At my words, Zhuge Clan’s Grand Elder nodded.
“The method you suggested is good. If they stay under a hero, of course they’ll learn a hero’s heart, won’t they?”
Zhuge Clan’s Grand Elder looked over the other senior figures and said,
“How do you see it?”
“…”
Wudang Sect’s Sect Leader looked at me, a faint smile on his lips, and spoke.
“Something like this could easily happen again, anywhere, to anyone. Wouldn’t this leave a good precedent for your families and sects in the future?”
A good precedent.
At those words, I could feel the other senior figures waver.
Right now, the Wudang Sect Leader was quietly threatening them.
There was no guarantee that something like this would not happen to their own children or disciples one day.
If they left this kind of precedent, it would open the way for their descendants and disciples to avoid having their Dantian crippled in the future.
In other words, he was pressuring them to think ahead.
“Y-yes, that’s true.”
One by one, they nodded and agreed with the Wudang Sect Leader.
“I also think it’s a good method, since they’ll be able to learn a hero’s heart.”
“To be honest, I did think expelling them was a bit too much. Hem-hem.”
Once their opinions gathered, the Alliance Leader made the final decision.
“Very well. If everyone agrees, we’ll hand them over according to Hero Eun’s wishes. Hero Eun, you may rise now.”
“Thank you very much.”
I rose from my seat, and the Alliance Leader ordered the Murim Alliance’s Law Enforcement Division to release the two warriors.
The two warriors, who had been hanging from a punishment frame with their wrists bound, were released and staggered slightly.
‘Have they been hanging there that long? No wonder they look awful.’
“Will you be taking them with you right away?”
“I will.”
“Understood.”
The Alliance Leader nodded, then spoke to the two warriors.
“To be frank, in this very meeting we had already decided on your expulsion. But Hero Eun Seo-ho here stepped in and pleaded for your lives. So reflect on this matter over and over, and strive to cultivate a hero’s heart like Hero Eun Seo-ho’s. Understood?”
The two warriors, who had been out of it for a moment, snapped back to themselves and answered.
“We will keep it in mind.”
“We will keep it in mind.”
And with that, the two warriors were demoted from inner disciples to outer disciples, and it was decided that they could not be restored to inner disciples without the Murim Alliance’s approval.
Once that series of measures was wrapped up, I took the two warriors and returned to the inn.
Only then could I really see their condition. Their backs were covered in blood.
There was a reason they had looked so bad.
They hadn’t just been tied to the frame to keep them from running. They had been tied up to be whipped.
They did all that to them and still wanted to expel them on top of it?
Hah.
They had been treated completely like Unorthodox Sect criminals.
I spoke to Palgap.
“Get them a room so they can rest… and have their external wounds treated.”
“Understood, young master.”
Then I went straight to see Father and gave my report.
“So… you saved those two warriors and brought them here?”
“Yes, Father.”
“What was your reason?”
Father looked at me as he spoke.
“I can’t imagine it was just because you pitied them.”
As expected of Father.
“You’re right. The reason I saved them wasn’t simply because their situation was pitiful.”
I had been angry at how the Murim Alliance dumped all the blame on them, but it wasn’t like I had stormed over there purely on emotion.
“It would be a waste to throw away their talent. They’re already first-rate warriors at a young age, and according to Escort Guard Seo Wu, they look like they’ll reach Peak realm fairly soon. On top of that, they’re warriors from the long-standing prestigious Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect. When I can bring people like that under my banner and make them owe me a favor, why would I hesitate?”
Even if you train your whole life, not many people ever become first-rate warriors.
So the value of a first-rate warrior is extremely high.
It’s just that the level of my escort guards is absurdly high.
Father watched me and smiled in satisfaction.
“I understand. Handle them as you see fit.”
“Yes, Father.”
“More than that, I didn’t know my son’s realm was that high. I’m truly grateful you saved your mother’s and my life.”
“Swinging my sword for my parents is only natural.”
