“Dear Gongja, please have some honey rice cake.”
“Where did you get it?”
“I snatched a few from the kitchen while making new ones.”
“Put it in my mouth.”
A piece of honey rice cake came into my mouth. When I took a bite, the honey that burst out was amazing.
“Are you catching flies again?”
“I am not catching flies, but I am training martial arts. Welcome. Go to the kitchen again and steal some fishy stuff. Flies are so precious today. Flies will run out in a few more minutes.”
I changed my ways a little. This time, I didn’t poke the chopsticks to catch the flies. Instead, I put the flies in the air and moved both hands quickly so that they could not escape out of the virtual space.
The key was to quickly detect different trajectories, direction, and movement of flies and reach out in advance.
I was now practicing to develop eye power by using my new “Lee ability”.
In my previous life, I still remember the words of Ga Bul-yeom, a chief messenger, teaching new messengers martial arts during break time. At that time, I was repairing torn shoes next to him.
[Eye is half the battle.]
My current ability was able to keep three flies in the air and hold them for half a day.
When I got used to it, I was going to sit in front of the hive and try it against the bees. It’s exciting because the bees might sting me. But in the end, I have to merge it with the martial art of the fist.
“You know today is the day of the full moon, right?”
“What do you want?”
“Isn’t there a dinner every 15th day of the month where only family members are present in the Pyowang-bu? It’s been a long time since all four of you, including the sovereign of Pyoguk, have gathered together since the first Gongja came back from delivery yesterday.”
“What? Having dinner with my father and brothers in the Pyowang-bu once a month?”
As I stopped moving, three flies were scattered in my arms.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Since when?”
“I heard it’s a tradition that’s been handed down from generation to generation.”
“Ha…….”
***
Pyowang-bu was the most magnificent pavilion in the Cheonryong Pyoguk, where the sovereign, Lee Jong-san, lived alone with dozens of guards.
I felt like my whole body was shriveling at visiting again in 3 days.
Lee Jong-san made me so nervous, and moreover, the presence of three brothers whom he got newly was a needle cushion for me. In particular, Lee Byung-ryong’s mood was not good.
“The marriage between the third Gongja and Miss Cho Young-young has been temporarily suspended. Mrs. Chenghua went to the Pyowang-bu to argue about this, which caused a fuss. Be extra careful for any provocations toward you.”
Before coming to Pyowang-bu, I heard it from Jang-sam.
No wonder I thought he’d retaliate after what happened at the Baeksun restaurant, but he was quiet. He seemed to be in a panic when his marriage with Cho Young-young, who he believed in, was broken.
When I thought of the young and pretty face of Cho Young-young that I saw a few days ago, I could fully understand it. That’s why Lee Jeong-ryong was going to die for her.
‘By the way, we should have had a post by today.….’
On the third day after the exam, a post with a list of test passers will be posted on the main streets of the city, including the government office.
Strangely, however, there was no news. Even today, I sent Jang-sam to visit the government office three times.
“It’s full of the imaginal pictures of criminals that have killed nearly a hundred people and disappeared on the planet.”
Numerous Confucian scholars from the countryside were still staying somewhere in Hyangju to see their exam results.
The government can’t delay it for long, so the post will be posted by tomorrow morning at the latest.
By the way, the table is brilliant. It was stuffed with colorful vegetable dishes to various seafood and greasy meats.
‘You’re eating such wonderful food?’
I wanted to bow to the amulet that brought me back to life as Gongja.
“There was something unsavory in the Bokryong-dang?”
At the beginning of the dinner, Lee Jong-san started to talk.
“That’s fortunate that Jeong-ryong has found and corrected one of the long-standing evils of Bokryong-dang,” Yi Gap-ryong, first Gongja, added politely. This year, he was thirty years old and had a dignified appearance, and he always looked heavy.
But there was a bone in the words. I’m sure it’s a compliment to me, but the focal point felt as if it was being stamped on the “long-term demise of Bokryong-dang.”
He said again, “I’m going to teach Jeong-ryong some work. Jeong-ryong is already 22 years old. Now that he has had enough fun, why don’t we help him learn the business of Pyoguk one by one?”
“Brother, you talk as if you are doing all of Pyoguk’s work. I’m embarrassed to listen to you while our father is here.”
It was Lee Eul-ryong, the leader of the Bokryong-dang, who suddenly interrupted.
If the pupil of Lee Gap-ryong resembled a tranquil lake, Lee Eul-ryong’s resembled that of a beast. He was a born fighter. As a result, his usual way of speaking revealed his belligerent temperament.
