A Strategic Bargain
It was faster than Jang Muhwi had expected.
Moreover, the face that greeted him was filled with an unexpected warmth. Even Jang Muhwi found himself momentarily stunned by the situation.
Ma Jung-hyeop, the patriarch of the Ma family, was known as a man who rarely met with outsiders. Yet here he was, personally welcoming a visitor who had arrived in the dead of night.
Instead of leading Jang Muhwi to the guest reception hall, Ma Jung-hyeop guided him straight to the patriarch’s private quarters. The chamber was magnificent and imposing, yet an unmistakable chill lingered in the air, as if the room itself took after its master.
“You’ve traveled a long way,” Ma Jung-hyeop said with courteous grace. “Let us share a cup of tea first and speak comfortably.”
His tone was polite, but his eyes probed deeply, as though trying to pierce straight through to Jang Muhwi’s true intentions.
Jang Muhwi took a sip of tea and spoke quietly. “Patriarch, do you happen to know who I am?”
“I have heard a great deal about you through my son. Unfortunately, I never learned your name.”
“Then allow me to introduce myself. I am Jang Muhwi.”
“And I am Ma Jung-hyeop.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Patriarch.”
“The honor is mine. I have been quite curious about you.”
Ma Jung-hyeop glanced to the side. There stood his son—Ma Uiryong—gazing at Jang Muhwi with eyes that had long since crossed the line from mere goodwill into outright reverence.
Ma Jung-hyeop himself harbored similar feelings toward the young man. He had never been able to give his son much. After losing his mother at a young age, Ma Uiryong had always been lonely. The only thing Ma Jung-hyeop could offer was strict martial training, and that rigidity had twisted the boy’s personality. There had never been a true master capable of straightening him out.
Not until he met Jang Muhwi.
“By the way,” Ma Jung-hyeop continued casually, “do you happen to know the youngest son of the Jang family?”
It had been an offhand question, prompted only by their shared surname.
Jang Muhwi smiled. “The youngest son of the Jang family you speak of is me.”
“Then the one our Uiryong went to harass…”
“Our first meeting did begin that way, but it became the start of a valuable connection.”
“Haha. It seems my son caused you quite a bit of trouble.”
“Not at all. Thanks to him, I was able to successfully complete my mission for the Murim Alliance.”
Jang Muhwi’s eyes gleamed. It was time to move on to the real purpose of his visit.
Until now, Ma Uiryong had shown clear favor while still maintaining a careful distance. What the situation needed was the right bait.
Apparently the bait had worked. Curiosity now burned brightly in Ma Jung-hyeop’s gaze.
“Did you just say Murim Alliance mission?”
“I currently serve as the leader of the Hyeonmudae in the Qinghai branch.”
When Jang Muhwi produced his identification plaque, Ma Jung-hyeop’s eyes sharpened with interest.
“The Hyeonmudae… the inspection and audit division.”
“Exactly. Since all matters concerning the Hyeonmudae are confidential, it seems Young Master Ma was unable to speak of it.”
At Jang Muhwi’s words, Ma Uiryong nodded vigorously.
“I see. That makes sense. In that case, forget the tea—how about a proper drink instead?”
Ma Jung-hyeop, clearly brimming with questions, offered alcohol. Jang Muhwi accepted without hesitation. After all, the real negotiation was about to begin.
Though the cups passed back and forth freely, Ma Jung-hyeop never once asked about the nature of the mission. It was exactly what one would expect from the patriarch of the Ma family.
After several rounds, Jang Muhwi spoke first.
“Are you not curious why I have come here?”
“I considered it rude to question the leader of the Hyeonmudae.”
“The mission Young Master Ma and I undertook was to expose the wrongdoings of the Jangryong Merchant Group.”
“The Jangryong Merchant Group, you say?”
Ma Jung-hyeop narrowed his eyes. He had only recently emerged from seclusion to find the entire Qinghai merchant world turned upside down—all because of the Jangryong Merchant Group.
