Chapter 166

Chapter 166
# Chapter 166: The Wanderers’ Great Patron

“Even with the justification of restoring public order after rooting out the Black Factions, Clan Head Baek still granted our plea as merchants.”

“This proves the Baek Clan’s promises were never hollow words spoken for show, but sincere from the heart. And so we merchants have a bold request to lay before the Baek Clan.”

“Speaking on behalf of seventeen of the thirty-three merchant houses, we respectfully ask: Will you consent to be our Great Patron?”

*Great Patron.* The title was one normally bestowed only with deep respect upon those of the highest standing. Yet here and now, it carried a weight all its own.

“Great Patron, is it? That is far too distinguished a title for someone as unworthy as I am.”

“How can you say it is too much? You embody every virtue that defines a Great Patron! If you are not worthy of the title, then the rest of us—myself included—are nothing but humble common folk. Clan Head Baek, we beg you: accept our request.”

Yang-hui regarded Gyeong Ju-san with quiet surprise.

*A shrewd man.*

Merchant houses were usually guarded, inward-looking, and hostile toward outsiders. Yet Gyeong Ju-san, head of his house, clearly possessed broad experience in the wider world beyond his own doors.

*I can read him easily. The one who refused outright at first would be the hardliner—so Gyeong Ju-san must be the moderate voice.*

He also possessed sharp judgment and quick, resourceful thinking. To reverse his stance so soon after opposing it only days earlier, and do so openly before such a gathering, regardless of how it might look? He had chosen his moment perfectly, stepping forward precisely when no faction from Gilju could reasonably turn the request down without seeming unjust.

*Right now, none of them can attach a price to saying no. Though truth be told, Father would never have demanded one in the first place.*

Baek Mu-ryang’s reply came exactly as Yang-hui expected it would.

“It seems I have one further declaration to make to all my brothers from every corner of the world. I state it plainly once more here: The Baek Clan will never turn away anyone who comes to us seeking aid!”

A roar of approval rose up, loud as thunder—and this time, it rang with genuine feeling. Most of those gathered had no power or standing of their own; it was only natural that such a pledge would stir them deeply.

*All the same, Father… that was a bold thing to say.* To claim they would never refuse anyone asking for help? It was a dangerous statement if examined too closely. Then again, most sects of the Righteous Faction spoke in similar glowing terms.

*But Father means every word of it. If every beggar in the realm arrived at our gates asking for a single nyang in silver, we would soon be destitute.*

That, however, was not how the Baek Clan offered help. They did not simply hand coins to those in need—they guided people to stand on their own and learn to provide for themselves. Those too idle to seize the chance would never even step forward to ask.

*Those who stay the course and learn to earn their way will become people who contribute to the Baek Clan’s prosperity.* This was Yang-hui’s vision: unyielding righteousness, made real in the world.

—

Time passed swiftly. More precisely, with events unfolding on such a grand scale, the days slipped by as he attended to all that followed in their wake.

*Even two of me would not be enough to see to everything.* It was only to be expected; the work had effectively doubled. Before the purge of the Black Factions, the Baek Clan’s lands extended only over Muju. Now they had taken on Gilju—a territory nearly a third larger.

“Adu, rub my shoulders for me… ah.”

He had spoken out of long habit, then sighed softly. The quiet absence of him settled in fully.

*He was always idling about, eating rice cakes while I bore the burden of everything else. Yet now that he is gone, I truly feel how much he was here.*

Shortly after the public gathering, Beop-gak had departed the Baek Clan, and Adu had gone with him.

“Waaah! The big monk said I’m to go with him!”

“Easy now, little brother. You must prepare for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”

Adu whined and clung to him, hating the thought of parting. He had even thrown a fit, sinking to the ground and refusing to move.

*The monk carries a heavy heart, it seems.* Having a master as formidable as Adu at his side had been invaluable to Yang-hui in so many ways. Yet after all Beop-gak had done for them, he could not in good conscience ask them to stay.

“Listen to me, Adu.”

“Yang-hui doesn’t want me to go either, does he?”

“We will be apart only ten nights, then we shall meet again. If you are well-behaved, I shall grant you one wish.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

“Then I want to taste wine!”

“Ah…?”

How many meals had they shared together? Warriors loved a feast, and true heroes were fond of good drink—Yang-hui, who had once wandered the realm, was especially partial to it. Yet he had always firmly refused Adu such things before now.

He glanced toward Beop-gak, then nodded.

“Very well. One cup of wine, when we meet again. That sounds fitting.”

*The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is three years away… by then he will have forgotten.*

It was almost certain. And so Adu left alongside Beop-gak.

Adu was not the only one to depart. Two days later, Je-gal-seon arrived at the Baek Clan estate.

“Uncle! I beg forgiveness for my wrongdoings!”

Yang-hui dropped to his knees the moment he saw him. In truth, it was hardly an offense that called for such a display, yet he knelt all the same—with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

*If I show such remorse, he will feel pity and be less inclined to scold me.*

He had originally intended to ask Je-gal-seon to lend the prestige of his name to Baek Clan matters. And he had drawn Je-gal-seol-ha into the clan’s struggles as well. For a father who doted on his daughter as Je-gal-seon did, anger was only natural. It was clear he had traveled day and night across the province as soon as the letter reached him.

And yet—

“There is no sin to forgive.”

“Pardon?”

“To be precise, there is fault in it, but your service to us is so great that it outweighs any misstep.”

He was referring, no doubt, to the help in finding Yin-hu and persuading him to take Je-gal-seol-ha as his disciple.

