Chapter 51

Chapter 51 — Sincerity (2)

Every government slave at the Gyeongsang Provincial Office hated Yeol, and the reason was remarkably simple.

Hmph. That obnoxious brat!

It was because Yeol had been born into a yangban family.

More than ten years ago, his parents had committed a serious crime and been reduced to lowborn status.

Then, after becoming lowborn, they had allegedly been caught preparing a rebellion and were immediately executed.

As a result, Yeol and Yeoni became orphans.

Ordinarily, those who committed treason would have three generations of their family exterminated. However, because the rebellion had never actually been carried out and the children were still so young, the two had narrowly escaped execution.

Naturally, Yeol and Yeoni had nowhere to go.

Then, one day, Yeoni, the older sister, suddenly disappeared.

"Hmph! You worthless brat!"

"A traitor's son like you deserves every beating he gets!"

"I-I'm sorry! I'm s-sorry..."

Yeol remained at the provincial office and became a government slave.

"You filthy little bastard!"

"Hahaha! Serves you right, you stupid idiot!"

On the surface, the other government slaves hated Yeol because he was the son of traitors.

In reality, however, they were simply taking out their frustrations on him.

They projected their resentment toward the yangban onto Yeol and tormented him to make themselves feel better.

"...I-I'm sorry... I-I was wrong..."

But just as the government slaves were beating him mercilessly, a huge shadow suddenly appeared on the ground.

"...?"

"W-What is that?!"

"Here I come!"

"......!"

Dun!

Donggu appeared like a bolt of lightning and caught the fist of a slave who was in the middle of throwing a punch.

"...?"

"..."

Donggu considered the situation for a moment.

Bastards like these deserve to be beaten to a pulp.

He wanted nothing more than to beat every last one of them.

But using violence inside the provincial office would undoubtedly complicate matters.

Sure enough, when Donggu glanced toward Doyul, his young master slowly shook his head.

"...You're lucky."

"W-Who the hell are you?!"

Donggu swiftly scooped Yeol into his arms and carried him over to Doyul.

Then he rushed straight back toward the government slaves.

"...H-He's fast!"

"I-I couldn't even see him move!"

"I'm only going to say this once. Listen carefully."

Donggu picked up a broom lying in a corner and casually snapped it with the grip of one hand.

Crack!

"What... the hell?"

"If you hit that boy one more time, this is what I'll do to you."

Donggu drove the broken broom into the ground.

Although the earth was hard and compact, the broom slid into it as easily as if he were pushing it into soft sand.

"......"

"......"

"There won't be a second warning."

While Donggu threatened the government slaves, Doyul looked at the trembling boy in front of him and fell into thought.

...What is going on here?

"I-I'm sorry..."

The sight of the little boy apologizing to him made Doyul's heart ache.

He was still searching for the right words when they escaped his mouth before he had finished thinking.

"What are you sorry for?"

"...Excuse me?"

"What did you do wrong...?"

"Why... are you apologizing to me?"

"W-Well..."

When Yeol lowered his head, anger and confusion surged inside Doyul.

What on earth happened to this child?

Doyul had originally intended to meet Yeol, use him to make contact with Hong Myeong, and focus entirely on rescuing the prisoner.

But after witnessing this, there was no way he could simply ignore it.

"I-I'm sorry..."

"..."

For now, I'll follow the plan.

But I also need to think about what to do for Yeol.

After cautiously studying Doyul's expression, Yeol finally dared to ask a question.

"M-May I ask who you are?"

"...My name is Kang Doyul. I came from Yeongsan."

"What? Y-Yeongsan?!"

"Then do you happen to know my older sister?"

"Y-Yeoni! Her name is Yeoni!"

"...Yes. I know her very well."

Yeol immediately looked worried.

"Is my sister healthy?"

"I heard she's been having a difficult time lately. They told me she hasn't even been able to eat properly."

Doyul could feel a headache coming on.

