Fishing for Talent (1)
Dong Woo-yeok opened his eyes on the makeshift bed inside the cave.
His subordinate had brought strong liquor, apologizing for ruining the mood and suggesting they drink, sleep it off, and then plot revenge properly.
The liquor had been potent fire wine.
He'd gotten blackout drunk and passed out, only to wake now.
His throat burned like fire.
"Ugh, so thirsty. Hey! Anyone there? Water! Bring me water!"
"……."
But no response came.
Not even the occasional bird calls he'd heard before. The silence made the situation feel even more eerie.
Realizing something was wrong, he bolted up from the bed and rushed out of the cave.
Chaos greeted him.
Everything useful was gone.
He quickly pieced it together.
His men had abandoned him and fled.
The lingering buzz of alcohol vanished in an instant.
"W-what? What the hell is this? They all ran away? Just left me behind? What about me?"
Muttering in disbelief, he finally screamed.
"You bastards!"
That was when it happened.
Thud thud thud—!
The sound of many footsteps and galloping horses approached.
Dong Woo-yeok's face lit up.
He thought his men had come back for him.
But the ones who appeared were Gold Guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards.
"Traitor Dong Woo-yeok! Seize him!"
"Yes, sir!"
Dong Woo-yeok staggered back.
"N-no! This isn't real! It's a dream! I haven't woken up yet!"
But denying reality changed nothing.
Thus, his obsessive quest for misguided revenge dissolved into nothing.
I stood gazing at the vast expanse of estates dotting the landscape.
We had arrived in Beijing.
First, we needed to head to Jin Woo-rim Merchant Group leader's estate.
The final settlements would happen there.
Moments later, our carriage halted before one such mansion.
"We've arrived."
At the words of the Embroidered Uniform Guard warrior escorting us, we disembarked.
Father thanked him.
"Thank you for escorting us all this way."
"Not at all. I was merely fulfilling His Majesty's orders. If anything, I should be thanking you."
He turned to me and continued.
"I nearly failed my duty, but thanks to Young Master's quick thinking, I completed it successfully. My thanks to you."
"To receive gratitude from a great warrior! It's more than I deserve, but I'll gladly accept."
I said that because politely refusing over and over would just drag things out.
I wanted to get inside and rest.
Just then, a group emerged from within the estate, and I spotted a welcome face.
"Oh! Young Master Eun Seo-ho! You've arrived?"
"Greetings, Jin Merchant Group Leader."
"I heard about it. You went through hell because of the surviving Dong clan members?"
"It was nothing."
"Nothing? A thunderbolt nearly exploded inside your carriage—how is that nothing?"
Typical Jin Woo-rim.
He knew everything.
"Fortunately, we caught the second son, but the problem is the others who escaped…."
"Still haven't caught them?"
"That's right. But the search continues, so we'll nab them soon."
I smiled and said,
"Merchant Group Leader, I have one request."
"What is it?"
"Please call off the search."
"Call it off? Why?"
Jin Woo-rim eyed me quizzically.
"Would that have been their own will? They followed the second son's lead."
"Probably."
"They were mere tools. Tools bear no guilt. Besides, they have families. I can't bear the resentment if innocents suffer because of it."
I continued,
"I'm faint of heart—if I heard they'd been harmed, I'd take to bed with illness."
"Good heavens! We can't have that!"
"So, I beg you. Halt the search."
Jin Woo-rim pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Understood. I'll report it to His Majesty."
"Thank you."
"Now, let's head inside. Relieving travel fatigue promptly is key to a merchant's longevity."
"Yes, sir."
That was exactly what I wanted.
Jin Woo-rim's estate was enormous.
Without a guide, you'd get lost.
He had business, so he returned to his office, and his deputy showed us around.
"It's really vast."
"His Majesty granted this estate recently. That area houses the Merchant Group Leader and our people; over there is where the salt traders work."
"I see."
"It's so big, folks often lose their way. When going out, ask the maids for directions."
"Got it."
"Oh, and there's a rear garden with a pond, bizarre rocks, and flowers. Check it out when you have time."
We reached our quarters while listening to the deputy's explanations.
A plaque read Bin-gaek-dang—Guest Hall.
For honored visitors.
Straightforward name.
We were assigned a separate pavilion with over ten rooms.
"This is where you'll stay."
The deputy looked at me.
"And thank you personally for saving Jin Merchant Group Leader. He's like a father to me. If something terrible had happened…."
I met his eyes.
Sincerity shone there.
"Helping him must mean heaven favors the man."
The deputy replied,
"Yes, heaven truly does."
.
.
.
