13. An Unexpected Journey (1)
The next day at dawn.
I began learning martial arts from my master in the courtyard in front of my room.
"Young master, you must first master the heart method called the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art."
"Yes."
"Normally, we'd start by sensing your qi, but since you already have internal energy in your dantian, we'll proceed directly with the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art."
I sat cross-legged, and my master placed his palm against my back.
"Remember the meridians I guide you through, young master, and follow them exactly."
My master enveloped the internal energy in my dantian with his own and led it along the meridians of the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art.
It took less than half a gak to complete a full circuit.
That was because my meridians were already wide open.
My master looked startled and asked me,
"Do you know the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art?"
I brushed it off first in response to his question.
"What's that?"
"Then how are your meridians...?"
After a moment's thought, my master said,
"You mentioned before that you ate a spiritual medicine by chance, and its energy accumulated in your dantian."
"Yes."
I had already told my master most of the truth about the energy in my dantian.
I knew he wasn't the type to blab carelessly about such things.
Besides, there was no other way to explain the internal energy in my dantian.
But the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art was different.
I couldn't admit to knowing his family's hereditary martial art.
"In truth, the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art is a heart method designed to accumulate yin energy in the body as efficiently as possible. The legend says it was created instinctively in a moment when one was on the brink of freezing to death."
"I-is that so?"
Come to think of it, I'd nearly frozen to death myself.
Because of the chill from the Azure Ice Snow Plum...
My master continued his explanation.
"I suspect the same happened to you, young master. Your body instinctively circulated your energy through those meridians."
It was a more accurate analysis than I'd expected.
"If not, you probably wouldn't be in this world anymore. There's a high chance you'd have frozen to death."
His precise guess sent chills down my spine.
"I-see. That's fortunate."
"Anyway, thanks to your fortunate encounter, we can skip straight to basic physical training."
My master nodded and continued.
"If you practice martial arts without the foundation of stamina and muscle strength, your body will break down. So we must build a solid and thorough base."
It had been a while since I'd heard those words.
"It'll be tough, won't it?"
"It'll be so grueling you'll want to curse, but you have to endure."
"Yes. I'll give it my all."
I began the physical training as my master instructed.
And watching me endure better than expected, he muttered,
"This calls for increasing the intensity."
"Pardon?"
"Then let's ramp it up. Add two more sandbags."
His words left me horrified.
"N-no, that's not necessary!"
.
.
.
It was time to head to work.
Having trained my body all dawn, I worried I wouldn't have the strength to go.
But,
Having so much internal energy had its downsides.
A quick session of qi circulation and meditation, and I was fully recovered.
The heavens clearly willed me to work without complaint.
And to achieve my goals, I had to stay diligent.
No matter my past experience turning the Eunhae Merchant Group into one of the world's top three conglomerates, right now I was just a fifteen-year-old boy newly starting fieldwork.
The only reason I could contribute to acquiring Hwaryeon Pavilion this time was because I'd stopped that fire.
Still, hiding my constitution...
What my master had told me the night before left me perplexed.
He'd cited the reason that it wouldn't do me any good to spread it around, but his eyes hinted at something more complex.
He wasn't wrong, and he'd tell me when the time was right.
"You've arrived?"
"Yes. Good morning."
The clerks of the Finance Division greeted me with eyes full of goodwill.
Thanks to me stopping the fire, they hadn't suffered through the ordeal.
Until then, to cover their eyes, the Finance Division clerks had stayed away from work for a bit.
They'd had to pull a few all-nighters because of it, but if that spared them the real hardship, it was a win.
Anyway, it had been a while since I'd seen their faces.
Then Supervisor Yu approached, and everyone stood from their seats.
"Young master has arrived."
Supervisor Yu smiled and announced to everyone,
"From today, Young Master Eun Seo-ho will serve as my assistant."
He'd nailed it down completely.
"Pardon?"
"Huh?"
"I-is that true?"
The clerks looked at me and Supervisor Yu in shock. Especially the female clerk in Yeo Division—she seemed particularly stunned.
I hadn't shown any sign of it.
"Young master?"
"That's how it is."
Yet the clerks showed no jealousy toward me becoming Supervisor Yu's assistant.
If anything, they looked pitying.
They knew.
How grueling a position Supervisor Yu's assistant was.
Supervisor Yu turned with a smile.
"Then let's get to work. We have a mountain of it."
"Yes."
Tears streaming in my heart, I was dragged to Supervisor Yu's office.
Entering Supervisor Yu's office, I immediately noticed the change.
A large desk had been placed right next to his.
I knew at a glance it was mine.
"Sit."
"Yes."
I sat obediently. Soon, stacks of documents piled up on my desk.
"Review these, mark the key points in red, and bring them to me."
"Yes."
"These need research. Find the relevant materials and add them."
"Yes."
"And these..."
My workload exploded.
Only then did I realize.
I wasn't competent.
I'd just twisted my own fate.
.
.
.
Time flew, and winter solstice approached.
Every year, the Eunhae Merchant Group gave three to four days off around the solstice.
