The Old Man Under the Moon (2)
To my question, Jin So-mi answered softly.
"Yes. But……."
"You're worried about the aftermath, right?"
She nodded faintly.
It was only natural.
The Jin Martial Hall was a small local dojo, while the Wi Martial Hall was several times larger.
"Don't worry about that. I'll make sure to handle it properly. The Jegal Supreme Patriarch is here too. I'm on pretty good terms with him."
In truth, I didn't even need to borrow the Patriarch's name to deal with that worthless punk.
But I had to build her trust.
I continued.
"Just answer one thing. What do you think of my brother?"
At my question, Jin So-mi's face flushed red.
"I… harbor feelings for him."
As Jin So-mi said, even in my previous life, she had feelings for Brother Jeong Ho.
That's why she remained unmarried for five years as a wandering ronin, only accepting his proposal later.
If only they'd acknowledged their feelings for each other sooner and married, they could've avoided all that hardship.
"That's great."
At my words, Jin So-mi asked,
"But is it true? Does Jeong Ho So-danju really…."
"Truth be told, my brother has a very earnest personality. For such a brother to be pushed into the pond by that Wi Seung-jeo fellow."
"Ah……."
"And to watch him get beaten by Wi Seung-jeo! It must be hard to stand by."
I said this while slightly lowering my head.
Jin So-mi let out a sigh. Then she pulled something from inside her outer robe.
A sword.
She carries a sword around?
I'd planned to just lend her some random sword from the merchant group.
As expected from a martial artist's daughter.
"I can't tolerate watching Jeong Ho So-danju get beaten by a guy like that either."
With that, Jin So-mi approached Wi Seung-jeo.
Startled by the sight, Brother Jeong Ho shouted,
"Jin So-jeo!"
"Please yield this spar to me. The insult was directed at me. I want to wash it away myself."
"Ah……."
At her resolute words, Brother Jeong Ho nodded.
"Understood… but are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Yes."
At her response, Wi Seung-jeo looked at Jin So-mi with an incredulous expression.
"So-jeo, what are you doing right now? Are you mocking me?"
"No. I'm sincerely requesting a spar with you, Wi So-hyeop. You've insulted my father and me, so as a martial artist, it's only proper to settle it with swords—that's the way of the martial world, isn't it?"
So cool!
As expected from my future sister-in-law!
"It's only thanks to Seo-ho So-danju that I overcame my hesitation. Are you refusing my challenge?"
"……."
"Don't want to lose to a woman and cry about it? You usually wave your sword at weaklings after drinking, but not me? What, not drunk enough yet?"
Jin So-mi's provocations were perfect.
At her words, Wi Seung-jeo bristled.
"Fine! I won't go easy just because you're a woman! Don't regret it!"
He assumed his stance.
Following suit, Jin So-mi took her stance as well.
In an instant, the air grew heavy.
A sharp aura dominated the surroundings, and some of the weaker onlookers began to tremble.
As the standoff continued,
Tat!
Their figures shot toward each other.
The clash of cold steel rang out loudly.
Chaeng! Chaeng chaeng chaeng!
Chaeng chaeng!
Kkagang!
"They're evenly matched?"
"Looking at their faces… not quite."
As the spectators said, it looked even, but it wasn't.
I could see their skills clearly.
Wi Seung-jeo wore a flustered expression, but Jin So-mi's face showed no emotion.
It was clear Jin So-mi was well-trained in the sword.
Right now, her skill far surpassed Wi Seung-jeo's. Yet she fought steadily without underestimating him.
There was a reason I pulled Jin So-mi into this.
The debt the Jin Martial Hall owed to the Eunhae Merchant Group was substantial, but she paid it off in five years as a ronin.
Earned together with her father, but it meant she had the skill to survive as a wandering warrior.
Her true prowess, still unknown, was at the entry level of first-rate.
Jin So-mi was currently eighteen.
Children of prestigious clans often reached peak at eighteen, thanks to spirit pills and training from infancy.
Born into wealth, bathed in spiritual baths, fed elixirs, and taught supreme arts—that's how they achieve it.
But the Jin family ran a poor dojo.
Reaching that level at her age meant exceptional talent.
Chaeng-!
Kkaang-!
Jin So-mi's sword sent Wi Seung-jeo's flying.
Before he knew it, her blade was at his throat.
"Shall we continue?"
At her sharp question, Wi Seung-jeo swallowed hard and replied,
"I-I lost."
"Apologize."
At her demand, Wi Seung-jeo balked.
"I-I didn't say anything worth apologizing for……."
Still hasn't learned.
Then Jin So-mi spoke.
"You said my father couldn't marry me off to a rich house with his skills, so why bother showing up here grinning? Just lift your skirt a bit when approaching you, and you'd pretend not to see and take me as a concubine—why go through all this trouble?"
At those words, the crowd gasped and turned to Wi Seung-jeo, then began cursing him.
"He really said that?"
"How could he say something so vile!"
"No wonder Jeong Ho So-danju got angry."
"I'd have smashed his mouth in."
Wow, what a psycho.
How dare he say such filth to Jin So-mi!
He really is a worthless scum!
It was only right that Brother Jeong Ho pushed that scum into the pond.
Jin So-mi asked sharply,
"Won't you apologize? I won."
At her question, Wi Seung-jeo finally apologized.
"S-Sorry. I spoke out of turn."
Only then did she withdraw her sword from his throat.
At that moment, two middle-aged men who had been anxiously watching rushed in.
They were Wi Seung-jeo's father and Jin So-mi's father, respectively.
"So-mi!"
"Father, I'm sorry. I caused trouble."
At her words, Hall Leader Jin patted his daughter's shoulder.
