Chapter 109
Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Detours to Jeonam
With my final conversation with that Jang bastard, all my business in Beijing was wrapped up.
That said, since he didn't return until pretty late, I had to spend one more night in the city.
'I've gotta swing by Silver Flower Tower like I promised Somwol.'
After a fun time at Silver Flower Tower, I returned to the Eun Merchant Group the next day, where Moyong Hui greeted me with a sassy little smirk.
"Have a good time?"
Of course I did.
But there was no way I could admit that here.
"Pfft, good? What're you talking about. I only went because we had that deal last time. Did you sleep well yesterday, Hui?"
I put on my most affectionate face and pulled Moyong Hui into a hug.
She let out a little chuckle, pretending she bought my excuse even though she saw right through it.
'This is exactly why I like Hui so much.'
Jealousy just at the perfect, cute level.
If it had been any more intense, it would've given me a real headache.
"Anyway, Hui, you all packed and ready to go?"
"What do I even have to pack? What about you, young master?"
"Me? Eh..."
Truth be told, I'd dumped everything I had left on Cheon Woojin.
That's what subordinates are for, right?
"Speaking of, where's Cheon Woojin and the kid?"
"Martial Brother Cheon looked a bit busy this morning, and Hyeon is probably with Sister Hwajeong right now."
"Got it. Then let's call the kid when Cheon Woojin gets back."
No need to interrupt some quality mother-son time.
Who knows when they'll see each other again after today.
"By the way, young master. You're heading to the Murim Alliance now, right? Which way are you planning to go?"
There were two main routes from Beijing to the Murim Alliance.
You could head straight to Henan Province, or swing through Shandong Province on the way.
The distance was about the same either way.
But I had to take the longer detour.
"I'm going through Shandong and stopping by Jeonam City on the way."
"Jeonam City?!"
She was way too shocked.
I wondered why until her next words hit me.
"Don't tell me it's because of Sister Hwajeong and Hyeon...?"
'Oh, crap. Come to think of it, the Baek family is in Jeonam City!'
How would I know? I'd never actually been there.
I'd stolen Cheon Suyeon—Baek Rihyeon's future wife—before they even got married, so I'd never set foot in the Baek family estate myself.
I suddenly realized I needed to clear up her misunderstanding.
"No, no. It's not that. I just have someone else to meet in Jeonam City."
"Someone to meet?"
"Yeah. This one person..."
I started to say it casually, then froze.
The person I had to meet in Jeonam City was the head of a major unorthodox sect: the Shadow Gate Sect Leader.
I was going for spirit pills, but how would that look to Moyong Hui?
'Hmm, no real need to hide it, though?'
She already knew I was on good terms with the Shadow Gate Sect.
Heck, I'd openly told her last night I was heading to Silver Flower Tower.
Still, I'd keep a couple details under wraps.
"Somwol told me last night that the Shadow Gate Sect Leader wants to meet me."
No need to bring up that carriage driver punk Beomseok or the spirit pills.
"The Shadow Gate Sect Leader?!"
Moyong Hui's eyes went wide with shock.
Even more than when I'd mentioned Jeonam City.
'Can't blame her.'
I might see the guy as a joke, but he was still a big shot in the Central Plains.
Especially since the Shadow Gate Sect Leader moved in total secrecy—some busybodies even doubted he existed at all.
"Why would the Shadow Gate Sect Leader want to see you?"
"Beats me...? Guess I'll find out when I get there."
My best guesses were two options.
Either he wanted to get chummy, or he had some favor to ask.
'And all I care about is getting those Death Command Tokens.'
If it was just buddy-buddy talk, I'd play along.
But if it was some annoying request, I'd shut it down.
I wasn't trading the tokens for favors, after all.
For me, it was pure profit no matter what.
As I chatted with Moyong Hui to pass the time, Cheon Woojin finally showed up.
Bringing a welcome face with him.
"Brother Mok, were you planning to leave without saying goodbye to me?"
It was Eun Garyeon, whom I'd barely seen lately.
I grinned at the familiar face and replied.
"Come on, as if. I was just being careful since you've been so swamped lately, Lady Eun."
"No matter how busy I am, surely I can spare a moment for you, Brother Mok."
No need to point out she hadn't managed it so far.
She really had been run off her feet.
"I'll give you two some space. Talk comfortably."
