How About Doing One Thing? (4)
The mountain bandits from the stronghold charged down the slopes and hid in suitable spots.
Clack, clack.
The sound of carriage wheels rumbling along the mountain path echoed through the air, and soon the escort team came into view.
It was a surprisingly modest group.
They should have wondered why the escort was so sparse.
But with hunger and greed clouding their vision, all they saw was the size of the cargo on the wagons.
'That size... it has to be grain!'
'Definitely grain!'
The escort drew near, and the stronghold leader gave the signal.
Screeech—!
At the shrill whistle, the bandits surged forward as one.
"Eek! B-bandits!"
"Run!"
"Abandon the cargo!"
"Just grab the horses and baggage!"
The escort team neatly abandoned the cargo and fled like lightning at the bandits' appearance.
It was nothing like their usual desperate defense of the goods.
But the bandits, flushed with easy victory, didn't dwell on why the cargo had been forsaken so readily.
"L-look at those bastards running for their lives."
"Hahaha!"
"Let's check out the goods."
"Yes, sir!"
At the leader's command, the bandits yanked off the straw mats covering the wagons.
A profound silence fell over them.
"……."
What lay revealed before them was...
"What the hell is this?"
"I-it looks like a block of ice."
"Ice? Like, frozen water?"
"……."
The bandits exchanged uneasy glances and edged backward. The leader's fury was plain as day.
"Maybe there's something valuable inside that ice."
At those words, they perked up and crowded forward.
"Oh! As expected of the boss."
"Makes sense."
"Let's break it open."
"Yes, sir!"
Following orders, they drew their weapons and began hammering at the ice.
How many hours passed like that?
After pounding the solid ice relentlessly, they finally shattered it completely.
But... there was nothing inside.
It had just been a massive block of ice from the start.
The great ice migration that had driven bandits across the land mad with rage.
The operation proceeded smoothly.
I approached one of the rotating frost workers who was resting.
"How's the liquor treating you?"
"Gah! This is top-shelf stuff! Real premium brew!"
"Hahaha! I'm honored you call our Eunhae Merchant Group's liquor premium."
With Jin Yeong Daehyeop's permission for drinking, I'd sent Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Seo-u Warrior to fetch our group's own brews.
There was an Eunhae branch nearby in Guizhou, and our liquors were shipped and sold across the land, so procuring them was no trouble.
Thus, the frost workers were all drinking our Eunhae liquor now.
That was my aim.
Most who take to a particular liquor keep craving it.
Once hooked on our Eunhae taste, they'd become loyal patrons.
"Oh! This is exquisite."
"It sticks to the roof of your mouth—trouble ahead."
And with Gold Guard warriors among them, no less.
Then, a bedraggled group stumbled back from afar.
They looked like the ones who'd left with cargo the day before yesterday.
"W-we got ambushed by bandits on the road and lost the cargo."
"Good lord, no injuries?"
"Fortunately not."
"Come have a drink and shake it off. We've got plenty of ice, hahaha."
Indeed.
There was plenty of ice. An absurd amount.
We'd anticipated the bandits targeting the shipments, but it hardly mattered.
'Should I round up the bandits and put them to work?'
I considered it briefly, then shook my head.
With their rough dispositions, the cons outweighed the pros.
......
Another fortnight passed.
We'd broken a substantial amount of ice, which the escort agencies transported to reservoirs and farmlands everywhere.
After a few initial raids, word spread, and bandits ignored even the largest-looking cargoes.
Thus, the "upper river ice removal operation" progressed without a hitch.
As we reduced the ice, the refreezing slowed.
Can't fool the seasons, after all.
Early March now.
The frost workers' leader approached Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"Daehyeop, the ice is thinning. We should wrap up soon."
"Already?"
"Yes. In my view, we finish tomorrow and pull back. Workers could drown otherwise."
"That would be disastrous. So be it."
"Thank you."
That meant the job was done.
Time to head home at last?
After Han Jae-ik's letter took me to Taegyeong County in Henan for a good while, then straight to Beijing, and now here... nearly two months away.
Ah, I miss my family.
Geonhyeok and Boyeon haven't forgotten my face, have they?
I approached Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"The great task nears its end."
"So it does. Word is, praises for His Majesty echo across the Central Plains, thanks to you."
Farmers, experts in their field, had fretted over the light snowfall this winter.
With ice now in reservoirs everywhere, drought fears eased considerably.
"I merely offered an idea. His Majesty and you daehyeops made it happen."
"Without your suggestion, it never starts—and we'd suffer great losses."
I smiled sheepishly.
"Thank you. Once done, I'd like to slip away quietly home."
"What? You're the top contributor. His Majesty praises you highly. You belong there."
"No. As I said before, I'm too frail for such events—I'll fall ill."