...What's this about Yeoni having a difficult time?

There's an awful lot I need to investigate.

Talking to Yeol for too long here might attract suspicion, so Doyul kept his answer brief.

"Yeoni is doing well. We can talk about the details later."

"For now, there are two things I want to tell you."

"P-Please, go ahead!"

"First, I have a favor to ask of you."

"But regardless of that favor, I intend to help you from now on. I would appreciate it if you trusted me."

"...M-Me?"

Yeol hesitantly asked,

"Since you've brought me news of my sister, I'll do anything within my ability to help you."

"But forgive me. I don't quite understand why you would want to help someone like me..."

"...Second."

Doyul cut him off.

"Don't ever apologize to me again."

"...Excuse me?"

"Because you haven't done anything wrong."

That night, Yeol visited the prison with a brighter expression than usual.

"Yeongsan's harvest has declined, so Yeoni's wages have been reduced as well. Things will be difficult for a while, so keep that in mind."

"Yes, Elder! I understand! Thank you for always helping me!"

Recently, the amount of food Yeol received through a merchant named Chilbong had fallen considerably, leaving him in a difficult situation.

Fortunately, with Doyul's help, he no longer had to worry quite so much.

I'm so grateful!

Now I can bring Hyung more food and repay my sister's kindness too!

Yeol carefully approached Hong Myeong.

"Hyung, I'm here!"

"...Hmph. You've certainly got some nerve."

His words were cold, but he seemed quietly pleased to see the boy.

Yeol took a rice ball and a chicken leg from inside his sleeve and handed them over.

"Here, Hyung. Please take these."

"And if it's not enough, just tell me. I'll bring you more."

"...Hm?"

Hong Myeong was startled when he saw the meat.

He could understand the boy bringing him a rice ball by sharing his own food.

But how had he managed to obtain meat as well?

Yeol whispered excitedly.

"Hyung, I have wonderful news!"

"A scholar said he would help me!"

"It looks like I'll be able to bring you plenty of food for a while!"

"Isn't that wonderful?"

"..."

For a moment, Hong Myeong wondered whether the scholar might be Hong Gil.

But he quickly dismissed the possibility.

How would Hyung even know this boy, much less look after him?

It must be a coincidence.

After thinking for a moment, Hong Myeong accepted only the rice ball and handed back the chicken.

"I don't need this. Eat it yourself."

"Hyung...?"

Hong Myeong began chewing his rice ball.

"Don't misunderstand me. I'm grateful for your kindness."

"But I only need enough food to satisfy my hunger. There's no reason to ask for anything more."

"...So eat the meat yourself. Hmph."

"..."

Yeol thought for a moment.

Then he tore off a small piece of the chicken, took a little meat for himself, and handed the leg back to Hong Myeong.

"Then we can share it, Hyung!"

"......"

Hong Myeong stared at him in disbelief.

Yeol, however, simply leaned against the prison bars and calmly ate his share of the chicken.

"You stupid brat. Why do you keep being so kind to me?"

"My father taught me that I should share what I have and be generous to others."

"You should still consider your circumstances and the person you're helping!"

"You're practically skin and bones, yet you're sharing meat you probably never even get to see with a criminal?"

"But you're not a bad person, Hyung."

"I'm sure there's a story behind what happened to you. Isn't that right?"

"Enough with the Hyung this and Hyung that! Hmph!"

Giving up on convincing the boy, Hong Myeong quickly devoured the remaining meat on the chicken leg and lay down.

He gazed at the faint moonlight filtering through the window and murmured,

"Hey."

"Yes, Hyung?"

"Why do you think I'm not a bad person?"

"Because your eyes are just like my father's."

"...!"

Hong Myeong abruptly sat up.

Yeol smiled.

"I've never seen a wicked person with eyes like yours."

"...Hah."

Hong Myeong suddenly remembered Hong Gil.

"You're giving me food, so I'll eat it. But why are you being kind to me?"

