We reached Liaoning before long.
It’s a place we always stop by before heading to the North Sea, but we usually only stay a day or two.
But this time, we planned to stay here for a few days, since there was something we needed to take care of.
Delivering grain to North Sea Ice Palace was urgent, but we also had to track down evidence against the merchant who’d swindled them.
If we missed this timing, we’d probably never find that proof.
So this time, instead of camping outside, we headed straight for the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
Partly because we needed information related to this affair, and partly because, in this city, that was the only place that could properly host our group.
The moment we arrived in Liaoning, I sent Escort Guard Jin Yu, whose lightness skill was the best among us, to ask for their cooperation.
I could have sent a letter through Geumryeong, but I wanted to keep Geumryeong’s existence secret as much as possible.
If anyone saw Geumryeong, they’d definitely start coveting it.
The reply Escort Guard Jin Yu brought back contained a cheerful acceptance.
He even wrote that he would have been hurt if we hadn’t asked him for help.
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok really was a good friend.
When we arrived at the Gwangjun Merchant Group and announced ourselves to the gatekeeper, one man hurriedly ran inside.
A short while later, a familiar face came running out from within.
“Deputy Merchant Lord Eun!”
“I’m glad to see you’re looking well, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok.”
He then bowed deeply and cupped his fists toward Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin at my side.
“Bok Yun, Deputy Merchant Lord of the Gwangjun Merchant Group, greets the Young Palace Lord of North Sea Ice Palace.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“I hope you rest comfortably while you’re here. Please, come inside.”
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun ordered an attendant to guide our party to our quarters.
While Escort Chief Ha and Brother Jin-ho, as those responsible, oversaw bringing the cargo into the carriage yard, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin and I followed Deputy Merchant Lord Bok to the reception hall.
We sat and chatted about what had happened since we’d last met, and soon refreshments were brought in.
I happened to be a little hungry, so I quickly picked up some snacks and popped them into my mouth.
“These are as tasty as ever.”
“I’m glad they suit your taste.”
Smiling, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok continued.
“But for you to be traveling together with North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Lord… is something serious going on?”
At that question, I shook my head.
“It’s nothing that serious.”
To me, only problems you can’t solve count as serious. As long as there’s a way to resolve it, you can’t really call it serious.
“As you can see from the grain we brought, we were in the middle of transporting food to North Sea Ice Palace.”
“I see.”
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok nodded, then tilted his head slightly.
“But why are they relying on the Eunhae Merchant Group’s help? As far as I know, North Sea Ice Palace secures its grain with the money it earns by selling North Sea elixirs. No matter how bad the harvest is, considering the value of the elixirs they release, it shouldn’t be hard for them to buy food.”
As expected of Deputy Merchant Lord Bok, he immediately sensed that something about this situation was off.
“You’re right. But because of certain circumstances, things turned out this way.”
“Circumstances, huh…”
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok frowned slightly as he spoke.
“To be honest, I’ve heard a strange rumor. They said North Sea Ice Palace tried to sell fake elixirs.”
At those words, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin asked in an icy voice.
“Do you believe that rumor, Deputy Merchant Lord?”
The chill in her tone made Deputy Merchant Lord Bok’s face turn pale. To be fair, Bing Hae-rin was already furious because of that very incident.
But Deputy Merchant Lord Bok was just an ordinary merchant who had never trained in martial arts.
“Young Palace Lord, please calm down. You’ll end up hurting an innocent person at this rate.”
“Ah! I was rude.”
Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin instantly gathered back her Qi.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“N–no, it’s all right.”
Only then did Deputy Merchant Lord Bok’s color return; he wiped away his sweat as he spoke.
“There are two kinds of rumors. Some only repeat what shows on the surface, and some hint at the hidden truth behind it. To me, this one sounds like the first kind – the kind that only talks about what people can see.”
“I… see.”
I looked over at Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.
She looked calm and cold on the outside, but her instincts seemed to run in a different direction.
Come to think of it, they say when coldness reaches the extreme, it can feel like burning heat instead.
“I should explain the situation in more detail.”
I went on.
“Among those trading elixirs in this city, I’ve heard there’s a man named Im Cheong-mil.”
“Ah, I know of him as well. He runs the Cheongmil Merchant Group, the largest elixir dealer around here.”
“He’s the one who started all this.”
