The Dispatch to Yishuse

The people of the merchant caravan all broke into smiles at the sight.

“Haha, Joyeon, you don’t have to go to Shuofang after all?”

“I still don’t have enough stock, so I must go. Thanks to the White Dragon, though, I should be able to secure the quantity I need without much trouble. I’m truly grateful.”

“We’ll also have to settle the accounts properly for the horses and goods this time. To do that, we need to take our merchandise all the way to Shuofang and sell it well.”

After a brief conversation, Seo Jun parted ways with Wang Yi and sat down on a rock slightly apart from the group.

“Status Window.”

As expected, dealing with the bandit group had accumulated a great deal of Karma, activating the button.

“Killing people really does make Karma pile up quickly.”

“Still, since I’ve gathered some, I might as well roll.”

Click!

“Tsk! Without the probability event applied, it’s complete garbage.”

He couldn’t help but click his tongue at the draw rates that had returned to their original dismal state.

‘Even if the odds are trash, I still have to use what I got.’

[Might has increased by 2.]

[Might has increased by 1.]

The stat increases were exactly as modest as the grades suggested.

“Status Window.”

His Might had finally surpassed 100.

‘I wonder how strong I really am. What would happen if I fought Lü Bu?’

Compared to ordinary people Seo Jun had encountered, he was clearly stronger. Yet he still couldn’t accurately gauge how he would fare against the truly renowned warriors of the Three Kingdoms era.

‘Still, reaching three digits feels pretty good. Until I can properly compare myself with the famous generals, I should keep investing in Might.’

As the sun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rose brightly from the east and the day grew fully light, the caravan finished packing and tied the spare horses in a line behind the carts before setting off toward Shuofang.

After traveling for quite some time, the group passed through the southern gate of Shuofang. Seo Jun took only Wang Yi and a few others with him toward Jang Dae-in’s horse ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠market, while the rest split up to secure lodgings at an inn.

Upon arriving at Jang Dae-in’s horse market, Seo Jun went in first to meet the man with whom he had built considerable rapport over time and asked him to look after Wang Yi’s dealings. Having profited several times from transactions with Seo Jun, Jang Dae-in seemed willing to pay a little extra attention in order to maintain good relations going forward.

“I’m not sure how much help it’ll be, but I’ll do what I can. Joyeon! Well then, handle the trade well and come by in the evening. I’ll treat you to dinner.”

After finishing his conversation with Jang Dae-in, Seo Jun gave Wang Yi a few reminders about the evening and headed for Po Han’s forge. Since the actual trading was Wang Yi’s responsibility, his own part ended here.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The familiar ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sound of hammering iron rang out once more.

“Uncle Po!”

“So Jun has come!”

Thud! Clatter! Clatter!

Seo Jun set down the sack containing the meteoric iron and another filled with weapons taken from the bandits in front of Po Han.

“What’s all this? They seem rather heavy. These look like a bunch of miscellaneous weapons—did you run into some bandits?”

“Hehe, Uncle! Do you know what I’ve obtained?”

Seo Jun could barely contain his laughter at Po Han’s question.

“Uncle, I’ve acquired meteoric iron. Meteoric iron, I tell you!!!”

“What? You mean real meteoric iron? You didn’t just pick up some black rocks somewhere?”

“You’ll know when you see it!”

Po Han, his curiosity getting the better of him, quickly overturned the sack that had made the loud thud.

Thud!

Po Han lifted the black mass and examined it closely.

“Oh my! It really is meteoric iron. It truly is!”

Exclamations burst from Po Han’s lips as he turned the lump over in his hands. Even as a blacksmith, it was something he rarely had the chance to see even once in a lifetime. And now such a thing had appeared right before his eyes.

“Where did you get this?”

“From Wonyeon!”

Seo Jun explained in detail to Po Han how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he had come by the meteoric iron, embellishing the story slightly. He had to alter a few scientific details since explaining them to Po Han would have been difficult.

