After the Incident (3)
“So, you're saying that I can mobilize the Murim Alliance's armed forces once, whenever I want?”
The Alliance Leader nodded at my question.
“That's right. I heard from Gang—er, Nangong Gang, the division head—that there are times when running a merchant group requires calling in armed forces.”
That put me in a sour mood.
And why wouldn't it? In my previous life, one of the things Nangong Gang did with the Murim Alliance's forces was kill me.
But I didn't let it show.
“For example, when bandits cause trouble, apparently.”
Was our Eunhae Merchant Group a band of bandits? You bastard?
But I swallowed my anger and nodded with a worried expression.
“Yes, that's true. It can feel overwhelming in those situations.”
“Even if you're a peak expert who has mastered the Heavenly Flow Ice Sword, there are things even you can't handle alone.”
“Right.”
“And while the Eunhae Merchant Group does have an armed unit led by the great hero of One Sword Shocks the Heavens, it won't be easy against a large bandit group.”
He'd even figured out about our external overseer, Go Il-pyeong, in that short time.
As expected of the Murim Alliance.
“That's why I'm offering this: the right to mobilize the Murim Alliance's armed forces—just once.”
It was only once, but granting the authority to move the Alliance's forces was a massive concession.
“But doesn't mobilizing the Alliance's forces come with hefty costs?”
“As expected of a merchant—your perspective is different.”
The Alliance Leader chuckled heartily and nodded.
“We'll cover all those costs ourselves.”
Whoa! He's really going all in.
I couldn't pass up a free chance to command the Murim Alliance's forces.
And it wasn't just any unit—it was a full force.
A force consisted of over a hundred men, while a unit was smaller.
Like the Thunderclap Unit of about twenty that came to collect the investment funds Ma Jang-ju was sending to the Alliance when I went to Hanam at Han Jae-ik's request.
Ah...
Come to think of it, half of that Thunderclap Unit and their deputy leader Sa-gu lost their lives to us back then.
Thinking about that improved my mood a bit.
Well, mobilizing a force might mean my every move gets watched... but refusing this would be idiotic.
“How could I refuse such an offer? Very well. As you say, Alliance Leader, I'll stay in Luoyang until the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly ends.”
“Thank you.”
“And we should give something to Seo-u Warrior as well.”
“No, I merely followed my lord.”
“That may be true for you, but we must express our gratitude all the same.”
After some light banter, Seo-u Warrior ended up receiving a substantial sum of gold.
Just then, a voice called from outside.
“Alliance Leader, the meal is ready.”
“Hoho, time flies. Let's go eat.”
“I am starving. Haha!”
Seo-u Warrior and I followed the Alliance Leader to the dining hall.
The Murim Alliance's elders were seated there, and we enjoyed a harmonious meal.
It was a lavish spread.
I half-suspected poison, but it seemed fine.
And why did I suspect that? Because the Murim Alliance was exactly the type to try it.
Maybe they didn't because I agreed to the deal so readily.
Or perhaps because I knew some of the elders present—like the Jegal Supreme Patriarch and the Tang Family's current patriarch—and they held back for that reason.
Either way, I owed them for that.
I'll repay the favor later.
“Oh, what about those two warriors from earlier?”
One of the two elders who'd looked sour since the start answered.
“Ah, those guys?”
“After a blunder like that, how could they step into the arena again? Tch!”
“We disqualified both of them.”
“I see.”
“Oh, right—there's something you need to do.”
The Alliance Leader continued calmly.
“We'll have you two up on the arena stage later to introduce you to the crowd. How grateful will those people you saved be? You should let them thank you properly.”
Smooth talker.
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After the meal, the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly resumed.
Before the matches began, the Alliance Leader took the stage.
“On behalf of the Alliance, we apologize to all spectators. What happened this morning...”
But like the cunning veteran he was, he slyly pinned it all on the two warriors' fault, avoiding any blame on the Alliance's negligence.
“Yet heaven has not abandoned us, sending young heroes in our hour of need. Allow me to introduce them: Great Hero Eun Seo-ho and Great Hero Seo-u!”
He gave us a signal, and we strode confidently onto the arena.
“Waaaaah!”
“It's the Swordsman Beauty!”
“Swordsman Beauty! Swordsman Beauty!”
“White Shell Sword Bear! White Shell Sword Bear!”
“...”
The crowd chanted our nicknames in a frenzy.
Ugh, Seo-u Warrior was already called White Shell Sword, so White Shell Sword Bear makes sense... but why am I still the Swordsman Beauty?
This title never gets any less awkward.
I gave a wry internal smile and scanned the crowd.
They'd already forgotten the morning's near-tragedy, cheering wildly for the new heroes. The Alliance Leader's scheme had worked perfectly.
Heroes, huh...
Being a hero comes with endless demands. That's why many shun the role.
But I'm a merchant at heart.
That's why I only agreed to stay in Luoyang until the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly ended.
In other words, hero duties end with the assembly.
And honestly, the hero title brings plenty of benefits.
A merchant group run by an ordinary trader.
A merchant group run by a titled hero.
