Yuan Kyung wasn’t the only one who heard that sound.
“Hm? What’s that?”
“Probably some animal wandering around here.”
“Animal? What animal? We’re in a marketplace.”
“…!”
Realizing this fact, they flinched, and soon the warehouse door was smashed to pieces.
“Stop right there!”
Beyond the door appeared four warriors and a handsome young man standing among them.
The moment they met the young man’s eyes, they felt a chill despite it being midsummer.
“From now on if you move, you die.”
With Geumryeong’s help, I was able to find where Yuan Kyung was and rushed there urgently.
But unexpectedly, the place Geumryeong led us to was a marketplace lined with shops.
I heard they’d searched this area quite thoroughly too.
But Geumryeong had never been wrong about such things, so we followed it to a warehouse in the back.
I sensed several presences.
And a clearly felt killing intent!
I quickly smashed through the warehouse door and entered to find Yuan Kyung bound to a pillar.
Seeing someone who should be getting married soon and spending happy times in such a state, I couldn’t help but feel rage surge up.
Just then, someone moved toward Yuan Kyung.
Simultaneously, Escort Guards Lee Pil and Jin Yu moved.
Thunk—!
Thud—!
Escort Guard Lee Pil’s dagger embedded in his arm.
Escort Guard Jin Yu’s dagger embedded in his leg and pierced through to the wall behind.
“Kurgh…”
“That’s what you get for ignoring my warning.”
I turned to look at the other two men.
“Aaaah!”
“Dieee!”
They screamed and rushed at me, and I drew my Silver Mist Sword and easily subdued them.
Slash—!
Swish—!
They fell, each slashed on the side and shoulder. Their expressions were full of resentment.
“So why did you do this?”
The answer came not from them but from Yuan Kyung.
“They said it was because of resentment toward my grandfather.”
“…?”
“They said their family was destroyed because of my grandfather.”
What does that mean?
Vice Minister Yuan’s household is a bit proud, but it’s not a family that schemes against or does such things to others.
Was there something I don’t know about?
Anyway, that’s one thing, but they shouldn’t have detained an innocent person like this.
“Subdue them.”
“Yes!”
Escort Guard Seo Wu immediately stepped forward and pressed their pressure points to prevent movement.
Meanwhile, I approached Yuan Kyung and untied his ropes.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”
“I’m glad you’re safe. Seon-mi is very worried.”
“What? You know Miss Seon-mi?”
“Of course.”
I smiled and answered.
“I’m Seon-mi’s cousin.”
“Gasp!”
He was startled and bowed his head to me.
“I-I’m meeting you for the first time.”
His shoulders were trembling as he looked at me.
He must have been really scared.
Well, how could he not be afraid when he almost died?
I saw a dagger embedded right next to his face.
“Please take good care of our Seon-mi.”
“O-of course! I’ll make her happy!”
“And don’t worry Seon-mi from now on.”
“Understood. I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”
“I like that.”
Just then, I heard the sound of a group rushing over.
“Kyung!”
“Young Master!”
They were people Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am had called.
I stepped back. Now was the time for reunion.
A short while later.
I headed to Yuan Kyung’s house.
After he told them I’d saved him, his family invited me to their home.
Surely it was partly to thank me, but they were also probably curious about how I’d found him.
I sat in the reception room and was served tea.
Taking a sip, it was expensive tea.
This is Longjing tea worth its weight in silver.
I could tell they were treating me with great hospitality.
“I’m truly grateful. You’re our Kyung’s lifesaver.”
At Vice Minister Yuan’s sincere words, I smiled.
“Being able to rescue him in time was thanks to Heaven’s help.”
“That too is thanks to your effort. But I think I saw you at the bride’s house earlier?”
He’s already calling Seon-mi the bride.
“Yes, the situation was serious earlier so introductions were delayed. I’m Seon-mi’s maternal cousin and Third Deputy Merchant Lord of Eunhae Merchant Group, Eun Seo-ho.”
