Baekyeom Merchant Group (4)
Ahead of them, four burly foremen grunted as they hauled a furnace brimming with molten iron.
Young Master Ho-kyeong halted in his tracks upon seeing it.
It was only natural. They had to let the workers pass first.
But then—
“Whoa!”
One of the foremen slipped, tumbling forward.
The problem was that his fall would land him right where Young Master Ho-kyeong stood.
“Argh!”
“Young master!”
Everyone froze in shock, eyes locked on the scene.
But I saw it clearly.
The man called Makdu had pulled iron marbles from his pocket and rolled them toward the approaching foremen.
Was this his real aim?
Disguise it as an accident and kill Young Master Ho-kyeong?
To shake the merchant group, wouldn't starting a fire be more effective?
Then, a memory flashed through my mind.
“Having you here lets me close my eyes in peace. You're truly our merchant group's treasure.”
What if Young Master Ho-kyeong, the man who'd said that, died in an “accident”?
Ah! Damn it!
This wasn't the time to ponder.
The bubbling molten iron was about to engulf him any second.
Since he'd taken the lead and kept a bit of distance from the others, no one else would get caught in it—but that also confirmed it.
Makdu's target was definitely Young Master Ho-kyeong.
That much searing heat would leave no corpse behind!
He couldn't possibly survive.
If I stepped in now, I could save him, but if the Murim Alliance learned of my true realm...
A flurry of thoughts raced through my head in that split second, but a wry chuckle escaped me.
Was that really what mattered now?
Someone was about to die right in front of me.
Thwack!
I dashed to Young Master Ho-kyeong, wrapping one arm around him while blasting my inner energy at the boiling molten iron.
Hiss—!
The iron cooled and hardened in an instant.
I set him down on the ground and asked, “Are you alright?”
“Ah, ah... Y-yes. I'm f-fine.”
He stared in bewilderment. No wonder—he'd come that close to disaster.
Clang. Thud. Splatter.
The foremen who had been carrying the furnace sighed in relief and collapsed where they stood.
They must have been terrified at nearly killing the merchant group's next heir due to their “mistake.”
Though it wasn't their fault at all.
If not for me, they'd have carried that guilt forever.
Punishment belongs to the perpetrator.
I spotted Makdu, flustered at his failure and trying to slip away, and called out, “Subdue that man.”
“Pardon?”
“He rolled those iron marbles toward the path the foremen were taking with the furnace.”
Nearby foremen charged at him like a pack of wolves.
He flailed in panic. “What the hell? I didn't do it!”
“Shut your trap, you bastard!”
“I'm innocent!”
The foremen searched him and found iron marbles in an inner pocket of his pants.
“Look at this punk.”
“No way!”
“Th-that's...”
“Evidence right here, and you cry innocent?”
“Looks like the iron we produce in our forge.”
“We make iron marbles too?”
His excuses running dry, Makdu hung his head slyly.
Foremen's work is brutally dangerous.
After dodging death a few times, their tongues naturally sharpen.
They had to protect each other somehow.
Today, I witnessed just how rough their mouths could get.
It started with the four who'd carried the furnace.
“This iron marble on the ground—yours, right?”
“Felt slippery all of a sudden—that was your damn doing!”
“Hey! You ××× bastard! ××× like you!”
“×××! You ××× piece of ×××!”
Ow...
My ears were bleeding.
But it was justified. I'd do the same.
No, actually.
If it were me, I'd skip the cursing and settle it later.
Regaining his composure, Young Master Ho-kyeong spoke up. “Summon the Ho-cheol Corps immediately.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Ho-cheol Corps was the Baekyeom Merchant Group's armed force.
“Hic!”
Makdu's face drained of color.
He knew things wouldn't end quietly now.
In that moment,
Makdu snatched an iron marble from the foreman in front of him and shoved it toward his mouth.
To swallow it and end himself.
Not on my watch!
I drew a dagger from my bosom and hurled it at him.
“Kuh!”
It struck his hand dead-on, foiling his suicide attempt.
I approached, retrieved the dagger, and subdued him.
Young Master Ho-kyeong arrived right after and addressed the surroundings. “Gag him and bind him tight.”
“Yes!”
The foremen swarmed him, stuffing a gag in his mouth and bandaging his wound with cloth before tying him securely.
“Whew, I've troubled you again.”
I shook my head lightly at Young Master Ho-kyeong's words.
“Not at all.”
I was mildly surprised inside.
He'd regained his calm faster than expected.
Then again, that's why he'd later revive the Baekyeom Merchant Group.
Plus, as heir to the world's top merchant group, he'd faced threats like assassination or kidnapping before.
He turned to Makdu. “I won't interrogate you myself right now. I might just kill you.”
“......”
Makdu bit his lip in frustration.
Soon, the iron-armored Ho-cheol Corps arrived.
“You called? Wait—what happened here?”
The corps captain gaped at the scene: the solidified iron on the ground, foremen binding a man.
“He tried to assassinate me.”
Young Master Ho-kyeong explained and issued a crisp command like an arrow. “Interrogate the criminal thoroughly and uncover his backer. Someone put him up to this. Do whatever it takes—just don't kill him.”
“Understood!”
Half the corps dragged Makdu away; the rest began taking statements from the foremen.
Meanwhile, Young Master Ho-kyeong clasped his fists at me and bowed. “Thank you truly. Thanks to you, Sub-branch Leader Eun, I survived.”
“No need. I just acted to save your life.”
