The bandits started trembling like aspen leaves as soon as they met her gaze.
“Do you wanna die, kid?”
Then, someone else appeared.
A plain-looking young man with a gentle impression.
He was holding a Willow Leaf Saber, but he hadn’t even done anything yet when the bandits collapsed to the ground with a thud.
They had no idea why. Their legs just gave out.
Their pants grew wet.
Clicking his tongue, the man with the Willow Leaf Saber spoke.
“Tsk, looks like your Qi’s completely drained.”
He clearly looked like a young man, but his tone was that of an old man.
“Indeed, that’s right. Hoho.”
The woman spoke sweetly.
“Kid, if you don’t wanna die, you’d better live a good life.”
“Y-Yes! Absolutely!”
“We will!”
“We’ll wash our hands clean right now!”
The bandits scrambled to their feet and fled without looking back.
Then the man and woman turned to Mun Ju-seong and asked,
“You must be Mun Ju-seong, huh?”
“Ah, yes! Th-That’s me.”
“Come along with your mother.”
“Huh?”
“Young master Eun asked us. You’ll be helping out at the Springtime Inn.”
The revival of the Granny Skullbreaker.
And her husband, the reborn Transcendent Sword Master, Willow Saber Emperor (流柳劍帝).
A familiar building stood ahead.
We’d arrived at the main headquarters of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
“We’re finally here.”
I nodded at Palgap’s words.
The return to Hubei was faster and easier than heading to Shaanxi.
Traveling by water was simply faster than overland. On the way back, we just had to sail downstream.
As soon as we entered the merchant group, the gatekeeper quickly greeted me with a bow.
“Greetings to the Chief of the Virtuous Wind Department.”
“Good work. Everything alright?”
“Yes, all’s peaceful.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I stepped inside and turned to Yeo Chang-Wu’s deputy.
“Take the rest of the day off and get some proper rest.”
“Thank you.”
“And Escort Bae Cheol, Escort Go Ju-sang.”
“Yes, sir!”
“You both worked hard.”
“It was an honor to be part of this meaningful journey.”
“It’s been a privilege, sir.”
The two bowed and left.
I grinned as I watched them go.
I’ll have to hire them again sometime.
“Palgap, you and the two escorts should head to Munghok Hall first.”
It meant they should get cleaned up and take care of their duties.
“Understood, sir.”
“Then, we’ll go ahead.”
I immediately headed to Silver Dragon Hall where Father was.
I had to report in person that I’d returned safely.
Since the Virtuous Wind Department was an independent organization, I could report directly to Father.
.
.
.
A moment later, I stood before him.
“I’ve returned safely, Father.”
“Well done.”
He smiled faintly at me.
“I’ve heard the details from Clerk Eom. You’ve achieved quite the accomplishment again.”
He was talking about taking down the Shaanxi Scorpion.
“I already knew you were capable, but honestly, even I didn’t expect this. Catching a scammer, then tricking that scammer into confessing—Ha!”
I felt a bit embarrassed.
“And that’s not all. You secured a direct trade line for Fucha plantations and even absorbed three merchant groups from Shaanxi.”
Ah, right, that happened too.
“Are we officially taking over those merchant groups?”
“Yes. Our group will manage them.”
That’s great news.
“Chief Administrator Yu and Pavilion Lord Yeon arranged and signed the memorandum of understanding.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Indeed. You’ve worked very hard.”
“It’s nothing. I simply did what needed to be done.”
“By the way, how did things go with the Wu Merchant Group?”
I calmly gave a verbal summary of the key points and then handed him the report I’d prepared in advance.
“All the details are in this report.”
“I see. No major issues, then.”
“None, sir.”
Father nodded as he accepted the report.
“Go on and get some rest.”
“Still, I should at least show my face to Grandfather and Mother first.”
After reporting to Father, I returned to Munghok Hall, washed up, and changed clothes.
Then I visited Grandfather and Mother one after the other to let them know I’d returned safely.
