That reaction…
He knows, then. He knows the people who tried to harm him last time belonged to the Baekcheon Merchant Group under the Murim Alliance.
He must have investigated based on the hints I casually gave him and figured it out himself.
As expected of a merchant group with a firm grip on the Shandong region.
I gave a faint smile.
“You already know about me, yet you ask anyway.”
And there was no way he hadn’t looked into me.
Cold, perhaps, but that was reality.
From my position, it might actually be better this way.
And honestly, since the Eunhae Merchant Group investigated people from other merchant groups as well, I suppose it was only fair.
“A person’s circumstances can change at any time.”
“That is true. But I received the Alliance Leader’s order, so how could I possibly refuse to obey?”
I continued.
“You know this as well, don’t you? There are certain powers in this empire that merchants must never make enemies of.”
“The Imperial Palace, and… the Murim Alliance.”
“Hah, exactly.”
At the same time, I let out a sigh and sent him a Voice Transmission.
– I’m busy enough to die, so I truly don’t know what I’m doing here.
He seemed flustered for a moment, but quickly controlled his expression and lowered his head.
“To think I even entertained such a thought for a moment! My apologies.”
“It’s fine.”
I smiled and waved it off.
Come to think of it, Young Lord Ho-gyeong was the future successor after next of the Baekyeom Merchant Group, which had Shandong firmly under its control.
“Since you don’t seem too busy, would you care to have a cup of tea?”
“Of course.”
.
.
.
After meeting Young Lord Ho-gyeong and returning to the Cheongsan Inn, I had dinner, rested briefly, then went to bed.
From tomorrow onward, I would have to run around nonstop, so I needed to sleep well while I could.
The next morning, we set out for Mount Tai.
The sect we were visiting was called the Nine Rocks Sect, located halfway up Mount Tai.
Its name meant nine rocks, and according to Team Leader Won, perhaps because its people had spent their lives roaming Mount Tai, their Lightness Skill and fist techniques were exceptional.
“Their Sect Leader is said to owe a debt to the Alliance Leader. Because of that, he has been safekeeping the Golden Buddha Statue at the Alliance Leader’s request.”
“Is it a large sect?”
“No. It is not especially large. It would be considered a small-to-midsized sect.”
“Then why are they safekeeping such a valuable Artifact?”
“You will understand once we arrive.”
We began climbing Mount Tai, and it did not take long for me to understand what Team Leader Won meant.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
The team members were gasping for breath.
Mount Tai’s rugged terrain made for an honestly grueling journey.
“So this is why we left the horses at the inn.”
“That’s right. Hahaha.”
Team Leader Won continued.
“The Nine Rocks Sect also means, quite literally, that you must cross nine rocky mountains to reach it. Even if someone stole the Golden Buddha Statue, they would be caught immediately by sect members who treat Mount Tai like their own backyard. And before it ended, they would suffer quite the ordeal.”
“It certainly is rugged enough for that. But this isn’t your first time going there, is it?”
“No. I have been there once before.”
That aside, this man looked far more composed than the team members.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Did I not tell you? I am a member of the Huangshan Won Clan, a clan that treats Mount Huang as its backyard.”
Pride in his clan.
Seeing how he wasn’t even panting, it seemed the claim about treating Mount Huang as their backyard wasn’t just empty boasting.
Is this why the Alliance Leader sent him?
“Still, Handsome Young Hero, you seem to have impressive stamina yourself.”
“Stamina is the foundation of a martial artist, after all. I try not to neglect it whenever possible.”
“Your Escort Guards do not look tired at all either. However…”
He glanced back and clicked his tongue.
“Hah. I told them again and again not to slack off on their stamina training, but now their obsession with fooling around is showing quite clearly.”
“They will realize it someday.”
Does he dislike his own team members?
I began to lightly prod him.
“It seems your team members don’t listen to you very well.”
“Sigh. What is there even to say?”
Perhaps he had built up plenty of resentment toward them over time, or perhaps he trusted me, because he began speaking freely.
“They all lived however they pleased in their respective clans. Do you think they would listen to me?”
“That must cause you no small amount of hardship.”
I said that while inwardly giving a faint laugh.
Well now, I can see a crack forming.
Crossing nine rocky mountains was truly no easy task.
We had set out in the morning, yet we failed to reach the Nine Rocks Sect and had to camp overnight at the halfway point.
That was how much time the treacherous path consumed.
Of course, if it had only been me and my companions, we would have gone faster, but the team members’ stamina was a serious issue.
They were so exhausted they could not even prepare camp.
Had they thought this was an easy mission, only to discover otherwise?
