They seemed to recognize me, and the procession came to a halt.
The fluttering banner of the Eunhae Merchant Group was a welcome sight.
Two men stepped down from the carriage and approached.
“Isn’t that the Deputy Merchant Lord?”
“It’s even nicer running into you both like this on the road.”
The two who got out were Supervisor Su and Supervisor Im of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Supervisor Su had enough authority to be delegated whenever we opened new trades or contracts. Supervisor Im specialized in leather goods.
Seeing the two of them together, I could more or less guess what was happening.
“Are you headed to the North Sea?”
“That’s right. I heard this job came from the Deputy Merchant Lord’s achievement.”
At Supervisor Su’s words, I scratched behind my ear.
“Rather than an achievement, I just happened to stumble into it.”
“If stumbling into it made it happen, then there wouldn’t be anyone who failed in the world. So please don’t say that. You’ll make me feel a little sad.”
He said it playfully, but there was a bit of edge to his words.
“Heaven gave a little help. Either way, I’m counting on you. It’ll pay off right away, but the real profit will come later.”
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
I took out a small pouch with a few gold taels and handed it to Supervisor Su.
“Take this, just in case.”
“No need. You don’t have to give us something like this.”
“It’s from me personally. It’s going to be a long and hard journey, and you might need quick funds. I’d rather you not use the Merchant Group’s money for that.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“And the road’s rough, right? Use it here and there to lift the morale of the staff too.”
“Then I’ll accept it with thanks.”
Supervisor Su tucked the pouch into his breast and bowed.
“Even if you’ve going out to the borderlands as a branch chief, that place will be very important for the Eunhae Merchant Group. We’re counting on you.”
“Of course. By the way, did I tell you I became a branch chief?”
“No. I just looked at your party and figured it out.”
“As expected of the Deputy Merchant Lord.”
At that moment, Supervisor Im spoke up.
“Come to think of it, Deputy Merchant Lord, the Gwangjun Merchant Group sent quite a large gift.”
Ah, right. Bok Yun’s father had said he’d send a gift.
“Did you happen to see what the gift was?”
“Hahaha, you’ll know when you get there.”
What kind of gift would make him laugh like that?
They didn’t answer, just smiled.
We parted ways with them like that.
We had barely left the capital… there was still a long road ahead to Hubei.
.
.
.
After days of riding like that, we finally entered Hubei.
“Hup! Ha! Hup! Ha!”
“What are you doing?”
At my question, Palgap answered.
“I’m sniffing the air. It’s been so long since I’ve been back in my hometown.”
Smelling the air? What smell?
Well, bears do have a good sense of smell, I guess.
I’d been gone for nearly four months myself. Coming back did feel strangely familiar.
Like sliding under a warm blanket.
Before long, we arrived at the Eunhae Merchant Group.
“Come in.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
Father and Mother welcomed me.
“Your son has returned safely.”
“You said Escort Guard Jin Yu is still there?”
“Yes, Father.”
“We’ve established a branch up there already. The team to transport the leather goods has already departed.”
“Yes, we ran into them on the road near the capital. You sent Supervisor Su and Supervisor Im.”
“Yes. I appointed Supervisor Su as the branch chief. By the way…”
Father’s expression turned a little odd.
“What is it?”
“It’s not a bad thing. Just… What happened with the Gwangjun Merchant Group?”
“I helped them a bit and built a solid connection. Speaking of which, they said they sent a gift. What was it?”
Father paused before answering.
“Fine horses.”
“Pardon?”
“They sent one hundred fine steeds.”
“…”
Even I was momentarily speechless.
That many horses held tremendous value in this region.
I headed to my annex to wash up.
Even though I’d been away, the place was clean, likely well-maintained the whole time.
I washed quickly, paid my respects to Grandfather first, and then made my way to eldest brother Jeong-ho’s annex.
“Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon haven’t forgotten me, have they?”
At my question, Palgap sighed.
He looked like he had a lot to say but decided not to.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
We arrived at eldest brother Jeong-ho’s annex.
He was busy and wasn’t at the Merchant Group at the moment.
The selection day for the imperial silk supplier was approaching.
“Sister-in-law, I’m here.”
“Oh my. Young Master, welcome. Did your trip go well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, it did. Have you been well?”
“Of course.”
She clapped her hands.
“Ah, you should say hello to Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon.”
Soon, the nanny brought the children out.
“Hi.”
At my greeting, Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon stared for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Hee-hee!”
“Kyak!”
I couldn’t help smiling back at the sight of them laughing so brightly.
Next to me, I heard Palgap muttering.
“As expected, a shallow world that only remembers the handsome.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing at all.”
After greeting the family, I headed to Father’s office.
“Now we can finally talk in peace.”
“Yes, we can.”
“First off, I’m glad you returned safely.”
“It’s all thanks to Mother praying every day to the Heaven and Earth spirits.”
“Hahaha.”
Father laughed, then looked at me with a curious expression.
“You really are something. How is it that you always come back with something every time you go out…”
“I guess I’m just that kind of person.”
“What kind of help did you give them to be sent a hundred fine horses?”
I explained to Father what had happened with Bok Yun.
“You saved Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun? I see. So that’s how it happened.”
“Yes. But Father, how good are those horses for you to be this surprised?”
Judging by how excited he was, those horses weren’t just fine, they were exceptional.
“Heh. You really have no idea. Come with me. Once you see them, you’ll understand why I reacted like that.”
Father stood up and led the way to the stables.
And a moment later—
“…”
Just as Father said, I was speechless too.
At this level, they were top-tier even among fine horses. They were clearly the cream of the crop from the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
The gift felt overwhelming.
“Was there a letter or something?”