“I'll never forget this life debt.”
I returned the salute humbly.
“Still, I was shocked. To think Sub-branch Leader Eun's martial arts were so profound...”
No surprise—he'd seen me not just cool but freeze that boiling iron in seconds.
I smiled wryly to myself.
I'd planned to hide my realm, but... no choice.
I couldn't just let him die for my goals.
Saving a life for my purposes? That'd be putting the cart before the horse.
My revenge on the Murim Alliance stems from human outrage at their deeds.
I wouldn't abandon my humanity for it.
“Hahaha, you're too kind.”
I bowed as I spoke.
Then, something slipped from my sleeve.
Plop.
This is the tassel I gave Geum-ryeong?
I bought it from a shop during the Gui-ju Fortress Poreung Temple commission—to disguise as an artifact preserving an eye.
Bought extras just in case, and gave one to Geum-ryeong when she eyed it eagerly.
Why this now?
- Kurk!
Geum-ryeong's sound transmission rang in my mind.
Not an accident—she did it on purpose?
I inspected the tassel immediately.
The blue gem was cracked. Looked like Geum-ryeong had bitten it deliberately.
Ah! That's what it meant!
Seeing it, I understood her intent.
Good girl.
Are you a genius or what?
Later, I'll give you silver instead of bronze.
I picked it up, feigning embarrassment. Sub-branch Leader Bok-yun beside me asked, “What's that tassel?”
I pretended to hide my expression. “It's nothing.”
Then Sub-branch Leader Sa-gang spoke. “Looks like an artifact.”
“Could it hold chilling energy?”
I sighed at Sub-branch Leader Han Baek-geon's question. “Sigh... Yes. What power do I have to freeze that iron instantly? I just used this artifact's function.”
“What a wondrous item!”
“I've heard of such artifacts before.”
The remaining merchant leaders nodded. Among them was Sub-branch Leader Sa-gang's father, Merchant Leader Sa Gu-cheol.
Weapons production relies heavily on iron supply.
Baekyeom was a key partner, so he'd visited eagerly to strengthen ties—and scout techniques on the side.
Merchant Leader Sa Gu-cheol eyed the cracked gem in my hand. “Oh dear... The gem's broken. It's reached the end of its life.”
“Seems so.”
“We're in the weapons business—we know how hot molten iron gets. Freezing that much at once... No wonder it burned out the artifact.”
I saluted with clasped fists. “Still, trading one artifact for a life is worth it. Nothing's more precious than human life, right?”
I smiled.
“I lost an artifact, but I'm satisfied.”
“Well...”
“Truly the Swordsman Beauty.”
“......”
The sub-branch leaders and young masters began praising me.
“Indeed!”
“That's why they call you Swordsman Beauty.”
“An hero like this in our Hundred Great Merchant Groups—reassuring.”
“As expected of the Swordsman Beauty.”
“......”
Ugh, p-please, not the Swordsman Beauty title right to my face...
It helps sometimes, but hearing it live makes my skin crawl.
Still, fortunate.
Thanks to Geum-ryeong dropping the tassel in time, today's feat passed as artifact work, not my raw skill.
“I'm truly sorry. Because of me, your precious artifact is gone.”
Young Master Ho-kyeong looked genuinely apologetic.
“It's fine. Maybe it came to me just to save you today.”
“Sub-branch Leader Eun...”
“The artifact fulfilled its purpose. It'd be happy knowing you lived.”
Wow...
Even I think I talk well.
Time to wrap up.
“Anyway, after today's scare, you should rest and recover.”
The others chimed in agreement.
“As Sub-branch Leader Eun says.”
“Forge tour ends here.”
“Go rest.”
And so the forge tour concluded.
For me, thwarting Merchant Leader Namgung-gang's scheme made it a satisfying day.
We soon passed through the forge's iron gates.
“Young master!”
“My lord!”
With the Ho-cheol Corps rushing inside earlier, the waiting attendants and guards hurried to check on their lords as we emerged.
Palgap and my guards were the same.
“Are you alright? What happened?”
I grinned at the question. “I'll explain later.”
Seo-u Warrior, scanning me sharply, said, “Good, no injuries.”
“Yeah.”
Palgap added, “But why'd you burn your hem like that?”
Huh?
Palgap lifted my singed hem, leaving me at a loss for excuses.
“Well, you see... Haha, why'd it catch fire?”
Someone interjected. “Don't scold him too much. Thanks to your lord, this isn't a house of mourning.”
It was Merchant Leader Dam-sim, father of Sub-branch Leader Dam-jin—leader of the Mu-dong Merchant Group.
One who'd toured the forge with us and witnessed my actions.
Smiling, he said, “Today was impressive. And thanks for helping my son.”
So he knew about Dam-jin's earlier trouble.
“I won't forget your kindness.”
Sub-branch Leader Dam-jin, standing back, saluted and bowed to me. “I'll cherish our connection, Sub-branch Leader. And I won't forget your earlier kindness.”
After exchanging farewells, I scanned around. Young Master Ho-kyeong was still tidying up.
I approached him. “Why haven't you gone in yet?”
He gave a wry smile. “Gotta finish the job to the end. It's not like I was badly hurt.”
“......”
Why did he seem so poignant saying that?
We'd foiled Merchant Leader Namgung-gang's plot today, but it wouldn't sting him much.
He'd cut off the tail, for sure.
That's where witnesses mattered.
“Um, actually, I have something to tell you.”