Chapter 490: Do You Need It? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 490: Do You Need It? (2)
Huh?
Something felt off.
Running into the Immortal Healer here, of all places, at the White Flower Merchant Association merchant association was shocking enough. But this atmosphere?
Why is that bastard glaring at him like that?
Cheol Jiseon was definitely acting strange, his gaze fixed on the Immortal Healer with unmistakable hostility.
What was his problem?
Surprisingly, it was the Immortal Healer who broke the silence. After studying Cheol Jiseon for a moment, he spoke carefully.
“Have you been well? It’s been a while…”
“…”
Cheol Jiseon’s scowl didn’t waver at the greeting. He offered no reply.
I barely stifled a gasp.
They know each other?
It seemed they did. And the fact that the almighty Immortal Healer was the one to speak first…
…Now that I think about it.
I glanced at Zhuge Hyuk standing beside the Immortal Healer. Cheol Jiseon’s real surname was also Zhuge. Was the Immortal Healer a Zhuge as well, being Zhuge Hyuk’s grandfather?
Maybe that’s why they knew each other?
That would explain the recognition, but not the sheer animosity in Cheol Jiseon’s eyes.
After a tense moment, Cheol Jiseon bit his lip, averted his gaze, and finally replied.
“…I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“…”
It was a flimsy excuse, utterly unconvincing. The Immortal Healer had clearly recognized him. But no one commented. How could they, when Cheol Jiseon’s wildly shaking pupils were practically begging us not to pry?
The entire party could only watch in awkward silence.
Perhaps because of Cheol Jiseon’s response, the Immortal Healer simply said, “…I see. I apologize.”
Seeing Cheol Jiseon’s reaction, the Immortal Healer took Zhuge Hyuk and began to leave. The surrounding Young Prodigies hurriedly bowed in respect, but the elder acknowledged no one, departing in silence.
Damn.
What terrible timing. I’d wanted to ask him about the consequences of a shattered vessel. We’d met by chance, but this was clearly not the moment for questions.
After the Immortal Healer left, the silence grew thick and uncomfortable. I broke it, addressing my party.
“I’ll be going up now. Wait on the first floor without causing any trouble.”
My instruction was a clear command not to question Cheol Jiseon. They were all smart enough to get it. Even if they weren’t, Moyong Hi-ah would enforce it. Satisfied, I headed inside to handle my business.
* * *
Martial arts organizations in the Central Plains were common, but they broadly fell into two categories: Clans and Sects.
Clans were bound by bloodline. Sects were united by shared ideals, regardless of kinship. Their paths differed, but both sought to walk the path of martial arts. Both were tasked with protecting the common people from Demons in their respective regions.
This duty was undisputed, a fundamental tenet of the Orthodox Faction. The prestige of the Ten Sect Alliance and the Four Noble Clans was built upon their role as bulwarks against Demonic threats and enemy invasions.
Supporting this symbiotic relationship were the merchant associations that donated to these clans and sects. If a martial artist’s strength lay in their skill, these merchants believed their power was wealth. They used that wealth to buy protection, donating to clans and sects or hiring guards directly.
It wasn’t strange even for members of the Four Noble Clans to work as guards or escorts for merchant associations. They understood that maintaining good relations was essential for their noble lifestyles.
Though this hardly matters to the Tang or Moyong Clans anymore.
The Moyong Clan ran its own merchant associations, and the Tang Clan profited from selling high-quality weapons. They were exceptions. But even the Gu Clan, for example, received donations from the merchant streets of Shanxi. Given that prominent Shanxi merchants helped organize the Nine Dragons Day, our mutual relationship was obvious.
Though, of course…
My clan is known for accepting particularly small donations…
That was my father’s doing. He saw no purpose in excessive wealth and believed protecting Shanxi was simply their duty.
[What a noble belief. I admire him.]
Elder Shin nodded in understanding.
But how does that make any sense?
Personally, I couldn’t comprehend it. Other regions had multiple clans or sects vying for influence, but Shanxi was represented solely by the Gu Clan. We could easily leverage that to demand far greater tribute, yet we chose not to.
What a waste! Seriously.
I found it incredibly wasteful. Money had real value, after all.
[…It seems the Lord of the Gu Clan failed in educating his child, huh.]
I wasn’t really educated at all, so it’s fine.
[How is that fine in any way?]
Elder Shin sounded exasperated, but I ignored him.
I understood it was the will of my father and our ancestors, but the Gu Clan only began to live a truly noble life starting from my father’s generation. There was one simple reason.
