Benefactor of the Sacheon Tang Clan (1)
As November arrived, winter was gradually settling in.
After receiving permission from his father to head to Sacheon, he returned to his office, only to find an unexpected guest waiting.
It was Seo-u Warrior, the husband of Lady Hong Geum-so.
"It's been a while. What brings you here?"
At his question, Seo-u Warrior dropped to his knees before him.
"What are you doing? Get up, please!"
"Please accept me as one of the young master's guards."
"Pardon?"
He tilted his head in confusion.
"Didn't you return to the Daijeong Escort Bureau?"
After accompanying him to Unnam and returning, Seo-u Warrior had gone back to the Daijeong Escort Bureau and set off on an escort mission.
That was why he hadn't been able to join them in Uichang, nor attend Jin-ho's official inauguration as branch leader.
"That was because of an unfulfilled contract. I've now completed it and formally ended my contract with the Daijeong Escort Bureau."
Seo-u Warrior continued.
"And I heard you've taken on a warrior named Jin Yu from Uichang as a guard. I want to serve as your guard as well."
He tried to help the man up.
"Please stand. Let's talk this over slowly."
"I won't rise until you allow me into your guard detail."
"……."
At those words, he plopped down cross-legged in front of Seo-u Warrior.
The warrior's face registered surprise at the sight.
"Why the shocked look? Conversations are best had eye to eye. That's why I sat like this."
"The floor is cold."
"You won't sit in the chair, so what choice do I have?"
"……."
With a sigh, Seo-u Warrior spoke.
"I'll sit in the chair. So please, young master, take a seat as well."
About time.
He rose and settled at the desk, and Seo-u Warrior followed suit, sitting across from him.
"Is it because you want to repay a debt that you're asking to join my guards?"
To his direct question, the man replied.
"Yes, that's right."
"Then there's no need. You've already repaid any debt by coming with me to Unnam to rescue my second brother. You were a tremendous help."
"Don't make me out to be a shameless man by saying the debt is paid."
He went on.
"What you've given me isn't just my life. You've saved my entire existence—my life and soul. If I'd died then, my spirit would have wandered the netherworld in shame before my wife."
He had simply repaid Lady Hong Geum-so for her help and Seo-u Warrior for saving his life.
Yet those actions had clearly left a deeper mark on Seo-u Warrior.
"I want to use the life, existence, and soul you've granted me in your service from now on. So please, accept me into your guard detail."
"……."
He pondered as he gazed at Seo-u Warrior.
The man was undoubtedly talented.
He was someone who had earned the famed title of White-Fold Sword.
Moreover, he had been an escort leader handling the Unnam region.
When Jin-ho had gone missing before, he'd seen the true value of Seo-u Warrior.
Once word spread that Seo-u Warrior had ended his contract with the Daijeong Escort Bureau, escort agencies would line up offering massive sums to sign him.
Even the Changin Escort Bureau, where his master served, was undoubtedly salivating over him.
Yet here he was, giving up such prospects to join his personal guard detail.
"Um... if it's about pay, I'll work for free. Just let me stay by your side and protect you."
"Work for free? Absolutely not!"
To exploit a talent like this without pay?
Only those with pitch-black consciences would do such a thing.
"The reason I'm hesitating is that others want you too, don't they?"
"Ah, well..."
Seo-u Warrior gave an awkward smile.
"As you said, last night the head of the Changin Escort Bureau visited me and offered a fortune."
They're quick to recruit talent, as expected.
Already made their move.
"But I refused. He seemed to understand when I said I wanted to serve as your guard."
More surprising than the refusal was that the bureau head had accepted it.
"He understood?"
"Yes. He said there's no point forcing someone whose heart is set elsewhere."
"……."
Seo-u Warrior seemed utterly resolute. Enough that even the Changin head had backed off.
"Very well."
"Pardon?"
"For someone like you to join my guard detail—I'm the one who should be grateful."
Seo-u Warrior rose with a beaming face and clasped his hands in a formal salute.
"Thank you for granting my request."
"Looking forward to working with you."
To add a member to his personal guard, he first needed his father's permission.
He sought it immediately, and as expected, unlike with Jin Yu Warrior, his father readily agreed.
The two-week training with the Silver Wind Corps was still required, of course.
Since the trip to Sacheon would be after his birthday, Seo-u Warrior could join them.
.
.
.
Two weeks passed.
His birthday came and went, and he turned eighteen.
He felt no different from usual. It was his second time at this age, after all.
More important than aging a year was recalling what events had unfolded around this time.
That would aid the Eunhae Merchant Group's growth.
The Baekcheon Merchant Group, backed by the Murim Alliance, loomed high above.
Third among the world's top hundred merchant groups.
That meant Baekcheon was everywhere you went, but its operators were rarely seen.
Suddenly, he recalled his previous trip to Sacheon.
The imperial court had been preparing the salt distribution law then, and through his connection saving Jin U-rim, the group had become a salt retailer in Hubei Province.
But Baekcheon had stayed out of salt retail—deliberately excluded by Jin the head.
Probably because Jin had pierced the essence of Baekcheon's operations.
To them, Jin must be a thorn in the side.
I wonder... did the Murim Alliance or Baekcheon egg on the Dong Clan to target him?
