Chapter 248
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 248
Chapter 248. Seonmi's Wedding (3)
I quietly observed the man.
He was a young man in his late thirties with a neatly worn headband.
But... I've seen him somewhere before.
Where have I seen him?
His face was definitely familiar.
Master Jin-yeong had said so before. He said that suspicious movements had been detected and that they were under surveillance.
“We must identify and investigate everyone he meets and talks to here. There is a high possibility that he is connected to subversive forces.”
But why here of all places?
Although I grumbled to myself, I thought I knew the reason.
As the saying goes, if you want to hide a tree, hide it in a forest, and if you want to hide pebbles, hide them in a gravel pit.
Where else would they meet by chance and talk to each other without arousing suspicion other than at a wedding banquet for local dignitaries?
My uncle is the captain of the Yeonjun Trading Company, which has been leading the trading company in Beijing for generations.
And my wife's family is the Ibushirang family, who hold high positions.
It's safe to say that a significant number of influential people in Beijing are attending this banquet.
That means there's no place where they can relax and talk freely.
But why is it at Sunmi's wedding banquet?
Huh... I don't like it.
By the way, that face really looks familiar.
I asked the Master of the Royal Guards.
“Do you know who that man is?”
“His name is Yang Eun-jik.”
“...!”
At that moment, a scene flashed through my mind.
It was from my previous life.
I must have been in my late twenties at the time.
At a meeting of the Trading Company, I was introduced to a man who was accompanying Captain Namgung Kang.
“This is Eun Seo-ho of the Eunha Trading Company.”
“Ah! I've heard of you. Nice to meet you. My name is Yang Eun-jik. I work for the Martial Alliance, though I'm not very skilled.”
I bowed with clasped hands, and what I saw was clearly a well-used sword.
“You work for the Martial Alliance, so you must be a martial artist.”
“Don't be surprised! Master Yang is a master at the peak of his powers.”
“What? At the peak of your powers?”
“Didn't I tell you not to be surprised?”
“You look so young, I was surprised to hear you say you are a master at the peak of your powers.”
“Actually, I reached my peak three years ago.”
“I see. It is an honor to meet a master at the peak of his powers!
”My skills are nothing compared to those of Captain Nangung, who is standing next to me."
I took a deep breath and looked at him again.
Unlike before, he didn't have a beard and was dressed modestly, so I didn't recognize him.
But when I heard his name, I was certain.
He said he reached the peak of his martial arts three years ago, so he must be a top-class warrior now.
But why is a member of the Martial Alliance here?
Usually, tasks such as following and surveillance are assigned to those with relatively low ranks and seniority.
Perhaps because of that, the Royal Guards who had been dispatched seemed to know him as a scholar.
Fortunately, we were far enough away and it was a noisy place, so they couldn't hear our conversation.
I bowed my head and said to them.
“May I say something?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“That man is a martial artist.”
“...!”
Their eyes widened at my words.
“What?”
Still, they seemed to be trained not to shout when surprised.
“A martial artist?”
“Yes. I saw you before when I went to Luoyang. I think you said you belonged to the Martial Alliance.”
“...”
The master who seemed to be the leader of the group asked me.
Was that Master Song?
“Do you know his level of martial arts?”
So he was the one leading them. He was asking the most important question.
“From what I heard, he was said to be one of the best.”
“Thank you. If it weren't for you, this mission would have failed.”
“I'm glad I could be of help.”
At that moment, someone approached a man named Yang Eun-jik, and the Royal Guards focused their attention on him.
They either remembered the names of the people Yang Eun-jik was meeting or secretly wrote down their appearances if they didn't know their names.
The martial artists in front of me seemed unaware that I had trained in martial arts, perhaps because their skill level was lower than mine.
I had already reached the peak of my martial arts skills, and I had become even stronger after receiving instructions from the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Therefore, I could hear Yang Eun-jik's conversation with the others very clearly.
Perhaps because he had originally lived in Beijing, he exchanged greetings with many people.
Among them, there were some whose greetings seemed strange.
“Long time no see.”
“Yes, it's been a long time.”
“How have you been lately?”
“I've been doing well.”
“By the way, it's been very hot lately. Is there anywhere nearby to escape the heat?”
“Three days from now, at dawn. The western observatory.”
"I see. Thank you for letting me know. Please give my regards to Chun-bu-jang as well."
Like this.
At first glance, it seems like they are just exchanging greetings and having a simple conversation, but there is a hidden meaning behind their words.
Three days later, at the western control tower.
Perhaps they are planning to meet there and plot something.
A moment later, Yang Eun-jik left.
Master Song ordered the two masters to follow him. I also tried to get up, but he grabbed my sleeve.
“...?”
“Sit down for a moment.”
“Yes.”
When I sat down, Master Song asked me.
“Master Jin-yeong said that you have good insight for your age.”
“...He was just saying nice things.”
“I thought so too, but the information he gave us a moment ago changed my mind.”
His expression was very serious.
“I would like your advice. Is there anyone among the people he met today that we should keep an eye on?”
I thought about his question for a moment.
I didn't know what it was, but it was clear that something fishy was going on in the Martial Alliance.
And judging from the fact that the Royal Guards had stepped in, it couldn't be anything good.
I hesitated for a moment because I wondered if this would cause me trouble.
They might interrogate me, thinking that I was involved with them.
But...
Looking at Master Jin and Master Song in front of me, I didn't think that would happen.
“Then... this is just my opinion...”
“Go ahead.”
“Please focus on the third, seventh, tenth, twelfth, and fifteenth people you met.”
“You remember who you met?”
“I have a good memory.”