“Heh~ So that’s the connection. It seems this was meant to be yours.”

“Uncle, please forge one spear and one saber for me to use, and one spear for Cheol-i. I’ll pay you properly.”

“Oh my, what payment? Simply having the chance to handle such a treasure is more than enough. But a spear for Cheol-i, you say…”

Po Han wore a troubled expression at Seo Jun’s request to forge a spear even for his son, Po Cheol. He knew that Seo Jun would eventually leave Shuofang to become a military officer, though the timing was uncertain. Yet the thought of his own son Po Cheol following Seo Jun down the same path filled him with worry. Po Han strongly wished for Po Cheol to learn the family forge trade and live a safe life.

“Uncle, they say pine caterpillars eat pine needles. If Cheol-i spends his life working in a forge, will he truly be happy? I think of Cheol-i as my own younger brother. If I promise to stay by his side and look after him, won’t you give your permission and stop worrying so much?”

“Oh my…”

“You must feel it too, Uncle—the chaotic times are coming soon. An age where those without power can protect nothing will arrive.”

Po Han gazed at Seo Jun, who calmly laid out the future before him. The boy was only a year older than his son Po Cheol, yet the way he viewed the world was vastly different.

‘If it’s this child, he’ll take good care of my son.’

Having witnessed the increasing weapon orders and metal transactions, Po Han could clearly sense the approaching turmoil. Considering how Seo Jun had always looked after his eldest son Po Cheol and second son Po Won, entrusting them to him didn’t seem like a bad idea.

“Very well! I’ll forge two spears and one saber with all my heart. Please take good care of our Cheol-i.”

Po Han clasped Seo Jun’s hand tightly with both of his and made the promise.

“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll make sure Cheol-i becomes a renowned general.”

Seo Jun explained the specifications he wanted for the spear and saber to Po Han. Po Han estimated it would take about a month to complete. After chatting a little longer, the two parted with smiles.

On his way home, Seo Jun turned slightly aside from the usual path just before reaching the house. The place was an empty house he had purchased to store goods and keep the horses he hunted. After moving his residence, he had also nicely furnished one of the larger rooms for his own use.

After organizing the items he had taken on the hunt and changing clothes, Seo Jun headed to the house where his family was. It was noisy—lively with the sounds of children, unlike the usual quiet. Voices of adult men he had never heard before could also be heard. Judging by the sound of his aunt Yi Hyeon’s voice as well, it seemed Seo Jeong and Seo Pyeong, who had been traveling for their duties, had returned.

“I’m home…”

Inside sat men he was seeing for the first time. They were his father Seo Jeong and his uncle Seo Pyeong, figures deeply etched in his absorbed memories.

“Our Jun has come. Hm!”

“Father, welcome back. Did everything go well?”

While exchanging greetings with Seo Jun, Seo Jeong suddenly felt himself hesitate. It had only been a little over a month since they last met, yet the boy’s changed physique and the aura he exuded made him seem like an entirely different person from the son he knew.

“You must have trained diligently. You’ve changed a great deal since I last saw you.”

“Yes. I trained hard.”

After a brief exchange with Seo Jeong, Seo Jun looked around the room and sensed that the atmosphere inside was strange. Though they were making small talk, his younger siblings wore completely gloomy expressions. Even Seol Ryeon and his aunt Yi Hyeon, who were preparing food, were trying not to show it, but their faces were very dark.

“Father and Uncle have returned after so long. Why does everyone look so down?”

Seo Jun quietly approached Seol Ryeon and Yi Hyeon, who were in the kitchen attached to the room, and asked.

“It’s because your father and uncle are being dispatched to Yishuse for a long-term assignment!”

“To Yishuse? Isn’t that place dangerous because it’s too close to the territory of the Northern Qiang tribes?”

“Exactly!”

Yi Hyeon answered Seo Jun’s question with an angry expression, venting her frustration.