Seeing the spear Master Yeom crafted made me salivate, even though I was the one commissioning it as a gift.
Despite being such a skilled craftsman, he wasn’t well known because he made items worth exactly what he was paid for.
If you paid one silver tael, you’d get an item worth one silver tael. If you paid a hundred, you’d get something worth a hundred.
He never dipped into his own pocket to make something better, nor did he ever demand extra payment.
When asked why, Master Yeom said,
— The world works the way you sow. You want something good without paying for it? That’s just the mindset of a thief.
That’s exactly why I gave him an enormous sum to commission Jin-ho’s spear.
It was enough to make even Master Yeom flinch, and the spear that was born was worth every bit of that sum.
“Thank you.”
“Haha. No, thank you. Thanks to you, I didn’t have to think about money and could throw in the best materials to make a masterpiece.”
Master Yeom closed the lid on the box and wrapped it carefully.
Then, in a cautious tone, he said,
“However… I do have one request.”
“Yes?”
“May I take a look at your sword, Deputy Merchant Lord?”
The sword hanging at my waist was the Silver Mist Sword.
As expected of a master craftsman, he seemed to have recognized its true value.
“I don’t mind, but you must never draw it yourself.”
“Then would it be acceptable if you draw it and show me the blade?”
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
It was a request from the craftsman who’d just made such an incredible spear. Refusing felt wrong.
I drew the sword from its scabbard.
Srrrng.
With a smooth sound, the blade revealed itself.
Master Yeom stared at it, letting out a gasp of admiration.
“My… I can’t believe a sword like this exists.”
He focused on the blade for a long time before finally cupping his fists.
“That’s enough.”
Click.
I slid the sword back into its scabbard, and Master Yeom let out another sigh.
“That sword could be called a divine sword, and it still wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
I gave a sheepish smile.
It really was a divine sword, after all.
“Indeed, this isn’t a sword just anyone can wield. How should I put it… It’s tuned to a very particular kind of Qi, not something universal.”
His words made me pause in surprise.
Just by looking at it, he figured out that much about the Silver Mist Sword.
“The materials used for that sword are extremely special. Without mastering a martial art that suits it, you won’t be able to draw out its true power.”
“A martial art that suits it?”
“Ice techniques.”
“Ah…”
That… might actually be a relief.
Then something caught my ear.
“But you said this sword was made of special material, right?”
“Yes. Ice Crystal (氷晶).”
Ice Crystal. A Yin-element crystal said to be obtainable only from lands of extreme cold.
In other words… incredibly rare.
“Is it even possible to make a sword out of Ice Crystal?”
“When a craftsman’s obsession is strong enough, the impossible becomes possible.”
“That was a foolish question.”
But that raised another concern.
“Would other craftsmen be able to recognize that this sword is made of Ice Crystal?”
“Hm. It’s not impossible, but most won’t notice. Maybe someone on the level of the Three Great Craftsmen under Heaven would.”
“Then… You’re saying you’re one of them?”
“That’s what others say.”
To think someone like him was right under my nose and I hadn’t noticed.
My past self… seriously, do some self-reflection.
“And I also recognized it easily because I’ve seen Ice Crystal before.”
“I see.”
“So you don’t have to worry.”
Hearing Master Yeom say that so confidently eased my worries.
It really wasn’t an empty saying that protecting treasure is harder than obtaining it.
Palgap hoisted the box carrying the spear onto his back, and I gave Master Yeom a respectful bow before leaving the forge.
I gently stroked the grip of the Silver Mist Sword.
This sword… is really made of Ice Crystal?
Why didn’t Master ever tell me that? Or… does Master not know either?
But as far as I know, Ice Crystal isn’t something anyone can just acquire.
Ice Crystal is a treasure of the Snow Wind Palace.
You can only get it with their permission.
Would Master know this sword is made from Ice Crystal?
What kind of strange power does the Silver Mist Sword possess, being made from such a rare material?
.
.
.
That evening.
I headed to Jin-ho’s residence.
