Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Translator: Penny
Chapter 28
On the Threshold of Spring (3)
The next day, Song Hwarin returned.
"Did you speak to Patriarch Byeok?"
Her urgency was palpable. It seemed Song Ugyeong was poised to make a decision within the next day or two.
"No, I didn't."
Disappointment spread across her face.
"I see. Well, there's nothing to be done. I'm sorry for asking you to do something so pointless."
She turned to leave immediately.
"I think you're approaching this the wrong way."
"What do you mean?"
"Human nature dictates that the more you try to stop someone, the more they'll want to do it. Yes, as you said, if our fathers earnestly dissuade him, he might give up. But wouldn't he harbor lingering regrets about this for years to come?"
She fell silent, as if she hadn't considered that possibility.
"Moreover, this could strain the friendship between our fathers. That's not what you want, is it?"
"Of course. I don't want this incident to change the relationship between our fathers either."
"That's why I think that even if you decide to withdraw from this, you should go through a process that you can fully understand yourself. Or find a concrete reason to refuse outright."
"A concrete reason to refuse outright?"
She had a strong sense of conviction, but she wasn't the type to cling to pointless stubbornness.
"You're right. But... how exactly am I supposed to find that reason?"
"Have you even looked?"
"What?"
"Have you looked? I mean, beyond that suppressed desire you mentioned, have you searched for a specific reason to stop this?"
She flinched as if struck at her core. Then she shook her head.
"I have looked. And through Chief Steward Jong, I've discovered something worth investigating."
"What is it?"
"A few months ago, the Shandong Merchant Guild was planning a major business venture. But suddenly, all talk about it vanished."
"What kind of venture?"
"I don't know. I can't even say if it's related to this situation. But we need to find out why the project was abandoned. It might reveal their true intentions toward the Martial Arts Sects."
"But we don't have time. Father will have to give them an answer soon."
"There's a way to get information by today."
"How?"
"We can pay an information broker for details about them. It's the fastest and most accurate way."
"An information broker?"
Her voice trembled. She'd probably never used one before.
"We'll need money."
"How much?"
"One thousand taels? Two thousand taels? I'm not sure exactly. Probably the more we pay, the more accurate the information will be."
"Are you crazy? Two thousand taels is an astronomical sum!"
Based on my experience, the most effective response in such situations was this:
"The choice is yours."
Two hours later, she returned with the money. I didn't ask where or how she'd obtained it. As the heir to Song Family Manor, she likely had access to two thousand taels, though it must have strained her resources considerably. After all, that was a substantial sum for a twenty-year-old woman.
We went to see the information broker together. On the way, we bought two bamboo hats and pulled them low over our faces. She seemed both frightened and nervous throughout the entire process.
Her impression of information brokers was poor. She harbored a vague fear of their dark and rough reputation, as well as a deep distrust, believing they would take her money and deceive her.
It was only natural for someone who had never used an information broker before to feel this way. Moreover, her companion likely wasn't someone she trusted completely either.
The Martial Arts World was teeming with information brokers, ranging from small, independent operators to large organizations with branches spanning the entire realm.
I, of course, knew them all very well.
The Pavilion of Righteous Intent, led by Gal Saryang, was fundamentally an organization that dealt in information.
Therefore, it not only maintained its own intelligence network but also cultivated ties with various information groups across the Martial Arts World. Among these, its relationship with the Heavenly Net Society (天網會), named for its vast intelligence network, was particularly deep.
The Heavenly Net Society, along with Ghost Eye Valley (鬼眼谷) and Myriad Connections Society (萬通會), formed the Three Great Information Organizations of the Murim.
I had already investigated several information brokers operating in Shandong.
To build the Byeokli Sword School into a major force, two things were absolutely essential: money and information. Without mastering these, we could never grow into a truly powerful sect. That's why I had been investigating the information brokers operating in Shandong.
Through my inquiries, I learned that the Heavenly Net Society had a branch in Qufu. I took her there.
At the entrance, she hesitated. "I'm nervous. It's my first time."
"Then they'll rip you off."
"What?"
"Don't let them know it's your first time."
"Got it."
She took several deep breaths, slapping her cheeks to calm herself.
A middle-aged man with a goatee greeted us. He had a meticulous and observant air, as if he wouldn't miss a single detail. Though not particularly likable, his appearance suited his profession as an information broker perfectly.
"What information are you seeking?"
"I want to know about the Shandong Merchant Guild."
Every piece of information has its price. Of course, the value of information fluctuates more rapidly than any other commodity. Information worth ten taels yesterday might be worth a thousand taels today.
"Fifteen hundred taels. It was originally two hundred taels, but the price has recently increased."
There was a hidden meaning in her words—a suggestion that recent events had raised the value of this information.
I looked at her.
She hesitated.
I turned to the information broker.
"Give us a moment."
"As you wish."
The broker readily left, as if this were a common request.
We removed our conical hats. She asked with a worried expression, "Do you really think this information is worth fifteen hundred taels?"
"We can't know for sure."
We wouldn't know until the broker revealed it.
"What would you do?"
"I'd buy it."
Her unwavering answer prompted her to ask, "Why?"
"Because it concerns my father. I can't afford to leave even the slightest possibility unexplored."
This time, she didn't hesitate. She nodded, pulling her bamboo hat lower over her eyes.
When the information broker returned, she handed over one thousand five hundred taels.
"I'll buy it."
"Excellent. I'll tell you everything."
