Catching the Rat (1)
“Whoa, whoa!”
A group of people had just arrived in Chengdu, the heart of Sichuan.
They were from the headquarters of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
“You arrived sooner than expected.”
The temporary leader guiding them was Im Gi-cheol, the third squad leader and division deputy of the Shangyu Pavilion.
He spotted a handsome young man sitting beneath a tree ahead. It was Eun Seo-ho.
“Young master!”
“Was the journey smooth?”
Eun Seo-ho rose as he asked, and Im Gi-cheol cupped his fists in salute.
“How could it be anything but easy on such a fine road?”
It had simply taken a long time.
They'd had to take a considerable detour hauling the wagons.
“How did things go in Sichuan? From what I saw on the way, Hubei and Shaanxi seem to have proceeded according to plan.”
“Yes. Things here have gone according to plan as well. It was worth coming early. Shall we head to the branch now?”
“Sure.”
.
.
.
They soon arrived at the Eunhae Merchant Group Sichuan branch.
“Welcome!”
“Greetings, Branch Manager!”
They cupped their fists toward the branch manager who had come out to greet them.
The branch manager's name was Eun Myeong-sang.
He was the younger brother of the current merchant group leader.
The former leader, Eun Ji-bong, had three sons and one daughter. Eun Myeong-sang was his second son.
“I heard Seo-ho was coming with you?”
“I'm right here.”
The handsome young man standing right in front of him answered.
“Oh!”
He hadn't recognized him at first, but upon closer inspection, he could see traces of the boy from his childhood.
He cupped his fists politely.
“Your nephew Eun Seo-ho pays respects to Uncle.”
“I really didn't recognize you! To think you've grown into such a fine young man!”
Eun Myeong-sang looked over his nephew with eyes full of pride. His appearance had changed so dramatically that even standing right in front of him, he hadn't been recognized.
He had been a sickly child, plagued by frequent minor ailments.
So when he heard the boy was coming to Sichuan, he'd been quite worried.
Yet the young man before him looked remarkably healthy. And tall to boot.
'Handsome face too—he must break plenty of hearts. Looks more like me than Father, I think?'
He welcomed Eun Seo-ho with a pleased smile.
“It's been a long time. Have you been well?”
“Yes. And you, Uncle? In good health?”
“I've been fine.”
“Then let me introduce my group.”
They exchanged greetings, and Eun Myeong-sang said to them,
“Come inside.”
“Yes.”
They entered the Eunhae Merchant Group Sichuan branch.
The vast compound held numerous buildings, divided into inner and outer quarters.
Eun Seo-ho was escorted to the inner quarters.
As expected, since unlike the other employees, he bore the Eun family name.
Eun Myeong-sang and Eun Seo-ho spent some time alone together.
“Your aunt and cousins are all out right now. You'll meet them at dinner tonight.”
“Yes.”
Eun Myeong-sang personally brewed and poured tea.
“Have some. Sichuan is famous for silk and rock salt, of course, but the tea has its own charm.”
“Thank you. I'll enjoy it.”
Eun Seo-ho sipped carefully.
“By the way.”
Watching him, Eun Myeong-sang continued.
“A few days ago, someone from the Sichuan Tang Clan came looking.”
“Pardon? Ack! Cough! Cough!”
* * *
Ah! Hot!
Scalded my tongue.
It was just that sudden.
I'd deliberately kept my identity from the Sichuan Tang Clan. So how did they know I was with the Eunhae Merchant Group—and my name, no less?
Ah... Did Dang Jo-woong remember what I said once to reassure him?
Uncle handed me a handkerchief.
“You okay?”
“Y-yes, I'm fine.”
“Your reaction tells me there's a reason the Tang Clan is looking for you. They seemed to be searching quite discreetly.”
That was a relief.
If the Tang Clan hadn't moved so quietly, my plan wouldn't have gone off smoothly.
“What on earth happened?”
Uncle's expression grew serious.
“Making an enemy of the Sichuan Tang Clan is absolutely forbidden.”
“Do you think I'd forget that?”
If we became their foes?
From that day on, no more peaceful sleep, no more fine meals, no more stepping outside.
You never knew when a hidden weapon might fly or where poison might lurk.
In the end, whether it took ten years or a hundred, they would see revenge through. That was the Sichuan Tang Clan.
They were tenacious, relentlessly persistent in their vendettas.
“If you've slighted them somehow, go apologize right now. If you're scared, I'll go with you.”
Uncle's gaze was warm as he looked at me.
This was just like Father—they'd both inherited Grandfather's kindness.
I shook my head.
“No, it's fine. The Tang Clan looking for me isn't because I've caused them trouble.”
“That's a relief!”
“Well... I might've caused a slight inconvenience, but they'll overlook it. Haha.”
By not telling them my name or affiliation, I'd made them worry a bit.
“The truth is...”
I explained the full story of what happened with the Sichuan Tang Clan to Uncle.
Of course, I didn't mention that the true mastermind behind the kidnapping was the Murim Alliance.
There was no proof, and it was far too big a matter.
The Murim Alliance might seem all flash now, but it was still the center of the righteous sects.
I couldn't speak carelessly.
“So that's what happened?”
Uncle's eyes widened at my words.
“You saved the clan head's son, so they owe you a debt! That's why they were searching so urgently.”
