Chapter 575: Miracle of Shaolin
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 575: Miracle of Shaolin
Like any merchant association that had carved out its own territory, the White Flower Merchant Association had branches established all across the Central Plains.
Of course, I’d heard they lacked a presence in Liaoning, where the Moyong Clan operated their own association, and in certain other territories where local lords had refused them entry. But even with those exceptions, it was fair to say they were everywhere.
Their headquarters, I was told, was located in Xi'an.
If you were to ask why they chose Xi'an of all places, it was likely because the association leader's own family, the Mi Clan of Xi'an, was based there. Not that I had ever visited.
‘Why would someone like me go there?’
It might be a different story for Gu Yeonseo or Gu Huibi, but it was no place for me.
In any case, if one were to pick the most influential branch of the White Flower Merchant Association aside from its headquarters, it would undoubtedly be the Henan Branch.
Henan was the most prominent province in the Central Plains, housing both the Murim Alliance and the Shaolin Temple. It was a place that likely generated far more revenue for the White Flower Merchant Association than even its own headquarters.
As if to prove this, the branch building stood tall, looming over the other structures in Henan—a silent testament to the association’s standing.
I was currently on the highest floor of that towering guest building.
The room was impeccably arranged. There wasn't a single speck of dust in sight; the sense of cleanliness was so overwhelming that I felt a pang of guilt just for breathing. Or perhaps it was simply the sheer discomfort of the situation making me feel that way.
That was how stifling this meeting was for me.
“It has been a while.”
The voice snapped me back to my senses.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly. I hadn't even touched the tea placed before me. I carefully looked at the person sitting across from me and offered my respects.
“It is good to see you again, Lady Mi.”
The person I was greeting was the leader of the White Flower Merchant Association, the matriarch of the Gu Clan, and the Lady of White Flower Merchant Association—Mi Hyoran.
Has it been about a year? The last time I saw her was around then, during that period when I was being brutally trained by the Dishonored Venerable. Of course, even if I’d had the chance to see her since, I would have gone out of my way to avoid it.
Hiding those thoughts, I spoke to her.
“I happened to be in Henan on business… and when I heard you were here, I came to pay my respects.”
Lady Mi nodded slowly. And that was it.
“...”
“...”
Silence filled the room. The already sterile air felt as if it were drying out even further.
‘…Should I just get up and leave?’
Should I just offer my greetings and go? The thought was tempting. I had come here for a reason, but I hadn't expected this—to be thrown into a private, one-on-one meeting with Lady Mi.
‘I originally just planned to say hello.’
I had assumed Lady Mi would be in Xi'an or Shanxi. But as soon as I arrived in Henan, I heard she was here. Honestly, I wanted to pretend I didn’t know, but I had business to attend to, so I had no choice.
Even so...
‘…Can’t I just take care of my business on my own?’
The urge to flee was overwhelming. That was how uncomfortable she made me. In some ways, Lady Mi was a far more unsettling presence than my own father. It wasn't just that I didn't know how to act around her; it was something deeper.
‘There’s just something… unsettling about her.’
An inexplicable discomfort. What should I do? Wouldn’t it be better to just bolt right now?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Lady Mi broke the silence.
“I see. I’ve heard the story.”
“…Pardon?”
Just as I was wondering what she meant, she continued.
“You entrusted the association with Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel.”
“Ah.”
Her words brought clarity. The massive haul of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel I had acquired in Guangdong—I had left it in the care of the White Flower Merchant Association. That must be what she was referring to.
“The quantity was quite substantial. Could you tell me how you came by it?”
I offered an awkward smile. Lady Mi spoke calmly, but the amount was truly staggering. We lived in an era where Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel was no longer being discovered. With the passage of time, such pure steel had become virtually nonexistent. It had all been mined and used up over the centuries.
Now, only the Ten Sect Alliance, the Four Noble Clans, or perhaps a few elite merchant associations possessed even small amounts of pure Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel. Even a tiny fragment mixed with other metals would fetch an astronomical price. That was how rare it was.
And yet, I had...
‘Brought it in by the crate.’
From Lady Mi’s perspective, it was bound to be a curious matter. I hadn't brought just one lump, but several. It was hard to say for sure, but the amount I brought might have been more than all the known Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel in the Central Plains combined. If anything, it was more surprising that Lady Mi could ask about it so calmly.
“…I had a fortunate encounter in the Guangdong region. I found it by chance, and since it didn’t seem to have an owner, I brought it with me.”
