The Divine Archer (1)
I submitted a petition, as planned, allying with the other merchants to request a limited lifting of the alcohol ban.
And while awaiting the results, I pressed on with my work.
Galhyeon, the man I'd recently taken on, had seemed utterly defeated at first, but now he'd resigned himself to it and was handling his tasks quietly.
Once he got the hang of things, I planned to make him an official deputy.
His punishment was ten years of hard labor.
He was a laborer now, but afterward, I'd formally contract him and put him to... no, employ him.
Anyway, thanks to his solid work, the face of the western spice warehouse manager had brightened considerably.
I felt the same relief.
That night, Jin Yeong Daehyeop came to see me.
"You've arrived."
"How have you been?"
"Thanks to you, I'm doing well."
He chuckled at the sight of me.
"You look like you've got a lot of questions."
"Ah! Busted."
"I figured you did it on purpose. So, what's the most pressing one?"
I jumped right in, as if I'd been waiting for this.
"Did the funeral for those two Gold Guard warriors, escorted by the Daoist from Mosan Sect, go well?"
He looked surprised at my question.
He clearly hadn't expected that to be my first ask.
But it truly was what weighed on me most.
The haunted look in those two warriors' eyes as jiangshi still lingered in my mind.
And the Daoist's words about them wanting to head to the imperial palace instead of their homeland nagged at me too.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
"Thanks to you, those two warriors made it safely to Beijing. I owe you my gratitude once more."
"I was just following the unwritten code of merchants, as always."
"Still, it was because of you. Their funerals were proper, and their bodies were sent home. His Majesty the Emperor even personally praised their remains."
With the Emperor himself honoring their bodies, any lingering resentments would surely be laid to rest.
"I'm relieved. Next question: what happened to the traitorous Gold Guards and their Dongchang allies?"
"They're hanging upside down in some hidden spot, their tendons severed just like those strung up in the plaza before the palace."
"I see."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop's expression was bitter as he spoke.
"During their interrogation, they said they hated their status as Gold Guards. That nothing was more useless than honor..."
Now I understood why those two warriors, escorted by the Mosan Sect Daoist, had carved out their Gold Guard tattoos so deeply.
It was hatred for the very position.
"Ridiculous."
"Hm?"
"If they felt that way, they never should've become Gold Guards in the first place. Because of them, innocent people died... What scum. And honor is useless? After riding that very honor to wield all sorts of power."
"Hahaha!"
Jin Yeong Daehyeop burst into laughter at my words.
Good.
His face had looked so bitter; I'd amped up my outrage on purpose.
"You're right. Those bastards are the villains here."
"One more thing I'm curious about. How's the Murim Alliance reacting to this Gongho fellow?"
"Ah, him. No real response yet. They're probably discussing countermeasures."
Yeah, the Murim Alliance wouldn't just meekly say, "Our bad, sorry about that."
I wondered how they'd play it.
Chop off the tail?
Or...
"Be careful for a while. Night visitors might target Gongho."
"Don't worry. I'm already on it."
Then he'd handle it fine.
"And finally..."
Before I could finish, Jin Yeong Daehyeop pulled a scroll from his robe and held it out.
"Bet this is what you're wondering about."
"Pardon?"
"Take a look."
I unrolled it and was stunned. It was a Permit for Brewing Liquor for Overseas Trade.
I'd submitted the petition just days ago.
And it was already approved?
"The ministers accepted the petition?"
"They were very enthusiastic in their support."
No way...
What trick had the Emperor pulled to get them so on board?
Reading my expression, Jin Yeong Daehyeop grinned.
"We lent a hand too. We got a list of ministers brewing illicit liquor."
"Ah..."
I wasn't sure when liquor was first made, but it had to be humanity's most coveted creation.
I didn't drink myself, but those who did supposedly suffered without it.
So naturally, the powerful and wealthy would brew their own on the sly.
And the Emperor had dug it up to blackmail them.
"With this permit, you can brew for overseas trade. We've notified the other merchant groups to come pick theirs up."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop continued.
"I brought yours personally, since I wanted to see your face."
"Thank you."
This bought me time.
Connections were everything.
Now, it was time to head to the Hubei Province headquarters.
I'd brief my father, then get the brewing operation in full swing.
"Daehyeop, I'm planning a trip back to Hubei Province."
"You'll be busy for a bit. Safe travels."
......
The next morning, I summoned Yeochang's deputy manager.
"I think I'll have to leave again tomorrow. Heading to the Hubei headquarters. Take good care of Hyeonpung Country while I'm gone."
"No worries."
"I'll be going with Deputy Kwak this time. So please look after things here with him too."
"That's covered as well."
Our Eunhae Merchant Group convoy to headquarters was prepared smoothly.
Palgap and all my guards were seasoned pros at packing for the road.
First, I'd recruit Gungsin on the way.
The limited brewing permit needed to be shared ASAP, so I'd already sent word to my father via homing pigeon last night.
No need to rush.
Thus, I'd scout Gungsin en route.
Thankfully, at this point in time, he was still alive.
Forgetting him until now—but remembering just in time—felt like even heaven pitied his plight.
Mid-November.
We set out.
Shandong Province, a village south of Mount Tai.
A loud shout erupted from the village.
