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Chapter 85: The Swordsman
Im Jiryeong, who was stunned with a look of surprise, quickly regained her composure and said to her son:
"Unbi, go and fetch Huyeon. And... please come inside."
Pung Unbi left, glancing back at every step.
Pung Yeoncho carefully took off his shoes at the entrance and entered the room.
Tak Gomyung, instead of following his sworn brother, quietly sat on the porch.
Pung Yeoncho, sitting across from Im Jiryeong, bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. I know I deserve any reproach. But if I must explain myself..."
"I know. You had no other choice. For a long time, the families of the people who died because of that remedy came to cause trouble. If you had been here, they would have beaten you to death or taken you to the authorities."
Pung Yeoncho scratched his head.
Many people had died after taking that fraudulent remedy, so if they had taken him to the authorities, it would have been the end.
"Still, how did you find me?"
"I went to our old house and a neighbor who still remembered me told me that you started working at Jang Munho's house five years ago."
Im Jiryeong stared intently at Pung Yeoncho.
"So it was. But you look better than before."
"Oh? Really? You also look better than when you lived with me."
Pung Yeoncho realized his mistake as soon as he spoke. Saying she looks better than when she lived with me? What a stupid comment!
He quickly tried to correct himself.
"I came because I wanted to know if you were okay. I have no other intention, so don't feel pressured. I was the one who abandoned you, so I deserve all the karma in the world."
"Is that so?"
"I also hold no grudge if you became Jang's concubine. It must have been hard raising two children alone. I thought they might have starved to death."
He had seen many bodies of people who had starved while wandering as beggars. If he hadn't gone up the mountain, he didn't know what would have happened. He could easily imagine the hardships his wife and children faced.
"What are you talking about now? We survived by doing sewing and odd jobs. Then, by chance, I met a childhood friend. With her help, I started working at the fabric shop and living here."
"So, you didn't remarry?"
"No."
Im Jiryeong responded firmly.
Shim Jiyeon, Jang Munho's wife, had no children. She often said she wanted to live together forever. Im Jiryeong knew that Jang Munho had a good opinion of her.
Despite that, she didn't become his concubine because she didn't want to. Honestly, she was so busy raising the two children that she didn't have time to feel lonely.
Pung Yeoncho sighed in relief.
Im Jiryeong observed him and asked:
"Did you come just to see how we were living after you left us?"
"No, it's not that. If you allow it, I'd like to become your husband and father again. This time, I'll do it right. I won't disappoint you again."
At that moment, Pung Unbi's voice was heard from outside.
"Mother, I brought Huyeon."
"Both of you, come in."
Pung Unbi and Pung Huyeon entered and looked at Pung Yeoncho curiously.
Jang Munho, the owner of the house, had never entered that room, so seeing an unknown man sitting there was surprising.
"Say hello. He is your father."
"......"
Pung Unbi and Pung Huyeon, still surprised, made an awkward bow.
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That night.
In the main room of the courtyard house.
Two men sat facing each other with a low table in between.
The owner of the house and fabric merchant, Jang Munho, and the unexpected guest, Pung Yeoncho.
Jang Munho, two years older than Pung Yeoncho, led the conversation.
"I have briefly heard the story from my wife. You say you have come to live with your family again?"
Pung Yeoncho nodded.
"Yes. Thank you for taking care of my wife and children all this time. I won't forget your kindness and will repay it."
"No need. My wife and they have been together for a long time, you can't say they are strangers. But the families of the victims might want revenge. Are you sure you can take your family without issues?"
"I'll have to convince them. Actually, I was also deceived. It wasn't me who made that fake remedy. I only made the mistake of selling it, believing in its efficacy."
Jang Munho nodded understandingly.
"Ah! I'm afraid I've grown fond of them. I'm already worried about them leaving. I hope you don't make the same mistake again."
"......"
Pung Yeoncho felt uncomfortable.
Actually, his words were out of place. He didn't have to hear that from a stranger.
But he endured it. Thinking about the help his family had received over the years, he knew he could only endure.
"Do you plan to return to your hometown? That could be dangerous..."
"No, I plan to live in Kaifeng."
"Ah! And how do you plan to find a house? House prices in Kaifeng aren't low."
"I have saved some money."
"I don't know if you are aware, but a single courtyard house in Kaifeng costs at least three hundred taels of silver. This house, with two courtyards, cost me a thousand taels."
Jang Munho thought it was impossible for a wandering medicine seller like Pung Yeoncho to have that much money.
"I have enough for a single courtyard house."
Pung Yeoncho's calm response momentarily surprised Jang Munho.
"That's good. There are several places in Kaifeng that commission work to Mrs. Im. It would be good for her and the children if you stayed in Kaifeng."
"In the future, my wife won't have to do sewing work for others."
"Ah, I forgot she now has Pung Hyung with her. Do you have work in Kaifeng?"
"I will find one."
"May I ask what kind of work you are looking for? I am originally from Kaifeng and have some contacts."
Jang Munho looked intently at Pung Yeoncho.
