Hearing the old man’s words, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Huh? W-Wait… eat me?!”
The old man chuckled.
“Seems you left quite an impression on His Majesty. The fact that he’s got his eyes on you proves it.”
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
So that’s why the Emperor asked my age. If I’d been just the right age, he would’ve dragged me straight into the palace to serve as an official.
Absolutely not!
My goal is to become the greatest merchant under heaven, not some palace official.
I’ll need to be extra careful not to draw His Majesty’s attention going forward.
But… is that even possible?
No matter how I think about it, that sounds way too difficult.
Still… why’s the old man telling me this now?
I looked at the red silk pouch in my hands.
No way…
This pouch was probably the most valuable item in this entire general store.
A treasure beyond value.
No matter how highly he thought of me, this isn’t something one just hands over as a casual gift.
I carefully asked what was on my mind.
“This pouch… did His Majesty give it to me?”
“He asked me to. Told me to give you something that’d be most useful to you among what I have.”
“Why?”
“As thanks for helping clean out those insolent bastards and saving Merchant Lord Jin. And maybe… as an apology for almost getting you killed. Oh, and like I said earlier… ’cause he plans to eat you when you’re fully grown.”
“So… that’s what you meant when you said it’s not free.”
They’re really thinking about dragging me into the palace.
“His Majesty’s quite curious to see how big you’ll grow. This is a little gift to help you grow well.”
I paused for a moment.
This pouch… is gonna be incredibly useful.
If I tried to return it out of guilt, it’d be such a waste I might cry.
I decided to just take it easy.
If the day comes when they actually try to drag me into the palace, I’ll deal with it then. One way or another, I’ll figure something out.
“Understood. Please let His Majesty know I’ll gratefully put it to good use.”
The old man’s eyes widened.
“You’re really accepting it?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Not taking a gift like this would be a bigger loss.”
The old man burst into hearty laughter.
“Puhahaha! Knew it! You really are a funny kid!”
“Yeah, that’s kinda my thing.”
.
.
.
The next day.
While Palgap was busy moving my things into my new residence, I was handling my own share of work.
Since I was the one who presented the Windcraft Fan, its production and sales naturally fell under my responsibility.
The salt retailers were scheduled to gather during my Deputy Merchant Lord appointment ceremony.
At that meeting, I planned to negotiate the production and distribution of the Windcraft Fan. Which meant… I had a lot to prepare.
It suddenly hit me.
In just two days… I’ll officially become Deputy Merchant Lord.
The thought made my heart feel unsettled.
Not that it was a bad feeling.
With this, I’d move far more freely and achieve my goals much faster.
The problem… is that the title of Deputy Merchant Lord doesn’t come with official vacation days.
Actually, there’s one. A single summer break.
Beyond that, all other holidays are canceled. Even the regular day off we used to get every ten days… gone.
Ugh, why are my eyes getting teary again?
Guess fifteen… really is an age where you cry a lot.
Yu So-ak’s office.
While reviewing documents, he glanced at the boy sitting beside him.
Thirteen-year-old Seok Il-song.
He was diligently examining the documents Yu So-ak had assigned him as a task.
Honestly, at first, Yu So-ak couldn’t understand why he was being saddled with this kid.
But it didn’t take long to realize Eun Seo-ho had handed him Seok Il-song as an act of consideration.
Seok Il-song… was a genius.
Anything he was taught, he never forgot. Teach him one thing, and he figured out ten.
“Chief Administrator, here’s my assignment.”
Seok Il-song had already completed the task and handed it over.
Yu So-ak reviewed the papers.
Perfect.
And the fact that the boy used the exact formatting he’d been taught… it was hard to believe it hadn’t even been five days since he started learning.
At this rate, within a few months, the kid could easily fill the gap left by Eun Seo-ho.
“But… about this. Collecting and setting up the feast dishes one by one seems really inefficient.”
“Then what’s your alternative?”
“Why not prepare a full setting on a tray and just swap out the whole tray?”
“Hm… you’ve got a point.”
