Chapter 539
Chapter 539
Chapter 539. Let Us Establish a Martial Arts Academy (5)
At his words, Mae Jeong wondered inwardly.
After all, he was someone who usually looked at him as if he were a cow looking at a chicken.
Even when he had something he needed to say, he would pass the message through someone else or send a letter.
But he could not help but pause at the words that followed.
“There is something I have to tell you about the guest who came to see you this time.” (Manager Cho)
He had already been harboring doubts about Young Master Eun Seoho and investigating him.
Of course, given the circumstances, he probably was Young Master Eun Seoho.
The Trading Company Head had vouched for him as well.
But because of everything he had suffered until now, he could not completely trust him.
At that, he rose from his seat.
“Lead the way.” (Mae Jeong)
“Very well.” (Manager Cho)
A short while later, they arrived at a place with few people around.
“So, what is it you have to say about my guest?” (Mae Jeong)
“That guest of yours who came this time, he is the Young Master of Eunhae Trading Company, is he not?” (Manager Cho)
“It is not certain yet.” (Mae Jeong)
“If the Trading Company Head said it is certain, then it is certain.” (Manager Cho)
“…….” (Mae Jeong)
“He is the real Young Master of Eunhae Trading Company, so put your suspicions to rest. You know that I went to Luoyang with the Trading Company Head during the last Dragon and Phoenix Martial Arts Competition.” (Manager Cho)
“Yes. That is so.” (Mae Jeong)
“I saw him then as well. And those two martial artists who caused trouble at the time were with him too. From what I heard, because Young Master Eun Seoho pleaded for them, they were not expelled and instead became Young Master Eun Seoho’s escorts.” (Manager Cho)
Since he had gone this far, there was no way not to believe him.
“By the way, you are transferring to Eunhae Trading Company, are you not?” (Manager Cho)
“I have not decided yet, but how did you know that?” (Mae Jeong)
“There are ways to know everything.” (Manager Cho)
At that, Mae Jeong bit his lip.
“So what is it you want to say?” (Mae Jeong)
Manager Cho cleared his throat, looking slightly embarrassed, and answered.
“Ahem, the matter you are pushing forward this time. Hand that matter over to me.” (Manager Cho)
“Pardon?” (Mae Jeong)
At Manager Cho’s words, Mae Jeong went blank for a moment.
The matter he was pushing forward was making the method of producing sugar more efficient.
It was about ninety percent complete, and it was being well received by the workers.
In other words, it meant he wanted to take credit for a task that only needed to be finished.
“Since I have not been able to properly receive performance bonuses until now, to be honest, it is embarrassing even in front of my family.” (Manager Cho)
His mindset of wanting to eat a meal that only needed to be allowed to steam was detestable, but there was something that upset him even more.
“……Do you not think that I might stay with Yeocheong Trading Company?” (Mae Jeong)
“What lingering attachment would you have to remain here? It is not as if you will be buried here anyway, and in the first place, the Trading Company Head brought you here, so once the Trading Company Head leaves, you would have no lingering attachment here, would you?” (Manager Cho)
At those words, Mae Jeong felt somehow empty.
Because it meant that all the effort he had put in until now to blend into the Trading Company had been in vain.
“…….” (Mae Jeong)
“And since it is a request made personally by the Trading Company Head, you are not the sort who would turn your back on the Trading Company Head’s request.” (Manager Cho)
“…….” (Mae Jeong)
Mae Jeong let out a sigh and said,
“I thought I had lived doing my best, in my own way, for Yeocheong Trading Company and the people of the company, but it seems I was still lacking.” (Mae Jeong)
“That is…….” (Manager Cho)
It was then.
“Fire!” (Someone)
“The sugarcane field is on fire!” (Someone)
At the sudden screams and shouts, the two of them were startled.
When harvesting sugarcane, people would deliberately set fire to it to get rid of snakes and pests.
Even if they did that, the sugarcane itself would not burn.
But that was only when it was harvest time.
The sugarcane had not even properly ripened yet.
