Chapter 382: The Ghostly Marketplace (1)
A short while later.
Not a single one of the bandits who had ambushed us was left standing properly.
"It's over."
We nodded at Escort Leader Ha Cheol's words.
"Then let's go."
"Yes."
Among the bandits were quite a few dead, and many more too injured to move.
But that was their just desserts.
It wouldn't have happened if they hadn't messed with us.
I could sense the auras of a few people hiding in the distance. No killing intent—they weren't here to attack us.
They must have come to scout the situation, no matter how it turned out.
This should spread our Eunhae Merchant Group's notoriety among the local bandits a bit more.
Infamy among bandits acts as a powerful sword and shield. Even they think twice before touching someone with a fearsome reputation.
I circulated my energy to shake off the blood scent clinging to my body, then boarded the carriage.
And I said to Lady Seo-hyang,
"It's done. We're safe now."
"Oh, really?"
"Still, it might be unsettling to look at, so it'd be best to keep the windows closed for a while."
"Yes."
Both Lady Seo-hyang and her maidservant probably hadn't seen a blood-soaked battlefield like this before. No need to shock them unnecessarily.
They'd witness scenes like this eventually while traveling with me, but better after they'd adjusted a bit.
Even I had struggled terribly the first time I faced such brutality.
Taking someone's life for the first time left lingering aftereffects that lasted quite a while.
Of course, I knew they weren't weak-willed. Quite the opposite—their strength of heart let them endure hardships without losing their will to live.
Her maidservant must have a strong heart too, to choose serving her.
"We're departing."
"Yes."
Soon, the carriage I was in began to move.
.
.
.
Our journey grew smoother once we entered Hubei Province.
The roads near the capital were well-maintained, and public order was excellent.
Which meant we could relax our guard a little.
Traveling on high alert all day is exhausting.
Finally, we arrived at the Eunhae Merchant Group's Beijing branch.
"Deputy Gwak! You made it!"
"We've been waiting!"
"Do you know how tough it's been without you, Deputy Gwak?"
Having heard we were coming, the branch staff came out to greet us.
But... why did it feel like they were way happier to see Lady Seo-hyang than me?
"Things have been so dull."
"The place only livens up when you're here."
Ah... so that's it.
They were definitely more excited about Lady Seo-hyang. I said with a pout,
"This hurts my feelings. Am I invisible?"
"Hahaha, of course not!"
"My brother is here too..."
"Oh? The Second Young Division Leader is here too? But..."
Yeochang's Deputy Branch Manager tilted his head.
"You look much more worn out than last time we met."
We'd fought several battles on the way here, plus constant group sparring sessions.
In my eyes, Brother Jin-ho had suffered the most from writing those battle debriefs...
Then Escort Leader Ha spoke up.
"The road here was rough. We're hauling grain, after all..."
"Ah, that explains it."
"No wonder."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
I chuckled inwardly and said to Branch Manager Eun,
"We'll rest here a bit, then head to the North Sea."
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
"And since we're in Beijing, I should handle some business before we go. I'll head to the office shortly."
With that, we each went to our quarters.
The Beijing branch had been built oversized with future expansion in mind, so there was plenty of room.
I entered my room and, before washing up, said to Palgap,
"Palgap. You think Deputy Gwak will show up for work today?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Exactly. Go tell her: no office today. Eat something and just sleep."
"Got it."
"This is an order. Tell her I'll check if she sleeps or not."
Lady Seo-hyang was more stubborn than I'd thought.
If I didn't spell it out like this, she'd drag herself to work anyway.
The trip from Hubei to Beijing is no easy jaunt. And the road ahead won't be either.
Even if she's learning martial arts, getting sick from overdoing it would be worse.
Resting today would boost efficiency tomorrow.
Then why aren't you resting?
Because I'm the branch manager. Damn it.
A short while later, after washing and eating, I headed to the office.
"Coming in."
Yeochang's Deputy Branch Manager arrived promptly, as if he'd been waiting.
"These need your approval, Branch Manager."
"Fewer than I expected."
"I handled the minor ones. These absolutely require your sign-off."
True, I'd delegated that to him.
Good call. Otherwise, I'd be buried in paperwork.
He glanced beside me and said,
"By the way, where's Deputy Gwak...?"
"Ah, I told her to rest fully today. Wouldn't want her falling ill from overwork."
"Wise decision. Absolutely! If you need explanations, just call."
"Got it."
After he left, I started reviewing the documents.
But soon, another visitor arrived.
This aura—Branch Manager Eun.
"Branch Manager, it's the branch head."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Branch Manager Eun entered.
"What is it?"
"Actually, this letter arrived a few days ago."
He handed me the letter he was holding.
"It's clearly addressed to the Third Young Division Leader, but no sender."
I took the letter.
To Eun Seo-ho, Third Young Division Leader
At the Cheongpung Guest House near the Beijing branch, seek out the person named Rin at the hour of the Dog.