“Then you’re related to the in-laws?”
“Yes, she’s my aunt.”
“Come to think of it, I’ve heard about you.”
Vice Minister Yuan continued.
“Didn’t you receive delegation from His Majesty the Emperor to sell the Windcraft Fans?”
“That’s correct.”
“And I believe you were called Handsome Young Hero?”
Urgh!
To hear that title here…
“It’s an excessive reputation.”
“Not at all.”
Vice Minister Yuan shook his head.
“Just from saving my son, that reputation is by no means excessive.”
He continued.
“But how did you know Kyung was being held there?”
“Ah, that too was good luck.”
I continued my explanation.
“I happened to be passing by that area when I thought something was suspicious. I saw light coming from a warehouse I knew had been unused for a long time. So I went to check just in case, and that’s how I found him.”
“I see. You have remarkable memory and observation!”
Since I couldn’t say I found him by asking Geumryeong, I made up that story, and fortunately Vice Minister Yuan easily believed me.
“It truly can only be called divine fortune.”
Vice Minister Yuan cupped his fists to me.
“Anyway, let me express my gratitude once more.”
I quickly returned the gesture.
“Here, I’ve prepared something with sincerity.”
He brought over a box that had been beside him and held it out.
“No, you don’t need to do this.”
“Don’t embarrass me. This is something you deserve to receive.”
Just looking at it, it seemed to contain something extraordinary…
Since he’s insisting this much, I can’t refuse.
“Understood. Then I’ll accept your sincerity.”
I moved the box toward me, then carefully asked.
“But what exactly was the reason those villains did such a thing? From what I heard, it seems they had resentment toward the elder of this house…”
At my words, he made a bitter expression.
“That was a misunderstanding.”
“What? So they did that to Seon-mi’s groom-to-be because of a misunderstanding?”
He nodded heavily.
“They were brothers from a fallen family. And the one who caused their family’s downfall wasn’t my father, but someone else with the same name.”
“…”
“Since Kyung was safe, we let them go, but they went to the authorities on their own.”
“…”
Something left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Then why didn’t this happen in my past life?
Seon-mi had her wedding in the sixth month…
Ah, what if they came to the capital this seventh month for revenge?
Then the pieces fit together.
Since the civil service exam is in the eighth month, the Hanlin Academy continues night duty shifts then.
The position of Lecturer is one who gives lectures to the Emperor.
Since he’s someone with such abundant learning, he would have been drafted for exam preparation.
This time there was a wedding in the seventh month so he wasn’t drafted, and that’s why he could be kidnapped.
If he’d been drafted for exam preparation like in my past life, he wouldn’t have been able to leave the palace to prevent cheating.
The fact that no incident occurred afterward means the misunderstanding must have been cleared up in the meantime.
So in the end, it’s correct that this was due to my intervention.
Still, fortunately the matter was resolved, and I even received a gift as thanks.
Also, since I, Seon-mi’s maternal cousin, saved Yuan Kyung, they’ll treat Seon-mi even better.
After finishing the conversation with Vice Minister Yuan, I headed back to Yeonjun Merchant Group.
I needed to explain the situation to my aunt’s family as well.
Vice Minister Yuan’s household and Yeonjun Merchant Group were closer than I expected.
About an hour’s walk.
When I arrived at Yeonjun Merchant Group, everyone was waiting for me in the courtyard.
“Seo-ho!”
Aunt rushed over to me.
“What on earth happened? We received word from Seon-mi’s in-laws. They said you rescued Master Yuan?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
I nodded.
“Please calm down and let’s go inside. I’ll explain everything.”
At my words, everyone entered the reception room. It was the most spacious place.
And I explained the situation to everyone.
“…”
A brief silence fell.
Seon-mi was the one who broke it.
“So, you’re certain my husband is safe, right? And older cousin rescued him.”
“That’s right.”
“Goodness… thank you. Thank you so much, older cousin. Sniff…”
Seon-mi burst into tears.
