Chapter 59
Before the sun had risen in the early dawn, two carriages stood at the main gate of the Seol family estate. Behind the carriages, mounted guards aligned in formation.
“Let’s depart.”
As the order came from Seol Wonpyeong inside the carriage, the vehicles began to move.
“We are leaving.”
With the loud voice of the chief horseman, Geum Taesan, the sound of a dozen or so horses following behind could be heard.
Seol Wonpyeong, Dojin, and Unyeong rode in the lead carriage, while the nannies, Bang Gijin, So-gyo, and Hyanga followed in the rear carriage.
“Will we be able to return today?”
Looking out the window, Unyeong turned to Seol Wonpyeong and asked.
“The mountain you wanted isn’t far, Young-ah. We should be able to return by evening. Why, do you feel uneasy?”
Seol Wonpyeong’s gaze was gentle as he looked at Unyeong, sensing the excitement in her as she left the Seol estate for the first time.
“No, it’s not that. I just can’t quite gauge how far Hyogam-hyeon is.”
Even during her time as a sword master, Unyeong had only heard the name Hyogam-hyeon but never visited. Since leaving the Seol estate, she hadn’t come near this area.
“But Young-ah, why did you suddenly want that mountain? The chief officer said it’s just an empty mountain,” Seol Dojin asked, eyes filled with curiosity.
“Oh, that is…”
Unyeong began speaking, her gaze drifting toward Seol Wonpyeong. Come to think of it, Seol Wonpyeong hadn’t asked her reason. She had simply said she wanted a mountain, and he had agreed to give it to her. Soon after, the mountain in Hyogam-hyeon became hers.
Today, Unyeong insisted on going to see that mountain. Seol Wonpyeong marveled silently at how remarkable he was.
“This time, the Seol Guesthouse will sell mushroom dishes. We’ll need plenty of mushrooms in the future.”
“That’s true,” Dojin nodded.
“Although the mushrooms only grow in the mountains of Hongan-hyeon, I thought maybe we could cultivate them nearby in Hyogam-hyeon. You never know… with the formation…”
Speaking about the Seonsan formation in front of Seol Wonpyeong required caution.
Seeing Seol Wonpyeong simply smiling, Unyeong continued.
“There could be an effect. That’s why I thought we should buy it first.”
She couldn’t say the mountain was needed because of Uncheol. She was also genuinely curious if the fragrant meat mushrooms could be cultivated there.
Unyeong gently caressed the egg she had carried in her arms.
If it hatched, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible. With Jeogal Dam’s help, they might even replicate a similar formation.
“I see. Young-ah, you think deeply. I wouldn’t have considered that,” Dojin said, scratching his head.
“Yes. Dojin is right. Young-ah, that was an admirable thought. You have the mind of a proper merchant.”
Seol Wonpyeong glanced at both of them before continuing.
“There’s a saying: ‘Exhaust the pond to catch the fish’—if you drain a pond to catch all the fish, you may gain much immediately, but there won’t be any fish left later.”
Dojin and Unyeong listened intently.
“A merchant must always be wary of this. A good merchant plans for the future rather than chasing immediate gains.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“We will remember.”
Seol Wonpyeong nodded approvingly.
His gaze turned toward the window, and he pointed to a distant mountain.
“Do you see that mountain?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“All that land belongs to the Seol family.”
“Wow… it’s really far…”
Unyeong’s jaw dropped at the sheer size of the estate, but Seol Wonpyeong merely gave a faint, knowing smile.
After riding for a while, Seol Wonpyeong spoke again.
“Do you see that stream over there?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“All that land belongs to me, Seol Wonpyeong.”
“What? Really?”
Unyeong’s eyes widened in disbelief. The estate’s land and Seol Wonpyeong’s private land were separate?
After more riding, Seol Wonpyeong pointed again.
“Do you see that large tree?”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“All that land belongs to your father, Seol Jadan.”
And then, after more time.
“All that land is yours, Dojin.”
After riding even further.
“All that land is yours, Unyeong.”
Unyeong felt as if she might faint. Every step she took was on Seol family land. Even roughly estimated, the land Seol Wonpyeong pointed out covered almost all of Hongan-hyeon.
She had known the Seol family was wealthy, but she hadn’t realized they owned so much.
With so much wealth, why did the Seol Trading Company falter?
Looking out at the estate, Unyeong made a vow.
“I must not let Grandfather die. I will save him, no matter what.”
In a dark cave, a warrior clad in black descended the stairs. The steps widened as he went deeper.
The warrior stopped in front of a vast underground training hall.
In the center sat a man cross-legged.
“Enter,” he said.
Hearing the warrior’s footsteps, the man spoke without opening his eyes. The warrior approached him, the sound of water splashing beneath his feet.
Red water. Blood.
The floor was completely covered in human blood.
The scent of blood filled the warrior’s nostrils, but he remained unaffected, moving closer to the man.
“I pay my respects to the Four Young Masters.”
The warrior knelt in the blood, bowing his head to the floor.
“Speak.”
“Hubei five, Jiangxi three, Fujian three, Zhejiang five. A total of sixteen trading companies’ Blood Shadow Unit advance teams have successfully infiltrated.”
The warrior reported without lifting his torso.
“Is that so? And the preparations?”
“All perfect, except…”
“Except?”
The man frowned without opening his eyes. He disliked any sign of trouble.
“It seems there was an issue in Hubei.”
The warrior hesitated, sensing the man’s displeasure.
“Speak.”
“It’s a small merchant unrelated to the martial world.”
“But?”
“This merchant controls most of the land in the county. It’s extremely wealthy, so we’ve been monitoring it.”
“Controlling the county… a greedy one, indeed.”
The man finally opened his eyes, which glinted with interest.
“So far, it hasn’t been connected to the martial world. That’s why the infiltration was necessary…”
“Briefly.”
“It is known that the children of Jegal and Namgung recently visited the place.”
“I see… interesting. Where in Hubei?”
“Hongan-hyeon, Seol family estate.”
“I see… Seol family estate… withdraw from there.”
“But…”
“Why, do you think we’re afraid? I, the future ruler of Cheongung, the Heavenly Marquis, am not one to flee.”
The man’s voice remained calm, unwavering.
“Wh-why…”
“Old men are timid. The elders of the palace. Very timid.”
He ground his teeth with disdain.
“The Central Plains… such a strange place. Full of peace, yet embroiled in petty fights. But when their livelihood is threatened, they unite to protect it. Hidden recluses and hermits come running like a pack of dogs.”
The warrior remained silent, listening intently.
“Because of those, no heretic or sect has ever conquered the Central Plains. That’s history.”
A strange ambition began to glow in the man’s voice.
“I don’t like the elders, but their logic holds. It makes sense to deal with them first, doesn’t it?”
With that, the man suddenly rose, laughing heartily as he walked through the blood pool.
“Hahaha. If I’m to earn money, I must earn it thoroughly. For now, I’ll lie low until I learn what the elders are hiding.”
Yet his eyes remained cold.
“To seize the Central Plains… by my hand, the Heavenly Marquis’s hand.”
Stopping in the center of the blood, he stared at his hand and murmured lowly,
“All will be done according to the Four Young Masters’ will.”
The warrior knelt in the blood, bowing deeply.
