Fame (2)
Chilly air hung over the outer courtyard of the Zhuge Clan. Zhuge Yeon, the head of the outer courtyard's Merchant Division, had summoned all the outer courtyard members.
The outer courtyard folk let out a collective sigh whenever Zhuge Yeon's summons came down. She had never once called them together for good news.
Who was in charge of the Wuhuan region's commerce?
That would be me.
No sooner had the man raised his hand and spoken than Zhuge Yeon's sharp hand slapped across his cheek. The middle-aged Wuhuan manager's face whipped to the side.
Tell me again, right here in front of me, what's happened to the Wuhuan Merchant Association.
Within Wuhuan, the Wuhuan Merchant Association's market share has dropped from eighty percent to sixty percent.
Once more, Zhuge Yeon's palm sliced through the air. It struck with such merciless force that the smack of hand meeting flesh sounded like a whip cracking.
Do you have any idea how big Wuhuan is? We lose twenty percent before we've even recouped the bribes we fed to the Ministry of Revenue's censor?
I'm sorry.
Zhuge Yeon's rage was perhaps inevitable.
In Hebei, Wuhuan was as symbolically vital as any provincial capital. Whoever dominated Wuhuan effectively ruled Hebei.
Of course, the Wuhuan Merchant Association still vastly outscaled the Dongho Merchant Association—but that was an artificial structure propped up by the Ministry censor's intervention. Once the market returned to its natural flow, the Dongho Merchant Association would clearly emerge as a formidable rival.
You couldn't cover that lost twenty percent with your lifetime salary. You know that, right?
I'm sorry. I'll urgently arrange another meeting with the censor.
Zhuge Yeon huffed and puffed as she stormed back to her chair and slumped into it.
And what good will that do? I hear even crushing the Dongho Merchant Association is getting tough now.
That's true, but...
Then you should be expanding into other regions instead. What's the point of banging your head against the wall in Wuhuan?
...I'll make it right.
Do I really have to work with idiots like you? Use your brains. Think.
Zhuge Yeon tapped her temples with her fingers. No one dared utter a word. Her temper was foul, true—but no one doubted her competence.
In fact, since she'd taken over the Merchant Division, the outer courtyard's operations had at least doubled in scale.
All they'd heard from the Ministry of Revenue censor in Hebei was that the Censorate's Right Deputy Inspector had made the Wuhuan Merchant Association's monopoly untenable. But something didn't add up.
Why the hell did the Censorate's Right Deputy Inspector suddenly show up in Wuhuan anyway?
Word is, there was a brief plague outbreak there. Seems he arrived while investigating its source.
Then there's no reason for him to meddle in merchant affairs.
The Hebei Divine Physician who cured that plague went and formed a merchant caravan, which then joined the Dongho Merchant Association. The deputy inspector praised the physician's merits, they got acquainted, and that apparently gave Dongho some breathing room.
Then they should've just recruited the Hebei Divine Physician into the Wuhuan Merchant Association. Why didn't they?
Ah, apparently the Wuhuan folks excluded him during the caravan formation process, claiming he got special favors.
Zhuge Yeon let out a hollow chuckle. She'd heard of the Hebei Divine Physician herself.
Making a name for himself outweighed even his feat of curing the sick—it proved his skill. Someone like that should've been scooped up by the Wuhuan Merchant Association at any cost. Having the Hebei Divine Physician on their side would've surely boosted their reputation among Wuhuan's people.
So basically, they got their panties in a twist and refused to take him on.
They didn't know he was chummy with the deputy inspector or that he might play politics.
That's just the Wuhuan Merchant Association's excuse. Fire the guildmaster. With an incompetent at the top, even winnable battles slip away. Check all the sub-caravans under Wuhuan too—purge every last useless one. They're bloated because we've been showering them with cash.
...That might be...
What?
Zhuge Yeon's piercing gaze fixed on the Wuhuan manager. He immediately bowed his head.
I'll see it done.
Good. And find out who this Hebei Divine Physician is.
Ah, I've looked into that a bit already.
The manager approached and handed her a sheet of paper. Zhuge Yeon unfolded it, then furrowed her brow.
Muk Hwi-yeong?
Yes.
According to this, he's a Wudang lay disciple, but for some reason, he's got a core disciple from the Myeongja Division assigned to him. Not a merchant or a doctor by trade. Guess that's why the guildmaster let his guard down.
Zhuge Yeon glared at the manager over the paper for a long moment before returning her eyes to it. No matter how she looked, it was him. That lay disciple she'd met in Yangyang, the one without a single hair out of place.
The name was unusual, and the odds of a Wudang lay disciple also having a core Myeongja Division disciple attached were too improbable to be coincidence—irrefutable proof.
If we could pull the Hebei Divine Physician to our side, maybe we could reclaim some market share from Wuhuan. Should we try recruiting him? As a Wudang lay disciple, he probably won't outright oppose the Zhuge Clan...
No.
Zhuge Yeon cut him off.
She'd already done her background check on him anyway. She hadn't expected it'd come in handy so soon. And she doubted these fools could handle him properly.
You lot just clean up the Wuhuan Merchant Association mess.
Zhuge Yeon gripped her desk and rose. It was about time she paid Wudang a visit.
You're finally back!
Myeong-gyeong spread his short arms wide and took a deep breath. For some reason, I felt the same comforting ease as if I were coming home. Which made sense—my second life had begun right here in the Wudang Sect, after all.
Yeah.
Now we gotta train our martial arts like crazy.
I trained hard out there too.
Even harder! Junior brother, we could become masters of the Taiji Benevolent Sword.
