That evening, after returning from Goseokjeong and the mountain.
Once dinner was finished, Cheon Woo-ha went to find Cheon Myeong-hak in his office.
Though Myeong-hak was buried beneath a mountain of documents piled atop his desk, the moment Woo-ha entered he greeted him with a bright smile, as if he had been waiting all along.
"Come in, come in. Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"Good? Then I must serve you some tea. Just wait a moment."
"No, rather… Father, have you eaten?"
"Well… I should, but there are quite a few papers to handle tonight. Don't worry, I'll eat something later as a midnight snack. Sit, for now."
"…Yes."
Not long after Woo-ha sat in the seat his father indicated, two teacups were placed on the table.
Watching Myeong-hak drink with a noticeably worn and haggard look that had grown over the past few days, Woo-ha finally opened his mouth.
"Are you getting any sleep at all?"
"Mm…? Of course. Why do you ask?"
"…Your eyes."
"My eyes? What about them?"
"…They're red. Both of them."
"Eh? Ahh…"
At his son's words, Myeong-hak finally lifted the teacup to catch his reflection in the surface.
Realizing only then how unpresentable his own face looked, he chuckled helplessly and set the cup back down.
"The truth is, there's been more work than usual lately. We're expanding business into a new region. If it goes well, the profits should be considerable. A good thing for everyone."
Woo-ha, watching his father smiling as though fatigue no longer mattered, thought to himself:
That "everyone" he mentioned probably didn't even include himself.
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. But what brings you here to see your father? Is there something you want to say?"
His father's eyes twinkled brightly again, as if the exhaustion had never been there.
Woo-ha looked at him silently for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes once, opened them, and spoke.
"It's about the choice you told me to make the other day."
"You mean between scholarly study and martial training?"
"Yes."
"Ohh, so—you've finally decided?"
"…Yes."
At his father's question, Woo-ha nodded slowly.
When he first opened the office door, there had still been some hesitation left in him. But now, in this very moment, his choice was certain.
"I want to continue studying the scholarly arts."
"Truly? The scholarly path?"
"Yes."
"Hmm… unexpected. I thought you had no interest in books, regardless of your talent… May I ask the reason for such a choice?"
'…The reason?'
There were many.
Martial arts, after all, weren't necessary for simply protecting this one body of his.
And he had already lived a life from the highest peak, looking down upon all below. In this life, he felt, living among people—mingling with them—would not be so bad.
But the most decisive thing that solidified Woo-ha's resolve was…
"Well… just because…"
Ssshh.
Turning his gaze aside, a faint smile touched Woo-ha's lips.
"…It feels like it would be more valuable."
The place where his eyes rested—
was on the towering stacks of paperwork Myeong-hak had been handling.
The very next day after Woo-ha told his father of his choice, Yongmyeong Merchant Guild erupted in commotion from early morning.
"Guildmaster, your breakfast—"
"Wahahaha! I'll eat later! Wahahaha!"
"…Guildmaster?"
The servant who came, as usual, to ask about breakfast, returned instead with the tale of the guildmaster laughing madly over documents in his office.
Those who heard the story panicked, thinking perhaps overwork had finally driven him mad, and they rushed to fetch a physician.
But once the physician arrived, and after hearing the explanation from Myeong-hak himself, everyone understood the true reason behind the laughter.
'The young master has declared his intent to inherit the guild!'
Woo-ha had told his father he wanted to pursue scholarly study.
And immediately afterward, he had explained: because to help his father manage the guild in the future, studying books would be far more useful than training in martial arts.
For Myeong-hak, who had long dreamed of passing the guild to his son but had given up hope, the feeling was nothing less than having gained the whole world.
"Wahahaha! What a filial child you are! Wahahaha!"
Even while tackling the endless piles of paperwork, Myeong-hak laughed like a clown all day, floating as if he'd ascended to heaven.
But while Yongmyeong Guild bustled with excitement from Woo-ha's decision, elsewhere, life went on as usual.
Thwack!
"You rascal! I overlooked the shadow of worry on your face lately, but how dare you grow lazier by the day!"
Goseokjeong smacked Woo-ha's head with a rod, scolding with a reddened face.
Woo-ha rubbed his warming scalp and grumbled resentfully.
"Lazy? How can you say that to a boy who does nothing but read all day long?"
