We arrived in Beijing.
First, we stopped by Aunt’s place, the Yeonjun Merchant Group, to let them know we’d returned safely.
Grandfather was still staying at Aunt’s house as well.
“Grandfather, your unfilial grandson has finished the task and returned.”
“Good, I already heard from Jeong-ho. One of the Students from Apricot Blossom Academy ran into some serious trouble, didn’t they?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Judging by your face, it looks like things worked out.”
“Yes, everything was resolved well.”
Grandfather took a letter out of a drawer and handed it to me.
“Good. This is a letter from your father.”
“From Father?”
“Read it.”
I unfolded it right there.
“…”
It was a letter saying that this year’s Hundred Great Merchant Groups’ Assembly would be held in Luoyang.
“But isn’t that earlier than usual? I remember the Hundred Great Merchant Groups normally holding their assembly around autumn every year.”
“Isn’t the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering being held this autumn?”
“Ah!”
The Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering was a martial tournament hosted by the Murim Alliance every five years.
“If they’re gathering in Luoyang earlier than that… then it must be for seat allocation.”
“Exactly.”
Countless people would flock to Luoyang, either to compete in or to watch the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.
And where people gather, money gathers.
There was no way merchants would ever let a chance like that slip by.
Since so many merchants would be converging, the Murim Alliance carried out advance ‘seat allocations.’
The head of each Merchant Group had to attend in person, but by their nature they were all extremely busy people.
So the idea that came out was, ‘Since we’re at it anyway, let’s all meet in Luoyang.’
I read the rest of the letter.
It was written very clearly: it had already been decided that I would attend this year’s Hundred Great Merchant Groups’ Assembly.
Honestly, I wanted to go. I’d promised to meet Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun of the Gwangjun Merchant Group there.
But with it being time to push Brother Jeong-ho as the official successor, I’d been planning to step back even if it felt a bit regrettable.
Normally, whoever accompanied the Merchant Lord to the Hundred Great Merchant Groups’ Assembly was taken as the leading successor Student.
Yet I was the one going this time!
I looked at Grandfather with that meaning in my eyes, and he gave a faint smile as he spoke.
“You went last time, so by rights it should be Jeong-ho or Jin-ho’s turn. But things are different this year. Like I said, there’s the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.”
Grandfather continued.
“After discussing it in Eunwol Pavilion, the conclusion was that the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering is far too volatile. If we want to grab a good share, the one who goes has to be quick on their feet and able to respond instantly. That’s why they decided on you.”
“…”
“In our Merchant Group, there’s no one who can beat you at schemes and quick thinking, is there?”
That was… probably a compliment, right?
“So start getting ready. A letter will arrive for you before long.”
With that, I left Grandfather’s room. I was on my way to Brother Jeong-ho’s quarters when my steps came to a halt.
“You’re here?”
“Brother.”
Maybe he’d already heard I was back; he was waiting for me outside his quarters.
“It’s hot… you could’ve waited inside.”
“It’s hotter inside.”
“That’s true…”
I scratched the back of my neck.
“Um, I heard. That I’m the one going to the Hundred Great Merchant Groups’ Assembly this time…”
“I heard too.”
“I’m sorry I’m the one going again.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. To be honest, I was hoping you’d go this time. I don’t have your talent for reacting quickly in situations like that.”
“That’s not true. You’re pretty sharp yourself, Brother.”
“Compared to you, I’m a slug. I even thought about just handing the Merchant Lord’s position over to you, you know.”
“…”
The same words Brother Jeong-ho had said in my previous life.
“But I’m not going to force that when I know you don’t want the Merchant Lord’s seat.”
“How did you know I don’t want that position?”
At my question, Brother Jeong-ho let out a small laugh.
“I can just tell by looking at you. You’re the type who loves charging around wherever you want.”
“I don’t especially love it or anything…”
“Then what, you like being shut in a room buried in paperwork, having stiff conversations in uncomfortable meetings?”
“T-that’s even worse.”
Brother Jeong-ho looked up at the sky as he spoke.
“So I’ll become Merchant Lord like you and Jin-ho want. I’m good at putting on that kind of dignified front. In return, I want you to drag Eunhae Merchant Group up even higher.”
“Well, obviously.”
At my answer, Brother Jeong-ho smiled.
“Ah, right… I’ve got some good news too.”
“Huh? Good news?”