The emperor hadn't mentioned it during the interrogation.
They wouldn't have done it overtly, of course.
The public image of Baekcheon was that of an unyielding rock of a merchant group.
Stubbornly walking the righteous path of commerce, no matter what.
But that was a fabricated facade.
Behind the scenes, they pulled every dirty trick, even resorting to force.
Now, as Eunhae began threatening that position, they would start acting.
To defend against it, he needed more allies for Eunhae.
Some might say they had enough already, but no.
Still short.
.
.
.
Two days after his birthday.
He and his entourage set off for Sacheon.
The official reason was to investigate the wind-emitting devices sold in Sacheon.
And while there, he had to stop by the Sacheon branch where his uncle was stationed.
The merchant caravan heading to Sacheon was joining him as well, killing two birds with one stone.
Traveling together cut security costs, so it made perfect sense.
Last time in Sacheon, he'd gone alone to catch a rat.
No need this time, so he opted for the longer but safer route.
Taking a boat up the Yangtze would be easy to Jungkyung, but beyond that, rapids made it risky.
And even disembarking at Jungkyung for land routes posed issues.
The paths into Sacheon were treacherous; carts barely passed.
Better to take the detour—easier on body and mind.
The route was set: to Uichang, then skirting Mount Wudang through Shaanxi into Sacheon.
His group consisted of Palgap, four guards, and Yeo Chang's deputy—six in total.
When he announced the trip to Sacheon, the Yeo deputy prepared without a word, seemingly accustomed to his whims now.
.
.
.
"You punk! Today, I'm finally gonna teach you some manners!"
"Kkweet! Kku!"
"Hah! Kicking from behind, you coward?"
"Kkut!"
Today, too, Palgap was getting thoroughly trounced by Geum-ryeong.
Hm, a dominance struggle?
Why's a human picking a fight with a spirit beast, though...?
Five days out from Eunhae Merchant Group, and their squabble showed no signs of ending.
The fights started because Geum-ryeong kept provoking Palgap.
A few days back, when Palgap had been mumbling oddly in his sleep, he'd told Geum-ryeong to wake him—and it had hooked the beast.
Looking at it... is this partly my fault?
No. It's probably 'cause Palgap's hilarious flailing reactions are fun.
Ahem.
But the more they tussled, the nimbler Palgap's movements seemed to get.
"We'll reach the foot of Mount Wudang soon."
He nodded at Seo-u's words.
"Yeah."
Mount Wudang naturally brought the Wudang Sect to mind.
Wudang arts subdued strength with softness.
Primarily sword-based, hence Wudang Sword Sect.
But their other techniques were formidable too.
Especially the Cloud-Stepping Stride, a lightness skill like walking ladders of clouds, rivaling any of the Nine Great Sects.
He recalled the Wudang Sect's declaration of closed gates.
It happened before his death—at age thirty-five.
And no matter what befell the murim, they never emerged.
What on earth happened to force their seclusion?
He hadn't known then, and it was still too early now.
That future lay distant.
Likely tied to the Murim Alliance. At this point, he grew curious about the Alliance Leader's true aims.
Winning over or eliminating sects and clans to build supporters—what for?
Then his senses caught something.
Someone approaching?
Jin Yu and Seo-u noticed too, swords drawn as they flanked him.
Hong Im, the escort leader from Changin Escort Bureau, raised his hand.
Everyone moved in unison: warriors gripped weapons, porters shifted to the cargo.
Soon, a band appeared.
"Greetings, folks? Haha!"
The man's boisterous laugh screamed bandit.
"I'm Black-Headed Sickle, subordinate to the chieftain of this Nak-a Mountain band, the Wild-Haired Mad Swordsman. The boss sent me to say hello since we're strangers."
A bit further, and they'd enter Wudang territory.
Meaning no bandit business allowed.
He'd figured they'd show soon enough—and here they were.
But one name grated.
Black-Headed Sickle?
Now he remembered: shortly after turning eighteen in his past life, this guy had fleeced travelers crossing Mount Wudang.
Escort bureaus and bandits usually settled tolls amicably to avoid fights.
Knowing that, Black-Headed Sickle had name-dropped the Wild-Haired Mad Swordsman to extort tolls.
Many bureaus and caravans suffered losses.
Real envoys from the chieftain clashed with his crew, blood spilled.
He should've quit while ahead.
His tail grew too long.
Skimming tolls meant for the band? The Mad Swordsman wouldn't stand for it.
They set a trap; he fell in.
His end was miserable: limbs crippled, sold as slaves to the mines, rumor had it.
Knowing that future, he could've played along.
But considering the losses other bureaus and caravans would suffer until the Mad Swordsman struck—might as well clip his tail now.
"Ah, so you're here. We were wondering when."
"I'm no good with people, so I was late."
"Here's the toll."
Hong Im pulled a money pouch from his bosom.
Whoosh.
But he snatched it first.
"……?"
Hong Im and Black-Headed Sickle stared quizzically.
He shook his head.
"Not yet time for that."
"Pardon?"
"Forgot to mention: our group has business with your chieftain, the Wild-Haired Mad Swordsman. Need to meet him."
Hong Im looked utterly clueless.
Naturally—he'd just made it up.
To Black-Headed Sickle, he said:
"So, guide us to him."