Chapter 35
Joy Ends, Sorrow Comes (2)
One shichen later.
“……I see.”
With a faint trace of disappointment in his voice, Kang Yong-un bid farewell to Jin Yeong-hwi and Jin Dae-un.
“It saddens me greatly to hear that you had no connection with my grandfather, but I will take my leave now.”
“Hahaha. My apologies. If it were possible, I too would have liked to share a cup of wine with your grandfather.”
So he wasn’t the previous head of the Jin Clan after all.
Well, what can I do?
He would simply have to keep searching.
“Goodbye, Elder.”
Kang Yong-un clasped his fists respectfully. He bowed deeply to show his gratitude for the frank conversation and honest answers.
“Kang Dae-hyeop—!”
Just as Kang Yong-un was about to step out, the former head of the clan, Jin Yeong-hwi, called him back hurriedly.
“Is there nothing else you desire?”
Desire?
Hm. What does he mean?
Puzzled by the unexpected question, Kang tilted his head. Jin Yeong-hwi raised his voice.
“The Jin Clan remembers debts clearly. To save Yeon-ah, who is the very future of this house, is an immense favor. Speak your wish.”
Was it money he wanted?
Or the influence of the Jin Clan?
Whatever it was, Jin Yeong-hwi looked ready to grant it, so long as it was within his clan’s power.
But—
Hm. My purse is already quite full……
The funds he had received from the mistress of Cheonhwa House were enormous. On top of that, there were the money orders from his foster mother at the Black Lotus. He hardly needed more.
Besides, my foster father is surely already looking for my grandfather and his friend through the Black Lotus network……
Even if “many hands make light work,” he had no desire to owe favors to people he barely knew.
“It’s fine, I—”
But just as he was about to decline, a memory flashed across his mind.
Didn’t Jin Jo-yeon strike far too harshly back then?
Even though their foes were bandits who had stolen caravan goods, watching it unfold had weighed heavily on Kang Yong-un’s heart.
He’s a born merchant. Changing his nature will be difficult.
And it wasn’t just Jin Jo-yeon. Surely the entire Jin Clan would act in the same way—or even harsher.
In that case……
Resolving himself, Kang spoke with a clarity born of his Heavenly Heart Art.
“Forgive my boldness, but may I say a word?”
“Speak. I’ll wash my ears to hear it.”
“There is a saying: A house that accumulates virtue will surely have abundant blessings. The Jin Clan has indeed piled up such virtue, which is why you flourish as you do today. However, when recovering the goods at Seolbongchae, I found the Young Master Jo-yeon’s hand far too merciless.”
“Far too merciless? That’s… how you saw it?”
“Yes, Elder. I do not deny the principle of making an example. But to chase down even the fleeing remnants and cut them down seemed excessive.”
“Khmm—!”
“I understand that great trading houses often face such conflicts. But if too much blood is spilled, no good can come of it. I urge you, wash away those bloodstains by saving lives instead.”
“Saving lives?”
“Yes, Elder. If you meant to gift me gold or jewels—if you have both the will and the ability to grant even an excessive request—then I ask that such wealth be used to ensure that within one hundred li of the Jin Clan, not a single person dies of hunger.”
Jin Yeong-hwi’s mouth fell open without him realizing it.
Heh—! I sought to repay a debt with gold, yet he has instead given me enlightenment?!
To ensure that none within a hundred li starve?
It was something he had never once considered.
I have only ever amassed wealth…
His only focus had been on raising the Jin Clan to the greatest of the Ten Great Trading Houses. He had clutched his riches tightly, never letting go. Generosity had never even entered his thoughts.
All I did was hoard and enjoy wealth alone… but indeed, gold used like that would have far greater worth.
A great resonance rose in his heart, coursed up his spine, and surged to the top of his head.
“That is all I ask, Elder.”
“Truly, that is enough for you?”
“Yes!”
Kang Yong-un beamed.
That radiant, pure, benevolent smile—Jin Yeong-hwi knew he would remember it forever.
“I give you my word.”
The former clan head nodded deeply.
“The Jin Clan will ensure that within a hundred li, none will ever die of hunger.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
Kang Yong-un then departed.
Gold, honor—he seemed to shine with something far brighter than either, an aura that filled his whole being.
Jin Yeong-hwi stared blankly at the retreating figure and murmured:
“Twice now, he has bestowed grace upon us……”
Why did the old proverb suddenly come to mind—that there are no beggars for three generations, and no wealthy for three generations?
“Now the Jin Clan’s wealth will endure beyond three generations—!”
He was certain of it.
If they continued to accumulate virtue by ensuring no one starved within a hundred li, then as the old saying went—Heaven’s net is vast and wide, yet none escape its weave—the heavens would surely take notice.
“Father. Did your talk go well?”
Jin Dae-un, curious about the outcome, entered just then.
“Clan Head. Send word to the Hao Sect.”
“To the Hao Sect?”
“Yes. We need to find someone—Kang Yong-un’s grandfather, and his friend.”
Jin Yeong-hwi then told his son all that had transpired, and what Kang Yong-un had left behind.
“…He gave this father enlightenment, then departed without ceremony. Twice in succession, he has granted immense favors to our Jin Clan. We must not forget him. Watch over Kang Yong-un, and seek a chance to repay him.”