“Yes. Young Master Ma and I were the ones assigned to investigate them. He assisted me until the very end and rendered a truly great service. Once the investigation concludes, the Murim Alliance intends to bestow separate rewards upon him.”
“Our Uiryong accomplished such a feat!”
The look in his eyes showed that the words had landed perfectly. Now it was time to deliver the main proposal.
“With that in mind, I hoped to discuss the normalization of the Jangryong Merchant Group with you, Patriarch—if you are willing.”
“You are proposing a transaction, then?”
“I am.”
“Hmm.”
Ma Jung-hyeop emptied his cup in one swallow, and his expression shifted completely. As expected, when real profit was on the table, all the accumulated goodwill became irrelevant. The proud fatherly look vanished. In its place was the sharp gaze of a merchant appraising goods.
“Are you not the one in charge of the inspection?”
“The results of that inspection also fall under my responsibility.”
Jang Muhwi produced a single document from within his robes and placed it on the table. It was the paper granting him full authority.
After examining it carefully, Ma Jung-hyeop spoke. “Young Hero Jang, your proposal is intriguing. But what exactly does our Ma family stand to gain?”
His voice remained low and calm, yet beneath it lay razor-sharp calculation. He watched Jang Muhwi’s reaction as if testing him.
Jang Muhwi appeared to hesitate for a moment before answering carefully.
“Patriarch, are you not concerned about the chaos that will erupt from the Jangryong Merchant Group’s collapse? If the Ma family steps forward to quell that turmoil and establish a new order, you would be able to wield far greater influence throughout the Qinghai merchant circles.”
“Your words are logical, Young Hero Jang. However, our Ma family is not one that chases profit alone. If the stability of the merchant world is our highest priority, then perhaps it is best to leave the Jangryong Merchant Group as it is.”
“If no one reaches out a hand, the group will be torn apart. A pack of hyenas has already begun circling.”
“Can you tell me who these hyenas are?”
“Here is their list.”
Jang Muhwi slid another document across the table. It contained the names of every merchant group brazenly claiming the Jangryong Merchant Group’s business rights as their own.
Ma Jung-hyeop scanned the page thoroughly. After a moment, he clicked his tongue.
“Hah. My face feels rather hot all of a sudden.”
He had grasped the situation instantly. Among the claimants were no fewer than ten groups asserting ownership over the Jangryong Merchant Group’s mines.
“That is why we need a hunter bold enough to drive out the hyenas. We also need a craftsman capable of reforging the Jangryong Merchant Group anew. I believe the only person capable of doing both is you, Patriarch.”
“You speak like a true merchant.”
“I spent some time in that world.”
“What exactly do you want from me?”
“First, to protect the innocent workers of the Jangryong Merchant Group. Second, to care for the common people who will suffer from its collapse. Third, to ensure that the remaining meat does not end up in the hyenas’ mouths.”
“From the look in your eyes, the third matter is the most important. How much of that leftover meat do you desire?”
“I have no wish to burst from overeating. Enough to sustain myself will suffice.”
“Then we shall take only enough to preserve our dignity.”
“That is only natural.”
When Jang Muhwi smiled, Ma Jung-hyeop raised his cup. In the blink of an eye, the transaction was sealed.
Ma Uiryong, listening from the side, could barely follow their conversation. In truth, it was the kind of exchange common among veteran merchant leaders. The only unusual element was that one of the participants was a young rising star of the martial world.
To Ma Jung-hyeop, Jang Muhwi was a fascinating existence. The young man spoke with the poise of someone who had spent decades navigating the merchant world. Such conversations always began with concern for the group’s members and the suffering common people.
Of course, that was merely the righteous justification. What truly mattered was how the profits would be divided.
Even so, Ma Jung-hyeop had not taken the proposal lightly. When Jang Muhwi spoke of his first and second conditions, his eyes had held genuine sincerity. Ma Jung-hyeop was not drunk enough to miss it.
Though he continued to drink, his eyes had never been sharper. What concerned him now was what portion he would need to cede to both the Murim Alliance and the Jang family.
