Chapter 40

Chapter 39 — At the End of Spring (1)

After the lawsuit between Kim Chunbae and Kang Bokman ended, Kim Jiseok sent Doyul away and sat down with Cheongun for a private conversation.

"Ahh, how I've missed this tea. Thank you."

"You are someone who can enjoy every delicacy under heaven. Hearing you say such things leaves me too embarrassed to know where to put myself."

Kim Jiseok's rebuke was subtle, but Cheongun brushed it aside.

"Tea really is wonderful, isn't it?"

"You sit and wait for the leaves to steep."

"Then while the hot tea slowly cools to a pleasant warmth, you talk."

"The leaves matter, of course, but I think the person sitting across from you matters even more."

"..."

"There is no one in the royal court with whom tea tastes as good as it does with you, Magistrate."

"...How have you been?"

Cheongun leisurely took a sip before answering.

"The same as always. And how have you been, Magistrate?"

"Quite peacefully, for the most part."

"It would have been a very pleasant time indeed if some distinguished person hadn't suddenly appeared out of nowhere."

Cheongun ignored the last part.

"Peacefully, you say?"

"Then I suppose you shut yourself inside your office again, doing nothing but thinking while sipping tea instead of actually taking action."

"...Did you come all this way just to scold me?"

"I came to scold you and to hear your answer."

Cheongun knew Kim Jiseok well enough to guess exactly how he had spent his time.

"Have you given enough thought to what I said before?"

"..."

Kim Jiseok did not answer easily.

"Haah. Master, how have you not changed at all?"

"Of course, that's precisely why you're so necessary."

"...There may be ears listening. Watch your words."

Cheongun smiled.

"I heard you were in quite a difficult situation."

"Some yangban tried to steal the land of your county's people using a rather filthy scheme, didn't he?"

"Fortunately, the matter ended without disaster."

Cheongun's eyes sharpened.

"I also heard that low-ranking official of yours, the boy who looks exactly like Pilsun Choi, played a major role."

"...He is a great blessing to Yeongsan County."

"And one day, he may become a blessing to Joseon itself."

"If Master says so, I suppose that must be true."

Cheongun leaned forward slightly.

"But why did you, a man who already receives the highest expectations in the royal court, remain in your office sipping tea?"

"...Your rebuke is becoming rather harsh."

"Bitter medicine is good for the body."

Kim Jiseok sighed.

"Do you think I had no desire to bring Park Jeongdo down?"

"Then why didn't you?"

"Park Jeongdo is among the most powerful men in Yeongsan County."

"If I tried to suppress him through force, people would have been hurt."

"Were you so concerned for your own safety that you closed your eyes to injustice?"

"I would abandon a position like this a hundred times over if necessary."

The air in the office turned cold.

"Then what were you so afraid of?"

"The ones who would be hurt are ordinary people."

"If I had tried to crush Park Jeongdo through authority and he resisted, the ones who would have paid the price were common villagers and constables."

"If there is a way that harms no one, then even if that path is slow and difficult..."

"I will take it."

"...And the path you chose was to follow no one, shut yourself inside your room, and sip tea?"

"..."

When Kim Jiseok remained silent, Cheongun continued.

"I heard you also rejected the Governor of Gyeongsang's summons."

"When I heard that, I thought you'd finally understood what I meant."

"I came here in delight..."

"And yet you're still the same."

"Master."

Cheongun's expression held a desperation Doyul had never seen in him.

"Joseon needs you."

"..."

"Do you not understand that people like you are necessary if we are to set this rotten Joseon right?"

"How can you refuse to listen to your own disciple this stubbornly?"

Kim Jiseok watched him quietly before finally speaking.

"There are several things I have learned while serving as magistrate of this small county."

"What did you learn?"

Kim Jiseok thought of Isu.

"First, I met someone of outstanding ability who was unable to use his talents."

Then he thought of Yeoni.

"Second, I met a child trapped in unjust circumstances who had no one willing to help her."

Cheongun's expression brightened.

"Then you've finally decided to listen to me?"

"And..."

Kim Jiseok thought of Doyul last.

"I witnessed winds of change here that I had never encountered in the capital."

"...You mean that boy who resembles Pilsun Choi?"

Kim Jiseok lowered his head respectfully.

"They say every person is born with a heavenly calling."

"After meeting Kang Doyul, I came to understand mine."

"Master's calling is to save Joseon."

"...I did once think that might be true."

Kim Jiseok smiled faintly.

"But perhaps someone else was born for that fate."

"As for me..."

"As you said, I will remain in my office, sipping tea and waiting for the new wind to arrive."

"Master..."

Cheongun fell silent for a moment.

"It seems your heart has grown even narrower."

"To think you'd actually remember what I said about sipping tea."

Kim Jiseok pretended not to hear him.

"People like me need only provide sunlight and nourishment so those with true talent can fulfill their roles."

"I've come to realize that changing Joseon belongs to those who were born with that calling."

"Haha..."

Cheongun sank deeper into thought.

Ghh. How much effort did I spend trying to win Master over, only for him to become even firmer than before?

Part of me almost wishes Kang Doyul had never appeared.

If he hadn't, Master surely would've been furious over Park Jeongdo's atrocities and sympathized more deeply with the greater cause.