“Ten Students from Apricot Blossom Academy passed the imperial exam this time. Student Man Suk and Student Yun Byeok were among them.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah.”
Ah…
That was really great.
“And the final palace exam is in fifteen days.”
The imperial exam was practically decided by the main exam. The palace exam after that was just to decide their exact ranking.
“Once the palace exam is over, I’m thinking of inviting all the academy instructors out to a good restaurant for a proper meal.”
“That’s a great idea. They’ve all worked hard.”
.
.
.
Two days passed after I returned to Beijing.
Then Warrior Jin Yeong came to the temporary residence in Beijing to pick me up.
He told me that the sentence had been decided for the pirates who had ravaged Student Man Suk’s hometown and for the local magistrate who had been backing them, but the execution hadn’t been carried out yet.
It was the law that during great national events—like the imperial exams—executions were postponed.
“They’ve been sentenced to have their heads cut off and hung on display. Right now they’re strung up upside down, waiting for their execution.”
“What? They’re still like that?”
Warrior Jin Yeong nodded at my question.
“His Majesty the Emperor was furious. So even after arriving here, they’re still hanging upside down.”
“…”
This was why people needed to live decently.
A short while later, I was granted an audience with the Emperor.
“Your subject, minor merchant Eun Seo-ho, humbly greets Your Majesty, sovereign of the Empire.”
“Raise your head.”
“Your gracious favor is beyond measure.”
“You did well again this time. Thanks to you, we were able to save commoners who were about to suffer unjustly.”
“I was merely lucky and happened to stumble across the matter. All I did was report it. The real credit belongs to the two Students who informed Warrior Jin Yeong, and to the people Your Majesty sent.”
I quickly pushed all the credit onto everyone else.
The Emperor burst into laughter as he watched me.
“Of course, that’s what you’d say. Isn’t that why you had those two Students deliver the letter in the first place?”
“…”
Sharp as ever, aren’t you.
“Those two Students are fine talents as well. I heard they passed this round of the exam with excellent scores.”
“They’re also from Apricot Blossom Academy.”
“Yes, I haven’t forgotten what we promised each other when you founded that academy. It looks like that promise is finally being fulfilled.”
The Emperor clearly looked pleased.
“I’m especially looking forward to those two brats who earned great merit by delivering the letter this time.”
For a moment, I worried about those two Students being doted on by the Emperor, but well, it was still a good thing overall.
“And the idea of having the Imperial Family run a gambling hall… audacious, yet impressively clever.”
“I’m deeply grateful that Your Majesty thinks so highly of it.”
“I hope you’ll continue to be a strength to me from here on.”
At those words, I felt goosebumps rush over my entire body.
“Why that reaction?”
“I-I was just moved by Your Majesty’s words, and before I knew it…”
“…”
But the look in the Emperor’s eyes clearly said, ‘You? You’re not the type to get moved. Nice try.’
“So, you’ll be focusing on building the Beijing Branch for a while now, I assume?”
“Ah, actually, I probably won’t be in Beijing for some time. Because of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups’ Assembly and the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering, I’ll be going to Luoyang.”
“Luoyang… that’s where those fellows I don’t like have built their nest.”
“…”
In this world, there was only one Emperor.
Only those appointed by the Emperor could be Lords or Sovereigns.
But in the Martial World, warriors tossed around titles like Sword Lord this, Sword Sovereign that, as if crowning themselves. From the Emperor’s standpoint, it had to look ridiculous.
If they quietly kept that nonsense contained within martial world, he could overlook it. But the Murim Alliance had been slowly pushing their people into the Imperial Court, trying to grow their influence.
Cracking down on all of them would risk throwing the Empire into chaos, so for now he was simply watching.
“Travel safely and return without incident.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I quickly bowed and withdrew from the Emperor’s presence.
Yet even as I left, the question wouldn’t leave my mind.
Something’s off.
I told him I was going to Luoyang, so why did the man who loves throwing work at me just let me go?
A few days later.
A letter arrived from Father.
It said he’d already secured a residence in Luoyang and that I was to come there.
The road from Hubei to Luoyang was much shorter than the road from Beijing to Luoyang.
One of the reasons the Murim Alliance had been founded in Luoyang in the first place was because it was a prosperous logistics hub with smooth distribution, but also because it sat a fair distance away from Beijing.
Anyway, the date for this assembly was at the end of the Eighth Month.
