Young Master Mun was startled at my words and asked back.
“What? What do you mean?”
“To put it plainly, I’ll hold that as collateral and lend you business capital.”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“You don’t need to think too hard about it.”
I continued.
“What’s your real purpose, Young Master Mun? Is it becoming the Merchant Lord of the Fortune Merchant Group, or living happily with your mother?”
After a brief moment of thought, he answered.
“It’s living happily with my mother.”
Yet, in his previous life, he couldn’t fulfill that.
His mother died when disciples of the Blood Sect stole the Fruit of Renewal.
To achieve his goal, he shouldn’t take the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower with him.
Last time it was the Blood Sect; this time, it’d be the Demonic Cults wreaking havoc upon the Fortune Merchant Group.
No.
Considering its power to suppress evil Qi, the Orthodox Sect would covet it as well.
“If you take the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower, you might become the Merchant Lord. But you won’t live happily with your mother.”
“Why?”
“This item must be destroyed from the Demonic Cult’s viewpoint, and it must be obtained from the Orthodox Sect’s viewpoint. Can the Fortune Merchant Group really survive a conflict between such massive factions trying to get hold of it?”
“Ah…”
“A great deal of blood will flow. It might include your mother’s or your own.”
“…”
“However, if you entrust the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower to me, you’ll surely live happily with your mother. The luck that allowed you to find this flower will certainly help you succeed in business as well.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I’ve seen you find this flower with my own eyes.”
And in my previous life, the Young Master Mun before me rebuilt his devastated merchant group.
Every business he undertook experienced extraordinary luck, eventually rising to become one of the Eight Great Merchant Groups Under Heaven.
Knowing that future, I spoke confidently.
“But will you and your merchant group be alright?”
“It’ll be fine as long as you don’t speak of it to anyone.”
“If I entrust this flower to you, how much will you pay me?”
“I’ll lend you a thousand Silver Taels.”
“…!”
“Actually, I could simply give it to you. But I’m taking the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower as collateral to avoid making you feel indebted.”
After thinking about my words for a moment, determination filled his eyes.
Having made up his mind, he held out the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower.
“I understand. I’ll do as you say, Benefactor.”
He continued.
“To be honest, you could kill me and just take this flower if you wanted. But you didn’t. And I felt genuine concern in your words.”
“Hahaha.”
“In truth, no one besides my mother ever worried about me, so I’m a bit sensitive about such things.”
I took hold of the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower.
Fortunately, my persuasion worked.
My motive for convincing Young Master Mun was partly due to genuine concern for him, but also to prevent the chilling effect it had on the Central Plains merchant community in my past life.
Our merchant group suffered considerably then.
.
.
.
We descended Mount Zhongnan.
When the time came to part with Young Master Mun, I reminded him again.
“Do you remember everything I told you?”
“Yes.”
He nodded resolutely.
“When I return, I’ll leave the merchant group with my mother. As you said, leaving on my own terms is far better than being forced out.”
“And then?”
“I’ll get a job somewhere appropriate, save some money, and build a modest house. But during construction, who could’ve guessed! Hidden money! I’ll use that as capital to start a business.”
“Good.”
I nodded approvingly.
“Do you remember the other favor I asked of you?”
“Of course.”
Young Master Mun spoke seriously.
“You said never to reveal anything about myself or the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower until you instruct otherwise.”
“You must absolutely keep that promise.”
“I will. I swear on my life.”
And thus, Young Master Mun returned to his merchant group.
Though empty-handed, his shoulders appeared lighter than ever before.
“Then let’s return to the inn.”
“Yes, sir.”
.
.
.
Upon our return, Palgap immediately rushed out.
“Young Master!”
“You seem overly relieved.”
“Of course I am! Do you have any idea how worried I was when you returned later than expected?”
“Sorry.”
Escort Guards Bae Cheol and Go Ju-sang then appeared. I deliberately smiled brightly.
“Our business partner was so insistent we stay overnight, you see.”
Officially, the reason for my outing was to deliver a letter to a nearby client at my father’s request.
Aside from my escort guards and Palgap, everyone else believed that.
“Where’s Deputy Yeo Chang-ui?”
“He’s sleeping right now.”
“Oh?”
“He said he wouldn’t get another chance to sleep well later, so he’s resting up now.”
“Wise choice.”
Taking responsibility for one’s own health was truly commendable.
“But still, while the Young Master was out…”
“He must’ve trusted me.”
At my words, Palgap flinched.
“What?”
“I trusted you too, Young Master.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
Thus, the day turned into night.
.
.
.
Night fell.
A quiet night, when everyone was asleep.
I went down to the first floor of the inn.
The innkeeper was drinking alone while gazing out the window, looking very forlorn.
It was because I knew the innkeeper Granny Skullbreaker’s circumstances.
“Drinking alone?”
At my voice, she turned, looking surprised upon seeing me.
“Oh my! I’m sorry.”
Even though she already knew, she was putting on an act.
“Would you like a drink?”
“No thanks.”
I waved my hand.
“My master said there’s nothing good about drinking.”
“That’s true.”
She nodded gently.
“Nothing good indeed. But…”
“There are days you just can’t get through without it.”
At my remark, she stared at me intently.
“I heard your husband is seriously ill.”
At my words, she suddenly sprang to her feet, and in an instant, a sharp dagger was at my throat.
“Who are you? Who sent you?”
I lightly nudged the blade touching my neck with my finger.
“I simply happened to find out by chance. It’s a trade secret, so I can’t reveal the details.”
Currently, in one of the rooms at this inn was Granny Skullbreaker’s husband.
Stricken with Qi Deviation, he was bedridden. She ran this inn to care for and protect him.
