Resolving the Dispute (1)

"Deungchon, you’ve worked hard. Give these Northern Heaven Short Swords to the servants and maids as well. However, if any of them are short on money and want to sell theirs, have Bukcheon-won buy them directly."

The Golden Young Master, Seok Geum-ryong, kept his promise to issue the Northern Heaven Short Sword even to the lowliest servants.

He distributed them to everyone, from the youngest maid to the oldest servant.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

"To think you’d give something this precious to humble people like us."

"This Northern Heaven Short Sword is our pride and our honor. We would never sell it carelessly."

And then something remarkable happened.

They had expected that, since many of them were strapped for money, the swords would be sold off whenever the chance came. But no.

However poor one might be, a person still needed the pride to walk the world with their head held high.

For the poor servants and maids, the sword that proved they belonged to Bukcheon-won was worth far more than even dozens of taels of gold. No one would trade it away.

If they were truly hard up, Bukcheon-won would lend them money at a low interest rate, and since the value of the sword would only rise as time passed, there was not a single fool who was selling it already.

"Aigoo, this is infuriating! Not even a single blade can be had?"

Even Seok Ho-in, the Mad Tiger Young Master who wanted the Northern Heaven Short Sword made from the bones of the Thousand-Year Python more than anyone else, coveted it desperately. Yet...

"Young Master. There isn’t a single servant in Bukcheon-won who would sell that sword, they say. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If they did, they’d be treated like traitors to the nation. Who would dare sell it under those circumstances?"

It was difficult to obtain for Seok Ho-in and the other highborn members of Seokga Manor no matter how badly they wanted it.

Before long, the Northern Heaven Short Sword, the symbol of one’s membership in Bukcheon-won, had become an object of envy even inside Seokga Manor itself.

"Seok Geum-ryong, manor lord, no, Ryong-ah. They say that Northern Heaven Short Sword is something extraordinary. Are you not going to give one to your father?"

"That’s right. I’m disappointed, Young Master."

Even Seok Ji-sung, the lord of Seokga Manor, and Jo Seung-pyo, the chief butler and Sword Discussant, came looking for one.

Amused by the whole scene, Seok Geum-ryong smiled brightly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and treated the two of them to a proper reception.

"How could that be? I was so busy taking care of the family who struggled alongside me through the hard years that I failed to think of it sooner."

After speaking respectfully, Seok Geum-ryong gladly handed each of them a Northern Heaven Short Sword as well.

And that was not all.

"Father. The Central Plains martial world has been especially turbulent lately. So... please wear this."

Seok Geum-ryong looked left and right, then slyly produced something and offered it up.

It was none other than an upper-body armor, about half the size of the Eternal Armor he wore himself, one that protected only the torso.

"What is this?"

At a glance, it looked expensive and rare. Seok Ji-sung was greatly startled and looked at his fifth son.

"This is called the Great Python Upper Armor, refined from the hide and scales of the Thousand-Year Python. It is a divine treasure among divine treasures, one that protects its wearer even without any martial skill or inner power. Please wear it at all times."

"Hahahaha!"

Seok Ji-sung could not help but laugh at his son’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thoughtfulness.

'So far, the children I’ve had have either asked me for many things or taken them from me, but the ones who simply gave things away were almost nonexistent.'

And even those were only the sort who were trying to flatter him in hopes of benefiting from him later.

In other words, no one had ever truly worried about Seok Ji-sung’s health and life and gifted him something out of sincere concern for his longevity. Seok Dong-seo was no different, nor was Seok Ju-woo; they had only ever pretended to care about his health, and never once given him anything of substance. Seok Geum-ryong was the first.

"Thank you, my son."

Moved deeply by Seok Geum-ryong’s sincere gift, Seok Ji-sung felt his chest grow tight with emotion.

"Not at all. I only worry too much, so please wear it well."

Seok Geum-ryong repeated the instruction firmly.

There was another reason he was doing this.

In my previous life, Manor Lord Seok Ji-sung eventually died.

Even the circumstances of that death were never properly revealed, leaving many things suspicious. In the end, it became clear that the eldest son, Seok Dong-seo, and the Dark Heaven Alliance, the heart of the unorthodox martial world, had been involved.

In other words, there was a strong chance it had been murder. At the very least, he needed the Great Python Upper Armor to protect him.

"Your concern for this unworthy father is so wholehearted that... how could I ever set it aside? I shall wear this Great Python Upper Armor, and every time I see it, I will think of you, Ryong."

"Thank you."

Seokga Manor had always been a place where fathers and sons, even blood relatives, killed one another as a matter of course.

In that grim atmosphere, it was rare to see such a normal exchange of fatherly affection, and Jo Seung-pyo found himself smiling with quiet satisfaction as well.

"Good, very good. Then I’m curious about your future plans."

As Seok Ji-sung put it, a merchant must have both this year’s plans and next year’s plans in place. In his view, the greatest waste for a merchant was not failing to sell goods, but failing to use time properly and letting it slip away uselessly.

"By good fortune, I’ve been able to recruit Heaven-Earth Scholar Na Cheon-lip. On top of that, the weapons and armor we’ve made in small numbers have been selling out every day. So I plan to grow this business much larger."

Seok Geum-ryong stated his plans for the future with confidence.

