"From here on, it may be hard to believe what I say."
This was what Mok In-Seop, who had returned before Dan Woosung, told his fellow guards at the lodging. Those who were tidying their bedding or minding their own business replied each in their own way.
"Why? Is the First Young Master rolling around with some wench at the safe house in broad daylight?"
"Oh, must've been quite the sight. You peeped, didn't you? You pervert."
Mok In-Seop sighed.
"Do I look like the kind of guy who'd peep? Really?"
"Then what is it?"
Mok In-Seop grinned slyly and said,
"Guess what?"
No one seemed particularly curious.
"Anyway, you've got an easy life. Born into the right house, living in luxury without a care in the world. Must be nice. Don't you envy him?"
"Of course. Even if he's just grabbing some girl's butt in the safe house, he probably never has to worry about money. In the end, being born well is everything. Hard work means nothing. Just look at our Vice Captain. He's devoted his whole life to the guard division, and still, he's stuck outside dealing with Ouyang— Never mind, I'll stop there."
Everyone glanced at Vice Captain Han Yeop of the guard division.
With a bitter look, Han Yeop spoke to Mok In-Seop.
"How is the First Young Master's health?"
Han Yeop was the only one in the guard division who genuinely cared about the First Young Master.
Only then did the others turn their attention to Mok In-Seop.
With a knowing smile, as if he were about to tell an interesting tale, Mok In-Seop spoke.
"Don't think I'm lying. You'll all find out soon enough anyway."
Now a bit more intrigued, the others pressed him.
"Just say it already. What is it?"
"If it's nothing special, you'd better run for your life."
Mok In-Seop said,
"The First Young Master is a completely different person now."
Of course, he had changed from Lee Jin-Eon to Dan Woosung, so the statement wasn't wrong. One of the men replied,
"Everyone changes at some point. The First Young Master is still young, so it's not strange he's changed. Better late than never. Maybe he matured a bit at the safe house."
Mok In-Seop shook his head.
"It's more than that. Would I be surprised over something so simple? I hadn't seen him in a while, but he looked like a perfect martial artist. A true martial artist."
"Hmmm…"
At Mok In-Seop's words, the guard division exchanged glances, then burst into laughter all at once.
"Hahahahaha…"
"Puhahahaha."
One man pointed at Mok In-Seop and said,
"That was hilarious. Truly. Our Mok family brat has a knack for making people laugh now and then. Great joke. The First Young Master became a martial artist? That's like saying you gave up drinking and left to study literature."
"Yeah, like Mok In-Seop bumping shoulders on the street and politely apologizing. Same level of fantasy."
Since it wasn't anything bad, Mok In-Seop laughed along.
"Yeah, yeah, I knew you wouldn't believe me. Just don't be too shocked when he returns. Every time I made eye contact with him, I felt intimidated. You'll see."
"You? Intimidated by that scrawny guy? Do you hear yourself? You, the mad dog of the Mok family?"
The guard division, by nature, was a man's world.
Though they were affiliated with a merchant group, they were rougher because of it. On the job, they often ran into Jianghu warriors, bandits, or marauders.
They were men who lived seeing blood, and though they worked for the merchant group, they were far from ordinary merchants. Most of them had one foot in the Jianghu. Among them, Mok In-Seop was notorious for picking fights even in inns, earning the nickname "mad dog."
Vice Captain Han Yeop asked Mok In-Seop,
"So you're saying if he's become a martial artist, he must've recovered his health too."
"Yes, he looked perfectly healthy."
"When does he plan to return?"
"I don't know exactly. He said, 'Soon.' That's all."
Han Yeop said with a serious expression,
"If the First Young Master has changed that much, it's something to celebrate. Let's do this. On the day he returns, gather all off-duty guard members."
"To do what?"
Han Yeop spoke, half-joking, half-serious,
"We must properly welcome and congratulate the return of the First Young Master."
As everyone laughed at Han Yeop's words, he spoke with a stern face.
"I'm not joking."
