141. Plundering the Front Yard (1)
Luoyang's night streets were dazzling.
Right now, I was walking those streets.
We weren't dressed in flashy silk robes but in plain cotton clothes, complete with bamboo hats. No one would mistake us for young heirs of one of the hundred great merchant groups and their escorts.
This look was perfect.
Strutting around in gaudy attire might draw unwanted eyes, and someone else could snatch away what I was after.
"My lord, where are we headed?"
The Seo-u Warrior asked.
I was out with the Yeo Eung-am Warrior and the Seo-u Warrior.
Even if they were phantoms, bringing all the escorts while I, their lord, stayed in the inn could cause issues.
So, one per room—we'd brought just two.
But the Seo-u Warrior was a peak first-rate expert, and the Yeo Eung-am Warrior a seasoned first-rate martial artist.
And I was at the super first-rate level myself.
Safety wasn't a concern.
"To pick up some unclaimed goods."
"Pardon?"
They all gave me puzzled looks.
But the info I had came from my previous life, so I couldn't spill it outright. I glossed over it.
"Remember when I went to the book street in Beijing?"
"Yes, I do."
"I found an interesting note in one of the books I bought. I'm checking if it's real."
"Pardon?"
"Could be someone's prank. But if it's legit, great. Even if it's fake, we get to stroll Luoyang's night streets, so win-win."
"So, you found a treasure map?"
"Something like that."
I continued.
"And honestly, doesn't everyone harbor a bit of romance about treasure maps deep down?"
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Seo-u Warrior chuckled at my words.
Why the laugh?
But asking felt awkward, so I let it slide.
Soon, we arrived at an abandoned manor.
"This is tonight's destination."
Seeing the crumbling estate, the Yeo Eung-am Warrior said,
"Feels like ghosts might pop out."
The Seo-u Warrior replied,
"Wouldn't be surprised."
"Pardon?"
"This place had a bloodbath. The wronged dead might haunt it as ghosts."
"B-bloodbath?"
The Seo-u Warrior continued calmly.
"Heard it from way back. The manor lord was filthy rich. But he got obsessed with sinister black-path martial arts, went mad."
"……."
"He started massacring his household. The Murim Alliance stepped in to end it."
The Seo-u Warrior paused for breath.
"After a bloodbath like that, who'd live here? His whole clan died, so it sat abandoned, ownerless."
Then he asked me,
"Still going in?"
"Yes."
"Understood. I'll take point."
He entered warily, scanning everywhere. The Yeo Eung-am Warrior and I followed.
Inside was eerily empty.
The bloodbath story checked out—furniture smashed and scattered everywhere.
But nothing else remained.
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior noted,
"Something's off. They said he was loaded, no survivors. The authorities should've cleared the valuables, so why's it a mess?"
"Thieves hit right after. Before officials could sort it, they looted everything."
"Makes sense why it's left like this."
True to his escort days, the Seo-u Warrior knew the manor well.
But even he didn't know the thieves were the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
It came up at a hundred great merchants' gathering in my past life.
Specifically, the treasure found here.
I overheard the Baekcheon Group leader and his deputy.
"Nothing left, right?"
"Checked a dozen times."
Didn't know then, but later learned it was this manor.
I smirked, recalling the info.
Yeah, behind the left building—a massive jar buried there.
The Seo-u Warrior scanned and said,
"Clear. No one's here."
I nodded and headed behind the left building.
I found an overgrown lot with withered yellow grass.
That's when it happened.
The gold spirit poked its head from my sleeve.
I gave a hollow laugh.
This guy's nose for money is uncanny.
I told it,
"You smell something valuable here, huh? Find it."
"Kyu?"
"Find it, and I'll give you a silver tael."
It shook its head. Bargaining with me now.
Meant one tael wasn't enough.
Implying huge value here.
Sharp instincts.
I upped the offer.
"One gold tael."
It wiggled excitedly onto the lot.
Then scampered around, tail wagging joyfully.
Suddenly, it stopped, started digging.
Papapapapap—!
One little guy outdigging ten men.
Soon, it paused, peering from the hole.
Eyes sparkling, begging for praise.
"Good job."
