Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 99

099. Requital

“Welcome.”

Lee Seo-yeon greeted the madam with a respectful bow, poised and graceful.

Then, noticing Unhyun, she feigned surprise.

“Oh, Young Master.”

Lee Seo-yeon smiled brightly.

“It’s nice to see you again like this.”

Il Ah-young’s sharp gaze darted to Unhyun.

Her eyes seemed to question how he knew someone from the Hoam Merchant Group.

Unhyun tried to ignore her scrutiny and returned Lee Seo-yeon’s greeting.

“Ah, yes. It’s nice to see you again.”

The greeting felt awkward, partly because he wasn’t particularly close to her, and partly because he felt his circle of potential influencers was growing.

“Haha, instead of standing here, shall we sit down and talk?”

Lee Ho-am suggested with a smile.

The madam and Il Ah-young entered, receiving the utmost hospitality from Lee Ho-am, the esteemed elder of the Hoam Merchant Group, and his daughter Lee Seo-yeon.

Then, they listened to the full account from the old man, Lee Eui-shin.

The explanation aligned with the letter’s contents.

Twenty years prior, Lee Eui-shin, on a long trading journey north, encountered thieves targeting cargo at an inn.

The escort agency’s guards were overwhelmed by the nighttime assault.

“The one who saved the elder’s life in that chaos was my late father?”

At the madam’s question, Lee Eui-shin nodded.

Judging by the timing, it seemed to coincide with Il Chung-hyun’s journey to Beijing.

“Thanks to his grace, I preserved my life and cargo.”

Il Chung-hyun protected not only Lee Eui-shin’s life but also his valuable goods.

That business trip allowed Lee Eui-shin to amass considerable profits, laying the foundation for his later success.

Lee Eui-shin attributed his achievements entirely to Il Chung-hyun.

However, all Lee Eui-shin knew was the name Il Chung-hyun.

He had regretted his inability to repay the favor, until this day.

“But, Elder.”

The madam, having listened intently, spoke calmly.

“Please, Madam, no need for such formality.”

Lee Eui-shin bowed deeply. However, the madam continued.

“How can you be certain that my late father was the one who helped you? Many share the same name. I worry that your sincerity might be misplaced, potentially tarnishing my father’s honest reputation.”

Listening to the madam, Unhyun admired her composure.

Few could maintain such dignity when faced with such generosity from a powerful and wealthy figure.

Thinking that she was indeed Il Chung-hyun’s wife, Unhyun regarded the madam with newfound respect.

Rustle.

Lee Eui-shin carefully retrieved something from his chest.

He presented it to the madam respectfully.

“This is…?”

To the madam’s question, Lee Eui-shin replied with regret.

“This is the only memento the benefactor left me.”

Rustle.

As the carefully wrapped silk was untied, an old, neatly folded piece of paper appeared.

The madam slowly unfolded it. Tears welled in her eyes.

“This is…….”

The madam couldn’t speak.

“Mother.”

Il Ah-young hurried to her side, stopping short, mirroring the madam’s reaction.

The madam, tears streaming, nodded slowly.

“This is a poem my late father wrote himself during his lifetime…”

The madam gently placed the paper on the table.

Unhyun rose and approached the madam. Though perhaps impolite, he wanted to see for himself.

Swish.

The paper contained a poem expressing lofty ambitions and loyalty to the country.

The name at the end was clearly Il Chung-hyun.

“…I have the same poem.”

The madam finally wept.

Lee Eui-shin prostrated himself, overwhelmed.

“Benefactor!”

Tears streamed down the old man’s face.

Afterward, the banquet proceeded in a warm atmosphere.

Lee Eui-shin offered half his property to the madam, but she refused. She also declined a large mansion with vast fields and servants.

Finally, Lee Eui-shin insisted, “If you refuse even this, I will be heartbroken,” and she reluctantly accepted only the repair of the old house.

Lee Ho-am supported Lee Eui-shin.

He showered the madam and Il Ah-young with hospitality, calling them “respected family” of Lee Eui-shin.

The same went for Unhyun.

Upon learning that Unhyun was Il Chung-hyun’s sworn brother, Lee Eui-shin paid his respects, saying, “Please, treat me like family.”

Unhyun nodded to the earnest old man.

Then, Lee Seo-yeon rushed over, saying, “Since he’s like an uncle to me, you’re like an uncle to me too,” acting affectionately.

Despite Unhyun’s protests, she called him “older brother.”

Lee Ho-am and Lee Eui-shin laughed, saying, “It’s wonderful to see.”

And the biggest change was with Il Ah-young.

Lee Ho-am offered Il Ah-young a position at the Hoam Merchant Group.