I even began to suspect the Alliance Leader had assigned them this mission specifically to make them suffer.
The problem, however, was that the Alliance Leader had no reason to do that.
That aside, the weather was colder than I expected.
The Shandong region was not exactly a hot place to begin with, and Mount Tai was high.
If they spent the night like that without even lighting a fire, they might freeze to death.
It can’t be helped.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Start a campfire for them. If they freeze to death, dealing with that will be even more of a headache.”
“Understood.”
And so, we lit fires for them and even prepared their meals.
“Th-thank you very much.”
“We won’t forget this kindness.”
The looks in their eyes and their expressions had completely changed from a few days ago.
After safely making it through the night, we departed for the Nine Rocks Sect early the next morning.
However, the team members were still struggling, and Team Leader Won’s expression remained deeply displeased.
“We have to hurry if we want to arrive on time.”
“We know that, but what are we supposed to do when it’s this hard?”
“We’re terrible at climbing mountains.”
“Please understand that not everyone is as good at climbing mountains as you are, Team Leader. Seriously.”
I quietly laughed to myself.
In the team members’ eyes, there was not the slightest hint of respect for their leader.
What a complete mess.
In any case, thanks to his constant urging, the sect gate finally began to come into view.
“Hah, not much farther now.”
Perhaps they had spotted us, because someone came running toward us from the sect gate.
Tap!
Tat.
Even though the path was steep and rugged, he ran as comfortably as if he were crossing flat ground, then landed lightly as well.
So they weren’t called disciples of the Nine Rocks Sect for nothing.
They cupped their fists to us.
“We greet the Great Heroes of the Murim Alliance.”
“Welcome to the Nine Rocks Sect.”
Team Leader Won Eop answered on behalf of our group.
“Thank you for the welcome. I am Won Eop, Sixth Team Leader of the Murim Alliance’s Dragon Fang Division. Beside me is Handsome Young Hero and his party, and behind us are my team members.”
“I am disciple Geon-gu.”
“I am disciple Sang-yeon.”
Then the one who had introduced himself as Geon-gu continued.
“I will guide you. Please follow me.”
And so, we followed disciple Geon-gu past the Nine Rocks Sect’s mountain gate and entered the sect grounds.
“Please wait here for a moment. And the two of you, I will escort you to the Reception Room.”
The others decided to wait briefly in the courtyard, while only Team Leader Won and I headed to the Reception Room.
We sat in the Reception Room drinking tea and waiting, and before long, I sensed someone approaching.
A remarkably clear presence.
Qi this pure was not something one encountered often.
Soon, the door opened and an old man entered.
Team Leader Won quickly rose and cupped his fist to him.
“The Murim Alliance Dragon Fang Division’s Sixth Team Leader greets the Sect Leader.”
Ah, so this man is the Sect Leader.
I also cupped my fist and offered proper courtesy.
“Eun Seo-ho, Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group, greets the Sect Leader.”
“I am Hyeon-am, Sect Leader of the Nine Rocks Sect. Sit.”
“Thank you.”
We sat down again, and the Sect Leader asked me,
“I heard that the Great Hero, Handsome Young Hero, had come, so why do you introduce yourself as a merchant?”
I smiled and answered.
“Because I believe I am not yet worthy of bearing the Epithet Handsome Young Hero.”
“Mm, is that so…”
“I would have no excuse even if you rebuked this humble merchant for lacking courage.”
At my words, he shook his head.
“No. What right would I have to rebuke you? I was merely curious.”
He smiled as he said it, but I still could not tell what meaning lay behind that smile.
“In any case.”
The Sect Leader turned his head and looked at Team Leader Won.
“What brings you all the way here?”
“It is nothing else. I have come under the Alliance Leader’s orders. He instructed me to retrieve the Golden Buddha Statue being stored here.”
“That Golden Buddha Statue?”
“Yes. Here is the Alliance Leader’s letter.”
He took a letter from his robes and offered it to the Sect Leader.
After reading the letter, the Sect Leader nodded and tucked it into his robes.
“If that Golden Buddha Statue will be used to protect many people, then that is a truly good thing.”
“It is.”
“Very well. I will have the Golden Buddha Statue brought out so you may take it with you. Rest well tonight.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“I will arrange a place for you to stay.”
We left the Reception Room, then were guided to the Guest Hall together with the others who had been waiting in the courtyard.
After washing and having dinner, I stepped outside for a short while.
A full moon hung in the sky, and the scenery below from this height was truly beautiful.
If it was this striking at night, it must be even more impressive during the day.
I could understand why Mount Tai had inspired so many poets.
