I spoke to the Hainan Sect Leader and Warrior Cheong-ryu.
“Honestly, I would like to give you more, but I worry that would only make the two of you uncomfortable.”
The Sect Leader answered with an awkward look.
“Ahem. As I said earlier, our sect is poor. There is little we can do for you in return.”
“That is not true.”
“Hmm?”
“Does the Hainan Sect not know a great deal about pirates?”
“That we do.”
A murderous aura suddenly flared from the Sect Leader.
It was born from his hatred of pirates.
“No one knows pirates better than the Hainan Sect.”
“Ahem. Sect Leader.”
Warrior Cheong-ryu cautiously spoke up, and the Sect Leader hurriedly withdrew his murderous aura.
“My apologies. Whenever I hear the word pirate, my anger starts boiling before I can stop it…”
“I understand. Was the Hainan Sect not founded to fight pirates in the first place?”
“Indeed. Thank you for understanding.”
I smiled lightly before getting to the point.
“The truth is, the Eunhae Merchant Group previously sent a trade expedition to the Great Yue Kingdom and made a considerable profit. The problem is that pirates heard the rumors, and now they are interfering with the Eunhae Merchant Group’s maritime trade.”
“Mm. I suppose they would.”
“Those goddamn bastards would do far worse without blinking.”
His foul language made me chuckle.
“On that subject, might you be in need of a merchant group willing to sponsor you? All we would ask in return is support from warriors capable of fighting pirates and access to a secure anchorage.”
“…”
The two of them fell into deep thought.
“Of course, I am not asking you to decide this instant. Still, I would appreciate an answer before the Friendly Martial Competition ends. We intend to leave as soon as it is over.”
“Understood.”
“And this.”
I took a bank draft from inside my clothes.
It was the bank draft for ten thousand silver taels I had mentioned earlier.
“You are truly giving this to us?”
“Of course.”
“Then is this also part of the sponsorship arrangement you just proposed?”
“No. Please consider this nothing more than a token of goodwill toward Hainan Island.”
I continued.
“Should accepting it still weigh on your conscience, I would be grateful if you prayed for everything to go my way. While you are at it, ask for the Eunhae Merchant Group to become the greatest merchant group under heaven.”
“That will not be difficult.”
The Sect Leader turned to Warrior Cheong-ryu.
“See? Has a gold ingot not fallen straight out of the heavens?”
“Hahaha. It certainly has.”
.
.
.
After parting ways with the two men from the Hainan Sect, I returned to the Yeonpung Inn.
No word came from the Ji Clan before the following morning.
Well, they were probably searching for some way to raise the money, but how could that possibly be easy?
Three million silver taels was not a sum anyone could casually produce.
That was why they had accepted the proposal in the first place.
Everyone who had lured them into the trap had been eliminated, but that did not erase the Ji Clan’s debt.
It was about time they swallowed their pride.
Morning came.
The Earth Division’s main tournament would begin today.
Fifteen people had passed the preliminaries, and with me added in, that made sixteen.
Even thinking about it now annoyed me.
Why did he have to put my name forward…?
I had only planned to make a decent profit from this trading expedition and then leave.
– Kui?
Geumryeong’s voice in my head made me feel a little sheepish.
Well, perhaps not merely a decent profit. I had planned to make quite a lot.
Thanks to the two temporary shops I was operating, the income had come close to twice what I had originally expected.
Mm. Excellent.
As I ate breakfast, I called out to Brother Jin-ho.
“Brother Jin-ho.”
“What?”
“How are your ribs?”
“They’re better. Wearing the chest brace you gave me feels a little stifling, but it has helped tremendously.”
I had commissioned the Baekyeom Merchant Group to make that special chest brace. It wrapped around his entire chest and back.
The physician had said his bones would heal properly only if he moved as little as possible.
But knowing Brother Jin-ho’s personality, remaining still was simply not an option.
That was why I had ordered it made in that shape.
Since the brace was made of iron, I had the inside lined with quilted fabric so the metal would not irritate his skin and the brace would remain reasonably comfortable.
At that moment, the physician who was eating nearby spoke.
“Third Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Yes, Physician?”
“Could you have several more of the chest braces the Second Deputy Merchant Lord is wearing made for us?”
“That chest brace?”
“Yes.”
The physician continued.
“Quite a few Escort Guards in the Eunpoong Division suffer rib injuries during training or battle. They are supposed to remain still afterward, yet they continue training and aggravate their injuries. I believe that chest brace could be of considerable help.”
“For a reason like that, of course I will have more made.”
As I answered, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
“Surely the Eunpoong Division is not the only place where people suffer injuries like that?”
“Of course not, but…”
Father seemed to realize what I was thinking and asked with a smile.
