How About Doing a Job? (3)
The next day at dawn.
I rose early. Today, I had to head out with the Gold Guard for work.
“Kkwi!”
Geum-ryeong wriggled in through the slightly open window.
“Ah! Back already?”
I opened the window wider and scooped him up with both hands.
“Good job.”
I set him down on the table and handed over a silver coin, which he gulped down eagerly.
In the meantime, I untied the letter bound to his tail.
The night before, I'd sent a message to Father explaining that I'd be working with the Gold Guard and couldn't return to the main branch for a while. This was his reply.
A natural smile crept across my face as I read it.
It was a warm note trusting I'd do well and just reminding me to take care of myself in the cold weather.
“Young master! Did you cough, sir?”
Palgap's voice came from outside the door.
“Yeah. I'm up.”
.
.
.
We ate breakfast and left the Yeonjun Merchant Group amid farewells from Aunt's family.
However, the four members of the Silver Wind Corps who had accompanied us this time were heading back to the main branch first.
With the merchant group expanding, the Silver Wind Corps had more duties piling up. I knew they planned to recruit more manpower soon, but not yet.
From what I'd heard, they were starting recruitment for not just the corps but regular staff come summer this year.
I wondered if that would bolster our forces in Hyeonpung Province too.
“If I may say so, sir.”
Palgap spoke up then.
“It seems the Se-pung Pavilion Master saw right through your true nature, young master.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“He said it before: Your master is like the wind—hard to serve.”
So Pavilion Master Jek Byeong-cheol had said that to Palgap?
“So, what's your take? Is serving me that tough?”
“Well, it's manageable, sir.”
“Really?”
I glanced at Palgap and asked,
“But why bring it up out of nowhere?”
“Just... going to Hangju, then Beijing, then off somewhere else again—it really feels like chasing the wind, sir.”
“Can't deny that. But don't get the wrong idea. This time, it's not my call.”
I turned to the escort warriors behind us and said,
“So, sorry about this, but could you tough it out again?”
Seo-u Warrior replied firmly.
“No need to worry, young master. We serve our lord with unwavering loyalty, always.”
“Reliable as ever.”
Soon, we arrived at the imperial palace.
A large group bustled about, preparing to depart. One of them approached us.
“Halt!”
As we stopped to talk with him, Jin Yeong Daehyeop spotted us from afar and waved.
“Ah! You've arrived?”
The man who'd stopped us asked the Jin Yeong Warrior—judging by their matching uniforms, he was Gold Guard too.
“You know these people?”
“Yes, this is none other than Eunhae Merchant Group's sub-branch leader, Eun Seo-ho.”
“Ah! Is that so?”
He quickly clasped his hands in respect toward me.
“My apologies. I'm So-un of the Gold Guard.”
“Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group. These are my attendant and escorts.”
At my introduction, my escorts and Palgap each gave their names.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop smiled in satisfaction.
“Right on time. Impressive.”
“Keeping appointments is a merchant's core virtue.”
“Hahaha. Quite so.”
“I'd like to hear the schedule.”
At my question, Jin Yeong Daehyeop explained.
“We've split the group in two. One heads to the Yellow River, the other to the Yangtze. You'll come with me to the Yangtze.”
The Yangtze...
“There, we'll break the ice, load it onto carts, and transport it to reservoirs in various towns.”
“Reservoirs? You're storing the ice there?”
“Yes. His Majesty worries about drought this spring and wants water stockpiled.”
“But transporting all that ice with just us seems impossible...”
“Don't worry. We're getting help from the escort agencies in each province.”
In other words, a mobilization order to the escort agencies.
Made sense—they were perfect for this.
They trained in martial arts, had stamina, and transport was their main business.
And it wasn't a loss for them either.
The floods had hit the agencies hard too.
The Emperor would compensate them somewhat, no doubt.
“Let me introduce our Yangtze group.”
Our team consisted of Jin Yeong Daehyeop, So-un Daehyeop, and ten other Gold Guard warriors.
Twelve were going to the Yellow River, making twenty-four in total from the Guard.
Considering their workload, this was probably their max deployment.
Plus laborers and others, totaling over two hundred in our contingent.
Seeing the tools loaded, the ice-breakers—bingbu—were coming too.
Great clans harvested ice each winter, storing it in icehouses for summer use.
The palace had specialists for this, called bingbu.
Of course they'd bring experts for breaking ice.
Even Gold Guard warriors couldn't swing inner energy-infused strikes endlessly.
Handling ice in this cold wasn't easy. Tough work.
I'd prepare warm liquor or tea.
Once everyone was ready, we set off.
We'd travel by land to the Yangtze on the Sichuan-Guizhou border.
The rivers were frozen solid.
.
.
.
On the second night of travel, we made our first camp.
They tried to light fires, but light snow had dampened the wood, and flames wouldn't catch.
