Chapter 23: When Spring Arrives At The Crossroad (2) (1/2)
Book 1 Chapter 23: When Spring Arrives at the Crossroad (2)
Translator: Hwarang
Editor: Kidyeon
My parents were waiting for me in their room.
“Did you call for me, father?”
“Yes, I have something to discuss with you.”
Father proceeded to tell me about the conversation he had with Song Wu Kyung. About how the San Dong Merchants had proposed to Song Wu Kyung that they would support him in the creation of the San Dong Alliance, and how Song Wu Kyung wanted my father’s advice and support.
“Since it pertains to the Song Clan, you should be informed of it.”
I could sense their att.i.tude towards me change. How they were now properly treating me as the heir of the Byuk Clan.
“There’s been a change in the Murim-In of San Dong.”
Although father only mentioned the Murim-In of San Dong, there were changes throughout all of the Central Plains. I hadn’t expected changes to happen this quickly after my death. This just went to show how much of an influence I held in Kang Ho. Either way, I didn’t have any say in this matter, considering I was no longer the Mengju who had banned the formation of Alliances. Thus, there was no need for me to get mad about the creation of the San Dong Alliance.
I was just worried that Song Wu Kyung would be the leader of the Alliance. After the Alliance gets formed everything would become political. Being the leader of a Clan is completely different than being the leader of an Alliance.
At the same time, I was rather curious as to why the San Dong Merchants had proposed this sort of arrangement, considering the fact that merchants only move when it’s beneficial to them. Especially when it comes to working with the Murim-In.
This is something that I’ll have to investigate carefully.
“Thank you for letting me know father”
As I was about to leave, my mother called out to me, “Did Lord Song visit you?”
“Yes. He told me not to cancel our engagement.”
Father replied with a helpless expression, “That man...”
At the same time, my mother replied with a smile on her face, “I’m with Lord Song on this.”
As I left, I didnt reply back since I understood how she felt.
The relations.h.i.+p between my parents and I was getting both better and deeper. At first I thought I had to act like their son on ceremony. However, that feeling had disappeared; I feel like I can act naturally around them. I get the feeling now that they’re my real parents, so I want to treat them as such
To be honest... I’m happy; happy to have parents like this.
I am sure my previous mother will understand. Since I am showing filial piety to my parents in her stead.
***
In the afternoon, someone unexpected came by to visit.
It was Song Hwa Rin. My face showed signs of surprise, since this was truly unexpected.
“It seems that you were surprised.”
“I wasn’t expecting your visit.”
“I came here because I have a favor to ask.”
For her to ask me a favor was quite unexpected.
“Can you convince your father to tell my father to decline the offer?”
“Do you really think that my father’s word will be able to change your father’s mind?”
“I don’t know. However, I’m sure that it will have a big influence.”
This wasn’t a bad idea considering the fact that they had a relatively close relations.h.i.+p. It’s said that, if you enter the house of a poor person, your relations.h.i.+p with that person will go out the window. However, it seemed like they both still shared a close relations.h.i.+p.
“Can I ask you why you don’t want your father to take this offer?”
“Because I don’t think that my father’s character is suited for this sort of work.”
“Aren’t you looking down on your father?”
“I think that it’s better to look down on my father than for something terrible to happen.”
I agreed with her. I also didn’t think that Song Wu Kyung was suited to lead an Alliance.
Even though I didn’t want to say what I was about to say, I said it anyway, “Didn’t the previous Mengju bring peace and stability to the Central Plains? It isn’t that bad for him to become the leader of an Alliance at times like this. And won’t this make the Song Clan stronger?”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
“What?”
“The previous Mengju ruled the Murim with an iron fist. Yes, he created peace and stability. However, that wasn’t the only thing he created. He also created something that was hidden.”
“What do you mean?”
“He also created hidden resentment.”
I didn’t have anything to say to her.
“Kang Ho-In have the natural instinct of beating others and rising to the top—we’re natural fighters with wild ambition. We’re like tigers and wolves, not rabbits and deer.”
“So?”
“So, since the previous Mengju ruled and suppressed everyone with his sheer power, everyone had to hide their true nature. If they showed their true nature they were bound to get crushed. So they suppressed and hid their resentment, all the while wis.h.i.+ng for the Mengju to die.”
Listening to her speak, I felt like I’d been punched in the face. I had never thought about it like that before. This was the first time that I’d ever been this shocked.
Had everyone wished for me to die?
She stated everything so clearly.
“I’m scared. What if that hidden resentment explodes towards my father?”
I finally understood why she was against her father leading the alliance. She didn’t want her father to get involved in this affair.
“So that’s the reason you hate the previous Mengju?”
“There’s a bigger reason for why I hate him… but this is part of it.”
A bigger reason?
However, she was begging me.
“Please. Can you fulfill this favor of mine?”
I had a dream for the first time in quite a while.