Plundering the Front Yard (2)
I said to the shop clerk,
"Could you show me that hairpin over there and the gold belt next to it?"
At my words, the clerk took out the two items and displayed them.
"Here you go."
I gazed at the jade hairpin and gold belt, a satisfied smile spreading across my face.
In my previous life, these treasures had fallen into the hands of black path warriors, used to harm the innocent. But not this time.
"Please wrap them separately."
"I'll handle the payment first."
I paid for the two ornaments, and the clerk placed each one into a silk pouch.
With that, I'd accomplished my goal for visiting Luoyang's market today.
"Farewell."
I left the ornaments shop with the Sa-gang branch leader and glanced back briefly.
The place I'd just exited was a shop run by the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
In other words, the Baekcheon Merchant Group had let these two treasures slip through their fingers right under their noses, completely unaware they even possessed such items.
In my previous life, to a black path warrior.
This time, to me.
It felt twice as refreshing.
That evening, I went to visit my mother.
"What brings you here?"
"I went to the market today and saw something that would suit you, so I bought it."
My mother smiled brightly at my words.
"My son bought me a gift?"
"Yes, though I'm not sure if it'll be to your liking."
My mother opened the pouch I handed her and smiled even more radiantly.
"This is a belt!"
"Do you like it?"
My mother nodded eagerly.
"Of course I do!"
"I'm glad."
I continued,
"Could you try pulling the ornament on the belt to the side?"
At my suggestion, my mother tilted her head curiously and tugged at the belt's ornament.
Click.
At the sound, she tilted her head again and asked,
"Is this... a concealed sword?"
"Yes."
In response, my mother pulled on a section of the belt, revealing a long blade.
"Oh my!"
She was far happier now than before.
She always said she'd become the proper wife of a merchant, but to me, my mother suited the warrior path much better.
Her family home was one of Hubei's martial clans, known for using concealed swords.
My mother had been at a first-rate level, but she'd set aside her sword to fulfill her role as matriarch—a choice that always saddened me.
Why hadn't I thought to gift her a sword in my previous life?
Watching her admire the concealed sword I'd given her like a young girl left a bittersweet taste in my mouth.
The sword I'd gifted her was crafted long ago by a master artisan called the Heavenly Craftsman, a treasure blade that could track and slice any target on its own.
With this in her possession, she could handle any trouble that arose.
Leaving my mother's room, I flopped onto my bed.
"Sigh!"
But I sat up right away.
I'd forgotten my daily training.
The third day since my arrival in Luoyang.
I dressed more splendidly than usual, as the Baekdae Merchant Group gathering was that evening.
As I descended to the first floor, the Sa-gang branch leader was waiting.
"You're down early."
"Yes."
The Sa-gang branch leader was also dressed quite elegantly today.
After a short wait, Sa Gu-cheol the merchant leader and his wife arrived, along with my parents.
I chuckled inwardly.
The hairpin adorning Sa Gu-cheol's wife's hair was the one I'd selected.
Come to think of it, my mother was wearing the belt I'd gifted her too.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
This Baekdae Merchant Group gathering was at Luoyang's Hong Lan Pavilion.
A five-story pavilion they'd rented out entirely for the occasion.
True to its name, it was painted entirely in red.
And adorned everywhere with silk red flowers, giving the place a strangely alluring atmosphere.
In my previous life, I'd been here about five or six times.
Twice for Baekdae gatherings.
They changed venues each time, and for Luoyang meetings, they always used this, the largest space.
The other visits were for business.
As we alighted from the carriage, clerks rushed out to greet us.
"Welcome."
"Please wear this silver badge on your belt."
I examined the silver badge they handed me—it was engraved with "Baekdae Merchant Group Gathering."
It had been a long time since I'd held one.
The rule was to affix it yourself, without help from attendants.
We fastened the badges to our belts and entered.
"Welcome!"
"Good to see you!"
The merchant leaders already there greeted us warmly.
One of them said to my father,
"You've brought a young gentleman we haven't seen before. Your son?"
"Yes, my youngest."
At Father's words, I cupped my fists and bowed.
"I'm Eun Seo-ho."
"Ah! You're the young master who became the youngest branch leader in Eunhae Merchant Group history."
"You overpraise this unworthy one."
"Nonsense. Do you know how fearsome the Eunhae leaders are?"
I exchanged greetings with the merchant leaders, calmly observing them all.
Recalling my previous life's memories to gauge future relations.
Hm, that merchant leader botched a connection to the imperial palace and saw his group crumble overnight.
That one had his son squander the whole business.
Comparing them to my past life like this was informative—and entertaining.
Then it happened.
A chilling tingle ran up my spine, making my scalp prickle.
I slowly turned my head.
"...!"
A man with a goatee beard was approaching me.
Baekcheon Merchant Group's Namgung Kang, the merchant leader.
The closer he got, the faster my heart pounded.
At the same time, his words from when he'd killed me echoed in my ears.
"Your Eunhae Merchant Group grew too big and became a nuisance. Your needless righteousness irks me too. With you around, the bar for 'good' gets raised too high—troublesome. You're just an eyesore."
