256. The Time Fruits Ripen (3)
“Come on in.”
As Jin Taesan stepped inside, Hong Moon-gi and Gang Chaeseok greeted him warmly.
“How come you don’t seem to age a day, unlike me?”
Gang Chaeseok’s offhand remark made Jin Taesan’s face scrunch up.
“Someone who’s been lounging around all his life wouldn’t get it. The weight of real responsibilities.”
“Wh-who’s lounging around?!”
Jin Taesan’s eyes narrowed further.
“When exactly do you plan on manifesting your sword aura?”
“...D-do you think it’s something you just pull out on a whim?!”
Once Tae-eul Gate’s strongest warrior, Gang Chaeseok had welcomed the recovery of the Tae-eul Divine Realm more than anyone. He’d thrown himself into training, thrilled at the chance to surpass his limits. But whether due to age or something else, progress had been glacial.
“If Yu-seong manifests his sword aura first, we’ll have to make him the head of Kwaehwa Hall instead. When that happens, you can go back and complete your training there.”
“...”
Having tossed out a joke only to get it thrown back at him, Gang Chaeseok downed his cup after cup to soothe his bitter feelings.
Watching the two bicker, Hong Moon-gi turned to Jin Taesan.
“Are you doing alright?”
Having dumped all of Tae-eul Gate’s burdens onto Jin Taesan, Hong Moon-gi always felt a pang of guilt toward him. But Jin Taesan, who understood the sect leader’s heart better than anyone, gently shook his head.
“I’m fine. Things are a hundred times better now than they were ten years ago, all things considered.”
He said that, but the way he rubbed his dry face made Hong Moon-gi feel only pity. Sensing that, Jin Taesan shook his head again.
“Don’t worry about it. If I didn’t have any ambition myself, I wouldn’t be working this hard. Letting a hard-won opportunity slip away...”
He glanced toward the training grounds where the young disciples were.
“...wouldn’t that just leave endless regrets?”
Hong Moon-gi silently raised his cup, moved by the unwavering resolve in his eyes.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Is this a place I can’t just visit?”
“Haha, come on. You haven’t set foot in Tae-eul Gate for months.”
“...”
Jin Taesan scratched his cheek, looking sheepish, and Hong Moon-gi smiled kindly.
“No need to worry. I’m not blaming you for that. I just saw the worry etched on your face and wanted to share the burden.”
After hesitating at his sect leader’s words, Jin Taesan finally spoke, his voice heavy.
“How much longer before we can open Tae-eul Gate’s doors...?”
“Hm?”
Both Hong Moon-gi and Gang Chaeseok raised their eyebrows.
If they hadn’t sealed the gates, it might be different—but having done so meant they needed full preparation. And with Daecheon Merchant Group now in their possession, pressure would come pouring in from all sides the moment they reopened.
Jin Taesan knew this better than anyone, so there had to be a reason for the question. Hong Moon-gi let out a low hum before asking carefully.
“What’s going on?”
Jin Taesan glanced at both men before speaking slowly.
“Someone from Sura Gate came.”
“...”
“They want to buy Daecheon Merchant Group.”
“What?!”
Their eyes widened, and Gang Chaeseok slammed his fist on the table.
“Daecheon is practically a pillar of Tae-eul Gate now—who the hell thinks they can just buy and sell it like that?!”
“...”
Only then did Hong Moon-gi understand why Jin Taesan had made time to come all the way here.
“They’re backing it with Shaolin Temple?”
“...They mentioned it.”
“Figures they’d be that bold.”
Daecheon Merchant Group had long surpassed its days as a mere Changgung branch. It now monopolized Murim Alliance logistics across all of Anhui Province and held a chunk of the trade routes linking Anhui to Zhejiang, including around Cheonmok Mountain. Expansion into Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s top tourist spot, was imminent, and dominating the province’s entire distribution network wasn’t far off.
Small wonder nearby merchants and sects were eyeing it greedily.
“Wang Geumsan was furious and said he’d step in himself, but that would just give Sura Gate an excuse to drag Shaolin into it.”
“Exactly. And if the conflict drags on, the Murim Alliance will step in eventually.”
