usual, I rose at dawn, circulated my qi for morning meditation, finished training, and was about to start work.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
I saw Geumryeong clambering fussily over the windowsill.
I hurried over and scooped him up.
"Back already?"
"Kkwi!"
"How'd it go? Did you find him?"
Geumryeong nodded proudly at my question.
"Kkwi!"
My face lit up too. It meant he was still alive.
I immediately called for Palgap.
"Palgap!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Get ready to move! We're going to find Old Man Mae's son."
Preparations were done in no time.
I'd given advance notice, so everyone was ready.
We needed to move fast this time, so I took only Palgap and the escort warriors.
"My lord, if I may ask..."
One of the Changun warriors trailed off.
"Ask away."
"Yes, sir. Frankly, anywhere else, we'd have just bulldozed Old Man Mae's house by now. From what I've seen, power means you do just that."
"'Don't borrow trouble,' you mean."
"Hahaha."
"Simply put, this is for the Eunhae Merchant Group."
I continued.
"Resentments build up layer by layer, and they become a poison that can topple even the sturdiest fortress. For the future of Eunhae, I don't want that poison taking root in the first place."
"Ah..."
"And who knows? This might even boost our reputation."
"So it's for the merchant group, then."
"Exactly. I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my heart."
Palgap and the escorts gave me odd looks.
"W-what? Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?"
Seo-u Warrior chuckled.
"Nothing, sir."
"Kkwi!"
Geumryeong, perched on my Red River Horse's head, pointed ahead.
We were following his lead.
This was south... but how far?
"Geumryeong. What area are we heading to?"
"Kkwi?"
"You know, something memorable you saw there..."
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
"Uh..."
I froze.
"Sugarcane? Old Man Mae's son was in a massive sugarcane field?"
Sugarcane farms were common, but a massive one?
No way... Guangxi Province?
That was deep south.
Cough! That's far.
Geumryeong's late return should've tipped me off.
Sigh. Why didn't I think of that?
No turning back now.
And my gut said I had to go myself, not send someone.
I told the escorts.
"Looks like we're going all the way to Guangxi."
I'd be away a while, but no worries—Jeong Ho was at the Beijing branch.
Guangxi was south of Guizhou... Should've brought Seo Hyang Sojeo?
The thought crossed my mind, but I shook it off.
We needed to go and return fast; it'd be too much for her.
Better for her to stay put in Beijing.
"Geumryeong."
"Kkwi?"
"We're going full speed from here. Get inside."
"Kkwi!"
Geumryeong tucked into my sleeve, and I addressed the group.
"Alright, let's ride."
"Yes, sir!"
We flew along.
On Red River Horses, we hit Hubei in days.
Thought about stopping home, but no time, so we pressed on.
A few more days, and Guangxi.
Without these horses, it'd have taken weeks, with way more hardship.
I felt grateful to Geumryeong for dragging one to me.
"Kkwi."
Grateful? Pay up?
Classic Geumryeong. Never disappoints.
A bit farther, and vast sugarcane fields appeared.
"Whoa!"
Palgap marveled.
"All that's sugarcane?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Palgap was speechless; I chuckled.
"Think this is the top sugarcane region for nothing?"
"But you act like you've been here before, young master. I thought Guangxi was new to you."
Sharp one.
In my past life, I'd come often.
Now, as Zhu Rong Palace's young lord, but back then as a ronin named Meng Cheon, he'd enabled Eunhae's sugarcane trade.
I recalled my first time here.
The scale had shocked me too.
Nothing changed from then to now.
A sudden thought hit, but I shelved it.
Finding Old Man Mae's son first.
"So, Geumryeong."
"Kkwi."
"Where's Old Man Mae's son?"
"Kkwi!"
Geumryeong's tail pointed ahead.
"Not far?"
He nodded. Good.
Tracking from Beijing to Guangxi by scent alone...
Geumryeong was incredible.
Then a warrior approached.
"This is Yeocheong Merchant Group's sugarcane field. Who might you be?"
"We're from Eunhae Merchant Group."
"What brings Eunhae here?"
"Is there a man named Mae Jeong around?"
