Revival Spirit Fruit (1)
There was an imperial decree stating that duplicating and selling wind gauges would be met with the severest punishment.
But since humans are fools who always do stupid things when profit is on the line, measures had been prepared in advance to counter that.
I grinned.
"Pass."
At my words, Palgap spoke up.
"So the inspection is over, then?"
"No."
"What's left?"
As I rose from my seat in response to Palgap's question, I said,
"We need to check the ledgers."
The final step in any inspection was always reviewing the accounts.
A short while later.
I arrived in front of the Ui Merchant Group's headquarters.
As I strode boldly toward the main gate, the gatekeeper asked politely,
"Where do you hail from?"
"I'm Eun Seo-ho, the Hyeonpung Branch Leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. I'd like to see your Group Leader."
.
.
.
"Showing up out of the blue without notice! You startled me."
The Ui Merchant Group's leader hurried toward me, practically running.
"It's been a while."
Not that long, really. We'd met just three months ago at the conference.
"I know dropping in unannounced is rude, but since this is an inspection on wind gauge sales, I had no choice."
I cut straight to the point.
"I'd like to see your ledgers."
Selling wind gauges was a hassle for the salt retailers.
But they didn't shy away from it.
It was profitable for them.
Even at surprisingly low prices, they still made a killing—and there was only one place in each province selling them.
So they sold like hotcakes, raking in massive profits.
Demand still far outstripped supply.
I followed the Group Leader into one of the buildings.
"Sorry to make such a request right away."
"Nonsense. It's your job—how could I complain? But you must be worn out from the road. Are you sure you're up for this?"
"I'm fine."
Truth be told, I was a bit tired.
The trip from Hubei to Shaanxi had been comfortable enough, but dealing with that Shaanxi issue had worn me down.
And riding nonstop for two straight days was no joke.
Still, since I was doing this, I had to be thorough—no rest until the ledgers were checked.
Inside the building, countless people sat scribbling away at records.
"There are rather a lot of ledgers..."
I eyed the bookshelves lining one entire wall.
Half of them were stuffed full.
"That's all ledgers."
"I... see."
So my deputy and I had to go through all that.
"We'll have dinner brought here tonight."
"No need."
Even faced with this mountain of books, my deputy Yeochang and I looked utterly relaxed.
"We'll finish before dinner."
This was child's play.
.
.
.
That afternoon, toward the end of the You hour (5-7 PM).
Thud.
I closed the final ledger.
The inspection was finally over.
"Finally... done."
Thump.
Yeochang's deputy slammed his head onto the back cover of a ledger.
I shot Palgap a look, and he grabbed the deputy's shoulder, hauling him up.
"You can't do that here."
"Ugh..."
"Eat dinner and head back to the inn to sleep it off."
Just then, someone entered the building we'd been using for the wind gauge sales records.
He was the son of the Ui Merchant Group Leader, training as their chief clerk.
His name was Woo Se-gyeong.
Twenty-three this year—a year older than Brother Jeong Ho.
"I heard you were here and came right away."
"Ah! Long time no see."
I greeted him warmly too.
We'd met at the last conference.
"What would you like for dinner?"
As I stood at his question, I replied,
"We've just wrapped up the ledger review. Let's eat together."
"Already?"
I handed the surprised man a scroll.
"Here are the areas for improvement."
Chief Clerk Woo Se-gyeong unrolled it and scanned the contents, his eyes moving quickly.
"..."
His eyes gradually widened.
"It's real."
"I don't lie about things like this."
"I'll report to my father."
He continued,
"For now, let me guide you to your lodgings."
The Ui Merchant Group had provided surprisingly nice accommodations.
Seemed like the largest guest room prepared for visitors.
Facing the front, the left room was for the escort warriors.
The right was for Palgap and Yeochang's deputy, next to that Bae Cheol and Go Ju-sang's room.
I sat on the bed and let out a sigh.
Man, I'm beat.
Still, I needed to eat before crashing.
Going to bed hungry on top of exhausted would just suck.
.
.
.
After dinner, I pulled out a map from my bosom.
A map of Shaanxi Province.
The place I needed to go for the Revival Spirit Fruit was the forest.
More precisely, Zhongnan Mountain.
My plan was simple.
First, stay at a nearby inn I could trust.
Leave the group there and go alone.
Retrieving the Revival Spirit Fruit was my personal matter—the debt of gratitude was mine alone.
I didn't want to drag others into the hardship.
Besides, it was a spirit medicine.
If word got out that I had it—or that one existed on Zhongnan Mountain—bloodbath would ensue.
Just like in my previous life.
To avoid that, the fewer who knew, the better.
.
.
.
Two days later.
We departed the Ui Merchant Group.
Minus some minor issues, everything was fine.
Even the ledgers being a bit obfuscated wasn't a real flaw.
So they saw us off with smiles, and we left with smiles.
A few days after that.
We reached the inn I'd targeted.
Yeochun Inn.
The owner of this "Like Spring" inn was a young, beautiful woman—but no ordinary person.
Her true identity: Broken Head Granny.
An old crone sustaining her beauty through wine-soaked arts at tremendous inner energy cost.
In other words, a top-tier master.
That's why the inn was safe.
"Welcome."
"We'll be staying a couple days."
"Make yourselves at home."
She greeted us kindly.
"How many rooms?"
"Four should do."
One for me, one for Palgap and Yeochang's deputy, two for the warriors.
