46. I Still Don't Know Yet (1)
Myeong-il was sipping his tea, feigning ignorance after stirring up the fight.
Sitting beside Je-gal Hyeon were two boys about Myeong-il's age, as if they'd handpicked them to match our group exactly.
The boys from the Jegal Clan glared at Myeong-il. After all, it was Myeong-il, not me, who'd thrown the provocation.
Je-gal Yeon watched the scene with evident interest, while Je-gal Hyeon kept shooting me dirty looks. Feeling awkward, I scratched my cheek.
"I'm not confident in my skills."
"You can't say that."
Surprisingly, Myeong-il spoke up again.
"If a Wudang disciple admits a lack of confidence."
Is Wudang really that impressive, enough to fool even yourself? I wanted to ask, but held back. As the adult here, I had to endure.
"You're getting too cocky, flapping your mouth like that."
"Yeah. You should know when to stop disrespecting the Jegal Clan. Who do you think you are, declaring our big brother will lose?"
The Jegal Clan boys bristled at Myeong-il, but he glanced at them indifferently and replied in a flat tone.
"Don't you know who I am?"
At that, the boys' faces flushed red. They knew exactly who Myeong-il was.
Was that the spirit every Wudang disciple should have? It was fascinating to see an intimidating aura emanating from a kid barely ten years old.
"Even if you're the top prodigy of Wudang, we're no pushovers!"
"I've never thought you were."
Myeong-il took a leisurely sip of his tea.
"It's just that you don't reach the level I aspire to."
I looked at Myeong-il anew. Quiet at first, but capable of such bold provocation. Though he didn't even seem to see it as provocation. He probably truly looked up to heights beyond these Jegal Clan kids.
The eyes of the two Jegal boys locked with Myeong-il's, and mine met Je-gal Hyeon's.
"Alright, that's enough."
Je-gal Yeon clapped her hands to diffuse the tension.
"We're sparring anyway, so no need to waste energy here. This spar isn't about determining superiority—it's about getting a feel for each other's martial arts."
"When's this spar happening?"
"When the clan head returns. He has to preside over it."
I nodded at the answer. A random thought crossed my mind: Je-gal Yeon was still young, yet she handled official matters so adeptly.
She was already acting as deputy head of the outer hall, which meant she was direct lineage. Referring to the clan head instead of her father suggested it was a formal occasion.
"We've prepared quarters in the outer hall for Wudang's honored guests. Rest there—the servants will guide you out."
"Yes, sure."
I pushed back my chair to leave immediately. Best to end an uncomfortable gathering quickly. But then Je-gal Yeon's white fan blocked my path.
"Ah, Muk young hero—mind having a quick word with me?"
Before I could protest, everyone except me and Je-gal Yeon filed out. She refilled my empty teacup.
"Do you like me or something?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Dragging out a lay disciple you're embarrassed to be seen with? That's suspicious. I'll pass in advance. My type's someone nicer than you, Miss Jegal."
Je-gal Yeon stared at me in disbelief. Her eyes said it was too ridiculous to even get mad about.
"I don't have a specific type, but I'll marry into a family beneficial to the clan. Yours won't be it."
"Makes me want to do something nice for my father for once. Thanks for looking out for my whole family."
"Your madness has reached your brain. Can't even the Hebei Divine Church handle its own affairs?"
"Better than chasing someone else's rice bowl and losing your own—like with Muhan Merchant Group."
I caught Je-gal Yeon's pupils dilate for a split second. True to her iron-face reputation, she didn't show it, but she couldn't fool my eyes.
Her small fist trembled as she gritted out,
"You knew the Jegal Clan backs Muhan Merchant Group?"
"Not exactly."
"Would it have changed anything if you did?"
"Of course."
"Then know your place..."
"I should've snatched even more of their rice bowl. What a shame."
Je-gal Yeon snapped open her white fan to hide her face. That one landed a hit. Forcing her expression steady must've been tough.
Once composed, she lowered the fan to her thigh.
"That's not what I meant to say."
"Then what?"
"Leave Dongho Merchant Group and join Muhan Merchant Group."
"They kicked me out."
"Things are different now. We've replaced all the higher-ups with smart people."
Her chilling words surprised me a bit. Dongho was rising, sure, but still rebuilding. Muhan could've crushed us anytime before. That ruthless decisiveness and coldness—she was every bit the iron-face I knew.
"I'm offering you a chance. Naturally, your caravan would get special treatment there too."
"To appease the Audit Office's deputy envoy, right?"
"Good, you catch on quick."