What came after was easy to predict. The Alliance would reclaim Anhui’s distribution monopoly as punishment for stirring trouble, letting Sura Gate and others carve it up. Daecheon would shrink back to a local outfit.
Jin Taesan clenched his fists.
“Is opening the gates really impossible?”
Gang Chaeseok hesitated with a sigh, but Hong Moon-gi shook his head firmly.
“I hate to say it, but we can’t open them right now.”
“...”
“If we do, the kids will get dragged into fights. They can’t fear battle once they pick up the sword—but we can’t throw unprepared youngsters into the meat grinder.”
Jin Taesan nodded. He’d expected as much. Deep down, he already knew it was impossible. He’d just come to vent a little of his frustration.
“I figured as mu—”
“Instead...”
Jin Taesan, reaching for his cup, froze.
“...I’ll step in.”
“Sect Leader!”
Gang Chaeseok couldn’t hide his shock.
“I’ve burdened you long enough. It’s my turn now.”
“...”
Jin Taesan stared at Hong Moon-gi. After accessing the Tae-eul Divine Realm, the sect leader hadn’t skipped a single day of training. His second-rate skills had shot up quickly, recently reaching the sword energy manifestation realm.
But that was it. Impressive within Tae-eul Gate, sure—but Hefei alone teemed with superiors. Their chronic issue: no peak experts to teach higher realms. With even their best, Gang Chaeseok, only first-rate, disciples had to self-study advanced techniques.
If only we had someone who could at least teach...
They couldn’t burden him with more amid his own grueling personal training. Jin Taesan shook his head.
“No, Sect Leader. You don’t need to.”
“Hm?”
“I’ve already prepared another way.”
Curiosity flickered in Hong Moon-gi’s eyes.
“Another way?”
“Yes.”
Of course, he had no such plan. But he had to shoulder this himself. Flashing a forced smile at their puzzled looks, he dodged the question. If he let slip the truth, both would throw their lives into the fire.
Better to bluff and handle it alone.
“So, no need to worry.”
Forced smile masking his burden, Jin Taesan suddenly thought of his son.
Did the kid always force smiles like this?
Thinking back, Jin Sowoon only smiled in dire straits—when no one could help, insisting he’d handle it himself. How heavy had his load been?
Realizing anew the weight his son had carried, something surged in his chest.
That damn kid... Did he really have so little faith in his old man?
Regret mixed with curses. But soon...
I wish that fool of a son would smile for me now.
How good it would feel to overcome this together.
#
“Hmmm...”
This was no small matter.
My brow furrowed the moment I read the secret letter Jeom So-i had slipped me.
“Mu-seung nim, what’s wlong? Is it bad?”
Lifting my head at the mush-mouthed words, I saw...
“...”
Dang Seo-hui staring at me with big eyes, her mouth smeared with braised pork sauce.
“Good grief... Come here.”
I pulled out a cloth I kept for emergencies and wiped her mouth clean.
...Am I here as an envoy or a nanny?
At least she’d stopped her wild vigilante antics, so that was a relief.
“There’s trouble back at the sect.”
“Twouble?”
“Jin donor, what sort of trouble?”
“...”
Even Ilgak and Ak Byeongbi turned to look.
Perfect—a Shaolin monk right here. I asked Ilgak seriously.
“Ilgak sunbae, do you know Sura Gate?”
“...”
‘Tae-eul Gate’s trouble’ and ‘Sura Gate.’ Those two phrases alone, and the sharp monk’s brow creased in understanding.
“Is it between Sura Gate and Tae-eul Gate?”
I nodded.
“Seems Sura Gate is gearing up for expansion... and Tae-eul Gate’s their target.”
“Amitabha...”
As Ilgak closed his eyes in thought, Ak Byeongbi asked me.
“Planning to go?”
“Maybe.”
The delegation had met its goals anyway. Me dipping out briefly wouldn’t derail things—the reps could handle academy duties, and as long as I didn’t miss attendance quotas, no big issues.
“Daecheon Merchant Group is Tae-eul Gate’s sole asset and revenue stream. Of course I’m worried.”
I said it loud enough for Ilgak to hear. The monk’s eyes cracked open.
“...I don’t know the details of what the elders at the temple decide.”
“Of course!”
I just stared him down silently.
“A-hem...”
Until he cracked first.
