552. The Jegal Family's Eccentric (5)
Since we had to travel with Jegal Cheondu and his entourage after departing from the Jegal Clan, we couldn't pick up the pace.
As a result, what had taken a single day now stretched to nearly three and a half.
"It looks like we'll have to camp here tonight."
I nodded at the Seo-u Warrior's words.
"Understood."
Soon, our group began preparing for the night. In the meantime, I informed Jegal Cheondu and his people about dinner.
His entourage, who had been riding in the carriage, approached the spot where we'd lit the campfire.
Jagal Cheondu's group was small and simple: his valet, maid, and two escort warriors, totaling five.
If he were direct lineage, there would have been more attendants, but as collateral, this was it.
No matter how you sliced it, direct and collateral branches received different treatment.
That was why people fought tooth and nail to become direct lineage.
"Dinner tonight is noodles, sir."
Palgap was boiling noodle broth in the pot over the campfire, tossing in all sorts of ingredients.
The noodles were soon ready, and Palgap called out to everyone.
"Grab a bowl and come get some!"
I went first with my bowl, and Palgap ladled out a generous portion.
We sat around the campfire and dug in.
"Delicious!"
"Heh heh heh, to your taste, young master?"
"Yeah."
Palgap's cooking was always top-notch.
"Ho!"
"It's really good!"
Even the Jegal Clan folks were thoroughly satisfied with his noodles.
After dinner, we set the night watch.
The guards—my escorts and Jagal Cheondu's two warriors—discussed and decided among themselves.
"Take care."
I said that and lay down.
But sleep wouldn't come. Probably because my mind was racing.
Tossing and turning when you couldn't sleep was pointless.
I need to move around.
I got up.
"Hm? Young master? Why are you up, sir?"
Palgap, beside me, snapped his eyes open the moment I stirred.
Of course—his ears were sharp as ever. Lately, his senses seemed even keener.
"Can't sleep. You keep sleeping. I'll just take a short walk nearby."
I said that and started strolling around.
That's when I spotted someone ahead: Jagal Cheondu.
"Can't sleep either, Gongja-nim?"
"Ah, yes. The excitement of a new place and new ventures is keeping me up."
He looked at me curiously.
"But why aren't you sleeping, Sodanju-nim?"
"Guess I'm thrilled about recruiting such a talented individual as an instructor for the training hall."
"Hahaha."
He chuckled lightly at my words.
"I have a question."
"What is it?"
"During your Latency Dragon Trip, how did you shake off all the surveillance and spend those twenty years?"
"……."
"I know you didn't associate with any suspicious crowds."
He looked up at the sky, then met my eyes.
"But as someone hiring you as a key figure, I believe I have the right to know about your activities over those twenty years."
"……."
Instead of answering, he gazed silently at the stars before speaking.
"I investigated my father's death."
"Pardon?"
"He passed a year before I left for the Latency Dragon Trip. The Murim Alliance gave an explanation about the accident, but I couldn't accept it. I complained to the Clan Head and Supreme Patriarch, but they just said it was an accident."
So that's how it was.
They must have said that to prevent the then-underage Jagal Cheondu from acting rashly.
Especially the Supreme Patriarch, who was convinced the Murim Alliance was behind his brother's death.
"So I saw the Latency Dragon Trip as an opportunity. I slipped away from surveillance in secret and worked as a Murim Alliance employee to investigate my father's death."
"Does returning to the clan mean your investigation is complete?"
He nodded at my question.
Which meant he could tell me his father had been killed by the Murim Alliance.
"I see. Thank you for sharing."
Now I understood how the Yu Gang Merchant Group had so relentlessly and precisely targeted the Murim Alliance's weaknesses in my previous life.
As a former Alliance employee, Jagal Cheondu would know their vulnerabilities inside out.
He must have flown under the radar because he wasn't listed on the Jegal Clan registry at the time.
And being collateral branch, he drew even less attention.
What a remarkable man.
His tenacity and patience in maintaining his cover as an Alliance drone for so long, that ruthless drive—it impressed me.
A terrifying foe, but as an ally, rock-solid.
"Do others know?"
"Only the Clan Head and Supreme Patriarch."
"You must have gotten an earful."
"They scolded me, but also apologized for feeling sorry."
"I see."
"Aren't you curious how my father died?"
"Not yet. It seems you're not ready to tell."
"……."
"Later. Tell me when you're ready."
I left it at that and walked on ahead quietly.
That night felt endlessly long.
The next day.
After eating porridge boiled by Palgap, we set off.
And as the sun set, we arrived at the Yeochun Guest Inn's Sung Mountain branch.
"Ah! Welcome!"
The errand boy recognized my face and hurried over.
"Swordsman Beauty Daehyeop graces our humble inn again! It's an honor."
Uh... embarrassing. Seriously.
I smiled and replied.
"Thank you for the warm welcome. Any rooms available?"
"I believe there are some left, but check with the room clerk for details."
"Got it."
I went inside, and the room clerk hurried over with a clasped-hands bow.
"Greetings, Swordsman Beauty Daehyeop."
All eyes in the area turned to me.
"Ahem, just staying one night."
"Yes, how many rooms do you need?"
We booked what we required and got the keys.
Then someone called from behind.
"Swordsman Beauty Daehyeop."
Turning, I saw Yi Ui-sen-nim of the Red-Clothed Flower Sword.
"Ah, Ui-sen-nim."
"Coming from the Jegal Clan?"
"Yes. That's right. Still here?"
He nodded.
"Some haven't left yet, so I stayed too."
"I see."
"You must have sent word quickly. The sects and families arrived sooner than expected. These past few days have been a sea of tears."