"I'm sorry. Because of this useless father of yours……."
He had heard those words too.
How Wi Seung-jeo had insulted him and his daughter.
Then Wi Seung-jeo's father bowed deeply to them.
"We're truly sorry. I failed to raise my son properly… truly sorry."
Hall Leader Wi is a good man….
Hall Leader Wi's face looked unwell. It probably meant his health was poor.
But Wi Seung-jeo still seemed oblivious to his wrongdoing.
At the apology, Hall Leader Jin sighed.
It was awkward to say it was fine, yet hard to say otherwise.
"Let's go home."
At Hall Leader Jin's words, Jin So-mi followed behind.
They can't leave yet!
Brother Jeong Ho! You're really just going to let them go like this?
Then all my work as the Old Man Under the Moon will be for nothing!
At that moment, as if resolving himself, Brother Jeong Ho shouted loudly.
"Jin So-mi So-jeo!"
At his call, she and Hall Leader Jin turned.
Brother Jeong Ho approached her.
"That was impressive."
"R-Really?"
"Yes."
"I was trying to stay demure, but……."
"The first time I fell for you was watching you practice swordsmanship."
"Ah……."
Brother Jeong Ho pulled a hair pin from his bosom.
"I'm sorry to give it to you here. When I went to Beijing, I thought of you and bought this as a gift."
"It's pretty."
Brother Jeong Ho looked at Hall Leader Jin, then bowed deeply as if decided.
"I am Eun Jeong-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group!"
"I am Jin Jin-hak, Hall Leader of the Jin Martial Hall."
"What I say now is not a fleeting impulse or careless remark. I speak with utmost sincerity."
Brother Jeong Ho shouted loudly.
"Please give me your daughter! I wish to marry Jin So-mi So-jeo!"
Not just the people there, but even I was startled.
Brother Jeong Ho had that kind of presence?
'Give me your daughter!' right here!
But Hall Leader Jin, unfazed, calmly looked at his daughter and asked,
"What do you think?"
"Truth be told, I don't dislike Eun Jeong-ho So-danju either."
The crowd murmured.
"But is that okay? The Eunhae Merchant Group holds salt retail rights—it's a massive group, and the Jin family is just a small dojo."
"Yeah……."
"He's the eldest son, future head of the merchant group. Wouldn't it be better to marry someone beneficial to the group?"
The Eunhae Merchant Group didn't do political marriages.
They saw growing the group through marriages as a sign of incompetence.
But most people thought differently.
Hall Leader Jin Jin-hak's darkened expression was probably due to the same concern.
Then it happened.
"If the issue is the girl's humble house, I'll back her."
I was startled by that voice.
It was the Jegal Supreme Patriarch.
Turning, I saw him standing there, with Steward Yu and Master beside him.
"Supreme Patriarch."
At my words, the Patriarch looked at me and said,
"On my way to Moon Bend Hall, I heard there was a spectacle, so I came here. It was quite entertaining."
I scratched my head.
Then he saw me convincing Jin So-mi to step up.
"It's shocking there's a martial clan heir who spews such vulgarity at a girl."
As the Patriarch's gaze fell on Wi Seung-jeo, his face drained of color instantly.
He collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Before him, Hall Leader Wi bowed repeatedly, begging forgiveness.
"Truly sorry. So sorry."
What a pathetic sight.
The Patriarch turned away with a bored look.
"The girl's skill is even more impressive. How old is she?"
At his question, Hall Leader Jin Jin-hak answered,
"Eighteen this year."
"That level at her age! She's more than worthy of my sponsorship."
At the Patriarch's words, Master behind him nodded.
Even Master acknowledges her talent.
"What does the head of the Eun Merchant Group think?"
As the Patriarch turned, his gaze landed on Father.
"If the two like each other, I have no objection."
I'd expected Father's approval.
In my previous life, our parents had permitted it without fuss.
"There you have it."
Now it was my turn.
"Then it's safe to say Jeong Ho and Jin So-mi So-jeo are now engaged."
"Ah!"
"……."
At my words, their faces turned red.
"What are you waiting for, brother? Put the hair pin in for her yourself."
At my words, brother glanced once more at the pin he held, then said to Jin So-mi,
"May I put it in for you myself?"
At that, Jin So-mi's face flushed deeper.
A man putting a hair pin in a woman's hair was something only for those promised or married.
"Yes……."
At her answer, Brother Jeong Ho adorned her hair with the pin.
"You look beautiful."
Brother Jeong Ho extended his hand to her.
"I should have asked first. I'm sorry. If it's not too late, I want to say it now."
Brother Jeong Ho swallowed hard.
"I want to marry you. Will you marry me?"
She nodded.
At that moment, cheers erupted from the onlookers.
"Wow!"
"Congratulations!"
"That's wonderful!"
I nodded.
The protagonists had instantly shifted from me to those two, but I had no complaints.
On the contrary, I was happy.
Unlike my previous life, this time they were engaging amid everyone's blessings.
With such a public engagement, no one would dare flirt or harass Jin So-mi—no, Sister-in-law—from now on.
Worth being the Old Man Under the Moon.
I glanced at Hall Leader Wi, who hung his head like a criminal.
Seeing him like that for his son's failings felt bittersweet.
Honestly, Wi Seung-jeo wouldn't be half bad without that scum personality…….
They said he was kind as a child. But at some point, he turned into a total punk.
He hung out with third-rate unorthodox clansmen and suddenly vanished one day.
And the Wi Martial Hall became a den for those riffraff……?
Wait.
Something smells off here.
How come I can't reform that punk?
Ah!
Suddenly, something I knew flashed in my mind.