“I knew you’d say that. Still, gratitude is gratitude. And thanks to you, I was able to save a lot of face with Merchant Lord Gwangjun and his wife.”
“I’m just glad they’re safe as well.”
“So, how is it? How does it feel to have become a hero?”
At Father’s question, I smiled and answered.
“It’s absolutely the best.”
After finishing my talk with Father and returning to my room, Palgap came in.
“Young master, I did as you ordered and got another room so the two warriors can stay there.”
“Good. How are their wounds?”
Palgap frowned at my question.
“They were worse than I thought, sir. So I asked Physician Kang to take a look.”
“It was that bad?”
“It was hard to even look at, sir. But they didn’t let out a single word about the pain, so I thought, as expected, people from prestigious sects really are different, sir.”
“…”
Were they really enduring it because they’re from prestigious sects?
More likely, they knew no one would see their pain in a good way, so they couldn’t afford to show it.
After a while, I headed to the room where the two warriors were staying.
“I’ll come in for a moment.”
“P-please, come in!”
When I opened the door and stepped inside, the mixed smell of blood and strong medicine hit my nose.
I sat down in front of them.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?”
At my question, one of them spoke up first. The warrior from Mount Hua Sect.
“First of all, thank you very much for stopping people from getting hurt because of us.”
The warrior from Mount Zhongnan Sect continued.
“And thank you for preventing us from being expelled. But…”
Watching my expression, he asked carefully,
“Why did you help us?”
The Mount Hua warrior also nodded and asked,
“And you even went so far as to kneel for us. We’re really not that impressive.”
I smiled gently.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Sir?”
“My name is Eun Seo-ho. I’m the third Deputy Merchant Lord of Eunhae Merchant Group and the Chief of the Virtuous Wind Department. I’m twenty this year and will turn twenty-one in the 11th month.”
I continued.
“That should be enough of an introduction for me. Now, I’d like to hear the two warriors introduce yourselves.”
Realizing their lapse, they hurriedly introduced themselves in turn.
The Mount Hua warrior spoke first.
“Please call me Myeong Jong. I’m twenty-four.”
“I’m also twenty-four, and you can call me Chang Un.”
“Warrior Myeong Jong and Warrior Chang Un, then.”
I went on.
“I imagine what you’re most curious about right now is why I saved you two, and what kind of life you’ll be living from here on.”
At my words, they both nodded.
“The reason I saved you is… because you two are not guilty.”
They widened their eyes at my unexpected answer.
“We’re not guilty, sir?”
“No. We… almost caused a lot of people to die.”
“Of course, that’s how the outcome looked. But think about it. Were you the only ones who used sword qi during the sparring matches up to now?”
“…”
Of course not.
“But none of the other sword qi ever flew out of the stage. That’s because there’s a formation set up on the sparring arena.”
They didn’t show any surprise at my words. Which meant they already knew about that.
“Yet only your sword qi flew outside. And it’s not like your sword qi is especially overwhelming.”
“…”
“In other words, it was the Murim Alliance’s negligence in managing things. Even so, the Murim Alliance dumped all of the blame for that on the two of you. Do you think that’s reasonable?”
At my question, they bit their lips.
They were realizing it now. No, they might have known it for a while already.
That the huge organization called the Murim Alliance, just to cover itself, had branded them as people who had committed a great crime.
“That’s why I saved you. It was hard to sit there and watch innocent people be unjustly expelled. Does that answer your question?”
At my question, they nodded.
The reason I said all of this in front of the two warriors was to draw out their resentment toward the Murim Alliance.
The deeper their resentment toward the Murim Alliance, the deeper their loyalty toward me would grow.
That way, they wouldn’t betray me.
“And from now on, you’ll be part of my personal guard.”
“A personal guard?”
“That’s right. My personal guard currently has four people. Once you two join, that’ll make six.”
I continued.
“You’ll receive a monthly salary. For the next three months, you’ll be in a probationary period, so you’ll receive eighty percent of the base pay. After that, you’ll receive the full amount every month.”
