101st Defeat Paewang - Ch. 16: Reunion (1)
They arrived smoothly at the Jeokgeum Merchant Group's branch in Chang'an.
Even though the journey had ended without incident, the deputy manager and deputy leader of the escort team had been on edge when they encountered the Wind Dragon Stronghold. Of course, bandits—even if they were mountain dwellers—didn't attack merchant caravans willy-nilly. Pay the toll set by the Wind Dragon Stronghold, and you could cross the mountains safely.
The real source of their tension had been none other than the young master.
'The Wind Dragon Stronghold leader wasn't in a good mood that day.'
'The atmosphere there was downright murderous.'
Like many newcomers to the jianghu, they tended to view bandits as mere mountain thugs. Especially since this was the young master who had decisively severed the heads of the Jeok Baek-sang-hyeop. They had fretted that the bandits might just chop off his head on a whim.
'It was needless worry.'
'The young master is sharp enough not to act rashly.'
In this world, blindly clashing just because you were strong would get you broken. Besides, the Wind Dragon Stronghold was a bandit lair affiliated with the green forest underworld. If things escalated into a dispute, the merchant group's safety would be at risk.
Trust in the young master had grown, but Gu Cheon-woo himself had needed to exercise tremendous restraint. Without Mu-myeong's advice, the Wind Dragon Stronghold's bandits would all be corpses by now.
When he had been the Paewang, Gu Cheon-woo hadn't cared whether the bandits demanded a fair toll or not. It was theft, plain and simple, no matter the excuse.
'This is tough.'
In the 100th round's Mireok Paedo, had he ever spared bandits? It wasn't an exaggeration to say absolutely not. He'd hunted down and executed even those who had quit banditry and gone into hiding.
The Green Forest King, Twin Dragons of Light and Madness, Yi Ja-gyeong.
—"Fuck, what the hell did I do wrong to deserve this?!"
Suddenly, those words from that guy echoed in his mind. Starting from the 3rd round, he'd gone straight to the Green Forest main base, snapped their necks, and begun his purge. He still remembered their aggrieved expressions every time he took a head.
But they didn't need to feel that aggrieved. He'd massacred the entire Green Forest lair afterward anyway. That was why he'd been called the Massacre Paewang.
'The common folk lived in peace.'
A world without bandits or waterborne pirates. The dying ones would say that bandits and pirates wouldn't vanish just because they did. But the Paewang had accomplished that impossible feat.
Trivial excuses couldn't tarnish the noble cause of Mireok Paedo. Who else but him could do it? With that conviction alone, he'd hunted down every nest that sprang up.
'Should I have just killed them this time?'
Habits were terrifying. Quitting a 40,000-year routine overnight was harder than a chain-smoker's cold turkey. Sometimes, it was better to just give in to ease the withdrawal.
Killing harmful bandits wouldn't cause much trouble anyway. But since he'd decided to live differently, he had to stick to it. It was a matter of the Paewang's pride.
There was also the risk of regressing down the same path again.
"Young master!!"
"What?"
"How long do I have to keep doing this?"
"Stop if you're content with Peak Expert."
"I feel zero shame! Your loyal right-hand man has always trusted you!"
Gu Cheon-woo ignored him, whatever nonsense it was. Even for a thick-skinned rogue like Ga-bok, leaping and cheering "Long live! Long live! Hooray!" in the middle of the main street had caused serious emotional trauma.
The Jeokgeum escorts who wanted to learn martial arts under him had put it on hold—no one could stomach that. Instead, they'd appealed to the deputy leader. If the Jeokgeum escort team grew stronger, wouldn't it ease the young master's burden and secure the merchant group's safety? It was all for the group and the young master, they claimed.
Their real motive was a sly plea to skip the embarrassing cheers and learn properly. They weren't talentless like Ga-bok. Deep down, they also doubted anyone could become a master that way.
Contrary to the escorts' doubts, Gu Cheon-woo's training was quite effective. Unseen to the eye, Ga-bok's lower body was strengthening rapidly. Shame was fleeting, but skill lasted forever.
Ga-bok's shamelessness shone in training. Gu Cheon-woo hadn't even suggested it. No reason to teach someone who didn't ask. What good was an escort learning advanced martial arts beyond their station? A puffed-up chest bred dangerous thoughts. And loyalty based solely on affiliation was hard to gauge.
Without complete trust, restrictions were necessary.
'Betrayal means death.'
If they accepted restrictions, he'd teach them. Even in his Paewang days, he'd never had more than ten trusted direct subordinates. Constant suspicion was the wise way to handle hidden malice.
"Young master, the deputy manager requests you."
