Assembly of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups (1)
I returned to my pavilion.
"Are you alright, young master?"
"Huh?"
"You look worried."
At Palgap's words, I tilted my head.
I wasn't the type to let my expressions slip like that.
Sensing my confusion, Palgap explained.
"Your left eyebrow is drooping just like an ant's hind leg."
He noticed that? More observant than I thought.
Still, I couldn't exactly spill my real worries, so I made up an excuse.
"I'm heading to the assembly of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups with Father, so of course I'm concerned."
"You're going to that assembly?"
"Yeah. With all the leaders of the world's top hundred merchant groups gathering, it's a big deal."
The Seo-u Warrior, who had entered my room with me, chimed in.
"I agree with Palgap. Everything you've accomplished so far would be impossible for ordinary people. You'll shine at the assembly too."
.
.
.
Time flew by quickly.
Palgap, the guards, and those around me encouraged me, but the worry gnawing at my heart wouldn't fade easily.
It wasn't the assembly itself—it was the Murim Alliance figures I'd meet there, or rather, the leader of the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
But this was something I couldn't share with others.
So I suffered in silence.
It had been nearly four years since I returned to the past, but the image of Namgung Kang, the Baekcheon leader who had severed my neck, was still vivid in my mind.
Not just Elder Brother Jin-ho's severed head, but the gruesome deaths of my guards who followed me, and even Palgap.
That's why I had no confidence in keeping a straight face if I met Namgung Kang.
I might even leak killing intent without realizing it.
Overthinking it?
In my previous life, I'd lost my reason at the sight of Jin-ho's head.
Normally, no matter how furious I got, I never lost control.
I thought I was even calmer now than back then, but with that history, I couldn't be sure.
If my slip-up brought harm to our group, all my preparations so far would be for nothing.
No good.
No matter how much I pondered, there was only one answer.
I wasn't ready to face the Baekcheon leader in the Murim Alliance's front yard yet.
I'd tell Father to take Jin-ho instead.
That's when Palgap spoke from behind me.
"Isn't that the elder from the sundries shop?"
"Huh?"
Behind the Eunhae Merchant Group was a pleasant walking path through the woods.
With full autumn upon us, the cool weather made it perfect for a stroll.
I was out walking to sort through my tangled thoughts.
Palgap's voice snapped me back, and I looked ahead.
The old man from the sundries shop, masked in his signature guise, was approaching.
I quickly cupped my fists in greeting.
"Greetings, elder."
"Oh? What brings you here, busybody?"
"Just out for a bit of a mood changer now and then... But what about you, elder?"
"Heard the stone honey here's good for health, so I came to collect some."
Come to think of it, he was carrying a box, filled with what looked like premium stone honey.
This much honey would've drawn a swarm of bees...
Who was I worrying about?
The sundries shop elder was renowned for his demon mask. At minimum, a super first-rate expert.
"But even a walk didn't lift your spirits, eh?"
The elder continued.
"For a real mood boost, nothing beats something sweet. Come along. I'll brew you some honey tea with this stone honey."
"That'll cost me, right?"
He chuckled at my question.
"Not this time. Just follow me, you rascal."
.
.
.
A short while later,
I entered the sundries shop elder's store.
He brewed honey tea with the freshly gathered stone honey and handed me a cup.
He even gave one to Palgap and the guards who'd followed me.
"Thank you."
"We'll savor it."
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior looked touched to receive honey tea from a martial arts senior.
I lifted my cup and took a sip.
Ugh, sweet...
So much honey it felt like drinking pure honey.
But it did lift my mood right away.
And so,
I blurted out a question to the elder.
"Elder, if you had to meet your arch-nemesis in their own home—what would you do?"
"Hm? Why ask that?"
"Just curious how you'd handle it. You don't have to answer."
"You ask, then say no answer needed? Teasing me?"
"N-no, I just..."
"Avoid the meeting, or face them head-on—that what you're getting at?"
"..."
"Me? I'd go and meet 'em."
"Pardon?"
"An arch-nemesis means that deep a grudge. But if you show it easily, they ain't one."
"Pardon?"
"Means the grudge is too shallow."
"..."
"Arch-nemesis implies revenge. 'A gentleman's revenge takes ten years, but never too late.' Means enduring, patiently, for perfect payback."
The elder paused, then added,
"That answer your question?"
"Yes. Endure and hold firm, got it."
"That's part of it. But for me, meeting such a foe gets my blood pumping."
"Pardon?"
Excited to meet an enemy? I tilted my head, confused.
He grinned at me.
"My temper's not the best. Imagining their face when they hear their plans went to hell? Thrilling. Heh heh heh."
His words sparked something in me.
Come to think of it, around this time, there were things to gain in Luoyang.
Things—plural.
One of them? Something the Baekcheon Merchant Group discarded.
They thought it worthless and tossed it, but it was a treasure.
Realizing too late they'd thrown away a gem? That'd burn their guts.