"Glad to hear it. How many are left?"
"About five."
He told me about the remaining ones.
The Huashan Taoist and Yun Gongja from Jin Soyun Clan had already left, along with Woo Gyeok and his master, the former fugitives.
"Wait a moment. They'll be thrilled to know you're here."
Before I could stop him, he dashed upstairs, and voices rang out.
"You old coot! This isn't the time to be sleeping!"
"Huh? Why the attitude all of a sudden?"
"Swordsman Beauty Daehyeop is here!"
"What? What did you say?"
They've gotten close, huh.
Soon, clattering footsteps came as the people I'd rescued descended.
"Swordsman Beauty Daehyeop!"
"Great to see you again!"
I laughed heartily at their enthusiastic welcome.
"You all look much healthier than before."
"Of course! Thanks to you."
"I'm glad. I'll go wash up and come down."
A little later.
Down on the first floor, I ate dinner with the others, not forgetting those I'd saved.
"Any inconveniences while I was away?"
"Inconveniences? With how thoughtfully you arranged everything, how could there be?"
"Exactly."
Watching them, I wondered why they'd been locked in the brain prison.
There must have been a purpose to invest so much time, manpower, and money.
As Yun Gongja said, maybe they were obstacles to their plans but too valuable to kill?
Somehow it didn't feel right, but I couldn't know yet.
But if I kept doing my best, I'd find out eventually.
Like how I'd learned about the beast that destroyed Seolpung Palace this time.
That was when it happened.
Horses stopped outside, and a man burst into the inn shouting.
"Father!"
The elder eating across from me jumped up.
"Eh? Chang?"
"F-F-Father!"
The man ran to him, hugging and sobbing.
"Sob! Father! Where on earth have you been? We searched so... so desperately."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Tears streamed from the elder's eyes as he apologized repeatedly.
He'd kept a calm facade, but I couldn't imagine how long he'd waited for this family reunion.
Hiding his tears while watching others reunite.
Just like the others around me now.
The elder said,
"I'm alive today thanks to Swordsman Beauty Daehyeop here. He saved me."
"Elder, 'Daehyeop' is too much. Just call me So-hyeop."
I continued,
"I'm truly glad you could reunite with your family."
……
Night.
I was downstairs reading a book.
Lighting a lamp in my room would keep Palgap from sleeping soundly.
And books were best read in bright light.
Someone sat before me.
Lifting my head, it was Jagal Cheondu.
"What book are you reading?"
"A poetry collection called Seasonal Impressions by someone named Jeong Yeok. It's popular lately, so I thought I'd check it out."
"I've read it too. But do you read everything that's popular?"
"Yes."
I closed the book and answered.
"I'm a merchant. Merchants have to be sensitive to trends to survive."
"Trends... But from what I've seen, many who chase trends open shops and go bankrupt."
I laughed.
"We call that 'the lizard eats its own tail.' Meaning you entered the industry just as the trend died. Speed is key to profiting from trends."
"Speed?"
"Get in fast, get out fast. The trick is timing the exit perfectly. Drag it out till the trend ends, and you're stuck with losses."
"But isn't that too harsh for day-to-day laborers? They can't afford to think about the future when scraping by now."
"That's why to profit from trends, you need one of two things."
"What?"
I grinned.
"Decisiveness, or perseverance."
"Not money?"
"Money's nice, but it can also breed false hope."
"Tricky."
"Decisiveness to pull out at the right time, or perseverance to push through to the end."
"I get decisiveness. But perseverance in pushing a business... not sure."
"Simple. Trends cycle back."
"Ah...."
"Keep digging one well, and eventually water springs forth. Sure, enduring till that unknown moment is gut-wrenching."
"Doesn't that make money even more necessary?"
"Like I said, money breeds false hope."
I smiled bitterly.
"With money, you'd quit and chase something else instead of toughing it out."
"Ah...."
"Then spot another trend, eyes glaze over, jump in—vicious cycle."
I continued,
"That's where great merchants grasp people's desires through trends."
"So you're reading that book to understand people's desires."
"Exactly."
I answered and changed the subject.
"So, why seek me out tonight? Not just for chit-chat."
His smile faded.
"I heard you rescued those imprisoned in the Black Cat Sect's brain prison."
"Yes."
"Were... they the ones behind it?"
I knew "they" meant the Murim Alliance.
"Yes. But I don't know their goal."
"I see."
Ending the talk, I returned to my room.
As I sat on the bed, Geum-ryeong poked out from my sleeve.
She was holding something in her mouth.
"Kkwi!"
It was the incriminating letter the Black Cat Sect leader had passed me before dying.
Ah... Forgot amid the chaos.
No proper place to check it either.
"Thanks for reminding me."
Geum-ryeong kkwi'd and tapped the bed with her right front paw.
I chuckled and gave her a silver coin.
She'd earned it.
Delighted, she scampered atop my head.
I unfolded and read the letter, then sighed and refolded it.
I could see why he'd kept it as evidence.
But now wasn't the time to reveal it to the world.
……
The next day.
Before leaving for Beijing, I tried leaving more money for those at the inn, but they refused, saying plenty remained from before.
I asked Yi Ui-sen-nim of the Red-Clothed Flower Sword to provide medical services later in exchange for the Thousand-Year Spirit Blood Flower.
He readily agreed.
"Then we'll be off."
"Travel safely."
"Yes, until fate brings us together again."
Thus, our group departed for Beijing.
Whew, thinking back, this Jagal Clan trip was quite eventful.
Jeong Ho hyung warned me not to cause trouble.
As long as I return safe and sound. Whatever.