Chapter 27: The Beginning of Change (2)
The warrior's injury was severe. His right arm below the elbow had been cleanly severed—or perhaps hacked off—and his body was riddled with deep gashes from sword blades. Jin Yeo-rip frowned at the gruesome sight, something he'd never witnessed before. When Im Pilsaeng had killed a man with a pressurized stream of water from his kick, it had been far too neat and tidy.
"G-Ga... Gaju-nim."
As soon as Jin Ha-seong entered the infirmary, the wounded warrior tried to leap to his feet from his treatment bed.
"It's fine. Lie back down."
"But..."
"What are the healers doing? Hurry with the treatment."
"Yes, sir!"
Jin Ha-seong finally forced the man to bow properly, then sat by his bedside.
"I know it's hard, but while you're resting and getting treated, answer a few questions for me."
"Of course. Ask away."
"How many were injured?"
That was Jin Ha-seong's first question—not about the goods, but the lives lost. Surprised by the unexpected inquiry, the warrior hesitated before replying.
"Twelve, as far as when I was still there."
"Any deaths?"
"None that I know of. I slipped out alone to deliver the news. The rest were captured by the bandits."
"I see. But why cross Jangryeongsan Pass? Isn't that route banned due to bandit activity?"
"It was probably because of the goods headed to the Dae Sa-seong's estate."
"Dae Sa-seong?"
"Yes."
"They were delivering directly instead of using an escort agency?"
"It was headed to Hebei anyway."
"Such fools. Risking lives for a little extra profit by taking a dangerous shortcut?"
"I'm sorry."
The warrior apologized, his face full of shame at Jin Ha-seong's displeased expression.
"Sigh, no, it's not your fault. My emotions got the better of me. It's all about money in the end—who are you to blame? Even the caravan leader had no choice."
A small savings. That was the reason they'd chosen the forbidden path. What meant nothing to a giant merchant house could be a lifeline for smaller traders.
"Gaju-nim, please save our caravan."
The warrior pleaded desperately.
"Sigh, focus on resting and healing for now."
"Gaju-nim, I beg you."
"I'll handle the Geumhyang matter myself. Don't worry—just rest."
After grasping the situation, Jin Ha-seong stepped outside, pondered briefly, and summoned Wang Seok.
"Seok-ah."
"Yes, Gaju-nim."
"Do we have anyone who can reach the Jangryeongsan area?"
"Pardon? Why do you ask?"
"It looks like we'll need to negotiate."
"With the bandits?"
"Yes. According to the escort, there were no deaths."
"Hm, so they're open to talks?"
"Exactly. If anyone had died, we'd have no choice but to exterminate them."
The jianghu. Its rules were clear. If someone died, blood must be paid in blood—or at least fitting compensation. Merchant circles followed the same code. If Byeoksan Stronghold hadn't killed anyone, negotiation was surely their goal.
"Hm, we can make contact, but the elders' council will oppose it."
"I know. That's why I'm asking you."
Wang Seok frowned at Jin Ha-seong's words.
The Geumhyang Merchant Troupe was a minor outfit recently brought under Cheongeumbang's umbrella. It was worth some effort, but that fell to the elders—not for the Gaju to handle personally.
"Gaju-nim, why not contact the Hwangbo family for aid? Going yourself is too dangerous."
"No, I won't contact the Hwangbo family."
"Pardon?"
"I know they'd help if I asked. But I can't do that. I don't want to put the Hwangbo family in a tough spot."
"Hm..."
Shaking his head, Jin Ha-seong glanced at Jin Yeo-rip, who was chatting with Im Pilsaeng at a distance.
"Besides, this is something I must handle personally—for that boy's sake."
"Pardon?"
"He told me he wants to try being the Cheongeumbang lord."
"The young master said that?"
"Yes."
"..."
"My heart pounded in that moment. Instead of resenting me for doing nothing, he wants to move forward. How could I not be grateful?"
Wang Seok silently watched Jin Ha-seong's smile.
"But I can't offer him any help."
"I understand. He has to build his own support, like the previous Gaju."
"Exactly. But I want to assist him."
"How?"
"I can prepare allies in advance."
"Allies?"
Jin Ha-seong nodded.
"Yes. Giant houses move only for profit, but small traders are different. Especially Geumhyang's leader, Hwang Jin-chung—he's widely respected. Even this escort worries for the troupe."
"But."
"That's why I must step in personally to save them. It's not the Cheongeumbang lord's place to handle a small troupe's affairs, but success here gains something worth more than money."
Wang Seok held his tongue. He understood his lord's intent.
If the Geumhyang matter resolved well, Hwang Jin-chung would repay the debt and rally the small traders on his own. That was Jin Ha-seong's aim.
