It had only been a few days since I returned from Yichang when tenth month arrived.
This month’s biggest event was Jin-ho’s birthday, but this year was special.
It was finally time for Jin-ho to become the Deputy Merchant Lord.
That meant… I needed to prepare a great gift for him.
I tried to recall what had happened during Jin-ho’s inauguration in my previous life.
Nothing particularly major had… no, wait.
There was something.
An assassin had barged in during Jeong-ho’s inauguration.
During my own inauguration, Jeong-ho and Lady Jin So-mi confessed their feelings to each other, and not long after, Lady Jin So-mi became my sister-in-law.
Honestly… that had caught even me by surprise.
After all, I became Deputy Merchant Lord three years earlier than in my previous life.
Back then, my inauguration was held during a famine. The government had even issued a prohibition on alcohol, so it ended up being an extremely modest event with no drinks at all.
It was truly unfortunate how something always happened during a Deputy Merchant Lord’s inauguration.
I got up from the bed.
It was time to start the day.
The moment I stepped out the door, Escort Guard Yeon Gye-seung, who had been standing in front, bowed his head.
He’d asked me not to call him by the name Yeon Gye-seung.
Since that name was given by the Alliance Leader, getting caught using it would be a serious problem.
“What would you like me to call you then?”
“Please call me Jin Yu (進裕).”
“Did you come up with that yourself?”
“No.”
“…?”
“It’s… the name I was born with, long forgotten by the world.”
And just like that, Yeon Gye-seung became Jin Yu.
Escort Guard Jin Yu was now staying with me at the Munghok Hall.
His official position was my personal escort.
Deputy Merchant Lords were allowed to operate a personal escort unit, and the guards assigned upon becoming Deputy Merchant Lord were part of that unit.
Operating it personally meant… I had to pay their salaries out of my own pocket.
The Eunhae Merchant Group only covered the pay for two escort guards. Anything beyond that wasn’t supported.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
At my words, Escort Guard Jin Yu cupped his fist and bowed.
“No, it’s been a valuable learning experience.”
Until yesterday, Jin Yu had been training with the Eunpoong Division and only returned last night.
It was pretty common for escort guards from the merchant group to have to work together with the Eunpoong Division.
That’s why there were plenty of things he had to learn to make sure there were no gaps in coordination when working with them.
In other words, anyone joining as an escort had to train with the Eunpoong Division for about half a month to get familiar.
It was a mandatory process for accepting external members into the escort unit.
From what I saw, it seemed like the real purpose of grinding someone in the Eunpoong Division for two weeks was to determine if they were trustworthy.
I could tell from what Father said when Jin Yu finished his training and returned to the Munghok Hall.
— I’ve decided… to trust your choice.
That was what he told me.
And I trusted my own choice of bringing Jin Yu into my escort unit.
Despite having lived as an assassin… there wasn’t even the slightest hint of evil Qi coming from him.
If anything, he felt strangely familiar.
Even his sword techniques… had a weird sense of familiarity I couldn’t quite explain.
“Welcome officially as my escort.”
“Thank you for giving me a second chance. I will devote my loyalty to you.”
“Save your thanks for the Sect Leader of the Thorn Gate Sect. Loyalty’s all you need to show me.”
I grinned and spoke to the three escort guards.
“Alright. I’ll be circulating my Qi. Keep watch.”
At that, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am said to Jin Yu,
“Just do it like I told you yesterday.”
“Understood.”
The three took their positions, and I sat down in the center of the courtyard to begin circulating my Qi.
One thing I noticed whenever I practiced Qi circulation… was that the colder the weather got, the better the efficiency.
Probably because the martial art I practiced was an ice-based art.
Back when I fought that mad warrior for the Silver Mist Sword… I broke through the wall into the Peak rank.
Master had told me not to rush.
He said that the breakthrough would come naturally when the time was right.
He also warned me… that if I was careless, I could end up crippled.
The internal Qi cultivated through the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art was sharp by nature.
That sharpness could tear through my own meridians if I wasn’t careful.
Since this was my first time experiencing the Peak rank… I wanted to proceed as cautiously as possible.