Jeong-ho was away on a trip.
So I told his wife and Jin-ho that I’d returned and then went back to my detached quarters.
Ugh, I’m exhausted.
There’s still one thing left to do.
The true purpose of this trip to Shaanxi was to feed the Fruit of Renewal to Lady Hong Geum-so’s husband.
Starting tomorrow, it’s back to the usual busy life.
Today would be my freest day.
And besides, Elixirs work best when they’re fresh, right?
A small tile-roofed house.
A man lay on the bed inside.
He was gaunt, but looking at his facial features, one could tell he’d been fairly handsome when healthy.
His name was Seo Wu.
The husband of Lady Hong Geum-so.
He used to be a First-rate warrior, working as the Escort Chief of an escort bureau.
But now he was bedridden because of a fight with an Demonic Cult martial artist during a job.
The martial artist specialized in Sepsis Palm (敗血掌).
Though Seo Wu had somehow managed to defeat him, the injury from the Sepsis Palm flared up afterward.
When he started coughing up blood, something felt wrong. Soon, his organs began to rot.
In the end, he could no longer work as an Escort Chief.
His decaying organs left him unable to move, see, or speak.
Only his nose and ears still functioned.
Whether he understood or not, his wife spoke to him every night about her day.
“The weather was really nice today. We used to walk along the river on days like this.”
“…”
“You must wake up. I really want to walk along the riverside with you again.”
At first, Seo Wu had given up on life.
But hearing his wife say every day that he must wake up eventually made him abandon that thought.
He was determined to survive.
That’s probably why he desperately clung to life.
“I hope you live as long as possible. Honestly, you’ve got no hope, but you still bring in decent money.”
He burned with rage hearing the physician’s greedy words.
“I sold my wedding ornaments today. I really wanted to keep those until the end…”
He forced down the sadness at his wife’s words.
Then one day, her voice was unusually bright.
“I’ve started working at the Eunhae Merchant Group. I thought I’d maybe just sew some fancy clothes for a rich young master, but it turns out he’s the son of the Merchant Lord himself. He liked how I made clothes. Though, it wasn’t even real clothes—it was for a doll. But he paid me generously anyway.”
Then, a voice unfamiliar compared to the usual physician’s sounded.
“Tsk tsk. They’ve been using the wrong medicine this whole time. What a dog of a man. Shameful to even call him a physician.”
It must have started from that moment.
The sense of peace slowly returning.
“I got praised by the Merchant Lord today. He said the doll clothes I made were beautiful.”
“Did I mention? The popularity of the Self-Dancing Doll is incredible. It sold so well that I even got a bonus.”
And from then on, her voice began to brighten.
“Today, Young Master Eun Seo-ho…”
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho…”
She started talking more and more about Eun Seo-ho.
They moved from a small, musty house to one that smelled fresh and clean.
Little by little, the world around them began to change.
All thanks to that man named Eun Seo-ho.
When a year had passed, Seo Wu’s vision began to return.
The face of his beloved wife, whom he’d longed to see so much, appeared before him.
“Huh? You… You can see?”
Noticing his moving pupils, his wife cried out in surprise.
Seo Wu blinked once.
It meant yes.
“Ah…”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
.
.
.
Time flowed on.
Seo Wu could feel it. If this continued for just a few more years, he wouldn’t die.
But greed… greed was truly a nasty thing.
He should’ve been grateful just to be alive, but when he remembered himself as a martial artist, the current him felt so pathetic.
He was nothing more than someone living off the money his wife earned.
When he got better, he’d promised himself he’d make her happy…
But right now, it felt like he was only causing her more hardship.
Sure, his wife always said she was just happy that he was alive… but he couldn’t accept that.
It was summer.
The sound of cicadas beyond the door told him the season.
The heat wasn’t unbearable thanks to the Windcraft Fan whirring beside him.
It was a collaborative creation between Artisan Gong and Eun Seo-ho, or rather, the Chief of the Virtuous Wind Department.
