Chapter 24
. I’m an Expensive Man (1)
In a subtly antique-styled office, Seok Myeong-il was reading a report.
As he read, a faint look of interest crossed his face.
“Bi-un.”
“Yes, Head.”
At his low call, a middle-aged man clad in black martial garb appeared like a ghost and bowed deeply before him.
But Seok Myeong-il didn’t take his eyes off the report even after summoning Bi-un, his personal bodyguard and confidant.
“Is this true?”
“Yes. I confirmed it myself before writing the report.”
“Can a person really change this much?”
“I thought it strange as well, so I checked several times. But it is indeed the Young Master. And if it were someone impersonating him, they wouldn’t be behaving like this.”
“That’s true. That’s the clearest reason. And besides, there’d be no point in using an illegitimate child for such a ploy.”
Seok Myeong-il nodded.
If another faction wanted to scheme against the Seok Clan by swapping someone, they would have targeted Seok Gi-ryong or Seok Mi-ryong, not Seok Jin-ho.
Using a legitimate son would create far more impact than an illegitimate one.
So it was just speculation—and nothing more.
“Still, it’s fascinating. This sort of case is very rare. And on top of that, his talent bloomed late, to the point that even Hwasan and Jongnam took notice.”
“But he refused them.”
“That’s another mystery. Either one of those sects could’ve guaranteed him a bright future, yet he turned them down.”
“In the end, though, I believe it was not a bad choice. Unofficially, he defeated Do-hwa after all.”
Bi-un spoke without hesitation, as though he knew everything about Seok Jin-ho.
And the more he spoke, the more the intrigue on Seok Myeong-il’s face deepened.
“Bi-un, tell me honestly. Do you think this is possible?”
“I think it’s not impossible. The world always has its exceptions. Not just in the martial realm, but also in the world of commerce.”
“Indeed, geniuses sometimes appear out of nowhere.”
Seok Myeong-il stroked his chin.
The boy was the son of a concubine, but still carried his blood.
And if such a boy displayed dazzling talent, there was no reason to dislike it.
In fact, after being plagued by the problem of martial force his whole life, having Seok Jin-ho was a heaven-sent blessing.
“But there’s a problem.”
“He has no loyalty to the clan?”
“Yes. As you can see in the report, he’s been neglected all this time.”
“Neglected is a polite way of putting it. In truth, he was abandoned.”
“That’s correct.”
Bi-un’s face remained expressionless, but his thoughts aligned perfectly with Seok Myeong-il’s.
“He even refused offers from Mi-ryong and Jin-ryong.”
“As far as I know, the Third Miss hasn’t given up yet.”
“The best outcome would be Jin-ryong embracing him, but… sigh.”
Seok Myeong-il let out a long sigh.
Seok Jin-ryong had big ambitions, but unfortunately, his ability fell short of them.
That was why the succession struggle remained unresolved.
“Even the Grand Elder summoned him once.”
“And their conversation?”
“From what I’ve heard, the Grand Elder also tried to win him over. But ultimately, it failed.”
“Hmm.”
Seok Myeong-il’s mind worked rapidly.
Though he had already risen as a giant in the world of commerce, he was far from satisfied.
He had amassed wealth so vast that people called him the Golden Castle, yet his thirst persisted.
Once he obtained wealth, he craved something greater.
‘The Number One Household Under Heaven.’
He believed there was no rule that only martial clans could claim that title.
But money alone could not win it.
Then, unexpectedly, someone appeared who might open that path.
Perhaps, in his own lifetime, the sprout that could achieve it had emerged.
“There’s another proposal—not a replacement, but still interesting. Look at the last page.”
“Jin-ryong and Do-hwa.”
As Bi-un spoke, Seok Myeong-il flipped to the last page, organizing his thoughts.
But as soon as he read it, he tilted his head.
The idea was fine, but he doubted its feasibility.
“From our perspective, it’s not a bad plan.”
“For us, yes. But would the Pang Clan of Hebei agree? Would their Patriarch really give his precious daughter to us? Not to mention, Do-hwa apparently has no interest in Jin-ryong at all.”
“If we offer Pang Clan a worthy price, their Patriarch might reconsider.”
“That is the right answer… but does such a price even exist?”
Seok Myeong-il wore a skeptical look.
Even if the Hebei Pang Clan was the weakest of the Five Great Clans, it still commanded the righteous martial world.
They were a colossal force—one of the top five in all the land.
There wasn’t much the Seok Clan could offer in return.
“I’ll look into it.”
“One more thing. Tell Jin-ryong not to do anything foolish. If he stirs up trouble and ruins our relationship with them, I’ll hold him accountable.”
“Understood.”
Bi-un bowed deeply, then vanished like mist—silent as when he appeared.
“Hmm.”
After Bi-un left, Seok Myeong-il let out a deep sigh, staring intently at the report.
But the words on the page no longer entered his mind.
“I’ll have to meet him myself.”
He muttered, as if releasing the tangled thoughts.
Rather than worry, it would be better to speak directly with him.
And in the process, he could discern what the fourth son was truly thinking.
Though the boy seemed set on leaving, nothing had been decided yet.