Even as Cheongun felt frustrated, his curiosity about Doyul grew stronger.

Still... for Master to lower himself this much while praising someone else.

I already knew the boy wasn't ordinary, but just how brightly does he shine?

One reason Cheongun had secretly traveled to the provinces was to meet Kim Jiseok.

Another was to recruit exceptional talent.

After thinking for a while, Cheongun spoke playfully.

"If Master insists on saying such things, how could a disciple continue speaking harshly?"

"You've already said more than enough harsh things."

"Then how about this?"

Cheongun grinned.

"Would you like to make a wager with me?"

"For someone who loses every wager you make, you certainly do enjoy them."

Despite Kim Jiseok's grumbling, Cheongun laughed cheerfully.

"Hahaha! Isn't the point to enjoy ourselves?"

A disciple of Tamhwarang Kim Jiseok.

A self-proclaimed Taoist.

And the man who had come down to Yeongsan claiming to be a secret royal inspector.

Cheongun's true identity was...

"...Jagha."

"Please speak comfortably."

The student once taught by Tamhwarang Kim Jiseok...

The King's First Prince.

Prince Changheon.

And that was also why Doyul had never heard the name Cheongun before.

"Guys, did you watch the historical drama yesterday? I seriously cried my eyes out watching Prince Changheon."

"Seriously! That twist was insane..."

After Choi Sihyeon returned to Eonyang and it was confirmed that Yeoni would have to travel to the Gyeongsang Provincial Office...

Yeoni began having nightmares.

"..."

She was happy at the thought that she might see her younger sibling again, even if only from a distance.

At the same time, she trembled with fear that her sibling, or others who were better off not knowing her, might recognize her.

With her long-awaited return to Daegu approaching, worries flooded over her.

There was nothing she could do to stop herself from lying awake through the long nights.

Tonight was no different.

Yeongsan stood at the very edge of spring.

The days were growing longer and longer.

And Yeoni, afraid of being seen, wished she could hide from the sunlight.

She fell asleep later each night.

And woke earlier each morning.

Only near dawn, on a night without moon or stars, did she finally slip into a shallow sleep.

There...

For the first time in a long while...

Yeoni met her family again.

"......Ah."

The Yeoni inside the dream reached out.

And the house caught fire.

"No..."

"This isn't..."

The humid air choked her.

"I didn't..."

"I didn't do it..."

The flames swallowing the house gathered into a single point.

Then they shot into the sky.

The fire became a blazing sun.

And the sun chased Yeoni.

She struggled desperately to escape it.

But before long, she realized there was nowhere to run.

Her entire body trembled as the sun drew closer.

Then suddenly...

The sun vanished.

The crushing heat weakened slightly.

A familiar voice reached her.

"Yeoni."

"This was not your fault."

She realized then.

The sun had not disappeared.

Her parents, enormous as mountains, had stepped between her and it.

For a moment, Yeoni relaxed.

But she knew what would happen next.

She clutched her father's clothes and trembled.

"W-We have to run..."

Hidden in her parents' arms, she could no longer see the sun.

But the growing heat told her that it was drawing closer.

"No."

"I don't want this."

"Don't come."

The closer the sun came, the smaller it became.

And yet it grew hotter.

"F-Father..."

"Father..."

Her parents only smiled at her and stroked her head.

It didn't take long for Yeoni to realize there wasn't even the slightest bit of ease left on their sweat-soaked faces.

Yet they did not retreat a single step.

"Why..."

"Why, why...?"

Yeoni quickly understood.

If her father moved aside, the sun would reach her.

And if she moved aside as well...

"Waaah! Waaah!"

It would reach her younger sibling, Yeol.

Within those blurred memories of the past, all Yeoni remembered clearly from that day were a few voices...

And the terrible heat.

"Aaaaaaaaaaagh!"

When her parents embraced the sun, screams filled the air.

The world was unbearably hot.

Her mouth dried until it hurt.

Unable to do anything, unable even to understand what was happening, she could only blink her dry eyes over and over.

All while clutching her younger sibling and trembling.

The scorching heat of that day...

Yeoni had never forgotten it.

"...Ah."

When she woke from the nightmare, she had overslept for the first time in a long while.

"...Father."

Blazing sunlight poured through the gap in the window.

It was already midday.

"If you're willing..."

"I would like to help you prepare for the state examination."

"...Magistrate!"

"Why don't you come to Hanyang, stay at my residence, and study there?"

Inside, Doyul celebrated.

Just as I thought.

Perhaps as compensation for everything that had happened in Yeongsan, Kim Jiseok, whose term was now ending, had invited Doyul to accompany him to Hanyang.

"I am deeply honored."

"Thank you sincerely for giving me such an opportunity."

"...I'm glad."

Kim Jiseok paused.

"But I apologize. There is something I would like to ask of you."

...His final assignment before we leave for Hanyang?

Doyul bowed respectfully.

"I will follow your instructions."

Kim Jiseok thought for a moment before speaking.

"Would you take Yeoni to Daegu?"

"The governor's review requires her presence there."

"However..."

"I would like you to appear before the provincial office in her place."

Doyul frowned slightly.

"...May I ask why you are so concerned, Magistrate?"

Kim Jiseok's expression turned serious.

"There is something I need to tell you about Yeoni."