If I ended up crippled before getting revenge on the Murim Alliance and the Baekcheon Merchant Group… I’d die with my eyes wide open in frustration.
Maybe because I focused on steady daily cultivation… I adapted to the Peak rank much faster than expected.
Master was right.
When the time came, the wall simply broke.
Still… to think I’d reached the Peak rank before even turning twenty.
Master warned me that if anyone found out… it would draw way too much attention.
So I should hide my true strength as much as possible.
I fully agreed.
My martial arts were hidden claws aimed at the Murim Alliance.
The more I trained the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art… the more I realized how worthy of the name “divine art” it truly was.
I could finally understand what Master meant when he said I’d feel its true power the higher my cultivation got.
“Hoo…”
I let out a deep breath and opened my eyes.
The moment I finished my Qi circulation and started getting up… Master walked in.
It was always uncanny how he arrived at the perfect timing.
“Good morning, Master.”
“Yes, good morning. Let’s start today’s training.”
Escort Guard Jin Yu turned to his senior, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am, and asked,
“Excuse me… I’d like to ask something.”
“What is it?”
“The Master’s martial arts teacher… what kind of person is he?”
At that question, Yeo Eung-am answered,
“His name’s Gwak Myeong-hyeon. He’s the Escort Chief of the Changin Escort Bureau, an ally of our Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“I see… Then… do you happen to know anything about his martial arts?”
Hearing him address him as “senior” made Yeo Eung-am smile unconsciously… but he quickly wiped the smile away.
“I don’t know the details, but… I do know it’s an ice-based martial art.”
“I see.”
Jin Yu nodded.
“For a man to cultivate an ice art, his constitution must be special… So Master’s constitution must be… I understand.”
“Are you planning on telling anyone about it?”
“If a day ever comes when I betray the one who gave me a second chance… I’ll end my own life.”
Hearing those words, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am and Escort Guard Lee Pil said nothing.
They simply stared at the look on his face.
“That aside, let me give you some advice. Never act rashly or speak carelessly around Escort Chief Gwak.”
“Sorry, what?”
“He only asked me to step aside so Master could continue training, and all he did was glance at me… but it felt like my blood froze.”
At those words, Escort Guard Lee Pil shuddered.
“Yeah. That’s an experience I never want to have again.”
“I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Anyway.”
Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am continued.
“Now that you’re officially part of the Munghok Hall’s escort unit, I’d like to see your skills.”
Lee Pil chimed in.
“For the sake of protecting Master, we need to understand each other’s abilities. That’s the only way we can respond properly if something happens.”
“I completely agree.”
Jin Yu nodded without hesitation.
“Then let’s formally get Master’s permission and have a spar.”
“Understood.”
All three of them were escorts.
That’s why they were stationed in a place where they could oversee the courtyard and guard Eun Seo-ho.
Jin Yu’s gaze grew complicated as he watched Eun Seo-ho rolling across the courtyard while Master Gwak Myeong-hyeon stood there, expressionless.
‘I thought Master’s Qi felt oddly familiar when he was circulating earlier…’
When he first saw the pig-like spirit beast that Seo-ho called Geumryeong, he’d felt a flash of disbelief.
That spirit beast… was the guardian of the Snow Wind Palace’s Palace Lord.
Still… it was always obsessed with money, so he’d dismissed it.
But today… it was truly shocking.
The moment he saw Gwak Myeong-hyeon entering the Munghok Hall, his legs nearly gave out.
‘To think… we’d meet again like this.’
It meant that heaven hadn’t abandoned him… or the Snow Wind Palace.
It was proof that being given a second chance wasn’t meaningless.
When training ended, Eun Seo-ho cupped his fists toward Gwak Myeong-hyeon.
Gwak Myeong-hyeon turned and started walking toward the gate.
Seeing that, Jin Yu spoke to the two other escorts.
“May I step away for a moment?”
“Go ahead.”
With permission, he hurried after Gwak Myeong-hyeon and called out,
“Excuse me… Escort Chief Gwak.”
Gwak Myeong-hyeon turned to look at him.