He continued,
“The righteous sects and clans have an unspoken rule: repay favors properly.”
Uncle refilled my cup and asked,
“From what you said, it sounds like you arrived here a fortnight ago?”
“Ah, well...”
“Come to think of it, there've been strange rumors circulating for the past two weeks. The talk of souls in the wooden puppets has died down, and instead, the Dan Merchant Group's reputation has tanked.”
Uncle looked at me and said,
“Your doing?”
“Yes.”
I admitted it readily.
“I came ahead on Father's orders to handle these matters.”
“To think Father came up with such a scheme! Impressive, as expected of the merchant group leader.”
It was my idea, but I stayed quiet, embarrassed to claim it to Uncle.
“Anyway, the reason you came here personally.”
If it was just about those 'rumors,' he could've sent someone reliable, like elsewhere.
But in Sichuan, I came myself. To root out the rat.
“You really think there's a rat in this branch?”
“Don't you suspect it too, Uncle?”
“But... we've treated them like family...”
Uncle looked incredulous.
I could somewhat understand his feelings.
This branch had been built in Chengdu, relying on each other like family. For one of them to betray the rest...
In my previous life, I'd experienced such betrayal too.
No matter how well you treated them or trusted them, traitors always emerged.
It hurt at first, but I got over it.
Investigations showed it wasn't the merchant group's fault.
Personal greed or external pressure—that was it.
So I never cut benefits from the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Skimp on treatment, and then it becomes the group's problem.
“Uncle, you did nothing wrong.”
“Hm?”
“You seem to be blaming yourself. Thinking if you'd treated them a bit better, they wouldn't have betrayed you.”
“Ah... Busted?”
“You're a good man, Uncle. The very fact you think that proves it.”
I chuckled.
“And, if I may brag, our welfare is top-notch. No need for pointless self-recrimination.”
“Too much. Calling it pointless for your uncle...”
“If I misspoke, my apologies.”
I bowed my head, and Uncle waved it off with a laugh.
“Just teasing.”
His face brightened again.
“Enough self-reflection. Any results from coming early?”
“Yes.”
I smiled and replied,
“I found the rat, its haunts, and what it's feeding on.”
I hadn't just come early to spread songs.
I'd been busy.
Scoping the Dan Merchant Group while watching our Sichuan branch.
And finally, I caught a Dan man meeting one of ours.
Uncle's eyes gleamed.
“Who is it? Let's crush the rat now!”
“Uncle.”
I smiled slyly and continued,
“Imagine a mouse that borrows a cat's tail, only to get bird shit instead of food—and in rage, bites the cat. Wouldn't that be fun?”
“Fun, sure, but didn't the cat lend its tail expecting food in return? Bird shit?”
“Here's the real fun part.”
“...?”
“A hawk watching swoops in, steals the food, and shits in its place.”
Uncle asked,
“And that hawk is...?”
“Me.”
I went on,
“I can't forgive spies paid off with money, nor can I let the Dan Merchant Group—who planted them—off the hook.”
The Dan group had already taken a reputation hit from the puppet rumors.
But that was that, and this was this.
Now they pay for the spies.
.
.
.
That evening, I met Uncle's family.
Aunt welcomed me warmly.
“So glad to see you. Our Seo-ho's grown so handsome!”
“Hahaha.”
Aunt was a typical Sichuan woman—bold, generous, and cheerful.
Uncle had started working here early and married her then.
They had two sons and two daughters.
The sons helped with Uncle's work. Eun Dae-seok and Eun Chung-seok.
Dae-seok was nineteen, Chung-seok seventeen.
“It's been a while, brothers.”
“Yeah, it has.”
“You been well?”
“Yes.”
The youngest daughter was younger than me—a late blessing at six.
The whole family doted on her.
Her name was Eun Ryeo-ok.
Ryeo-ok was clinging to my robe, refusing to let go.
I wanted to head to my room, wash up, and rest, but she wouldn't let me.
“Ryeo-ok, time for bed now. Brother needs to sleep.”
“Then sleep with me.”
She looked up at me. Her sparkling eyes seemed to say, 'Even then, you won't play with me?'
My heart twinged.
She's... so cute...
Then Dae-seok asked her,
“Ryeo-ok, you like Seo-ho brother that much?”
“Yes.”
“Why so much?”
“He's handsome.”
“...”
Saying it so bluntly makes me embarrassed.
That was when.
“Ryeo-ok, don't bother Seo-ho brother too much.”
I turned around.
A heroine strode forward confidently—hair tied tightly, clad in martial robes with a sword at her waist.
Her name was Eun Hyang-ok.
Uncle's eldest daughter.
Sixteen, a year older than me.
She said to Ryeo-ok,
“If you bother him, Seo-ho brother might not like you. Wouldn't that make you sad?”
“Uh...”
“You like people who like you back, right? So let's stop here and go to bed. You can play tomorrow.”
After a moment's thought, Ryeo-ok finally released my robe.
“Okay. Promise to play tomorrow.”
“Sure.”
Only then did she go off with her nursemaid, reassured.
Hyang-ok sister cupped her fists to Uncle.
“I came as soon as I got the message, but I'm a bit late.”
“No matter.”
“So, do we kill the rat now?”
I flinched involuntarily at the fierce aura from Hyang-ok sister as she spoke.
I find Hyang-ok sister scary.