The Ghost Market (2)
We soon arrived in Yoneung.
It was a place we always stopped at before heading to the North Sea, but we usually stayed only a day or two.
This time, however, we planned to remain for several days because there was business to attend to here.
Delivering supplies to the North Sea Ice Palace was urgent, but so was finding evidence against the merchant who had swindled them.
We wouldn't get another chance to uncover proof like this.
Rather than camping outside, we headed straight for the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
We needed information from them, and it was the only suitable place for our group to stay.
The moment we arrived in Yoneung, I had dispatched Jin Yu, the warrior with the finest lightness skill, to request their cooperation.
I could have sent a letter via Gold령, but we kept its existence as secret as possible.
Anyone who saw it would surely covet it.
Jin Yu returned with a reply that gladly accepted our request.
It even said they'd have been offended if we hadn't asked for their help.
Bok, the sub-unit leader, was truly a good friend.
Upon reaching the Gwangjun Merchant Group and announcing ourselves to the gatekeeper, one of them hurried inside.
Moments later, a familiar face came rushing out.
"Young Master Eun!"
"You look well, Sub-Unit Leader Bok. That's a relief."
He bowed deeply to Bing Hae-rin, the Little Palace Lord at my side, cupping his fists in respect.
"Bok Yun, sub-unit leader of the Gwangjun Merchant Group, greets the Little Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Please rest comfortably before you go. Come on in."
Bok Yun instructed a servant to guide our group to their quarters.
While Ha, the escort chief, and Jin-ho, my brother figure, oversaw moving the cargo into the warehouse, Bing Hae-rin and I headed to the reception room with Bok Yun.
As we sat chatting about recent events, refreshments arrived.
I was feeling a bit peckish, so I helped myself right away.
"Delicious as always."
"Glad it suits your taste."
Bok Yun smiled and continued.
"Traveling with the Little Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace—what serious matter brings you here?"
I shook my head at his question.
"It's not that grave."
What can't be solved is grave. Anything solvable isn't.
"You'll understand once you see the supplies I brought. We were en route delivering food to the North Sea Ice Palace."
"I see."
Bok Yun nodded, then tilted his head.
"But why seek help from the Eunhae Merchant Group? From what I know, the North Sea Ice Palace uses proceeds from selling North Sea spiritual herbs to procure their own food. Even in a famine, with the value of their herbs, it shouldn't be hard to secure supplies."
As expected of Bok Yun—he immediately sensed something was off.
"You're right. But circumstances led to this."
"Circumstances..."
Bok Yun frowned and said,
"I've heard strange rumors, actually. That the North Sea Ice Palace tried to sell fake spiritual herbs."
At that, Bing Hae-rin asked coldly,
"Do you believe those rumors, Sub-Unit Leader?"
The chill made Bok Yun's face drain of color. She was already quite angry about the incident.
But Bok Yun was just an ordinary merchant, unversed in martial arts.
"Little Palace Lord, please calm down. No need to harm the innocent."
"Ah! My apologies."
Bing Hae-rin quickly reined in her aura.
"I'm truly sorry."
"N-no, it's fine."
Only then did Bok Yun relax, wiping his sweat as he spoke.
"Rumors fall into two categories: those based on surface appearances, and those hinting at hidden truths. In my view, this is the former."
"I... see."
I glanced at Bing Hae-rin.
She seemed so cold and rational, yet her instincts differed.
Come to think of it, they'd said extreme cold could feel like searing heat.
"We'll need a detailed explanation, then."
I continued.
"I've heard there's a merchant named Im Cheong-mil among those trading spiritual herbs here."
"Ah, yes, I know him. He runs the Cheongmil Merchant Group, the largest spiritual herb trader in the area."
"He's the root of this mess."
I explained the situation as Bing Hae-rin had told it to me. Bok Yun responded,
"If that's the case, he looks highly suspicious."
"Exactly why I came to you."
"I agree."
"Two possibilities come to mind. Either a North Sea Ice Palace disciple swapped the herbs during transport, or Im Cheong-mil did it while appraising them."
I nodded, but Bing Hae-rin shook her head in disbelief.
"No disciple of our palace would do such a thing!"
"I know. Of course not. I know how much the North Sea Ice Palace cherishes its members. But..."
I pressed on.
"When greed takes hold of a person, they see nothing else."
"..."
"And in all the world's affairs, nothing is more foolish than absolute certainty."
I concluded gently.
"So, we're just considering it as one possibility."
"Understood."
She nodded with a complicated expression.
"The Palace Lord ordered me to follow your lead completely in this matter."
The Palace Lord gave such an order?
I'm not that impressive... What a burden.
I turned to Bok Yun.
"In any case, the herbs the North Sea Ice Palace brought were undoubtedly real. Looking at the list the Little Palace Lord provided, they were rare ones not easily found in the Central Plains. Holding onto them does no good—they'd want to sell them somewhere."
"Indeed."
"But with the North Sea Ice Palace watching closely, they wouldn't dare trade them openly."
Bok Yun's eyes widened at my words.
