Chapter 658
Chapter 658
Chapter 658. The Result of a Promise (2)
At the gatekeeper’s words, I tilted my head.
“Pardon? A guest?” (Eun Seoho)
“He says he has come from Hunan Province. He says he is Young Master Yeon Juhyeok, the second son of the Hunan Provincial Administration Commissioner.” (Gatekeeper)
Wait, Young Master Yeon Juhyeok?
Why has he come to Beijing?
Ah, come to think of it, I did make a promise.
I recalled that time.
At the time, Young Master Yeon Juhyeok had earnestly begged me to become his master, but I had indirectly refused.
“I will not formally form a master-disciple relationship with you. To be honest, that would be extremely burdensome for me. Also, the decision you are making at this moment may simply be a momentary impulse. So train faithfully according to my instructions for three years, and if your feelings have not changed even then, come find me.” (Eun Seoho)
And this year was the third year.
Three years was by no means a short period of time.
Moreover, since he was an outer disciple of the Mount Heng Sect, I had said that thinking he would take a new master.
Phew, for now, I suppose I should meet him.
Since he had come to Beijing anyway, he might simply have come to greet me, or he might have come to apologize, saying he had taken on a new master.
It would be truly nice if that were the situation...
I turned my head and looked at Miss Seohyang. Young Master Yeon Juhyeok was the elder brother of Young Master Yeon Myeonghyeon, who had been Miss Seohyang’s original fiancé.
So there was a possibility he would express doubts upon seeing Miss Seohyang.
Even so, I could not keep avoiding him.
Well, I had learned Divine Disguise Art to prepare for situations like this.
“Will you be all right?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, Miss Seohyang nodded.
“Yes.” (Kwak Seohyang)
I turned my head and asked the gatekeeper.
“Did you escort him to the reception room?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Gatekeeper)
“Then let us go.” (Eun Seoho)
Together with Miss Seohyang, I arrived at the reception room.
Rattle.
When I opened the door and entered, Young Master Yeon Juhyeok was sitting and drinking tea.
Compared to when I first met him... how should I put it? He felt much sturdier.
On top of that, the hoodlum-like feeling I had sensed back then was completely gone, and now he gave off the distinct impression of the son of a high-ranking official’s household.
“It has been a long time.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah! Master!” (Yeon Juhyeok)
He sprang to his feet and immediately knelt in front of me.
“As promised, three years have passed. So, Master, please take me as your disciple as you promised.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“......” (Eun Seoho)
I can hear it. The sound of my expectations shattering into pieces.
I sighed inwardly and asked,
“Has it not yet been three years?” (Eun Seoho)
“By the count of calendar years, it has been three years.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“And there is no way the Mount Heng Sect would permit such a relationship, is there?” (Eun Seoho)
“Do not worry about that either. It was a master-disciple relationship formed for mutual benefit in the first place. So I received this document.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
He took a scroll from the luggage he had brought and held it out.
I received it and read it.
Through this document, this sect promises that even if this sect’s disciple Yeon Juhyeok studies martial arts under another person, this sect will not raise any issue regarding it. Mount Heng Sect Leader Subaek
No, how on earth did he receive this?
No matter that he was an outer disciple, he was still a disciple who had learned their martial arts, was he not?
When I raised my head to look at him, he grinned and continued.
“My father is the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Hunan Province.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Is it all right to use power like this?” (Eun Seoho)
“What is there to be a problem? Honestly, considering how much my father has done for the Mount Heng Sect, there is no reason they could not do at least this much.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“......” (Eun Seoho)
For some reason, he seems to have grown more shameless than when I first met him.
“Surely, I do not think Master is someone who says two things with one mouth...” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Phew, please stand.” (Eun Seoho)
“I will not stand until you accept me as your disciple.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“I am telling you to stand because I understand.” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon? Then are you accepting me as your disciple?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
I nodded.
Since I had already said such words, what could I do?
As much as I disliked people who said two things with one mouth, I could not become such a person myself.
And Yeon Juhyeok was someone who had even given his life for me in my previous life.
Though back then, his name had been Ilmoon.
I could not forget the man with the rough voice, who had gone around wearing a mask because his face had been horribly distorted by fire.
“My liege! The reason we bodyguards exist is so that you may continue living. Please do not make the reason for our existence meaningless.” (Ilmoon)
“B-but... at this rate, everyone will die.” (Eun Seoho)
“I know.” (Ilmoon)
“Then I too will...” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah! Seriously! This is driving me mad! What do you mean, fight together? With your skills at only first-rate level, if you fight those bastards, what else will you suffer but a dog’s death? What my liege must do now is run while we buy time!” (Ilmoon)
“......” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, damn it! There is no time!” (Ilmoon)
Smack!
