I turned my head at the gaze I felt from the side.
My master was watching me with a complicated expression.
“You don’t need to worry. Chief Gwak. Squad Leader Jeong.”
At my confident words, the two exchanged worried glances but nodded.
“Understood. We’ll wait here.”
“Young Master, please be careful.”
.
.
.
Palgap and I followed behind Chieftain Jang Dae-su.
As we walked, I recalled what he’d said to Palgap earlier—that attendants are just that.
It wasn’t something you’d say unless you’d had attendants of your own.
And he’d even realized I was stronger than Squad Leader Jeong.
Which meant he was far stronger than I was.
He was hiding both his real power and his status…
What was his situation?
Before long, we reached the forest behind the stronghold.
Chieftain Jang stopped, turned, and asked me,
“So, what is it you wanted to say? If you went through the trouble of asking to speak in private, it must be important.”
“Of course. I have a question for you, Chieftain.”
“A question for me?”
“Yes. It’s about the spiritual herbs growing all over this mountain. I’d like to ask why you’ve left them untouched.”
At my words, Chieftain Jang tilted his head and asked,
“What are you talking about? Spiritual herbs?”
“Over there… I saw Snowmist Grass (雪魂草), White Tiger Bellflower (白虎鈴), and Snow Ginseng (雪蔘) growing like weeds…”
Jang looked completely confused.
That expression told me he really didn’t know.
“You truly didn’t know?”
“I didn’t. If I had, you think I’d have left them alone? I’d have sold them off already.”
“Well, that’s fair.”
Most people might’ve heard of spiritual herbs but wouldn’t recognize them unless they’d worked with them.
Jang Dae-su was a martial artist, so he probably knew of them, but it seemed he’d never handled them directly. Even if he’d been taught, recognizing herbs growing wild like that was no easy task.
As for me, I’d worked with those herbs directly and already knew they were here, so it was easy to spot them.
In the future I’d lived, the real reason the Murim Alliance wiped out this place was because of those very herbs.
I had to resolve this now to prevent that.
Since the attack didn’t happen for another five years, it meant even the Murim Alliance hadn’t caught on yet.
If I could handle this now, no one in this stronghold would have to die needlessly.
Besides, I’d soon be in need of a yin-based elixir.
Chieftain Jang, now sensing I was being sincere, asked seriously,
“Are you telling me it’s true, that there are spiritual herbs all over this place?”
“Yes.”
“Would you stake your life on it?”
“No.”
“What?”
Surprised, he looked at me, and I answered firmly,
“Because my life is far more valuable than staking it on the existence of some herbs.”
Jang burst into delighted laughter.
“Ku-ku-ku! You really are something.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“So, what do you want from me?”
His gaze had changed completely.
“You must want something, or you wouldn’t have revealed the existence of these herbs in private. You want a share of them?”
“If you offered, I’d be grateful, but that’s not what I want.”
“Then what?”
I looked him straight in the eyes.
“How about doing business with the Eunhae Merchant Group?”
“…Business?”
I nodded.
“Yes. It’s true this place is rich with herbs, but you mustn’t sell them off as is. If this much supply floods the market at once, the location could be exposed and put in danger.”
Jang looked at me and asked,
“So that’s why you wanted to speak privately? Afraid the secret would leak?”
“Exactly.”
“If word gets out that we’re sitting on a mountain of spiritual herbs, all sorts will come after us. From the Demonic Sects to the Murim Alliance.”
“…”
I was a little surprised to hear the words “Murim Alliance” come from Jang Dae-su’s mouth.
I hadn’t expected him to say it. Most people worrying about their treasures being taken don’t name the Murim Alliance.
And there was real anger in his expression as he said it.
He must’ve had a story there.
“So, if I do business with your group, what do I get out of it?”
“Confidentiality and stable profit. We’ll buy at good prices.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you’ll have to find a buyer on your own.”
“You’re not going to leak the secret?”
“Why would I?”
“…?”
“If the secret leaks, this stronghold will disappear. Then I’d have to deal with whoever takes over, build a new connection, waste time, waste money… that’s a hassle.”
Jang Dae-su stared at me for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh.
“Puahahahaha!”
He laughed for quite a while, then finally stopped.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re scared of me. You’ve got guts.”
“If I didn’t have guts, how could I possibly strike a deal with someone like you, Chieftain?”
“Damn. Your father must be proud to have a son like you.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Alright. I’ll do business with the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“Thank you. Shall we draw up a contract then?”
“Hah! You’re thorough.”
“Contracts are the foundation of any business.”
.
.
.
After concluding our agreement, I returned to the clearing, where everyone rushed toward me.
“Young Master!”
“Are you alright?”
I smiled and answered their concern.
“Yes, I’m fine. And I apologize for acting on my own. I’ll formally apologize later.”
At that moment, Chieftain Jang raised his voice.
“Everyone, attention!”
All eyes turned to him.
“Starting today, I declare that Young Lord Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group will be treated as my Benefactor (恩公).”
“…!”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
In the martial world, the word “benefactor” held immense weight. It was a title used sparingly, often warranting great sacrifice in return. You didn’t call someone that lightly.
Yet Chieftain Jang, a major figure in the Green Forest, had just called me his benefactor.
He had just declared that he would stand behind me.
“Anyone unwilling to follow my lead, step forward right now.”
With that, he unsheathed his wolf fang saber and drove it into the ground.
Thud—!
At his sharp command, the members of the Green Forest stronghold rushed to respond.
“None, sir!”