I explained the circumstances I’d heard from Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin. After listening, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok said,
“If things happened the way you described, he’s extremely suspicious.”
“Exactly. That’s why we came to you, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok.”
“And I feel the same way.”
“There are two possibilities we need to consider. First, that the North Sea Ice Palace disciple who transported the elixirs swapped them for fakes. Second, that the merchant Im Cheong-mil replaced them with fakes while appraising them.”
I nodded, but Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin shook her head as if she simply couldn’t accept it.
“There’s no way a disciple of our palace would do something like that!”
“Yes, I know. Of course it’s hard to imagine that. I’m well aware of how much everyone at North Sea Ice Palace cares for one another. But still.”
I continued.
“Once greed slips into a person’s heart, they stop seeing anything else.”
“…”
“And in this world, there’s nothing more foolish than speaking in absolutes.”
I gently finished.
“So all I’m saying is that we have to keep it in mind as one possible scenario.”
“Understood.”
She nodded, her expression complicated.
“Our Palace Lord ordered me to follow your judgment completely in this matter, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun.”
The Palace Lord gave an order like that?
I’m really not anyone that impressive… that’s a lot of pressure to dump on me…
I spoke to Deputy Merchant Lord Bok.
“Anyway, the elixirs taken from North Sea Ice Palace were definitely real. I went over the list Young Palace Lord Bing gave me, and they’re all the kind of elixirs you can’t easily find in the central plains. Just holding onto them would be pointless, so whoever has them will want to sell them somewhere.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
“But with North Sea Ice Palace watching with their eyes wide open, I doubt anyone would have the guts to trade those elixirs openly.”
At my words, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok’s eyes widened.
“Don’t tell me… you’re talking about that place?”
“Yes, exactly.”
I nodded.
“We need to pay a visit to the Phantom Market (鬼魅場市).”
“Where is that?”
As its name suggests, the Phantom Market is a marketplace for shady people.
It flares to life at night, then packs up before the first rooster crows, so that by the time morning comes, every trace of it has completely vanished.
People said it was like being bewitched by ghosts, and that’s how it earned its name.
But for merchants like us, it has another meaning.
It’s a black market.
I gave Bing Hae-rin a brief explanation in response to her question.
“I had no idea a place like that existed!”
“You didn’t know?”
It’s fairly famous among people who know such things, so I’d assumed she knew about it too, but apparently not.
“Honestly, we don’t stay in this region year-round, so there’s no way we’d be familiar with something that secretive.”
She continued.
“Besides, we try to avoid anything that might cause trouble in the first place.”
“I understand what you mean.”
I went on.
“If North Sea Ice Palace’s elixirs are being traded, that’s definitely where they’ll appear.”
“But the deal might already be over.”
“I don’t think so. The yin–type elixirs the Ice Palace put up for trade this time are anything but common.”
“That’s exactly why I’m worried. Wouldn’t they sell quickly, with so many people after them?”
“That’s how amateurs think.”
“…?”
I picked up a teacup, then set it down in front of us as I spoke.
“Let’s say this teacup is an incredible treasure, and there are thousands of people who want it. In that situation, whoever’s selling it will want to squeeze out every last bit of profit.”
“Of course.”
“So if the very first buyer you meet offers you ten taels of gold, do you just sell it on the spot?”
“You’d at least meet a few more buyers first, right?”
“Exactly. Even you think so too, don’t you, Young Palace Lord?”
“So because that kind of process is necessary, you mean they won’t sell right away even if someone offers a high price?”
“That’s the simple way to look at it, yes. But meeting thousands of people one by one is nearly impossible. If you have a large enough venue, though, you can raise the price without all that hassle, just by letting people bid against each other.”
I grinned.
“I’m talking about an auction.”
“Ah!”
At my words, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin’s eyes widened. Deputy Merchant Lord Bok then added,
“And while the Phantom Market opens once every seven days, the auction is held only once a month. That’s when the biggest crowd gathers.”
“As it happens, the day after tomorrow is the fifteenth.”
That’s why, the moment I heard about this matter from Young Palace Lord Bing in Beijing, we rushed out and have been traveling in a hurry ever since.
It was obvious those elixirs would be put up for sale at the Phantom Market’s auction.
.
.
.
I returned to my quarters.
Thinking it would be best for us to stay together, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok let us use two whole annexes as our residence.
I was genuinely grateful.
