Invest Boldly (5)
As soon as I stepped out at Palgap's words, a familiar face was waiting.
It was the attendant of the Peng Clan Lord.
"The Clan Lord requests your presence at Byeokseong Hall."
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A short while later, I faced the Clan Lord in Byeokseong Hall.
"Leaving today?"
"Yes."
"Well, I can't hold you any longer. You're a busy man yourself."
"Thank you for understanding."
The Clan Lord gazed at me steadily.
"Though it was likely just business for you, I am grateful."
His words carried a heavy weight, and I offered a clasped-hands salute, bowing my head.
"If you ever need dealings in the future, please seek me out."
"I shall."
The Clan Lord nodded and picked something up from the desk, tossing it toward me with a flick.
"Take it."
Whish!
It felt like he'd infused a bit too much internal energy—almost as if there was some personal motive behind it.
Thud!
I caught it lightly.
It was a small box.
"What is this?"
"What else? A deal. Didn't you say to seek you out if we needed one?"
"Pardon?"
"It's a spirit elixir. Potent enough to save your life even from the brink of death, once at least."
Something that valuable, impossible to put a price on—and he just called it a deal?
I grinned and clasped my hands again.
"What do you desire in return?"
"My second son, Peng Seong. Find him for me."
"Pardon?"
I couldn't help blurting out the question.
It was utterly unexpected.
"Your second son... the one exiled by the eldest?"
"Indeed."
A request just like Peng Gang-un's.
But there was a difference from when he'd pleaded, "Please find my uncle."
Unlike his uncertainty, the Clan Lord's eyes held a firm conviction.
"Even if I search, I'm not sure I can find him. Honestly, he may have already passed..."
"No! He's alive."
The Clan Lord spoke with absolute certainty.
What? Is it paternal guilt making him cling to the belief that his son lives?
My doubt was quickly resolved.
"Because I am the one who helped him escape safely."
"Pardon?"
This, I truly hadn't anticipated.
I'd thought him a father who merely watched his sons' feud unfold...
"I stayed silent despite knowing of Mun-i's atrocities because Seong wanted it that way. He didn't wish to stir storms in the clan... He said he just wanted to vanish from the family, living as if he never existed."
"Then you know where he is?"
"If I did, would I be handing you this pill and making the request?"
"......"
The Clan Lord sighed.
"One day, he vanished from the safe house I prepared. Then a warrior delivered a message: Mun-i had attacked, but he'd escaped unharmed."
The servant Chwi-seon was likely involved in that affair.
"And... he sent me a letter through that warrior."
The Clan Lord sighed again.
"He begged forgiveness for leaving without farewell. If we ever met again, he might have changed his appearance so much that even I wouldn't recognize him as my son."
In other words, he'd resolved to alter his looks completely.
"Then how am I to find him? If even family can't recognize him..."
"First, check his back. There's a mark on his back that only I know of—not even he knows it."
Apparently carved there at birth.
"And he gave me a sign of his own, proof that it's him... Since he didn't know the mark I'd put on his back."
"Then, could you tell me that sign?"
He nodded, drew something on a paper, and tossed it to me as before.
Swish!
I caught it and unfolded it.
"Seen enough?"
After about ten breaths, as he spoke, the paper in my hand burst into flame.
"Clan Lord! That's dangerous."
"That paper leaking out would be far more dangerous."
"Ah... yes."
Still, revealing both the mark on his second son's back and this promised sign—what was his intent?
As if reading my thoughts, the Clan Lord said,
"I trust you. Even under my pressure, you never revealed the deal with Gang-un."
"That was only because you showed mercy, Clan Lord."
"Mercy?"
He wore an expression as if I'd told the world's most absurd joke.
"I unleashed my full aura then. Even at your Peak realm, most would spill every detail."
Hah... this old fox?
Luckily Hyun-ryong had intervened; otherwise, things might've gotten ugly.
Well, if I'd spoken then, I wouldn't be standing here now anyway.
But... even without Hyun-ryong, I wouldn't have talked.
Trust is a merchant's lifeblood.
"That's too much. I'm just an honest merchant."
"How am I to know? Whether you're truly honest or just pretending."
"......"
No words for that.
"In any case, I hope you'll live up to my trust."
"Understood."
Leak this, and I won't die pretty.
Not that I plan to.
"So you believe he's alive."
"Of course! With his skills, he's surely protecting himself well."
"Then, if I find your second son, should I bring him back?"
"No."
Now what?
"What I want is confirmation he's alive and well, and to deliver my message."
"......?"
"The message I want delivered..."
The Clan Lord picked up an envelope from the desk and tossed it to me.
Whoooosh!
Thump!
"Is written there."
Three tosses loaded with qi already...
This has to be personal now, right?
I grumbled inwardly as I examined the envelope.
This one was sealed so tightly that opening it would leave undeniable traces.
"Understood. And one more question."
"What? Curious about something else?"
"The captives from this incident—any results from their interrogation?"
"Why ask?"
"I contributed to their capture, so I feel entitled to hear."
The Clan Lord nodded.
"Fair enough. Nothing yet, but I'll inform you if we learn anything."
"Thank you. And one last thing."
"What now?"
"The warrior who delivered your second son's letter—where is he now?"
"Haven't you already met?"
"Pardon?"