Je-gal Yeon flashed her usual confident smile. She wasn't wrong, of course. The Jegal Clan didn't go back on their word, and funneling work to one caravan was feasible. Hwi-yeong Merchant Group would grow even faster that way.
But she called it an opportunity; to me, it sounded like a plea. When someone without a shred of humility begs like that, the answer's obvious.
"No thanks."
Je-gal Yeon's face, which had viewed it as an opportunity, hardened.
"Do you know what it means to oppose the Jegal Clan in Hebei? Wudang may have stronger martial arts, but in regional influence and everything else, we're superior."
"I know. But still no."
"You really don't know your place. I hear your capital wasn't even yours—you borrowed from lay disciples to start the caravan. Got the means to repay if it fails?"
"Preventing failure is what makes me capable."
"The Jegal Clan dominates Hebei's commerce. Crushing your little caravan is nothing, and we could even make Wudang uncomfortable. They won't sour relations with us over one lay disciple, and neither will we—so just handle your side."
"Even as Wudang, I'm just a lay disciple. No strong attachment there. If it sours things because of me, it's not my fault."
The argument paused briefly. We both needed a breather. Like a tacit truce, we each took a sip of tea.
Je-gal Yeon sighed. It carried a hint of pity, as if I'd made a colossal mistake.
"Can't reason with you, huh? I don't enjoy talking to beasts."
"Sometimes beasts are better than people."
"But I expected this. You don't know your place."
"Really? Then I wasted my breath."
"That's why I summoned you to the Jegal Clan. See what kind of place it is. Then regret it—realizing you dared swing a mantis blade at it."
"No thanks."
My final nail made her composure crack at last. Holding it together this long was impressive.
I hadn't refused because of her tone. Her offer was worth considering—no reason to make an enemy of Je-gal Yeon. She wasn't lying.
But rumors were already spreading in merchant circles that I'd built Dongho Merchant Group from the ashes of Muhan. Jumping ship now would shatter that trust.
Great successes crumble when people carelessly climb steps they once dismissed as trivial. Even a well-designed pillar can't stand on a sphere.
"Get out. You'll realize it someday—how massive an opportunity you missed, and the disaster you invited that you could've averted."
"Counteroffer?"
As I turned to leave, a thought struck me. I gripped the doorknob and looked back.
"Invest in Hwi-yeong Merchant Group now, and I'll return double—whatever the amount."
"I didn't want to hear it, and now it sounds even more worthless."
"You'll realize it someday—how massive an opportunity you missed."
Only after her face twisted like a vengeful spirit did I slip out the door.
The manor grounds were still misty, but the breeze felt refreshing.
Je-gal Yeon raised her teacup to hurl it at the door but held back. Anywhere else, she wouldn't care, but this was outer hall property for entertaining guests. She couldn't casually damage it.
A burly man dropped lightly from the ceiling. Direct lineage always had hidden escorts like this. They'd traveled openly on outings before, but inside the clan, he lurked like this.
"You alright, Deputy Head?"
"Got an earful holding back curses."
Won gave a wry smile. Even he'd clenched his fist listening silently from above—Muk Hwi-yeong had a knack for infuriating words.
"Just let it rip. It'll feel good."
"Nah. I'll curse alone when no one's around. That's a prestigious clan's dignity."
"As you say."
Je-gal Yeon rarely bent her opinions—only to those above her.
"Tell Hyeon: crush him as painfully as possible. Don't care if he's crippled."
"Cripples happen often in spars anyway."
"Right. Hyeon won't lose."
Je-gal Hyeon was rated below other clans' later-generation talents, but twenty years of top elixirs and training couldn't be ignored.
"He absolutely can't lose. The guy didn't even twitch when I moved at that inn last time."
"Yeah?"
Won, one of the clan's top talents, said it—so it must be true.
"Still, tell him not to get complacent till the end. He can lose to others, but not that punk."
It wasn't just resentment. Myeong-il and his peers had fame, but they were mere kids around ten. The bout between older Je-gal Hyeon and Muk Hwi-yeong would draw more eyes.
The Jegal Clan had invited them for exchange—the clan needed a win. That was the outer hall's duty, or face the clan head's wrath.
"Check the sparring grounds one last time. Where's the clan head now?"
"Just descending Yungzhong Mountain, per the messenger hawk."
"Still a ways off."
Je-gal Yeon tensed. Won looked at her sympathetically. Always poised, but the clan head's name made her stiffen.
Then someone flung open the parlor door.
"The clan head has arrived!"
Je-gal Yeon shot Won a glare. He blinked innocently.