“Are you thinking of selling them?”
“Yes. I have a feeling they would sell quite well.”
– Kui!
Judging by Geumryeong’s reaction, the idea was worth pursuing.
After all, Geumryeong could even sniff out money that had yet to be made.
“Come to think of it, isn’t our merchant group already making and selling wheelchairs?”
I nodded at Brother Jin-ho’s question.
“That’s right.”
“Wheelchairs and this chest brace are both made for injured or disabled people. At this rate, are we going to branch into medical equipment altogether?”
A brilliant idea flashed through my mind, and I seized Brother Jin-ho’s hand.
“Brother, that’s a brilliant idea!”
“Huh?”
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
I turned to Father.
“The Eunhae Merchant Group could manufacture and sell equipment for people with injuries or disabilities. We could open something like a medical supply shop.”
“A medical supply shop…”
“Yes. The profits would be worthwhile, but more importantly, it would greatly improve the public’s opinion of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“You have a point. Once we return, I will discuss the matter with the Pavilion Lords.”
Breakfast ended on that pleasant note, after which I quietly approached Father.
“Do you have a moment to talk?”
“We still have some time. Let us go to my room.”
“Yes.”
I followed Father to his guest room.
He personally poured the tea an attendant had brought us.
“Now, what did you wish to discuss?”
“I came to hear your answer regarding what I told you last night.”
After returning to the inn the previous night, I had told him about becoming Hainan Island’s sponsoring merchant group.
Father had said he needed some time to consider it.
“You truly are impatient. It has not even been a full day.”
“I have little choice. I pressed them for an answer as well. I asked them to decide before the Friendly Martial Competition ended, if possible.”
“Mm… In truth, becoming their sponsoring merchant group under those conditions would not be a bad arrangement for us.”
Father continued.
“The Eunhae Merchant Group’s fleet will only continue to grow. Once it does, our current anchorage will inevitably reach its limits. Using Nanjing’s harbor would be far too expensive, and it would attract too much attention from others.”
That was the problem.
Attracting the attention of others.
We could not afford to reveal the full extent of our strength.
“That was one of the considerations behind my proposal.”
“I also believe it is a sound plan. However, even if they accept our conditions, I am concerned that Hainan Island’s officials may become a problem.”
Father sighed.
“Are officials posted to places like that not especially skilled at lining their own pockets?”
Ah… So Father was also aware of the corruption among Hainan Island’s officials.
Then again, the same had been true of Springview Fortress in Yunnan. The central government’s control over distant border regions tended to be weak, and that often allowed local officials to become corrupt.
“I heard that a considerable amount of the money intended for reconstruction and relief after the recent typhoon disappeared along the way. Why are those officials’ heads still attached to their shoulders?”
The Emperor’s eyes and ears reached every corner of the empire. Could something be wrong with the Embroidered Guard and the Eastern Depot again?
Father answered my question.
“Because there is no evidence.”
“What?”
“There is no evidence that they embezzled the money. They submit memorials claiming that the ship sank on its way to Hainan Island. Even if an investigation is ordered, how could anyone examine a ship lying at the bottom of the sea?”
“Ah… I see.”
In the end, unless we dealt with those officials, joining hands with the Hainan Sect would be meaningless.
Sigh. Once this was over, I would have to go straight to the Emperor.
Just then, Palgap’s voice came from outside.
“Young Master! It’s about time we got going!”
.
.
.
A short while later.
I headed to the martial arena with my family.
Cousin Hyang-ok’s first match in the main tournament was today.
Mine would be tomorrow.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The drums sounded, and Commander Geum Yeon-hwa stepped onto the martial platform.
“Then we will now begin the Earth Division’s first match in the main tournament. The first match is…”
Before long, two disciples from fairly well-known sects climbed onto the martial platform.
The two martial artists immediately began a match so savage that their blood stained the platform.
How had the bracket ended up like this?
Much like the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, the Bigyeok Sect and Pungha Sect were infamous as bitter rivals.
The Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect still had their honor as great sects to uphold, so they maintained a degree of courtesy even while trading blows. These two, however, had no such restraint.
It was a filthy dogfight in every sense of the word.
“Haaah!”
“Hrrgh!”
The two fighters relentlessly went after each other’s badges while fiercely guarding their own, and neither could secure a decisive advantage.
They had shed so much blood that I began to wonder whether the martial platform’s floor had always been red.
Were they going to bleed to death at this rate?
Just as that thought crossed my mind—
“Stop!”
That was when it happened.
Commander Geum Yeon-hwa stepped between them.
“I am suspending this match under the referee’s authority. It will resume after both fighters have received treatment for their wounds.”
Once a martial match began, it was exceedingly rare for anyone to stop it.