“You have never once turned our name to your own advantage. And since it has benefited my household as well, you are welcome to make free use of it from now on. I shall do all I can to stand with you.”

Je-gal-seon’s expression softened into something wistful.

“The unyielding hero who rose from humble beginnings… walking a path so thorny that our own Je-gal Clan would never dare choose it… yet you and your father walk it without hesitation.”

Je-gal-seon remained at the Baek Clan for several days before leaving to return home, taking Je-gal-seol-ha with him.

“I need time to steady my progress in the peak realm, and it has been half a year since I left the Myeong-eum Map. For now, I will train and spend time with my father and the rest of my family.”

Je-gal-seol-ha lifted her veil and gave Yang-hui a bright, playful smile.

“We promised we would meet again at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, Adu-monk and I—so you must promise too. We will be reunited there. But if you miss me before then, you must come visit our main house.”

Yang-hui said simply:

“Three years, and we shall see each other again.”

They say you never notice how much someone fills a space until they are gone. With both Adu and Je-gal-seol-ha absent, their absence weighed heavily. Having always been near him, their leaving felt all the sharper.

Still, there was work enough to keep him busy, and time slipped past in a rush. A month went by in this way.

“Hui-ya. Come to my study. I would speak with you—just the two of us.”

“At once, Father.”

As he answered, he thought to himself: *Finally. It is coming. I have been waiting for this all month.* During the purge of the Black Factions and the exposure of Namgung Cheon-hu’s schemes, Yang-hui had staked his life again and again. Knowing Baek Mu-ryang’s temper, a stern rebuke would have been expected. Yet until now, he had neither punished him nor spoken a word of reproof.

“Hui-ya. I have something to say about how you have acted. In the recent troubles, you risked your life not once or twice, but many times over.”

*You have waited a whole month to speak of this, Father.* It was time to make his case.

“You see, Father—everything I did was to secure the clan’s good. A brilliant leader weighs profit and loss, I know, but I did not act recklessly or throw my life away without cause. My life is not something to be set on a scale…”

Baek Mu-ryang cut through his stream of excuses.

“I know.”

“I know it only too well—and that is what troubles me. And so I give you this command.”

“A command? What sort…?”

“From this day forth, you will no longer oversee clan affairs.”

“Excuse me?”

It was an order he could not simply accept. He had to find some way to change his father’s mind. As Yang-hui scrambled for words—

“I have spoken with the young head of the Tang Clan. The ten-year pact between our houses will soon expire. You will travel to the Tang Clan as our envoy, to strengthen the bond between us.”

“I see.”

He understood the intent. His father saw him taking foolish risks for gain, and so was sending him to a respected, powerful sect where danger would be far less likely. Sensible enough—for a clan as small as his own, the Tang Clan was a place where life would be far safer.

Yet—

*I had already planned to go there myself. This is no punishment at all.*

He wore a look of disappointment while inwardly rejoicing, then a flicker of doubt crept in.

*But does Father not know I intended to go? He would have known if he spoke openly with Tang-hyung. Unless he does know—and is sending me all the same.*

Looking into his father’s eyes, he understood something more. This was not merely sending him somewhere safe.

“This is your punishment as well. There will be no arguments, and no refusal.”

“I understand, Father.”

—

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

“Tang-hyung… it feels like ages since we last traveled together, just the two of us.”

“Setting aside the fact that we are riding horses, I could not agree more. The last time was at the Sword King Tomb, was it not?”

“Has it truly been that long? It seems impossible.”

Tang-gun laughed softly, and Tang-yeon leaned forward with a smile.

“Hui-ya—are you displeased?”

“With you here as well? Not at all. Why would I be?”

“Truly? That is wonderful!”

Baek Heon-so, riding nearby, joined in brightly.

“Brother! This is the first time I have ever traveled anywhere with you! I could not be happier!”

Baek Mu-ryang had sent Baek Heon-so along as well. With the Tang siblings for company and escort, he would gain valuable experience in martial matters without ever being placed in harm’s way.

“Young one—if we camp tonight, we shall hunt a wild boar for our supper.”

“Yes! I shall catch it myself!”

The mood was light, but Chui-dal, riding apart, wore a sullen look.

“The rest of you seem to be getting along famously. I suppose I might as well turn back.”

“Chui-dal.”

“There is no need to drag me along.”

“Tell me—what do people call you?”

“Call me? Il-li Chui-dal… oh, that is not what you mean! I have no nickname!”

“That is exactly why you are coming with me.”

“What?”

“You are of an age now, and still people know you by nothing more than your name. Go out into the world, and one will come to you.”

Chui-dal felt wronged. Surely few his age had earned a special title.

*He is the strange one here…*

*Crack!*

“Ow! Why did you do that?!”

“Your thoughts were wandering where they should not.”

*Does he read minds now, like Seol-ha-noona? Baek Yang-hui, you…*

*Crack!*

“Ouch! Brother—can you truly tell what I am thinking?”

“Not at all. Just felt like hitting you this time.”

To endure such torment from the Great Law of the Asura Hell for this man’s sake…

“Where would you go, if not with me?”

“To Gugang.”

“Gugang?”

The name was familiar. It was there he had wiped out the Nameless Assassins and found Chui-dal, raised among them.

“I have reached the first-rate realm now. I wish to find the one who saved me.”

“Saved you?”

Then it dawned on him.

“The one who took me from the Nameless Assassins. You told me you did not know who it was, Brother.”

*Ah… that was me.*

“I mean it. To be born human and forget a kindness? That is no better than an animal. I will find them, and then I shall return.”

“When will that be?”

“When I have found them.”

*Found someone who does not exist? He may never come back at all.*

This was going to be a problem.