The tension melted away, and the tears came.
I handed her a handkerchief and said.
“Stop! The wedding is just days away—are you planning to have the ceremony with puffy eyes?”
“N-no, sniff! I’m not…”
“So hurry up and stop.”
“…Yes. Sniff.”
“Phew…”
Beside us, Uncle-in-law let out a sigh of relief and expressed his gratitude to me.
“Anyway, thank you so much.”
“As I said again, I was lucky.”
“In my experience, luck chooses people too. And you’re someone who has luck. It’s a stroke of fortune that you were here in Beijing right now.”
I think so too.
Anyway, to deal with incidents caused by the things I’d changed, I needed to observe my surroundings more keenly.
“But still, for revenge… it was revenge that had lost its purpose.”
Grandfather made a regretful expression.
“I know a bit about that matter. That family fell because of it.”
“Then the place that caused that family’s downfall…”
“Was annihilated about six years ago.”
“…!”
“They attempted an ambush on the current Emperor while he was traveling to Beijing after receiving the summons. When that was exposed…”
“I see.”
“It’s a sad matter. Perhaps that’s why they say revenge is futile.”
“…”
At Grandfather’s words, I smiled bitterly.
Because one of the driving forces keeping me alive right now was revenge.
Revenge against Baekcheon Merchant Group and the Murim Alliance.
Grandfather said revenge was futile…
Yes, maybe that’s true.
But if I don’t take revenge on those who took lives with their swords and stole everything I and Eunhae Merchant Group’s people had built…
I’ll face the same result as back then.
So my revenge isn’t just for the past, but also to avoid suffering the same fate in the future.
But the Murim Alliance has been rather quiet lately…
I returned to my temporary residence.
My aunt and uncle asked me to stay the night, but I had work to handle tonight too.
“But what could this be?”
At Palgap’s words, I turned my head to look at the box on the table.
It was the box Vice Minister Yuan gave me earlier, but I hadn’t opened it there.
“I wonder…”
Geumryeong, who’d emerged from my sleeve at some point, was drooling while looking at the box.
“Ah! Geumryeong! You got drool on the box!”
“Kui! Kui!”
“You can’t have this. Eat this instead.”
I quickly took out a silver tael and held it out. Thanks to this little one, I was able to find Yuan Kyung earlier.
It deserves to eat at least that much.
Fortunately, Geumryeong seemed satisfied and swallowed the silver tael, then rolled over.
I chuckled at Geumryeong and slowly opened the box lid.
“Oh…”
Seeing it, I understood why Geumryeong had coveted it.
“A key?”
Inside was a key made of gold.
And a letter was enclosed, which I took out first and unfolded.
[First, thank you so much for saving my son. While pondering what to give as thanks, I recalled this golden key that came into the Yuan family long ago.
We haven’t yet discovered what this key is meant to unlock.
But since it’s made of gold, I thought it could serve as modest thanks, however inadequate]
A key made of gold…
I put it in my secret pouch. It would be awkward to return it when he’s giving it to me.
A few days later.
Yeonjun Merchant Group began the banquet with loud sounds and lively lion dances.
Seon-mi’s wedding banquet.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“I congratulate you on this family celebration.”
“Thank you. The spread is modest, but please enjoy the banquet.”
My aunt and uncle were busy greeting the arriving guests.
Just then, I saw three men in the distance.
Dressed like merchants, they were members of the Embroidered Guard that Jin Yeong had mentioned.
“Over here!”
I quickly called them over and naturally greeted my aunt and uncle as if they were my guests.
“Who are these people?”
“Ah, these are the guests I mentioned before.”
At my words, Uncle-in-law’s eyes lit up slightly as he cupped his fists.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Congratulations.”
After exchanging greetings, we took seats in a corner.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“But he really came.”
“Pardon?”
At my question, one of the three Embroidered Guard members pointed to a man sitting in the distance.
“That man is the one we’ll be monitoring.”
–TL Notes–
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