However, the referee did possess the authority to suspend a match. One circumstance that allowed it was when continuing would place the fighters’ lives at risk from excessive blood loss.
In such cases, the bleeding would be stopped with Golden Wound Medicine or other treatments, and the match would resume after the injuries had been tended to.
“Damn it!”
“Urgh!”
The martial artists from the Bigyeok Sect and Pungha Sect could not hide their frustration, but they had no choice but to obey the referee.
Being dragged away and imprisoned in the Underground Prison would disgrace their sects.
Just then, someone spoke.
“Commander Geum, would it not be acceptable to let them continue?”
“What do you mean, Bigyeok Sect Leader?”
“Is it not natural to shed a great deal of blood in a fight? I would rather you not treat a disciple of the Bigyeok Sect as though he were on the same level as that weakling from the Pungha Sect.”
“What did you say? I suppose the Bigyeok Sect does not care whether its disciples live or die! You heartless, cold-blooded bastards! After losing that much blood, the proper thing is to treat him before his life is endangered. Yet you want them to continue? Go to hell, you bastard!”
“A martial artist is meant to fight!”
“There is a time and place for that, and this is neither!”
Their argument grew more heated by the second.
Good grief. At this rate, they were going to draw their weapons.
Everyone seemed well aware of how viciously the two sects hated each other. They merely clicked their tongues or shook their heads.
Still, why was no one stopping them?
My question was soon answered.
“Bigyeok Sect Leader. Pungha Sect Leader.”
Commander Geum Yeon-hwa addressed them in a gentle voice.
“You are doing an admirable job of proving your bitter rivalry in front of everyone. That is fine. People sometimes grow to dislike one another over the course of their lives.”
Commander Geum Yeon-hwa’s gaze changed.
“But tell me, why did you choose now of all times?”
“Urk!”
“Ugh!”
Both men flinched beneath her gaze.
“Would you like me to pay the Bigyeok Sect and Pungha Sect a personal visit?”
“N–No! That is not what I meant!”
“Hahaha, Commander Geum is an exceedingly busy woman. There is certainly no need for you to go out of your way to visit the Pungha Sect…”
Why were they so horrified by the idea of Commander Geum Yeon-hwa visiting their sects?
Now I was curious.
“If neither of you has any objection, I will suspend this match under my authority.”
The two men nodded, and the moment their consent was given—
Thud.
Crash.
The two martial artists had been holding on through sheer force of will. Once the tension left them, they collapsed where they stood on the martial platform.
The infirmary staff immediately rushed over, loaded them onto stretchers, and hurried them away for treatment.
Meanwhile, the attendants began cleaning the blood from the martial platform.
Some simple refreshments were served while we waited. However, more than a few people found themselves unable to enjoy the food.
Then again, watching blood spill everywhere while eating was enough to turn most people’s stomachs.
I had seen far worse, so I ate the refreshments with great enjoyment.
Before long, the martial platform had been cleaned.
“Our next match features Hyang-ok of the Emei Sect! Her opponent is Hwangbo Ho-myeong of the Hwangbo Clan!”
“Waaaaah!”
The spectators’ cheers filled the martial arena as the two fighters climbed onto the platform.
The Hwangbo Clan… Wasn’t it a young lord from the Hwangbo Clan who fixed his match during the last Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering?
Still, considering this young lord had reached the main tournament of the Friendly Martial Competition, he must possess a fair amount of genuine skill.
Each of them wore seven badges on their body as they stood facing one another.
Neither spoke, but the look in Young Lord Hwangbo Ho-myeong’s eyes made his contempt perfectly clear.
Boom!
The drum sounded.
Cousin Hyang-ok assumed her opening stance, and only then did Young Lord Hwangbo Ho-myeong finally do the same.
Why was his reaction so slow?
Wasn’t he supposed to assume his stance the instant he heard the drum?
I tilted my head and studied Young Lord Hwangbo Ho-myeong. That was when I noticed something strange.
He had plugged his ears with wax.
Well, look at that. He had melted candle wax and fashioned it into earplugs so he would not have to hear Cousin Hyang-ok speak.
I gave a wry smile at the sight.
He did not know Cousin Hyang-ok’s martial prowess, so he must have assumed she was all bark and no bite.
Then again, Cousin Hyang-ok had defeated her opponent in the preliminaries without fighting, subduing him with words alone.
That was why he had blocked out all sound to protect himself from her vicious tongue.
But did he truly believe her sharp tongue was the only thing he had to fear?
Granted, Cousin Hyang-ok’s words were exceptionally cutting, but why had the Emei Sect chosen her as its representative for the Friendly Martial Competition?
Because they had judged her capable of upholding the Emei Sect’s honor.
If he underestimated her, he was in for a painful lesson.
–TL Notes–
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