Since he was becoming Deputy Merchant Lord, he’d been assigned his own detached quarters. It wasn’t far from Munghok Hall.
“Hey, Jin-ho!”
At my call, Jin-ho, who’d been giving orders to the servants and maids, turned his head.
Then he broke into a bright smile.
“Ah! You rascal! You heard I got my own place and came to congratulate me, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Hahaha! Thanks!”
“Congrats on becoming Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Look at me now! I’m a Deputy Merchant Lord too! You better be ready. I’ll be making waves just like you.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“And… thank you.”
“Huh? For what, all of a sudden?”
“For when you came to save me.”
“Ah…”
He was talking about when he went missing in the Fogbound Mountain in Yunnan.
Though we barely managed to return home safely, that event had left a deep mark on both of us.
It was that experience that helped me abandon my hesitation and fully commit to changing the future.
Though… I couldn’t help but think about Jin-ho’s severed head every time I saw him.
Still, thanks to that incident, I’d obtained the Silver Mist Sword and Geumryeong.
Geumryeong was now tucked inside my sleeve. This little guy had practically made it its home.
“It’s because you saved me that I was able to become Deputy Merchant Lord. So… thank you.”
Hearing Jin-ho’s gratitude made my chest feel ticklish, and I felt goosebumps creep up my arms.
“When I was wandering in that foggy forest… tired, starving, and half-conscious… I thought about a lot of things. About Grandfather, Father, Mother… and about Brother and Sister-in-law…”
“…”
“But you… you were the one I thought of the most.”
“…”
“I remembered the day you grabbed my hand for the first time and called me brother. It was so clear in my mind. That day… I made a vow.”
“…”
“I swore I’d master martial arts. That no matter what, I’d protect my little brother… I’d protect you.”
Hearing those words made me recall something… something Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang told me before I died.
— The man once called the Cloud General of Hubei… begged me so desperately to at least spare your life. Hahaha.
I’d always wondered why Jin-ho, who’d never bowed nor begged anyone in his life, did so to Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang.
Now… I finally understood.
He’d never forgotten that vow.
And me… what did I ever do to deserve that?
Sigh.
Yeah, this sentimental stuff… definitely not my thing.
I swear, the goosebumps were crawling all the way up my neck.
Why was I getting so emotional all of a sudden… completely unlike me.
I felt the urgent need to change the mood.
“But hey, Jin-ho, you know what?”
“What?”
“Becoming Deputy Merchant Lord… means no vacation.”
“…What?”
Jin-ho blinked like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.
“Seriously?”
“Yup.”
“But we get summer breaks, don’t we?”
“Think you’re actually gonna get to use it?”
“Damn it.”
“Didn’t you figure it out watching Jeong-ho and me?”
“Well… Jeong-ho’s always been the serious type, and you’ve always had your hands in everything, so I just figured it was normal.”
Ouch. Why does that feel like it hit a little too close to home?
“It’s fine. Turns out you don’t die from overwork.”
“…”
I chuckled.
Pointing to the small table in the yard, Palgap walked over and set down the box carrying the spear.
“Here. It’s a gift.”
“A gift?”
Jin-ho opened the box and gasped.
“A… a spear? Why a spear all of a sudden? I chose the sword, didn’t I?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“In my opinion, the weapon that suits you best is the spear. It fits perfectly with your wide field of vision and your strength.”
“…”
“If you don’t believe me, just try training with it for one year. Trust my judgment.”
Jin-ho grinned.
“Alright. If you’re saying it that seriously, I’ll give it a shot.”
Saying that, Jin-ho grabbed the spear. Then he walked out into the yard and gave it a few swings.
Fwoosh—! Fwung—!
The spear sliced through the air with a crisp, exhilarating sound.
It felt like I was watching the Jin-ho from my previous life.
But in this life… there’s no way I’ll let him die such a meaningless death.
Jin-ho stopped his movements and stared at the spear before glancing at me.
“Hey… what is this spear?”
“Why?”
“Why does it move exactly the way I want it to?”
Sure, a true martial artist never blames their weapon. But that doesn’t mean the weapon isn’t important.