That aside… I was a little confused.
It was because of Young Lady Seohyang’s advice.
The Sect Leader I had seen did not seem like that kind of person at all, so what exactly was going on?
For now, I suppose I’ll have to see the Golden Buddha Statue for myself before deciding.
The next day.
After breakfast, Team Leader Won and I were summoned by the Sect Leader and entered the inner grounds of the sect.
After waiting briefly, the Sect Leader appeared.
“I apologize for making you wait so long.”
“Not at all.”
“Come this way.”
He led us to a pavilion.
The pavilion had a very unusual structure, as though it had been built using a massive boulder as one of its walls.
“The Golden Buddha Statue is here.”
On the boulder, a square outline was drawn like a door.
But there was nothing like a handle, so I wondered how he intended to open it.
“Hup!”
The Sect Leader gathered Qi in his hand and extended it toward the boulder.
Then the boulder was pulled outward, as though it had attached itself to the Sect Leader’s hand.
Rrrrrumble.
They said fist techniques were his specialty, and it seems he was using the Absorption Art.
The Sect Leader placed the slab of rock that had served as a lid to the side, then reached into the boulder.
Soon, when his hand emerged, it was holding the Golden Buddha Statue.
It was about twice the size of a person’s face.
Contrary to what I had expected, it was not especially large.
“Here it is.”
“Thank you.”
Team Leader Won accepted the Golden Buddha Statue.
I was slightly curious as to why a Daoist sect would be safekeeping a Golden Buddha Statue, but that was not exactly a problem.
“There are many who are after that statue, so please be careful.”
“Yes. Understood.”
And so, we left the pavilion with the statue.
“Then, are you leaving now?”
“Yes. That is correct. Once we finish preparing, we plan to depart immediately.”
As we spoke and headed toward the Guest Hall, one martial artist came running toward us.
He was one of the team members led by Team Leader Won.
“Team Leader!”
“What is it?”
“There is a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Several of the team members still have not woken up.”
“They have not woken up? What do you mean?”
“I… I am not sure either.”
I raised my hand and spoke to him.
“May I examine them for a moment?”
“Of course. Please do.”
Perhaps because I had safely detoxified him back when he suffered from abdominal pain, he accepted my request without hesitation.
I immediately headed to that team member’s room and approached the martial artist lying on the bed.
Then I quietly checked his pulse.
No, I pretended to check his pulse.
The truth was, I was the reason this martial artist and several others could not regain consciousness right now.
During the night, I had secretly used sleeping medicine on them.
I had a little sleeping medicine left from when the Emperor ordered me to put the sailors who had arrived at the harbor to sleep, and I used that.
They probably would not wake up for about three days.
The ones who had seemed to suffer the most yesterday due to their poor stamina were the ones I put to sleep, partly so they could rest properly.
With a grave expression, I said,
“This may be an epidemic.”
“What?”
“Did you say an epidemic?”
“That is correct.”
I nodded.
“I once heard of an epidemic with symptoms like this, where people suddenly lose consciousness and cannot wake up.”
“Huh! An epidemic, you say!”
At some point, the Sect Leader had come to stand beside us as well.
“Yes. Since we cannot be certain, I believe it would be best to refrain from descending Mount Tai for now.”
“Indeed. If an epidemic spreads to the village, it could cause far greater harm.”
“I will continue watching over them. If they wake safely a few days from now and no one else displays the same symptoms, then we should be able to feel at ease.”
At my words, Team Leader Won furrowed his brow and said,
“Hah, understood.”
Then he cupped his fist to the Sect Leader and made a request.
“Given the situation, please allow us to stay a few more days.”
“Of course. You must not travel while bringing sick people with you. Stay a few more days.”
After taking that series of measures, we went outside.
And after seeing Team Leader Won head toward the other team members, I approached the Sect Leader.
“There is something I would like to ask you, Sect Leader.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you give us a fake Golden Buddha Statue?”
“What are you talking about?”
Seeing him feign ignorance, I gave a faint smile.
“I am the Deputy Merchant Lord of a merchant group significant enough to be called a great merchant house. I take some pride in my eye for goods.”
“…”
That was right.
The Golden Buddha Statue the Sect Leader gave us was a fake.
That was exactly what Young Lady Seohyang had advised me about this time.
“That Golden Buddha Statue is apparently fake.”
If we had gone off carrying a fake Golden Buddha Statue, it would have been a true nightmare.
However, there seemed to be some reason behind it, so I had put several of the team members to sleep for now in order to delay our departure.
I asked the Sect Leader again.
“What is the reason?”
–TL Notes–
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