Yeolang (3)

157. Yeolang (3)

Long yet short, this journey to Henan. Yeolang here would likely be our final stopover. From Yeolang, the Martial Alliance in Henan truly lay close at hand. Though Shanxi was said to be unorthodox territory, this place, Yeolang at least, was a region where the orthodox faction's influence ran as strong as in Hebei.

That bastard Ji-gyu. When I granted him the use of my name and urged him to establish a trading company, he truly began spending his days so busy he could barely keep his eyes open. Every day he went to meet great merchants and wrestled with stacks of documents detailing information about Seungdeok. For my part, losing my drinking companion left me a touch bored, but Geum-hyang of the Star-Moon Sect and Gang Ji-yeon were rolling up their sleeves and diving in to help him with his work.

"Did you see Miss Geum's eyes? She looks so happy these days."

Bored just like me from the absence of her friend Geum-hyang, Jeong-hyang sat down beside me and spoke. I wasn't the most perceptive, but even to my eyes, Geum-hyang truly seemed happier than Ji-gyu. It wasn't greed for money, but the sheer joy of watching her beloved that she radiated.

Ji-gyu was every inch the merchant. Where he could best demonstrate his ability was in commerce, and women were invariably drawn to a man's competence. With this venture of establishing a trading company, he was showcasing his talents, so Geum-hyang had no choice but to fall for him all over again.

"Ji-yeon is really incredible too. She's sorting through the account books as methodically as a real adult."

The third among us who had lost a friend, Cho-ryeong, also sat down beside me and brought up Gang Ji-yeon. She truly was remarkable. Her skill in arithmetic was impressive, but the way she dealt with people made her seem like a genuinely seasoned merchant. Ji-gyu had decided to dissolve the Star-Moon Sect and rename it the Seongwol Merchant Guild. Running a small shoe shop alongside a large trading company and a martial sect would be too much, after all. Unexpectedly, Geum-hyang and Gang Ji-yeon actively agreed with Ji-gyu's proposal. Geum-hyang would now go from Junior Sister to prospective lady of the merchant guild, and Gang Ji-yeon from disciple to Ji-gyu's eldest daughter and the prospective heir of the Seongwol Merchant Guild.

Thanks to this, our Yeongsan Sect was enjoying a leisurely and carefree rest each day at the manor, whose master was perpetually absent. The journey was now nearly at its end. I couldn't be sure, but even in a straight line, we seemed to have come roughly three thousand li—about 1,200 kilometers. The journey was so unimaginably long that at first I simply thought we'd reach Henan someday, but now, with Henan right before our eyes, we had to decide our course of action going forward. Master must have felt the same, for on our last night in Yeolang, she gathered us and began a meeting.

"There are likely two reasons the Alliance Leader invited us. First, he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wishes to personally verify the authenticity of your martial arts. The report that a greenhorn like yourself, not even thirty, struck down the Black Heaven Association Leader will have thrown him into confusion. The affair is unprecedented, so he must find it utterly hard to believe, but the Hall Master of Cheonghwa Hall is not a man who would spout nonsense to the Alliance Leader, and so he likely seeks to confirm it himself. This is no problem. You do possess that strength, after all."

It was different from last year, when we defeated the Black Heaven Association Leader but concealed the fact. Through the affairs with the Peng ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Clan and Great Sun Association, we had begun to gain renown and had acquired three subordinate powers. Now, even if the matter of the Black Heaven Association Leader came to light, no one under heaven would dare look down on us.

"And the second?"

"It will surely be an invitation to join the Martial Alliance. If we meet the Alliance Leader in Henan, we will be directly offered membership."

Because of the great floods, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering had been postponed by half a year. As a result, a hole had been torn through the influence of the orthodox faction across the land, and unorthodox sects like Great Sun Association had risen to power. Even if the natural disaster itself was unavoidable, the clumsy response afterward must have greatly damaged the Martial Alliance's prestige. Moreover, in this era where superstition still persisted, some might well believe that the floods in Henan were heaven's wrath for the Martial Alliance's misguided conduct.

In such a situation, the Alliance Leader would likely want to hold up our Yeongsan Sect as a banner of the Martial Alliance—a sect that possesses an irregular master like myself and a tear-jerking past of overcoming adversity and rising up. A melodramatic play performed by beautiful, pitiful actors always sells well, after all. But us becoming a banner of the Alliance would entail many advantages and disadvantages. We would gain much, but we would also lose much. This was not a matter of profit and loss, but the question of the direction our Yeongsan Sect should take.

"In the past, even our neighbor the Seven Fingers Sect couldn't join the Martial Alliance. Sects within the Alliance felt like sects from another world, and now that the decision of membership has come before us, it truly feels like a changed era."

Master's tone was wry. The Yeongsan Sect of the past had yearned for the Martial Alliance. If only we had joined, no matter how weak we were, even Heuk Cheon-gyeon would not have dared attack Yeongsan Sect so casually. The Martial Alliance, which hadn't even known of our existence when we lacked strength, was now repeatedly demanding our membership now that we had gained power. It was the very image of the Martial World operating entirely on the logic of power.