It’s because of this place.
Father made an excellent marriage.
If the Central Plains were known for the Ten Sect Alliance and the Four Noble Clans, there was also a world of countless merchant associations. Among them, the most powerful were the Three Great Merchant Associations.
The building I now stood in belonged to one of them.
The White Flower Merchant Association.
Founded by Lady Mi, this association unofficially wielded the greatest wealth in the Central Plains. The Gu Clan’s relatively comfortable lifestyle was thanks entirely to her.
However…
“Oh…!! I’m so honored to receive you, our precious Young Master!”
…This was a bit hard to endure.
I was on the highest floor of the building, in a room likely belonging to the branch manager, receiving excessively lavish treatment. The man before me, a large fellow past forty with a balding, shiny head, wore a kind smile as he rubbed his hands together.
Swish-swish-swish-swish-!
The sound of his frantic rubbing echoed through the room.
“I heard you had come to Sichuan. I should have visited you first… Oh, goodness, I am so sorry for failing to do so…!”
“…I see…”
I felt a unique kind of discomfort. I’d merely stated my name upon arrival, and he had personally rushed down the stairs to escort me here. It was undoubtedly because of Lady Mi and the immense influence she held.
The room was impressive. It felt somewhat old but radiated the atmosphere of a wealthy merchant association, filled with obviously expensive items.
Moreover…
Outside the room…
Martial artists stood guard—two at the Perfected Peak Realm and three at the Peak Realm.
They are quite skilled, for mere guards of a single official.
Hiring even one Peak Realm expert was costly. Five of them, including two nearing a higher level, represented a staggering investment. One that had to account for the pride of such martial artists as well.
This man may look like this, but he’s skilled, huh.
That thought forced me to reassess him.
“I am Dongbu, branch manager of the White Flower Merchant Association in Sichuan. It is an honor to meet you, Young Master.”
“…Yes, nice to meet you.”
“Ah! Please! No need for such formality! I am but a mere citizen and dare not deserve it… Hehe.”
“It’s fine… I would feel uncomfortable speaking informally.”
“Wow, such respectfulness… I can already see a bright future for the Gu Clan.”
No, I just genuinely found informality more uncomfortable. And calling a branch manager a "mere citizen" was a bit much, wasn’t it?
Man, this is exhausting.
I’d never enjoyed long conversations with merchants. They were professionals at talking and draining one’s energy. Knowing dragging this out would only make it worse, I decided to get straight to the point.
“I came here because I’d like you to sell some items for me.”
“Oh, of course! You may ask us anything. We will secure the best price, no matter—”
Thud, thud, thud-!
“Eh?”
I dumped the contents of my pocket onto the floor. As the luminous pearls scattered and rolled across the ground, the branch manager’s expression froze solid. He even rubbed his eyes as if doubting his vision.
Seeing his reaction, I offered an awkward smile.
“Do you think you can buy them all?”
“…Ah… eh… wha?”
For a moment, he seemed to malfunction. Thankfully, we managed to finalize the deal. I was genuinely relieved. I would have been furious if he’d tried to swindle me.
Instead, he even offered a price above market value.
Once things settled down, the man explained, his shiny head bowed slightly, “We… will need to verify the authenticity of these items and then send you a formal letter.”
The obsequious hand-rubber was gone, replaced by a sharp-eyed merchant. The shock had apparently stripped away his professional mask, which was understandable.
A single Luminous Pearl was shocking enough these days, given their extreme rarity. I had brought dozens.
“Firstly, due to the scarcity… we must verify their authenticity, even though they come from you, Young Master. I hope you can understand, even if it may seem unpleasant…”
“It’s fine. Take your time.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Also…”
“Yes?”
The branch manager spoke with a slightly awkward expression. “If these Luminous Pearls are genuine… it might be difficult for us to provide the full payment at once…”
“Oh, then just use bills. I’m not in a hurry.”
I only wanted to build up funds for a more comfortable future. I didn’t need a lump sum immediately, and I had nowhere to store that much money anyway.
So that’s that.
Even the White Flower Merchant Association couldn’t pay for this all at once. At the very least, it seemed my money troubles were over.
I’ll also need to decide what to do with the Cold Steel of a Thousand Years later.
I planned to visit a secret vault in a few years to gather the materials. I intended to craft a weapon with it, not sell it. I already had an artisan in mind.
“I thank you greatly for your understanding, Young Master…!”
