For a moment, the Commissioner of Land Affairs’ question left my thoughts in a jumble.
Because I couldn’t tell what he was really getting at.
Since talk of the Murim Alliance had come up while he was investigating this whole affair, he must have started harboring at least a sliver of suspicion.
So in that situation, what was his aim in asking this kind of question to me, the very person the Murim Alliance had paraded around as a hero?
Was he trying to decide his stance on the Murim Alliance?
Or was he trying to decide his stance on me?
I asked him back.
“Are you curious about my view as the Murim Alliance’s hero? Or are you curious about my view as a merchant?”
“That’s a foolish question in answer to a foolish question.”
He muttered that and went on.
“When I asked you before whether you were a hero or a merchant, you said you were a merchant. People are always honest when profit’s on the line.”
“That’s right.”
“So I’ll ask again. What’s your view, as a merchant?”
“The Murim Alliance is…”
Honestly, I wanted to answer that the Murim Alliance was at the very top of the list when it came to black-hearted scum with filthy secrets, bastards caked all over with hypocrisy, the pettiest and dirtiest of them all, and my sworn enemy for life.
But if I just blurted that out, he’d only look at me like I was crazy.
So I smiled and answered instead.
“Honestly, they’re not exactly the best clients.”
“That’s unexpected. I’d have thought few clients were as solid as they are.”
“Not necessarily.”
“I understood they were the ones who pushed you as a hero. Weren’t you on friendly terms?”
“When someone is in danger, you can’t just stand there and watch, can you? Especially when my parents were there too. If I hadn’t stepped in, a lot more people would have died or been hurt, and the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering probably would’ve been called off altogether.”
“Huh…”
At my answer, he nodded like he understood.
“In that case, I suppose I can ask this.”
“What is it?”
“Is it true the Murim Alliance tried to kill Jaryeong?”
“…!”
I hadn’t expected him to ask so bluntly.
Which meant he’d already finished sizing up the Murim Alliance.
As expected of someone so capable that, despite his young age, the Emperor had entrusted him with governing an entire province.
In that case, I should just tell him the truth.
“Yes.”
“For what reason…”
Because Lady Jaryeong is someone who can see the future. But I couldn’t say that.
“I don’t really know the reason either.”
“Then that means they might target Jaryeong again…”
“Which brings me to what I wanted to say – there’s something I’d like you to discuss together with Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs once we’re there.”
“All right. We’ll do that.”
He nodded, then looked at me and spoke solemnly.
“But I still think you’re a hero. Whether your parents were there or not, the heart that wouldn’t just stand by and watch people in danger… that’s a hero’s heart in my eyes.”
For some reason, my cheeks itched hearing that.
.
.
.
We set out for Guizhou.
Since we were traveling with the Hunan’s Commissioner of Land Affairs, our own journey was comfortable and quick.
Before long, we arrived at the Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs Office.
Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs personally came out to receive us.
“Welcome.”
“I’m grateful you’re welcoming us so warmly.”
“You must be tired after such a long journey.”
After we exchanged the proper courtesies, he turned to Young Master Dong Hang-su and me with words of praise.
“Deputy Merchant Lord Eun, you’ve worked hard as well.”
“You’re too kind.”
“And you too, you’ve worked hard.”
“Yes.”
A brief answer.
Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs just took it in stride.
We headed inside.
Guizhou’s Commissioner personally escorted the Hunan’s Commissioner of Land Affairs to his quarters.
Time for me to get some rest too.
I spoke to Young Master Dong Hang-su.
“You’ve had a hard day.”
“N–no, not at all.”
Ever since the day we met Warrior Jin Yeong, he’d been extremely wary of me.
Well, from the perspective of an imperial official, there was no way he could feel at ease around someone trusted by the Emperor.
No matter how bad your social skills are, you always recognize the person holding your leash.
“Please, go in and rest.”
With that, he disappeared from my sight.
Dong Hang-su trudged along with a sigh.
‘What are my older brothers going to say if they find out about this.’
He had two older brothers above him and two younger brothers below.
Stuck in that awkward middle position, he was constantly squeezed from above and below. Without even realizing it, his personality had grown cynical as a way to avoid getting hurt, and because he didn’t get close to the people around him, his social skills had withered.