If it was exposed to fire now, this sugarcane crop would be ruined.
They stopped the conversation they had been having and hurriedly ran to the sugarcane field.
And they themselves took up sickles and began cutting down the sugarcane that had not yet burned together with the others.
Because they had to stop the fire from spreading to the rest of the sugarcane somehow.
“Waaah!” (Children)
At that moment, children came running and crying beside the sugarcane field.
At that, Manager Cho quickly ran over to them and asked,
“What happened?” (Manager Cho)
“We’re sorry.” (Child)
“We’re sorry. Waaah!” (Child)
At his scolding, the children only cried.
“Stop crying! Tell me what happened!” (Manager Cho)
“Th, that is…….” (Child)
“We were roasting a bird in the empty lot over there……” (Child)
The empty lot the children pointed to was an empty lot beside the sugarcane field, a place used as the children’s playground.
Usually, because there was distance between them, even if a fire was lit there, it would not spread to the sugarcane field, but the weather had been extremely dry recently, and the wind was especially strong today.
So sparks flew and the fire spread to the sugarcane field.
“You, you, you…… you brats!” (Manager Cho)
Manager Cho was about to burst out in anger, but Manager Mae stopped him and asked the children,
“Come to think of it, did the five of you not usually go around together? Then why are there only four of you?” (Mae Jeong)
“Th…… Cho Im hyung went inside, saying he would try to put out the fire.” (Child)
“What?” (Manager Cho)
Cho Im was Manager Cho’s son.
If one was inside when a sugarcane field caught fire, it was hard to survive.
Knowing that, Manager Cho lost his mind and collapsed onto the spot.
Mae Jeong picked up a nearby water jar and poured it over his own body.
“What are you going to do?” (Manager Cho)
“I will bring him out.” (Mae Jeong)
“It is dangerous!” (Manager Cho)
At those words, Mae Jeong spoke firmly.
“He is Manager Cho’s son! I cannot let the son you had with such difficulty die.” (Mae Jeong)
“But why must you risk danger?” (Manager Cho)
“Is this the time to argue over that? A member of the Trading Company family is in trouble!” (Mae Jeong)
And Mae Jeong shook off that hand and ran into the sugarcane field.
“Cho Im! Where are you? Cho Im?” (Mae Jeong)
Since it was easy to lose one’s way in a sugarcane field, markers had been set up here and there.
Mae Jeong followed those markers, finding his way as he searched for Manager Cho’s son.
“Cho Im!” (Mae Jeong)
“Mister!” (Cho Im)
Mae Jeong finally found Cho Im, and the moment he saw Mae Jeong, he began to cry.
“I’m sorry. We were trying to roast a bird…… sob…….” (Cho Im)
“Your father is worried. Let us get out quickly.” (Mae Jeong)
They walked back along the path they had taken in order to leave the sugarcane field, but……
“Ugh! Damn it!” (Mae Jeong)
Before they knew it, the flames had spread and blocked their escape route.
It was a situation where they could neither move forward nor retreat.
The hot flames billowed and drew closer and closer to them.
The intense heat and smoke made it hard to breathe.
‘Come to think of it, I feel as if I had this sort of experience once before, at some point?’ (Mae Jeong)
Was that why?
Whenever he saw a particularly large fire, cold sweat would break out from fear.
So whenever the sugarcane field was burned, he would take sick leave and shut himself inside his house.
He had desperately hidden it, afraid his weakness would be discovered.
‘I really am something. How did someone like me, in what state of mind, jump into the fire saying I would save Im?’ (Mae Jeong)
He could not help but give a bitter smile.
Despite their rejection, he had cherished the people of the Trading Company.
Because he had that kind of heart, he had also rushed in recklessly like this.
‘But in the end, I am dying like this.’ (Mae Jeong)
Though he could not remember him, he wanted to see the father who, they said, was waiting for him.
But it seemed he would not be able to accomplish that.