That evening, we dined in the banquet hall, joined by members from other arrived merchant groups.
From above, the hall resembled two large overlapping rectangles.
The outer ring seated the escorts and attendants.
The central raised platform was for merchant leaders and key figures.
"The layout's unique," Jeong Ho noted.
Our guiding servant explained,
"Some are escorts, and leaders often need deputies mid-conversation, so it's designed this way."
I was familiar with it.
Eventually, all banquet halls adopted this style because of me.
This must be where it started.
Yoon Chung-jin Deputy Leader and our group took seats around the edges.
Father, Jeong Ho, and I sat in the center.
Name plaques marked the spots.
As we approached, the seated men rose. They smiled warmly at me.
Geumjin Merchant Group folks.
Ah, he's the current leader now.
Seeing the elderly In Jun made me truly feel I'd returned to the past.
They were good people, handpicked by Jin Woo-rim for salt retail.
Father, being younger, greeted first.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Eun Gil-sang of Eunhae Merchant Group from Hubei Province."
"I'm In Jun of Geumjin Merchant Group from Hebei Province."
With greetings exchanged, it was our turn.
In Jun's companion was his eldest son, In Gwang.
We'd been friendly rivals.
He was respected in Hebei till my dying day—upright, no nonsense.
"Eunhae Merchant Group's eldest and branch leader, Eun Jeong-ho."
"Eunhae Merchant Group's third son and branch leader, Eun Seo-ho."
In Jun tilted his head at my introduction.
"If Eun Seo-ho is the third son, that means there's one in the middle?"
A natural question.
Father answered,
"Yes. Our second is minding the group."
"So Young Master Eun Seo-ho is…?"
"Fifteen."
In Jun looked stunned. Father explained,
"Normally, Seo-ho would've become branch leader at twenty, but he's exceptionally talented. All our accountants agreed unanimously."
"Oh! Impressive!"
Their gazes shifted—now with respect.
A bit burdensome.
Other merchant groups arrived, and we exchanged greetings.
Eleven groups so far out of twenty-three invited.
One per province for salt retail, plus one for Xinjiang and the west, one for Liaoning to Heilongjiang—twenty-three total.
Beijing handled directly by Yeonpyeong Merchant Group.
As people ate and drank, some began slipping away.
True talk happened privately in quarters, not here.
Jin Woo-rim knew that, leaving after eating.
Building rapport with future salt retail partners.
I stood too.
In Beijing, time to hit the markets.
A good nap upon arrival had eased my fatigue.
"Father, I'll head to the market."
He nodded.
"Go ahead. Take Jeong Ho."
Jeong Ho asked,
"Can I come?"
"Of course."
Off we went to Beijing's streets with Jeong Ho.
Beijing's markets dazzled.
Jeong Ho's eyes bulged; I chuckled.
"Bro, don't look like such a country bumpkin."
"But it's flashier than I imagined."
Fair enough—his first time. I'd been the same.
"You seem unfazed."
"Me?"
"Yeah, like you've been here before."
I grinned sheepishly.
In my past life, I'd managed the branch monthly.
Of course it felt familiar.
Beijing's night streets were luxurious, not garish.
The Forbidden City and nobles demanded elegance.
Luoyang was the truly flashy one.
Its nights dwarfed Beijing's bustle.
Oh, right—Moorim Alliance was in Luoyang.
With Qixi approaching, red lanterns already hung.
The festival of Cowherd and Weaver Girl meeting.
It reminded me of Jeong Ho's crush.
"Hey, bro."
"Yeah?"
"Got a sweetheart?"
"……Sweetheart?"
"A girl you like. Bet you do."
His face flushed. I smirked.
"Who is she?"
"Well…."
Hesitating, I guessed,
"Is it Jin Clan Martial Hall's eldest daughter?"
"Gasp!"
He jolted.
"H-how'd you know? That obvious?"
"Nah."
"Then?"
"I'm just that good."
……In truth, in my past life, he'd married her.
So it started here.
Just propose already—instead of dragging it out, making her wait.
Earlier marriage would've spared her hardship.
"Since we're in Beijing, grab her a gift? Gotta show your feelings somehow."
"Y-you think?"
"If you like her, be bold."
I glanced at Jeon Woo-jin trailing us.
"Right?"
"I agree."
Jeon Woo-jin had recovered from the injury at Jeong Ho's branch leader ceremony.
Now guarding him solidly. Felt good.
No more whining from bro.
"Jewelry shop over there. Let's go."
"Huh? Okay."
I dragged him along. As we headed there—
Hm?
A fragrance wafted past my nose.
Familiar scent.
Like wild orchid….