People Grow the Most When They Get Beaten (1)
“Get out. That's an order.”
I hardened my expression and sent everyone out except for my maid sisters. They all seemed flustered by my sudden action, but I didn't glance at them once, fixing my gaze solely on the maid sisters. One by one, they filed out of the kitchen until only my maid sisters and I remained.
The maid sisters were peeking at my face, clearly confused by the situation. It was understandable. No prior preparation, an unexpected event that had never happened before—they couldn't judge it easily. And their judgment would naturally lean toward the familiar, the existing way, not something new.
That wasn't what I wanted.
In life, luck sometimes swoops in and vanishes before you even notice it. By the time you realize, it's too late. Regretting it then is pointless.
Straying from the beaten path, stepping onto entirely new stairs. Some fear taking that first step on the new road, while others climb without hesitation and live a fresh life.
Yes, that's exactly what a chance is.
I believed that chance had come to them right now.
One was the world's greatest physician. One was the richest merchant in the world. One was a bit eccentric but someone who could move the world. Such opportunities don't come often... no, maybe once in a lifetime, if at all.
Who could've known this chance would arrive today, at this very hour? I was just as flustered as they were.
But even so, I was their guardian.
“It might feel sudden, but this could be seen as an opportunity.”
I carefully laid out my thoughts, making sure they didn't feel burdened.
“I still don't fully get why they made those offers to you sisters.”
Old Man Noya said Samhyang was quick on the uptake. Our Samhyang sure had that sharp instinct, no doubt!
Geum the Madman said Ihyang passed the strategist exam. For real...? I still had my doubts. But she'd always been well-read since the old days. Of course, whose maid was she? Though her family fell into ruin... I should at least comfort her.
Excluding those two, that left Ilhyang. Herbal medicine, huh...? Would selling hwandan pills make money? Whoa! Snap out of it, Namgung Daeso! Treating family-like sisters as mere money-makers! As I said before, their will comes first, no question.
“I want to hear your true feelings.”
The maid sisters still hesitated to speak.
Then Ilhyang quietly opened her mouth.
“Honestly, I don't know. But one thing's for sure—I like things as they are now. Being with you, Youngest Young Master, with the head maid, with Ihyang and Samhyang. That's what I think. But at the same time... I'm curious about a new world...”
That sparked the others, and Ihyang spoke up.
“I was nearly sold into slavery in the past. If the matriarch hadn't taken me in, I'd probably be out on the streets, maybe even in some pleasure house—it wouldn't have been strange. I feel this grace is something I could never repay in a lifetime. And now, every moment serving you, Youngest Young Master, and all the moments to come—they'll be the happiest times of my life.”
Ihyang seemed resolved. But her face didn't look relieved; it held lingering attachment.
I shifted my gaze to Samhyang last. She was the only one who hadn't spoken her mind yet.
Samhyang caught my look and quickly spoke.
“I'll do whatever you command, Youngest Young Master. I have only one lord in this world.”
As expected of Samhyang. Her heart was straight as an arrow.
And she grasped the situation more accurately than I thought. How could they just follow their hearts freely? They were maids bound to the Namgung name.
This was where the master had to step in.
“Good!”
I made the decision for them. As their lord, as their family.
“Ilhyang, try being Sinui's disciple for a while. If it's no fun, come back as my maid anytime. I'll keep your spot open.”
I was just giving them the chance.
“Ihyang, try being a husband-wife strategist team with Geum the Madman. Same deal—if you get bored, return to your place.”
Where I was, that was home. A place they could always return to rest.
“Samhyang, try being Noya's disciple too. Get bored, come back anytime.”
It was the same for them. We were family.
And I wasn't done yet. Up to now, it was just surface-level respect. Now came the real heart of it.
“Suppose, just suppose, Ilhyang becomes some herbal master and starts making hwandan pills. Those pills are mine, right?”
Ilhyang's teary expression turned awkward.
“If Ihyang becomes that strategist duo, I'll get a cut of the financial operations budget, yeah?”
Ihyang nodded as if to say, Of course.
“Heh, and if Samhyang becomes Noya's disciple, the world's richest merchant house is basically mine? We're getting rich!”
Samhyang nodded with a beaming smile, her face saying, That's the Youngest Young Master for you.
“No, no! I was just speaking hypothetically. You think I'm saying this to hog it all for myself? Nah, it's about all of us living happily—I'm just being a bit greedy for that. You all know my heart! Right?”
Ilhyang wiped her dried-up tears and spoke.
“We know, our money-eyed Youngest Young Master.”
Ihyang and Samhyang spoke much more comfortably now.
“Haa... This is why I said we should've raised him with proper early education.”
“Who was it that spoiled him rotten because he's 'cute'? Don't pin this on us!”
“You spoiled him the most!”
