Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: You Have It All Planned Out?! (2)
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I relayed that it seemed like heading to Hui Province would work, and at first, Master looked puzzled.
- Hui Province? The guy who was even kicked out of the main family in Hebei—how could he have any connections in Jiangnan?
In response, I summarized the events of traveling with Yin Xia Lian's merchant escort.
"...That's how it happened."
Master immediately voiced his doubt.
- You saved the life of the kid who's a prime candidate for succeeding Hui Shang?
"Yes."
- Is the Hui Shang you're talking about the one I know? The one called one of the Two Great Merchants Under Heaven, who had a tight grip on the flow of money south of the Yangtze?
"It's been over a hundred years, so the members have naturally changed, but their status probably hasn't shifted much from your time, Master."
- You saved a prime successor to 'that Hui Shang' from 'bandits'? Come on, you punk! If you're going to brag, at least make it convincing!!
...Well, abbreviated like that, it did sound a bit like boasting.
I opened my mouth to explain further...
"They weren't your run-of-the-mill mass-produced bandits wandering around. There were complicated family issues on their side involved too."
- Enough. That's plenty.
"...Your tone doesn't sound convinced at all, though?"
- That's about right. I've already told my master that I'd take you as a disciple, so there's no way he'd refuse. Why exaggerate to hype yourself up?! You must know some peddler who sets up a stall in Hui Province or something. Even so, since they're money-handlers, they'll at least provide a roof from the rain and a warm meal for a freeloader. So cut the boasting there.
...I decided to just shut up.
His fixed ideas were insanely rigid, probably from being locked away in his own world for a century.
For now, we'll go to Hui Province and see. I'll watch then what you have to say, Master.
Changing my mind like that, I clamped my mouth shut and started walking.
Crossing a few mountains and rivers with those steps, we soon arrived at Hui Province.
I ignored Master's admiration at how the city's scale had at least quadrupled in the past century.
"Come here!!!!"
I headed straight to the grand estate in the sunniest spot of Hui Province—like a whale's hump—and boldly knocked on the gate at the crack of dawn.
"Wh-who is it?"
A servant peeked out from the side door attached to the gate I knocked on.
"Do you know what this is?"
I held out the token of gratitude I'd received from Yin Xia Lian.
"?!"
"If you don't recognize it, take it to Radiant Prosperity Hall and show it to Escort Leader Eun or the Hall Leader. Can you let them know a guest has arrived?!"
"Right away! Right away!! It's just... I've never seen a platinum-edged token of gratitude before, so I was stunned for a moment!! No need to stand there—please, come inside! I'll guide you!"
"Even with this token, how could I casually cross the threshold of Silver Radiance Merchant Group? If it's not too much trouble, I'll wait here—could you fetch Escort Leader Eun?"
As the servant snatched the token without even closing the door I'd opened and dashed inside...
Finally, a sound leaked from Master at my waist as his fixed notions shattered.
- Uh...?
Seizing the chance to correct our master-disciple relationship—which had gotten a bit prickly from me sheathing the sword—I started whining dramatically.
"Uh...? That sound came out so nicely, Master..."
- ...No, what I mean is...
"...I told you so~ many times it was true, but you didn't believe your disciple and called it boasting and such?!"
- ...No, it's not that I don't believe you... I've already acknowledged you and taken you as a disciple, so you won't embarrass yourself in front of me or anything—that was the intent.
"Your disciple would follow you even if you said to make bean paste from beans! But you don't trust me and keep treating me like a con artist whenever you get the chance... Ugh, I'm so wronged I can't live! So wronged! The future of Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect is dark! Dark!"
- Why would our sect's future be dark?! And bean paste is made from beans, you fool!
"They say the one who farts gets mad?! Why are you raising your voice?"
- Because you don't understand my true feelings and keep saying I don't trust my disciple!
"Jeez."
- But, disciple. Can I ask one thing amid all this?
"Ask away."
- That token of gratitude. Isn't it a waste to use it just to freeload? Considering the servant's reaction and the position of this merchant group—which is like the head of Hui Shang—its uses seem endless!
Oh.
Even in this moment, he thought that far ahead?
Well, that's more like my master.
I grinned and answered Master's question.
"No need to worry. We'll get it back soon enough."
- Get it back?
Strictly speaking, my connection with Yin Xia Lian was a life-saving grace. Considering her personality from the original story and her current situation...
'She'll refuse to accept the token for something as minor as freeloading and return it.'
In that process, her evaluation of me would rise even higher.
It would come off as humbly using something of inestimable value, just as Master said.
That was when it happened.
As I prepared to convey these inner thoughts to Master...
The token of gratitude I'd sent back with the servant returned.
"...Haa. Y-Young Master Eon... huff huff... wh-what brings... you... all the way to... Hui Province...?"
A bit more frantic than I'd expected.
"...Well. To get straight to the point of why I came to Hui Province: I'd like to freeload at Radiant Prosperity Hall for a bit..."
"N-No problem... We can't accept the t-token... Please take it back, Young Master."
"...How about catching your breath first before we talk? And what's with the barefoot look?"
As I suggested to Yin Xia Lian that she take a moment to breathe...
Master at my waist chimed in.
- Disciple. You have it all planned out, don't you?!