“Not what you wanted to hear?”
“I’m embarrassed that you’re suddenly paying attention to Jeong-ryong. You usually don’t even look at him.”
“I heard there was a big problem with Jeong-ryong. As the eldest brother, I thought I was too indifferent to him. So, I’m going to take care of him from now on. You pay special attention to him, too.”
“I was going to teach Jeong-ryong by myself. You should focus on the business of Pyoguk, as you have always done. There’s a saying that when people suddenly change, there are more bad things than good things.”
“You’re not acting like usual.”
“Unlike usual, he humiliated me by revealing the problem of Bokryong-dang, which I manage. I’m going to take this opportunity to give Jeong-ryong a position to work with me.”
It was a quiet conversation, but in my eyes, the sword and the dagger seemed to be coming and going.
By the way, why are they suddenly fighting over me? Are they really going to teach me and raise me?
Never ever. In his previous life, Lee Jeong-ryong drowned in a lake, but he survived in this life.
Jang-sam told me that there were infamous rumors for letting their brother commit suicide in Gangho.
However, they were not people who cared about rumors in Gangho.
The only person they cared about was Lee Jong-san, their father, under the sky.
Therefore, all the words taught to me were the words that were conscious of Lee Jong-san in front of them.
They were pretending to take care of their younger brother because they can’t ignore him.
Chunk!
The sound of Lee Jong-san putting his chopsticks down sounded like thunder as if he used his inner forces.
At that moment, the fierce war of nerves between Lee Gap-ryong and Lee Eul-ryong stopped.
Can sons put food in their mouths when the father puts his chopsticks down? The three brothers stopped eating with their postures erect.
“Why did you do that?”
Lee Jong-san asked me indifferently. The story returned to Bokryong-dang, where it originated.
I soaked the golden lamb skewers in soy sauce and just took a bite and answered, quietly putting them down.
“I just noticed by chance that the porters were switching packages to maintenance…….”
“I already know what happened. I’m asking why. You’ve never been interested in the business of Pyoguk. You’ve never had a quarrel with any of the porters.”
This was a question no one had asked yet. Jeon Lib-seong, Jang-sam, the porters, and the messengers all wondered only how I knew such things, but they did not want to know why I interfered in the business of Pyoguk and quarreled with them.
“Because I didn’t want to fight before.”
“But you want to fight now?”
“I can’t stand their provocation.”
“Three messengers and nine porters were released after being hit 30 times by the cudgel. They will not be able to join any deliveries for one year, and their wives and children will have to worry about their meals. This is the result of what you did in the Bokryong-dang while you were unable to control your anger. Do you have anything to say?”
Lee Jong-san was pushing me for some reason now. I don’t know the exact reason, but I see it’s a kind of test to evaluate me.
The intent of the examiner is always the most important. How did I not know that? I have to make a strong impression on him, win the mare, or lose the halter.
“Father, your calculations are wrong.”
Lee Gap-ryong, Eul-ryong, and Byung-ryong were dumbfounded. Because none of them ever said, ‘You’re wrong,’ in their father’s face. It was a direct confrontation with the owner of this Pyoguk.
“What a rude thing you are doing, Jeong-ryong!”
Lee Gap-ryong yelled in low voice.
“Are you crazy?”
Lee Eul-ryong also quietly added. Lee Jong-san raised one hand to shut the mouths of the two. And he asked me again with a subdued look, “What is your calculation?”
“What you said was not what I did, but what they did. It is a natural consequence of their misdeeds. The result of what I did was to prevent the great loss that our Cheonryong Pyoguk would have suffered one day with a small loss. So, if you give them a punishment with the cudgel, you should give me a reward. That way, the reward and punishment will be clear.”
The eyes of Lee Gap-ryong, Eul-ryong, and Byeong-ryong were wide open. Lee Jong-san stared at me for quite a while and said, “Now you’ve taken step one at 22 years old.”
Yes. This is a compliment. Twenty-two is an expression of regret, not a rebuke.
But I shouldn’t be satisfied with this. If I stop here, his assessment of me will end at this point. I must turn that regret into expectation.
“What is step two?”
Lee Jong-san’s eyes slightly widened, as if he hadn’t thought I’d ask questions like this. Lee Jong-san said after a brief interval, “You are the son of King Pyoguk. How dare little porters try to fight against the son of the King? If it were your brothers, they would have killed them by twisting their necks on the spot.”