‘Selling such a miraculous device… a genius truly is a genius.’
Just then, the door to his room creaked open.
Creak.
But there were no footsteps.
‘Who is it? A thief? What do they want?’
But he couldn’t do anything about it since he still couldn’t move.
As Seo Wu tensed, a handsome young man’s face appeared before him.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Eun Seo-ho, Chief of the Virtuous Wind Department of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“…!”
His eyes widened at those words.
He’d always wondered what kind of person this was, and now, finally, the mystery was solved.
But immediately, a question popped up.
Usually, when someone visited, a maid would announce the guest.
But there’d been no sign of anyone. This person had slipped in without a sound.
Not to mention, his wife was currently out at work.
And the fact that this person came alone meant…
It meant this visit was a secret, intended solely for him.
“You’re wondering why I came, aren’t you?”
Seo Wu blinked once.
“I never forget a grudge, but I also never forget a favor. Thanks to your wife’s craftsmanship, our merchant group made considerable profits. So, I’ve been meaning to express my gratitude… and it just so happens this ended up in my hands.”
Eun Seo-ho opened the box he took from his chest.
Inside was a fruit that looked like a cherry.
“This is the Fruit of Renewal. Once you consume it, your body will revert to how it was ten years ago.”
“…!”
“I’m going to have you eat this. You don’t need to circulate Qi. This Elixir doesn’t affect your internal Qi; it directly restores the body itself.”
It was a shocking revelation.
He’d heard rumors about such Elixirs, but it still didn’t make sense.
Why?
Why would he give something this priceless to him?
Even if his wife had helped the merchant group, this was far beyond a reasonable reward.
As if reading his thoughts, Eun Seo-ho smiled and said,
“You’re wondering why I’m giving this to you.”
Seo Wu blinked.
“You once saved my life. You probably don’t remember.”
Had he?
“Isn’t that how favors and debts work? The one who gives forgets… but the one who receives remembers.”
Eun Seo-ho chuckled.
“As I said, I forget neither grudge nor favor. Since you once saved my life, I’ll return it. No—I’ll return the life you lost.”
Eun Seo-ho picked up the Fruit of Renewal from the box and brought it to Seo Wu’s mouth.
“Just eat it.”
Seo Wu swallowed the Fruit of Renewal.
And at that moment, he felt it.
His withered flesh and muscles began to fill out again.
Organs that had been barely holding together started reviving.
His dried meridians came back to life.
And then—
“Ah… Aah…”
His voice came out.
Watching him, Eun Seo-ho smiled.
“Congratulations on reclaiming your life.”
I left Lady Hong Geum-so’s house as silently as I’d entered.
“Did everything go well, sir?”
Palgap, who’d been waiting nearby, asked.
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
The two escort guards spoke up.
“That’s a relief.”
“Honestly… it didn’t feel like someone else’s business.”
Warriors often say they’re walking the Blade Forest. It means they never know when an enemy’s strike might end their life.
Just like Escort Chief Seo Wu, who ended up bedridden while doing his job.
They said Seo Wu was a diligent and upright escort chief.
Because of that, many had respected him. That made what happened to him even sadder.
But it was also why, knowingly or unknowingly, many whom he’d once helped protected him and his wife.
That’s why thugs couldn’t touch Lady Hong Geum-so.
There’s a saying.
The reason you should accumulate virtue is because, in the end, it’s for yourself when crisis strikes.
People always receive according to what they give.
That’s why you’ve gotta live a good life.
I really wanna say this to the Baekcheon Merchant Group and the Murim Alliance.
They, too, will eventually pay for the karma they’ve piled up.
As for this miracle that happened to Seo Wu, I made sure the physician responsible was paid handsomely to keep his mouth shut.
And Seo Wu agreed to keep it a secret too.
One day, the secret may come out. But by then, I’ll be strong enough to handle the attention.
“Let’s head back. To the merchant group.”
–TL Notes–
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