I Am a Merchant Group (2)
“No merchant house will deal with Hwi-yeong Merchant Group from now on. They all bowed their heads without question the moment I dropped the Je-gal family name.”
“No one buys as many books as the Je-gal family. They have no choice but to play along.”
Je-gal Yeon nodded in satisfaction. The outer sect member relaxed upon seeing his expression. It looked like today would pass without the young master's usual tantrum.
“But what books are they selling?”
“Green Forest Twelve Forms.”
“Green Forest Twelve Forms?”
In the Central Plains, books were luxury items. Only the wealthy could afford them; the poor grabbed hoes or sickles and headed to the fields. Common folk might buy only a handful of truly essential texts like the Thousand Character Classic in their entire lives.
But Green Forest Twelve Forms was a martial arts manual aimed at the commoners. Any well-off family already had their heirloom arts. It was the kind of book only destitute peasants might buy. To Je-gal Yeon, it seemed like an utterly idiotic product choice.
“They'd have gone bankrupt even without our interference, right?”
“That's what I think too.”
“But since we did interfere, they'll be utterly ruined.”
“Yes, sir.”
Je-gal Yeon grinned. Goosebumps prickled the subordinate's skin. The young master only smiled when he was crushing someone. That smile brimmed with twisted malice.
“So why'd he have to poke the bear?”
Je-gal Yeon had planned to treat Muk Hwi-yeong better than some lay disciple if he came crawling. He had the Hebei Divine Physician title and had saved Dongho Merchant Association—not just luck, in her view. She didn't scorn the truly capable.
Of course, talent or not, crossing the Je-gal family meant he'd get crushed. Starting a merchant house and buying books must've racked up debts. He'd dump them all at fire-sale prices and go bankrupt.
“Heh heh heh.”
Imagining Muk Hwi-yeong's smug face crumpling brought laughter bubbling up. The subordinate stared, amazed to see him smile twice in one day. But Je-gal Yeon cut it off the moment their eyes met.
“What about that Infinite Market survey I mentioned last time?”
“Pardon? Oh, we're still working on it.”
“I told you about it ages ago, and you're still working on it? Have you lost your mind?”
A biting winter chill swept through the young master's office in an instant.
“I'm sorry. I'll finish it as fast as possible.”
“Why apologize for something you shouldn't have done?”
“Well, because you assigned it separately...”
“'Because'? That's casual talk. You trying to be friends now? Do I look like your buddy?”
“I'm sorry.”
“Why drag out a simple 'I'm sorry' and embarrass everyone?”
“I'm sorry! I must've gone mad for a moment.”
“'Must've'? So maybe you did, maybe you didn't? Looks straight-up insane to me.”
“Urk...”
Reeling under Je-gal Yeon's razor tongue, the subordinate finally passed out, foaming at the mouth. Je-gal Yeon clicked his tongue, summoned someone to drag the body out. A typical scene in the Je-gal family outer sect.
Inns always drew gossips, as they always did. Even in a backwater like Gyunhyeon, but especially in a bustling hub like Infinite.
“Heard Black Dragon Gate crushed Thousand Snakes Gang this time?”
“So Black Dragon Gate's on top now?”
“Yep. No future bending the knee to Thousand Snakes anymore. Better to bow to the strong.”
“Damn. Back-alley brawls really are unpredictable—one day changes everything. Who'd have thought those ragtag Black Dragon punks would conquer Infinite with one expert?”
“No kidding.”
Inn chatter usually stuck to commoners' lives. Folks ran into unorthodox more than orthodox. The righteous rarely bothered peasants, but the wicked came collecting “protection” money.
“But who's this expert?”
“You don't know? Flame Fire Ghost Hand Mun Il-ji just joined as vice sect leader.”
“Mun Il-ji? Who's that?”
“You serious? Famous Zhejiang drifter.”
“Like that Infinite Merchant Association's Jeon Gil-sang hothead?”
“Jeon Gil-sang? That fraud got exposed and beat half to death—lucky he survived. Don't compare him to Flame Fire Ghost Hand; even the yamen watches that black dao heavy.”
“Oh, got it.”
I nodded, jotting the gossip on a scrap of paper.
The gossips eyed me warily. Probably thought I might be Thousand Snakes and bring bad luck.
“Who are you, anyway? Not local.”
“How'd you know with the bamboo hat?”
He tilted his head, sniffing dramatically, drawing laughs. It cracked me up too; I chuckled and doffed the hat.
“Hey, I know that face.”
“Kinda ordinary. Where from?”
“Slippery fox vibe, sly as hell.”
I gave a wry smile at the face ratings. One finally recognized me.
“Hebei Divine Physician?”