“This is trouble.”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop approached me, and though I knew the issue, I played dumb.
“Pardon? Trouble?”
“We need fires, but they won't light. It's so cold—could lose people to exposure.”
His eyes gleamed at me, as if expecting me to fix it.
And he was right—I could.
Lighting wet wood was routine for escorts or merchants on long hauls, not novices.
I knew the tricks, had done it plenty.
But it was odd.
“Surprising.”
“What's that?”
“The Gold Guard camps often, no? With your duties...”
“Wondering why we don't know how to do this?”
“Yes. You travel so much...”
“Simple reason: our work rarely allows fires. Most times, we can't risk them.”
“Ah...”
I got it.
Gathering intel or tracking foes—no bonfires then. They'd give you away.
“Makes sense. Thanks for indulging my foolish question.”
“No trouble. You catch on quick—it's why His Majesty favors you.”
Hahaha.
That favor wasn't bad, but it weighed on me a bit.
“Still, we need fires soon, or the others will suffer.”
Most in our group weren't martial artists.
But I didn't need to step in.
“Young master, best sit by the fire and warm up, sir.”
Palgap had already lit one.
He was a seasoned Eunhae attendant. If I knew, so did he.
Sharp eyes, quick hands too.
Look—he was boiling tea already.
“Thanks.”
I sat by the blaze and told the stunned Jin Yeong Daehyeop,
“My attendant's pretty capable.”
Thanks to Palgap's fire, everyone else got theirs going fast.
Before, some had eyed us suspiciously—Why are they here?—treating us like baggage.
Today, that changed completely.
.
.
.
After a fortnight's journey, we reached our destination.
“This is it.”
I nodded at Jin Yeong Daehyeop's words. A massive ice mountain loomed before us.
I knew about the floods, but not that the ice was this vast.
No wonder the deluge was catastrophic.
“If we hadn't handled this early, disaster.”
I gave a wry smile.
“Indeed.”
He ordered his men to pitch tents.
This wouldn't wrap in a day or two—we needed a solid base camp.
Meanwhile, our group lit a fire and boiled snow in a large kettle.
For the weary in this biting cold.
But it was just a brief thaw.
“Daehyeop, with the chill, how about warm liquor for everyone?”
“Liquor...”
He nodded.
“Right you are. Nothing beats it against the cold. Back in the far north, I'd sneak sips. Hahaha. When it's brutal, one gulp is salvation.”
The Gold Guard, mostly ex-soldiers, knew the drill.
“Do it. Using public funds might draw ire from the Commander, but who endures sober?”
Commander meant the Guard's chief, the Directorate.
They had ranks, but due to special duties, daehyeop sufficed.
I called him that too.
“No worries. I'll cover it personally.”
“Your own coin?”
“Yes.”
“It won't be cheap.”
True, liquor cost a fortune.
But they suffered because of me—I owed them this.
And it wasn't pure charity.
I had plans.
The next day, work began.
The Gold Guard warriors started, swinging inner energy-charged blades.
“Haat—!”
Kwagwang—!
“Hat—!”
Kwang—!
Blade qi mercilessly shattered the ice.
Chunks tumbled down.
Among the twelve, Jin Yeong Daehyeop shone brightest.
A few precise cuts yielded neat ice blocks.
I focused my gaze on his sword.
Heat radiated from it—he was channeling Flame Flower Technique principles for clean breaks.
No wonder His Majesty valued him.
Ice-breaker extraordinaire.
Then So-un Daehyeop approached.
“The escort agencies have arrived.”
“Good. Bring two reps from each.”
“Yes.”
Soon, So-un brought them—men in agency outer robes.
And among them, a welcome face.
“Eh?”
“Long time no see.”
My master.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop briefed the agency reps on the task.
Once done, I approached my master.
“Didn't expect to see you here.”
“Knew you'd be here.”
“Not surprised?”
He nodded.
“Felt the Province Lord's aura. But it startled me—stronger than before.”
He continued,
“Heard from Eun Jin-ho sub-leader you'd be away long... but why with Gold Guard here?”
I scratched my cheek.
“Well...”
I explained everything. He smiled at my tale.
Eh?
But it faded fast.
“Impressed by the Province Lord's foresight. If that ice melted at once, floods galore.”
“Anyway, I appreciate the help. And...”
“I'll pass your regards to the family.”
Master knew me well.
* * *
Winter was hell for green forest bandits, self-proclaimed kings of the mountains.
Routes with frequent escorts fared better.
Connections meant “managing territory” for hefty tolls.
Others starved.
One mountain stronghold on the Sichuan-Shaanxi pass struggled too.
Then, heart-pounding news hit.
“Brothers! A massive caravan loaded with huge cargo is coming!”
The stronghold erupted.
Finally, full bellies—strength surged.
“Let's rob 'em!”
“Yes!”