Chapter 711
Chapter 711
Chapter 711. The Shandong Ak Family (3)
The Boss pondered for a moment and then said.
“Mm... I will take off a few silver coins.” (Boss)
“I did not say that to gain a few silver coins. I am simply asking you to help faithfully.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued speaking.
“We are in the middle of collecting the victims’ remains.” (Eun Seoho)
“The remains?” (Boss)
“How sad would it be if it were unjust enough that they died an untimely, violent death, yet their remains could not even return to their hometown?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true.” (Boss)
“If the mountain keep helps with this, the authorities will clear up the misunderstanding as well.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood. We will help with all sincerity.” (Boss)
With the help of the Green Forest Bandits from the mountain keep, we collected the remains.
At the sight of how horribly they had suffered, the Green Forest Bandits from the mountain keep cursed.
When they found a young child dead together with the child’s family and then saw the body of a woman buried with them, they nearly tore apart the men I had captured.
They broke out in a cold sweat once again, saying they had nearly been mistaken for the ones who committed such an outrage that would enrage heaven and men alike.
We burned the remains we had collected.
Then, after putting the ashes and identity plaques into boxes the Green Forest Bandits from the mountain keep made for us, we loaded them onto a cart.
“Thank you for your help.” (Eun Seoho)
“We are the ones who are more grateful. Not only did we gain unexpected income, but we also got a chance to clear up a misunderstanding. We nearly got subjugated without being able to do anything. In any case, put in a good word at the county office.” (Boss)
“I will.” (Eun Seoho)
I nodded and changed the subject.
“By the way, since the road is currently cut off due to the landslide, you have no income, do you?” (Eun Seoho)
“...Why ask when you know?” (Boss)
That must also be why they responded so immediately to my request.
“Then if the road is restored quickly, you can resume business quickly, can you not?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is... true?” (Boss)
“Then if all of you help restore that road, would that not make the work go faster?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah...!” (Boss)
What is this... Did he really only realize that now?
At least it is a relief he realized it even now. When we return after finishing our work, we should be able to come back by an easier road.
And so, we tied the Green Forest Bandits who had attacked us behind horses and began descending the mountain.
They were dragged along, falling and rolling until they were covered in wounds, but I paid it no particular mind.
Because those bastards deserved such treatment.
They were now cursing with their eyes at the one who had deceived them by claiming to be a master of the Transformation Realm.
For reference, I had taken measures so that he could not use inner arts.
Meanwhile, the young man we had saved still had not regained consciousness, despite his external wounds being healed.
So Warrior Jin-yu was riding with him tied to his back.
I rode along the path that the Path-Revealing Map showed me.
By the way, there must be some reason the Path-Revealing Map guided us onto this road...
But I cannot know yet.
After riding through the mountain path like that, a village came into view.
It was the village where the county office of Haenggo County was located.
From here to Mount Tai, where the Shandong Ak Family was located, it was flat ground, so it would be quick.
But there was something to do here.
We immediately headed to the county office of Haenggo County.
“Stop!” (Guard)
When we approached the county office, the guards standing at the gate stopped us.
I got down from my horse. Then I said to them.
“This humble merchant is Eun Seoho, Young Company Head of the Eunhae Trading Company.” (Eun Seoho)
“Eunhae Trading Company?” (Guard)
“Gasp! Could it be Immortal Hero Beauty?” (Guard)
“I am ashamed to say I am called that.” (Eun Seoho)
I spoke respectfully.
“I have captured heinous criminals. May I meet the Magistrate?” (Eun Seoho)
“Please come inside at once. I will bring the Magistrate.” (Guard)
The guards who had come with me waited elsewhere, and I was guided to the reception room.
After I waited alone in the reception room, drinking tea for a short while, the door opened and a man wearing the official robes of a Magistrate entered.
“This humble merchant greets the Magistrate.” (Eun Seoho)
“I am Bong Chun, serving as the Magistrate of Haenggo County.” (Bong Chun)
He greeted me courteously and said.
“There is no need to lower yourself so much. In Shandong, even children know Master Immortal Hero Beauty.” (Bong Chun)
I do not think I have ever done anything here, though?
“I heard that you saved a son of the Baekyeom Trading Company, and with an ointment made from Tobungeuncho, you helped catch a swindler before many suffered losses.” (Bong Chun)
Come to think of it, Shandong was where we caught that swindler named Hwang Jeon.
“Also, by creating a whetstone quarry in Shandong, you helped revitalize the local commercial sphere. Because of that, the Hwangbo Family even publicly announced that the Eunhae Trading Company is a trading company under the protection of the Hwangbo Family.” (Bong Chun)
“I-I see.” (Eun Seoho)
I started that to screw over the Baekcheon Trading Company, so receiving this kind of treatment feels embarrassing.
I had heard reports that the quarry was doing well, but it seems the reaction in Shandong is better than I had thought.