But even he was warm toward his little sister, Dong Jaryeong, and he cherished and loved her all the more for it.
And that little sister of his had nearly been poisoned to death by someone.
He was furious, but that anger never made it to the surface.
Just like always.
Then, in the middle of all that, he ended up going to Hunan with a man named Eun Seo-ho.
He hadn’t liked Eun Seo-ho from the start. It began with his little sister asking him to pass along her regards to Eun Seo-ho.
To be honest, he was grateful that Eun Seo-ho had recognized Jaryeong’s poisoning symptoms and recommended the right physician, which had saved her life.
But gratitude was gratitude… and not liking someone was still not liking them.
When he thought about why he disliked him so much, he realized the first reason was simple jealousy.
‘I really was childish.’
Looking back, he felt ashamed.
The second reason was that Eun Seo-ho was a merchant.
Even though his father had sung the man’s praises, he hadn’t been happy about it.
‘A merchant’s still just a merchant.’
He had told Eun Seo-ho that his position was that of a judicial magistrate in Guizhou, but that wasn’t true.
His real identity was as an assistant inspector at the Guizhou Judicial Inspection Office.
An assistant inspector was a fifth-rank official in charge of hands-on investigations and oversight.
Because of the nature of that post, assuming another title and hiding one’s true identity was officially permitted, which was why he’d introduced himself to Eun Seo-ho that way.
And the reason he loathed merchants also came from that job.
When you handled inspections in the field, you received countless attempts at bribery and favors, and most of the people trying to curry favor were merchants.
So he’d assumed Eun Seo-ho was no different from those merchants.
But this time, it seemed he was the one who’d been wrong.
‘Not only is he close to Warrior Jin Yeong, the Ice-Faced Flame Sword, but even His Majesty the Emperor seeks his counsel!’
Earlier, Eun Seo-ho had called himself a lowly merchant, and Dong Hang-su had thought to himself, ‘At least he knows his place.’
But that wasn’t it.
How could someone whose opinion the Emperor sought be called a lowly merchant?
‘Ah, damn it!’
Thinking back on it, he remembered the ways he’d wronged Eun Seo-ho and felt ashamed.
‘I’ve been way too narrow-minded. I should go and formally apologize later.’
Deciding to apologize came partly from personal reflection, but there was another reason too.
He also worried that Eun Seo-ho might hold a grudge over this and cause trouble for his family.
As the middle child, he’d often been unintentionally hurt by that awkward position, but even so, he cared deeply about his family.
I was in my quarters within the residential compound of Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs Office, reading a book.
“Is that interesting, sir?”
Palgap asked, and I shook my head.
“No, it’s not.”
“Then why are you reading it so intently?”
“It’s not fun for me, but there are a lot of people who enjoyed it. For example, my customers.”
“Isn’t it hard reading a book that’s not fun?”
“Of course it’s hard.”
“There’s nothing easy in this world.”
I let out a faint laugh.
“There are easy jobs too.”
“What kind would that be?”
“Work that suits you. That’s the easiest job there is.”
I figured I could only do this because being a merchant suited my nature.
While I was chatting with Palgap, I sensed someone approaching my quarters.
This presence…
Soon, I heard Escort Guard Lee Pil’s voice from outside, where he was standing guard.
“My lord, Young Master Dong Hang-su has arrived.”
What is this about?
Tilting my head in puzzlement, I opened the door and stepped out to find Young Master Dong Hang-su standing there, looking at me.
“What brings you here?”
“Well… I came because there’s something important I need to say.”
“Please, come in.”
I led him into my room.
Palgap brought in tea, and we talked over a cup.
“What brings you all the way here?”
“I came to apologize for how rude I’ve been.”
“…”
Honestly, most people would circle around with small talk before getting to the point.
Seeing him dive straight into the main topic, I had to admit he was something.
Not that I minded not wasting time on pointless chatter.
But an apology…
He hadn’t struck me as the type, so was it because he was worried I might cause trouble for him or his family?
Of course, I’d already figured out he wasn’t truly a cynical person.
People who are truly cynical don’t care what happens to those around them.