That's the thrill he meant.
He said his bad temper made it exciting, but mine wasn't great either.
Thinking of Luoyang's pickings, I started feeling that thrill too.
Meeting the Baekcheon leader who'd killed me—in the Murim Alliance's front yard—had weighed on me more than I realized.
Enough to forget my biggest weapon: foreknowledge of the future.
I chuckled.
The worry that'd plagued me vanished in an instant!
The sundries shop elder was definitely our group's advisor for life.
With that thought, I took another sip of the honey tea.
"Ugh!"
"What's wrong?"
"Why'd you put in so much honey?"
The elder bellowed.
"You complain even when I give it? Don't want it, hand it over! That's century-aged stone honey..."
I quickly covered my cup with my hand.
"No take-backs after giving it cheap!"
* * *
The sundries shop elder watched Eun Seo-ho's retreating figure.
His steps looked much lighter than before.
The elder glanced at Eun Seo-ho's cup.
"That rascal drank it all..."
Running into him just as he'd gathered the stone honey—fate seemed to have a hand in it.
'Arch-nemesis...'
He'd had one too.
The one who'd tried to kill his close friend and liege—the current Emperor.
The memory of smashing that bastard's skull from behind brought a smile.
It had felt so good.
But that was the past.
Now the fool was a soul in the underworld.
He knew Eun Seo-ho was heading to Luoyang this time.
And he could guess who this arch-nemesis was.
'Probably the Murim Alliance.'
The Emperor's letter had speculated on the Alliance's ties to Eun Seo-ho.
'More precisely, the Baekcheon Merchant Group they front.'
No other connections otherwise.
The elder knew of Baekcheon too.
One of the top five among the world's hundred great merchant groups—impossible not to.
And as the Emperor's right hand, he knew more.
Baekcheon's goal wasn't money.
They stuck to merchant duties outwardly, but their odd moves gave it away.
He chuckled.
Good—his advice had helped.
Eun Seo-ho had flashed that same sly smile he'd worn in the past.
He looked forward to the chaos Eun Seo-ho would wreak in Luoyang.
'That's why I can't leave this place.'
The time to depart for Luoyang had arrived.
For the assembly of the world's top hundred merchant groups, a lavish carriage was prepared to maintain dignity.
Father hated dressing up, but no choice.
From my previous life's attendance, I knew others showed up even flashier.
Fail to drape yourself in finery, and rumors of your group's decline spread like wildfire.
To signal strength, it was necessary.
I finished preparing and headed to the carriage hall.
The guards, attending the assembly too, wore outfits unlike their usual.
"This must've cost a fortune... Wearing it, I feel too burdened to swing my sword. Haha."
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior joked, and the Yi-pil Warrior smirked.
"Sister Yeo, turns out your liver's smaller than I thought."
"What? My liver small?"
"You'll wear stuff like this more in the future. Better get used to it now."
"Even one outfit's a month's pay!"
"Our attire reflects our lord's status. It's to subtly show we dress our retainers in silk too."
I chuckled at their banter.
Yi-pil hailed from the Sichuan Tang Clan. Though starved and hardship-ridden, he'd received elite training and lived glamorously on the surface.
So he understood these things well.
"Yi-pil Warrior's right. Bear with the discomfort a bit."
"N-no! It's not uncomfortable."
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior waved it off.
"Silk's so soft, and it moves freely."
Silk was tough and sturdy—great for defense—and tailored for warriors, so no hindrance in combat.
Only one issue: mental burden.
His uneasy expression showed it lingered.
"Yeo Warrior."
"Y-yes!"
"Is that outfit pricey? Or is my life more so?"
"Not even comparable."
"Exactly. Not comparable."
I smiled and continued.
"If you're too stingy to swing your sword over silk, who guards my life?"
"Ah!"
He quickly cupped his fists.
"My thinking was shortsighted."
"It's fine. I get it. Honestly, I feel the pinch too."
I laughed.
"But no choice. The assembly's a battlefield, and these are our armor. So lose the worry."
We reached the carriage hall soon.
Father and Mother arrived shortly after.
For the Hundred Great Merchant Groups' assembly, spouses attended as standard.
There was even a separate gathering for the merchant madams.
Father—and Mother too—wore high-end silk attire.
"Ready to depart."
With the group leader and his wife traveling, escorts were ample.
High Yi Il-pyeong, the external manager, led personally, with Squads One and Two from the Silver Wind Corps drafted.
The Seo-u Warrior marveled.
"One Sword Shakes Heaven Manager and two Silver Wind squads! Doubt we'll even get a turn."
I laughed heartily.
My guards had plenty to do this trip.
While in Luoyang, I'd sweep up everything I could claim.
Even Baekcheon's discards.
We were raiding the Murim Alliance's front yard.
A worry just days ago, but the sundries shop elder's advice changed that.
Thinking of my gains, excitement bubbled up.