Side Story 9. Tsering (1)

Nam Family Manor was the number one power in Chaesang County.
The authority of the Nam Family Manor Lord was far greater than that of Chaesang County’s magistrate.
It was not simply because Nam Family Manor was older, wealthier, and owned more land.
The problem was that the world had changed in that way.
The local gentry had grown more powerful than the local officials.

Just because Shang had fallen and Great Ming had risen again did not mean the world had returned to the way it was before.
Strange yokai had begun appearing in the mountains.
In chaotic times, it was not the mighty imperial authority or government offices that protected a region.
A region was protected by the masters of that region.
Chaesang County, which had once been nothing special, survived because Murim sects including Nam Family Manor had poured everything they had into protecting the county.

Because of that, the standing of famous local powers rose even higher in each region.
Nam Family Manor, which was only average among the countless Murim families across the Central Plains, wielded tremendous power here in Chaesang County.

Nam Mu-gyeon, the Nam Family Manor Lord, offered a respectful fist-clasp salute to two women much younger than himself.

“Welcome. I have been awaiting your visit.”

So-ryu received the greeting with practiced ease.

“Thank you deeply for your hospitality. We are Baek So-ryu and Baek Sang-ye.”
“I have long admired the noble reputation of the Nam Family Manor Lord.”

There was refinement in the replies of So-ryu and Baek Sang-ye as well.
And a short distance away, Geum Yang-bae and his party stood there with their mouths hanging open.
They had guessed the two women must be of high status, but never imagined the Nam Family Manor Lord himself would come out to greet them.
The reason became clear at once.

“Heo heo, when we heard guests from the Greatest Family Under Heaven were coming, my whole household waited with eager anticipation.”

‘The Greatest Family Under Heaven.’
In this world now, the phrase Greatest Family Under Heaven referred to only one clan.
What else would the Greatest Family Under Heaven be, if not the family of the greatest person under heaven?
The Baek Clan.
That was the one.
Why had they failed to think of the Baek Clan even after hearing the names Baek So-ryu and Baek Sang-ye?
People all judged the world by their own measure.
The highest status the vice guild master of the Golden Measure Merchant Guild had been able to imagine for the two was that they might come from a family on the level of Nam Family Manor.
The gap between imagination and reality was enormous because of that.

The Nam Family Manor Lord and Baek Sang-ye spoke with smiles.

“What is this……?”
“It’s a piglet we picked up on the way here. It was really quite startling……”

Baek Sang-ye explained the strange thing that had happened earlier that day.
It was the story of a dead boar coming back to life and attacking them.
The expression of the Nam Family Manor Lord stiffened.

“……”
“Do you perhaps have any idea what it might have been?”
“Heo heo, it is a dangerous world. Strange monsters are rampaging even around Chaesang County. I shall have to investigate it properly.”
“If the Lord himself is taking notice, then there is nothing to worry about.”
“Haha, I will have the servants feed that piglet well. Even a tiny creature is still a connection, is it not?”
“Please take good care of it.”

The servants carefully took the piglet.
Baek Sang-ye glanced lightly toward So-ryu.
So-ryu’s gaze was calm enough that her thoughts couldn’t be read.
Baek Sang-ye gave her a faint smile.

When the tale of the dead boar coming back to life was mentioned, the Nam Family Manor Lord’s expression had shifted for an instant.
It had looked like surprise, yet the feeling of it had been oddly strange.

“Please, come in.”
“Yes.”

But even if something was hidden in Chaesang County, it was not something they ought to interfere in.
At least, that was what So-ryu thought.

“Y-young lady!”

Just then, Geum Yang-bae called out to Baek Sang-ye.
The others, including the Nam Family Manor Lord, all turned to look at Geum Yang-bae.

“Uh……”

Geum Yang-bae merely opened and closed his mouth without being able to say anything, clearly flustered by all the eyes on him.
Naturally so. He had not called out because he actually had something to say.
The Nam Family Manor Lord narrowed his eyes, and just as Geum Yang-bae resolved that he had to say something, at least.

Baek Sang-ye spoke first.

“Thank you for your help on the way here.”
“Ah, y-yes!”

What was that ‘y-yes.’
Geum Yang-bae felt like crawling into a mouse hole. If anything, it was he and the Golden Measure Merchant Guild who ought to be grateful.

“Do you know those people?”
“They’re people we met on the road. They shared food with us.”
“Heo heo, that was kind of them. I shall instruct my household to reward them generously.”

So-ryu and the Nam Family Manor Lord departed with light laughter between them.
Geum Yang-bae and the Golden Measure Merchant Guild were left standing there awkwardly.
The goods they had brought were carried inside by Nam Family Manor’s servants.
Nam Family Manor’s head steward came out and paid them.
Ordinarily they would have had to fawn even over that steward, but Geum Yang-bae was too dazed to do anything, so Warrior Jang received the payment in his place.

“Well now, Vice Guild Master. Don’t be too heartbroken.”

Warrior Jang placed a hand on Geum Yang-bae’s shoulder and spoke gently, with the attitude of a man comforting a nephew.