The Murim Alliance was not a problem—there were established precedents. The Jang family, however, was another matter. Even if they claimed the business rights, without the power to maintain them, it would all be nothing more than a mirage.
Ma Jung-hyeop genuinely wished to help the Jang family. Not only was this young man the one his son called Big Brother, but he had also brought an exceptionally attractive proposal.
The discussion continued until dawn. Ma Uiryong eventually began dozing off where he sat, but neither man woke him.
When daylight finally broke, Ma Jung-hyeop, having made up his mind, spoke.
“Have you decided?”
“What do you mean?”
“After careful consideration, I realized you are my son’s benefactor.”
“…”
“It is only right to give a benefactor the right of choice. Which portion would you like?”
“Hmm.”
Jang Muhwi pretended to ponder, though his answer had been decided long ago. He unfolded a document with a crisp snap.
It was a map created by the Jangryong Merchant Group. Jang Muhwi immediately pointed to several locations.
“What I want are a few abandoned mines. That will be enough.”
“What could you possibly do with ruined land?”
“I am content with the justification alone.”
Of course, that was far from his true intention. For now they might seem worthless, but before long those abandoned mines would become the Jangryong Merchant Group’s greatest asset.
Ma Jung-hyeop regarded him with a strange look.
“Haha. You truly have no greed.”
“This is my only request.”
“Then it cannot be helped. We shall do as you wish. In return, I have one request of my own.”
“Please speak.”
“Would you consider doing this together with me?”
Ma Jung-hyeop unfolded another map. Across it stretched the vast expanse of Qinghai Lake.
Jang Muhwi tilted his head in curiosity.
“This is the portion I will claim. In truth, I have had my eye on the transportation rights across Qinghai Lake. If the boats stop running, trade between east and west will be delayed by at least fifteen days. The people on both sides must already be suffering.”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘together’?”
“Is the Jang family not completely inexperienced in merchant affairs? Would this not be a good opportunity to step into that world? Of course, not immediately. I would like to discuss the matter with your father first.”
Ma Jung-hyeop smiled warmly. Yet behind that smile lay careful calculation. He wished to confirm whether they were worthy of receiving his favor.
Only to the worthy. Ma Jung-hyeop lived by those words. It was the very philosophy by which he ran his merchant empire.
Handing over worthless abandoned mines required no further verification. But ceding part of the Qinghai transportation rights was another matter entirely. The ones who would operate it alongside him would be the Jang family, not Jang Muhwi alone.
Though he had developed considerable trust in Jang Muhwi after their all-night conversation, he could not yet extend that trust to the entire Jang family.
Jang Muhwi answered without hesitation.
“I am grateful for your kindness. I will accept this with thanks.”
Refusing even this would only arouse suspicion. Accepting was simply good manners. Besides, given the conditions Ma Jung-hyeop had attached, it was clear he would choose with great care.
Ma Jung-hyeop raised his cup once more.
“Then—one word remains.”
“A thousand gold.”
Both men emptied their cups at the same time.
Two days later.
Ma Jung-hyeop prepared a formal procession to visit the Jang family. While Jang Muhwi and Ma Uiryong were absent, he intended to observe the Jang household for himself. Although notifying them in advance would have been proper etiquette, he wished to see their true state with his own eyes.
From what Ma Jung-hyeop had gathered, the Jang family was a once-proud martial house now in decline. Producing an exceptional talent like Jang Muhwi had been like a dragon rising from a shallow stream. He held no particular expectations of them.
He simply wanted to assess the character of the family head.
Of course, he could not arrive empty-handed. Gifts had been loaded into the carriage.
That afternoon, the carriage rolled steadily toward the Jang family estate. Ma Jung-hyeop rested his chin on his hand, idly admiring the passing scenery.
Suddenly his eyes widened.
“Why is that person in Qinghai?”
He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. No matter how many times he tried to meet this individual, the man had always remained unreachable.
It was none other than Pajuk Seonsaeng—the great scholar revered as the teacher of all Confucian scholars. Yet there he was, strolling about as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Ma Jung-hyeop immediately ordered the carriage to stop.