"That's right, that's the reaction I wanted. No response would've been boring. But do you know?"
"The real reason we're wiping out Eunhae? It's all because of you."
"Farewell."
And in that instant, I could almost feel the cold edge of Namgung Kang's blade at my throat.
Following the old man's advice from the sundries shop, I'd come confidently... but facing him directly was still hard.
Cold sweat broke out unbidden, my hands turning icy.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
My heartbeat shook my body.
Then,
"Are you alright?"
Noticing my pallor, my mother approached and took my hand.
"Ah..."
The warmth from her hand gradually calmed my racing heart.
And then I noticed the belt at her waist.
In that moment, memories of what I'd plucked from the Murim Alliance's front yard flooded back.
A massive haul of luminous pearls.
The concealed sword, one of the Heavenly Craftsman's masterpieces.
And the hairpin for my sister-in-law.
Thinking of it all, a cool relief washed over me, easing my breath.
As the sundries shop old man had said I would, I started anticipating their faces when they eventually learned I'd taken them—much, much later.
Of course, I had no intention of telling them.
By then, Namgung Kang the Baekcheon leader had drawn near, and Father greeted him.
"It's been a while."
Father exchanged pleasantries and introduced me.
"Greet him. This is Baekcheon Merchant Group's Namgung Kang, the merchant leader."
"Branch leader Eun Seo-ho."
"You can tell at a glance he's the merchant leader's son—tall and handsome. Must be a joy to behold."
I cupped my fists politely in response, and Father laughed heartily.
"He takes after me in my younger days. Hahaha!"
Father and he chatted idly until someone called for him.
"Looks like something came up. Enjoy the evening. And you too, young master."
He headed toward the caller.
Father watched his retreating figure briefly, then asked me,
"Your face was pale just now, but you look better."
"Ah, realizing I was among the leaders steering the Baekdae made me dizzy for a moment. But remembering we're one of them settled my nerves."
"Good."
Father patted my shoulder.
"You've noticed this is a battlefield of unseen wars. But here, never lose your confidence."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Then someone appeared on the platform in the banquet hall.
An elder with white whiskers.
He was this gathering's host: In Gang-su, merchant leader of the world's foremost Sebin Merchant Group.
No one in the Central Plains died without hearing the Sebin name at least once.
Sebin specialized in paper, brushes, ink, and inkstones—the "four treasures of the study"—and dominated liquor distribution.
They also supplied paper to the imperial court.
Boom boom boom!
The drums fell silent, all eyes on In Gang-su.
"First, my thanks to all of you for gathering here today."
He continued,
"Some haven't arrived yet, but most are here, so let's begin the Baekdae Merchant Group gathering."
He grinned.
"And please check the silver badges on your belts carefully. They say many are here targeting them again this time."
"..."
Tension rippled through the crowd, and In Gang-su drew a fan from his robe.
"With that, the Baekdae Merchant Group gathering begins now."
As he declared it, he struck the drum with his fan himself.
Boom boom boom!
The gathering had started.
Spring Day was a thief.
There was no special reason he'd become one.
Just to survive.
His parents died amid the martial artists' brawls.
Once their fights ended, they simply left—no one spared a thought for Chun-il.
He wandered the streets, joining a beggar gang.
But those days weren't happy.
Fail to meet the daily quota, and the boss beat him mercilessly—a torment too much for a child.
One day, it struck him.
There's no rule saying I have to beg for the quota. Just meet it somehow, right?
With that, he sneaked into an empty house and stole money.
That day, he avoided a beating—and got praise.
Once, twice, the thefts grew bolder.
Then, in a house he'd targeted, he met a man.
Caught red-handed, he thought it was over.
But the man, amused by something in him, smiled and asked,
"Tired of petty theft? Want to become a real thief?"
It was the meeting with his master.
He had a knack for it, mastering every technique.
Eventually, his master declared, "You're better than me."
At his peak, nothing was beyond his reach.
But theft was a crime, and guilt always gnawed at him.
One day, a shock came.
A house buzzing with murmurs.
Inside, a young couple wept bitterly.
He remembered the man's face—he'd pickpocketed him before.
Voices reached his ears.
"They were heading to the physician for their child's illness but couldn't."
"Pickpocket took their money."
"Is that thief even human? Stealing a child's life-saving funds!"
"Right! Rip that bastard apart!"
Chun-il nearly vomited.
What have I done?
He puked up everything that day and tried to quit, but old habits die hard—he stole again.
Tormented by instinctual theft, he decided:
Fine, target those who won't miss a few silvers.
Thus began Great Thief Chun-il, preying only on the rich.
He wouldn't miss a Baekdae gathering.
Especially with silver badges practically begging to be stolen.
He'd never failed to nab his targets.
Twenty badges per banquet was standard.
But Chun-il didn't know.
In the Hong Lan Pavilion he'd infiltrated for the badges, someone knew his identity.
A gaze from a splendidly dressed young man chilled his spine.