With the business concluded smoothly, the branch manager’s demeanor returned to normal, his hands rubbing together once more. Suppressing a scowl, I asked a question that had been on my mind.
“Branch Manager.”
“Yes?”
“This is a personal question.”
“Young Master! Ask me anything! I will tell you all I know and—”
“What did the Immortal Healer come here for?”
“…”
The branch manager’s expression stiffened again at the mention of the Immortal Healer.
“…How… does the Young Master…”
Should I have kept it a secret? “I ran into the Immortal Healer on my way in. I am fairly acquainted with the elder.”
I didn’t know if the Immortal Healer felt the same, but I did.
Hearing this, the branch manager began to sweat, visibly flustered. “Haha… Young Master. We highly value our guests’ privacy, so it’s rather difficult for us to…”
“I suppose that’s to be expected?”
“Yes, hahaha. You are very understanding, Young Master, so perhaps you…”
“Of course.”
I understood completely. Protecting customer privacy was a cornerstone of a merchant’s reputation. However…
Slide-
I gently pulled one of the Luminous Pearls on the table toward me. The branch manager’s eyes followed it.
“…It does make me wonder how much you value my trust.”
“…Young Master?”
“If a deal involving this many Luminous Pearls goes through… my ‘mother’ would be extremely pleased…”
I felt goosebumps on my tongue. I had never called Lady Mi that before in my life. I forced the word out, and it had the desired effect, judging by the sweat beading on the manager’s forehead.
“Hahaha… Y-Young Master… um…”
“Just pretend you accidentally let it slip while talking to yourself. If you do, I’ll even send a personal letter singing your praises.”
“…!”
“To my mother, of course.”
I was offering to write a commendation to Lady Mi herself. His pupils began to shake.
“But… if you can’t even do that much…”
As I spoke, I picked up a Luminous Pearl. His gaze locked onto it again. Simultaneously, I channeled my qi, erecting a sound barrier around the room.
“Then I’ll have to sell these to another association. Strange, isn’t it? Why would that be… I’m not sure myself.”
I smiled kindly. His lips trembled. He had a choice to make: uphold a customer’s privacy, or secure his own future.
Nice.
It was good for merchants to value trust. Normally, I’d prefer such principled partners. But I preferred the selfish type more—they were easier to control when you held the power.
“About… that…”
He hesitated. Seeing his indecision, I stood up slowly. It didn’t matter if he refused the deal; I could find out about the Immortal Healer through other means. I reached for the Luminous Pearls.
Suddenly, the branch manager shouted hurriedly, “Wow! I can’t believe the Immortal Healer suddenly needs a White Demonic Stone! I wonder why!”
“…”
“Jeez… the world is truly unpredictable. Where would he even find such an item now? Haha!”
He shouted, cold sweat pouring down his face. Hearing this, I sat back down and rolled the Luminous Pearl in my hand toward him.
“You are very hardworking. I’m sure my mother will think highly of you.”
“N-Not at all! Haha… I’m merely fulfilling my duties.”
He was contradicting his earlier stance on merchant principles, but I pretended not to notice.
Then, Elder Shin’s voice echoed in my mind.
[You… really shouldn’t go to the Unorthodox Faction.]
Why not?
[You have the potential to bring the world to ruin if you ever walk a dark path. If… I only had a real body…! I would have captured a horrible creature like you and removed you from this world…!]
What kind of horrifying answer is that? We’re a team, Elder Shin.
[What kind of 'Taoists eating meat' nonsense is that? Why would I team up with you!?]
What was he going on about now? I thought he was the one who said Mount Hua disciples could eat meat. Besides, Woo Hyuk of the Wudang Sect devoured meat, and the Shaolin Sect's Light of Might ate it too. At this point, it was normal for Taoists as well.
Furthermore, just the other day he called me his disciple, saying I needed to carry on his will, and now he was betraying me already. It was truly baffling.
Brushing off the grumpy elder, I smiled at the branch manager. “I’ll leave a good word with my mother. Let’s meet again.”
“Thank you! Young Master…!!”
Swish-swish-swish-!
His hands were rubbing together again, just like when we first met. As the sound filled the room, I pondered.
White Demonic Stone, huh?
The Immortal Healer was searching for a White Demonic Stone at the White Flower Merchant Association. I didn’t know why he needed such a thing.
But it’s pretty fascinating.
The timing was impeccable. White Demonic Stones were considered impossible to find since White Demons had vanished from the world.
However, I happened to possess one of those priceless items.