He was curious about the skills of a man who had returned after twelve years following a wandering medicine seller.
"I can use a sword. I'm thinking of working in an escort agency or a chamber of commerce."
"Oh!"
Jang Munho let out an exclamation.
There is no better job to earn money without capital than being a swordsman. They earned much more than common people just with a sword.
Jang Munho straightened up in his chair.
The word "swordsman" had made him a bit tense.
"If it's not indiscreet, could you tell me which sect you learned from? I would like to recommend a suitable job. If it's difficult to say, you don't have to..."
"I learned from a master of Waryong Manor."
Pung Yeoncho didn't hide his martial lineage as Waryong Manor had been destroyed. Anyway, if someone recognized his swordsmanship style, it would be known eventually.
"Waryong Manor of Luoyang?"
"Yes."
"Wow! That's impressive."
Jang Munho looked at Pung Yeoncho seriously.
He had underestimated the man as a simple medicine seller, but he had clearly made a mistake. Although Waryong Manor had been destroyed, it was still a renowned family.
"There are several large chambers of commerce in Kaifeng, and one of them is Saehae Chamber of Commerce. Have you heard of it?"
"I don't know much about Kaifeng."
"I see. I also get supplies from Saehae Chamber of Commerce. I know the head of the chamber, so I can arrange a meeting for you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. We have to help each other."
Jang Munho's courteous attitude made Pung Yeoncho feel more at ease.
He answered some of Jang Munho's questions before standing up to leave.
---------------------
The next day, Pung Yeoncho went out to look for a house with Tak Gomyung.
Originally, he wanted to go with Im Jiryeong, but she excused herself, saying she had a lot of pending work.
Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung looked for houses as far as possible from Jang Munho's. By dusk, they were fortunate to find a suitable house.
Although it was a small square house with only a central garden, Pung Yeoncho was satisfied. Compared to his hometown house, this new house was like a palace.
The day after buying the house, Pung Yeoncho moved with his family from Jang Munho's house.
After living in someone else's house, having their own home made Im Jiryeong and the children very happy.
Pung Yeoncho and his wife occupied the innermost room, and the children stayed in the rooms on the sides of the garden. Tak Gomyung moved into the small room next to the gate where Im Jiryeong and the children used to live.
Three days later, Jang Munho arranged a meeting with the head of Saehae Chamber of Commerce, as he had promised.
The head of the chamber, Sang Jaeyong, hired Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung on the spot and sent them to Yonghee Pavilion, an establishment he owned. Thus, Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung settled in Kaifeng.
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In Wudang Mountain, Hubei Province.
Yeon Jeokha was climbing the mountain alone.
He had left Shim Tong, the Old Shim, in a village at the foot of the mountain, fearing someone might recognize him.
As he diligently climbed the mountain path, Yeon Jeokha slowed down.
About fifty steps away, a mountain gate stood tall.
Shortly after reaching the gate, two Taoist monks in their twenties appeared.
"Young brother, what brings you to the mountain?"
At the polite words of the Taoist, Yeon Jeokha respectfully replied.
"I came to see the Sage of Heaven and Earth."
The Taoist, Hyun Wol, discreetly examined his interlocutor.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth was the elder martial brother of his master, making him his martial uncle. His martial uncle did not usually receive visitors. How did this young man seek him?
"Do you have an appointment with him?"
"Yes. He said I could visit him anytime."
Hyun Wol squinted.
The Sage of Heaven and Earth was someone only the sect leader could see. How could someone like him say he could visit anytime?
However, the young man's expression didn't seem to lie.
Finally, Hyun Wol decided to check personally with the Sage of Heaven and Earth.
"Wait here a moment. I will inform my martial uncle that he has a visitor. How should I announce you?"
"Say that Yeon Jeokha has come. May I accompany you?"
"Ah, recently we are not receiving visitors due to the disturbances caused by certain forces. Only guests with appointments or those who have been invited can go up."
"The Yoomyung Cult?"
"Yes."
Hyun Wol did not deny it.
Everyone in the Murim knew about the hostile relationship between the orthodox sects and the Yoomyung Cult.
Hyun Wol nodded to Hyun Song and then climbed the mountain.
Yeon Jeokha, who was waiting, inadvertently glanced at a large stone altar.
Hyun Song seized the opportunity to speak.
"That altar is the famous Haegumji. It is said that 'he who has not left his sword in Haegumji cannot call himself a swordsman.'"
"What is Haegumji?"
"Don't you know? In Wudang Mountain, everyone must leave their sword at that altar before going up. Despite that restriction, many swordsmen visit the Wudang Sect to compare their skills."
"Ah!"
Yeon Jeokha looked at Haegumji with renewed curiosity.
Leaving his sword before going up? It was indeed a surprising and impressive rule.
Yeon Jeokha touched the sword at his waist.
Anyway, he had come to seek advice from the Sage of Heaven and Earth, so he didn't mind leaving his sword.
At that moment, someone came running down from the top of the mountain.
It was the Sage of Heaven and Earth.