At my question, Father, as if he’d been waiting for it, pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it to me.
“You haven’t opened it?”
“That one was addressed to you.”
I read the letter.
[Deputy Merchant Lord Eun, I don’t know if you realized, but Yun is the hope of our Merchant Group. Yeong has no mind for trade. Please don’t feel burdened by the gift. How could a hundred horses compare to the future of our Merchant Group? Don’t think of returning them. Use them well.]
I smirked.
Knowing what would become of the Gwangjun Merchant Group in my previous life, I decided to accept the gift gratefully.
“Then let’s go eat.”
“Yes.”
.
.
.
The next morning.
Just after finishing my breathing and Qi circulation exercises, Master entered my annex.
“Master, I’ve returned after completing your request.”
I stood and greeted him with a bow.
“Thank you for granting my favor.”
“You’re too formal. It was my duty as your disciple. By the way, how are your injuries?”
“They’re almost fully healed now.”
Master straightened and spoke.
“Then let’s begin training.”
“…”
He must be curious about the request he made of me, but the fact that he insisted on training first just showed how remarkable he was.
“You learned up to the tenth form, Snowslide, before you left. So today, we’ll cover the eleventh form, White Night. But first…”
Master looked at me.
“Review all the forms from the beginning. Start with the first form, Snowfall.”
“Understood.”
I drew my sword.
I recalled the time I had been trapped inside the remnant of the Snow Wind Palace, forced into secluded training by the Founder.
As I moved through the forms, Master’s eyes widened more and more.
From the moment I began the first form, Snowfall, and all the way to the tenth, Snowslide, he didn’t close his mouth even once.
“H-how can this be? The True Snow Twelve Form Sword you just performed is exactly like the murals I remember from the Snow Wind Palace!”
“In truth, while searching the ruins at your request, I met the Founder.”
“…”
“I was trapped inside the pupil for what felt like several years, and during that time, I learned the True Snow Twelve Form Sword directly from him.”
“Several years?”
“By feeling, yes. But in the outside world, not even a quarter-hour had passed.” (TL Note: Honestly, I’m just going to write the English equivalent of time from now on.)
At my explanation, Master nodded.
“Now that I think about it, I remember my grandfather telling me when I was young. The Founder had a close friend skilled in formation arts. It seems he helped him set it up.”
“I see.”
I scratched my cheek.
“But the Founder said there are other places like that too…”
“…?”
“He said the grand method only activates when I go there.”
“Because of your constitution?”
“That’s what he said.”
The real reason was that I was the one living this second life, arranged by the Founder. But there was no need to reveal that.
“Then he must have known I would take you as my disciple.”
“Yes, I think so. He even seemed to know the Snow Wind Palace would fall. I believe he created that grand method so the martial arts wouldn’t be lost.”
“That makes sense.”
“And finally…”
I lowered my voice.
“Do you happen to have a secret vault?”
“…?”
“The Founder left behind quite a lot of wealth. I think I should deliver it.”
Looking half-doubtful, Master led me to a secluded manor deep in the woods.
“This is the Snow Wind Palace’s hidden safehouse.”
“It’s bigger than I expected. Where should I put it?”
Master pointed to a room.
“In there.”
I took out and laid down the wealth left by the Founder.
Rumble rumble—
I debated whether I should reveal my Storage Vault, but I couldn’t hide it forever.
I was planning to tell Palgap eventually too.
I had a good enough excuse anyway.
“…!”
Master was so shocked, he rubbed his eyes.
Only after a long moment did he seem to accept it was real, shaking his head in disbelief.
“H-how did you even carry all this?”
“Thanks to an artifact His Majesty the Emperor gave me. It functions like a warehouse.”
“I see.”
Suddenly, tears fell from Master’s eyes.
“M-Master!”
I was flustered.
In both my past and current lives, I had never seen Master cry before.
“W-why are you crying?”
“So much funding! Ngh! After all the suffering I went through just to gather operational funds…”
“…”
Only then did I realize why Master had taken on work at the Escort Bureau.
It had been to gather money for the sect’s revival.
Rebuilding a sect wasn’t cheap, after all.
After some time, Master finally calmed down and asked,
“Did the Founder leave any other words?”
“He asked that you rebuild the Snow Wind Palace.”
“I see. As a descendant of the Snow Wind Palace, that is my duty.”
“On that note, may I improve the True Snow Twelve Form Sword?”
“What? But that’s the clan’s—”
“No. It seems there was a flaw in how it was passed down. The Founder said the True Snow Twelve Form Sword is a martial art that all disciples can learn.”
“I see.”
After hearing the details, Master agreed to the idea of refining the True Snow Twelve Form Sword.
.
.
.
Before I knew it, the leaves had begun to fall.
While I’d been to the North Sea and back, summer had passed and autumn was in full swing.
As usual, after breakfast, I headed to the Eunwol Pavilion.
There was a Pavilion Lords meeting.
“…Handle that matter like so. Now, what’s the next agenda?”
At Father’s question, Pavilion Lord Yeon of the Trade Pavilion stepped forward.
“There seems to be a problem in Hunan.”
“In Hunan?”
“Yes. The shop we’re operating near Dongting Lake is on a lease. But the landlord is now telling us to vacate it by next month.”
“What? Telling us to leave all of a sudden?”
At that, External Chief Administrator Go of the Eunpoong Division spoke up.
“Then why not just buy the shop? We certainly have the money.”
“I tried. But…”
Pavilion Lord Yeon sighed and continued.
“He’s dug in. Says he’ll never sell. Said he would sell it for ten times the market price…”
“…”
Only then did we understand.
It was that infamous tactic.
Snatching a prime shop location for free.
–TL Notes–
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