In Shandong (4)
I tilted my head at my father's question.
"Doesn't it mean to earn silver as vast as the sea?"
"That's part of it, but the true intent of our founder, the first leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, was different."
"Pardon?"
"There's a record passed down only to the leaders of each generation. It clearly states the reason the first leader named us the Eunhae Merchant Group."
My father grinned.
"One can't become a true great merchant by staying within this empire. To be a true great merchant, you must look to the wealth beyond the seas. That's the meaning behind the name Eunhae Merchant Group."
So the name Eunhae Merchant Group carried such profound significance!
But a sudden question occurred to me.
"Then why... not Geumhae Merchant Group instead of Eunhae Merchant Group?"
I mean, come on.
Honestly, gold is more valuable than silver.
My father laughed at my question.
"Good point. Truth be told, even I don't know."
"No record about that?"
"Nope."
My father continued.
"You look into it sometime. Find out why it's Eunhae and not Geumhae."
"Got it."
Now I had another task besides uncovering the true birthday of the old man with the demon mask from the sundries shop.
Figuring out why our group's name was Eunhae Merchant Group instead of Geumhae Merchant Group.
"Anyway, the first leader said that once we reach the top fifty among the hundred great merchant groups, we could venture out to sea."
"Then we're good to go now."
"Exactly. It's about time we gave it a shot.
Our Eunhae Merchant Group's rank is thirty-fifth.
More than enough to meet the founder's condition.
And while we're only thirty-fifth in rank, our capacity is far greater.
We have things like the Jakpungki under exclusive sale, and their profits are quite substantial."
"And one of our warehouses for stacking Eunhae Merchant Group goods is by the river, right?"
"Yes, I'm aware."
"Doesn't that spot seem awfully spacious compared to the scale of our Eunhae Merchant Group?"
No way...
"Is that place the founder prepared in advance?"
"Yes."
My father nodded.
"It's a site the first leader prepared ahead of time for building ships."
Only then did I understand why, in my previous life, my father had worn such a bitter expression so often.
It was self-reproach for failing to properly uphold the founder's will.
Back then, our group's position hadn't even reached the top fifty.
Of course, we could have attempted trade with Daewol Kingdom, but the problem was our funds weren't ample enough.
"We'll push forward the moment we get back."
"Thank you."
I continued.
"And I've found someone suitable for it."
"Oh? Who?"
"He'll come find us soon."
My father tilted his head at my words.
"Come find us?"
"I'm hiring a magnificent warrior who gets along splendidly with the sea."
Even in the form of the emperor hiring our merchant group for trade, the earliest would be next summer.
And the reason I'm rushing like this is that preparing for sea trade is never something you can do on short notice.
So we prepare a suitable ship ahead of time and find someone to lead it for trade.
Of course, I wanted to start even earlier, but right now was the moment I knew exactly where that Dragon Sailor was.
And even if we'd built a ship ahead, it would have been useless. Ships built to old designs couldn't safely make the round trip to Daewol Kingdom.
In other words, right now was the perfect timing all around.
Of course, I had no intention of going to Daewol Kingdom myself.
I still had plenty to do in this empire.
Watching Eun Seo-ho leave the inn, the warrior Yong Eung-wan glanced at the writing on the table.
Sokjeon (贖錢).
The money needed to become a free citizen.
The man named Eun Seo-ho who had sought him out had written those words and offered to pay it on his behalf.
He bit his lip.
Can I trust him?
Honestly, he was in no position to trust just anyone.
Then he sensed someone approaching and quickly wiped away the writing with his hand.
"Hey!"
Someone plopped down in front of him.
One of his fellow sailors he was close with.
They'd naturally grown friendly after often ending up working together by chance.
"What's up? Something happen?"
"Happen? What do you mean..."
"No way someone dressed that fancy comes here unless it's to see the ship owner."
"......"
Sharp eyes, or sharp question—either way, it hit home.
But he couldn't spill the truth, so he made a vague excuse.
"Just some guy whose wallet I helped save from a thief before. Came to say thanks."
"I could've sworn I heard you say you helped him."
"Good ears too."
"Whatever your situation, if he offered help, take it."
"Huh?"
"You don't know who he is?"
Yong Eung-wan nodded at the question.
"Holy crap! You don't know Great Hero Eun Seo-ho?"
"Who the heck is he?"
"The hero of the Murim Alliance! Hero of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament! Inheritor of the ultimate technique of the hero from five hundred years ago, the Extreme Heaven Sword! He steals the hearts of men and women, young and old with his stunning beauty, but it's his righteous deeds that truly shine—Seonhyeopmirang!"
"......"
He recalled that the guy in front of him was quite up on the rumors. But he wasn't one to exaggerate or lie either.
Then... can I really trust him?
But the doubt lingered.
Why would he pay the sokjeon? What did he want to use him for?
Bodyguard maybe?
But he was already surrounded by escorts so strong they intimidated even him.
That was when it happened.
"No way! Seonhyeopmirang was here?"
He turned at the voice. It was a guest who had just entered. Yong Eung-wan's fellow sailor asked back.
"You know Seonhyeopmirang?"
"Of course. Met him myself."
The man nodded confidently.
"What a beautiful man."