The burning pain I felt on my cheek.
“Please, just run away already, you stupid bastard!” (Ilmoon)
And the eyes of the man who had slapped my cheek were trembling.
It must have been because he had done something he should not have done.
But I understood that he had no choice.
At that time, I had wasted the time the bodyguards had bought me.
If I had fled immediately as they said, there might have been a possibility of saving my life.
Of course, considering what I later heard from Namgung Kang, even if I had survived there, there was a high chance he would have pursued me relentlessly.
“Palgap Soi. I ask this of you.” (Ilmoon)
“Understood.” (Palgap)
In the end, Palgap forcibly carried me over his shoulder and ran away, and in my eyes, I could see the bodyguards falling one by one under the warriors of the Martial Alliance.
And Ilmoon, no, Young Master Yeon Juhyeok also died when his neck was cut by the enemy’s sword.
“Your face suddenly darkened. Did something happen?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Ah, no.” (Eun Seoho)
I shook my head, brushed away my thoughts, and smiled.
That was the past, and it was something that had not yet happened.
And now, such a thing would not happen.
“By the way, did the Provincial Administration Commissioner also permit this?” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course. Naturally, I received permission.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Good.” (Eun Seoho)
Since he had become my disciple anyway, I would have to train him thoroughly so that he would not die a dog’s death like back then.
When I looked at him with that thought, he suddenly shivered.
“Ugh...” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Are you ill somewhere?” (Eun Seoho)
“No. It is just that... I suddenly felt a chill. Beijing must indeed be a bit cold.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
His instincts are quite good.
I smiled faintly and said,
“Then please stand. And now that you have become my disciple, do not kneel carelessly.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
At my words, he rose from his seat.
Then, after looking at Miss Seohyang standing by the door, he tilted his head.
“That young lady is...” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“What is it?” (Eun Seoho)
“Is she not Miss Dong Jaryeong?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
I sighed and shook my head.
“She is Miss Kwak Seohyang, my aide. And did Miss Dong Jaryeong not already pass away three years ago?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah... th-that is right. I apologize. You resemble her so much...” (Yeon Juhyeok)
At that, Miss Seohyang smiled and said,
“It seems I really do resemble her quite a bit. Her elder brother made the exact same mistake before as well.” (Kwak Seohyang)
“I said this then as well, but my aide here has a mole near her eye. And she is also learning martial arts. After learning that fact, he apologized.” (Eun Seoho)
“I-I see.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
He nodded.
“If those elder brothers who were fools for their younger sister said she was not, then she really must not be. I was rude.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
He apologized politely.
“It is all right.” (Kwak Seohyang)
At that moment, Palgap quickly continued.
“Aide Kwak is also the person who will marry Young Master this autumn.” (Palgap)
“Ah! I see! Congratulations. I shall call you Master’s Wife.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
I clapped my hands.
Clap, clap!
“Then, since you have become my disciple, I will give you lodging so that you can stay within this trading company.” (Eun Seoho)
“Um...” (Yeon Juhyeok)
He scratched his head and said,
“You may simply speak down to me. As someone who has become your disciple, how could I receive respectful speech from my master?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“My master also speaks respectfully to me, so there is nothing strange about it.” (Eun Seoho)
“I-I see.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
Master speaking respectfully to me is proving useful like this.
Together with Palgap, I showed Yeon Juhyeok to his lodging and then tried to head to my office.
“Um, Master. Where are you going?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“To my office. I have to finish the work I was doing.” (Eun Seoho)
“May I go with you as well?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
There is no reason he cannot.
“Follow me.” (Eun Seoho)
Like that, we headed to my office together.
When I opened the door and entered, Yeon Juhyeok looked at the documents piled on the desk and asked with a sickened expression,
“M-Master. What are all those?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“They are documents I must handle.” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
He laughed hollowly and said,
“It is possible to do work like that and still be alive?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
I nodded.
“You can manage to live somehow. Though you are tired every day.” (Eun Seoho)
After thinking for a moment, he asked me,
“May I help you?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“You must have accumulated quite a bit of travel fatigue coming all the way to Beijing. Without resting?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. I did not force myself to come, so I am not very tired. And I am worried about your health, Master.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“In that case, well... do as you like.” (Eun Seoho)
I said to Miss Seohyang,
“Aide Kwak. Please give Young Master Yeon some work.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Kwak Seohyang)
Like that, we began working.
