Chapter 179: The Return Path (2)

I smiled brightly and said,

"Fortunately, it looks like I can help you out. I'll buy all the hides you've got stored up."

This decision was both a reward for the hunters who'd helped us and a smart move for the Eunhae Merchant Group's business.

The hides from beasts in this northern region were thick-furred yet incredibly soft, making them a hit with the upper class.

But sourcing them and breaking into the trade had always been tough.

Places like this were crawling with entrenched merchants who guarded their turf fiercely.

Yet one greedy merchant's folly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had cracked the door open for us.

I wasn't about to let that opportunity slip.

The hunters would offload their unsold hides, and the Eunhae Merchant Group would gain a new trading partner.

A classic win-win—or, to me, who knew the future, more like a win-win-win and then some.

Because this winter? A brutal cold snap was coming.

One I wouldn't forget.

Not just the unprecedented freeze that year—the same year I became a branch manager—but the nightmare that dragged on for five straight years after.

Frostbite deaths multiplied several times over compared to normal winters.

And when famines piled on top, the people's suffering hit rock bottom.

As temperatures plummeted, demand for fur-lined clothes exploded.

You needed them just to survive without freezing solid.

Supply couldn't keep up, driving fur prices through the roof.

Thinking back, locking in trade for these hides now would mean massive profits down the line.

We soon followed the hunter father-son ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠duo to their village, where the tribe gathered.

"This is our village."

True to form for a hunters' settlement, animal byproducts hung drying everywhere.

"Bok-i, who's this with you?"

An elderly man with a weathered face emerged, and the hunter's son rushed to him.

"Grandpa! He said he'd buy our tribe's hides, so I brought him."

"Is that right?"

The hunter beside me cleared his throat.

"Ahem, that's my father. He's also our tribe's chief."

"Ah!"

I quickly cupped my hands in a formal bow.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group."

"I'm Village Chief Ji-geol. You want to buy our tribe's hides?"

"Yes."

His son, the hunter, explained the whole story to the elder. The chief exploded upon hearing it.

"Those bastards! I'll stick an arrow in their skulls!"

His words were rough, but I got where he was coming from, so I just gave a faint smile.

"Ahem."

The chief seemed to notice me then, coughing awkwardly.

"Sorry, got a bit heated there without thinking."

"No need to apologize."

"Anyway, is this a one-time deal for our hides? Or do you plan to keep trading long-term?"

"Long-term, for sure."

"In that case, follow me. Time to show you our tribe's real craftsmanship."

He led us to a warehouse piled high with hides.

"These are the ones for trading. Take a look."

The chief's face brimmed with confidence—clearly proud of their hidework.

I inspected them closely.

And yeah, they had every reason to brag.

Who could see hides this high-quality and complain?

Defective? Absurd.

"How much did those previous merchants pay per hide?"

"Rabbit hides: half a nyang of silver for a hundred. Wolf hides: half a nyang for five."

……Damn, nearly cursed out loud.

A hundred rabbit hides for half a nyang? They weren't merchants—they were highway robbers, just without the blades.

Though sometimes, money cuts deeper than steel.

"I'll give one nyang of silver for every ten rabbit hides. And one nyang for every two wolf hides."

The chief's eyes widened in shock.

"That much?"

"That's a fair price, sir. Like I said, I'm a merchant—and merchants don't do losing deals."

"Fair enough."

The chief muttered, looking deflated.

"Means those guys we dealt with were ripping us off all this time."

"……."

"Son, grab some arrows. Time to pin one to that bastard's head."

"I'll go with you."

The mood was turning rowdy, so I quickly stepped in.

"Easy now. Isn't the future what matters?"

"Mm, true enough."

Then Bok-i—the chief's grandson—spoke up.

"But what if that old merchant comes sniffing around? What do we do? Sounds like he might, from what this handsome guy's saying."

I nodded.

"Spot on—he's that type. But I won't stand by if he bullies folks who've agreed to trade with us."

Once our flag's planted, we protect it.

"How about I set up a branch office here and station some warriors? Would you allow that?"

Branches cost a fortune to establish, of course.

But if it secured this spot and the trade? Peanuts.

This was the remote edge of the Heukryong River, classified as "outer wilderness" even in murim terms.

That made it all the more lucrative once you dug in.

Especially knowing the future.

"A branch here?"

"Yes. Your hunters aren't weak, but with our branch and warriors garrisoned, those merchants won't dare mess around."

The chief eyed me intently, as if peering into my soul.

"And the costs?"

"The Eunhae Merchant Group covers them, naturally."

"Then you've got my permission."

"Great. Just hold the fort until we send personnel to set it up."

"Don't worry about that. Our hunters aren't pushovers."

"Still, stay vigilant. Who knows what tricks they'll pull."

That day, we rested in the village, heading to the chief's son's house.