“Well... true. But hey! The Youngest Young Master is cute! You denying this absolute fact?”
“Well... true.”
Hey, hey... you guys. Now I feel like the bad guy here. I turned out pretty decent despite everything. Loving money isn't a crime. Some people casually chop off arms or stab their own guts when bored, right?
If left like this, their bickering would drag on all day.
“Alright! Decision made.”
“...”
“Answer me!”
“Haa... Yes~”
“Ehew... Yes~”
“Uhhew... Yes~”
Why are the responses so half-hearted!
I called everyone back in, summarized our kitchen talk, and led the sisters to Sinui, Namgung Je-cheon, and Noya respectively. As their family, I didn't skimp on words of advice.
“5-5 split. That's the ratio for selling hwandan later—each takes half.”
Sinui stared at me like I was some bug. Meanwhile, Namgung Je-cheon beamed with pride.
He spoke before I could even open my mouth.
“Should I empty out all the funds in the strategy hall? Let's flip everything now. Call it 'military funds.'”
Oh no... I misjudged. Yeah, this guy's a lunatic.
I switched targets.
“Ihyang, keep this madman from doing anything crazy. Please.”
“Yes, Young Master! Don't worry.”
“Good, that's reassuring.”
Then I turned to Noya.
“Take good care of Samhyang. We'll split the world's richest merchant house later.”
“Heh heh, the already richest man in the world getting greedy.”
Haha, as if it's my money? It's our eldest brother's, the future small clan head.
“Alright! Take the rest outside. As of today, Ilhyang, Ihyang, and Samhyang are relieved of their duties as maids to the Namgung clan's Youngest Young Master.”
Everyone wore bittersweet expressions at my words. The head maid especially was wiping tears.
“What's the rush? Even parting takes time.”
“Is that so? Fair enough. Then swap stories today, and start at the strategy hall tomorrow.”
“Rest up today, report to the medical hall tomorrow.”
Noya, Namgung Je-cheon, and Sinui said their pieces and left.
Rich folks sure are generous. I need to learn that. It made my earlier comments look bad by comparison.
And I had no idea my own business hadn't even started.
Over fifty people waited outside the kitchen for me.
“My lord! You're out!”
“We've been waiting!”
“What first?”
“Learning from someone—first time since forever... Haha! Looking forward to it!”
Weren't you all corpses a minute ago?
“Kekeke, everything sorted inside?”
Ilseon Dosa slinked up with a sly grin. Mujikja followed.
“Yesterday was flashy. I'll fulfill your wishes!!!”
Damn... forgotten memories resurfaced.
Right, this was one of those chances too. I needed forces anyway. And backing out now was impossible.
Above all, these guys who resembled me somewhere... I wasn't heartless enough to abandon them.
“But I'm in no position to teach anyone right now.”
Yesterday, drunk, I spat whatever came to mind.
“Can't even protect my own gut—I'm the one who needs learning.”
Second brother could barge in anytime. No time for leisurely judging others' arts.
Then—
“No one here doesn't know that. Your skills just escaped third-rate.”
What? Yesterday you called me a genius! For mimicking Baekbo Singwon.
Thrilled when I showed it off!
This sours my mood. Giving medicine then poison? No, poison then medicine?
“But!”
Ilseon Dosa's grandfatherly vibe flipped. The former supreme being leaned in.
“If you learned our arts, it'd be different. As you said, you need arts better than third-rate. And immodest as it is, none here are inferior to Namgung arts.”
Mujikja chimed in.
“Martial arts depend on the user. Best to experience it yourself. Explaining fancy won't stick anyway. For you, body learns faster than head.”
My face soured. Sounded like calling me dumb.
I addressed everyone.
“Let's see it then. I'll judge your arts myself!”
“Amitabha. Me first?”
Ilseon Dosa stepped up eagerly.
“Sure! And from now on, I'm the boss. Most of you want to hide your identities, so nicknames from me okay?”
“Of course. I was about to suggest it. 'Ilseon Dosa' outside has reasons.”
Heh, always wanted to nickname Shaolin monks like this. My lip curled.
“Then you're 'Baldy Grandpa' from now on. Cool?”
“Amitabha. Bald... baldy's a bit...”
“Better than 'Horseface' over there, right?”
Mujikja's face crumpled.
“Infinite Blessings.”
The others trembled in fear. Folks who'd be renowned in murim.
In an instant. One from supreme to baldy. One from sword king to horseface. Demoted.
“Don't worry. I'll name you so your sects never find out.”
Yeah. We're doing this, might as well go all out.
Cheonryongjeon, was it? Cool name. Probably mine—my naming's killer.
“You first then, Baldy Grandpa.”
“Amitabha. Let's take a few hits first.”
What? Thwack!
Uh...? Something's wrong.