Masters of the Taiji Benevolent Sword, huh. Even core disciples can't learn it all, right?
It's such an advanced technique—most can't pick it up even when taught. That's why they select just a few to train.
So Cheonghwa must be a genius who'd received the full Taiji Benevolent Sword transmission. Fitting, given her reputation.
As we reached the mountainside path leading into the Wudang Sect, we spotted the Myeongja Division disciples guarding the main gate.
Senior brothers! We're back!
Myeong-gyeong waved cheerfully as he approached them. They seemed like second-generation core disciples.
They smiled at Myeong-gyeong, but their expressions hardened when their eyes landed on me. The air turned distinctly frosty.
Ahem. You're Lay Disciple Muk Hwi-yeong, correct?
Yes.
We were around the same age and had no prior connection, so we used formal speech. Even so, they'd always felt a bit awkward around me—but this was outright alienating.
You've been summoned to Samcheong Hall. Orders say to report there immediately upon return.
Samcheong Hall?
Yes. Direct order from the sect leader.
A summons from the sect leader himself? No wonder my nerves kicked in—being called by someone that high up always did.
Any idea what it's about...?
No clue on our end.
I'd probed gently for hints, but they genuinely seemed in the dark. Myeong-gyeong, sensing my unease, chimed in.
Did you do something wrong?
What would I even have to mess up?
Like getting caught pissing on the Samcheong Hall building or something.
I'm not a little kid like you, senior brother.
I-I've never done that at Samcheong Hall!
So he'd done it elsewhere, then. I held my tongue—no point poking the bear and setting him off.
I left the fretting Myeong-gyeong at the Gongdo Pavilion and headed to Samcheong Hall. My Cheongun Steps had advanced considerably during my travels, making the cliff ascent a breeze.
Atop the cliff stood a face I wasn't thrilled to see, wearing a smile.
True Person... no, Master.
Took you long enough.
Cheonghwa True Person stood there, arms crossed, looking down at me. I brushed the cliff dust from my clothes as I replied.
I had a lot to handle.
I imagine.
That mocking tone made me flinch. Surely he didn't know everything I'd been up to outside. I'd even sworn Myeong-gyeong to secrecy, and he hadn't even seen Cheonghwa.
Ahem. The sect leader summoned me, so I'll head in now.
I'll come along. Your master was summoned too.
I see.
My unease ratcheted up. I walked the corridors with Cheonghwa toward the sect leader's chambers.
The door opened to reveal Sect Leader Cheong-ui's piercing gaze welcoming me.
You're here. Enjoy your excursion?
Ah, yes. It was fine.
Fine, I'm sure. You did what you wanted, after all.
What I wanted?
Formed a merchant caravan, didn't you?
His words came so casually that I coughed. Creating the caravan wasn't some grave sin.
Still, I'd silenced Myeong-gyeong and done some schmoozing to avoid needless rumors. Not that it mattered now.
I told you to focus on martial arts...
Cheonghwa ground his teeth in a forced smile. This was exactly the noise I'd wanted to dodge—the kind that would send focus on martial arts types into fits. Cheonghwa was exhibit A.
Does it matter what a lay disciple gets up to? Isn't that why he rejected core discipleship and chose unnamed lay status?
True enough.
Blessedly, Sect Leader Cheong-ui defended me instead. Right—I had nothing to hide. My conscience was crystal clear.
But he said he was going to see his father. Turns out he skipped the father and just made a caravan.
Okay, that one stung a bit. But I was a regressor merchant—petty white lies like that couldn't scratch my callused conscience.
Schedules change.
I cleared my throat and counterattacked.
Do lay disciples usually get tailed on outings like this?
Not tailed. Someone just tipped us off.
Who?
Zhuge Yeon, young lady of the Zhuge Clan, paid a visit.
Ah, that...
A torrent of curses bubbled in my throat, but I swallowed them. I knew restraint.
Quite the sharp and beautiful young lady.
Indeed. She called you clever and upright, Hwi-yeong.
Did she now?
That made no sense. Cheong-ui wasn't one to fabricate praise. Whatever scheme Zhuge Yeon had, she'd sung my praises for it. Her visit to Wudang alone screamed ulterior motives.
Young Lady Zhuge went on and on about you. Cured the Wuhuan plague, earned the title Hebei Divine Physician.
Just luck.
No. A fine example for any Wudang disciple. Well done.
Thank you.
The sect leader's praise felt good, but the knot of anxiety in my gut tightened. Had Zhuge Yeon really just sung my praises? No way.
With such upright intentions, what does it matter if he runs a caravan or whatever? Right, Cheonghwa?
Agreed.
Cheonghwa nodded grudgingly. At least for spreading word of my Wuhuan exploits, I owed Zhuge Yeon some thanks.
With my face duly gilded, I cleared my throat. Time for the bad news she'd brought.
But she didn't come all the way to Wudang just to pass on compliments.
Correct. The Zhuge Clan has invited Wudang's junior disciples.
Invited?
Yes. To foster camaraderie among Hebei's famed orthodox sects, or so they say. We exchange like that occasionally.
Am I included?
Young Lady Zhuge insisted you be. Said she had to meet the Hebei Divine Physician.
She'd conveniently omitted our Yangyang encounter. Whatever—Zhuge Yeon wanted me at the Zhuge Clan. The other juniors were none of my concern.
I see.
You just returned from travels, so your preference matters most. Skip it if you're tired.
No.
I smiled. Zhuge Yeon didn't want the Hebei Divine Physician—she wanted the Hwi-yeong Merchant Group's guildmaster.
I should go.
Guildmasters answer the call, be it foe or friend.