Which one inspires more trust? Obvious.
Which one do bandits avoid? Also obvious.
I smiled at the Alliance Leader, who returned an affable expression.
He's thinking, 'I'll make good use of you.'
And my response? I'll squeeze every last drop from the gift package and hero title you gave me.
And someday, those gifts will become sharp blades at the throats of the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Merchant Group.
We bowed from the arena and stepped down. The Leader suggested we watch the matches from the side.
But I politely declined.
“I appreciate the offer, but I'd like to watch with my parents. After today's events, they must be worried. Having their hero son by their side will let them enjoy the matches in peace.”
How could anyone stop a son being filial?
And so, Seo-u Warrior and I returned to our seats to watch the day's matches.
Sister Hyang-ok's match had been delayed but was still scheduled for today—thank goodness.
Her opponent was a scion of the Hwangbo family.
I sized him up the moment I saw him.
And knew he'd advanced through the preliminaries only thanks to match-fixing.
No way could he beat my sister, whose talent and hard work shone through.
Not even with the Hwangbo clan's superior techniques and innate strength. The outcome was set.
Sister's sharp sword targeted his vital points, and victory was decided after just one incense burning's time.
“Victory to Hyang-ok of the Ami Sect!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Amazing! Snow Sword Heroine!”
Basking in the cheers, Sister Hyang-ok descended the arena with poise.
More matches followed, and the second day of the finals drew to a close.
That evening, back at the inn, I flopped onto the bed.
“Ughhh, I'm beat...”
Today had been exhausting. No, it started yesterday.
The sudden shortage of fish bone powder and lime for the golden sore ointment had me running around, then I asked Chun-il to investigate, stopped the arena disaster, negotiated a tug-of-war with the Alliance Leader...
My stamina could handle three sleepless nights, but mental fatigue was another beast.
Especially that negotiation with the Leader...
Not because of the terms.
I've handled far tougher, more evenly matched deals.
No, it just hit me anew: I'm strong in the real world.
Whew, anyway—I made it through today.
Crash!—
It was then.
“Young master! Young master!”
Palgap burst in, frantic.
“Warriors from the Huashan and Zhongnan Sects are being excommunicated!”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“The two who caused trouble this morning! The Murim Alliance is deciding on their excommunication right now!”
Ah! Right—in my previous life, those two broke their swords over that incident.
Now I get it.
They didn't break their swords. Their swords broke them.
The Alliance needed to punish them harshly to cover their own tracks.
That punishment: excommunication.
Excommunication usually meant crippling their dantian, rendering their martial arts unusable.
Who'd accept an excommunicated warrior? Even if they hid their origins, using those techniques would expose them.
So they'd end up in the unorthodox paths.
And using their old sect's arts there would tarnish their former home.
Especially if they harbored grudges.
For lifelong martial artists, stripping their arts was stripping their everything.
That's why excommunication was so feared.
Honestly, what crime did they commit?
The real fault lies with the Alliance for trusting the formation without precautions.
Yet instead of reflecting, they dump it on two promising youths!
Makes me want to curse! You fucking Murim Alliance!
I turned to my guards.
“To the Murim Alliance.”
“Understood.”
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Soon, I arrived at the Alliance headquarters.
Recognizing me—unlike during seat selection—they quickly cleared a path.
Nice.
I reached the meeting hall shortly after.
The two warriors from the morning incident had their hands bound in stocks.
To prevent escape?
Voices debating inside drifted out.
“So, we'll excommunicate them...”
“That seems best.”
“We need to make an example.”
Good thing Palgap told me right away.
Not too late.
I knelt in the courtyard and called out loudly.
“Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group has a plea for those leading the Murim Alliance!”
My shout opened the hall's doors.
Startled by my appearance, they all came out.
The Alliance Leader, looking puzzled, asked,
“What's this? A plea? More importantly, why are you kneeling?”
“I have a request, sir.”
“Stand up!”
“No. I won't rise until you hear me out.”
At my resolve, the Leader tilted his head.
“What is this request?”
“Hand over those two warriors from this morning—the ones who nearly harmed the spectators—to me.”
“Huh?”
My demand caught them off guard.
They all stared in shock.
“Frankly, their crime is grave—beyond ordinary punishment.”
“Indeed.”
Indeed my ass, you scum.
I put on a grave expression.
“In my view, their excommunication is all but certain! But they harmed no one—thanks to me.”
I continued.
“They were immature, unable to overcome their rivalry. How can we let such promising youths be excommunicated?”
“...”
“As the one who stopped it, I step forward to prevent their fall.”
I bowed my head.
“Please, show mercy.”
“...”
Then—
“Alliance Leader, frankly, excommunication is too harsh.”
“I agree.”
“Protecting your own now?”
From that, I realized the speakers were from Huashan and Zhongnan Sects.
The Leader pondered, then asked me,
“If we hand them over, what will you do with them?”
“I'll teach them a hero's heart. If they rise from this trial as heroes, won't it spread the Murim Alliance's mercy and fame across the martial world?”
Say yes already—it fits your taste. My knees hurt.