"The one always at Gang-un's side—that's the warrior."
"......"
That explained why Peng Gang-un treated the servant with such deference.
"I see. Then, one final question."
"What?"
"This pill—what's its name?"
.
.
.
Leaving Byeokseong Hall, I struggled to suppress my rising smile.
How could I not be thrilled, receiving such an incredible elixir as a down payment?
Its name: Jeyul-hwan.
Made by one of the Five Great Divine Physicians, apparently.
Not something easy to obtain... but for the Peng Clan Lord of Hubei, possible.
I returned to the annex of Peng Gang-un, where he'd been awaiting me.
I greeted him.
"Farewell; it was good to see you."
Peng Gang-un returned the clasped-hands salute, bowing deeply.
"I won't forget the grace you've shown me."
With so many watching, mentioning our deal here would be unwise.
I mirrored the salute.
"Merely showing respect to the hero who graced my birthday banquet in person."
"I'd love to have you stay longer. I feel I haven't hosted you properly."
"Even so, circumstances demand I decline. Duty calls me now."
"That's why I can't hold you."
"Don't forget: the Eunhae Merchant Group stands forever behind you, Young Lord."
I sent him a sound transmission.
—A reminder of our deal.
He flinched at my voice but soon smiled back.
"Of course. I won't forget."
Determination and conviction shone in Peng Gang-un's eyes.
I left him behind and departed the Peng Clan.
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My temporary lodging in Beijing was closer to the Peng Clan than expected.
It took only half a day.
Upon arrival, I encountered an unexpected face.
"Oh? Jin Yeong Daehyeop?"
"Hahaha! You've finally arrived."
"What brings you here?"
"His Majesty's orders: await your arrival and escort you straight to the palace."
Can't I just nap for one hour first?
Of course not. I showed my face briefly to Brother Jeong Ho and headed to the palace with Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
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.
.
As we entered the palace, Jin Yeong Daehyeop asked,
"That banquet you proposed this time—was it using us?"
Well, anyone would notice.
I admitted readily.
"My apologies."
"You could've at least warned us! Do you know how startled we were?"
"I'm ashamed. But this time, I'll host a genuine, no-strings feast."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop grinned at my words.
Why the smile?
Smack!
He clapped my back with his palm.
"Hah! Not like you at all!"
"Pardon? Not like me?"
"Not like you? Shameless, brazen, yet never taking a loss?"
Insult or compliment?
"Hahaha. Relax. You brought His Majesty great amusement this time—think we'd sulk over it?"
"Still sorry all the same."
"Heh heh, that's why I like you. Honest to a fault despite it all. Explains the Seonhyeopmirang moniker."
Ugh!
I grimaced involuntarily at the sudden nickname.
"Anyway, His Majesty probably summoned you over this."
Soon, we reached the Emperor's study.
The eunuch announced me, and the doors opened.
I entered slowly, maintaining a proper distance before paying respects.
"Merchant Eun Seo-ho pays homage to His Exalted Majesty. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand!"
"Rise."
"Your grace humbles me."
I lifted my head to face the Emperor.
"So, what was the reason for your trip to the Peng Clan?"
Straight to the point.
"In truth, at my birthday banquet..."
I recounted the facts to the Emperor.
Why? His eyes and ears span the empire.
He already knew everything.
As expected, he barely reacted to how I'd baited the assassins into self-destruction with the bounty.
"So you safely returned the Peng whelp to his clan. Even mobilizing the Gold Guard in the process?"
"Yet it painted the picture Your Majesty desired, did it not? All for Your Majesty's loyal heart."
"Cheeky tongue you've got."
...Maybe Jin Yeong Daehyeop was right about the brazen part.
"I'll let this slide. You gifted me something tremendous in the end."
Indeed.
Thanks to it, the Emperor easily gained what he wanted: the Hubei Peng Clan's support.
The Peng Clan had been favored by the late Emperor and offered no backing to the current one.
When he elevated the Hwangbo Clan, their pride bristled, leading to half-hearted responses to his policies.
Not rebellion, mind—just withholding support.
Even with Peng clansmen in the Gold Guard, personal leanings are what they are.
Thus, securing the Peng Clan's backing meant the Emperor now held sway over Beijing's two great martial pillars.
His authority soared beyond invincible, approaching invincible under heaven.
"Next time, give me a heads-up. If I weren't so sharp, I'd have missed this chance."
"......"
I was speechless at His Majesty's self-praise.
"You look exhausted."
Yes, thanks to being dragged here without rest.
But this signaled the prelude to dismissal.
Not on my watch!
Dragged here straight from my Beijing lodging, I couldn't leave with empty praise.
I clasped my hands.
"Rushing about to prepare a gift for Your Majesty left me weary from lack of rest. That said, did my gift please you?"
"Yes, it did."
I looked up with a sly smile.
"Then... might there be no kaepyeong?"
"Hm?"
"Even in gambling dens, winners share spoils with those around them."
"Word is, they do it to avoid reprisal."
"Would I harbor such disloyal thoughts?"
"Puhahaha!"
The Emperor burst into hearty laughter at me.
"You're the only one bold enough to demand kaepyeong from me."
Amused, he asked,
"So, what do you want?"
I feigned innocence.
"That should be for Your Majesty to decide."
"Audacious brat."
After pondering briefly, the Emperor spoke.