Of course, not everyone could be off at once, so they rotated before and after.
I planned to stay in bed as much as possible during my vacation.
Truly rest.
Of course, I couldn't skip martial arts training, but mornings would suffice.
It was only natural I looked forward to the break.
Assisting Supervisor Yu was insanely busy. It wouldn't have been strange if he'd died from overwork.
In Supervisor Yu's office, only the sounds of turning pages and brushing pens filled the air.
That was his philosophy: if you had time for chit-chat, better to read one more character on a document.
I shared the mindset.
Then, my qi sense picked up someone approaching.
Maybe because I'd upped the intensity of my physical training lately—my perception had sharpened a bit.
Honestly, my master's training was still manageable so far, but I never said so.
If I said, "It's bearable," he'd reply, "I see," and add more sandbags.
So I exaggerated my complaints as much as possible.
The sandbags I used now totaled twenty-five geun.
About the weight of a hefty adult man.
Any more, and I'd really die.
Soon, a woman's voice rang out. A familiar one.
"I've come on the division head's orders."
Then the voice of the guard, Gyojinun.
"Deputy Jo Yeongyeong has arrived."
Supervisor Yu nodded, and seeing it, I quickly replied,
"Come in."
The door opened, and a woman in her mid-twenties entered.
Her name was Jo Yeongyeong.
Daughter of a family that had long served the Eunhae Merchant Group, she'd naturally ended up working here too.
Becoming one of the division head's deputies at a young age—and as a woman—meant she was exceptionally sharp and quick-witted.
Rumors swirled that she and her father might have some illicit ties.
But no, that wasn't the case.
She had a man she admired, and even up to my death, she'd never married.
"What is it?"
"Division Head Song has arrived. He requests your presence."
"Got it. Let's go now."
"Yes."
She gave Supervisor Yu a slight bow, and that's when I saw it.
Her cheeks faintly flushed.
When she looked up again, her face was its usual impassive mask.
Her gaze stayed fixed on Supervisor Yu the whole time.
No way? Supervisor Yu?
Only then did I understand why she'd wailed so heartbrokenly at his death.
And why she'd never married.
She was truly pure love.
Then Supervisor Yu called me.
"Young master."
"Yes!"
"What are you doing? The division head is waiting."
"Pardon?"
For a moment, I couldn't comprehend. Division Head Song had come, and this was a meeting where the internal supervisor needed to attend—why me?
"Isn't it just you going, Internal Supervisor?"
Supervisor Yu counted on his fingers as he explained.
"First, Division Head Song's visit means there's business to discuss, likely involving paperwork and such. But I'm swamped beyond that, so you'd handle the related tasks. Explaining it would be a hassle... a waste of time."
"..."
Did he almost say "hassle" just now?
"Second, you're one of the merchant group's heirs. You qualify to attend. Any more questions?"
He'd dressed it up, but the point was to drag me along for efficient work.
I let out a small sigh and followed Supervisor Yu to the reception room.
.
.
.
The Eunhae Merchant Group had a dedicated reception room.
They entertained guests often.
A maid from the tea room poured tea and distributed cups before withdrawing.
In the reception room sat my father, the internal supervisor, and the head of the Commerce Division.
Across from my father was the guest, Division Head Song.
Division Head Song was one of the local magnates where the Eunhae Merchant Group was based and a longtime customer.
A very special one.
His jade silk robes and earring of gold spoke volumes—he was one of the region's great landlords.
And in the future I'd lived through, Division Head Song gradually fell into ruin, aging into the lord of a dilapidated estate that bore only his name in title.
"It's been a while since your visit."
At my father's words, Division Head Song set down his teacup and said,
"Circumstances led to it. Still, this is the place I rely on most. That's why I've come to see you, Silver Division Head."
My father asked cautiously,
"Seems like something's come up."
"Indeed. I've come requesting a bit of help."
We listened silently to Division Head Song.
"Due to my oversight, ten geol of land weren't reflected in the tax rolls, and the Regional Inspector is making an issue of it."
"Oh dear."
My father nodded sympathetically. But I read the truth in Division Head Song's expression.
Not an oversight—an intentional skim.
Until the Regional Inspector caught it.
"So I consulted a friendly county magistrate, and he said the Regional Inspector is looking for a certain item."
A simple matter.
A bribe to smooth things over.
And that item was why Division Head Song had visited the Eunhae Merchant Group.
If I'd figured it out, my father certainly had. With a gentle expression, he asked,
"Your worries are our Eunhae Merchant Group's worries too. Speak freely—what is this item?"
"Well..."
Division Head Song sighed and answered,
"A curio."
"Pardon? A curio?"
"Specifically, a doll that dances on its own every hour."
Silence fell over the reception room for a moment.
My father, the internal supervisor, and the Commerce Division head all wore expressions of utter confusion.
But I knew what it was.
Right, that thing.
One of the biggest regrets from my past life.
I'd vowed not to repeat it this time, but I'd nearly messed up again.
Maybe that's why he'd come—to remind me.
The whole affair started from something trivial.