Yong Eung-wan nodded too. He really was handsome, just like that.
"When did you meet him?"
"Let me think... Right! On the way to Nanzhou."
"Nanzhou?"
"He rode my ship. Anyway, it was spring, waters were high, rapids real dangerous. You know how bad the upper Yellow River rapids are, right?"
Both men nodded at the question.
"Adults were tied secure to the rails, but one kid had loose ropes and fell in!"
"Gasp!"
"Oh no!"
"But! Seonhyeopmirang stepped up without hesitation. Shed his outer robe and dove straight into the rapids."
"What?"
They knew too. How deadly the Yellow River rapids were.
Even skilled martial artists couldn't guarantee survival if swept away!
"And in less than a quarter-hour, he rescued the kid and brought him back to the ship."
"For real?"
"Absolutely!"
"But why risk his life like that? Even to save a kid... he could've died too."
The sailor shrugged at the question.
"Beats me. From what I hear, that's just who he is. He took our ship again from Nanzhou back to Beijing. Said he was transporting some folks who'd tried to stir up big trouble in the country. And he paid extra generously for any losses we might've had."
"......"
He grinned.
"Don't believe me? Ask our ship owner."
"N-no, I believe you."
He turned to Yong Eung-wan.
"He's as good as the rumors say. Looks like he's offering you a job with his merchant group. If he proposes it, accept no questions asked. Word is the Eunhae Merchant Group where he's a branch leader treats folks great. Way better pay than sailing, and safer."
He added,
"Gotta survive to get back to your family in your hometown, right?"
"Huh?"
To the startled Yong Eung-wan, his friend said,
"What? Think I didn't know?"
He smirked.
"Don't know the details. But desperate guys like you always have a reason. Usually family or a lover. Otherwise, no one scrapes money that hard."
Dawn broke.
I rose from bed and did my breathing exercises. With the sea so close, the yin energy felt more abundant than usual.
Still, the place richest in yin was Hangzhou.
It had both sea and lake.
After finishing, I got off the bed and began training.
I didn't want to show others my training, so while staying here, I'd do it in my room.
Though most of it was stamina work anyway.
For me, stamina training mattered more than swinging a sword. As my realm advanced, inner power and stamina needed balance to avoid future issues.
"Whew, let's get to it."
Stamina training was possible even in a room.
If you had the will, that is.
Excuses like needing to go outside or lacking tools were just that—excuses.
Handstands on a chair doing one-arm push-ups, or upside-down sit-ups hanging from a beam.
Of course, without using inner power, it was grueling.
Exhausting to the point of death.
But I couldn't stop. I never wanted to die a dog's death like in my previous life due to lacking martial prowess.
My opponent was the Murim Alliance.
The center of Central Plains martial world, with both might and wealth.
To face them, I needed both too.
That was when the door to my room opened and Palgap entered.
"Gah!"
Palgap freaked out seeing me hanging upside down.
"Why so startled?"
"How could I not be, with you dangling like that?"
"You seen me train plenty."
"True, but you know my heart's weak."
"Yeah, yeah."
I smirked and lightly dropped from the beam.
"Done with training?"
"Now I can be."
"Then I'll fetch washing water and towel."
"Sure."
I caught my breath, recalling last night.
Jin Yu Warrior had returned at midnight to report.
"Tracked the man you mentioned. He was from the Baek Yeom Merchant Group. Specifically, from their Iron Armory."
"Iron Armory?"
"Yes. Looked like their night foreman."
The Iron Armory was the core of Baek Yeom Merchant Group.
That meant Baek Cheon Merchant Group was scheming something against Baek Yeom's Iron Armory.
Were they trying to muscle into the ironworks business?
This hadn't happened in my previous life.
......
I went down to the inn's first floor for breakfast.
While drinking tea, a server approached us.
"Someone from Baek Yeom Merchant Group is here."
"Oh, really?"
Soon, someone approached from behind. From his clothes, he seemed like a deputy officer.
"Are you the Eunhae Merchant Group leader?"
"Yes."
At my father's reply, he politely cupped his hands.
"Greetings, Leader. I'm the deputy of the Baek Yeom Merchant Group leader. I've come to inform you of the meeting location."
"Good. Where is it?"
"Ihwaru near the Baek Yeom Merchant Group. The meeting starts the day after tomorrow at oh-si (11~1 PM)."
"Got it. Earlier than expected."
The deputy nodded and explained.
"No drinking anyway due to the alcohol ban. What's the point of meeting late? Better to gather early and enjoy Shandong's delicacies, no?"
"Fair enough. Thanks for letting us know."
"Then I'll take my leave."
After the deputy left, I said to my father,
"Then I'll step out for a bit today."
"Go ahead."
......
A short while later,
I headed to a tea house.
I sat in a suitable spot and sipped pre-ordered tea.
Shandong Province wasn't as ideal for tea cultivation as the Yangtze regions.
Mount Tai produced fine tea, but in small quantities.
Most tea came from elsewhere, shipped by boat.
Perfect spot for boats.
Geographically prime for trade, it was one place where you'd see plenty of non-imperial folk.
Fashions spread fast here too.
They say over half of the empire's trends start in Shandong.
Then I sensed a familiar presence, and soon a man entered the tea house.
A welcome face.