"What advantages and disadvantages would joining the Alliance bring?"

Truth be told, as a country bumpkin from the frontier, I wasn't exactly well-versed in these matters centered on the Central Plains martial world either. But having handled affairs at Baek Clan Estate, I was the one among this group who knew the Martial Alliance relatively best, so Lee Eun-ha looked at me as she asked.

"First, we'd receive the Alliance's protection. They won't step in for every petty dispute, but if we were to fight one of the Ten Great Evil Factions like Black Heaven Association or Great Sun Association, we could receive aid from the Alliance."

"That doesn't sound very appealing. We received help from Shaolin, Wudang, and the Beggars' Sect in the last Great Sun Association incident, but once this journey through the Martial World ends and we return to Yeongsan, the only one of the Ten Great Evil Factions we'd fight is Black Heaven Association."

She would strike down Black Heaven Association with her own hands. Son Yeong spoke, steeling that resolve.

"Exactly. Besides, in Liaoning we also have the Murong Clan, don't we? Even without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the agreement with Master, there's no way the Murong Clan would stand by and watch an evil faction run rampant in Liaoning. If Yeongsan and Murong combine forces, there's no enemy to fear."

Jeong-hyang had now learned the Martial World. Even the mischievous girl had begun to calmly offer her opinions, with the bearing of a head disciple.

"Even if the Demonic Cult invaded?"

Cho-ryeong asked, tilting her head. Jeong-hyang looked at her and smiled as if she found her adorable.

"The Demonic Cult is in Xinjiang, isn't it? From Xinjiang to Liaoning is from one end of the Central Plains to the other. We've never even met the Demonic Cult, so what kind of grudge would make them come all the way to Liaoning?"

"But the people of the Heavenly Wolf Sect had nothing to do with us either, yet they tormented us, didn't they?"

Cho-ryeong's childlike, innocent words cut through to the heart of how the Martial World operated. Cho-ryeong was right. The Martial World was not a place where we could pass through peacefully just by being careful ourselves. Even if the probability of actually having to fight the Demonic Cult was one in a million, if that situation ever truly arose, what would we rely on? The Alliance was a form of insurance. Not for the present, but for the future's hardships.

"I cannot guarantee such a thing won't happen. But surely there are disadvantages as well?"

Having experienced an attack by the Heavenly Wolf Sect that normally should have been impossible, Master did not deny Cho-ryeong's words. Listening to everyone's opinions with a cautious tone, she now asked about the disadvantages.

"Nothing in the world is free. If we join the Alliance, we will come under the Alliance's interference first of all. It may not be major interference, but it will be a point of concern nonetheless. Moreover, just as the Alliance protects us, we too gain the obligation to protect member sects. If the Huangfu Clan in Shandong, which is close to Liaoning, were to suffer an attack from an unorthodox faction, our Yeongsan Sect, with no ties to them at all, would have to bleed for them. Furthermore, we would have to send funds and personnel to keep the Alliance running. Even if our sect's finances have become comfortable, that comfort is by the standard of six disciples—the money is truly paltry when compared to other martial sects. In the end, one of us will have to be dispatched to the Alliance."

"What? Master. Absolutely not!"

The moment my explanation ended, Jeong-hyang immediately opposed it. We were not simply fellow disciples. We were all bound as a future family, each one my betrothed. Jeong-hyang, who wished for all of us to stay together, was desperate to oppose any situation that would separate even one of us.

"The losses outweigh the gains. If the Demonic Cult really does invade all the way to Liaoning, it'd be better for us to just run away."

Lee Eun-ha was quick with her calculations. But Master still shook her head with a cautious expression.

"I think so too. Even if we hadn't joined, surely the Martial Alliance wouldn't stand by and watch the Demonic Cult advance from Xinjiang to Liaoning. Besides, as for lands adjacent to Liaoning, it's only Hebei, Jilin, and Shandong, isn't it? Hebei is orthodox territory, and Jilin is where Baek Clan Estate, Yeongmok's birth clan, is located. Even the Northern Sea Ice Palace is Yeongmok's maternal clan. What remains is Black Heaven Association in Shandong, but we decided to settle our grudge with them ourselves. Above all, as long as Yeongmok is here, there will be no threat to Yeongsan Sect in this generation. But what of after we leave Yeongsan? What if our disciples' achievements are meager? What if Murong Clan Head retires and the agreement between our two sects is forgotten? What if the Peng Clan remembers its past grudge and begins to oppress us? As Sect Leader of Yeongsan Sect, I want to ensure that our later disciples do not suffer as we did."

So that cautious expression he'd worn was because of these thoughts. Master's vision had truly broadened. Master was also right. Even if we left Yeongsan and the sect declined again, once we were part of the Martial Alliance, we could at least avoid the kind of absurd hardships the old Yeongsan Sect faced. Everyone had endured those hardships. No one spoke it aloud, but everyone must have resented the past masters. So just as everyone fell silent before Master's opinion, Cho-ryeong stood up and spoke boldly.

"It's alright, Master. Even after you descend from the mountain, I'll protect Yeongsan Sect."