After I got back, I washed up, ate dinner, and then went out for a short walk.
The Gwangjun Merchant Group mainly dealt in horses, so its grounds were extremely spacious.
The Eunhae Merchant Group’s compound was considered large too, but this place was several times bigger.
There was even a small forest that made for a pleasant stroll.
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok had wanted to have dinner with me, but he had a prior appointment and had no choice but to go out.
Still, since he’s getting married this summer, he seemed a little giddy these days.
Is it really that good?
I still didn’t understand that feeling, so I couldn’t help being curious.
Come to think of it, in my previous life and in this one, I’ve done nothing but work for the merchant group, so the thought of marriage has never really crossed my mind.
Of course, there was a time in my last life when a marriage for me was being arranged.
But one incident after another cropped up, and it all just fizzled out.
In this life…
I honestly don’t know.
The next morning.
After getting up from bed, circulating my Qi with morning breathing, and starting my physical training in the room, Geumryeong squeezed in through the slightly open window, a huge bundle strapped to its back.
I quickly scooped Geumryeong up.
“You’re back?”
“Kui!”
“What’s with this bundle?”
“Kui! Kui!”
Geumryeong wagged its tail. A letter was tied there.
I untied it and unfolded the letter.
It was a reply from the Palace Lord of North Sea Ice Palace.
Yesterday, I’d sent a letter to the Palace Lord of North Sea Ice Palace, and this was the answer.
I’d asked for two things.
First, to see the actual elixirs that had been rejected as fakes.
Second, to send some disciples.
The reason for sending disciples was twofold – to help safely escort the grain back to North Sea Ice Palace, and to punish whoever had orchestrated this affair, whoever they might be.
The letter said the disciples would be dispatched separately, and that the elixirs themselves had been sent through Geumryeong.
Ah, so the big bundle on Geumryeong’s back was that.
“Kui!”
Geumryeong stepped back a little and tapped its front paws on the floor.
“Kui! Kui!”
Oh, so because the bundle was heavy, it’s demanding an extra silver tael as a delivery fee?
Good grief.
The Palace Lord might be the one sending things, but I’m always the one paying Geumryeong in silver.
Well, can’t be helped.
I’m the one who asked for this, after all.
I held out two silver taels to Geumryeong, and its eyes sparkled as it promptly gulped them down.
Meanwhile, I untied the bundle.
Inside was a fairly large pouch, and within that were the elixirs.
I examined them carefully.
Hm? Are these really the real thing?
But the people who appraised them had declared them fake, hadn’t they?
I slowly studied each one, and before long, I realized they were indeed fakes.
Still, how in the world did they make these?
Whoever did it is wasting some serious talent.
No wonder the North Sea Ice Palace disciples who received these back never noticed they’d been swapped.
Besides, the disciples were so sure the elixirs they had harvested were genuine that they were easily fooled.
Just then, Palgap came in.
“Are you already up?”
“Yeah. I’ve been up for a while already.”
I held out the fake elixirs to Palgap and asked,
“Palgap, do these look real or fake to you?”
Palgap answered my question.
“They’re fakes, of course.”
“Huh? How’d you know?”
He’s more sharp–eyed than I thought.
Palgap replied,
“Well, if they were real, why would you bother asking me whether they’re real or fake, Young Master?”
“…”
Ahem. Smarter than I gave him credit for. That’s Palgap for you.
Come to think of it, they do say bears are clever.
“And if those were real, would that rascal Geumryeong be sitting there so quietly? It’d be drooling all over the floor, trying to snatch them, wouldn’t it?”
Well, he had a point.
The fact that Geumryeong was so calm in the first place meant these elixirs were fake.
“But why were you asking about them, anyway?”
In response, I explained the story behind those elixirs.
“Still, they’re made really well. If someone handed me these saying they were real elixirs, I might be fooled without a second thought.”
Palgap was also a member of the Eunhae Merchant Group and had received attendant training from childhood so he could serve as my personal attendant.
Part of that training included lessons on elixirs and medicinal ingredients, since one of the Eunhae Merchant Group’s main products was medicinal herbs.
“Ice Lotus Seeds, Snow Plum Fruit, Snow Ginseng… at this level, they didn’t just throw these together in a day or two.”
“I think so too.”
Seeing the fake elixirs the Palace Lord had sent, I became certain of one thing – there was someone pulling the strings behind this incident.
–TL Notes–
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