Questions for the Iron-Blooded Merchant
Geum Jeoksan, the 11th head of the Gold Dragon Merchant Group. A man who dominated the merchant world of Huguk and Seonseo from the shadows. Possessing unyielding credit that would stand even if the heavens collapsed, eyes that read the currents of the times, and ruthless judgment—an iron-blooded trader. He rarely appeared in public, and even within the merchant group, few knew his true identity. In the Seonseo merchant circles, there was even a proverb: "You can afford to irk the mood of Yama the King of Hell, but never cross Geum Jeoksan's temper." That infamous Geum Jeoksan was now...
"......Ugh."
...frowning cutely, his face scrunched up.
"......Feeling any better inside?"
"Ah, yes. Now..."
To be honest, it hadn't improved much. The time given was barely two mealtimes, yet there was so much to do. He'd hastily dressed again, rinsed his mouth in a panic, pounded his side with his slender little fists, and rushed here. He hadn't even taken any medicine. Unfortunately, while the jianghu had plenty of remedies for internal and external injuries, there was still nothing against motion sickness. All he'd managed was to chew a bit of aged tangerine peel, the kind escorts often used.
Jang Cheon could tell from Geum Jeoksan's expression that it was a lie, but he decided not to press further. He himself had just handed off his martial robes for laundering, after all.
"I have something I want to hear. As I mentioned earlier, I have a close connection to the person in that scroll."
"Before that, um."
Geum Jeoksan drummed his fingers on the table, hesitating over whether to say it, then recalled his father's words.
The Benefactor doesn't age or die. Was that true?
"From what I remember, you wrote the name as Black Arrow Eight Evils. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
Jang Cheon acknowledged it readily. He'd written it that way on the paper. There was no one in the present world who would remember his moniker anyway.
But.
"Could it be that Benefactor is... the Black Arrow Eight Evils himself...?"
Jang Cheon fell silent for a moment, then nodded. And admitted it.
"I am Black Arrow Eight Evils Jang Cheon."
An oddly nostalgic feeling washed over him. Speaking this moniker. The fact that someone understood it.
In the jianghu, a moniker was like a person's history. Another name forged from the paths walked and the fame accumulated.
"I wasn't the sort deserving of being called Benefactor."
Back then, it had surely been an object of hatred. In any city, any inn, the moment he gave his name, swords flew at him. Jang Cheon hadn't minded. It was something he'd steeled himself for from the start of his path of vengeance.
"At the very least, to our family, you are a benefactor."
Geum Jeoksan began to unfold the old tale.
"......'Them'?"
Jang Cheon asked. Did it not end with the Cheon Family Manor sealing him in their secret chamber? Surely no one had come later for revenge.
Geum Jeoksan whispered in reply.
"There are those called Amyeong."
Jianghu secret history. Events not revealed to most of the world. The Gold Dragon Merchant Group had gleaned fragments over years of ties with countless prestigious sects in Huguk and Seonseo.
A memory flashed in Jang Cheon's mind.
"You should know better since you're from Amyeong. We've already awakened the Void Godly Chaos! Surely, we agreed not to interfere with the awakening of divine artifacts and the grand plan...!"
Words babble by some Sima family thug. Amyeong had definitely been in there.
"An extremely old organization. They say only rigorously selected individuals are allowed entry. Not fully verified yet, but..."
"Even in my era, like-minded folks gathered to drink. But what do those bastards have to do with me?"
"From what I've heard."
Geum Jeoksan recalled a recent rumor. One he'd dismissed as nonsense at first.
"Amyeong possesses items that unlock martial divine abilities. They call them divine artifacts."
Divine powers visible only at the Transformation Realm: Object Attraction from Afar, Samadhi True Fire, Matter as Sword, Void Treading, Heavenly Ear and Eye.
Amyeong members gained various ones depending on the assigned item. Thus, they sought out divine artifacts.
"They have my sword?"
"I've heard they're discreetly searching for its location. If they learn you've emerged, they'll surely target you."
"I see. Any distinguishing features?"
"People linked to divine artifacts supposedly bear strange tattoos somewhere on their bodies. And also..."
Tattoos. Connected to the one on Cheon Sohyang's nape, clearly.
"And?"
Was there more? Jang Cheon watched the merchant group's young lady quietly.
Her face flushed red, she fidgeted with her fingers before adding,
"Please don't spread rumors about me... v-vomiting today. If you do, I'll kill you by any means, no matter what."
"......For now, I am your family's benefactor."
"It's my decision!"
Jang Cheon sighed and left Geum Jeoksan's room. Outside, the sun was setting.
*
The evening was chilly. A cold wind made it poor weather for going out.
Returning home, a welcoming voice greeted Jang Cheon.
"Ajussi!"
The girl was always bright and lively. Lately, even more so. Much more energetic and cheerful than before.
From the half-ruined kitchen, ignored by all, another voice rang out.
"Welcome back! Let's eat dinner together!"
"Is that so."
She'd prepared rice while he was away. The side dishes were few: pickled radish, greens, and a thin soup with bits of solid.
The Cheon Family Manor had indeed declined greatly.
Jang Cheon chewed the rice. No matter how he thought, he couldn't call the skill good. Some undercooked, some burnt. That's how it usually turned out without much experience. But the sincerity overflowed.
"Mm..."
Across the table, Cheon Sohyang stared at him intently. Even without words, her thoughts rang clear: How is it? How is it, Ajussi? Is the rice okay?
"Delicious."
"Yay, good!"
"What's so joyful?"
"I missed you so much while you were gone."
Not noticing his stiffened speech, the girl scooped her own bite, smiled broadly, and said,
"Making rice for Ajussi every day."
"......"
She said it just like that.
Jang Cheon ate quietly. Different from before. Utterly delicious. As if some magic had been worked.
"Did your errand go well?"
"Yes."
Today's harvest was big. He pulled out a 1,000-nyang bill from his bosom.
The girl's eyes widened round.
"Wh-where did you get th-this?"
"Picked it up on the way. Useless to me, so take it."
A strange satisfaction filled his heart. A swelling pride in his chest. Why? Over something this small?
There was more to say.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll be away. That bill is a master's gift to his disciple—returning it would defy propriety. Use it for yourself. Otherwise, I'll smack your butt."
"Got it...... Do you really have to go?"
Cheon Sohyang wilted in an instant.
Jang Cheon felt a twinge of bitterness but answered. This couldn't be delayed. To learn about that ominous tattoo, he had no choice but to crush those Amyeong bastards.
"Yes."
Seeing his dejected disciple, the master softened and added,
"Not much of the bolt left, so I'll return by then. When I do, let's eat something nice together."