I continued with a smile.
"The credit belongs solely to the Gold Guard and all who labored."
"You..."
"So please, grant this humble merchant's request."
I bowed in a merchant's salute.
I've said my piece—please don't hold me back.
I want to go home pronto.
I glanced at Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
His eyes rimmed red with emotion; one poke and tears would flow.
"But we have our pride..."
"From the start, I suggested this hoping His Majesty's hands and feet—you loyal daehyeops—would be rewarded."
"Sniff! Why must you be so noble? Fine. Shameless as it is, I'll accept your kindness."
Yes!
"Thank you for indulging my impertinent plea. I'll depart once tomorrow's work confirms completion."
"Do so."
I bowed in thanks and hurried to Palgap and the guards.
"Why so chipper?"
Palgap whispered.
"That obvious?"
"Only to me."
"Pack up. We leave for home the moment work ends tomorrow."
"Ah, that explains the glee."
Then—
"……!"
A sharp tingle raced across my skin.
Some inexplicable dread...
"Argh! G-get back!"
"The ice is cracking!"
I whipped toward the cry. The ice had thinned more than expected, unable to bear the workers' weight.
Crack—!
It split, plunging several workers in.
Splash—!
Chaos erupted in seconds.
"Evacuate!"
"Hngaaah!"
The ice bobbed up on buoyancy, but those below vanished.
Gold Guard warriors rushed over, but even they floundered in panic.
Of all times, the eve of completion!
I shouted to Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"Jin Yeong Daehyeop! Melt the ice!"
"Eh? R-right!"
He gathered inner energy and unleashed Blazing Fire Palm at the ice.
Other Gold Guard warriors snapped to and began smashing it.
But at this rate...
"We'll have to dive in and rescue them directly!"
"Agreed."
Yet we had no clue how deep they'd sunk.
And even martial artists can't hold breath forever underwater.
That's why aquatic arts exist apart.
Movement restricts, techniques falter.
Even Gold Guard risked drowning.
"……."
But I could save them.
True, I must keep my arts secret—but ignoring dying men before me? What then separates me from Murim Alliance or Baekcheon Merchant Group?
With that, I shed my outer robe and told Palgap.
"Prepare warm bathwater for the rescued to soak in!"
"Pardon?"
I deep-breathed and dove.
Splash—!
I sank deep.
Then circulated Binghae Water Severing Art.
Oddly, memories of Investigator's in-depth aquatic lessons from Seolpung Palace surfaced.
Thanks to that, I swiftly attuned my body to the frigid water via Binghae Assimilation Heart Method.
Deeper in, I spotted unconscious workers drifting limply.
Eh?
Geumryeong had slipped from my sleeve unnoticed, darting about to shove them toward me.
Her aid let me haul them to the surface fast.
Pfshaa!
Gold Guard warriors appeared above.
"Here—take them."
"Uh, uh..."
They fumbled but received the workers.
Seven in total underwater.
To save them all safely required haste; Geumryeong proved invaluable.
Good girl.
A silver coin for her later.
Just to check, I asked Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"Any more in the water?"
"None. All seven saved!"
He extended a hand.
"Come up now."
"Yes."
I took it and climbed out. Guards and Palgap rushed over.
"Warm blanket here."
"Hot tea, sir."
"Thanks."
They led me to the fire; I sat meekly.
"Worried?"
"Not really."
Seo-u Warrior replied calmly.
"Years with you now—think this rattles us? But..."
He glanced at the Gold Guard.
"They're not used to it."
True enough...
"The ones I saved..."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop answered.
"All safe. Quick rescue—no life threats."
Not just him—all Gold Guard approached.
"What possessed you to dive in like that?"
"My apologies. But I couldn't leave them to die."
I smiled.
"If savable, we must save them, right?"
"You really are..."
He shook his head.
"Anyway, thanks. You averted a stain on this mission. Truly grateful."
He bowed; others followed.
Ah, embarrassing...
"Swimming your specialty? You pulled them out like nothing."
I deflected smoothly.
"Born and raised near rivers, so I've been confident in swimming since youth."
"I see."
He continued.
"With this, we end the operation."
"As discussed, I'll slip away quietly."
"Truly all right? Asking once more, just in case."
"Yes. Forgive my vanishing without farewell."
"……."
His gaze seemed uneasy?
"You already permitted it. No take-backs now."
"Sigh... Fine. As you wish."
"Thank you."
As they withdrew, frost workers and laborers approached to thank me.
Good no lives lost from my idea.
......
Next dawn.
As promised, I departed.
"You seem light-footed, my lord."
"Hahaha! Of course—heading home!"
Seo-u Warrior chuckled.
"I miss my wife too."
Wedding prep for Jinho hyung awaits, but spirits soared.
Finally, home!