Old Man Mae So-gun's son was Mae Jeong.
Not from the old man directly—I'd investigated separately.
The warrior thought, then cautiously replied.
"You mean Manager Mae? His name is Mae Jeong."
Manager?
......
......
......
Moments later.
In Yeocheong's guest hall, I faced the man presumed to be Old Man Mae's son.
I sound-transmitted to Geumryeong in my sleeve.
- Geumryeong, is this the guy?
- Kkwi!
Yes? Don't doubt?
- Kkwi! Kkwi!
Pay up properly?
Fine... got it.
If Geumryeong was this firm, it was certain.
Then Manager Mae Jeong asked me.
"You're Eun Seo-ho, young branch leader of Eunhae?"
"Ah, yes. That's me."
"Why would a place like Eunhae seek me out, if I may ask?"
I set down my teacup.
"Your father is waiting."
"...Pardon?"
Perplexed, he asked carefully.
"Do you... know my father?"
"Pardon?"
Hey, I'm the confused one now.
"What do you know about my father?"
"Name's Mae So-gun. Mid-sixties this year. Lives farming on Beijing's outskirts."
"That's all?"
"I haven't known him long, so details are scarce. But fifteen years ago, his son left to make it big, and contact cut off after a year."
Still suspicious eyes.
I sighed.
"Just to be sure... have you lost your memory?"
"...!"
Manager Mae Jeong flinched.
Bingo.
Geumryeong confirmed it, but this man was asking me if I knew his father.
When he pressed for details, I sensed vague longing.
"...You already knew?"
"No clue coming in. Just had business finding Old Man Mae's son."
"How'd you know I'm him? Doesn't that sound off?"
"Fair point. To clear it up, then."
"Clear what?"
"I have an artifact that finds people."
Couldn't reveal Geumryeong, so artifact it was.
"An artifact?"
"Yes. That's how I knew you were Old Man Mae's son. Keep it secret, please."
"Sigh... fine. But why go to such lengths?"
Still wary.
I was blunt.
"We're building a martial hall with the imperial family. Old Man Mae's house is on the site. Generous offers, but he won't budge. Reason? If he moves, no home for his son."
I went on.
"That's why I found you, Manager Mae. Bring you back, and he'll move happily."
"..."
Unprepared for honesty, he cleared his throat.
"From your reaction, looks like you've dealt with plenty of con artists."
"Sigh... yeah."
No good cons, but scamming amnesiacs deserved heaven's wrath.
Not knowing yourself is like walking a dark road without a lantern.
How desperate for that light?
They stomped it out.
"Must've been rough."
"Yeah... somewhat."
He pondered, then spoke.
"One request, then?"
"What?"
"If you're really Eunhae's young branch leader, and that's why you're here... stay a few days. I'll investigate you."
"Sure."
......
......
......
We unpacked in quarters inside the merchant group.
Thought inns nearby, but he insisted on staying in-house.
Prepped rooms for us on the spot!
Manager or not, he had pull.
Regular managers couldn't house guests inside.
We headed to the stables for our gear.
"You've worked hard."
I nodded to the stable hands and went in.
Unloading, an older warrior nearby asked hesitantly.
"Um... excuse me. Those horses... Red River Horses?"
"You know them."
"I knew it! Real Red River Horses!"
"How'd you spot it?"
"I love horses. In my youth, I rode every breed. Read up on Red River Horses too."
"I see."
"To see one in person! Dream come true."
Curious about his dream.
"Mind sharing what it is?"
"No secret. Just for our leader to recover fully."
......
......
......
Back in my quarters, I shed my outer robe and lay on the bed.
Found Old Man Mae's son, but amnesia...
That why he never returned?
Good he's alive, but such a tragic tale.
Geumryeong emerged from my sleeve, nipping my hair.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
"Okay, okay. Here."
I pulled silver from my pouch; Geumryeong hugged it, rolling on the bed.
Watching, I drifted into thought.
Yeocheong's leader bedridden with illness...
Earlier, in the fields, a memory surfaced.
He was a good man, but passed without recovery.
A cure right under his nose, unknown.