Recruit the Craftsman (1)
Master and Escort Leader Jeong Ho clasped their hands in respect and expressed their gratitude, and I stepped down from the carriage to bow in return.
"Thank you for seeing us all the way here."
"No trouble at all."
"Please give my regards to Clan Leader Jang as well."
"Of course. Haha. Safe travels, then."
"Yes."
The bandits of the Odongsan mountain stronghold began packing up their tools and heading back, one by one.
"Let's fill our bellies with meat and booze today!"
"I'm so stuffed I'll burst!"
"Do what you want!"
"Booze! Booze! The booze is waiting for us!"
Watching them chatter excitedly, Master remarked,
"Looks like paying that toll was the right call."
"Yeah, now we've got them in our debt."
At my words, Escort Leader Jeong Ho asked,
"What debt? Clan Leader Jang already agreed to serve you as his benefactor..."
"Even so, his men need something out of it too, or they won't follow his orders faithfully."
"I see."
Master chuckled and said,
"I figured it'd take until tomorrow to cross Odongsan, but we made it through faster than expected."
"At this rate, we'll reach Geumseon Village by evening."
We'd crossed Odongsan a full day early, which was good news for me too.
The sooner I achieved my goal, the better.
.
.
.
Creak, creak.
Clop, clop.
The quiet road echoed with the rumble of wheels and the clip-clop of hooves.
How long had we traveled like that?
A village came into view in the distance.
"Good thing we made it before sundown. No need to camp out," Palgap said.
Im Kyung-bin, the squad leader sitting up front, replied,
"But don't let your guard down just because we're staying at an inn. In some ways, inns demand even more vigilance than camping."
"Huh? Why's that?"
Before I knew it, I was chiming in at Palgap's question.
"You have to suspect everything—poison or sleeping drugs in your food, assassins lurking in your room."
"Camping does sound more relaxing, then."
"Honestly, it's easier on the mind, but we have to visit certain inns that deal with Eunhae Merchant Group and Cheangin Escort Agency. They're hubs for all sorts of information."
I smirked and added,
"If my guess is right, this inn we're heading to trades with Cheangin, so you won't have much to worry about."
"First escort run, and you know your stuff."
Im Kyung-bin's comment made me inwardly wince.
Of course I knew—these were lessons from escorts I'd joined in the past.
But right now, I was supposed to be clueless.
"I-I learned from my brothers."
"Ah, got it."
"And from Chief Steward Yu too. He was pretty tough on me."
"Oof!"
Im Kyung-bin's face stiffened at my hasty addition, turning sympathetic.
"You've had it rough."
"Hahaha."
The escort slowed as we entered the village.
I peered out the carriage window at the sights.
A village nestled by the pass from Hubei to Jiangxi.
About two ge from the Gan River, safe from floods, it bustled with merchants.
Wet goods were a merchant's nightmare.
Its geography also deterred river pirates effectively.
Markets ran daily, trading not just Jiangxi specialties like dried freshwater fish, but southern imports like candy and tea shipped up the Gan.
This market was called the Geumseon Market—where ships laden with profitable cargo docked for deals.
The village was Geumseon Village.
This was home to the artisan who made the straw effigies.
.
.
.
"Whoa there!"
As the caravan halted, I stepped out of the carriage.
[Yeo's Inn]
Run by the Yeo family—I'd stayed here plenty and trusted it completely.
"Welcome! We've been expecting you."
A middle-aged man hurried out from inside.
Yeo Chu, the innkeeper.
Born in autumn, hence the name, or so the story went.
"It's been a while. Almost a month?"
Master, speaking for the group, was met with Yeo Chu's warm reply.
"Exactly—a month and two days. Ah, and Escort Leader Jeong Ho beside you?"
Jeong Ho looked surprised.
"You still remember my name? It's been nearly three years."
"Can't forget valued guests. Haha."
That was Yeo Chu's gift.
He recalled names and details from a decade ago with eerie precision.
He greeted the Se풍gak and Sangyu-gak members by name too.
"And Squad Leader Im Kyung-bin..."
He rolled his eyes slightly, smiled, and clasped hands.
"First time at our inn."
"That's right."
I returned the gesture.
"Escort Squad Member Eun Seo-ho. This is my attendant, Palgap."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Yeo Chu, innkeeper here."
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
"Come in. We'll prepare water for washing and food to fill your bellies."