"Kyu……."
Ah, wants the gold.
"Gotta check first. Gold back at the inn."
It nodded, tried slipping into my sleeve... mud-caked.
"Hey! Where you going all filthy!"
I grabbed it, brushed it off, wiped with my handkerchief.
Palgap'd wrestle it into a bath later.
Anyway, the jar first.
"I'll open it."
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior swept dirt aside, lifted the lid.
That instant.
"……."
We all fell silent.
It brimmed with night-luminescent pearls.
Even I, who knew, was stunned by the sheer amount.
"That note you found, my lord—it was real."
The Seo-u Warrior nodded too.
"How much you think?"
"Over a hundred, easy."
The pearls lit our faces brightly.
I told my escorts,
"Let's grab 'em."
"Yes, sir."
I pulled out a black pouch; they filled it methodically.
Profit for me, and it averts the incident. Two birds, one stone.
These pearls were so valuable, they left us speechless.
And sparked a whole mess.
Every five years, the Murim Alliance hosts a tournament.
Called the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly.
Top ranks get honor and Alliance warrior eligibility.
Warriors flock to Luoyang for it—including those who found these pearls.
Poor martial family kids, no decent lodging.
The huge event drew hordes of sects and clans.
They heard the manor was abandoned, crashed here, spotted faint light, dug it up.
Jar cracked, light leaked.
A fateful encounter—but doom for them.
Tried selling pearls for inn fees; rumor spread.
Greedy eyes turned, brothers handed pearls to Alliance for safekeeping.
So, these pearls tormented their finders, ended up with the Alliance.
I just yoinked them first.
Feels damn good.
.
.
.
Next morning.
As planned, I headed downstairs at chen shi (7-9 a.m.).
Father, ever diligent, was first there.
"Good morning."
"Morning. Sleep well?"
"Yes."
I sat; soon, Mother descended, primped.
Breakfast arrived.
Like home, we ordered porridge—white rice gruel with side plates of toppings.
Over tea post-meal, Father asked,
"Plans today?"
"Touring Luoyang's markets."
Then,
"Mind if I join my son? Wouldn't be bad."
Turning, I saw the Sagucheol Merchant Group family from yesterday entering the dining hall.
"Ah, good morning."
"Good morning indeed."
Behind Sagucheol Group leader, a young man I'd missed.
"My successor. Delayed by business, arrived late last night."
The youth bowed in greeting.
"Branch head Sagan, at your service."
"Eunhae Merchant Group branch head Eun Seo-ho."
Father spoke post-intros.
"Fate brought us together. No harm wandering markets with young Sagan."
With Sagucheol leader and Father's nods, market trip with Sagan was set.
Truth was, I planned to snag my second treasure today, post-pearls.
No real reason to refuse.
Fine, tag along.
Soon after,
I left the inn with Sagan branch head.
"……."
Sagan was extremely taciturn.
No chit-chat was nice, but this was excessive.
"That silk's color looks noble—pure gold thread, maybe."
"Indeed."
"That painting—famous artist Seonggeum's work?"
"……."
Conversations died.
But even he lit up at the smithy.
"Hold—let's watch."
He stared ages at smiths hammering metal. Palgap whispered,
"Impressive focus. Explains how they cracked top hundred merchants with weapons."
True.
Post-smithy, back on streets.
I stopped at a jewelry shop.
"In here."
"……?"
Sagan tilted his head.
"Since we're in Luoyang, gifts for Mother."
I added,
"You too—pick something?"
He pondered, nodded.
"Mother, sister... yes."
Meant gifts for them.
Clerk greeted us inside.
"Welcome."
"Browsing."
"Take your time."
I leisurely eyed wares.
Luoyang stocked flashy pieces.
"……."
But Sagan looked grave.
"Problem?"
"Which......"
"Can't choose?"
He nodded awkwardly.
"To me, red suits your mother. And......"
Drawing on past-life training under Jeong Ho, I picked fitting pieces for his family.
Leaving satisfied Sagan, I "shopped."
Actually hunting my target treasure.
Two artifacts in one shop—odds like lightning twice on a dropped coin.
But it happened here.
I smiled.
There it is!