A Request from Old Ties
“Could you explain the procedure in detail?”
Yu Man-seok, the acting head who felt he had to grasp at any straw no matter how small, bowed his head.
“It really wasn’t much. The merchant caravan led by Acting Head Seol Gyeong-mun was kidnapped in White Snake Valley, so we dispatched an investigation team and rescued them. That’s all there was to it.”
“Who led the investigation team?”
“It was Baek Jin-gang, captain of the caravan guards. Oh, and at that time a friend of Acting Head Seol came along, saying he would help.”
Yi Won-bang spoke as if it were nothing important.
He hated the idea of Haomun claiming any part of the Taehwa Merchant Group’s accomplishment.
“Who accompanied him?”
“Dan Bul-wi of Haomun. He joined the investigation team together with his disciple.”
“Thank you for the information. Since I’ve come all this way, I’d like to meet Captain Baek Jin-gang. Is that possible?”
“You’ll find him at Cheongpung Pavilion, the guards’ quarters. Steward Sim.”
At Yi Won-bang’s call, Steward Sim Jeon answered from behind him.
“Yes, Guild Master.”
“Escort the acting head from Jinbo Merchant Guild to Cheongpung Pavilion right away.”
“Understood. Please follow me.”
At Steward Sim Jeon’s words, Acting Head Yu Man-seok and Na Bu-gang offered their farewells to Yi Won-bang and hurried after him.
Cheongpung Pavilion.
Baek Jin-gang recounted the events in Baekwol Kingdom to Yu Man-seok and Na Bu-gang.
“...It’s difficult to speak with absolute certainty since I didn’t witness it myself, but there’s no doubt Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop did something. The two of them went to meet the White Snake Valley experts, and right after that, Acting Head Seol Gyeong-mun and his people were released.”
“Where might I find Acting Head Seol Gyeong-mun? I wish to meet him.”
At Yu Man-seok’s question, Baek Jin-gang answered.
“He left the merchant group completely after that incident. He’s living with his daughter at Gaosan Manor these days.”
After learning the location of Gaosan Manor, Yu Man-seok departed from the Taehwa Merchant Group.
When Yu Man-seok and Na Bu-gang arrived at Gaosan Manor, the distant sound of a bell announcing the closing of the city gates reached their ears.
The pair had no choice but to hurry back to the Jinbo Merchant Guild.
The next day.
After finishing breakfast, Acting Head Yu Man-seok, Na Bu-gang, and the Na Geum-ryeong siblings asked around until they located Gaosan Manor.
Gaosan Manor. Inner Hall.
Yu Man-seok laid bare the dire situation facing the Jinbo Merchant Guild and begged Seol Gyeong-mun for assistance.
“...At this moment, the only person the Jinbo Merchant Guild can trust and rely upon is Lord Seol. I’m ashamed to burden you with such words on our first meeting, but please, help us.”
Seol Gyeong-mun spoke with a troubled expression.
“If it’s something I can help with, I naturally would, but honestly I did nothing. If not for my close friend and his disciple, I wouldn’t even be standing here.”
“You mean Dan Bul-wi and his disciple?”
“Correct. The ones who rescued the merchants from the White Snake Valley experts were Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop.”
For a brief moment, the faces of Na Bu-gang and Na Geum-ryeong hardened.
The instant they heard Dan Yeop’s name, their hearts sank.
Yu Man-seok asked with a puzzled look.
“Was there previous contact between Haomun and White Snake Valley?”
He had assumed Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop had simply persuaded the valley.
After all, Haomun was not an organization that solved problems through martial force.
“There was none. It was the direct result of Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop fighting the White Snake Valley experts.”
“That is truly difficult to believe. The factions of Baekwol Kingdom are notorious for their brutality—how could Haomun possibly...”
“Haha! That’s only because you don’t know the martial skill of Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop. I’ve watched those two masters spar here several times, and it was absolutely terrifying.”
Yu Man-seok remained half skeptical about their martial prowess, yet he accepted as fact that the pair had rescued Seol Gyeong-mun.
“Lord Seol… I know this is a difficult request, but I must ask. Please help the Jinbo Merchant Guild!”