I felt a familiar energy from the letter marked To Eun Seo-ho, Third Young Division Leader.
A cold aura from the North Sea Ice Palace.
This was a letter from Little Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin. I opened it.
She'd already arrived.
The hour of the Dog... that meant the Xu hour, of course (7-9 PM).
Busy night ahead.
.
.
.
Night fell.
I took Jin Yu Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior to the Cheongpung Guest House.
I'd frequented it while working at the Beijing branch, so it was familiar.
Their vegetable porridge was a specialty—people lined up from morning to eat it.
I'd tried it a few times myself, and it never failed to impress.
Inside the guest house, there were few diners.
Late hour meant only late eaters and a handful of night snackers.
"Welcome!"
The waiter greeted me.
"Is there someone named Rin here?"
To my question, the waiter replied,
"Ah, I was told to expect you. Please sit and wait a moment."
"Alright."
I nodded and took a seat, while the waiter headed upstairs.
Soon, I sensed Little Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin descending.
Her face was as coldly aloof as ever.
And the orchid scent wafting from her was unchanged.
I stood and offered a cupped-fist salute.
"It's been a while."
"Yes. Shall we step out?"
At her suggestion, I nodded and followed her out of the inn.
She led me to a familiar spot.
The place where I'd spoken with the monk from Pozheng Temple in Guizhou Province.
Memories of that time surfaced.
Coming here meant she was mindful of security...
And that waiter's aura earlier—it was from a North Sea Ice Palace disciple.
I broke the ice lightly.
"Your palace disciples seem spread out more than I thought."
"Correct."
She nodded.
"The North Sea is so remote, we're inevitably blind to outside news. So our disciples help gather intelligence."
She continued,
"You noticed the waiter's aura, I see."
"Yes."
Little Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin sighed softly.
"I heard the rumors. Hauling an enormous amount of grain?"
"News travels fast."
"First, thank you for volunteering this effort for our North Sea Ice Palace."
"No need. It's only natural as Little Palace Lord of Seolpung Palace."
She nodded at my words.
"As expected—you really have become Little Palace Lord. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
I returned a light salute, accepting her well-wishes.
"But why come all the way to this secluded spot?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"I'm uneasy that a shady group knows our palace's situation."
"Shady group?"
"Various ones. We have more enemies than you'd think. Stepping into the jangho stirs blood winds, complicating grudges."
"Makes sense. But I've never heard of your palace appearing in the jangho since I was born."
"As you know. Yet grace fades in fifty years, while grudges endure a hundred."
"..."
Couldn't argue with that.
Plenty live as generational foes over ancient hatreds.
"Plus, many covet our palace's peerless martial arts."
"Tougher place than I imagined."
I was reminded once more of Seolpung Palace's purpose.
It stood at the North Sea's entrance, blocking those targeting the Ice Palace first.
"The letter I received mentioned food supplies weren't smooth. I'd like details."
She answered with a complicated expression.
"You know we mainly sell spirit herbs for grain?"
"Yes, I recall hearing that."
"But..."
She frowned.
"The merchants say the herbs we gave them are fakes."
"What?"
"They refuse to buy fakes, so we can't procure grain."
The North Sea Ice Palace would never pass off fakes.
The issue lay with the appraiser merchants.
"Was this a long-time trading partner?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"We took back the herbs and had others appraise them—same result."
Bing Hae-rin said,
"Multiple appraisers, all said fake. Our grain reserves bottomed out, so we had no choice but to ask the Little Palace Lord..."
"Just call me Young Division Leader."
"Yes, we asked you. Merchants know merchant business best."
"I see."
The first appraiser looked suspicious, but no proof.
If others had called them real, fine—but all agreed fake.
The disciples who brought the herbs were suspect too, but no need to voice that now.
"Can't you bring more herbs?"
"Ours aren't common. This time, we sent pricey ones due to high grain costs. Rarest once a century, cheapest monthly."
"Indeed, difficult."
"So we tried buying grain with money and jewels..."
"Not easy."
"Yes."
Famine that bad.
Grain holders would gouge prices now.
"We're scraping some together urgently, but it's woefully short."
"Understood. Since it's urgent, let's move the grain we brought first."
"Yes."
The next day,
we departed right away.
Planned to rest days, but her words painted a dire picture.
Little Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin joined quietly the day after we left.
That evening,
camped for the night. I asked her,
"The merchant who called the herbs fake was from Yoneung Province, right?"
"Yes."
Yoneung... remote frontier, but not hard for me.
My close friend dominated its merchant scene.
"I suspect that Yoneung merchant most. Likely swapped the herbs for fakes during appraisal."
"I thought so too. I secretly searched his quarters—no herbs, no circulation traces."
"I see."
Then I'd check personally.
She's a martial artist; warrior eyes differ from merchant ones.
If she found nothing, they'd likely circulated already.
No traces per her, but Yoneung had one spot for discreet sales.
Time to revisit that place.
Fun spot, in its way.