Moyong Hui graciously stepped aside and headed to the lodgings we'd been using.
Cheon Woojin bowed his head belatedly and followed her in.
Thanks to that, Eun Garyeon and I finally had some alone time after so long.
She seemed to feel the same, flashing a bright smile.
"Have you been well? I'm sorry I couldn't check in more with everything going on."
"Pfft, I know full well how much you've done for me, Lady Eun. How's business going?"
Light catching-up chatter.
But Eun Garyeon let out a deep sigh like she'd been waiting for it.
"Whew, don't ask. Looks like I have to make a trip to Sichuan."
"Sichuan?"
Sichuan naturally meant business with the Sichuan Tang Family, but...
"Isn't that too far?"
Round trip would take two months easy.
If she were just the merchant group head like before, maybe—but now, leaving for that long seemed tough.
Eun Garyeon gave a wistful smile at my words.
"It is far. Way too far. But from what Jang Xiaoxie told me yesterday, I think I need to go in person. And they're our biggest client—gotta show some sincerity."
I was curious what was up, but asking would drag this out too long.
There were people waiting, and she was busy anyway—I didn't want to hold her up.
Instead, I offered something she'd like.
"On the way to the Murim Alliance, I'm going through Shandong Province. Anything you want me to handle for you?"
Shandong's Dark Sword Clan was a big reason she was so busy.
And naturally, they were located smack in Shandong Province.
'A bit of a detour from Jeonam City, but...'
If it was a favor for Eun Garyeon, I'd put up with a little hassle.
Unlike that guy Shadow Gate Sect Leader, she was my woman, after all.
'And it's partly my fault she's tangled up in this.'
She seemed to sense my feelings and smiled warmly.
But her response was a polite refusal.
"I'll gratefully accept the thought. But from now on, I'll handle Eun Merchant Group matters myself, so don't worry about it, Brother Mok."
It might've sounded a bit curt, but I got where she was coming from.
She probably still felt like she hadn't repaid me fully for the Chu Munrak incident.
Rather than push, I chose to respect her pride.
"Alright. Hit me up anytime things get tough."
"Hee-hee, got it. You're a real rock. Oh, on the way to Sichuan, I was planning to stop by your Mok Family Clan. That okay?"
"Huh? The Mok Family Clan?"
She'd mentioned it before through Jang Yunho—what was so appealing about dropping by the Mok Family Clan all the time?
It made sense on the way to Sichuan, but still felt oddly deliberate.
"Yeah. Would that be... inconvenient?"
Eun Garyeon looked a tad deflated, gauging my reaction.
I laughed and gave her the green light without hesitation.
"Come on, why would it bother me? I was just wondering why. Sure, swing by and pass on my regards."
Writing a letter was a pain, but a quick hello wouldn't hurt.
Her face lit up again at my words.
"Thank you!"
Nothing to thank me for.
She didn't even need permission in the first place.
'At this point, the Eun Merchant Group isn't exactly small potatoes compared to the Mok Family Clan.'
We traded a few more bits of small talk, then someone approached in the garden.
It was Jang Yunho.
He glanced at me, then bowed to Eun Garyeon.
"Lady Merchant Head, someone from the Peng family has come calling. They wish to meet with you."
"The Peng family?"
'The Peng family?'
The sudden mention of the Hebei Peng family caught me off guard.
They were in the same city, so some connection wasn't weird—but this was awfully abrupt.
And them reaching out first?
'Or maybe not. If the reason Lady Eun's been busy is the Peng family from the start...'
If the Shandong Dark Sword Clan crumbled, they'd need muscle to fill the void.
And the Hebei Peng family—one of the Five Great Families—fit the bill perfectly.
'And the Sichuan Tang Family trip too...'
Suddenly, her big picture started coming into focus.
But I didn't let on that I knew.
"We'll head out then. Take care of business."
It wasn't my wheelhouse anyway, and if she needed help, she'd ask directly.
Even if pride kept her from it, that Jang punk next to her would come running to tattle.
"Then take care on your journey, Brother Mok."
Her meaningful tone on "journey."
And was it on purpose? Eun Garyeon's cheeks flushed a bit.
The oblivious Jang Yunho acted like he noticed nothing, but I smiled and gave her the response she wanted.
"Will do. See you soon."
And with that, I set off for Jeonam City.