"Not a bad plan. The martial world is a place where conflict never ceases, so there will certainly be demand. But there is one thing that concerns me."

After recruiting Heaven-Earth Scholar Na Cheon-lip, Seok Ji-sung felt the plan to sell high-quality weapons and armor to a select elite was very sound.

However, there was still something that worried him.

"What is it?"

"When you sell blades... more often than not, the one who wields it ends up resenting the one who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sold it."

"Ah!"

At Seok Ji-sung’s words, Seok Geum-ryong also came to an understanding and let out a cry of admiration.

He had never considered that far ahead.

"Especially if the one swinging it is powerful, weak-minded people will end up blaming the weapons merchant who sold a sharp thing to a strong man, rather than the strong man himself."

With that, Seok Ji-sung closed his eyes.

In truth, he had experienced this himself.

When Seok Ji-sung was young, he had recruited an outstanding group of blacksmiths and ambitiously sold respectable swords to the martial world.

The business had gone well and continued to thrive, but later on, the bereaved families and enemies of those who had died by swords he sold came to blame him.

What did that experience teach?

"The key in selling anything is how you keep your center. Let me give you one piece of advice..."

Seok Ji-sung grinned.

"There is no perfect answer in this world. So... Ryong, once you decide that you are the answer, then after making that decision! Push forward to the end, and never let yourself waver."

With a sudden surge of emotion, Seok Geum-ryong felt deep gratitude in his chest.

I am the answer...

Even if it was the wrong answer, if one pushed forward all the way, it would eventually become the right one. Seok Geum-ryong took Seok Ji-sung’s advice to heart.

* * *

Once the first things he sold received an even better response than expected at the market, Seok Geum-ryong bought up even more steel and leather.

There is a saying in the merchant world: the most profitable businesses are the liquor trade and the weapons trade.

That meant that, compared to their production cost, the greatest profits came from taverns that sold alcohol and weapons shops that sold arms.

Besides that...

"Oho, just look at these longswords!"

"And these armor sets too!"

After Seok Geum-ryong and Butler Gong Sang-pil took charge, a tremendous number of goods were completed.

They might fall short of being called immortal blades, but they were still excellent weapons and armor of very fine quality.

What happened when such things were released into the Central Plains martial world?

"Young Master! The major sect Iron Cavalry Hall in Shanxi and the Nine Yin Association in Hebei have both submitted requests to buy the entire stock. Iron Cavalry Hall says they’ll pay immediately, while the Nine Yin Association is currently locked in fierce battles, so... once the fighting ends, they say they’ll pay above market price. What should we do?"

Everything they put out sold completely, and it sold out so quickly that some people began reserving it before it even reached the market.

Especially Iron Cavalry Hall in Shanxi and the Nine Yin Association in Hebei are both said to have recently fought fierce battles because rival sects or enemies appeared.

As a result, they needed high-quality weapons and armor badly, and were making every effort to buy them outright.

In particular, the Nine Yin Association had been struggling lately, so even if they could not pay right away, they were trying to secure as much inventory as possible.

"Sell it to the Nine Yin Association."

Ohh!

When Seok Geum-ryong finally made his choice, the people around him gasped in surprise.

Honestly, they had expected him to sell to Iron Cavalry Hall rather than the Nine Yin Association.

That was because Seok Geum-ryong disliked accepting payment on credit, so they had assumed he would not make allowances for the Nine Yin Association’s difficult circumstances.

"Why the Nine Yin Association?"

Gong Sang-pil asked.

"The Nine Yin Association stood beside our Seokga Manor, and more than that, they showed their support as an unorthodox participant at the Hebei Exchange Meeting I hosted. Besides, I’m already acquainted with Yin-Extending Sword Cho So-yeon, who may well become the next association master, so how could I ignore their situation?"

One must understand the other party’s circumstances.

The character 商 in the word for merchant itself carried the meaning of measuring and understanding, which meant a merchant should know the other side well and, at times, help them through hardship.

And there was one more reason.

"By my estimate, the Nine Yin Association’s foundation is not to be underestimated. In all likelihood... they will achieve a complete victory."

At present, the unorthodox martial world in Hebei was locked in a territorial struggle with a newly risen unorthodox faction and assassination group called the Killing Intent Hall.

That new faction proved stronger than expected, and the Nine Yin Association, being a small elite force, was having a hard time holding out.

So much so that...

-The Nine Yin Association is finished now!

-They’ll be crushed by the Killing Intent Hall and reduced to their slaves!

-Anyone owed money or goods by the Nine Yin Association should hurry and reclaim them now.

Rumors like these spread, and people who had loans or debts with the Nine Yin Association, which was already engaged in a life-and-death struggle, started demanding repayment all at once, causing chaos.

Human nature was such that the more likely people thought they were to lose what they were owed, the more they made a fuss over it, and the Nine Yin Association was suffering because of those people.

"Even if the Nine Yin Association’s situation is difficult right now, they will surely rise again, so let us trust them."

Even so, Seok Geum-ryong continued to place his trust in them.

He did not merely say it; he actually hurried to complete the weapons and armor before payment had even been received and sent them out.

Just as it seemed he was selling off the entire supply to the Nine Yin Association, the very thing Seok Ji-sung had feared happened unexpectedly.

One day, a letter arrived from Seok Geum-ryong.