At Cho-ryeong's cute and admirable declaration, the heavy atmosphere instantly turned warm. Master's concern was not for the period immediately after her departure from the mountain. She had likely been worrying about the distant future, after even Cho-ryeong left Yeongsan. But Cho-ryeong's utterly confident promise made everyone chuckle.

"Junior Sister Cho is right. There is no need to worry, Master. If disciples who inherit this much martial art and funding still manage to decline, then joining the Martial Alliance would be useless anyway."

Yeongsan Sect was just beginning. Once this journey to Henan ended, our renown would spread, and countless talented disciples from all over would begin to seek admission. Surely we wouldn't pick out only the dullards among them. Yeongsan Sect was, curiously, a sect where geniuses gathered.

"It seems everyone is opposed to membership. Then Yeongsan Sect will adhere to its existing policy of refusing to join."

At last, Master reached a decision. Yeongsan would go on as it always had. We would live peacefully and happily in a corner of Liaoning, free from anyone's interference. At Master's decision, the disciples smiled. Laughing and chatting, we enjoyed our last night in Yeolang. Now that the decision was made, all we had to do was keep sightseeing in Henan as we had so far, and then return to Liaoning.

That really was the true flavor of our Yeongsan Sect.

"Brother Baek. I'm sorry. You came all this way, and I couldn't even properly host you..."

As we were about to leave the manor, Ji-gyu spoke to me with a truly apologetic face.

"Not at all. I rested very well. Now that I've tried using a manor, I've found that inns are a little uncomfortable."

"That's right, Hero Ji. Thanks to you lending us the manor, I could train to my heart's content."

When Son Yeong also expressed her thanks to Ji-gyu, he looked embarrassed and awkward.

"I decided to build a trading company in Liaoxi, so give me another chance then. I'll treat you properly."

"If you ever come to Liaoning, you must visit Yeongsan Sect. I'll brew some delicious liquor that will absolutely amaze you, Hero Ji, and I'll be waiting."

In truth, the one who loved the manor even more than Son Yeong was Lee Eun-ha. Unlike an inn, a manor allowed her to borrow the kitchen as much as she pleased.

"I heard that the Medicine Immortal Hall Master also serves as Yeongsan Sect's chief administrator. I will visit again in the future, but I will also send five percent of the Seongwol Merchant Guild's profits to Yeongsan."

Five percent of a major trading company's profits. At the incredible compensation for the use of his name, Lee Eun-ha's mouth fell wide open. Ji-gyu would likely be able to drink his fill of the Wine Immortal Sect's secret-recipe liquor that Lee Eun-ha had brewed.

"Once the trading company is established, I'll personally send lovely clothes, ornaments, and cosmetics that suit Miss Jeong well. In exchange, please visit the trading company from time to time. Any clothes worn by Miss Jeong will sell like hotcakes."

Geum-hyang had now completely become a merchant. She was drafting business plans using Jeong-hyang as an advertising model. Geum-hyang's aptitude seemed quite excellent, so I was a little surprised she had abandoned the path of a martial artist so decisively.

"Ryeong, I have a favor to ask..."

Gang Ji-yeon spoke hesitantly to Cho-ryeong.

"What is it?"

"You know your senior sister is the Medicine Immortal, right? Could you ask her to brew just one batch of medicine for our master—I mean, for my father?"

Whispering their farewells from afar, the two little rascals. But everyone present could overhear the children's conversation.

"Why?! Is Hero Ji sick somewhere?"

"No, it's just... our Martial Aunt—I mean, my mother—has a very strong temperament. I heard the servants say that when a woman is too strong, the man has a hard time at night. So please ask the Medicine Immortal for some medicine that is good for men."

"Medicine for men and women is different? Alright. Don't worry, Ji-yeon."

Cho-ryeong answered confidently. At her display, Geum-hyang turned beet red.

"Ji... Ji-yeon! Oh dear. I truly can't live this down. Senior Brother! That's not true. I have no complaints at all about you, Senior Brother!"

Ji-gyu, who should have been more embarrassed than Geum-hyang, instead wore a leisurely smile and spoke slowly.

"Shh! Junior Sister. Be quiet. This is our chance to obtain a restorative tonic from Medicine Immortal. I'm grateful you're satisfied with me even now, but if one is a merchant, one must be greedier. Though I've already gained a dependable eldest daughter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before even holding a wedding, I must hurry and give Ji-yeon a little sibling."

Wow... This bastard. It seemed he had taken my past advice to heart and decided to be greedy like a true merchant. Ji-gyu laughed cheerfully and, as previously promised, gifted us fine leather shoes. Before we began our own martial journey, we too had custom leather shoes made and set out in them. Leather shoes were the finest luxury footwear of this era, but the long journey and harsh training had worn them down to the brink of ruin, so his gift was truly appreciated.

"Here, what Brother Baek asked for."

Lastly, Ji-gyu handed over a pipa. Since this was a gift I intended to give to Lee Eun-ha, I paid him for it, and then we bid them farewell and headed toward our final destination, Henan.