Surprise that defies understanding sometimes brings silence.
Kang Yoon-ho sitting in the main seat? No one could stop him? Wait. Was there even a reason to stop him in the first place? In the suddenly organized room, only a tense stillness flowed.
“When you live in this world with black hair, you can feel the line of the Central Plains people.”
The black-haired man, who went from an uninvited guest to the owner of the room in an instant, lit the incense in the burner.
A fragrant scent that was both clear and refreshing filled the room. The guests had to sense with their noses that the fragrance was different from what the original owner usually burned, and that the real owner of the room had changed.
“A line, you say?”
“You must never cross this line. Can’t I sit there? I worked hard and barely got through, didn’t I? Then we speak within the line. What do you mean by a black-haired brat aiming for this seat? It’s not a place permitted for you. Get out of the line.”
“Huh, huh.”
Everyone in the room knew what Kang Yoon-ho was talking about.
“I gained an epiphany while I was in prison.”
“Epiphany?”
“I realized I should just draw the line myself instead of trying to get into it desperately.”
“……”
The one who had become the owner of the room spoke.
Now, he was saying he would draw the line.
No one could question him about what right he had to draw the line.
“This seat is nice. I can see who is making faces all the way at the end.”
“Ugh, cough.”
With a casual remark from the one who was allowed to sit in the seat, everyone hurried to hide their expressions.
“Is this a good day? I should share my joy with the family. Deputy Head of Guards.”
“Yes, Deputy Head.”
“Bring out the prepared wine.”
“I’ll get it right away.”
A bottle of alcohol was placed in front of Kang Yoon-ho.
“Wine?”
“Wait, no way?”
At a banquet, there should naturally be alcohol. However, the expressions of the gathered individuals gradually stiffened.
They all knew how this situation was created. They all knew what Kang Yoon-ho had just referred to as a return gift.
“This is the special wine I prepared for today. Everyone, come forward. I’ll serve a glass each.”
What could be inside that wine? What would happen if they drank it?
“…….”
No one dared to step forward.
“It’s disappointing. No one is coming forward to offer me a drink. Then I guess there’s no choice.”
Kang Yoon-ho held the bottle and stood up as if he were going to enjoy the banquet to the fullest.
“Uh?!”
“I’ll have to serve it myself.”
———
Kang Yoon-ho’s steps were lighter than ever. In contrast, the heads of the people gathered in the room felt heavier than ever.
Who would accept that wine? Hopefully, it wouldn’t be them. Their gazes wandered restlessly across the floor.
“Brother-in-law! Why are you avoiding eye contact?”
The voice of the Grim Reaper, overly joyful, reached the reckless heir of the Beom Family.
“Th-th-that…”
Beom Cheong, the reckless heir of the Beom Family, awkwardly lifted his head as if he were a broken wooden puppet.
“Why are you so stiff between us? Please feel at ease.”
“Y-yeah? I’m a year or two older, so let’s just relax and talk.”
Beom Cheong desperately replied with a smile.
It must have been his misunderstanding.
The grip on his shoulder felt like the hand of the Grim Reaper signaling that it was finally time to go; it must’ve been just his imagination.
That wine is just ordinary wine. Who would try to poison their family? Surely, only a madman would do that.
“You passionately argued that I was the culprit until I was caught, right?”
“Uh… that, that was! It seems there’s some misunderstanding!”
That’s right. This guy must be crazy.
Beom Cheong recalled how the man in front of him came to Wuhan, achieving results in less than a year.
“What misunderstanding! Even a stray dog at Man Geum Battlefield said that the black-haired kid was the culprit, and I heard your voice shouting that! Anyone would think I was capturing innocent people. Hahaha!”
“I-I was just too flustered because my grandfather collapsed!”
It really was poison in that wine.
I must survive. Somehow, I must survive. Grasping at the dwindling hope, Beom Cheong barely squeezed out an excuse.
“Ah! So you were in agreement with the Beom Family too!”
“……I’m sorry! It seems I misjudged everything.”
“That’s right. How could there be no prejudices or misunderstandings among people? Right?”
“Y-yeah! You’re quick to understand!”
Sure. Our brother-in-law has already become the Deputy Head of the Man Geum Battlefield.
There’s no need to be too concerned about trivial matters. Indeed, my grandfather must have chosen someone with a great capacity as the successor.
“Bring me a glass.”
The hopeful thought was crushed by Kang Yoon-ho’s cold remark.
“Yes.”
“Brother-in-law?”
“I’m bringing out the special poison wine I prepared for today. Please accept a glass.”
Poison wine?