When they heard the amount I quoted, the two warriors were startled.
“Y-you’re really going to pay us that much each month?”
“That’s right. Is it too little?”
At my question, they quickly shook their heads.
“N-no!”
“We just… never imagined we’d be getting a monthly salary at all…”
“If you work, it’s only natural to receive something in return. One of my iron rules is that I don’t make people work without compensation.”
All the more so when I’m employing first-rate warriors.
They should be paid accordingly.
Besides, that’s how their loyalty will grow even stronger.
“For the rest of the details, you can hear them from Palgap and Escort Guard Lee Pil.”
Then I introduced them to Escort Guard Seo Wu, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am, and Escort Guard Lee Pil.
Escort Guard Jin Yu exists as well, but just in case, I decided to introduce Jin Yu after we returned to Hubei.
Once we finished our conversation, I left their room.
Just then, the inn’s waiter approached me and handed me a letter.
“Some kid asked me to give this letter to you, sir.”
“…?”
A letter, out of nowhere?
Ah, Chun-il.
When I unfolded the letter, it was just as I expected.
[I’ll see you this evening at the place we met last time.]
.
.
.
Evening came.
I headed to Yumi Restaurant with only Escort Guard Seo Wu in tow. While I was waiting there for a bit, a waiter came up to me.
“I found it.”
Chun-il spoke bluntly.
“Where is it?”
“It was the Baekcheon Merchant Group.”
“…What?”
“They’ve been collecting fish bone powder and lime powder, among other things.”
Honestly, I had figured the culprit would be an organization of decent size.
But to think the culprit was the Baekcheon Merchant Group…
That meant that in my previous life as well, the Baekcheon Merchant Group had been the one to profit from this.
And they’re hoarding fish bone powder and lime powder, which are essential for stopping bleeding…
That really is just like the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
“Thank you for the information.”
“Think nothing of it.”
And with that, Chun-il quietly disappeared. Oh, he’s already gone. He didn’t even bring dumplings this time.
I even prepared money for dumplings in advance.
Anyway, so the Baekcheon Merchant Group is doing this…
Then I have to get in their way.
I was walking, thinking about how best to interfere with their plans, when I heard someone call out to me.
“Young Hero Eun Seo-ho.”
“…?”
At that voice, I turned my head and saw an old man standing in a dim alley.
A familiar face – the Mount Hua Sect Leader I had seen earlier.
“I greet the Sect Leader. What brings you all the way out here?”
“Take this.”
He held something out, and I accepted it.
It was a small tube made of mulberry wood, and it smelled of medicinal herbs.
“Isn’t this Golden Wound Ointment?”
“That’s right. It’s Golden Wound Ointment made with our sect’s secret recipe.”
“Then why are you giving this to me?”
“I’m worried about Myeong Jong’s injuries. He was beaten quite a bit.”
“…”
“Thank you for stepping up for Myeong Jong. If not for you, I would have had to cripple his Dantian with my own hands.”
Mount Hua’s Sect Leader’s voice sounded somehow drained as he said that.
I looked at him.
In my previous life, it was said that the warriors Myeong Jong and Chang Un, who caused the incident, broke their swords.
But in reality, there was a high chance they’d actually been expelled.
Then why had it been spread that they broke their swords?
I felt like I finally understood the reason.
It had been done to protect their honor.
Mount Hua’s Sect Leader knew as well. He knew this incident hadn’t truly been those two warriors’ fault.
But he had been forced into that decision, pushed by the other Murim Alliance elders.
And in the middle of all that, he had at least kept his disciple’s honor by keeping the expulsion a secret.
He had probably had to concede something to the Murim Alliance in my previous life to make that happen.
Sect Leader really is in a tough position.
In any case, Mount Hua Sect is a fairly powerful sect. But the way he looked earlier hadn’t felt very much like Mount Hua.
Something didn’t sit right.
Then… could it be Mount Zhongnan’s Sect Leader will come looking for me too?
–TL Notes–
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