Finally, with a small sigh, Ilgak spoke.
“...Lend us your wisdom on what to do.”
What can I say? Unlike some, this monk was easy to talk to. No wonder I liked him.
I answered right away.
“Keep Shaolin out of it. Sura Gate’s only bold because they think the temple has their back. Surely the world’s most upright monks wouldn’t expand their influence out of greed, right?”
“...But whether the elders will listen to me...”
Crack, crack—I rolled my wrists.
“Then... guess it’s time to throw down properly with Sura Gate.”
“...”
My jab made Ilgak’s eyelids twitch. After agonizing, he let out a long sigh.
“I’ll speak to the elders.”
As I admired his quivering scalp, Ak Byeongbi spoke up, concern in his voice.
“Heading out right now?”
“I wanna go too...”
She finally swallowed her food. Smack. Whatever.
I shook my head.
“No. It’s fine. If Shaolin stays out, I don’t need to go.”
“Huh? Sura Gate holds a solid mid-to-upper spot among the 108 Peaks...”
“Tae-eul Gate’s not that weak.”
Even as I said it confidently, Ak Byeongbi looked skeptical.
“C’mon, Captain, why the face...”
“Ahem, it’s nothing.”
...Soon as I unseal the gates, I’m challenging Sandong Ak Manor to a friendly spar.
Public perception was what it was. I didn’t think current Tae-eul Gate could withstand Sura Gate’s pressure either.
But I’ve prepared something else.
I wiped Dang Seo-hui’s sauce-smeared mouth again.
#
“What’s the plan?”
Jin Taesan answered Wang Geumsan’s question casually.
“No need to think. It’s not time to open yet.”
“Hm... Yeah, figured.”
Pity crossed Wang Geumsan’s face, drawing a hearty laugh from Jin Taesan.
“No worries. Tae-eul Gate holds one of the 108 Peaks spots, after all. Sura Gate can’t act recklessly.”
Wang Geumsan knew better—Jin Taesan’s heart wasn’t at ease. Yet even in crisis, he wasn’t begging for help, which only endeared him more.
He’d spent his life fending off beggars; had anyone ever tried to help him instead? Maybe that’s why he saw Jin Taesan not as a rich merchant lord, but as a true friend.
And for such a friend, he’d use all his power.
“Don’t worry! Sura Gate? If they mouth off, Wang Clan won’t sit idle. We handle Alliance goods too, you know.”
But Jin Taesan just smiled, dodging a reply. He knew how much burden dragging the Wang lord into murim affairs would be.
“What, don’t trust me? I’m the guy who squeezed Huashan and Jeomchang over funds! You know how much headache that gave them?”
They’d recovered thanks to Wang Soso’s western routes, but Shaanxi branches had been wrecked, shaking the clan.
“...I know full well.”
Mutual care, but no solution. As sighs threatened to escape...
A servant entered cautiously.
“Jin Merchant Lord. A guest.”
Wang Geumsan’s face hardened.
“Impatient bastards, huh.”
“From Sura Gate?”
The servant shook his head.
“No. Sent by Jin Sowoon. Same surname as you, so I thought to report just in case.”
“Jin Sowoon?”
The name made them exchange glances.
“Bring them in.”
“Yes.”
Soon, a middle-aged couple entered with a young girl. The white-haired man exuded bold sturdiness; the woman, calm poise. The red-faced girl hid half behind her mother, shy around strangers.
Jin Taesan rose.
“Greetings. I’m Jin Taesan. Sowoon sent you?”
Jin Sowoon occasionally sent people to Tae-eul Gate or Daecheon—like Yu-seong or Jang Dowon. He’d grown used to it.
As Jin Taesan offered a light salute, the man returned it.
“I tried going it alone, but it wasn’t easy. Sorry to impose.”
Wang Geumsan muttered behind him, “Another money ghost...” Jin Taesan shot him a look to shut up.
His son’s guests—there’d be a reason. Helping them was helping his boy.
Jin Taesan asked politely.
“If it’s not too rude, may I have your name? I’ll check for any letter from my son.”
“Ah, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself.”
The man scratched his head awkwardly, then saluted again, introducing himself formally.
“I’m Baek Hae-gwang.”
The most straightforward introduction Jin Taesan had ever heard.