I asked about their alliance with the Martial Arts Sect. He revealed the details:
"Several months ago, the Shandong Merchant Guild joined forces with the Yang Association to expand into Hebei."
"The Yang Association!"
She and I were both startled, though for different reasons. It was an unexpected name to hear.
Several months ago would have been during Yang Gicheol's tenure as Association Leader.
"As you know, for a merchant guild to expand into a new region is as challenging as a Martial Arts Sect's expansion. The existing guilds won't simply stand aside."
"You pushed ahead, relying on the Yang Association's strength, didn't you?"
"That's right. In the process, we clashed with Seok Family Manor, which supports the Hebei Merchant Guild. Local skirmishes erupted, and the conflict nearly escalated into a full-scale war."
This was a shocking revelation, one that had never been publicly disclosed.
"But with the recent death of the Yang Association Leader, the Shandong Merchant Guild has suffered a devastating blow. The new Association Leader, Jeong Yeo, has severed all ties with them, leaving the Shandong Merchant Guild adrift like a kite with a broken string."
"What's the reaction from the Hebei Merchant Guild and Seok Family Manor?"
"Naturally, they're sharpening their blades for revenge. Rumor has it the Hebei Merchant Guild is even planning to seize this opportunity to expand into Shandong themselves. Now, that's all the information I have on the Shandong Merchant Guild."
If this information proved useless to us, the price of fifteen hundred taels would be utterly exorbitant.
She didn't complain about the price.
As soon as we left the information broker, she exploded in anger at the Shandong Merchant Guild.
"The Shandong Alliance was all a lie! They were just trying to drag us in to escape the pressure from the Hebei Merchant Guild and the Seok Family Manor."
I nodded in agreement.
"You've hit the nail on the head."
There was more to it than that.
"By bringing up the Shandong Alliance as the main issue, they diverted attention from their true motives, which lie elsewhere entirely."
Even Song Ugyeong had been so focused on the Shandong Alliance that he failed to notice their hidden intentions. This meant the Shandong Merchant Guild had a skilled strategist among them.
"...That's terrifying."
"Yes, it is."
She was visibly shaken, but in truth, this was nothing. In the Martial Arts World, where conspiracies ran rampant, this was merely a clever scheme.
"I need to tell my father about this immediately."
She glanced back at me as she ran off.
"Thank you."
"You paid for this information with your own money. There's no need to thank me."
After a moment of staring at me, she turned and sprinted away.
While I did care about her, my primary motivation was to protect the friendship between her father and mine.
It was a bond worth preserving.
Song Ugyeong rejected the Shandong Merchant Guild's proposal.
Of course, he declined politely, without revealing that he had uncovered their true intentions.
As a result, Song Ugyeong and Song Hwarin visited our home again.
During a gathering of everyone, Song Ugyeong expressed his gratitude to me.
"I heard you were instrumental in uncovering the truth," he said.
"That's not true," I replied. "Lin-yi was the one who discovered it. I merely accompanied her for a while."
"Don't underestimate your role. If not for you, Our Manor would have been in serious trouble."
It seemed Song Hwarin had thoroughly explained how this entire affair was thanks to me.
Song Ugyeong took my hand. His large, rough hand was surprisingly warm.
"Thank you sincerely," he said.
His gaze held genuine trust.
If I had to assign a deeper meaning to this incident, it was a repayment for the profound friendship between him and my father.
"It's all thanks to Lin-yi," I said, giving her the credit until the very end.
Song Hwarin stood silently, her thoughts unreadable.
Song Ugyeong turned to his parents. "Our son-in-law saved Our Manor from a great disaster. We're truly grateful."
His parents couldn't hide their joy.
My father, in particular, was overjoyed that I had played a crucial role in extricating the Song Family Manor from its predicament. His expression betrayed his pride, though he never openly boasted about his children.
"It was Lin-yi's bold decision to secure the funds that made this possible," I added, supporting my father's words.
"You have a truly remarkable daughter," I said.
Song Ugyeong looked back and forth between Hwarin and me, then declared loudly, "You have a truly remarkable daughter!"
"Looking at you two together, you seem like a match made in heaven. Hahaha!"
My mother seized the opportunity.
"You really do look perfect together."
Afraid the atmosphere would soon turn to setting a wedding date for tomorrow, I quickly excused myself and Song Hwarin, leading her outside.
Thus, the Song Family Manor weathered another crisis.
I was struck anew by the realization that everything was connected to me. If I hadn't killed the Yang Association Leader, none of this would have happened. If I, as Alliance Leader, hadn't died, the Shandong Alliance strategy would never have been conceived.
For the first time, she apologized to me.
"I was the one who broke off the engagement first, and now I'm asking you for this favor. I must seem shameless. I'm sorry."
She lowered her head slightly as she spoke.
"Thank you, truly."
I smiled faintly.
I harbored no ill will toward her whatsoever.
If I were younger, if I had been smitten with her and yearned to possess her beauty, I would have scrutinized every detail, demanding explanations for each action. I would have lost control of my emotions, just as Byeok Ridan had when he confronted her and made a scene.
But I am a man who has lived seventy years.
I fully understand why she couldn't tolerate Byeok Ridan's outburst, why she proposed breaking off the engagement, and why she pleaded with me for her father's sake.
"As I said before, this is your doing."
She turned to leave. After walking a short distance, she glanced back at me. When I waved, she offered an awkward smile before hurrying away.
I cheer for her youthful spirit at twenty.
I only hope she achieves all her dreams.