Me taking a solo room was to slip out unnoticed.
But...
No way Palgap notices this time too, right?
.
.
.
...or so I'd thought, just a few hours ago.
Palgap had caught me trying to sneak out.
I'd doubted it, but he'd really noticed.
How the hell?
And how do I talk him out of it?
"Young master, we can't keep doing this."
"Sorry."
I decided to come clean.
"You know Madam Hong Geum-so's husband is bedridden, right?"
"Yes."
"You know how much I've benefited from her skills too, yeah?"
"What's that got to do with you sneaking out?"
"Just listen quietly."
"Got it."
I continued.
"So I want to repay her. What'd make her happiest right now?"
"Her husband... waking up?"
"Exactly."
"But young master, the physician said he'll be up and about in a few months."
"You think that'll really cut it?"
"Pardon?"
"What was Madam Hong's husband before?"
"An escort of an escort agency."
"A guy who was so active, unable to use martial arts—how agonizing would that be?"
"Still, isn't it a blessing he's alive at all?"
"If people were content like that, why would merchants like us exist?"
"Well... true."
Palgap looked sheepish, so I pressed on.
"That's why I'm off to find a spirit medicine so her husband can retrain in martial arts."
"Okay, but how do you know where one is?"
"I know."
I grinned.
The moment I'd heard Shaolin's Venerable Ilshim had reached the Transcendent Realm, I'd rushed to Shaanxi.
This was when the Revival Spirit Fruit appeared on Zhongnan Mountain.
The one who found it was the heir of a merchant group who'd gotten lost wandering.
He emerged with it.
But it ended up in the wrong hands.
Some Blood Cultist ate it.
The orthodox masters barely subdued him, severing his limbs and crippling his dantian before sealing him away.
They spared his life because it wasn't time to kill him yet—or maybe they couldn't let him die easily.
The problem? His disciple stole the fruit and fed it to his master.
The blood spilled in that man's revenge, back in his rejuvenated body from a decade prior...
Not just Eunhae Merchant Group—the entire Central Plains merchant world froze in terror.
Years later, that heir regretted taking the fruit out, but what was done was done.
Thanks to that, I knew exactly where to find the Revival Spirit Fruit this time.
But I couldn't tell Palgap the full truth.
I trusted him, but he'd no doubt tie me to the bed and call a physician if I did.
"Remember that secret Shaanxi warehouse we found?"
"Of course. Treasure galore."
"Found it there. Some book marked the location."
"Show me the book."
"Gone. Vanished like smoke after I read it."
"What?"
"It was a book on spirit medicines."
"...Ah, right."
Palgap scratched his cheek.
"So I'll be quick. No worries."
"Then let me come with..."
"The escorts would find out. Fewer people knowing, the better."
"You don't trust them? They're your escorts."
"I do. Why wouldn't I? But I don't want them risking their lives or suffering because of me."
"..."
"So I'll go alone."
"..."
That was when it happened.
Rattle, click!
The door to my room burst open, and in walked people I hadn't expected.
Escort warriors Yeo Eung-am and I-pil.
"We can't allow that."
"Exactly."
"Huh?"
"We're grateful you care, but we're your escorts."
"An escort's duty is to protect their lord with their lives."
No way they heard everything?
I glanced at Palgap, who awkwardly looked away.
"Palgap?"
"I-I know nothing about this."
"Ha..."
.
.
.
In the end, contrary to my plan, three of us set out for the Revival Spirit Fruit: me, Warrior Yeo Eung-am, and Warrior I-pil.
Palgap and Yeochang's deputy stayed at the inn with the other two Eunpung Corps warriors.
Zhongnan Mountain was too treacherous for non-martial artists.
At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.
A young man in ragged clothes stood there.
His clothes were fine silk originally—torn from tumbling off cliffs and such hardships.
He wiped the sweat streaming down his face.
He'd come here for something he had to find.
He had to find it...
Then, a chill ran down his spine. He slowly turned.
"...!"
A massive beast glared at him.
A tiger.
"Th-this!"
He drew his sword from his waist.
But he'd only learned it for self-defense, no real combat experience—his hands shook violently.
Taat!
The tiger lunged.
That was his last memory.
"Are you coming to?"
He opened his eyes. An incredibly handsome man came into view.
He mumbled without thinking,
"Immortal?"
I'd entered Zhongnan Mountain with my two escorts.
It was no exaggeration to say the mountain was mostly rock.
From that weight and unyielding solidity, the Zhongnan Sect's martial arts must have been born.
We ascended using lightness skills.
While resting briefly, I sensed a presence.
"My lord, someone's there."
"...Let's check."
We needed to identify anyone this deep in the mountains to prepare accordingly.
But we weren't the only ones interested in him.
A huge tiger was stalking him too.
Clearly no martial artist—just an ordinary youth.
I made my call.
"Save him."
"Understood."
The youth collapsed unconscious as the tiger bared its fangs.
We swung our swords at the beast.
"Ah! We can sell the pelt—go easy."
"Got it."
A short while later.
After dealing with the tiger and moving to eat lunch, the youth we saved stirred awake.
"Are you coming to?"
But,
"Immortal?"
The youth, upon opening his eyes and seeing me, spouted nonsense.
"Think a slap would snap him out of it?"
Warrior Yeo Eung-am replied,
"Possible."
The youth quickly shouted,
"I-I'm fine!"