Before I knew it, the method of organizing the documents handed to me had changed slightly.
However, they were organized just as neatly and easy to read as Miss Seohyang’s work.
Then that meant this was Young Master Yeon Juhyeok’s skill.
“Young Master Yeon.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes, Master.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“You are quite good at this work.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, it is thanks to Aide Kwak guiding me well.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“No. People without talent cannot do it even if they are taught well. It seems you have done this kind of work before.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he scratched his head and answered.
“In truth, I learned this kind of work from a young age. Father said he could not tolerate hearing that his son was incompetent...” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
I looked at him and sank into thought for a moment.
When I married Miss Seohyang this autumn, the position of first aide would become vacant.
That meant I would lose an aide I could trust and entrust matters to.
Then would it not be all right to try entrusting it to him?
He was an upright and persistent person.
Since he had waited three years and come to me saying he would become my disciple, there was no way he would betray me.
First, I should find out his intentions.
“Young Master Yeon, besides learning martial arts as my disciple in Beijing, do you have anything else to do?” (Eun Seoho)
“Not particularly. I came only with the thought of learning martial arts from you, Master.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Then how would you feel about becoming my aide?” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“When Aide Kwak marries me, this position will become vacant. At that time, I would like Young Master Yeon to become my aide in her place.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he tilted his head.
“Do you not have another aide?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Ah, Aide Gal has certain circumstances.” (Eun Seoho)
It was not that Aide Gal’s character was bad, but he was not at a level where I could trust him unconditionally.
That was also why I still did not entrust matters regarded as confidential to him.
“In any case, when that time comes, I will need an aide I can trust. Will you work as my aide?” (Eun Seoho)
At those words, Yeon Juhyeok’s eyes shone.
“Does that mean you trust me, Master?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
Somehow, he seems more moved by the words that I trust him.
“But I am still puzzled. Honestly, though we have formed a master-disciple relationship, not even a day has passed. Why do you trust me to such an extent?” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Three years is quite a long period of time. You remembered your promise with me throughout that time and came to find me like this. If I do not trust a person like that, who am I supposed to trust?” (Eun Seoho)
“...That is because you remained that strongly in my memory, Master.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
I shook my head.
“No. Before it is a matter of that, it is a matter of the person. That is why I say I trust you.” (Eun Seoho)
Also, if he had been the eldest son of Commissioner Yeon, I would not have made this offer.
But because he was the second son, I had proposed the aide position without any burden.
“Now then, let us put in some effort and start working again.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
.
.
.
Evening came.
“You worked hard.” (Eun Seoho)
Young Master Yeon Juhyeok’s eyes were slightly unfocused.
“You look tired. Are you all right?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, yes. I am fine.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
And he looked at me with eyes I could not quite understand.
“What is it?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, it is nothing. It is just... that I respect you.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Is that so?” (Eun Seoho)
I continued as though it were nothing important.
“Young Master Yeon, if you suffer through about half a year, you too will come to feel that this much work is nothing.” (Eun Seoho)
“...That is even more frightening.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
“Then I will see you at dawn tomorrow.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Yeon Juhyeok)
Like that, I sent Young Master Yeon Juhyeok back to his lodging.
Surely... he will not run away, will he?
Srrk.
At that moment, Palgap approached beside me and said,
“Shall I keep watch to see whether he runs away?” (Palgap)
“Mm...” (Eun Seoho)
I shook my head.
“It is fine. He will not run away.” (Eun Seoho)
Young Master Yeon Juhyeok’s will was not that weak.
Of course, in my previous life, there had been an occasion that made him that way, but just the fact that he had come to find me this time was enough for me to acknowledge his persistence.
It was then.
“Ah, Seoho.” (Eun Jeongho)
“Hyung.” (Eun Seoho)
Brother Jeongho had come to find me.
“What about Young Master Yujin?” (Eun Seoho)
“He returned to his residence. But...” (Eun Jeongho)
That expression looks like he has something to say.
“Why? What is it you want to talk about?” (Eun Seoho)
“You caught me?” (Eun Jeongho)
“I am your younger brother. So what is it?” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Brother spoke with a serious expression.
“I have a request.” (Eun Jeongho)
“What is it?” (Eun Seoho)
“When you go to Nanjing this time, I would like you to travel together with the people of Myeongmyeong Trading Company.” (Eun Jeongho)
Judging by that expression, it does not seem to be simply for broadening their experience.
“...So, what is the real problem?” (Eun Seoho)