A Just Reward
The silk covering was drawn back, and the chest lay revealed.
Lantern light poured over it.
Things that gleamed with a sleek, liquid sheen filled its depths.
A flash—
Silver taels. The chest was packed full of them.
Heaped so high they looked ready to spill over, countless coins of silver presented Gwak Yeon with their overwhelming presence.
What the hell…!
His eyes went wide. Even in his past life, he had never held that much money.
Tens—no, hundreds of taels, easy.
What an ordinary person spent in a year, converted to silver, would fit in a single small pouch. By that measure, the silver filling this enormous chest looked like enough to raise a lavish manor on one of Hangzhou's main avenues and still have coin left over.
"I ought to correct myself when I called it a gift. This is the rightful payment you earned for your work, Yeon."
"All of this… is mine?"
"Steward Yu."
"Yes."
Gwak Seo-ryong nodded, and Steward Yu stepped forward in his place.
A knowing smile. He drew a paper from his robes and held it up, then came to stand before Gwak Yeon.
"Please verify it. The ratio should be roughly correct."
"The ratio—"
"The ratio stipulated in this contract, on which Young Master affixed his seal before the last caravan run."
"Ah."
"After the escort of the merchant group transporting sample goods necessary for the principal transaction is complete, and once that principal deal is concluded and the corresponding payment received, the risk factors encountered during the journey shall be assessed, and a fee of up to one-tenth of the profit Cheonhae Merchant Group obtained from the principal deal shall be paid."
Having read that far, Steward Yu smiled gently and handed the contract back to Gwak Yeon.
By now, even the jealousy in Steward Yu's eyes toward Gwak Yeon had largely diluted. On top of winning his recent wager against Steward Gam of the Jusan Baek Family, he had grasped that Gwak Yeon—whether or not he was the heir Yu himself favored—was a talent who would grow the family's wealth.
And that was not all. The mere fact that Gwak Yeon had brought Gwak Ho-shin, a rival for the succession, into a caravan run that showered such rich scraps on everyone involved had been more than enough to soften Steward Yu's heart.
…Wait.
What held Gwak Yeon's attention as he checked the contract again was something else entirely.
The payment for the last caravan had arrived. That meant Cheonhae Merchant Group had received the funds for the principal deal on the scales sent as samples to the Hubei Pang Family.
And one-tenth of that sum was the silver filling this chest.
…So they made a hundred times that?
Gwak Yeon made no effort to hide his incredulous look. Scales that could make Horingu were certainly remarkable, but… hadn't there only been enough to arm a single family? And it had been a one-time deal at that.
Just how the hell did they negotiate—
Then Gwak Yeon laughed and conceded the point.
This was… a world he did not know.
True enough, the merchant realm was said to be every bit as cutthroat as the mountain of blades and forest of swords where steel flew. And this was a deal by Zhejiang's foremost house, the Cheonhae Merchant Group—of course it would be.
More pressing, though—
He found himself idly wondering just how much the Horingu he had received along with Cheon Gang and Heoksijo might be worth, when—
"There will be more of this sort of thing going forward. After the last caravan, Cheonhae Merchant Group seems to have begun taking their partnership with our Seoho Gwak Family seriously."
Steward Yu continued with a pleased smile.
"And all of it is thanks to Young Master Gwak opening that first channel with them so well."
"My thoughts exactly!"
"We'll be able to snatch up some substantial interests from here on!"
"If it hadn't been for Young Master Gwak, those Jusan Baek Family dogs would have stolen this seat from us."
"Hahaha! A blessing upon the jianghu!"
"Calling it a jianghu matter might be—"
"Hall Leader Wi! Read the room, would you!"
The other hall leaders tumbled over one another with laughter-laced remarks. Even Gwak Seo-ryong made no effort to hide his satisfied smile; the mood in the room was thoroughly fine.
"At any rate, Yeon. You worked hard."
"Thank you."
"What do you mean to do with this money?"
Gwak Yeon did not let the opening slip.
"I was thinking… perhaps it would be good to relocate Iyeongak."
"Hm?"
"Outside this estate, I mean."
"Hoh."
A stir ran through the hall leaders at that answer.
It was not impossible. The pavilion of the eldest, Gwak Jeong-pal, who was currently away on his jianghu travels, also stood on Hangzhou's outskirts, did it not?