‘I hope the Trading Company Head will not grieve too much.’ (Mae Jeong)
Thinking that, he squeezed his eyes shut and held the child tightly as he waited for the death that would come upon them.
Then suddenly, a freezing wind blew.
Whoosh—!
At that, Mae Jeong opened his eyes and lifted his head.
Someone was standing before him.
“I am glad you are safe. Heaven and earth must have helped.” (Eun Seoho)
At those words, for a moment, it seemed as if something else appeared before his eyes.
“I am glad you are safe! Heaven and earth must have helped!” (Someone)
And another voice heard by his ear.
‘Whose voice is that?’ (Mae Jeong)
It was a voice mixed with moisture, as if truly relieved.
For some reason, tears flowed from his eyes. And then…….
“Ugh!” (Mae Jeong)
His head began to hurt as if it would split apart, and in the end, he lost consciousness.
---
Martial Artist Seo Woo supported Manager Mae.
“It seems he has lost consciousness.” (Seo Woo)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
The child had already fainted. It seemed he had been unable to overcome his fear of the surging flames.
After finding the Thousand Spirit Root in the sugarcane field and putting it away, I realized that a fire had broken out.
I was heading toward the place where the fire was burning in order to suppress it, then increased my speed further.
Because I sensed Manager Mae’s energy from that direction.
If Manager Mae died, this trip to Guangxi Province would become a waste.
I urgently used ice arts to put out the fire and rushed forward quickly, and I was able to save Manager Mae.
I raised my energy again.
Wooooong.
The Great Yin Ice Sea Divine Art was an inner art of extreme yin.
Thanks to that, it had a powerful suppressive force against fire.
I raised the Silver Mist Sword and swung it toward the place where the flames were blazing.
Whoosh—!
Once the power of the Silver Mist Sword’s mist was added, the flames began to die down rapidly.
Through the escape route secured that way, the two martial artists followed while carrying Manager Mae and the child on their backs.
Perhaps having heard the news, not only my party but also the people of the Trading Company were outside, stamping their feet anxiously.
When I came out, my party ran over.
“Young Master!” (The party)
“Please take care of these two here. I will go put out the fire.” (Eun Seoho)
“But…… it is dangerous!” (Someone)
I smiled faintly and swung my sword again, and the fire began to go out in an instant.
“Oh!” (Someone)
“Oooh!” (Someone)
At that, the people of Yeocheong Trading Company were greatly astonished.
I continued to pour out ice arts, and before even fifteen minutes had passed, I was able to suppress the fire.
“Please check whether there are any places where the fire has not gone out.” (Eun Seoho)
“There are none!” (Someone)
“It has all gone out!” (Someone)
“That is a relief.” (Eun Seoho)
I turned my head and looked at the two people who were still unconscious.
“You brat! Open your eyes!” (Manager Cho)
The managers were gathered around the child, but they could not readily approach Manager Mae.
Even so, they kept glancing at Manager Mae.
A look mixed with guilt and apology.
“That child is Manager Cho’s son, and they say that the moment Manager Mae heard that his son had not come out of the sugarcane field, he ran inside.” (Palgap)
At Palgap’s explanation, I understood the situation.
And why they were feeling the emotion called guilt, too.
Then the other managers approached me.
“It is astonishing that you put out the fire just by swinging your sword!” (Manager)
“Fortunately, the martial arts I learned belong to the ice arts category, so I was able to put out the fire without much difficulty.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you so much.” (Manager)
“How should we ever repay this grace?” (Manager)
“I am glad that I was of help, but what is the scale of the damage?” (Eun Seoho)
“Fortunately, it ended with only a portion being burned.” (Manager)
“A blessing amid misfortune.” (Eun Seoho)
Only then did I feel I understood the reason Yeocheong Trading Company had shaken in my previous life and the reason Manager Mae had not been there.
It was not that Manager Mae had left this place after the Trading Company Head died, but that he had been sacrificed in this fire.
Considering the current weather and the force of the fire, most of the sugarcane field would have burned.
The problem was that the culprits were children.