Young Master Dong Hang-su was only pretending to be cynical, though I didn’t know why.
Interesting.
“If you’re worried I might take out my bad mood on you or your family, you don’t need to apologize.”
I continued.
“I hate it when people drag others into trouble just because of their personal feelings. Why would I do something I hate myself?”
“…”
He bit his lip, then spoke after a moment.
“That’s part of it, but mostly, I realized I’ve been really childish and pathetic.”
“…?”
“Honestly, I was jealous that Jaryeong was interested in Deputy Merchant Lord Eun.”
So that was how he really felt.
It just showed how much he treasured Lady Dong Jaryeong.
“And the truth is, I serve as an assistant inspector. Because of that, I’ve received countless requests and bribes from merchants, so I don’t think very highly of merchants in general.”
He cupped his fists and bowed his head.
“I apologize for my narrow-mindedness in lumping Deputy Merchant Lord Eun in with those kinds of merchants.”
So that was it.
He had his own reasons too.
I supposed I should be glad the misunderstanding was cleared up, even like this.
“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.”
“In return, there’s something I need your help with.”
“What would that be?”
At his question, I let out a deep sigh.
“From what I’ve heard, Lady Dong’s older brothers are on their way here right now.”
“That’s right. How did you know?”
“I noticed everyone in the annex is busy cleaning it from top to bottom.”
Earlier, Palgap had told me that once word got out Lady Jaryeong was recovering, her older brothers had immediately set out for here.
“Please explain things to them properly so there won’t be any misunderstandings.”
“Leave it to me. I won’t let any headaches arise.”
.
.
.
That evening.
I was walking, following the attendant sent by Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs.
The place he led me to was neither an office nor a reception hall.
It was a secluded spot among the outer buildings of the Seungseon Commissioner of Land Affairs Office.
There stood a single pavilion.
I hadn’t known there was a place like this here.
There was nothing around where the pavilion had been built – not even trees or low shrubs.
Only a shallow stream, barely deep enough to cover a hand, flowed around all four sides of the pavilion. Between each side, the ground dropped just enough to form tiny waterfalls, and the sound of the falling water cut off noise from the surroundings.
I could guess what this pavilion had been built for.
It was a place to discuss sensitive matters.
With nowhere to hide in any direction, no one could secretly eavesdrop.
And if guards were posted at a certain distance, even they wouldn’t be able to clearly hear the conversation.
Of course, if you couldn’t guarantee your safety, you’d keep the guards closer.
There were already guests in the pavilion.
Guizhou’s Commissioner of Land Affairs and Hunan’s Commissioner of Land Affairs.
I stepped up into the pavilion and greeted the two with proper respect.
“You sent for me?”
“Come in, have a seat.”
“Yes.”
Once I sat in the empty seat, Hunan’s Commissioner spoke first.
“We arranged this meeting because of what you mentioned last time. You said there was something important the three of us needed to discuss.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
So that’s why they called me here.
They must have decided nothing good would come from that topic leaking outside.
And judging by the relaxed expressions on their faces, it seemed any misunderstanding between them had been resolved.
Good. The two of them were people who needed to stay right where they were.
“As you both know, this whole incident started with Seoun Sect trying to take Lady Jaryeong’s life. And there’s another force behind Seoun Sect.”
Guizhou’s Commissioner said.
“I’ve heard as much. A man named Ham Song from the Murim Alliance gave those orders, didn’t he?”
“Yes. But I don’t think that was a decision Ham Song made on his own.”
“…”
“I don’t know why they want Lady Jaryeong dead…”
Though in truth, I did know – I just couldn’t say it here.
“But I can guarantee this much. They’ll go after Lady Jaryeong’s life again.”
That’s right.
This is the real problem.
For now, we’d managed to deal with the Fourfold Compound Poison thanks to me and the White-Haired Painter-Physician, but there was no way the Murim Alliance would give up here.
The fact that they’d gone so far as to use Fourfold Compound Poison meant they were that wary of Lady Jaryeong’s abilities.
They would never give up on killing her.
“Then what on earth are we supposed to do?”
I looked at Guizhou’s Commissioner and spoke.
“I have one plan in mind.”
–TL Notes–
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