“Of course, Father. For now, I’ll prioritize aiding in the search for his grandfather. We’ll mobilize not only the Hao Sect, but also the Jin Clan’s entire intelligence network.”
“Good. I leave it to you, Clan Head.”
A strange glow lit both men’s faces—a warmth of goodwill. A smile so soft and generous, anyone who saw it would feel comforted.
That afternoon.
Jin Jo-yeon struggled for a long time to understand the ache in his heart.
“Haa—! To think he left after making such a request of Grandfather.”
Only after Kang Yong-un departed did he hear the story.
The savior of his life, a mere outsider, could have asked for ten coffers of gold—but instead had only asked that no one within a hundred li should starve.
“And the reason… was because of me?”
Apparently Kang Yong-un had said so himself: that his strikes had been too merciless.
Yes, transporting valuable goods meant such conflicts would arise—but blood shed would only pile up, and eventually bring calamity.
“Now that I think of it, I had completely misunderstood his words back then.”
Suddenly he recalled the advice Kang had given at Seolbongchae.
“The goal is to recover the goods. Therefore, perhaps you should refrain from pursuing and slaughtering even those who flee.”
At the time, he had taken it to mean that recovering the goods quickly was the priority.
“But no—it was compassion he meant.”
Even bandits, if cut down without end, would leave behind blood-debts that could one day return to strike him.
“To have saved me, lifted my restriction, and even cared for my future—and I let him leave without so much as a proper farewell?!”
Shame. Overwhelming shame.
“Haa—! What should I do? I can’t focus on anything.”
Restless, Jin Jo-yeon left the clan compound. He sought out the only friend with whom he could bare such feelings: Tang So-baek of the Sichuan Tang Clan, with whom he had played as a child.
A shichen later, he found him, his body still warm from training.
“Hey—! Jo-yeon. How was your journey?”
Tang So-baek greeted him with a bright smile. Yet Jo-yeon’s face remained dark.
“Hm? Why the long face? Surely you didn’t lose the goods? Or did the deal go poorly and your father scolded you?”
Tang So-baek asked lightly.
“So-baek, the truth is……”
As if waiting for the chance, Jin Jo-yeon poured his heart out—his shame, his regret at failing to thank his benefactor properly, despite having received such grace twice over.
“Hm. Quite the unusual man. To value others above himself like that.”
“Right?!”
Hearing his friend understand his heart made Jo-yeon brighten.
Smirking, Tang So-baek offered an unexpected suggestion.
“Then just go find him. What’s the problem?”
“Huh? Find him?”
“Of course. If he weighs so heavily on your mind, then go seek him out and form a bond of brotherhood.”
“A bond of brotherhood! Y-yes, that’s right. I had thought of that myself!”
Jo-yeon’s face lit up. He would do exactly as Tang So-baek advised.
“Thank you, So-baek. You truly are my friend.”
“Thank me?!”
As Jo-yeon stood as if to depart at once, Tang So-baek also rose.
“Huh? Why are you getting up?”
“Why else? I’m coming with you, of course.”
“You’re coming?”
“Obviously. If he’s your friend, then he can be mine as well. He sounds like a fine man—why shouldn’t I seize the chance to befriend him too?”
Grinning slyly, Tang So-baek made Jo-yeon smile warmly.
“Good. Let’s go together.”
“First, let’s use the Jin Clan’s intelligence network to find out where he is now.”
“Ah! Right. Then let’s head to the Jin Clan first. We can learn his whereabouts there before setting out.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
And so, the two set off toward the Jin Clan.
Having left the Jin Clan, Kang Yong-un turned north.
Once he was out of the capital and in less-traveled lands, the aura in his heart shone forth. He called out to the gathered presences of the heavens.
“I’ve finished my urgent matters. Elder Wang Chong-yang, you said Shanyang County near Zhongnan Mountain, correct? I’ll head there first, as promised.”
The response was passionate.
[Ohoho, thank you, child. That you would resolve the last lingering regret I carried even into the afterlife—thank you, thank you.]
Though they had only just set out, Wang Chong-yang’s voice was already aflame with emotion.
[Child. Since you’re heading north anyway, could you not swing a little toward Hubei? Wudang Mountain is so very close…]
[Ahem. My good—no, foolish boy. If you do stop by Wudang, then while you’re at it, perhaps also Yungzhong……]
Zhang Sanfeng and Zhuge Liang tried slyly to cut the line.
Kang Yong-un was firm.
“Please wait your turn, Elders. Didn’t I already ask you to decide an order among yourselves?”
Hadn’t they still not sorted that out?
He wasn’t going to change it for them.
At his resolute reply came a few groans of complaint—but nothing more. Whether resigned or finally negotiating among themselves, they fell quiet.
Then—
[Child. There is an old saying: When joy is exhausted, sorrow follows. Do you know its meaning?]
“Joy eventually gives way to sorrow—that is, the rise and fall of fortune. That’s how I understand it.”
Kang answered readily, tilting his head in curiosity.
Why ask that now?
[At times, misfortune may befall even the good, child.]
[But do not worry too much. No matter how great the misfortune, for one who walks the right path, it will pass like the wind.]
Their words grew increasingly ominous.
Why are they saying such things…?
A faint unease stirred in Kang Yong-un’s chest.