Usually, that would mean strong alcohol, but Kang Yoon-ho did not seem to mean that at all.
While Beom Cheong was distracted by the unfolding situation, Kang Yoon-ho smiled and handed him the glass.
“Poison wine?! You want me to drink this right now?”
“Brother-in-law. Isn’t it customary to resolve misunderstandings with wine? Right?”
“I-I can’t accept…!”
Just as Beom Cheong was about to put down the glass…
“Inspection Unit.”
“Yes, Deputy Head. Please command.”
“Immediately seize the assets of the Beom Family, who have embezzled from the Man Geum Battlefield.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
At the command of the Inspection Unit chief, several members nodded and turned around.
“Brother-in-law!”
“Son-in-law! Can we really do this just because of a little misunderstanding? Isn’t it enough that we’ve cleared it up?”
Those who had called Kang Yoon-ho a barbarian just a few days ago were now using the terms “brother-in-law” and “son-in-law.”
Kang Yoon-ho found it quite amusing, but he chose not to reveal it as he continued speaking.
“Misunderstanding? Good. I looked through the seized ledger from Man Geum Pharmacy, and it contained plenty of records that could provoke misunderstandings. It’s only right that several people suffer to resolve misunderstandings, no?”
“……”
Just like… me. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The members of the Beom Family had no answers to this straightforward logic.
“Un Yeop.”
“Yes, Deputy Head.”
“Bring in all the people of the Beom Family related to the corruption, and make them spit out the truth.”
The Beom Family was one of the more prominent families. However, they had fallen from grace after the third generation’s minor posts. Having lost the Man Geum Pharmacy and now facing inquiries about corruption, they had no means to resist.
“I’ll drink it.”
Except to seek mercy from the new owner.
“Don’t! Qingya! No! Son-in-law! What is the meaning of this?!”
“Please have a drink.”
The black-haired Grim Reaper poured the poison wine as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“……”
The color of the wine was murky. Who knows what was mixed in it? Why did I even speak up? Why did I think this was an opportunity? Even if that guy disappears, the Man Geum Battlefield wouldn’t belong to me.
Only then did Beom Cheong regret his actions.
“Just down it. We’re washing it down with alcohol.”
If it carries on like this, his family would be wiped out.
He had to pay the price for his mistake. Not knowing what was inside, Beom Cheong raised the glass, hoping it was at least bearable.
“Pu, phew!”
It felt like fire was burning down his throat, and he nearly couldn’t swallow the wine.
“Y-you’re right!”
“You brat! Do you think something like this will be forgiven?!”
“If you can’t drink it, you can put the glass down. Deputy Head of Guards.”
“I-I’m drinking it! Hic, hic!”
Beom Cheong may be reckless, but he was no disgrace to his family. If he kept going, not just his father, but his mother, and all his relatives would be thrown into the street.
Beom Cheong decided to take on the last responsibility as the heir of his family.
“Don’t! Don’t! Qingya!!!”
The flames traveled down his esophagus and burned his stomach, and he felt it rapidly heading downwards to his intestines.
What would happen now?
“What is this?! No way!”
Beom Cheong looked at Kang Yoon-ho with a dawning realization in his eyes.
“It’s fiery liquor. Known for its potency.”
“It’s not liquor with poison in it…?”
“Why would I want to kill someone just because I thought that brat might be the culprit? I wouldn’t do that to someone with merely a hunch.”
Kang Yoon-ho revealed the true nature of the wine with a mischievous child-like smile.
“Was that… what it was?”
Beom Cheong’s legs gave out, and he collapsed right there.
“Un Yeop. Pause the seizure of the Beom Family assets for now, and just interrogate those involved in the corruption.”
“I’ll follow your command.”
“……”
Kang Yoon-ho revised his command and turned his head again.
“Brother-in-law. I poured the wine for you, so how much longer are you going to make me wait?”
Beom Cheong gazed at the new Deputy Head of the Man Geum Battlefield, with a tranquil smile.
Having drunk the poured wine, surely he would show mercy. But that doesn’t mean he would forgive them. The lifeline of their family was already in his grasp.
Though the wine he presented wasn’t poison, it also served as an irreversible poisoned chalice.
A leash that could never be loosened had been placed on the Beom Family. As head of the family, Beom Cheong bowed his head before Kang Yoon-ho.
“Congratulations on becoming the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield, Master Kang Yoon-ho.”
“If we can clear all misunderstandings, let’s talk while smiling as time goes by.”
In a moment, due to misjudgment and greed that lacked awareness, the Beom Family would have to watch their backs around the black-haired man for the rest of their lives.
As Beom Cheong thought about the future ahead, he lowered his head.