Escort runs meant skipping face-washes to shield skin from wind and dust.
But regular dust-offs were essential.
We entered and were assigned rooms—three per room, porters included.
Other agencies crammed ten porters per room; Cheangin was lenient.
In my past life, as second brother's successor and a sub-unit leader, I'd met Cheangin's chief.
Our talks taught me how to handle people—and I was impressed.
Treating porters decently maximized their utility long-term.
Creak.
Palgap opened the door. The two guards checked every corner first.
"All clear. We'll be next door—rest easy."
Im Kyung-bin and I entered.
The spotless room drew a smile from me unbidden.
Memories of past stays flooded back.
No fixed beds here—they set them up per guest needs.
Thanks to the advance scout, three beds were ready with quilts.
I said to Im Kyung-bin,
"I saw a communal bath earlier. Heading there?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Go ahead. I'll wash separately."
His face brightened.
"Alright, be back soon."
As he left, old memories surfaced.
My mistake.
Wanting to bond with the hires, I'd bathed in the communal room once.
It backfired—they felt awkward.
No repeating that error.
"Palgap, arrange a private bath."
"Got it."
After washing, I headed to the first-floor dining hall. Others were already there, cleaned up and seated.
"Squad Member Eun, over here."
Jeong Ho pointed to an empty spot; I sat.
"What'll you have?"
His expression screamed let me recommend something good.
Time to indulge him.
"What's good here?"
"The meat fried in rapeseed oil and dumplings stuffed with shepherd's purse are specialties."
"Those, then."
Jiangxi's shepherd's purse dishes were famous, right?
Oddly, no liquor on the table despite the inn.
Escort etiquette: no booze, not even the smell.
The waiter took orders amid chatter, then dishes arrived.
Fresh rapeseed-fried meat and steaming dumplings.
"Dig in."
I bit into a dumpling.
"Oh..."
"Good, right?"
"Yeah, delicious."
A taste I'd missed.
After Yeo Chu died and his son took over, it vanished.
Tasting it now hit home: I was truly fifteen again.
After filling up on dumplings, I asked,
"When do we leave here?"
"A day or five days' stay planned."
Geumseon Market was for small traders.
Not Eunhae-scale—we dealt in bulk, no petty haggling.
Big merchants had two main methods.
First: Pre-arrange terms, meet, swap goods or cash.
Second: Hang a sign with name and wanted items; negotiate with interested parties.
We were doing the first.
If second, we'd have brought a mid- or low-rank Sangyu-gak member for deals.
Confirming the schedule, I told Master and Jeong Ho,
"Sorry, but can I move separately tomorrow?"
Planning to seek the straw effigy artisan.
Jeong Ho nodded readily.
"Group Leader already mentioned it—give you personal time for errands."
"As expected."
Dad's the best.
Jeong Ho continued,
"But with guards, per his condition."
Non-negotiable, so I agreed.
"Understood."
Post-meal, everyone scattered to duties.
Guard shifts for cargo, feed the horses.
Off-duty folks hit the sack early.
My task: log trade details. Early start tomorrow, so bed soon.
Young master.
A voice echoed in my mind.
Familiar sound transmission.
Master's.
Tonight, I'll fetch you for training.
Puzzled, I glanced at him. He smiled slyly via transmission.
You need practice, right?
Damn, no early night.
.
.
.
Step, step, step.
My footsteps echoed hugely.
Dark hallway.
Groping along, I walked.
Thud.
Dead end ahead.
No—a door.
Creeeak.
It swung open at my touch. Dim lamplight revealed the room.
Three corpses sprawled messily—a family, by their arrangement.
In the center, someone crouched, sobbing.
I approached.
Suddenly, he seized my wrist. I screamed in shock.
.
.
.
"Aaaah!"
"Young master? What's wrong?"
"Huh?"
I turned. Palgap stared worriedly.
"Bad dream?"
"...Seems like it."
"Shall I brew a calming draught?"
"No need. Just cold water."
"Right away."
Palgap headed downstairs. I examined my wrist.
Recalled the dream-grabber.
Face unseen, but I knew him.
The straw effigy artisan I'd failed to save in my past life.
As he gripped me, he'd said,
This time, for sure...
I could guess the rest.
Save me and my family.
Clenching my fist, I vowed: This time, I'd save the artisan and his family.