Even if responsibility were assigned to their parents, would it be possible for them to compensate the entire amount of the damage?
Impossible.
So the Trading Company’s finances would have had no choice but to stagger…….
Since all the children they associated with were the children of the company’s managers, it must have affected the later actions of those managers as well.
The result of all of that combined must have become the future I knew.
At that moment, a group of people came running from far away. Seeing the medicine chests on their backs, they seemed to be physicians.
“Over here! Here!” (Someone)
As soon as they arrived, they examined the condition of Manager Mae and the child.
“They have merely fainted. After some time passes, they will regain consciousness.” (Physician)
Soon they were moved to the Trading Company, and those who remained cleaned up afterward.
Thanks to everyone moving diligently, such as clearing away the burned sugarcane, they were able to finish the work quickly.
After that, two days passed.
The door to my quarters opened and Palgap entered.
“Manager Mae?” (Eun Seoho)
“Not yet, sir.” (Palgap)
The child had regained consciousness, and after recovering, he returned to everyday life.
But Manager Mae had not regained consciousness.
“There is nothing particularly wrong with him, though.” (Palgap)
“I know…….” (Eun Seoho)
I could not stay here for too long……
After thinking deeply, I rose from my seat.
“I should go see Manager Mae.” (Eun Seoho)
I left my quarters and headed toward the medical hall where Manager Mae was lying.
“We greet Master Seonhyeop Mirang!” (People of the Trading Company)
When the people of the Trading Company saw me, they quickly gave clasped-hands greetings.
“Ah, yes…….” (Eun Seoho)
Thanks to what had happened when I suppressed the fire in the sugarcane field last time, I was being treated as a hero in Yeocheong Trading Company.
Not only the Trading Company Head, but even the Young Master had held my hand and repeatedly expressed his thanks.
And somehow the rumor had spread, and even my alias had become known, so everyone was calling me Master Seonhyeop Mirang.
Phew…… I cannot escape it even here.
Soon I arrived at the medical hall.
In front of it, Manager Cho was pacing.
“Ah!” (Manager Cho)
When he saw me, he quickly tried to leave.
“Have you come to visit Manager Mae?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah…… yes.” (Manager Cho)
“You may go in with me.” (Eun Seoho)
“It is all right.” (Manager Cho)
“I will not stay long.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he hesitated for a moment before nodding, and we went inside together.
Manager Mae was lying still as if dead.
His complexion was fine, and his breathing was normal, but……
As I approached to examine his body, Manager Mae’s eyes opened.
“U, uhm…….” (Mae Jeong)
At that, Manager Cho urgently called out to him.
“Oh! Manager Mae! Have you come to your senses? Do you recognize who I am?” (Manager Cho)
“Uh…… Manager Cho?” (Mae Jeong)
“Yes! That is right! I am Manager Cho!” (Manager Cho)
“Im is…….” (Mae Jeong)
“He is safe! Thanks to you…… he lived.” (Manager Cho)
“That is a relief.” (Mae Jeong)
“My friend! I thought, what would I do if you did not wake up…… sniff.” (Manager Cho)
In the end, Manager Cho burst into tears.
“I am so sorry to you that I cannot even raise my head!” (Manager Cho)
“Hahaha.” (Mae Jeong)
Manager Mae laughed.
“But who saved Im and me? I am sure that at that time, someone swung a sword and the fire seemed to go out…….” (Mae Jeong)
At those words, Manager Cho said,
“Here, Master Seonhyeop Mirang saved you and my son. Not only that, he also suppressed the fire.” (Manager Cho)
“Ah!” (Mae Jeong)
He turned his gaze and looked at me.
“Thank you very much.” (Mae Jeong)
“It was nothing. I am truly glad you regained consciousness.” (Eun Seoho)
“Um, Young Master Eun Seoho.” (Mae Jeong)
The eyes of Manager Mae, who had been laughing just a moment ago, filled with tears.
“I want to…… see my parents.” (Mae Jeong)
“Could it be…….” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. I have regained my memories.” (Mae Jeong)