Thinking about it… that really was a faster way to serve a large number of guests.
It’d help with the bottleneck when guests were stuck waiting for their tables to be cleared and reset.
“I’ll discuss this with Pavilion Lord Yeon of the Trade Pavilion.”
“Thank you for considering my humble suggestion.”
“No, it’s a good habit to keep thinking of better ways. Alright, here’s your next task.”
Yu So-ak handed him a new assignment.
‘Hmm…’
One of the reasons he rated Seok Il-song so highly was exactly this.
The kid had sharp eyes and a natural knack for spotting the most efficient way to do things.
Whether as a merchant… or even an administrator, he had the potential to reach the top.
Academically too—he was at a level where he could’ve studied the Great Learning (大學) at twelve.
That reminded Yu So-ak of Gwak Hyeong-jin, the eldest son of Escort Chief Gwak Myeong-hyeon, who was also Eun Seo-ho’s sword instructor.
He’d just turned thirteen as well. Same age as Seok Il-song.
‘He’s studying the Doctrine of the Mean (中庸) right now, isn’t he?’
Yu So-ak had heard about Seok Il-song’s situation from Eun Seo-ho.
If Seok Il-song’s family hadn’t been destroyed… he would’ve been studying the classics alongside Gwak Hyeong-jin.
The thought suddenly crossed his mind.
If Seok Il-song had a good peer to sharpen himself against, his talent might bloom even more.
And then, deep inside… a desire stirred. One he hadn’t realized was there.
The third joy of a true gentleman, as Mencius said—the joy of nurturing the talented.
Seok Il-song was indeed a talent worthy of that.
He wanted to teach him properly.
“Il-song.”
“Yes, Chief Administrator.”
“Don’t you… want to study literature more?”
“…”
“You can answer honestly.”
“Well… truthfully, yes. I really do want to study more. But right now, I want to quickly learn how to work… so I can repay the kindness I’ve received.”
“Kindness? Whose kindness?”
“Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho, who reached out and saved me. I want to become someone useful to him.”
Hearing that… Yu So-ak felt his heart swell with pride.
“Before that… your own happiness comes first.”
“Is… is that really okay?”
“Of course. Only when you become happy yourself does repaying kindness hold real meaning. If you’re miserable while doing it, it’s pointless.”
To be honest… those were the exact words Merchant Lord Eun Gil-sang once said to Yu So-ak.
Not long ago, Yu So-ak couldn’t truly practice the words he’d once been told.
It was because the frustration he’d suppressed for so long weighed heavily on him.
But something changed that.
It was So-ak’s Poetry Collection, published by Eun Seo-ho.
Through that, Yu So-ak met a lifelong confidant, the Grand Elder of the Zhuge Family.
Only then did he realize how foolish he’d been.
He thought he wasn’t allowed to be happy.
He believed happiness wasn’t something he could ever have.
But… that was wrong.
He didn’t want Seok Il-song to live his life trapped in that same darkness.
Bathed in the warm morning sunlight, I opened my eyes in my newly assigned detached residence.
At last… today, I become Deputy Merchant Lord.
“Are you awake, Young Master?”
I answered Palgap’s question.
“Yeah.”
With that, Palgap brought in a washbasin.
“I’ve brought water for washing.”
“Thanks.”
I quickly washed my face and slipped into my training robes. Seeing this, Palgap asked,
“But… are you really training today? Even though it’s your appointment ceremony?”
“Of course. Even if it’s my appointment ceremony, it’s just one day out of many. That’s no reason to skip sword practice.”
I possessed the Black Dragon Star Body and carried the Supreme Yin Qi.
The True Snow Twelve Form Sword was already a technique designed to handle extremely powerful Qi, but my Qi was even greater… and saturated with extreme Yin.
Like a child learning to walk, I had to go through it step by step, practicing it every single day.
Skipping a day simply wasn’t an option.
A short while later, I stepped out into the courtyard.
The yard attached to my residence was fairly spacious. From now on, this would be my training ground.
“You’ve come out, Master.”
“Congratulations on becoming Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Congratulations.”