"Seriously?"
"You really mean it?"
Han Yeop nodded and added,
"When a man changes, it's something to celebrate, and something amazing. He's improved so much, I had to take a second look. Even Lü Bu of the Three Kingdoms…"
Mok In-Seop interjected,
"Not Lü Bu. Lü Meng. That story of him being changed…"
Han Yeop beckoned him with a finger.
"You. Come here."
Mok In-Seop approached with a reluctant look, and Han Yeop smacked him on the head.
"Where did you pick up the habit of talking back to everything? Is it important whether it's Lü Bu or Lü Meng right now? We're talking about the First Young Master, you punk."
After Mok In-Seop got smacked, chuckles broke out from all around.
Han Yeop said,
"Now, where was I?"
Mok In-Seop rubbed his head and replied,
"You were at him being changed."
"Right. It's a great thing that the First Young Master has become a martial artist. He never looked healthy, to be honest. My heart always ached when I saw him. I used to regret not beating some sense into him like I did with you lot. Really though, how much must he have suffered over there to change that much? I'm not joking—pass this along to those who aren't here too."
At last, everyone responded with sincere expressions.
"Understood. We'll let them know."
Han Yeop looked at Mok In-Seop and said meaningfully,
"If even our town's mad dog calls him a martial artist, then he really must've become one. You're a cocky brat, but not a liar."
Mok In-Seop grinned and replied,
"Exactly, Vice Captain. You see through things clearly."
Han Yeop gave a short laugh as he looked at the ever-cheeky Mok In-Seop.
.
.
.
A few days later, a guard from the division came rushing into the lodging and announced,
"The First Young Master, he's arrived."
As the guard division warriors exchanged glances, a senior member said,
"Didn't you hear the Vice Captain? Everyone get ready to head out. If we go now, we can greet him properly."
"Understood."
"Notify the Vice Captain as well."
"He's guarding the merchant group leader, so he'll probably meet him first anyway."
"Right. Let's go."
As they donned their uniforms and gathered their weapons, the men muttered among themselves.
"If he hadn't gotten into trouble, he'd already officially be the heir of the merchant group with a bright future…"
"You never know. The other young masters are still fighting among themselves. From our perspective…"
He was about to say, Aren't all three of them just trash anyway?, but closed his mouth. They too were now deeply curious about the First Young Master who had suddenly returned. When someone changes, it stirs a sense of expectation.
***
Dan Woosung was looking at his home.
'So I really was rich.'
After sending the servants who had returned with him from the safe house ahead, he stood alone, gazing at the towering front gate and walls of the Eunha Merchant Group. The scale of the estate was truly enormous. Each time he looked around, it felt like pulling out childhood memories — the memories of Lee Jin-Eon overlapped with his own.
This was a place Lee Jin-Eon had taken pride in. In his memories, there was a determination to one day run the merchant group well. And so, his memories felt as though they were speaking to Dan Woosung, "Please take good care of the merchant group."
Dan Woosung nodded.
'Don't worry.'
To maintain wealth like this in the Jianghu, many people must have struggled. A portion of the money earned for survival would've been spent all over.
The Merchant Group Leader's mental burden must've been considerable.
Looking around, Dan Woosung finally opened the main gate and entered the Eunha Merchant Group. Even though the servants who went ahead surely informed them of his return, no one had come out to greet him.
As if reviewing Lee Jin-Eon's memories, he walked through the wide courtyard and headed toward the main hall where guests were received.
Inside the main hall, Lee Jin-Eon's memories passed by like illusions.
It was a place where he had played with his younger brothers, and also fought with them, grabbing each other's hair.
In one corner, the three brothers — Lee Jin-Eon, Lee Hwa-Eon, and Lee Ja-Eon — were seen kneeling after being scolded by their father.
The three of them had sullen faces, holding their hands up.
Then, Dan Woosung came to a stop.
He saw a young Lee Jin-Eon standing dazed as if in shock, and his father running outside with their mother on his back — an illusion.