Inside, I pulled out brush, ink, and paper from my pouch to write a letter to Father.

"Geumryeong, this is for Father."

"Kkwi? Kkwi! Kkwi!"

Geumryeong wagged its tail wildly, chattering away.

"So, too far for just one silver nyang?"

"Kkwi!"

"Two...?"

"Kk...wi."

"Alright, three it is."

Geumryeong promptly thrust out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠its tail.

This little guy's haggling now.

I tied the letter to its tail, and it shot off at blazing speed.

.

.

.

The next morning, I woke to Geumryeong perched on my stomach.

Damn, it's fast.

I read Father's reply.

I grinned.

Figured the Upper Commerce Pavilion head would see the value here.

Over breakfast, I shared the news with my escort warriors and Palgap, ordering preparations to depart.

But after eating, Jin Yu Warrior pulled me aside quietly.

"Young master, a word."

"Go ahead."

"Until your merchant group sends people, I'll stay here."

"Stay behind?"

"Yes. Shows the tribe we're watching out for them, and you can travel with peace of mind."

No reason to refuse—perfect offer.

The other escorts could handle the return trip fine.

Though roughing it here might be tough...

Reading my mind, Jin Yu added,

"I lived in the North Sea before—no worries. Please allow it."

"Feels like you're doing this for me. Sorry about that."

"Don't say that."

"Alright, then. Thanks."

I told the chief Jin Yu would stay; they looked relieved, like they'd been anxious.

And so we set off, leaving him behind.

Destination: the Gwangjun Merchant Group.

Time to return the signaling horn that Vice Manager Bok-yun had lent me.

The trek from the North Sea to Yonyeong mirrored the way up.

Friendly tribes affiliated with Gwangjun treated us well; the rest...

Well, few dared touch us.

Even hot-blooded northerners valued their necks.

Tribes that had tangled with us before knew better than to approach.

We entered Yonyeong without incident.

"Best to camp there tonight."

I nodded at Seo-u Warrior's suggestion.

"Yeah, let's."

No inns between here and Gwangjun, so camping it was.

A few existed, but none trustworthy.

Better to rough it outdoors—peace of mind.

We set up camp routinely, ate dinner, and as I stared into the fire, Seo-u Warrior approached.

"Young master."

"Yes."

"Was what you sought this time some insight into martial arts?"

I glanced at him; he continued calmly.

"Saw you fight at that inn. Same techniques as before, but the power was night-and-day different."

A peak expert himself, he'd noticed my growth.

"Hahaha, that obvious?"

"Yes. Like you'd secluded yourself training it for years."

"……."

Spot-on—chills.

That place warped time so badly; the training was hell.

Tears welled up just thinking about it.

"Must be the smoke stinging your eyes."

"Ah, yeah."

Then a sudden curiosity hit.

"By the way, any idea what techniques I use?"

"First I'd seen them. But definitely top-tier advanced arts."

"Good to know."

Whew.

If even knowledgeable Seo-u didn't recognize them, most wouldn't.

Seolpung Palace was secretive and mysterious—wiped out over a decade ago.

Master must've passed them on.

A presence approached; Seo-u tensed toward it.

But I stayed relaxed.

No foul black-path stench.

Moments later, they appeared: about five men pulling a cart.

Merchants, by their look.

"Uh, travelers—mind if we borrow some embers?"

Seo-u glanced at me; I nodded.

"Travelers help each other. Go ahead."

"Thank you."

They settled nearby, borrowing our fire to light theirs.

Even with tinder, live kindling's quicker.

"Care for some dumplings?"

Their apparent leader approached with steaming buns.

"Oh, thanks."

I accepted with gratitude, asking,

"Where you from? Packing dumplings suggests not too far."

"Haha, right. We peddle sundries around here. Yonyeong's villages are sparse, so we trade with them to get by."

"I see."

"You don't seem local."

"Correct. We're from the Eunhae Merchant Group in Hubei Province."

"Eunhae? The Eunhae Merchant Group?"

Reaction like he knew the name.

"You've heard of us."

"Who hasn't? Makers of the Wind-Powered Cart and Automaton Dolls. And just ranked in the top fifty of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups."

"Hahaha, that's us."

"Honor to meet you."

While I chatted with their leader, Palgap tested the dumplings for poison.

Can't drop guard ever.

He shook his head—no poison. Good.

"Been a while since I was in Yonyeong. Any big news?"

He pondered, then said,

"Big lately? Oh! Know the Sambu Merchant Group?"

"Of course."

"They're crumbling—about to go bust."

"Weren't they big locally? How?"

"Rumor they put a hit on Gwangjun's vice manager. Seems legit—Gwangjun's cracking down hard."

"Gwangjun flexing full force, huh."

"Yeah. Word is their vice manager handled it personally, no mercy."

I smirked inwardly.

That's my friend for you.