"And yet this boy who reads all day still cannot recite the Analects in full! It is all because you lack effort! From today on, your study hours will be increased by one more shichen!"
"Another shichen?! You must be joking!"
"Have you ever once seen me make a joke?"
"Of course you must be joking! I'm someone who now has to learn guild matters as well. Even keeping up with my current studies is overwhelming."
Though Woo-ha argued logically enough, Goseokjeong's lips only curled into a smile.
"Well, that is praiseworthy. A child wanting to help his parents' work is certainly commendable."
"Then why…"
"But worry not. The guildmaster promised not to have you learn guild affairs until you turn fifteen."
"Eh—what?"
Woo-ha's eyes widened at the utterly unexpected words.
"Wait, when was such a promise ever made…?"
"Ahem. Your declaration that you would study to one day become a fine guildmaster has spread throughout the guild. With such a clear purpose, how could I, as your teacher, permit you to slack off in your learning?"
"No, what I meant was…"
"Enough. As I said, your study hours will be extended by one more shichen. It is an investment so you may become a worthy guildmaster. Dedicate yourself with renewed resolve."
As ever, far more experienced and learned, Goseokjeong had preemptively secured the higher ground.
Woo-ha, trapped by his own clever excuse, found the noose tightening around his neck.
"Haa… no… Aaaah! Faaather!"
Unable to contain his frustration, Woo-ha screamed at the sky.
But all he gained was another lump on his head from Goseokjeong's scolding.
And so, Woo-ha's days of noisy, chaotic struggle passed swiftly by.
In the side house's courtyard, beneath a tree.
Its branches were adorned with scarlet autumn leaves.
Beneath it, a man stood with a real sword in hand, his expression solemn, his gaze fixed on empty air.
A moment later—
Whiiish.
Rustle.
A gentle wind shook the branches, and a few leaves fluttered down through the air.
At that instant, the man's sword moved with a sharp cry.
"Haat!"
Fwoosh!
Snap!
One falling maple leaf split cleanly in two and drifted to the ground.
The trajectory of the blade, drawn without a hint of wavering, was proof of the countless hours he had devoted to the sword.
Breathing out a long breath, the man lowered the blade and wiped the sweat from his brow.
Satisfied with his final strike, a faint smile came to his lips.
'You've grown.'
Five years ago, the leaves he cut were all uneven sizes.
Even last year, the cuts had been ragged.
But by never neglecting the basics and training without rest, at last he had achieved a result he could be proud of.
'All thanks to the young master.'
Recalling his first encounter with Woo-ha, the boy who had opened his eyes to his own shortcomings—
and that humiliating defeat he had suffered then—
Cho Mu-do smiled.
Boom, boom, boom.
"Instructor Cho! Are you inside?"
The shout of Yeong-seon came from beyond the side house's gate, pulling Cho Mu-do back from his thoughts.
"Ahem, what is it?"
"You're here? The guildmaster urgently calls for you!"
"The guildmaster?"
Frowning slightly, Mu-do wondered.
Aside from the scheduled reports on warrior training, Myeong-hak rarely summoned him.
Why now, of all times?
'Wait… could it be because of that?'
The ceremony ten days hence, for conferring the title of Young Successor.
It would be the day Woo-ha, now fifteen, formally received the provisional position to begin learning the guild's affairs.
'He has long awaited it…'
Ever since Woo-ha's fifteenth birthday, Myeong-hak had been humming tunes while setting the date of the ceremony.
His and the household's every thought had been focused on the preparations. Surely, this summons must be related.
"Very well. Tell him I'll change into proper clothes and come at once."
"Yes, understood!"
Thud-thud-thud.
As the footsteps receded outside, Mu-do stripped off his damp training clothes and stepped back into his quarters.
"…What? What did you just say?"
Facing Myeong-hak in the office, Cho Mu-do blinked in disbelief.
He had thought the summons would, of course, be about the upcoming Young Successor ceremony.
But instead…
"You suddenly need a warrior to engage in a spar? What do you mean by that?"
"I'm sorry to trouble you so abruptly."
Looking embarrassed even as he spoke, Myeong-hak explained.
"The Jongui Gate… sent a letter."
"From Jongui Gate?"
Still not understanding, Mu-do tilted his head.
With a dark expression, Myeong-hak handed him the letter he had been holding.
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