"Understood."
Gu Cheon-woo met the outer manager with the deputy manager. While Inner Manager Jang Ju-ak had diversified products, Outer Manager Song Ji-myeong had focused on expanding sales channels. This Chang'an distribution in Shaanxi Province was his doing.
Since it was his brainchild, he'd take the branch manager role until it stabilized, then appoint regional heads and row managers.
The outer manager's first impression was the epitome of a bookish scholar lost in pages. He dressed the part deliberately, inviting misconceptions of naive innocence. Treat him like a real pushover, though, and he'd strip you bare and kick you out.
He balanced his scholarly image without breaching merchant etiquette.
"My nephew! You must've suffered on the long road."
"The deputy manager saw to our comfort, so it was easy."
"So humble too—my nephew's grown up."
"Thank you."
Suffering matures a man. His changed demeanor hinted at the grueling first trip. He probably never wanted to do it again, though he hid it well. The outer manager gave points for that maturity.
His eldest son had shirked family duties unlike a proper heir, causing worry, but this eased it somewhat.
'Still need to watch him.'
People could change overnight, but just as often reverted after three days of resolve. The trip had gone smoothly, but it wasn't time to slack off.
"I'd love to hear about my nephew's thrilling first trip."
"I'll report it."
The outer manager hid his displeasure at the deputy manager's intervention. A merchant's virtue included eloquence—explaining deeds simply and clearly to sell goods and win allies. As the examiner, he wanted no interference.
'This guy's oblivious!'
Odd, though. The deputy manager was known for sharp wits in the group.
"I didn't trust the young master when the trip began."
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"I didn't trust him."
"No, before that."
"When the trip began."
"At the start."
"The young master."
"Are you mad? Even if he's the heir, our group's foundation is performance!"
This wasn't the time to praise success. Correct mistakes now, give bitter advice to avoid repeats. The deputy manager knew people—such a shame.
If he was flattering the nephew early, he'd picked the wrong target.
"That's why I'm saying: we completed the trip solely thanks to the young master."
"What nonsense? The Merchant King reincarnated in my nephew from the first trip?"
Voice rising, yet the deputy manager stayed calm.
"You might be shocked, so have some tea and compose yourself first."
"Skip the bullshit—get to the point. Or your workload triples today."
The outer manager was baffled by the deputy manager's confidence amid threats. If he thought it a joke, he'd soon miss this levity. The bookish outer manager's nickname was White-Faced Demon. Cross him, and life became hell. Hence, "do well when you're favored."
"Hwajeong Merchant Group interfered."
"...Continue."
The outer manager couldn't ignore Hwajeong's meddling. But the schedule had stayed normal—framing it as the nephew's merit? As the story unfolded, he sensed something amiss.
"What about the Jeok Baek-sang-hyeop?"
"They colluded with Hwajeong to brand us thieves."
Unexpected. The outer manager's composure cracked; he shot to his feet. Hwajeong's sabotage was anticipated, but this exceeded bounds. Fury surged at their breach of merchant code.
"Since you're safe, you must've negotiated with the Jeok Baek-sang-hyeop."
"The young master severed their heads."
"Severed heads... what?"
"He severed the Jeok Baek duo's heads."
Who killed whom? He hoped he'd misheard, but it repeated. It was real. Yet too absurd to accept. A passing master's aid would be more believable. The shut-in young master, dubbed "room-corner heir" for seeming one step from death outside, killing famed experts? Absurd.
'He's not one to lie.'
No reason for the deputy manager to fabricate easily disproven tales to hype the young master. Logic rejected it, but facts demanded acceptance. How, then? The Jeok Baek-sang-hyeop were renowned, skilled in joint attacks. Force was impossible. Other means, surely.
"Poison!"
"The young master is an absolute expert."
"Dang Clan poison, then."
"The young master beat the Jeok Baek scum senseless, then took their heads."
"Formless Finger Poison is overkill."
"Don't dodge it."
No, I can't hear you! Nephew, you tell it straight. Deny it! The outer manager desperately eyed Gu Cheon-woo, hoping for a joke or mood lightener.
"It's true."
"Argh! I'm losing my mind!"
Gu Cheon-woo backed the deputy manager's honesty. No need to deny facts. Though for Mireok Paedo, he'd lie without hesitation. Eradicating evil left no room for qualms on methods.
'No, it doesn't make sense!'
Regaining his scholarly facade, the outer manager had to probe realities. The Jeok Baek-sang-hyeop represented the righteous path. Even colluding with Hwajeong to slander merchants, beheading them invited backlash. While martial world and merchants cooperated, warriors viewed merchants narrowly.