Seol Gyeong-mun stared at Yu Man-seok with a bewildered face.
He possessed no such ability.
“Acting Head, I understand your frustration and desperation, but I am merely one of the merchants who was kidnapped and later freed.”
“I know. I wish to meet Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop. If you could arrange a meeting, I will never forget this kindness.”
The siblings Na Bu-gang and Na Geum-ryeong, who had been hesitating, quickly lowered their heads as well.
“Please let us meet him.”
“We beg you.”
When Yu Man-seok, Na Bu-gang, and Na Geum-ryeong all bowed, Seol Gyeong-mun could no longer refuse.
“I will speak with him, but I cannot promise anything.”
Yu Man-seok nodded vigorously.
“That alone is more than enough. I will never forget your kindness.”
A short while later, Yu Man-seok’s party left Gaosan Manor.
Noticing the dark expressions on the siblings’ faces, Yu Man-seok asked.
“Your faces have looked troubled for some time. Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“It’s nothing.”
Na Bu-gang and Na Geum-ryeong denied it.
The matter with Dan Yeop weighed on their minds, but they could not possibly reveal it to the acting head.
Upon returning to the Jinbo Merchant Guild, Acting Head Yu Man-seok gathered all the stewards in one place and relayed Seol Gyeong-mun’s words.
The guild’s atmosphere, which had been steeped in despair, transformed into one of hope in an instant.
“Let’s hire Dan Bul-wi and Dan Yeop.”
“Since it’s Haomun, they’ll accept if we raise the offer.”
“They’ll accept and thank us. The only Haomun that dislikes money is a dead one.”
“Let’s organize an investigation team larger than the one Taehwa Merchant Group used. There are plenty of ronin in Jangan Castle, so we can make up the numbers there.”
“No matter how large the Naphae Sect may be, they are still frogs in a well. This is our chance to show the world that the Jinbo Merchant Guild walks a different path.”
The merchants’ backs straightened with renewed pride.
From the atmosphere alone, rescuing Na Jin-geum seemed all but assured.
While the merchants chattered eagerly, Na Bu-gang and Na Geum-ryeong quietly slipped outside.
Walking with heavy steps, Na Geum-ryeong spoke with an anxious face.
“Brother, what if Dan Yeop refuses?”
“Well… should we prostrate ourselves?”
“Don’t joke about that.”
“Then is there any other way to persuade him?”
Na Geum-ryeong offered no reply.
Prostrating before Dan Yeop? No matter how desperate the situation, she did not want to go that far.
The next day.
Seol Gyeong-mun headed to the Jangan County Office to meet Dan Yeop.
Dan Yeop, spotting Seol Gyeong-mun in front of the patrol station, brightened at once.
“Uncle? Have you been well?”
Having grown close while using the training grounds at Gaosan Manor, Dan Yeop now addressed him as uncle.
“I’ve been well. Bul-wi told me you’ve been busy lately?”
“Haha, that’s how it goes. Who isn’t busy these days?”
“I’m not. It would be nice if you visited Gaosan Manor often to keep me company. Yeon-hui keeps grumbling that it’s been too long since she last saw you.”
“Yes, I’ll come by soon. But you didn’t walk all the way here just to say that, did you?”
“There is something important I need to discuss…”
When Seol Gyeong-mun glanced around, Dan Yeop led him to a nearby pavilion.
Once they had settled, Seol Gyeong-mun relayed everything Yu Man-seok and the Na siblings had said when they visited Gaosan Manor.
“...After hearing about Bul-wi and you, they begged me to arrange a meeting. Their situation is so pitiful that I agreed to pass the message along, but you’re swamped with work right now, aren’t you?”
“...Yes.”
There were still no signs that Cheonlyeon had vanished, so the constables remained on emergency standby.
To make matters worse, handling the flood of ronin arriving from every direction meant their days were several times busier than usual.
“Then I’ll let them know. They understand the current atmosphere in Jangan Castle, so they should accept it.”
“Alright.”
Dan Yeop felt a slight pang regarding Na Bu-gang and Na Geum-ryeong, but decided not to involve himself.
Honestly, even if he wanted to help, the situation made it impossible.