I didn’t mix in any lies. If I tried to lie here, someone like Lady Mi would see right through it instantly.
Lady Mi simply stared at me. Her gaze was unbearably heavy.
Then, she asked, “Have you reported this matter to the Alliance?”
Gulp.
I swallowed hard. There was a law requiring members of the Orthodox Faction to report the discovery of such rare treasures to the Murim Alliance. Of course, I hadn't reported it. If I did, they would surely confiscate it, claiming it was ownerless or that they needed to "safeguard" it while looking for a rightful owner.
“…I have not.”
When I gave my answer, Lady Mi stared at me in silence. Was she going to scold me? Even if she did, I couldn’t back down.
‘Do you know what I went through to get this?’
This was the capital I needed for the future. If Lady Mi reacted negatively to this...
‘I’ll have to find another merchant association.’
I would take back the steel and sell it elsewhere. As I tensed up, planning my next move...
“You did well.”
“…?”
Contrary to my expectations, praise flowed from Lady Mi’s lips. I stared at her, dumbfounded.
“Have you told the Clan Lord?”
“…I have not yet spoken to him about it.”
“That, too, was well done. If your father had heard, he would have certainly ordered you to report it to the Alliance.”
Just as Lady Mi said, my father’s personality was such that he would have done exactly that. He was the type to follow the law to the letter, even if he disliked the people enforcing it. His utter lack of greed for material possessions only made it more of a problem.
“As for the items you’ve entrusted to us, I will handle them personally. Do not worry.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
I was taken aback by her reaction. But since I had gotten the answer I wanted, I was satisfied. Perhaps that was why, now that the tension had broken, I found myself able to ask the question that had been on my mind.
“…Um, where did she go?”
“You must be referring to the branch manager.”
“Ah, yes.”
I was asking about Moyong Hi-ah, who had recently been appointed as the manager of the Henan Branch. Not only had she inexplicably joined the White Flower Merchant Association, but I was shocked to hear she had become a branch manager so soon. She had told me she just wanted to learn the ropes for a bit.
‘I knew she was good at her job, but this is ridiculous.’
What on earth did she do to climb to the position of branch manager in such a short time? Lady Mi was no ordinary person; she wouldn’t have promoted her unless Moyong Hi-ah possessed exceptional ability.
Which meant...
‘Moyong Hi-ah was skilled enough to impress even Lady Mi.’
I already knew she was talented, but this was enough to surprise even me.
“The branch manager is currently away on an assignment I gave her.”
“An assignment.”
“Yes. It is also the reason I am here… and furthermore,” Lady Mi said, the sound of her fan snapping shut echoing in the room. “It is a matter that concerns you as well.”
“Pardon?”
I frowned slightly. A matter related to me?
“What do you mean by that?”
“It is not yet confirmed, so just be aware of it for now. When the time comes, I will tell you myself.”
“No… wait a moment. Lady Mi…”
“I will personally handle the matter of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel in a way that benefits you.”
“...”
I clamped my mouth shut. What she was saying was: I’ll take care of the steel, so don’t ask any questions. It also meant: I’ll have a favor to ask later, so you’d better listen quietly.
‘I knew things were going too smoothly.’
To think I’d get entangled like this.
‘Is there no other way?’
Still, I didn’t think it was a loss. For Lady Mi to personally handle the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Steel meant the profit share would be better and the transaction would be much safer. It meant the number of potential headaches would decrease significantly.
The only problem was...
‘…I have no idea what kind of task she’s planning to give me.’
I couldn’t even begin to guess, which made me even more anxious. What kind of business required sending Moyong Hi-ah away? Why was Lady Mi in Henan? And why was she saying I was involved?
I had so many questions, but I couldn’t bring myself to press her.
‘Tsk.’
Since Lady Mi had already blocked any further inquiry, I decided to let it go for now and ask about something else.
“Lady Mi, I have a different request.”
A flicker of interest appeared in her eyes.
“Would it be possible for you to find me some lodging?”
“Lodging?”
“Yes, it seems I’ll need to stay in Henan for about three months.”
For my treatment and my future plans, I needed to stay in Henan. It was something I could look into myself, but it would be much faster to go through the merchant association.
‘…I was originally going to ask Moyong Hi-ah.’
But of all times, she had to be away. Lady Mi seemed to ponder for a moment.