Well, the fact that they are whetstones supplied to the imperial family proves their quality.
“It is an honor to meet such a hero like this.” (Bong Chun)
“A hero? I am embarrassed.” (Eun Seoho)
“On top of that, I heard that you are favored by His Majesty the Emperor.” (Bong Chun)
“How did you know that?” (Eun Seoho)
“My main family is in Beijing. And quite a few of my relatives serve in the imperial palace.” (Bong Chun)
Hearing that, I understood the Magistrate’s courteous attitude.
I had been thinking of using the imperial inspector’s badge if he happened to be a strange person, but it did not seem necessary.
“The reason I have come to see you, Magistrate, is to request your cooperation.” (Eun Seoho)
“Please speak.” (Bong Chun)
I explained the situation to him.
“...and so after subduing those who attacked us, we questioned them about their other crimes, and learned that more than ten people had been killed by them in recent plunderings.” (Eun Seoho)
“Those atrocious bastards!” (Bong Chun)
“Therefore, with the cooperation of a nearby mountain keep, we searched for the bodies.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then what you brought on the cart is?” (Bong Chun)
“Yes. They are the victims’ ashes and belongings.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see. Thank you for your help, Master.” (Bong Chun)
“Not at all. Since I encountered such people on my journey, I merely thought it was the will of the heavens telling me to help the victims.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued speaking.
“It may be a little troublesome, but I would be grateful if you sent the urns and belongings to the villages written on the identity plaques inside those boxes.” (Eun Seoho)
“You have already resolved all the difficult matters, so how could that be troublesome? Understood. I will do so.” (Bong Chun)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
I gave a clasped hands greeting and expressed my gratitude.
“And there is one survivor. Could you care for him while sending a message to his home? There is a young man whose life we miraculously saved while collecting the bodies. Looking at his identity plaque, he is someone named Gil Jiyang of Ssanghwa County.” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course. If it is Ssanghwa County, it is not far from here. I will send a message immediately.” (Bong Chun)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
“By the way, Gil... He may be someone from a powerful family. If things go well, you may receive a reward.” (Bong Chun)
At this, I waved my hand.
“A reward? I do not need such a thing. I am satisfied simply that I was able to save even one survivor.” (Eun Seoho)
“Hoho, I suppose that is why everyone calls you Master Immortal Hero Beauty.” (Bong Chun)
“...” (Eun Seoho)
I only said that because I thought I would look materialistic if I seemed too pleased at the mention of a reward.
This makes me feel awkward for no reason. I gave a dry cough and said.
“It is an alias far beyond what I deserve. And please question the people I brought about their other crimes.” (Eun Seoho)
“By other crimes, you mean?” (Bong Chun)
“When I went to the cave they had used as their base, I found clothes covered in dirt, as well as a large chisel and hammer. It seems they deliberately collapsed the mountain to block the official road.” (Eun Seoho)
“Huh... The crimes they have committed so far are already terribly grave, but to think they deliberately collapsed the official road! Understood. I will report this to the Provincial Inspector and thoroughly question them about their other crimes.” (Bong Chun)
I continued in a gentle voice.
“There is a mountain keep nearby led by a man called Mad Axe. Their name may perhaps be brought up in connection with this incident, but in regard to this matter, they are not guilty.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah, I know of their existence. The Boss there is quite shrewd and extremely skilled at protecting himself. He acts only to the extent that the authorities or the nearby martial forces do not step in.” (Bong Chun)
“He seemed that way. In any case, they helped collect the bodies. And they said they would lend their strength in restoring the collapsed official road.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Bong Chun)
After finishing my conversation with the Magistrate like that, I came outside.
I firmly declined, but the Magistrate followed me outside the county office, saying he would see me off.
“Where are you headed?” (Bong Chun)
“I apologize, but I cannot tell you that. However, I am currently moving under imperial command.” (Eun Seoho)
“...!” (Bong Chun)
At my words, his complexion changed.
“I will do my very best to handle the matter you entrusted to me.” (Bong Chun)
He seemed to be thinking of this matter as an opportunity for promotion.
So he will handle it to the best of his ability.
That is why I subtly let slip that I was moving under imperial command.
Well, if he handles the matter well, he will be summoned to Beijing.
Because the Emperor recognizes talented people with uncanny precision.
It cannot necessarily be said that being promoted to Beijing is a good thing, but I did not go out of my way to say that.
Because hope is a good thing.
After leaving that place, we soon arrived at Mount Tai.
Because it was flat ground, the Day-Running Horses ran excitedly.
The Shandong Ak Family is a family located on Mount Tai, and people evaluate it as a place that resembles the spirit of Mount Tai.
“Whoa, whoa!” (Eun Seoho)
I stopped my horse.
A large signboard hung on a magnificent pavilion that looked like a city gate.