The vision Dan Woosung was watching disappeared at the sound of someone's voice.
"Young Master, you've returned?"
Vice Captain Han Yeop of the guard division walked out alone from the inner part of the main hall.
Han Yeop looked at Dan Woosung and spoke.
"Congratulations on returning in good health."
Dan Woosung stared quietly at Han Yeop before replying.
"Have you been well, Vice Captain?"
Han Yeop observed the First Young Master carefully as he answered.
"Yes, thanks to the constant concern of the Merchant Group Leader, I've been doing well. I told the guard division to greet you, but it seems I arrived first."
No sooner had Han Yeop finished speaking than the guard division warriors entered with a loud clamor from outside the main hall.
As Han Yeop and Dan Woosung stood side by side watching, the guards lined up in formation and spoke in unison.
"We congratulate the First Young Master on his safe return."
The guard division performed a sword salute, standing their swords upright and stacking their right hands over them — the proper salute.
It was an act ordered by Han Yeop, but nonetheless, it was the only welcome. Dan Woosung smiled toward the guard division and responded.
"A grand welcome for someone who used to be a complete mess. Thank you, all."
When the First Young Master made a self-deprecating joke, smiles appeared on everyone's faces. But when Dan Woosung performed a fist-and-palm salute to the guard division in return, their expressions hardened instantly.
Only then did they recall what Mok In-Seop had said. Moreover, the way he gave his salute was neither excessive nor lacking. It was a gesture of perfect courtesy.
Watching this, Han Yeop spoke with a faint smile.
"Back to your duties, everyone. I'll escort the Young Master myself."
"Yes, sir."
As Han Yeop guided the First Young Master to the Merchant Group Leader's room, and the guard division returned to their lodgings, they all shared the same thought.
'Wow, he's changed incredibly.'
There was no need for a lengthy conversation. The transformation was enough that they could feel the martial artist's qi radiating from him.
A martial artist recognizes another martial artist.
Now they understood why Mok In-Seop had been so shocked. It wasn't just a recovery of health — it was as if an entirely new martial artist, one they had never seen before, had entered the house. Yet, it didn't feel like an enemy. It felt like an ally.
Standing before the Merchant Group Leader's door, Han Yeop said,
"The First Young Master is here."
A weak voice responded from within.
"Send him in."
Opening the door, Han Yeop turned to Dan Woosung and said,
"Young Master, please go in. I'll be waiting outside."
Dan Woosung stepped into the room alone, and inside the spacious chamber lay an older man.
Internally, Dan Woosung was deeply surprised. Was a father supposed to be this old? As an orphan, he had no memory or concept of what a father was supposed to be like.
The face of the middle-aged man, who had clearly suffered greatly, turned toward Dan Woosung and said,
"…You've come."
It was a tone devoid of either resentment or hope — utterly flat. Dan Woosung and Lee Jin-Eon responded at the same time,
"Yes, I've returned."
"Sit."
Dan Woosung sat down, staring at the mysterious figure who was his father.
"I heard you've developed a mental disease."
The father replied with a faint smile,
"Seems so. It's probably a mental disease. I've had it for years, but I guess now that my body is old, it can't endure it anymore."
Only then did Lee Seong-Min take a good look at Lee Jin-Eon's face and reach out to touch his eldest son's cheek.
"Your face looks better. You seem more at ease. Your whole expression's changed. Are you really Jin-Eon?"
It was a question only a father of Lee Jin-Eon could ask. Dan Woosung nodded and answered.
"Yes."
"I'm glad you're better."
Dan Woosung, too, felt something complicated stir within him.
Perhaps it was because this man, this father, looked even older than Dan Woosung himself in his previous life.
Old age was such a sorrowful thing.
This man's aging had come quicker because he bore the burden of leading the merchant group and carrying the fate of many household members. No one could see that more clearly than Dan Woosung.
And in front of their father, whether it was Lee Jin-Eon, the disgraceful son, or Dan Woosung, the orphan — they were equally immature.