Eh.
Well, yeah.
But this seems a lot more urgent than my plan, Master...?
At my words, Yin Xia Lian hurriedly checked her attire, her face flushing bright red.
"Hall Leader! I get that you're glad to see me, but you should at least put on shoes... Ah, Young Master Eon! It's been so long!"
Escort Leader Eun, who had chased after her, handed her the shoes, and she slipped them on.
"I-I'm sorry for showing you such a sight. Could you wait in the annex for a moment?"
"Of course."
"And, Escort Leader Eun, please take good care of Young Master Eon without any shortcomings."
"Naturally."
She rushed back the way she'd come.
Watching that...
Master's voice echoed in my head from my waist.
- Being welcomed is nice, and things are unfolding as you predicted... but is that kid really a prime candidate for succeeding Hui Shang...? She seems a bit lacking...
Right?
She's not usually like that.
At Master's words, I inwardly tilted my head too.
'Yin Xia Lian coming out barefoot?'
I'd expected some welcome, but not to this extent.
'Is the successor competition tougher than I thought?'
Hmm.
If so, there might be a slight issue with the cost-benefit.
But even then, it wasn't a problem.
'If she makes too demanding a request, I can just flatly refuse.'
I'd thought of riding the Hae-yeon coin, but big interventions come with big backlash.
The most important thing right now was mastering Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect's martial arts, after all.
But all those worries turned out to be unfounded.
While waiting for Yin Xia Lian, I asked Escort Leader Eun various things.
"Miss Yin seemed to welcome me a bit excessively, and her eyes look sunken? Is her situation in Silver Radiance Merchant Group's successor competition really tough lately? Or did some urgent inspection issue crop up? Ah, is this question rude?"
"It's fine. Not rude at all. Anyone who's handled even a single coin in the world talks about Silver Radiance's successor."
Escort Leader Eun answered my questions sincerely.
Long story short, Yin Xia Lian's position wasn't all that disadvantageous.
'Even conservatively estimating her faction's power, it's at least even odds?'
And there wasn't any immediate crisis.
Overall, Radiant Prosperity Hall was running smoothly; she was just mentally and physically fatigued.
"But why welcome me like this? It doesn't seem like you particularly need me for anything."
"Hmm, if I may presume to guess at our Hall Leader's intentions... maybe she liked the moment at Northern Deer Bandit Lair when you scolded her."
"???"
"...No. I phrased it weirdly, making it sound like she has some delusion. It's not that—uh, how should I put this?"
"...No need to label it. Just say what you were going to next."
"Ah. Yes. It's not some delusion thing. She's always in the position of deciding and leading within the merchant group, so she rarely gets straightforward opinions from anyone. Even her father, the Southern Jiang Merchant King, assigns tasks and just checks results without praise or scolding. The other elders all maintain outward neutrality too."
"What about you, Escort Leader Eun?"
"Oh, like that. You just scolded me earlier, but I can't say that kind of thing to my superior. I'd have to take responsibility. Besides, I don't have the brains or the vessel to judge the Hall Leader's decisions."
Well, I could understand that.
'Not easy to speak frankly to someone who controls your livelihood.'
Anyway.
Escort Leader Eun's words were confirmed again by Yin Xia Lian, who returned after freshening up and changing clothes.
"To sum up, you're here to freeload—but not to fully join our side. You want a secluded annex for training and preparations for Righteous Martial Academy's entrance exam provided by Radiant Prosperity Hall, right?"
"That's right. Is that a difficult request?"
"No. No. Not difficult at all. We have plenty of annexes built for our affiliated guards and escorts' training, and ample guesthouses for freeloaders."
Of course.
"Ah, of course, I'm not saying we'd put Young Master Eon in those guesthouses or annexes. We'd prepare a private annex reserved only for blood kin."
A group like Silver Radiance Merchant Group wouldn't lack rooms or annexes for freeloaders.
"I asked if it was difficult because I wondered if you wanted a firm promise to become one of your people. That might be tricky."
"Ah. Not that either. I recall you wanted a quiet place for training, and we're just grateful you thought of Radiant Prosperity Hall for it. However..."
"However?"
"...That is... could you occasionally let me visit and give me some advice when I ask?"
"Advice? I'm clueless about merchants' business. And what advice could an outsider like me give you?"
"Precisely because you're clueless about merchants and not one of my people, you can give advice. Like at Northern Deer Bandit Lair."
Well, no reason for me to refuse.
Providing top-tier lodging and meals in exchange for occasionally being her sounding board? Only a madman would turn that down.
Even by a century-old common sense, apparently, as Master added his two cents.
- Is this even worth agonizing over? What are you thinking?! Accept the offer already!
Come on, Master.
The world's all about push and pull. Latching onto a good offer too eagerly makes you look desperate.
Your disciple's got this. Stay quiet.
Silencing Master, I pretended to mull it over.
"Hmm."
But did Yin Xia Lian take it differently?
As I finished pretending and was about to accept, her mouth opened first.
"...Of, of course. You came with the token of gratitude to begin with. And I returned it, so I know my proposal might not be appropriate. So, how about separate compensation...?"
What?
Compensation?
She's even offering pocket money?
"Sure."
Why not?
If she's paying pocket money too.
No reason to refuse!