“You still remember.”
“'Course! My nephew owes you his life.”
At “Hebei Divine Physician,” eyes turned my way—all friendly, thanks to my Infinite deeds.
“If it's the Divine Physician, drinks on me! One bottle of Jukyeopcheong here!”
The gossip slung an arm around me, laughing. I played along, beaming as he dragged me over. No matter how sharp Jo Chung-heon was, field intel was different.
I'd heard of this Mun Il-ji unorthodox expert, but not his caliber—now I did.
“So why's the Hebei Divine Physician investigating Infinite's unorthodox?”
“Investigating? I'm no runner.”
“Looked like note-taking to me.”
Sharp as expected. I just shrugged.
“Running a merchant house now. We deal with black dao too, so good to know.”
“Ah, right! You're the one who saved Dongho Merchant Association!”
“Mutual benefit.”
“What's the house called?”
“Hwi-yeong Merchant Group.”
“Never heard. Operating elsewhere?”
“Nah, set up but not selling yet.”
“Prep stage, huh. Folks'd buy anything from the Divine Physician.”
He slapped my back, roaring with laughter. I hadn't banked on it, but the title might help a bit. Not sales-changing, though—merchants win on quality and edge.
“Sure, gotta keep good ties with black dao. But you? No need.”
“Why not?”
“Wudang lay disciple. Which black dao messes with that?”
“Not borrowing sect power if I can help it.”
“Noble guy. Most would lean on it.”
I'd love to, but I'm no ordinary lay disciple. Refusing core discipleship for a merchant house already draws side-eye—no way they'd help. Didn't spill that, just brushed it off.
After, I humored the gossips, milking more info. Jo Chung-heon was right—Black Dragon Gate dominated Infinite.
Sect leader was a nobody thug who'd tapped Mun Il-ji via old ties for vice. Connections counted as skill in the jianghu.
“Thanks for the drinks.”
I bowed out of the inn. My fame still held sway; they tried holding me, but I'd gotten all I needed.
I unfolded Jo Chung-heon's report. It even pinned unorthodox bases. No signs out front, but he'd nailed them quick—competent.
“Alright...”
I spread Infinite's map, marking all spots. Then back to Hwi-yeong Merchant Group office. Everyone but Jo Chung-heon had clocked out—evening, after all.
Why no quit for him? I told him to wait. Might seem unfair, but he showed no gripe.
“You're back, Group Leader.”
“Ready for a business trip?”
“Business trip?”
“I wouldn't make you wait for nothing.”
“True...”
He eyed me dubiously. No words needed—this hour for a trip?
“Where to?”
“Thousand Snakes Gang first.”
“Ah.”
He'd half-guessed. I'd cleaned up Infinite's unorthodox, after all.
“Not during day?”
“Black dao sleep days, prowl nights. This is their 'day.' We're asking a favor—match their schedule.”
“...But is this okay?”
“What?”
“You're Wudang lay disciple, right?”
“So?”
“Hanging with unorthodox?”
“Right now, I'm Hwi-yeong Merchant Group's leader, not Wudang's lay disciple.”
“Understood.”
I nodded. Good he speaks up—then cuts off when he senses my angle. Ideal subordinate.
“Group Leader, just so you know, Black Dragon Gate's the biggest here. Thousand Snakes peaked long ago, now way behind.”
“Yeah. They're squeezing Infinite tight.”
“You knew.”
“Your report said so.”
“Then why Thousand Snakes before them? Might piss off Black Dragon if they hear.”
“Not visiting Black Dragon, so no issue.”
He tilted his head. I spread the map.
“No mark for Black Dragon?”
“Nope. Not going.”
More confusion.
“Why?”
“If they control Infinite, they're raking cash, noses sky-high. Deals need mutual need—otherwise it's begging.”
Jo Chung-heon let out an admiring gasp. Still green; basics amaze him.
“Lesson learned, Group Leader.”
“No big deal.”
I grinned, stepping on. Soon, a half-wrecked shack loomed—door splintered.
Its hideous state stunned us both. But map confirmed.
“Let's go in.”
Door half-gone, insides visible—no knock needed.
Step in, and a blade flashed from the dark at my throat. I halted, hands up. No fight.
Jo Chung-heon gasped late, spotting it.
“Who're you? This ain't for randos. Wrong spot for shelter.”
“Thousand Snakes Gang, right?”
“...Yeah.”
The black dao swordsman answered dumbly, like he hadn't expected us to know.
“I'm Hwi-yeong Merchant Group's leader, Muk Hwi-yeong. Here on business. Can I see your gang leader?”
“Business?”
Confusion filled the man's eyes. His shock confirmed we'd hit the mark.