A middle-aged man in yellow martial robes paced back and forth, his face conflicted.
At last, he looked toward Woldong Gate, his expression pained.
He wanted to step inside immediately, but his feet refused to move.
“Phew…”
All that came out of his troubled heart was a sigh.
But his hesitation didn’t last long.
It wasn’t the time to quibble over cold water or hot water.
“Let’s go in.”
He had sought help elsewhere, only to be turned away at the gates.
Now, there was only one person he could rely on.
Though he’d worried, hearing that the boy’s personality had changed greatly after last year’s incident, he couldn’t give up.
Steeling himself, the middle-aged man strode toward Woldong Gate.
Meow.
“Huh?”
Startled by the sudden cat’s cry, the man turned his head sharply.
There, sprawled atop the wall, lay a cat.
“Ah, so you’re the one. The one Jin-ho is raising.”
The man smiled awkwardly as Heukhwi, with its sharp feline gaze, stared straight at him.
It was only a cat, yet for some reason, he felt pressured.
Still, the animal had an undeniably unusual presence.
Waving lightly toward Heukhwi, the man carefully stepped inside the gate.
He had walked here countless times before, but today the familiar courtyard felt strangely foreign, weighed down by his heavy heart.
“It’s been a while, Uncle Deok-wol.”
“Jin-ho…”
Seok Deok-wol’s eyes widened slightly.
As if perfectly timed, Seok Jin-ho stepped out of the building.
“Please, come in.”
“Y-yes.”
Deok-wol was a little stunned at the transformed atmosphere around him.
Yet his face and voice were unmistakably those of the Jin-ho he knew.
His build had changed, but that was natural for someone still growing, especially one who had taken up martial arts.
“Been a while, Representative Chief.”
“Yes, nearly a year, I’d say.”
“You’ve been busy with escort bureau matters.”
As soon as they entered Jin-ho’s room, So Ha-jeong served them light refreshments, smiling warmly as always, unlike the markedly changed Jin-ho.
“Haha, ‘Representative Chief’ is only a title. In truth, I’m no different from an ordinary escort guard, always traveling across the land.”
“That’s only because the Bureau Chief trusts you so much.”
“I tell myself that, but still…”
Deok-wol smiled faintly, neither affirming nor denying it.
Sensing it best not to press further, So Ha-jeong quietly set the tray down and left the room.
“Please, have some.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jin-ho poured the tea himself, showing proper courtesy to his guest.
Deok-wol watched him intently.
“They say you’ve changed a lot—and it’s true.”
“Does it seem strange?”
“No, not at all. It suits you.”
“I was pathetic before.”
“That’s true. Forgive me, but everyone around you felt frustrated.”
Deok-wol didn’t deny it.
Though Jin-ho’s weak disposition wasn’t his fault, it had exhausted those around him.
Even those who had stayed by his side eventually left.
But what mattered was that Jin-ho had overcome it himself.
That made Deok-wol proud.
“From now on, things will be different.”
“That’s good. I won’t need to worry anymore.”
“I’m old enough now.”
“You’re only seventeen!”
Deok-wol chuckled.
Jin-ho might sound like a little old man, but he was still just seventeen—yet to even reach adulthood.
“Seventeen is grown.”
“Far from it.”
“But adulthood is right around the corner. When I leave, I’ll be recognized as an adult—you know that too, Uncle.”
“Of course. I lived in the Seok Clan as well. I know your circumstances better than most.”
Deok-wol smiled bitterly as he sipped his tea.
He himself was of illegitimate birth, so he understood Jin-ho’s situation all too well.
That was why he had looked out for the boy whenever he visited the Seok Clan.
The child had reminded him of his own youth.
“I’m always grateful to you, Uncle.”
“Yet such a boy tried to starve himself to death?”
“That was but a youthful folly. Everyone has such moments.”
“You went too far.”
Deok-wol scolded lightly, half-joking.
No matter how painful things were, suicide was not the answer.
“That won’t happen again.”
“Of course not. No matter how hard life gets, you endure. If you endure again and again, opportunities will eventually come. As the saying goes: It’s not the strong who survive, but those who survive that are strong.”
“A wise saying.”
“I think so too.”
“So, what’s troubling you, Uncle?”
Deok-wol flinched.
The sudden question caught him off guard.
Meanwhile, Jin-ho remained calm.
“…Was it that obvious?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ve lived in vain. To be seen through by a boy half my age.”
“Your expression was fine. My eyesight is just too sharp.”
Jin-ho spoke as if to comfort him, but Deok-wol couldn’t stop laughing bitterly.
“The fact that you noticed at all means I already failed.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Well… sigh.”
Though Jin-ho prompted him, Deok-wol hesitated.
Even if Jin-ho was his last hope, he felt ashamed to ask.
It felt pathetic to depend on him.
But the reality was—there was no one else.
“Take your time, Uncle.”
“You know the Baekma Escort Bureau?”
“Of course. They’ve long tried to usurp the Seokpung Escort Bureau’s place, always scheming to pull us down.”
“There’s no proof, but all signs point to them plotting against us.”
“Plotting?”
