Chapter 320
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 320
Chapter 320. Things to Do (1)
After finishing my fight with the Boss, I dragged him back to the mountain keep.
“Liege!”
My bodyguards, who were helping the others clean up, ran over but stopped in their tracks.
Do I look that bad?
Seo Woo asked in a trembling voice.
“Are you injured?”
“Ah...”
I nodded.
“I was stronger, but this Boss used poison and a weapon. I lost because I lacked experience.”
“No! You mean he used poison? That's dangerous!”
Then he bustled about.
While I was still in shock, a bed was made in the mountain keep courtyard, and I was laid down on it.
When did these bodyguards start working so well together?
Even if I ignore the other warriors, why are the warriors of Myeongjong and Chang-un working so well together?
“Shouldn't we wake up Boss and find out what kind of poison it is?”
“Yes, you're right. For now, we should use the antidote I have.”
Hearing their words, I sighed and got up from the bed.
“Why did I tell you all to leave earlier?”
Pal-gap answered my question.
“Isn't it to prevent us from being caught up in the poison attack?”
“That's right. Then why did I take the lead in fighting him?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it, that is strange. Our young master values his life dearly and would never do anything to put himself at a disadvantage.”
That's a compliment, right?
“Yes, you know me well. That's because my martial arts skills allow me to counteract most poisons.”
I looked at the bodyguards and said,
“That's why I'm fine. It's just a few scratches...”
“Did you say a few?”
I flinched at the intensity of the bodyguard's gaze.
“It was a bit more than a few.”
“I understand why you gave that order earlier. But we have more experience dealing with such people than you do. And we can withstand moderate poisons.”
“...”
“You care too much about us. Of course, we are grateful, but we are afraid that it will lead to our mistakes.”
“...”
“I wish you would rely on us a little more.”
Those words made me think for a moment.
Why did I try to fight him instead of the bodyguards earlier?
Was it really because I was the most resistant to poison?
It was probably because of my memories from my previous life.
At that time, the bodyguards and the bodyguard unit risked their lives to protect me.
The sense of debt and guilt I felt toward them at that time still remains within me.
It has been six years since I returned to the past, but those feelings are not easy to get rid of.
However, I understand their concerns.
The bodyguards' job is to protect me, but now the roles have been reversed.
Sometimes, consideration can be poison.
This is one of those cases.
“The truth is, I don't like seeing anyone die in front of me. Especially if it's someone I care about.”
“...”
“That's why I think I acted that way without realizing it. But I think it was a burden on you all. I'm sorry. From now on, I will rely on you more.”
“We will also try to be more reliable to our Liege.”
Then, Lee Pil said,
“By the way, is your side injury okay?”
“It's nothing. I'll put some medicine on it, and it will heal in a week.”
At my words, Pal-gap took out a small bottle.
“I knew this might happen, so I saved some of that miraculous Jeong-an-su.”
“Huh?”
Miraculous Jeong-an-su? Could it be... Geum-ryeong's needle?
Pal-gap laid me down on a makeshift bed and began to apply the liquid from the bottle to my side.
Seeing the wound heal in an instant, I realized he was right.
However, knowing that it was Geum-ryeong's needle, I couldn't help but look uneasy.
“Does it hurt?”
“I'm fine...”
This is why preconceptions are dangerous.
Finally, Cheong-gwan, who had been suffering in the cave, was rescued, and the mountain keep was cleared.
By order of the Royal Guards, Cheong-gwan was treated and then bound again.
Now the problem was the kidnapped children.
They had to be sent back home.
Judging from their clothes and accents, it was clear that they were children from the northern tribes of Gansu, so it shouldn't be difficult to return them.
“Then shall the Masters go to Beijing with Minister Bang first?”
“Us first?”
“Yes. I will take the children home and follow you to Beijing.”
My words made Master Jin look embarrassed.
“I'm sorry. This is our job.”
“No, it's not. How can you refuse to return these children to their homes?”
I continued.
“Besides, there are people who were following us, so it would be better if you left first.”
“You're right.”
The emperor's request in his letter was to bring Bang No-sa to Beijing and rescue the Royal Guards.
Their safe arrival in Beijing is the priority.
“But are you sure it's okay? If you do as you say, you'll be the bait for us.”
I smiled wryly at Bang No-sa's words.
He was right.
However, there was another reason for sending them away separately. I had something else to do in Gansu.
“The emperor's orders come before my safety. And you don't have to worry about me. I'm better at running away than you think.”
I said with a smile.
“So please go back and catch those who are chasing me.”
“I understand. I will do as you say.”
With that, the Master and the Royal Guards took Cheong-gwan Gong and the others they had arrested here and headed for Beijing.
To get there quickly, they decided to take a boat, and after seeing them off, I headed for the house I had bought at the foot of the mountain.
Pal-gap was playing with the children.
“Let's get going now.”
“Yes!”
We got into the carriage we had prepared in advance. Since there was no coachman, Pal-gap drove the carriage.
It would be a waste to leave the house as it was.
So, I contacted the Gansu branch of Eunhae Trading Company and asked them to take care of it.
I thought we might need it again in the future.
The carriage we were riding in began to move.
“Are we going home now?”
One of the five children asked me.
This child had asked me more than half of the questions the children had asked me. Was his name Gil-sung?
“Yes.”
The other children were very happy with my answer.