"Get out, you brat!"
"Please, I beg you! Just lend me five taels of silver!"
"You haven't even paid back the last loan!"
"Sir, please."
"Have some shame!"
At those words, the young man pleading before the moneylender flinched.
Shame...
He knew shame. But wasn't a person's life worth more?
It had been five years since his father collapsed.
He'd poured the family fortune into treatments.
Sold the land, the furnishings, the house...
Did day labor too.
Yet his father hadn't improved, and the money ran short.
And now, with the poor harvest, scraping by was even harder.
"Throw him out!"
"Yes, sir!"
Thud!
He tumbled out the front gate.
He clenched his fists and shut his eyes.
With his strength, he could kill them all and take their wealth.
The temptation hit him several times a day.
But thoughts of his father helped him resist.
If he turned to the dark path, the family spirit his father had upheld would die with him.
Unable to borrow, he headed to the physician's house to beg for more time.
"Are you in?"
"Who... ah, you."
A man emerged at his call.
"I... still haven't gathered the money. Could you wait a bit longer?"
The young man bowed deeply; the physician clicked his tongue.
"It's been a full month already."
"I'm truly sorry."
"I'll give you another fortnight. But that's my limit. The herbs for your father's treatment aren't cheap."
"Thank you. I'll have the money within a fortnight."
The physician was a true lifesaver to him.
When everyone else turned away, he'd stepped up to treat his father.
Even making house calls every other day.
So failing to pay him felt like a deep betrayal.
"Oh, right—I meant to tell you when you came by. You're a good archer, aren't you?"
"Yes. My family has been bowmen for generations..."
"An acquaintance asked me to recommend a skilled archer. Good pay too. So I suggested you."
"Really?"
"Yes. Play your cards right, and it could be ongoing work."
He chatted with the physician and returned home.
A modest thatched hut, after selling their old grand house.
Much smaller, but it had space for his father to lie down, so he was content.
Even if he had to nap against the wall.
"Father, I'm home."
"......"
"Sorry for being away so much. Oh, I got some good work lined up. The physician recommended me. He even hooks me up with jobs... He's a good man."
His bedridden father's lips twitched, but no sound escaped.
The next day came.
The young man—Manjeong—headed to the spot the physician mentioned.
As he waited, someone approached.
"You Manjeong?"
"Yes."
"Recommended or not, I need to see your skills. Follow me."
"Yes."
He led Manjeong to a field and pointed to a tree far off.
"There's a white-painted pinecone hanging there. See it?"
"Yes."
"Hit it."
Manjeong gauged the wind and distance, then calmly loosed the arrow.
Twang—!
The arrow rocketed out, piercing the distant white pinecone dead center.
He checked it himself and nodded, satisfied.
"Excellent!"
He handed over a pouch.
"Contract advance. Ten taels of silver."
"Pardon?"
"Tricky job, good pay. But refuse after taking it, and you owe ten times back."
"Understood."
Ten taels would cover the medicine and more.
"What exactly is the job?"
"Hunting. Tough prey."
He rushed straight to the physician and paid the arrears.
On the way back, he passed a candy shop but held back.
No telling how much more medicine would cost.
He'd loved sweets since childhood.
Until his father fell, he'd gotten candy every winter.
Now, it was a luxury.
Back home, he beamed at his father.
"Father, looks like we won't worry about medicine money for a while. Got good work—hunting, tough stuff. They gave me ten taels upfront."
His father's eyes flickered.
But Manjeong, busy with chores, didn't notice.
He was just thrilled he could afford the medicine.
The appointed day arrived.
The streets buzzed as he headed to the meeting spot. He asked a passerby.
"What's going on today? So many people?"
"You don't know? Ak Yeong-gyeong, the Shandong Ak Clan’s Provincial Commander, is coming here!"
The Shandong Ak Clan was famed for spear arts.
Their bold, straightforward members were widely admired.
Ak Yeong-gyeong, as commander, was respected for his fairness—especially by Shandong folk.
Manjeong too.
"For real?"
"Yep!"
"Why here, though?"
"No idea. Just that he's coming."
He wanted a glimpse of Ak Yeong-gyeong up close, but duty first.
He reached the rendezvous.
His employer waited.
"Right on time. Come."
"Yes."
Manjeong followed to the top floor of an inn.
There, the man finally explained.
"Today's quarry: Ak Yeong-gyeong."
"What?"
He doubted his ears.
But the man repeated it calmly.
"Kill Ak Yeong-gyeong."
"I can't."
"Then pay back ten times the advance."
"......"
One hundred taels—he didn't have it.
"Father's bedridden, right? Can you afford to be picky?"
"......"
"One more thing. You've heard our plan. Refuse, and we'll have to silence you. Then what happens to your father?"
Killing intent prickled from all sides.
He bit his lip.
"What's it gonna be?"
In the end, he took up the bow.
No way out.
"Smart choice."
Aiming at the distant approaching Ak Yeong-gyeong, he cursed his fate.
He held his breath and released carefully.
Twang—!
The arrow sped toward Ak Yeong-gyeong.
But—
Thwack!
Someone shot into the air, snatching it mid-flight.
The man in splendid robes charged straight at Manjeong, vaulting the railing to land before him.
"Whew, almost too late."