Additionally, to conceal her and her husband’s identities, she was using a Qi technique to maintain the appearance of a young woman.
In some ways, her circumstances resembled Lady Hong Geum-so’s.
Five years from now, her husband would pass away.
Then Granny Skullbreaker would burn down this inn and step out into the world to seek revenge for her husband.
The cause of her husband’s Qi Deviation had been a scheme of the Yeom Family, a clan belonging to the Murim Alliance.
Granny Skullbreaker’s signature weapon was an axe.
She gained the nickname Granny Skullbreaker because she crushed her enemies’ heads with an axe.
It was only then that people realized Granny Skullbreaker was actually a Transcendent-level master.
After finishing her revenge, she quietly vanished from the world.
When I saw the two Fruits of Renewal in that windy cave on Mount Zhongnan, I immediately thought of Granny Skullbreaker’s husband.
If I could help her husband, perhaps she’d join my side.
But then, I sighed deeply.
Even though I sought revenge against Baekcheon Merchant Group and the Murim Alliance, was holding a sick person hostage something I should do?
A person should never become ugly.
I decided simply to help someone who could be saved.
Was it a waste?
Wouldn’t there come a day when I needed a Fruit of Renewal, and here I was, using it up already?
It was fine.
I had plenty of time left, and it wasn’t as if there would be no other miraculous Elixirs appearing in the future.
I sat down in front of Granny Skullbreaker.
Then, pulling out a small box from my chest pocket, I placed it on the table.
A small box, containing one of the Fruits of Renewal I’d prepared earlier.
“Please, open it.”
“…?”
She carefully opened the box.
“…!”
Her eyes widened.
She clearly recognized the Fruit of Renewal.
“What’s your price?”
Truly, she was a master who’d survived Murim for a long time, always wary of easily accepting goodwill.
“You probably wouldn’t believe me if I said I was simply sympathetic, would you?”
“You pity me?”
“Yes.”
After observing me for a moment, she chuckled softly.
“If you have something you want, speak. Apart from a few things, I’ll grant it.”
Those few things would probably be anything harmful to her husband, or turning her weapon against someone to whom she owed a great debt.
“First, please use this three days after we leave.”
“Why?”
“It relates to my second condition. Please never connect this to me. I don’t want others knowing.”
“I understand.”
“And third, please take someone under your care. Protect him for five years as well. And of course, this too must remain a secret.”
Since things turned out this way, I intended to have Young Master Mun Ju-seong stay here.
.
.
.
The next day, we left the inn.
It was finally time to return home.
A few days later.
On a rural road in Shaanxi province.
A young man was pulling a cart with a middle-aged woman seated upon it.
“Tired, son?”
“No, I’m not tired. Um…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
“For what?”
“For everything.”
They were Mun Ju-seong and his mother.
After parting with me, Mun Ju-seong had returned to the Fortune Merchant Group.
Naturally, returning empty-handed, he faced much mockery. His father coldly told him:
“As expected, you really are unlucky. You’re useless to this merchant group.”
“I apologize.”
It was the expected disdain and contempt.
However, he said not a single word about having found the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower.
It was a promise with Eun Seo-ho, and he had sworn to uphold it.
A promise must be kept; that was basic human decency.
And he himself was a merchant.
To merchants, trust was as valuable as life itself.
“Father, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“While on Mount Zhongnan, I thought about it. If my unlucky presence brings harm to the merchant group, leaving as soon as possible might be beneficial.”
“You want to leave?”
“Yes. I’d have to leave eventually, anyway. Leaving now seems to be the better way to repay the merchant group that has fed and clothed me until now.”
“Fine. Do as you please. Since you’re voluntarily forfeiting your succession rights, I’ll allow you to take a bit more than originally intended.”
“Thank you.”
“But don’t ever expect my help again. The day you leave this merchant group, you are no longer my son, and your mother is no longer my wife.”
“…Yes.”
He stepped away from his father.
He had already discussed this with his mother, and she agreed to follow his wishes.
She also preferred leaving early rather than enduring continued contempt and disdain, gladly welcoming his decision.
Thus, they packed their belongings.
On the day they were to depart, Mun Ju-seong’s father sent a cart.
That meant they could carry as many valuables as the cart could hold.
Originally, they’d have been allowed only a single backpack’s worth.
Mun Ju-seong loaded valuables onto the cart.
‘Just as Benefactor said.’
Eun Seo-ho had told him that declaring he would voluntarily leave to avoid causing further harm would prompt them to give him a little more.
“You should take all the valuables you can.”
Recalling Eun Seo-ho’s words, Mun Ju-seong unconsciously smiled.
After finishing packing, he gave a final bow toward his father’s quarters.
He wasn’t permitted even to say farewell personally.
He seated his mother on the cart and left the Fortune Merchant Group.
People whispered and jeered behind him, but he didn’t care in the slightest.
Rather, he felt relieved.
He walked and walked, continuing onward.
On the third day, as they entered a forest:
“Hey, you there!”
“…!”
“Either leave the cart and get lost, or taste my blade. Choose.”
Forest bandits.
Gripping the sword at his waist tightly, Mun Ju-seong felt regret.
‘Benefactor specifically told me to hire an Escort Bureau…’
How could he have forgotten?
But what’s done was done.
He quickly made a decision.
No matter how important valuables were, their lives were far more precious.
So, he prepared to abandon the cart—
“You there, boy. Just who are you pointing your sword at?”
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
Turning around, he saw a young woman standing with a large axe slung over her shoulder.
Though she looked to be in her twenties, the way she spoke was clearly that of an elderly woman.
–TL Notes–
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