“As it happens, I know of a suitable place,” she answered. “It is not far from here. I will have someone escort you.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I didn’t ask about the price. I was a wealthy man now.
‘The days of scrounging off Muyeon are over.’
My allowance used to be pitifully small, and there were days I didn't even have that because I was always causing trouble. I was no longer in an era where I had to check the price tag just to buy a single dumpling.
Anyway, since I had finished my business, it was time to leave. I was subtly preparing to stand up when Lady Mi spoke again.
“You said you’ll be staying for three months.”
I planted my butt back down.
“Are you, by any chance, planning to participate in the martial arts tournament?”
The Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament, hosted by the Alliance and scheduled for the summer. It was a massive festival that would take place while I was in Henan.
“…Yes, since it’s happening, I thought I might give it a try.”
It wasn’t something I needed to hide. Lady Mi looked at me with a peculiar expression.
“I see.”
Her gaze was so strange that I wondered what it meant.
“There is little I can say to you, so it is difficult to even speak of it,” Lady Mi said, her voice uncharacteristically cautious. “But if you insist on participating, please, be careful.”
“...”
I widened my eyes. I never thought Lady Mi would say something like that. I was even more surprised by her concern than I had been by her praise.
“…Ah, well… thank you.”
Lady Mi simply nodded without another word. Silence fell once more. Neither of us had anything left to say. As the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, I finally reached my limit.
“…W-well then, I will… take my leave. I apologize for disturbing you when you must be busy.”
I stood up, phrasing my escape as politely as possible. It should be fine to go now, right? My heart felt a little lighter.
‘…This feels ten times harder than a real fight.’
We had only talked for a short while, but I felt completely drained. Just as I was sighing inwardly and heading for the door...
“I was told Young Lady Tang is waiting outside.”
I froze again. She was talking about Tang Soyeol.
“…Yes. We met by chance.”
It was a coincidence, more or less. There was no need to explain the details.
Lady Mi asked, “Are you, by any chance, planning to stay with Young Lady Tang at the lodging?”
“I believe so.”
Unless Tang Soyeol asked for a different place, that seemed likely. Seong Yul had to stay with us too, so the lodging wouldn't be small anyway.
Lady Mi seemed to be deep in thought, as if something were bothering her. After a short silence, she finally spoke.
“It is good that you are becoming more like your father, but there are some things you do not need to resemble him in.”
“Pardon?”
I had no idea what that was supposed to mean.
“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
“…It is nothing. You may leave.”
Her words were completely incomprehensible, but since she dismissed me, I turned to leave. As I walked away, I heard her mutter something under her breath.
—To think, of all things, he had to inherit that part of him… The girls are going to have a tough time.
I quickly turned around, but Lady Mi was already focused on a letter, ignoring me.
‘Did I mishear?’
Was my body in such bad shape that I was hallucinating? That must be it. It seemed I needed to find the Immortal Healer as soon as possible. My condition was clearly worse than I thought.
‘I’ll stop by the new place and then go look for him immediately.’
That was the plan. But it took less than half an hour for me to realize there was no need for a search.
Just as I arrived at the lodging with my guide...
“You damn bastard…!! How could you make a move like that!”
“It seems your head isn’t working so well now that you’re old. I suppose that’s understandable.”
“What did you say!?”
The scene before my eyes made me freeze like a stone. I had finally arrived at my lodging, only to find a bizarre situation unfolding.
“Who are you to run your mouth when you’ve lost every game until now!?”
“And yet, I am the one winning now, am I not?”
In an area not far from the city stood a large building nestled against a mountain. It was beautifully maintained, featuring a pond filled with large carp.
And there...
“Grrr—! One more game, right now!”
The Immortal Healer I was about to search for was shouting at the top of his lungs as he flipped over a Go board.
“Heh heh.”
A young man with very familiar black hair was watching him and laughing. The young man—no, one of the Three Venerables of the Central Plains, those known as the Beyond the Heavens.
The Dishonored Venerable looked at the Immortal Healer and smirked.
“Why would I do that? You’re so terrible at this, I have no desire to play anymore. Perhaps next time, if I feel like it.”
His words were infuriatingly smug.
“Grrrrr!”
The Immortal Healer let out a strangled groan and collapsed in frustration. The Dishonored Venerable just stared at him and let out a hearty laugh.
“...”
Watching the chaotic scene that had erupted the moment I arrived, I was utterly at a loss for words.