Il Ah-young accepted instantly, her eyes shining with motivation.

***

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage ride back to the mansion was different.

Il Ah-young gazed out the window, full of anticipation, and the madam’s face was bright.

What wife wouldn’t be pleased to hear her late husband praised as a benefactor?

However, a shadow crossed Unhyun’s face.

‘It’s good that things have improved for Sister-in-law and Miss Ah-young…’

Unhyun sighed, watching the scenery.

‘But I couldn’t do anything.’

He hid his feelings, not wanting to dampen their joy.

He couldn’t help but compare himself to Lee Eui-shin.

‘He repaid the favor so wonderfully, but what am I…’

What he received from Il Chung-hyun was significant.

Yet, all Unhyun did was tend the garden.

He felt self-reproach.

Unhyun bit his lip.

‘I can’t remain powerless. I can’t hesitate because I’m a scholar.’

To repay the favor, he had to act.

Unhyun made up his mind.

***

The mansion repairs began the next day.

Precious materials piled up, and skilled workers arrived, showcasing the Hoam Merchant Group’s power.

Temporary facilities were set up, and Il Chung-hyun’s old house bustled with activity.

Il Ah-young started working at the Hoam Merchant Group.

She sent news to her mother, satisfied with her work.

The possibility of a senior position, depending on luck and effort, made her happy.

Unhyun was happy for them, but felt bitter.

The madam was grateful for Unhyun’s support, but he felt useless.

Finally, the house repair was complete.

“Oh oh.”

Unhyun admired the transformation.

The old mansion had been renewed.

It retained its charm but looked dignified.

The madam was pleased.

She invited Lee Eui-shin, and Il Ah-young returned home.

Surprisingly, Lee Ho-am and Lee Seo-yeon also came.

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

The madam paid her respects, and Lee Ho-am returned the greeting with a smile.

“Hahaha. No. We are grateful that you welcomed us.”

While Lee Ho-am and Lee Eui-shin greeted the madam, Unhyun spoke to Il Ah-young.

“Have you been well, Sister Ah-young?”

He forgot to call her “Miss,” but Il Ah-young didn’t mind.

“Yes. Thank you for protecting this place.”

Il Ah-young spoke easily.

Unhyun shook his head, smiling bitterly.

“No, I didn’t do anything…”

“Brother!”

A clear voice interrupted Unhyun.

The voice belonged to Lee Seo-yeon.

Unhyun paid his respects.

“Welcome, Miss Seo-yeon.”

However, Lee Seo-yeon pouted.

“What’s with the ‘Miss’? I called you older brother, so call me younger sister.”

The beautiful young lady was attractive even when sulking.

However, Unhyun was not used to women, especially the daughter of a merchant group.

He felt uncomfortable with Lee Seo-yeon.

“Ah, I underst…and. Sister Seo-yeon.”

Lee Seo-yeon smiled brightly.

“I want to see the renovated house, is that okay?”

The madam answered for Unhyun.

“Of course. Ah-young, you should look around with her too.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Il Ah-young wanted to see the mansion, so she agreed.

“Young Master Un, would you mind giving us a tour?”

The madam said with a smile.

“Yes, I understand.”

Unhyun nodded.

Only the madam and Unhyun knew the house’s layout.

Unhyun strolled through the mansion with Lee Seo-yeon and Il Ah-young.

Lee Seo-yeon nodded and smiled, but Il Ah-young admired the changes.

Unhyun showed her around with pleasure.

The last stop was the former garden.

“Wow.”

Il Ah-young exclaimed.

“This place is so much better.”

The garden had been renovated.

The walls had been changed, and the stones were arranged stylishly.

However, Lee Seo-yeon frowned.

“Who was in charge of this place?”

Despite her smile, Unhyun sensed her coldness.

“Why, Sister Seo-yeon?”

He felt awkward calling her sister.

However, Lee Seo-yeon looked at the garden sharply.

The garden had been renovated, but the landscaping was the same.

It looked countrified to Lee Seo-yeon.

‘To handle work done in the name of the Hoam Merchant Group like this…’

Someone would pay for their negligence.

Then,

“They just left this place as it was?”

Il Ah-young said.

“Everything else has changed, but the landscaping is the same, so it looks awkward.”

“Ah, that’s…”

Unhyun said awkwardly.

“Originally, the workers were going to renovate this place completely. But Sister-in-law said that this place has memories of my brother, so she told them to leave it as it was. So the flowering trees that I trimmed were left as they were…”

That’s why it looked awkward.

It was as if they stopped working halfway through.

At those words, Lee Seo-yeon’s eyes changed.