Bloodlines and Bandit Shadows
Cheonhwa returned to the Haedong Merchant Group with the child he had met in the marketplace.
“Where did this child come from?”
“I will speak to Grandfather about it. In the meantime, please look after Arin. Give him some household chores, and if the two of you grow bored, teach him a bit of martial arts. He seems to have quite a bit of talent.”
“Understood. We will do so.”
“Arin, listen well to Grandfather Yong-deok. From now on, you must think of Yong-deok and Jeok-sang as your own grandfather and grandmother and follow them.”
“Yes, I will listen to Grandfather.”
“Good. I will go see Grandfather now.”
“Do so. Your name is Arin, is it?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“First, we must wash you. Come with me.”
Yong-deok led Arin toward the well inside the house.
Cheonhwa watched them go, then turned and made his way to the inner courtyard, stopping before the study where his grandfather usually stayed.
“Grandfather, it is Cheonhwa.”
“Come in.”
When Cheonhwa opened the door and entered, Yi Sang-woo closed the book he had been reading and set it aside, looking at him.
“What is it?”
“I heard something in the market today. The caravan Uncle took out was harassed by the bandits of Un Tae Mountain Stronghold.”
Yi Sang-woo’s expression shifted slightly.
“I heard that other merchant groups only had to pay tolls. Does that mean someone is targeting Uncle’s caravan specifically?”
“I cannot say for certain. A merchant can become either an enemy or a friend to anyone.”
Cheonhwa tilted his head, puzzled by the answer.
“You mean one can be both enemy and friend at the same time?”
“A merchant must consider not only personal gain but also the benefit of the group. This applies to anyone who belongs to an organization, not just merchants.”
When Cheonhwa still looked confused, Yi Sang-woo explained in greater detail.
“Unless they are bound by blood, most people one meets in society are difficult to form deep bonds with. Even if one does meet them often, a single misunderstanding can turn them into strangers. That is the nature of relationships formed in the wider world.”
Cheonhwa, whose comprehension far exceeded the ordinary, listened attentively.
“That is why, when meeting people, one must always set priorities. First, meet those who can help you immediately, then those from whom you might receive help later…”
Cheonhwa nodded, understanding.
“Then should we rebuild the merchant group in the same manner?”
“It would be the fastest way, but it is by no means the best. A family that rises by trampling others will itself be trampled once its power weakens, and when that happens, the family line will be severed.”
Despite the hardships, the fact that the maternal side could still operate the merchant group suggested that Yi Sang-woo had not conducted business too ruthlessly in his time.
“Are relations with the Jiangsu Merchant Group poor?”
“Why do you ask about them?”
“When I went to Daru for tea…”
Cheonhwa recounted everything he had overheard between Magistrate An Hyeong-tae of Jiangsu Province and Man Gu-sang, the chief steward of the Jiangsu Merchant Group.
“The Jiangsu Merchant Group is currently the largest in Jiangsu Province. They have been offering to buy our family estate, saying they will pay a good price.”
“Then tell me what the magistrate is using to pressure you.”
“It is nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
“If I ask Yong-deok, I will find out anyway. Grandfather, please just tell me.”
Yi Sang-woo looked at Cheonhwa and gave a small chuckle.
“Very well. The government offices have long been lending money to merchants and collecting both principal and interest. It is a form of usury.”
“The government offices?”
“Yes. It is technically illegal, yet most provincial offices engage in it with merchant groups.”
“Then merchant groups borrow that money to operate?”
“Exactly. Unless a merchant group has accumulated a great deal of capital, it is difficult to run without the government’s assistance. Even I borrowed from them when the group faced difficulties.”
“So now they are demanding repayment.”
“Yes. With the jewels you gave us, we can repay the loan from the government, interest included, and still have some left over. You need not worry.”
Cheonhwa listened to his grandfather and quickly organized the information in his mind.
‘So the Jiangsu Merchant Group paid the Un Tae Mountain bandits to harass Grandfather’s caravan while also pressuring the magistrate to swallow up this house as well.’
It was only a guess, but it felt right.
‘Then if I crush the Un Tae Mountain bandits first, recover the stolen goods, and deal with the others afterward, we should be able to breathe a little easier.’
After sorting his thoughts, Cheonhwa mentioned Arin.
“There was a child wandering the streets. I brought him here.”
“A child?”
“Yes. He said he is six years old. He came to Hansan Temple with his parents and became separated from them.”
Yi Sang-woo suspected it was one of those cases where impoverished parents abandoned their child in a distant place.
“I see. Cheonhwa.”
His tone was gently admonishing.
“I understand your intentions, and since this is the first time, I will take the child in as you wish. But you cannot take in every pitiful child you meet.”
“Yes. I will remember that.”
“Good. Your uncle, who suffered greatly at the hands of the Un Tae Mountain bandits, should be returning soon.”
Though spoken lightly, the words carried Yi Sang-woo’s deep concern for his son.
“Madam, the head of the merchant group has returned.”
Jeok-sang announced that Yi Ja-saeng, the current head of the Haedong Merchant Group, had arrived.
“Since he has come, let us go greet him together.”
Cheonhwa followed Yi Sang-woo to meet his uncle.
As they passed through the inner courtyard into the outer courtyard, they saw a crowd gathered, murmuring among themselves. The travelers looked haggard from their ordeal.
“I have returned, Father!”