Moving a pavilion outside the estate had its advantages and drawbacks. At the very least, though, lowering the threshold so that Hangzhou's people could more easily come seeking commissions was not a bad choice.
"Have you somewhere in mind?"
"Yes. Beside a tavern I sometimes visit, there's a pavilion the owner has put up cheaply. It needs some repairs, but… with this money, I believe I can make it far sturdier than before."
"Then do so."
"!"
"Come to think of it, that Jeong-pal fellow moved Iljeonggak outside around your age as well. For martial men like us, cultivating a chivalrous heart that way is something worth encouraging."
An immediate answer he had not even dared expect. Gwak Seo-ryong's swift consent startled Gwak Yeon as much as the hall leaders; the family head went on with a fond smile.
"Only show your face now and then. And when some great matter will keep you away for long, report it first."
"Of course."
"Good!"
"Thank you."
"By the time we return, I suppose we'll be able to see your pavilion from outside."
"When you say return—"
"Haha! It seems our Hangzhou Ghost has been so absorbed in his chivalrous wanderings that he lost track of everything else."
Gwak Seo-ryong grinned. When he nodded, Steward Yu, standing beside Gwak Yeon, took up the explanation.
"Young Master, the Family Head and we depart tomorrow for the Namgung Family."
"The Namgung Family?"
"Yes."
"Is this part of searching for the family tied to that hidden force in the jianghu you mentioned before?"
"That, and also matters related to the two young masters' attendance at the Azure Cloud Gathering."
"The Azure Cloud Gathering… Ah!"
Gwak Yeon understood at once.
At this point, when Moyong Wol-un and even the family head of the Hubei Pang Family he had met last time had both declared they would put the Seoho Gwak Family forward as a candidate for the vacant seat among the Seven Great Families—
Azure Cloud Gathering
—if they attended this assembly of the Seven Great Families' Rising Stars a few months hence and made a strong showing, the odds of the Seoho Gwak Family becoming one of the Seven would soar.
Gwak Seo-ryong meant to leave his mark with yet another house counted among the Seven Great Families.
If Ho-shin and I are confirmed for the Azure Cloud Gathering, and if we make a good showing there—
As members of the Seven Great Families, the chances of learning which among them was entangled with the hidden force their house was pursuing would rise sharply.
And at the same time, that would give us pretext to investigate the Namgung Family as well.
A rather solid strategy.
When Gwak Yeon nodded and looked forward again, he found Gwak Seo-ryong smiling—as was only natural.
"Hahaha! Yes, I'll speak well for you and see that you both can attend the Azure Cloud Gathering!"
The family's long-cherished wish was one thing. But the second son who had been nothing but a worry until now had, these past months, been drawing praise and attention from major powers across the Central Plains, had he not?
"Ah, and if the burden feels too heavy, say so!"
"How could it? I too have wondered what the Azure Cloud Gathering I only ever heard of in rumor truly looks like. Until then, I will train hard so as not to fall behind the other Rising Stars."
"Mmm!"
Gwak Seo-ryong nodded, thoroughly pleased.
"Then—"
"We are not finished yet."
"Pardon?"
This time it was not Steward Yu but Gwak Seo-ryong himself who drew something from his robes.
"Take it. A gift from Cheonhae Merchant Group, sent for you."
"But the gift was already—"
"That was the rightful payment you earned for your work, was it not?"
A rustle.
What he held out toward Gwak Yeon, as if bidding him take it himself, was a single letter.
"A personal letter from the young master of Cheonhae Merchant Group, sent to you directly."
Around the same time.
In the office of Yeo Geum-hwi, who led Cheonhae Merchant Group.
"Ha… This brat really—"
"Father!"
"Ahem! I told you to call me Guild Master! And who gave you leave to make a promise like that on your own!"
"You yourself said the best investment is an investment in people… Aaaaah!"
"You little—!"
"My ear! My ear's coming off—!"
Yeo Baek-rang shrieked as Yeo Geum-hwi's great hand clamped onto his ear. It looked less like guild master and young master than like a father and his foolish little boy. He spun his son around the center of the office several times, and then—
"Aaaah—"
"Stop putting on a show and talk!"
"About what!"
"About why you, as young master of Cheonhae Merchant Group, made such an excessive promise to the second son of the Seoho Gwak Family!"