“I’ll also serve the Benefactor!”
“I’ll follow Chieftain’s will!”
Just like that, I was suddenly declared the Benefactor of the Odon Mountain stronghold led by Chieftain Jang Dae-su.
“So it’s settled then.”
Chieftain Jang turned to my master and spoke.
“And I’ve no wish to be the kind of shameless man who would charge a toll to his Benefactor. So go on, pass freely.”
At those words, Master glanced at me, and I shook my head ever so slightly.
He gave a small nod, then replied to Jang Dae-su.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but we can’t just leave after being treated to a meal.”
“Haha! You’re going to disregard my good will?”
“That’s not it.”
Master pulled a pouch from his robe and held it out.
“This isn’t a toll. It’s a token of gratitude from the Benefactor. Please accept it.”
Jang Dae-su gave a fake cough.
“Hrm. Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
He took the pouch, tucked it into his robe, and called out,
“Alright, lads! They’ve got a long road ahead. Clear the snow, quick!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Get that snow cleared, and with today’s earnings we’re going to eat meat and drink wine until we burst!”
“Yes!”
“Hyah!”
“Let’s go!”
Driven wild by the promise of meat and wine, the Green Forest bandits jumped to action, and the snow was cleared at lightning speed.
As the road, buried beneath the snow, quickly reappeared, everyone around us was struck speechless.
Master watched and commented,
“At this rate, we might reach our destination sooner than expected.”
Squad Leader Jeong nodded in agreement.
“All thanks to Young Master.”
He looked at me and asked,
“What in the world did you say to make Chieftain Jang treat you as his Benefactor? It couldn’t have been just because of the suggestion to clear the snow, could it?”
“Well…”
I smiled and replied,
“That’s a work-related secret.”
“You’d keep it secret even from someone in the same merchant group? That’s a little hurtful.”
Even if it made him feel left out, I couldn’t help it.
I had promised to keep the existence of the spiritual herbs a secret, and I wasn’t about to break that now.
And this was far too important to brush off with some flimsy lie.
So it was easier to cut it off with a firm “secret.”
‘Besides, someone like Squad Leader Jeong wouldn’t be genuinely hurt by something like this.’
Though he said he was disappointed, his face showed nothing of the sort.
He was someone with a natural instinct for sensing danger.
It was that very instinct that allowed him to survive all kinds of dangerous situations.
That intuition even extended to things like now—knowing what he needed to know and what he didn’t.
I figured it was that very ability that had helped him rise to become a deputy commander of the Eunpoong Division.
That kind of talent… I want it.
At that moment, Squad Leader Jeong hugged his arms and shivered.
“What’s wrong?”
Master asked, and Jeong responded with a sheepish smile.
“It’s nothing. Just felt a sudden chill.”
“With this weather, you should take care of yourself. Maybe put on another layer.”
“I think I will.”
Master patted him on the shoulder and said,
“Well then, let’s prepare to move out.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Clerk Im Gyeong-bin climbed back into the carriage, and I followed Master and Squad Leader Jeong to Chieftain Jang and cupped my fists in salute.
“Thanks to you, we’ve had a pleasant and restful stop.”
“I should be the one thanking you—for humoring my whims, and for showing us the path forward for our stronghold.”
Chieftain Jang looked at me and continued,
“I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
“I’ll be in touch. Stay well until then.”
“May fortune guide your escort journey.”
With our farewell complete, I climbed back into the carriage.
“Move out!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Master’s command, the escort resumed its journey.
Chieftain of the Odon Mountain stronghold, Jang Dae-su, watched the procession vanish into the distance.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
He was remembering the bold face of the boy who’d secretly proposed a deal.
‘So he was the youngest son of the Eunhae Merchant Lord.’
Even if he had just come of age, he was still a greenhorn.
Most would’ve trembled in fear before Jang’s wolf fang saber or the aura he had unleashed.
But that boy’s reaction had been entirely different.
He had walked straight up and presented a clever solution to their problem.
‘That sigh he gave after hearing my words… yeah, it was deserved.’
He couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed now.
Not only had the boy revealed the existence of herbs Jang himself hadn’t known about, but he even proposed a deal to make use of them.
If the herb trade turned out as he promised, the stronghold would thrive and be stabilized.
They could reinforce their defenses, too.
‘I’d been feeling uneasy lately, but this came at just the right time.’
With newfound hope, plans began flooding his mind—like selecting personnel to manage the herb trade.
‘This time, I just hope there’s no betrayal.’
Jang Dae-su looked at his wolf fang saber.
He’d once been betrayed by his deputy and had to flee for his life after striking down that man.
To hide his identity, he’d abandoned his old beloved weapon and taken up the savage-looking wolf fang saber used by outlaws.
If he wielded a conventional blade, his true martial arts would be too easily recognized.
He couldn’t let “they” find out he was still alive. Not yet.
Still… seeing Eun Seo-ho reminded him of that one person who’d helped him escape.
That boy, once his attendant, had guts and talent just like Eun Seo-ho.
Whatever the case, he found himself wanting to see just how far this young man would go.
That must’ve been why—
Why someone like him, who had to hide his identity, chose to declare Eun Seo-ho his Benefactor.
After descending the mountain for quite a while, the snow had thinned out enough that we no longer needed to clear it.
“This is as far as we go. Travel safely.”
The Green Forest members who had helped clear the snow spoke up.
It was no longer their territory, and it wouldn’t do them any good to stray too far from the stronghold.
–TL Notes–
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