He quickly wrote down what I said on a piece of paper, put it in his pocket, and said.
“I'll be going now. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Don't mention it. I'm glad I could be of help.”
With that, Master Song quietly left the banquet hall.
I thought the Martial Alliance had been quiet lately...
Still, if I can ruin the Martial Alliance's plans, then I'm happy.
I got up from my seat.
It was about time for my husband to arrive.
I wanted to go see Sunmi, but on the day of the wedding, it was customary that no man, not even my father or Orabeoni, could see her face.
So I asked a maid to go check on Sunmi for me.
A moment later
the maid approached me and handed me a letter.
“...?”
“Miss asked me to give this to you.”
I opened the letter and read its contents.
“Orabeoni, you want to see my face, don't you? But the first person I want to show it to is my husband. Anyway, thank you so much. Today's good fortune is all thanks to you.”
I could feel her happiness in the words.
I smiled softly and folded the letter and put it in my bosom.
Thanks to the education she received from the university ladies, she had become refined in her manners, but Sunmi was still Sunmi.
.
.
.
The hot sun disappeared from view.
Still, the heat from the scorching ground rose up, and it was still hot.
Buzz, buzz.
Pal-gap, who was next to me, kept fanning himself with a fan.
“Is it that hot?”
“I really envy the young master and the warriors.”
I could understand Pal-gap's envy.
I have mastered Bing Gong and am at the peak of my powers, and the bodyguards are also top-class warriors who are at or near their peak, so we don't feel the heat that much.
At that moment, the warrior Jin Yu said.
“Pal-gap, if you train hard in martial arts, you won't feel the heat like this.”
“How long will that take?”
“...Well, that depends on how hard you train.”
Pal-gap's face fell at those words.
He looked like a bear with his ears drooping, and I couldn't help but laugh.
Then,
“The groom is coming!”
“Woo-hoo!”
A band was coming from afar.
Behind the band playing cheerful music, a red palanquin was coming along. It was the palanquin that would carry Seonmi away.
Come to think of it, in my previous life, my aunt was very sad after Seonmi got married.
She was like a friend to me, so I felt even sadder for her.
And when she came to visit her parents' house, I felt heartbroken when I saw how thin she had become.
Now she would never see Seonmi's emaciated face again, but she would still feel lonely.
When the Beijing branch is completed, she would probably stay in Beijing often, so she would have to visit her often.
.
.
.
Seonmi's wedding was over.
And today was the day Seonmi would visit her parents' home.
This is because there is a custom where the bride, after the wedding, goes to her husband's house and then returns to her parents' home three days later.
“We're here.”
“Mother! Father! We're here!”
My uncle and aunt welcomed Won-sang and Sun-mi.
At that moment, Won-sang and I made eye contact.
I could see him flinch.
Did I do something wrong? Why is he acting like that?
The newlyweds received words of wisdom and gifts from the elders of the family, including my grandfather.
Finally, it was my turn.
I am the youngest in the family.
“Live happily.”
“Yes, Orabeoni.”
“And...”
When I looked at Won-sharang, he flinched again.
“Why are you acting like that? I'm not a scary person. Hahaha.”
“....”
“Anyway, I still remember what you promised me. So you have to make Seon-mi happy.”
“Of course! I will devote everything I have to do that. Master!”
Huh? Master?
I'm not old enough to be called that...
I tried to correct him, but decided not to.
I couldn't talk too long here.
“Here's a gift.”
I handed him a red wallet. Usually, there was money inside.
I put money in it too. Of course, it was an unimaginable amount for him.
Giving a red wallet with money in it to someone who just got married is something you do for someone younger than you, not someone older.
Seonmi was the first person I ever gave a red wallet to, so I put in a generous amount.
“Now, let's go eat.”
“Yes.”
We had a pleasant time together.
Then, I suddenly thought of Yang Eun-jik.
I gave him enough information, so the Royal Guards would take care of it.
.
.
.
About three days passed.
Perhaps worried that my aunt would be lonely, my grandfather decided to stay in Beijing for a while.
Meanwhile, Jung-ho was busy handling matters related to the delivery of imperial silk.
Jeong-ho came to Beijing to attend Seonmi's wedding banquet, but he was also busy with work related to the delivery of silk to the royal family.
And I was... busy.
I had my usual work to do, but I also had to take care of work related to the Beijing branch, and there were many times when I wished I had two bodies.
But who am I?
I have been trained for decades in my previous life!
Moreover, thanks to my Master's training, I was in excellent physical condition.
Today, as I was working hard, Pal-gap entered the room where I was working.
“Young Master. You have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
“Yes. Master Kwak Pyo-du is here.”
Head Escort Kwak... Does that mean Master is here?
I jumped up and quickly went out to the courtyard. Master was standing in the courtyard.
“Master, it's been a long time. Why are you standing here? Why don't you come into the reception room?”
“No, I don't have much time.”
Did he make time to stop by even though he was busy?
Ah, that's why he came.
“I wanted to know about the next technique of Gyeok-eum-hon-bing-tu, so I stopped by while I was here.”
It was as I expected.
“I'm sorry for making you trouble by coming all this way.”
“Not at all. We are both in the same situation.”
I took my Master to the back of our temporary residence. This was because we needed to be alone to practice the Extreme Yin-Yang Sword Technique.
There, I taught him the third technique.
“I see. I understand.”
“As expected of my Master.”
Then, it suddenly occurred to me that my Master had connections in the martial arts world and had heard many things during his travels, so he might know someone named Yang Eun-jik.
“Master, I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know a man named Yang Eun-jik from the Martial Alliance?”
“...Who did you say?”
When my master heard that name, his expression changed.