"You mean there?"
"Yes. Exactly."
I nodded.
"We need to check out the Gui Mae Jang Si."
"Where's that?"
True to its name, the Gui Mae Jang Si (Ghost Market) was a market for ghosts and goblins.
It popped up at night and vanished before dawn's cockcrow, leaving no trace by daylight—like being bewitched by spirits.
Night was spirits' time, but for merchants like us, it meant something else: when shady dealings came to light.
In short, a black market.
I gave Bing Hae-rin a suitable explanation.
"Such a place exists!"
"You didn't know?"
It was famous enough that those in the know were aware, so I'd assumed she did too.
"We don't reside here, and secretive matters like that aren't our concern."
She added,
"We also avoid anything that could cause trouble."
"I understand."
I continued.
"If the North Sea Ice Palace's herbs are being traded, it'll be there for sure."
"But the deal might already be done."
"Unlikely. The yin-attuned herbs they offered this time are far from common."
"Exactly—so with so many buyers, wouldn't they sell fast?"
"That's amateur thinking."
"...?"
I lifted my teacup and said,
"Suppose this teacup is a priceless treasure, desired by thousands. The seller wants to maximize profit."
"Naturally."
"If the first bidder offers ten gold taels, do they sell immediately?"
"They'd shop around more."
"Right. Even you think so, Little Palace Lord?"
"So, because of that process, they don't sell right away despite high bids?"
"Simple enough, but meeting thousands is impractical. With a large enough space, though, they can auction it off without the hassle."
I grinned.
"An auction."
"Ah!"
Bing Hae-rin's eyes widened. Bok Yun added,
"The Gui Mae Jang Si opens every seven days, but the auction is once a month—the busiest time."
"And the full moon is the day after tomorrow."
That's why, upon hearing in Beijing, we'd rushed here without delay.
Those herbs were surely up for auction at the Ghost Market.
.
.
.
I returned to my quarters.
Bok Yun had generously given us two entire annexes for our group—very grateful.
After washing up and having dinner, I went for a stroll.
The Gwangjun Merchant Group dealt mainly in horses, so their grounds were vast—several times larger than ours.
There was even a forest perfect for walking.
Bok Yun had wanted to dine with me, but prior commitments forced him to head out.
With his wedding approaching this summer, he seemed a bit excited.
Is it that great?
I'd never felt it, working solely for the merchant group in both lives, so curiosity stirred.
In my previous life, a marriage had been arranged for me.
But events derailed it.
This life...
Who knows.
The next morning.
After rising, circulating my qi, and doing physical training in my room, Gold령 wriggled through the slightly open window, lugging a large bundle.
I quickly took it.
"Welcome back?"
"Kkwi!"
"What's with the bundle?"
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
Gold령 wagged its tail. A letter was attached.
I unfolded it.
It was a reply from the North Sea Ice Palace Lord.
Yesterday, I'd sent her a letter, and this was her response.
I'd requested two things.
First, to see the actual herbs rejected as fakes.
Second, to dispatch disciples.
For smooth transport to the palace and to punish whoever orchestrated this.
She agreed to send disciples separately and ship the herbs via Gold령.
Ah, so that's what the big bundle was.
"Kkwi!"
Gold령 backed away, tapping the floor with its front paw.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
Eh? So the bundle was heavy, and it wants an extra silver piece?
Sigh.
The sender was the Palace Lord, but I was the one paying Gold령.
No helping it.
I'd made the request.
I offered two silver pieces. Gold령's eyes sparkled as it snapped them up.
Meanwhile, I opened the bundle.
Inside was a sizable pouch containing the herbs.
I examined them closely.
Hm? These aren't real?
But the appraisers called them fakes?
I inspected them carefully and soon confirmed they were counterfeit.
How did they make these?
What a waste of talent.
It made sense that the returning North Sea Ice Palace disciples hadn't noticed the switch.
And since they were certain their gathered herbs were genuine, they'd been duped.
Then Palgap entered.
"Did you cough, young master?"
"Yeah. I woke up earlier."
I handed him the fake herbs and asked,
"Palgap, do these look real or fake to you?"
"Fakes, sir."
"Huh? How'd you know?"
Sharper eyes than I thought.
"Well, if they were real, you wouldn't ask me if they're real or fake, right?"
"..."
Huh. Smarter than he looks. As expected of Palgap.
Bears are clever, after all.
"And if they were real, that rascal Gold령 wouldn't sit still—it'd be drooling and eyeing them."
True enough.
Gold령's calm demeanor proved they were fakes.
"Why ask, though?"
I explained the herbs' story.
"They're masterfully made. If you handed them to me claiming they're real, I'd fall for it."
Palgap had been part of the Eunhae Merchant Group and trained as my attendant since childhood.
That included lessons on spiritual herbs and medicines—key items for us.
"Ice Lotus Chamber, Snow Plum Chamber, Snow Ginseng... Doesn't look like a day or two's work."
"I think so too."
Seeing the fakes the Palace Lord sent convinced me: there was a mastermind behind this.