Once declared heir at the merchant assembly, the young master would leave Cheongeumbang. He'd start from scratch, build his business, and prove himself worthy to all. From then on, Jin Ha-seong couldn't help.
So he was preparing for that day by aiding Geumhyang. A force to back the young master outside—giants might not stir, but indebted small traders would step up freely, beyond interference.
"That's why you raged at Da Geumgak. Mentioning the Hwangbo family was to distract them, even though you won't accept their help."
"...If they knew my true intentions, they'd block it."
"Sigh, understood. If you've set your mind, who am I to oppose? I'll make a show of contacting the Hwangbo family to draw eyes, reach out to the unorthodox groups near Jangryeongsan, and assemble an elite guard from Bihwangdae."
"Thank you for understanding."
"It's my role to heed my lord's command."
Wang Seok bowed his head.
Meanwhile, oblivious to his father and Wang Seok's conversation, Jin Yeo-rip was chatting idly with Im Pilsaeng.
"Pilsaeng-ajusshi."
"Yeah."
"Does this happen a lot?"
"This what?"
"Caravans getting raided by bandits."
"Of course. Merchant runs get hit by bandits and waterborne thugs all the time."
"Hm, must be a headache."
"Every troupe's nightmare. The moment bandits strike, profits shrink and losses pile up. Especially scum like Hong Myeon-gwi... ugh."
Im Pilsaeng shook his head, prompting Jin Yeo-rip to ask.
"You know Hong Myeon-gwi?"
"Know him? That punk's got no manners."
"What's he like?"
"Eh, manners aside, his skills are decent. Good enough for Great Mountain King to adopt him as a third foster son."
"Great Mountain King?"
"Oh, right—you should know this too, Young Master. You might lead a caravan someday."
Im Pilsaeng began explaining slowly.
"The Great Mountain King is who folks call the Bandit Emperor."
The Great Mountain King, Dan Ri-pung. As the head of the Nokrim Strongholds, he was a powerhouse ranking among the jianghu's top ten—even in a world split between righteous and unorthodox. He had eighteen foster sons running his mountain forts, roaming the land's peaks like his backyard.
"No one knows his movements. I've only seen him once."
"You saw him?"
"Yeah, back when Divine Spear was alive."
"Ah."
Divine Spear referred to Ak Hwi, Jin Yeo-rip's maternal grandfather and the last head of the Ak family. Im Pilsaeng's face darkened at the mention, so Jin Yeo-rip quickly changed the subject.
It happened sometimes. As Ak Seo-yeon's guard back then, failing to protect her left a lingering regret.
"How strong is this Hong Myeon-gwi guy?"
"Hm, hard to say. Last I saw him, he couldn't even meet my eyes."
"Pardon?"
As Jin Yeo-rip squinted skeptically, Im Pilsaeng narrowed his eyes.
"Wha—? Young Master, what's with that look?"
"Nothing. You made it sound like you're some grandmaster."
"Hey! 'Sound like'? Back in the day, I was called Gwiyeong—Ghost Shadow, Ghost Shadow!"
"Yeah."
"What, Gwiyeong... Tch, guess you never heard the tales."
Im Pilsaeng pouted. He was timid for a warrior by nature. But at his age, boasting about outranking Hong Myeon-gwi and sulking so easily?
"Okay, okay. You were amazing back then, right?"
"'Back then'? I'm still no slouch. You just don't know—once I got serious, the unorthodox scum in Shandong pissed themselves."
"Ah, sure."
"Young Master."
"No, but you whined about bruises on your arm during our sparring."
"Who whined?!"
Im Pilsaeng bellowed in anger, then glanced around nervously and pursed his lips.
"Why yell like that?"
"Sorry. You keep belittling me."
"It's not belittling—it's fact. You're only a bit stronger than me."
"That's 'cause you're the freak. I told you—landing three hits on me is huge for someone training seriously just a year."
"Ah..."
"Gonna keep it up?"
Better not tease more—he was really sulking.
"About that injured warrior earlier."
"Yeah."
"No deaths is lucky, but what happens to him? His right arm's gone."
"As a warrior? He's done."
"What? That bad?"
"Yep. Some switch to left-hand styles, but not for caravan escorts."
"Then we should compensate him generously. He seems devoted to the troupe—strong loyalty."
"Compensation? Good luck with that."
"Pardon? He got hurt on duty, no payout?"
Im Pilsaeng replied to Jin Yeo-rip's shock.
"Cheongeumbang might, but outsiders? Fat chance. That's life for sword-for-hire types."
"Ha, that's rough. If only there was injury insurance or something."
"Huh? What's that?"
"You pay monthly, and if an accident—"
Suddenly, Jin Yeo-rip's eyes lit up.
Wait. Did I just have a brilliant idea?