There’s a reason top experts always seek the best weapons.
I chuckled.
“Yeah, well… it’s because it’s insanely expensive.”
.
.
.
Early morning.
Eun Jin-ho finished circulating his Qi and stood up.
It was the Yang Strength Cultivation Method he’d learned from External Chief Administrator Go Il-pyeong.
Part of him missed training with Eun Seo-ho. He’d stopped because of his declining health.
But lately, Seo-ho had gotten a lot healthier.
‘And a lot better-looking too.’
Supposedly, it was thanks to cultivating a Yin Cultivation Method suited to his body… but Jin-ho felt like there was more to it.
‘Maybe he’s secretly taking some kind of elixir?’
Not that it mattered.
Like he said last night… it was his vow since childhood to protect Seo-ho.
He headed to External Chief Administrator Go Il-pyeong’s residence.
Every morning, he went there to train martial arts.
“Disciple Eun Jin-ho greets you, External Chief Administrator.”
“Today’s the last time I’ll call you young master. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Go Il-pyeong immediately noticed something was different.
Jin-ho was holding a spear he’d never seen before.
“A spear…?”
“Yes. Seo-ho gave it to me as a gift yesterday. He said it suits me perfectly and told me to try training with it for just one year.”
Jin-ho continued,
“And after trying it out yesterday… I finally understood why you recommended the spear to me before.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you’ve finally decided to give the spear a chance.”
“Seo-ho said it was insanely expensive.”
Go Il-pyeong glanced back and forth between the spear and Jin-ho.
It was clear Jin-ho didn’t fully understand what Seo-ho meant by ‘expensive.’
‘If Deputy Merchant Lord Seo-ho says it’s expensive… then it’s really expensive.’
Jin-ho likely didn’t realize it, but Seo-ho’s personal wealth was already among the top within the merchant group.
The profits from the Self-Dancing Doll, Windcraft Fan, and Self-Playing Zither were astronomical.
Go Il-pyeong wasn’t great at math, but being the External Chief Administrator, he wasn’t clueless about money either.
And when it came to reading people… he had a decent sense.
What he saw in Seo-ho was someone who generated not only visible income but also invisible streams of wealth.
In just three years since making his name, he’d built such a foundation.
His future was going to be terrifying.
If someone like Seo-ho calls it expensive…
‘It must’ve cost at least a hundred gold taels.’
The spear Jin-ho held clearly wasn’t ordinary.
The fact that swinging it made him instantly feel, ‘I really have a talent for spear techniques!’… wasn’t surprising.
But regardless, the truth was that Jin-ho truly did have talent with the spear.
Go Il-pyeong couldn’t help but be grateful that this gift sparked Jin-ho’s interest in spear techniques.
‘And the fact that Deputy Merchant Lord Seo-ho gifted something this valuable… means he’s also aware of Jin-ho’s potential with the spear.’
He decided to bring it up subtly next time he thanked him.
.
.
.
One by one, people began gathering at the Eunhae Merchant Group.
They were here to attend Jin-ho’s Deputy Merchant Lord inauguration banquet.
And among the guests were many of External Chief Administrator Go’s acquaintances.
Which meant… a whole lot of martial artists had shown up.
It was only natural that regular folks were wary of martial artists.
That’s why a separate area was prepared specifically for them.
Jin-ho was dressed in a splendid ceremonial robe, busy greeting guests.
I watched him and chuckled.
I had my own work today.
Because I needed to make sure this banquet… didn’t get ruined.
I approached one of the towers within the compound.
There, gathered away from the crowd, were the types who didn’t particularly enjoy mingling at parties.
Deputy Yeo Chang-ui. Seok Il-song. Gong Mil and Gong Lae. Gwak Hyeong-jin. And others.
Among them was also the Sage Physician, who’d followed me here from Yichang.
“Are you enjoying the banquet, Master?”
“Now this… this feels like a proper banquet.”
“When the Eunhae Merchant Group hosts, we go all out.”
I chuckled.
There was a reason I’d invited the Sage Physician to join the merchant group.
–TL Notes–
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