"Because you're not a bad person."

"Haven't you heard the rumors about me?"

"I'm Muksu, the Mad Brute of Hansando!"

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Hmph."

When Hong Gil removed his mask, Hong Myeong had been so shocked that he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"......!"

"I don't care what you are."

"So don't concern yourself with what I am, either."

Hong Gil studied Hong Myeong for a while before suddenly making a strange remark.

"By the way, your name is Muksu?"

"What an unsuitable name."

"W-What did you say?"

"How can someone with such bright eyes have the character Muk, meaning ink, in his name?"

"You should change it while you have the chance."

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"I'll give you a new name."

"Change it to Myeong, meaning brightness. That suits you much better."

"Are you playing some kind of joke on me...?!"

"Hong Myeong."

"Yes, that's good. Hong Myeong..."

"Now it finally feels as though the name has found its rightful owner."

"......!"

"I like you, Hong Myeong."

"Come with me."

"What...?"

"Become my family."

"To think I'd hear the same stupid nonsense again."

"...Excuse me?"

People could be wounded and driven to despair by other people.

But they could also be saved by them.

"...Damn it."

Amid the complicated emotions swirling inside Hong Myeong, someone's face suddenly appeared in his mind.

Almost as though he were proving Yeol and Hong Gil right.

...Damn it all.

The person he thought of was Seo Myeongjin.

If he's left like that... his life could be in danger.

Just as Yeol and Hong Gil had said, Hong Myeong was a man with a warmer heart than anyone might have guessed.

After watching him quietly for a while, Yeol cautiously spoke.

"Hyung, may I ask you something?"

"...Go ahead."

"Could you tell me how you came to be imprisoned?"

"What are you going to do with that information?"

Yeol hesitated before answering.

"...The scholar I just mentioned is interested in your case."

"...In me?"

Could it really be Hyung?

...No. I can't be sure.

Even so...

"And he asked me for a favor."

"He said he wanted to hear exactly what happened to you."

"He told me several other things as well, but..."

Yeol hurriedly added,

"I-I don't think that scholar is a bad person, either."

"And I'm not saying that just because he helped me!"

"I could simply tell."

"He was genuinely asking because he wants to help both you and me..."

"...You don't need to explain any further."

Hong Myeong chuckled.

"The night is long. Let's take our time talking."

"Now, what does this scholar want to know?"

...You never know.

I think I want to trust this boy.

Doyul headed to the marketplace alone.

Now that I have someone helping me inside the provincial office, it's time to secure an ally on the outside.

When he arrived at Daegu's largest marketplace, he had little difficulty finding a familiar face.

"Come one, come all! Gather around!"

"This isn't something you get to see every day!"

Dun!

"What do we have here?"

"A coin, of course!"

"Ooooh!"

"Now, if I stick this coin onto a rice bowl, just like this, and channel my mystical power into it...!"

Doyul couldn't help smiling at the familiar performance.

...He's certainly enthusiastic.

Doyul had come to the marketplace to find Hong Gil.

But since Cheongun had also been looking for Hong Gil, there was a good chance he had already met him.

In that case, Doyul could reach Hong Gil through Cheongun.

When Doyul casually sat down on Cheongun's mat, the spectators began murmuring.

"Oh! Is that young scholar going to try the shell game too?"

"Haha! That Taoist is quite skilled. The young scholar might be in for a difficult time!"

"...Well, well! Look who it is!"

Cheongun greeted Doyul with great delight.

"We've barely been apart, and you've already come looking for me because you missed me?"

"Hahaha! I'm flattered!"

"...That's not why I'm here. I have something I want to ask you."

Doyul leaned closer to the smiling Cheongun and whispered,

"Have you met the leader of the eight provinces?"

"..."

Cheongun's gaze grew calm.

"I have. Is that what you came to ask?"

"Yes. I have business with him now as well."

Doyul's eyes shone.

"Would you take me to the leader of the eight provinces?"