“But we don't know where our house is.”
Gil-sung's question made the children's eyes fill with fear again, and their shoulders slumped.
“Are those the clothes you've been wearing since the beginning?”
The children looked at each other and nodded in response to my question.
“The clothes you're wearing and the headdresses are unique symbols of your tribe. They allow us to guess which tribe you belong to.”
“Really?”
“So you don't have to worry.”
“Um... Master Seon and Master Dae.”
“Ahem!”
I couldn't help but choke when I heard Gil-seong say their names.
I didn't expect to hear those names here.
“Where did you hear those names?”
“From the Royal Guards and the servant.”
“...”
I trembled.
“Just call me hyung. Hahaha.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Gil-seong and the children bowed their heads to me.
“Thank you so much.”
I smiled at their greeting.
To be honest, sending the children home was possible because of my previous life experience.
At that time, while trading with various tribes in Gansu, I had carefully observed their clothes and accessories and memorized which tribe they belonged to.
“Is this the right way?”
“Yes. Just go straight ahead.”
Thanks to that memory, I knew which tribe lived where.
The bodyguards were surprised to see me, but I just mumbled something.
After driving for about four days from Lanzhou, we soon arrived at the residence of a tribe.
It was a tribe of men and women with colorful braided hair.
When they saw the tribe, the child with braided hair began to cry.
“Whoa!”
The carriage stopped.
As we entered the tribe, the tribespeople became nervous at the sight of strangers and stared at us.
Then, some strong young men armed themselves and stood guard.
I opened the carriage door, got out, picked up a child from the tribe, and carried him out of the carriage.
When the child saw me, I heard a scream from the other side.
“Se-joong!”
“Mother!”
The child ran toward his mother, who was rushing over, and threw himself into her arms.
“Se-joong! My son! Where have you been?”
“Mother! Mother!”
“Se-joong? Se-joong is back?”
“Father!”
I watched the family reunion with a happy expression.
Then an old man approached me.
“Are you here to take Se-joong home?”
I quickly clasped my hands together and replied.
“Yes, it is my first time meeting you. My name is Eun Seo-ho. I was following orders when I found the kidnapped children and rescued them.”
“So Se-joong was kidnapped?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Then what about the other children?”
“There are a few more in the carriage.”
The old man tilted his head at my words.
“But how did you know that Se-joong was a child of our tribe?”
I tapped my hair with my fingers and replied.
“The headdress. Braiding the hair with colored thread, and using three colors in particular, is characteristic of this tribe, isn't it?”
“How did you know that? I'm amazed!”
“I'm from the upper world.”
The old man smiled at my words and introduced himself.
“I am Ho-chung, the chief of this tribe.”
“Oh, you're the chief.”
I already knew that. He was wearing the chief's insignia. And this tribe doesn't reveal their names unless they trust someone.
Does revealing his name to me mean he trusts me?
Then the child came up to me with his parents and bowed his head.
“Thank you so much for saving me and taking me home.”
“Even though you've had a hard time, live bravely.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
I smiled lightly and turned to the chieftain to say goodbye.
“I'll be going now.”
“Already? You're too harsh. You haven't even let us repay you.”
“I would like to stay, but there are other children in the carriage. Their parents must be waiting for them. Please understand my situation.”
It is called empathy.
Understanding his feelings, the chief and the parents saw me off with sad faces.
“Since you say so, I cannot stop you.”
“Please visit us again next time.”
With that, we left the tribe and headed for the next one.
In fact, when we arrived at this tribe, there was a slight sense of uneasiness in the children's eyes.
Perhaps it was because they were unsure and worried whether we would really take them home.
However, when they saw the children returning home, hope began to appear in their eyes.
It took a day to reach the next tribe.
The tribe was easy to recognize because their clothes were slightly different.
When we arrived at the next tribe, it was evening.
As we approached, burly young men rushed out with bows in their hands.
While the previous tribe had only been on guard with their weapons, this tribe aimed their bows at us as if they were going to shoot.
It was a place that was hostile and closed off to outsiders.
“Um... You shouldn't do that to your benefactor.”
I said gently to the frightened child.
“It's only natural to protect your tribe.”
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't have to apologize.”
“But don't get the wrong idea. All the people in our tribe are kind and good. They're not usually like that.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I took the child down from the carriage, held his hand, and approached them.
Then I bowed politely with clasped hands.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Eun Seo-ho. I have brought a child from the Gui tribe.”
At that moment, the child looked ahead and shouted.
“Put down your bows! You can't do that to your benefactor!”
“What? Kang-yong? Isn't that Kang-yong?”
The one who seemed to be their commander raised his hand and gave an urgent order.
“Stand down! Lower your bows immediately! You bastards!”
“Tell the chief immediately! Kang-yong is back!”
Then he approached me and asked.
“What is going on here?”
I explained the whole situation, and after hearing my words, he asked the boy called Kang Yong.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. This man saved me.”
“I see!”
At that moment, a man ran out from inside.
“Kang Yong!”
“Father!”
“Oh my! What on earth is going on?”
“Chief, this is the man who brought Kang-yong here.”
Hearing this, I realized that the boy named Kang-yong was the chief's son.
Come to think of it... I remembered a story I had heard in my previous life.
It was said that although the place had not been closed off to the outside world before, it became isolated after the chief's son went missing.
They never found the child...
Was that child this boy?