"Th-that's—"
Yeo Geum-hwi eased the strength in his hand a fraction. Truthfully, he was curious.
What sort of relationship this boy wanted with Gwak Yeon, who had escorted the caravan a few weeks prior.
"The fee written in the contract alone is more than ample! Was there any need to go and say something like that on top of it!"
"Th-th-there's a reason!"
"And what is that reason!"
"That bandits and robber packs never once approached within five jang—one point! That he volunteered for the night watch at the hardest hours every time we camped rough—one point! Th-that he handled the unexpected threat of the jiangshi superbly—one point! And judging by the Hubei Pang Family's reaction, the chance of further commission offers toward that man will rise—one point together! And—"
"There's more!"
"That he risked his life trying to rescue the people under escort—five points in total! F-Father, when something scores five points, you give special gifts too!"
"So."
By then Yeo Geum-hwi's cheeks were twitching.
He had started to smile.
"You judged by your own standards, is that it? Taking after the way I assign work?"
"Th-that's right!"
"Not simply because you wanted to get friendly with this Gwak Yeon fellow?"
"Am I a child?!"
"Khahahaha!"
"F-Father!"
Laughing, Yeo Geum-hwi ruffled his son's hair with one hand.
In truth, he was proud. Of this boy who had completed his first caravan run at such a young age without mishap, and who—despite going through some rather hard trials—had come home healthy without much complaint; of this "somewhat" grown-up look about him.
And he knew.
That in this small growth of a boy who had always only whined and goofed around, the second son of the Seoho Gwak Family, who had traveled as escort, had given a certain measure of help.
…Gwak Yeon.
Even the family head of the Hubei Pang Family, with whom he had exchanged words while concluding the principal contract, had praised the young man.
And so—
What Yeo Baek-rang had promised Gwak Yeon by letter this time was, from the standpoint of Yeo Geum-hwi, who meant to build a long relationship with the Seoho Gwak Family, not without its reasonable side.
"Very well. If that's how it is with you, I'll allow it. You've already made the promise, so it can't be taken back anyway."
"Waaaah—!"
"Ahem! But this is for this one time only! From now on, make such promises only after you have my leave!"
Only—as a warning not to fling promises about freely hereafter—Yeo Geum-hwi put on a stern face and reminded Yeo Baek-rang once more of the weight of the pledge he had sent Gwak Yeon by letter.
"Promising to obtain any single item in the jianghu, whatever it may be, just once… for a merchant group like ours, that is an extremely delicate offer!"
A flutter of paper.
Inside Iyeongak, Gwak Yeon read the letter Yeo Baek-rang had sent.
…and so I shall bestow upon thee a one-time right of purchase. Therefore speak freely whenever thou wishest. This is the sincerity of thy younger brother Yeo, who desires to remain on good terms with Elder Brother Gwak, so do not refuse it. The evenings grow rather chilly now, so until we meet again, Elder Brother Gwak…
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Recalling Yeo Baek-rang's peculiar manner of speech and forms of address, all that pretending to be a grown warrior, brought a smile to his face.
"Elder Brother Gwak, is it."
But for a little kid, it was a fairly weighty pledge. Even limited to a single use, a promise to procure any quantity demanded of any item in the jianghu… was that not a rather enormous favor from the merchant group called first in Zhejiang?
"Well, he is the young master, after all."
It might become some manner of strength in the days ahead, as he wiped out the great evils of the jianghu. With a satisfied nod, Gwak Yeon neatly folded the finished letter and set it on the table.
Huuu—
He let out a long breath.
As he leaned back against the chair, thoughts he had not yet managed to sort came flooding in.
Hangzhou's secret auction house, due to open before long. Myeongwol Inn, where he might meet Lord Goechok. The Blood Cult, which was likely entangled with them. And above all… the information he had obtained not long ago by interrogating Yuk So-wan with his supernatural power.
He was about to put all of it in order when—
Gwak Yeon's brow twitched as he gazed up at Iyeongak's high ceiling.
He could no longer pretend not to notice.
That is to say—
A twitch.
The great bellowing of a man that had been drifting faintly from outside for some time now, loud enough that he need not even heighten his hearing.
"Yooouuung Maaasteeer!"
It was Jang Po.
"Come see me—! You grateful bastard—!"