A man bowed his head upon seeing Yi Sang-woo. Cheonhwa immediately recognized him as his uncle, Yi Ja-saeng, the younger brother of his mother.
Standing beside him was another man of similar age who greatly resembled Yi Ja-saeng; he had to be Yi Ja-saeng’s eldest son, Yi Cheon-sang.
“You have worked hard. I heard you ran into trouble at Un Tae Mountain.”
“The Green Forest bandits have grown increasingly brazen. We faced some difficulties, but we completed the journey without any loss of life.”
Though they had returned safely, the expressions of those who had accompanied the caravan were grim.
“Well done. Let us go inside and hear the details.”
Yi Sang-woo thanked the household members who had made the journey and told them to rest, then turned away. Yi Ja-saeng followed behind him.
Cheonhwa and Yi Cheon-sang trailed after the two men into the inner courtyard.
“So, did you meet with everyone you needed to see?”
“Yes. I did not receive favorable answers, but at least no one turned us away outright. I suppose that counts as some progress.”
“Recovering trust once lost is a difficult and arduous task. You have done well.”
“Even so, the Green Forest bandits of Un Tae Mountain Stronghold took a portion of our profits again.”
“As long as no one was injured, that is enough. Money comes and goes. People must come first; money must never take priority.”
“I will remember that. Father.”
“Speak.”
“Who is that young man over there…?”
Yi Ja-saeng gestured toward Cheonhwa, who sat a short distance away with Yi Cheon-sang.
“He is your sister’s son.”
At those words, Yi Ja-saeng turned his head sharply and stared at Cheonhwa.
“What?”
Now that he knew the boy was his sister’s child, the resemblance became striking.
“Are you truly Hwarin’s son?”
“Yes, Uncle. Cheonhwa greets you.”
Cheonhwa offered a respectful and precise bow. Yi Ja-saeng approached, took Cheonhwa’s hands, and studied his face.
“You look so much like your mother. What of her? What happened to her?”
“She is living with Father on Mungnyeong Island.”
“Father?”
“He uses the characters for ‘Cheon’ and ‘U.’”
At the name Cheonwoo, Yi Ja-saeng released Cheonhwa’s hands in shock.
“You mean the Demonic Prince is your father?”
His voice, unlike before, now carried a trace of buried fear.
“Yes. Father and Mother were both injured during their duel. While treating each other, their feelings deepened.”
“Is that how it happened?”
“Yes. They wished to return to the martial world, but their wounds were severe and required a long time to heal. In the meantime, I was born and raised, and by the time they recovered, the opportunity to return to the Central Plains had passed.”
Yi Ja-saeng nodded, finding the explanation plausible.
“Uncle.”
“What is it?”
“I went to the market today and heard something.”
Cheonhwa repeated the same story he had told his grandfather.
“Those bastards…”
From the differing reactions of his grandfather and uncle, Cheonhwa could roughly gauge the situation.
—To survive in the martial world, one must never appear weak. That does not mean picking unnecessary fights, but once you lower your head, others will keep demanding you lower it again.
It was something his father, Cheonwoo, had told him.
As the young cult leader of the Demonic Cult, Cheonwoo had faced countless challenges from both demonic and orthodox masters because of the cult’s law of the strong. He had defended his position by defeating every challenger, so he understood human nature better than anyone.
—When making an example, do it thoroughly so that no one dares entertain foolish thoughts afterward. That is the first step in carving out your own territory in the martial world.
“They are despicable. Forgive my impertinence, but what is the martial prowess of the caravan guards and escorts?”
“The group is in difficult straits and cannot afford to keep permanent guards or escorts. We hire people as needed for each journey.”
‘We will need people as well.’
—Many martial artists wished to follow your father. Not only within the Demonic Cult, but even orthodox martial artists admired and respected him. Otherwise, why would they have granted a demonic practitioner the title of “Prince”?
“Why do you ask?”
“Since we have lost so much to the Green Forest bandits, I wished to know.”
“Cheonhwa says he wants to learn the merchant trade.”
“The merchant trade?”
Cheonhwa offered an awkward smile.
“And this is what Cheonhwa gave us.”
Yi Sang-woo showed the jewels inside the leather pouch.
“Such precious things…”
“First, use them to repay the money borrowed from the government. Then, since the household members have suffered, give them proper compensation for the hardships they have endured.”
“I will do so, Father.”
“Cheonhwa, how old are you this year?”
“I am sixteen, born in the Imja year.”
“Then you are the same age as Cheon-sang. The two of you should get along well.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“You two may leave now.”
Once Cheonhwa and Cheon-sang had gone, Yi Ja-saeng asked,
“Are you certain he is truly my sister’s son?”
“He came bearing Hwarin’s necklace. Anyone could pick up a necklace, but the fact that he knew it belonged to Hwarin and that this place is his maternal home is proof enough. Besides, does he not resemble Hwarin greatly?”
The resemblance alone dispelled any doubt.
“It is a relief to hear that my sister is alive.”
“It is not something to rejoice over so readily.”
“Why not?”
“The Martial Alliance has already announced that the Demonic Prince and the Two Phoenixes perished together. They are also attributing the current rise of the unorthodox factions to Hwarin’s actions. If word spreads that Hwarin became the wife of the Demonic Prince Cheonwoo, what do you think the orthodox martial artists, including those of the Martial Alliance, will say?”
“Hmm…”
“If even a rumor about Hwarin spreads, our family will face greater hardships than anything we have endured so far.”