He was at the very center of the Cheonlyeon investigation and could not withdraw.
After parting from Dan Yeop, Seol Gyeong-mun went to the Jinbo Merchant Guild and met with Acting Head Yu Man-seok.
“I met Dan Yeop, but he says the work at Jangan County Office is too pressing for him to spare any time.”
“He’s at the county office?”
“Ah, you didn’t know. He became a constable there not long ago. He’s currently leading the investigation into Cheonlyeon. Given the circumstances, he says he cannot step forward. However…”
Seol Gyeong-mun trailed off meaningfully.
Having experienced kidnapping himself, he desperately wanted to help the Jinbo Merchant Guild.
Yu Man-seok realized there was still a path left.
“Please tell me any good suggestion, no matter what it is.”
“It’s not entirely impossible. Since Cheonlyeon’s activities have slowed recently, perhaps going through Magistrate Jo Mu-jin would work.”
“Magistrate Jo?”
“Yes. Report the kidnapping of Guild Master Na Jin-geum to him through proper channels. If you also mention that Dan Yeop previously resolved a similar incident in Baekwol Kingdom, the magistrate will assign this case to him.”
“Oh! That seems the best option available. Thank you. I will never forget the help Lord Seol has given the Jinbo Merchant Guild.”
“It’s nothing. I hope everything turns out well.”
Seol Gyeong-mun worried he might have troubled Dan Yeop, yet he still wished to be of help to the kidnapped Na Jin-geum.
Acting Head Yu Man-seok immediately sought out the Jangan County Magistrate and followed Seol Gyeong-mun’s advice exactly.
Magistrate Jo Mu-jin’s reaction was precisely as Seol Gyeong-mun had predicted.
In truth, it was only natural.
As county magistrate, Jo Mu-jin had a duty to resolve any reported kidnapping.
Even though the incident had occurred in distant Baekwol Kingdom, he could not ignore an official report.
After consulting with County Sheriff Do Gyeom, Magistrate Jo Mu-jin summoned Constable Dan Yeop.
“Constable Dan, there is a case I would like you to handle.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Several days ago, Na Jin-geum, guild master of the Jinbo Merchant Guild, was kidnapped in Baekwol Kingdom. The culprit appears to be the Naphae Sect. Acting Head Yu Man-seok claims you previously resolved a similar matter there. Is that true?”
“Yes. I once rescued a friend of my adoptive father after he was kidnapped.”
“Just as I thought. The Jinbo Merchant Guild hopes you will take this case. Cheonlyeon has been quiet lately, so what do you say? Will you accept?”
“I will.”
Dan Yeop accepted without hesitation.
After all, he had wanted to help if circumstances permitted.
“Supporting you with additional constables will be difficult given the great distance. However, the Jinbo Merchant Guild has agreed to hire a large number of guard warriors, so you may proceed with them.”
“Understood.”
“Also… never mind. From this moment, you are relieved of patrol duty. Devote yourself entirely to the Jinbo Merchant Guild case.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, and inform County Sheriff Do that you’ve taken on a new case. He’ll be quite disappointed.”
“Yes.”
After leaving the main hall, he met County Sheriff Do Gyeom as instructed, then departed from the Jangan County Office.
That afternoon.
Dongsi Daeanbang.
Jinbo Merchant Guild.
When Dan Yeop knocked on the main gate, the gatekeeper cracked it open and asked.
“Who is it?”
“I am Constable Dan Yeop from the Jangan County Office.”
The gatekeeper immediately threw the door wide open.
“Oh my! You’ve come from the county office. Please, come in. The acting head has been waiting for you.”
Dan Yeop followed the gatekeeper inside.
Inner Hall.
Once indoors, Dan Yeop quietly took an empty seat.
The stewards who had been holding a strategy meeting kept stealing glances at him.
A beautiful youth with such a youthful face serving as a constable—everyone seemed half doubtful.
Shin Woo, the acting head’s right-hand man, spoke with a suspicious expression.
“Constable Dan, did you once rescue Acting Head Seol Gyeong-mun of the Taehwa Merchant Group after he was kidnapped in Baekwol Kingdom?”
“Yes, I have.”