Starting yesterday, Yeo Eung-am and Lee Pil were now living here in this detached residence.
They were now my personal escorts.
“Are you heading out here to train?”
“Yeah.”
“But… it’s your appointment ceremony…”
Palgap chimed in from behind.
“The Young Master trains with his sword every day. Even if it’s the appointment ceremony, he said it’s just one of many days, and that’s no reason to skip sword training.”
Hearing that, the two warriors looked at me with expressions full of admiration.
“Truly impressive.”
“You’ve earned my respect.”
Palgap… you really are painting me in gold right now.
“I’m about to cultivate my internal art. I’ll need you both to stand guard.”
It’s an escort’s job to stand guard when one performs internal cultivation. I requested it, and they gladly responded.
“Of course.”
“We obey.”
Once I finished my cultivation and stood up… Master appeared, like a ghost.
“Master, you’re here. By the way, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
“What is it?”
“How do you always show up at the perfect moment?”
Master replied,
“You’ll understand someday, Young Master.”
Then he turned his gaze to the two escort warriors. I quickly introduced them.
“This is Warrior Yeo Eung-am and Warrior Lee Pil. They’ve become my personal escorts.”
“Yeo Eung-am.”
“Lee Pil.”
I introduced them to my Master.
“This is my sword instructor.”
“Escort Chief Gwak Myeong-hyeon.”
“Oh, so this is where we meet.”
“Hahaha. A pleasure.”
The greetings were friendly.
It seemed like they were already familiar with each other, likely because the Eunhae Merchant Group frequently used the Changin Escort Bureau for their transport, giving them plenty of opportunities to cross paths.
“Please take good care of Young Master Seo-ho.”
With those words, Master stared at the two warriors.
The moment his gaze landed… their faces went pale.
What the…?
Then, as if nothing happened, Master turned his head.
“Well then, let’s begin today’s lesson. Would the two warriors please step aside for a moment?”
Technically, it was considered extremely rude to observe someone passing on martial arts. But they were my personal escort guards.
They had every right to be present.
Still, they backed away instantly without a single word of protest.
Was it just me, or did they look like rabbits facing a tiger?
.
.
.
“That’s it for today.”
“Phew… thank you for the lesson.”
“In a few more days, you’ll be ready to move on to the next form.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Master continued.
“Actually, the True Snow Twelve Form Sword doesn’t progress based on your swordsmanship skills.”
I already knew the answer but waited for him to say it.
“It depends on how well you control your Qi.”
“So you’re saying… I’ve mastered the level of Qi control needed for the second form.”
“Exactly. But as you know, your Qi is immense. Never, ever use more than what you can control.”
“Understood.”
“And also… congratulations on becoming Deputy Merchant Lord today.”
“Thank you.”
Master pulled something from his robes and handed it to me.
“A gift.”
It was a small wooden box.
So that’s why his chest had looked a bit bulky earlier.
“Open it.”
I opened the box.
Inside was a small Elixir radiating a cool scent and calming Qi.
“This Elixir will protect your meridians from being frozen… but only once.”
I looked up at Master, puzzled.
Why was he giving me something like this?
“Even during your training, you’ve been running around stirring up trouble everywhere. Once you become Deputy Merchant Lord… you’ll only get worse, won’t you?”
“Hahaha…”
I scratched my cheek.
Couldn’t argue with that.
“That’s why I’m giving it to you. If you ever have to draw on more Qi than you can control… take this first.”
It was his way of saying: Don’t die.
“Thank you. I’ll remember your words. But… this looks incredibly valuable.”
“Of course it is. It’s extremely rare.”
“I’ll try not to ever use it.”
“Now that’s the answer I wanted to hear.”
After finishing sword practice, I changed into my formal clothes.
It was time for breakfast with the family.
There, I’d formally greet my grandfather, my parents, and my brothers.
Honestly, I had no idea what was going to happen today.
The only appointment ceremony I remembered was the one I had after completing five years of practical work.
Still… I’d handle it just fine.
–TL Notes–
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