[Shandong’s First Ak Royal Estate Compound (山東第一岳王府陀)]
This place, located to the east of Mount Tai, was where the descendants of the Shandong Ak Family gathered and lived.
The founder of the Shandong Ak Family was a famous general surnamed Ak, renowned long ago as a loyal subject.
Originally, they had settled in Henan, but they moved their base to Shandong because they wanted to be somewhere they could rush to whenever the Emperor called, and that is how they came to be here now.
This place had formed like a large clan village, and its scale was beyond that of most villages.
So originally, a Magistrate should have been dispatched here, but in recognition of this place’s special nature and its loyalty, it was organized as a self-governing county.
Therefore, in this Ak Family Compound, the Clan Head of the Shandong Ak Family also served as Magistrate.
At the same time, this place was also a royal estate, and that was because the founder of the Shandong Ak Family had been posthumously honored as a king.
That is why it could be called a royal estate despite not being a royal estate.
As we approached, the people on top of the pavilion all looked at us at once.
About ten of them, perhaps?
Seeing that they held bows, it seemed they were standing guard in preparation for intruders.
One of the two guards holding spears before the huge gate approached us.
“Excuse me. Where have you come from?” (Guard)
“This humble merchant is Eun Seoho, Young Company Head of the Eunhae Trading Company. The party behind me consists of my attendant and guard warriors. I have come to deliver an imperial decree from His Majesty the Emperor.” (Eun Seoho)
And I showed him the token proving I was someone sent by the Emperor.
Upon seeing it, the guard was startled, withdrew his weapon, and gave me a clasped hands greeting.
“Please come inside at once.” (Guard)
We went inside and were guided to a pavilion behind that city gate.
“Please wait here for a moment. We have sent someone, so they will soon come to escort you.” (Guard)
As we rested there for a short while and waited, three people came riding on horses from far away.
They were wearing clothes of the same shape, only different in color.
The two young warriors wore dark blue clothing, and the middle-aged warrior wore green.
They got down from their horses and approached us.
“This humble one is Ak Jin, second son of Ak Hwang, thirtieth-generation descendant of the Shandong Ak Family. I serve as the Hall Leader of the Guest Hall.” (Ak Jin)
He was extremely courteous.
I felt like I understood why, unlike when I went to the Hwangbo Family last time, the Emperor had not assigned any particular guide.
Simply by saying I had come under the Emperor’s command, I was receiving such overwhelmingly respectful treatment.
Perhaps because the founder of the family had been a loyal subject, that family tradition seemed to remain even now, and they appeared to follow the Emperor with great faithfulness.
“You have worked hard coming such a long way. Since you say you have come to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s imperial decree, I will immediately guide you to the Clan Head.” (Ak Jin)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
And so, we followed him and rode our horses toward the place where the Clan Head stayed.
Inside the Ak Family Compound, there was a road wide enough for carriages to pass each other, and the road was paved with stone.
Because of that, the sound of horseshoes striking stone rang out pleasantly.
“There is something I would like to ask.” (Eun Seoho)
“Please speak freely.” (Ak Jin)
“It seems everyone is wearing similar clothing. Does that clothing have some meaning?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ah... It does have meaning.” (Ak Jin)
He nodded and explained.
“When everyone in this Ak Family Compound turns five years old, they receive clothing of the same shape. At first, they receive black clothing, which means they are trainees. And when they become adults at fifteen, they receive gray clothing. It means they are apprentice warriors.” (Ak Jin)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
Since there were quite a few people living in this Ak Family Compound, it would be difficult to distinguish them if they did not do so.
It was fitting for a family that placed importance on hierarchy and held the center of the military.
“And from then on, through five years of training, their assignment is decided.” (Ak Jin)
“What do you mean by assignment?” (Eun Seoho)
“It means exactly that their future path is decided. Whether they will enter government service or remain in the family, whether they will focus on martial arts or on letters, which hall they will work in, and so on.” (Ak Jin)
He continued speaking.
“Once that is decided, they receive dark blue clothing and work while wearing an outer garment embroidered with the pattern of their affiliation.” (Ak Jin)
Come to think of it, they were wearing white outer garments embroidered with patterns over their clothes.
The pattern on the outer garments worn by the three warriors who had come out to greet me was a wisteria flower pattern.
The wisteria flower also has the meaning of welcome.
“And when one becomes a Hall Leader, only then can one wear green clothing like mine.” (Ak Jin)
“Is it the same for direct descendants?” (Eun Seoho)
“In our Shandong Ak Family, whether one is of the direct line or a collateral line, only those who prove their ability can stand above others.” (Ak Jin)
It seemed reasonable, but in truth, those were also frightening words.
Because it meant that if one could not prove oneself, one would become miserable.
“Ah, we have arrived.” (Ak Jin)
But seeing the person greeting us ahead, I could not help but be slightly flustered.
Why are you here, my lord?