“Honestly, it’s not as if you were close enough for it to hurt this much.”
“……”
“Their status was different from the start. There’s an old saying that you shouldn’t even look at a tree you can’t climb.”
“……”
“If anything, isn’t it fortunate? It’s a blessing you didn’t get cut down after making those clumsy advances. Smile, come on, smile. Hahaha. I once had a situation much like yours, Young Master. How is it that you’re exactly like I was……”
“Shut uuuup!”

Geum Yang-bae shouted that.
Warrior Jang’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You stinking old bachelor!”
“What are you even saying……”

Warrior Jang looked hurt, but Geum Yang-bae burst into tears and ran off.

“Ah, damn it, come back after you’ve cooled off a little! Back to the inn!”

Warrior Jang’s voice rang out behind him.
Geum Yang-bae kept running.
It was the day a man’s pure heart had crumbled.
For some reason, he felt miserably pathetic.

But no one could run forever.
Geum Yang-bae had not learned martial arts, and even setting that aside, his stamina was not very good.
He had not run that far, yet his chest already felt like it would burst.
Geum Yang-bae braced himself against a wall and gasped for breath.

“Huff, huff. Ptui.”

After spitting out a long string of saliva, he muttered.

“Fuck, I need a drink.”

He felt like drinking himself to death today.
He thought of going back to the inn where he always stayed, but didn’t want to. Warrior Jang’s face came to mind, and he could not tell whether the man had been comforting him or mocking him.

He needed to find another tavern.
Maybe if there were women there, they could soothe this wounded heart of his.
Just as Geum Yang-bae turned a corner, feeling like the hero of a tragedy.

Thunk.

He collided with someone who had come running out of the alley at just that moment.
Geum Yang-bae looked down at his chest.
Sticky tanghulu was smeared across his clothes.
Across the silk clothes he liked best.

“You little……!”
“Ah, fuck!”

The one who got angry first was none other than a little beggar boy.
A child with dirt streaked across his face and hair in total disarray.
He snapped at Geum Yang-bae.

“How do you walk around with your damn eyes open, mister? Give me back my tanghulu! Fucking annoying, damn it.”
“……”

Geum Yang-bae saw red.
He flung the tanghulu to the ground, stomped on it, and immediately slapped the beggar across the face.

“Little beggar bastard!”
“Aagh! You hit me?”

The beggar brat had a temper too.
He flailed and threw punches at Geum Yang-bae.
Geum Yang-bae scoffed.

“A little runt like you dares to…… agh!”

One of the boy’s wild punches happened to smack him right across the bridge of the nose.
His nose started bleeding.
Geum Yang-bae swung his fists at the beggar.

“You little bastard! Die! Die!”

Because of the difference in size, it was the beggar boy who ultimately began getting beaten.

“Aagh! Help me, help me!”
“You’re dead today.”

It was an out-of-the-way alley, but the farce was enough to draw people’s attention.
Some even laughed and pointed.

The problem was that other beggars appeared after hearing the pitiful cries of the beggar boy.

“H-help meee!”
“Perfect timing, you beggar bastards.”

Geum Yang-bae smiled at the sight of more targets for his rage.
But the mood was a little strange.
The onlookers began scattering in alarm.
Among the three beggars was one who was fairly tall.

“Let Jwi-ddong go!”
“Jwi-ddong^[TL/N: Literal translation of the name is ‘Rat Poop’? That suits a tiny brat like him.”

Even as he said that, Geum Yang-bae let the boy go without realizing it.
The boy ran back to the beggars, sobbing.

“T-that bastard stole my tanghulu and started beating me when I wasn’t doing anything.”
“What? What kind of bullshit…….”

Geum Yang-bae’s mouth fell open.
The beggar brat lied without even blinking.
The tall beggar naturally seemed to believe the brat named Jwi-ddong.

“You need to be taught a lesson today.”

He came forward cracking his knuckles.
Veins stood out on Geum Yang-bae’s forehead.
Now even some beggar was looking down on him.
He had to teach that chopstick-thin beggar a proper lesson.
Geum Yang-bae was not exactly helpless in a fight either.
He charged at the beggar at full speed.
Normally that would make the other person flinch in surprise.
Then you boldly leap up and kick them in the solar plexus.
Sure enough, the beggar didn’t move, perhaps because he had chickened out.
Geum Yang-bae’s foot struck the beggar’s solar plexus squarely.

Ppeok!

A shock ran up his ankle as it twisted, feeling as though he had kicked a lump of iron.
The one who collapsed was none other than Geum Yang-bae.

Fallen on the ground, Geum Yang-bae grabbed his ankle and screamed.

“Aaaagh!”
“Heh heh, dumbass.”

The lanky beggar grinned.
His fist smashed down into Geum Yang-bae’s face.

Jjeok!

Everything went black, and he lost consciousness in a single blow.

“Drag him off and beat the shit out of him.”

Those words echoed faintly in Geum Yang-bae’s ears.

