Chapter 20: Gwangyang Escort Agency – Part 3
After the meeting ended, only the three brothers—Yu-cheol, Yu-sangmun, and Yu-gang—remained in the hall.
They glanced at each other but kept their faces turned away.
The air was so cold and tense it felt like a winter storm had blown in.
Yu-cheol’s face was twisted with shame as he carefully opened his mouth.
“…I’m sorry. I got too nervous and made a big mistake. I’ll fix what I said earlier somehow.”
Pfft. Sangmun smirked.
“Brother Cheol, once words are spoken, how will you take them back? Better to keep quiet than to look like a fool. Honestly, even a scarecrow in your seat would’ve been better.”
Yu-gang frowned.
“Sangmun-hyung, apologize for your rudeness.”
Sangmun curled his lips into a mocking smile.
“Heh. Important information was revealed in front of everyone, and I can’t even say this much? Be honest, you also cursed him inside, didn’t you? Probably called him an idiot. You two must have something in common—Cheol is stupid, and you’re just a concubine’s son.”
“That’s too much, Sangmun-hyung.”
“Oh? But aren’t you now the son of the legal wife?”
Yu-gang’s eyes trembled with anger.
“Our mother passed away only a year ago. Yet those words come out of your mouth so easily? If you respect her that much, why don’t you put your name under the concubine’s family registry right now, Brother Cheol?”
Even gentle Yu-cheol’s face twisted with pain at Sangmun’s cruel sneer.
Just then, an old man with white hair and beard entered the room, coughing.
“Cough, cough. Why are your voices so loud I can hear them from outside?”
“Father.”
The three brothers stood up quickly to greet Yu-hun, the head of Gwangyang Escort Agency.
He had once been praised for his scholarly dignity, admired by all.
But now only his sharp eyes remained. His sunken face and the trembling hands gripping his cane showed his illness clearly.
Yu-gang rushed to support him with worry.
“Father, you should be resting in bed. Why have you come?”
“I was too curious about the meeting to stay still. So—how did it go?”
Yu-hun lowered himself heavily into a chair.
Anyone else would have felt heartache seeing their father so frail, but Sangmun didn’t care. Instead, he complained, tattling about Yu-cheol’s mistake and even criticizing Yu-gang’s plan.
“Father, do you know? This foolish Yu-gang even suggested crossing right through Cai Country’s front yard. He must be insane.”
“Enough. That matter was already discussed with me. I gave him permission, so no more on this.”
“Father!”
“I said, enough.”
“You always favor Yu-gang! If not for my hard work, our small escort agency would never have had this chance at a national job! The credit belongs to me.”
“Who doesn’t know that? Of course, I do. Cough…”
“No! If you knew, then you should have discussed things with me, not him. I’m too busy, so I’ll excuse myself. I have to clean up the mess that Brother Cheol made.”
Sangmun stomped away with heavy steps.
A moment later, timid Yu-cheol also slipped out, shuffling backward like he was fleeing.
“Sigh. Even grown men still act like children. What a worry.”
“I’ll take you back to your room, Father.”
“Wait, Yu-gang. Let’s talk for a bit.”
“Yes, Father. I’m listening.”
Yu-gang rarely showed emotions, but his drooping eyes showed he was hurt.
Yu-hun placed his wrinkled hand heavily on Yu-gang’s shoulder.
“I know the problems between you three. But trust me—I have plans to treat you all fairly. Does it upset you?”
“Brother Sangmun has always disliked me. It’s nothing new. I’m fine, Father.”
“Even so, he is still your brother. Don’t take his sharp words to heart.”
“…I understand. I won’t misunderstand him.”
A bitter smile formed on Yu-gang’s lips.
Yu-hun sighed deeply with a worried face.
“And… about Yeonjin. As a woman, how will she endure such a harsh mission? As her father, I feel sorry. Please, Yu-gang, take good care of her.”
“I’ll protect her well, Father. Don’t worry.”
Reassured, Yu-hun smiled faintly.
“Yu-gang, your marriage has been delayed too long. Before I die, I want to hold my grandson. Once you marry, Yeonjin can also marry. Isn’t it time?”
“Let’s talk about that after I return safely from the mission. By then, you’ll be healthy again.”
“Ha! Foolish boy. Do you think I’ll be tricked twice? You must marry this time. Don’t you have a woman you like?”
Yu-gang only gave a bitter laugh. One face passed through his heart, but he pushed it away.
Dan… I hope you reached Master Hwang’s clinic safely.
Later that day
A donkey pulled a small cart down a quiet country road.
Inside sat Dan and little Yoon.
Yoon laughed joyfully.
“Heehee! Look at the donkey’s tail swish back and forth. It’s so funny!”
Dan tilted his head.
“That’s funny to you?”
“Yes!”
Dan didn’t understand, but he smiled and let it pass.
The warm spring breeze touched his cheeks, and Yoon’s laughter filled his ears. It was peaceful, a rare calm moment.
“Dan-hyung, where are we going again?”
“To Master Hwang’s house. He’s a doctor, which means—”
“I know! Doctors heal sick people.”
Dan grew curious and leaned closer. He whispered, making sure no one was around.
“Do you… have doctors under the sea too?”
“Heh. Of course. Not just doctors—we have government offices, markets, everything. Life under the sea isn’t much different from here.”
“Ohh. Really?”
Though Yoon spoke like a wise old man, his actions were still childlike.
After getting bored of the donkey’s tail, he began plucking grass by the roadside.
Dan glanced at him.
“Yoon, aren’t you scared anymore?”
“At first, yes. But now I see the world isn’t so different from the ocean. These green plants are like seaweed, the stones and rocks look the same, and even the color of the sky is just like the sea.”
“You’re surprisingly positive. I’m glad.”
“Mostly… I’m just happy to be free. After ten years trapped in a tank, it feels amazing to finally see the world.”
“Then look all you want. And if you’re curious, just ask me. Oh, right—did you think about what I told you yesterday?”
Yoon didn’t answer. He only tickled his palm with a blade of grass.
Finally, as Master Hwang’s tiled roof came into view, he spoke softly.
“At first, I thought only of going back to the sea—to my home in Qing Country.”
“Well, of course. Your parents must be worried. Qing is in the far southwest seas, right? To get there from here in Jemyeong, we’d have to pass through Wol Country and Shang. After our mission, I’ll take you home myself.”
“No… it’s my sister. I’m worried about her. Dan-hyung… would you help me find her?”
Dan gently untangled Yoon’s messy golden hair.
“Of course I’ll help. But remember what I told you this morning.”
“First, second, and third rule—never cry! Right?”
“Right. We look like humans, but it’s easy for people to discover us.”
Yoon froze, his grass falling from his hands. His eyes showed fear.
Dan gave him a serious look.
“Our merfolk faces are a bit too beautiful by human standards. We stand out. That’s not bragging—it’s survival.”
“How do humans know someone’s a merfolk? They can’t carry seawater around with them. Without being fully in water, we don’t change, right?”
Dan smirked and pointed to his eyes.
“They look for tears.”
Yoon’s eyes widened.
“Tears?”
“Exactly. Humans try to make us cry to check if we’re merfolk. I suffered so much as a child because of that. One day, I had enough and smashed a rock on a guy’s head. After that, nobody dared bother me again.”
“What’s… a skull?”
Dan pulled the donkey to a stop and picked up a stone from the roadside. He grinned mischievously.
“You want to know? It’s this…”
Like lightning, Dan’s hand shot toward Yoon’s head with the stone.
Yoon screamed and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Waaah!”