“You called me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“I’m Jin Yu, who just became Escort Guard for Master Eun Seo-ho starting today.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“The pleasure’s mine.”
“Did you call me just to exchange greetings…”
“It’s because… I believe we’ve met before.”
“…?”
Jin Yu raised his Qi.
He gripped his sword… though he didn’t draw it from its scabbard.
“What…?”
Caught off guard, Gwak Myeong-hyeon frowned slightly in confusion.
But Jin Yu was certain.
This… would explain things better than any words.
Slowly… he executed a sword form using only the sheathed blade.
The moment Gwak Myeong-hyeon saw the form, his eyes widened as if they’d tear open.
When the form ended, Jin Yu cupped his fists politely.
“Do you recognize it?”
“…How could I not know that sword art?”
“It’s… been a long time.”
I tilted my head.
What’s this?
Jin Yu suddenly called out to Master… and performed a sword form with his sword still sheathed.
But that sword form… looked strangely familiar.
Even more shocking was Master’s reaction.
It was the same expression he’d made when he first saw my Silver Mist Sword.
In other words… Jin Yu must be deeply connected to Master.
A moment later, Master turned to me.
“Department Chief.”
“Ah… Yes, Master!”
“Would it be alright if I spoke with this escort privately for a bit?”
I nodded without hesitation.
“Of course. Please go ahead.”
Master and Jin Yu left the Munghok Hall together.
As I watched them go, I steadied my trembling legs.
Man… that was exhausting.
“Kui! Kui!”
Geumryeong popped out from my sleeve, perched on my shoulder, and cooed softly.
It was… oddly comforting.
Yeah yeah, thanks.
Palgap quickly came over with a towel and a bowl of water.
For some reason, Palgap was glaring at Geumryeong like he absolutely refused to lose to it.
Palgap…
Geumryeong is a spirit beast.
You’re a human.
Why are you jealous of a spirit beast?
Or wait… maybe not?
Should I be calling Palgap a bear instead of a human?
At that moment, Yeo Eung-am and Lee Pil walked up to me.
“Master. We have something to report.”
“Go ahead.”
“We’d like to have a spar with Escort Guard Jin Yu tonight. Please grant us permission.”
“Sure.”
“…Pardon?”
The two looked genuinely confused by how easily I agreed.
“You’re doing it to check each other’s abilities so there aren’t any gaps in our defenses, right?”
“…Yes, that’s right. But… how did you know?”
I chuckled softly.
“I just know.”
Honestly though… I was way more curious about what Master and Jin Yu were talking about.
What on earth are they discussing?
But I didn’t have time to dwell on that.
I quickly finished my meal and headed to the office.
There was a mountain of work waiting.
.
.
.
The day passed in a blur again.
The Self-Dancing Doll and Windcraft Fan were still incredibly popular.
And the new Self-Playing Zither (自樂琴) we released this time… was an absolute sensation.
It wasn’t just because we gave it to Jeong-ho as a wedding gift to promote it.
The item itself was absurdly marvelous.
Even I was shocked by how impressive it was.
In other words… my workload just kept piling up.
People call this kind of thing… tying my own noose.
But it couldn’t be helped.
If we were going to fight the Baekcheon Merchant Group, our group had to grow even bigger.
When we became the salt retailer for Hubei, we jumped from the lowest spot of the Top 100 Merchant Groups to 60th place last winter solstice.
I had a feeling… we could aim even higher this time.
The fact that the Baekcheon Merchant Group hadn’t made a move yet… meant they were probably still watching for their own amusement.
What they didn’t realize… was that their complacency would become the dagger pressed to their own throats.
After returning to my private residence and finishing dinner, I stepped into the courtyard.
As Yeo Eung-am said earlier, the three escorts were scheduled for a spar tonight.
Just in case anything happened… I’d invited a special guest.
“Hahaha! Thank you so much for inviting me to your residence, Deputy Merchant Lord!”
“It’s my honor to have the External Chief Administrator visit.”
It was none other than External Chief Administrator Go Il-pyeong.
–TL Notes–
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