One could hardly blame Geum Yang-bae for not seeing a group of beggars and immediately thinking they were Beggars’ Union members.
There were far too many beggars in the world for that thought to spring up right away.
The harsher life in the world became, the more beggars there were.
And at the same time, it became harder for beggars to survive as well.
The Beggars’ Union was one of the sects that had failed to survive the changes of the age properly.
In the age of chaos, it had split into the Jiangnan branch and the Jiangbei branch, and had lost many of the lower sub-branches beneath them.

The Beggars’ Union had always had two sides to it.
Some beggars had the spirit of great heroes and were righteous.
Others were just as vile as the unorthodox rabble.

The beggars of the Chaesang County branch fell somewhere in between, if one had to classify them.
They were not deeply righteous, but neither were they cruel.
The problem was that Geum Yang-bae had picked the wrong people to mess with.
The one who had beaten him down was Branch Leader Yeop Jang, and Jwi-ddong was Yeop Jang’s younger brother.

When Geum Yang-bae opened his eyes, all his clothes had been stripped off.

“You fucking beggar bastards! Do you know who I am!”

The moment he shouted, a kick came flying instead of a reply.
The beggars beat Geum Yang-bae with great enthusiasm.
The place they had dragged him to was a beggar den beneath a bridge.
On a filthy straw mat inside a stinking shack, Geum Yang-bae got beaten half to death.

“You fuckers, guh!”

Geum Yang-bae was hit in the jaw and blacked out.
The beggars laughed loudly.
Some time later, when he regained consciousness again.

“You bastards, not recognizing the heir of the Great Golden Measure Merchant Guild!”

Jjeok!

Geum Yang-bae was more of a stubborn bastard than one might have thought.
Even with his face swollen from being slapped over and over, he did not stop cursing at the beggars.

“Heh heh, kehk. You’re all dead.”

With his face pressed into the stinking straw mat, Geum Yang-bae went on.

“You don’t know the Nam Family Manor Lord is looking for me……?”
“……What?”

For the first time, the beggars flinched.
Geum Yang-bae kept piling on the bluff he had blurted out without thinking.

“Our Golden Measure Merchant Guild was acting under a secret order from the Nam Family Manor Lord…… heh.”
“Speak clearly!”

The Branch Leader kicked Geum Yang-bae in the stomach.
Geum Yang-bae vomited violently.

Even so, he grinned.

“A secret order is secret because it’s secret, you beggar bastard.”

He had made the story up on the spot, so there was no way he had thought out the details.

“You little bastard……”
“What do you think will happen if they find out a bunch of beggars dragged me here?”

Overawe them and get out of this situation.
That was the desperate way out that sprang to mind.

“You’ll all die. Beggars’ Union or not……”

It was, of course, pure bluff.
But the beggars started murmuring uneasily.
If the Beggars’ Union had still been in its prime, that might have been different, but here they dared not provoke Nam Family Manor’s displeasure.

“Branch Leader, I think we’re fucked.”
“You believe this bastard?”
“You saw how much money he had on him. He probably really is from a merchant guild.”
“You think the Nam Family Manor Lord would come after us over a bastard like this?”
“You know how things are these days……”

They started arguing among themselves.
Geum Yang-bae paused for a moment.

He was waiting to throw in one line at just the right moment.

“If you let me go quietly right now……”
“Let’s kill him.”

One of the beggars said that.

“If we kill him and bury him cleanly, no one will know.”
“Mm.”

The problem was that the Branch Leader actually considered the suggestion seriously.
Geum Yang-bae was so startled he screamed.

“You bastards, what are you doing? Hey!”
“Shut his mouth!”

The beggars rushed over and stuffed a gag into Geum Yang-bae’s mouth.

“Mmph, mmph!”

The Branch Leader stared at Geum Yang-bae with wavering eyes.
It was a crisis of death.
A crisis of pissing his pants yet again!

“If you’re scared, Branch Leader, I’ll do it.”
“……You little shit, who said anything about being scared.”
“Then that settles it, right? Hey, bring some rope!”

One of the beggars barked at the boy called Jwi-ddong.
Jwi-ddong looked to the Branch Leader for cues, and the atmosphere became explosive.

That was how it was until someone burst into the shack.

“Gal!”

The figure came in with the kind of thunderous rebuke a high monk might use when scolding someone.
It was none other than another beggar.
Scruffy like the other Beggars’ Union members, but the problem was that this one seemed to be female.

“What do you think you’re doing right now!”

There could be female beggars, but there were no female Beggars’ Union members.
But when that female beggar entered, all the beggars, including the Branch Leader, shrank back.

“You idiots, do you not know how precious a human life is, trying to kill someone just like that? Murder is a direct ticket to the Hell of Revival!”

Though a beggar, she barked out a rebuke like a monk.
Whoever she was, that woman was clearly Geum Yang-bae’s lifeline.

“Mmph!”
“Untie that man at once.”

The Branch Leader looked flustered.

“No, even if it’s you, Tsering, if you do this……”
“Sseup!”

The moment the female beggar sharply raised her hand, the beggars all scattered away from Geum Yang-bae.
That was right.
The woman dressed like a beggar was none other than Tsering, who had set out from Tibet.

“You really turned him into a complete mess.”

When she smiled, it looked as though only her white teeth were floating in the air.
Tears rolled down Geum Yang-bae’s cheeks again.