So even if we left within three days at the latest, we’d only just make it in time.
And since the location was Luoyang, Escort Guard Jin Yu’s range of movement would inevitably be limited.
While I was still agonizing over that, good news came.
Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am had made a full recovery.
“I request permission to return to your service, my lord. The physician said I can hold a sword again. Please allow me to stand by your side and protect you once more.”
I smiled and nodded.
“I’m really glad you were able to come back like this. That means you can join us in Luoyang this time. I’ll be counting on you again.”
“The one who’s grateful is me.”
“Then, since you’re officially back, why don’t we celebrate and go get something good to eat?”
“That sounds wonderful!”
“Music to my ears.”
We headed toward a restaurant, and Escort Guard Jin Yu’s voice transmission reached me.
— I’d been worried about leaving an opening in your defenses, so I’m truly relieved Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am is coming back.
— Right?
— I was thinking… even if I have to wear a mask, maybe I should still stay at your side in Luoyang.
I shook my head at that voice transmission.
— You really don’t need to push yourself that far. And if you don’t want to go to Luoyang, you’re welcome to stay here instead.
“…”
Escort Guard Jin Yu looked at me quietly.
— Why are you looking at me like that?
— Young Master, you really are a good lord.
That voice transmission made me oddly embarrassed, and I scratched the back of my neck.
The Murim Alliance in Luoyang.
The Alliance Leader sat in his office, looking over documents.
“So, how is the construction of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering’s arena coming along?”
“It’s progressing smoothly.”
“I recall someone saying we were short on ironwood beams?”
“As it says in that report…”
“I see. You may go.”
The Alliance Leader was briskly dealing with work when he caught sight of his own reflection in the mirror and flinched.
“…!”
He hurriedly covered his eyes. A moment later, his pupils slowly returned to black.
“This old man really should know when to give up…”
Muttering with a displeased expression, he looked down at the letter on his desk.
A red letter.
It was an official letter from the Imperial Court.
It stated that there was ample evidence linking a man named Yang Eun-jik to the recent rebellion—but that he had been murdered by someone.
The letter was asking the Murim Alliance to submit their thoughts on the matter.
‘He was a pretty useful kid, too…’
Between the lines, it was clearly asking whether the Murim Alliance had eliminated him on purpose.
But even as Alliance Leader, he had no idea.
Because he wasn’t the one who did it.
‘Which means someone interfered with this whole thing…’
Either way, this operation was a complete failure.
The plan had been to spark a rebellion, let countless people die, and offer up the bloodshed as a sacrifice. Instead, all they’d done was elevate the Emperor’s prestige.
On top of that, they’d only stoked the Imperial Court’s suspicions while losing a promising pawn.
‘From start to finish, nothing but losses.’
In any case, a failed job needed to be shaken off. There were plenty of other plans already in motion.
‘Still, I hope a lot of promising kids show up for this martial meet.’
Watching the martial world’s young pillars, who knew nothing, work for him was a pleasure.
My group and I finally arrived in Luoyang.
This time, we were staying at a different lodging than before.
“So where are we supposed to go now?”
“We need to find the Gentle Breeze Inn.”
And I knew exactly where the Gentle Breeze Inn was.
“This way.”
I pointed in one direction and took the lead, and before long we arrived at the Gentle Breeze Inn.
“Whoa! How did you know the Gentle Breeze Inn was here?”
I inwardly gave a wry smile at Palgap’s fussing.
I couldn’t exactly tell him it was the inn I always used every time I came to Luoyang in my previous life.
“I saw it when I was here before. You know I’ve got a good memory.”
As I said that and approached the inn, members of the Eunpoong Division recognized me and bowed.
“We greet the Third Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Good to see you. Are my parents inside?”
“Yes. They’re inside.”
I went into the inn, straightened my clothes, and bowed to my parents.
“Father, your unfilial son has arrived. Has anything happened with the Merchant Group?”
“Good, come in. Nothing’s happened.”
“That’s a relief.”
“I hear you were quite active in Beijing as well. They say you rescued Seon-mi’s kidnapped husband.”
So Grandfather and Brother Jeong-ho had written about that in their letters.
“And I heard you rendered great service suppressing the rebels.”
“…”
“I also heard you wiped out the pirates this time.”
“…”
Father, even Grandfather and Brother Jeong-ho don’t know about that last one. How in the world do you know everything?
–TL Notes–
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