What does this mean? At first glance, it seems like he is reprimanding that I impaired the dignity of my family, but somehow that’s not all. Then, it is excessive.
On the other hand, the three brothers’ faces showed their confidence. It sounded like a gap between me and them.
“You told me to die last time, but you said I should have killed someone this time. Should it always be one of the two? Either I die or my opponent dies.”
“There is a way for you to live, and for others to live.”
“What is that?”
“You become a tiger by yourself. So, let all men know that you are a tiger. Then no one will try to fight against you, and you don’t have to kill anyone either.”
“That’s what I did. The only difference is that I used the assembly hall. They’re not robbers, and here is not the place for muggings. Because this is Cheonryong Pyoguk where there are strict laws and orders.”
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
The eyes of the three brothers opened bigger. Lee Jong-san stared at me for much longer than before and said, “It’s a good step.”
Lee Gap-ryong, Eul-ryong, and Byeong-ryong became truly bewildered. It would be embarrassing to see something different from what they estimated.
I didn’t miss Lee Jong-san’s mouth having a small smile and then disappearing. That was definitely a smile. That’s enough. I’ve done a good job today. I can eat comfortably for the rest of the time.
But then another disturber appeared. A tall man, carrying a long sword on his side, came in. It was the Black Killer Ga Roe-ab, the guard of the Pyowang-bu.
“Why is it so noisy outside from before?” Lee Eul-ryong asked nervously. I was surprised. Loud noise? I didn’t hear anything.
Looking around, Lee Jong-san, as well as Lee Gap-ryong, and Byung-ryong were all looking at the guard’s face with curious faces.
Everyone but me heard it.
‘I have the ability to slow down time, but I don’t have any ordinary power of martial arts masters.’
I felt the need for martial arts, especially internal forces. I also thought that I should learn how to be a master of internal forces as soon as possible.
“From the Hangzhou government office, a chief official came with twenty armed soldiers. I stopped them, but the chief insisted he had to ride a horse in, so I’m holding him in a stable yard.”
“What brought the chief official here?”
“He’ll tell you that in person when he meets you, my lord.”
“Have you seen such an absurd old man? Who cares if he is the chief official? How dare he ask my lord out. Besides, he rode a horse with arms and entered the Cheonryong Pyoguk? He is out of his mind.”
“He has been stubborn about riding a horse to enter the kingdom, but I don’t think I’ve come here to pick a fight because he was very polite.”
“He can fight if he wants?”
“He is a guest who came without an appointment. Please send someone to set up a time for them to visit formally.”
Lee Gap-ryong also added a word. Unlike Lee Eul-ryong, who had a fiery temper, he was clearly cautious about justifying his conduct. It was then.
“Ah!”
Lee Byung-ryong jumped up from his seat with an abrupt shout. He sat down again as everyone looked at him at once. Then for some reason, he couldn’t control his excitement.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Did you make any mistakes?”
“Not that. Actually, a few days ago, there was an official exam in the Hangzhou government office. The list of passers in that exam is posted all over the city, but it is customary that government officials visit the top three students to deliver the acceptance letter in person.”
“So?”
“I took the exam.”
Lee Byung-ryong boasted with a triumphant smile as if he did not need to explain more.
Then he glared at me and seemed to protest. ‘Look, you’ve been so pretentious at Baeksun restaurant, but didn’t I finally pass the exam?’
I just know today that if I placed in the top three on the official exam, the government official would visit me personally and give me the acceptance letter. I don’t think that’s why the chief official was visiting though.
“But why would he want to meet our father?”
“That’s the kind of trick he is trying to make up an excuse to see our father and make some points at this moment. Seven out of ten high government officials in the Hangzhou government offices are within our father’s hands…….”
“You talk a lot!”
Lee Byung-ryong flinched at Lee Jong-san’s low voice. Lee Jong-san then ordered the chief guard.
“Tell him to wait a moment, please.”
“I’ll obey your orders, my lord.”
While ordering the chief official, who came with 20 armed soldiers, to wait, the father and sons never blinked their eyes.
I could see a little bit about what kind of world the Pyo family lived in.
This was an unimaginable world when I watched as a porter in my previous life.
By the way, people didn’t seem to expect that the official would have come to deliver the acceptance letter to Lee Byung-ryong almost with the lowest score.
So did I. According to the memory of my previous life, I knew that Lee Byung-ryong passed the state examination.
So that official didn’t come to see Lee Byung-ryong at least. I shook my hands quietly under the table.