Chapter 26 —

A long procession started to enter through the gates of Luoyang.

People watching the endless line of people and wagons couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe every time.

It was just that grand.

Because of that, the attention from the onlookers was even greater than usual.

It was like watching the emperor’s parade—people stopped walking just to watch.

“That’s the head of the Jin family.”

“And there’s Master Myeongpyo too.”

“They say this trade trip was massive—almost all the Jin family’s warriors went.”

The people whispered among themselves as they watched the line enter. Anything that happened with the Jin family was always a hot topic in Luoyang.

But the head of the Jin family, Jin Gamuk, showed no change in expression. He didn’t care about the staring eyes or the gossip.

He just kept walking with confidence.

“It’s been a while since we came home,”

A woman riding beside him spoke.

She was Chu Yakran, the first wife of Jin Gamuk and the mother of the youngest son, Jin Cheonwoo.

She approached quietly on horseback, and Jin Gamuk gave her a small nod.

“We’re a bit late. Let’s hurry. Something feels off with the family.”

“I thought the chief steward said there was nothing to worry about?”

“Exactly why I am worried.”

Jin Gamuk narrowed his eyes, remembering a letter from the steward, Yoo Hyeon. He used to report even minor things, but for the past two weeks, he hadn’t said a word except that everything was fine.

That could only mean—something had happened.

Jin Gamuk urged his horse forward, and the rest of the long line began to move faster.

Eventually, they arrived at the Jin family estate. The gates opened wide, and the long procession began to enter.

When they arrived at the main courtyard and began to unload the wagons, the guards exchanged looks and nodded.

Boom!

The gates slammed shut.

Something felt off. People looked around, confused.

Then, all around the estate, warriors appeared and drew their swords.

Even Jin Gamuk was caught off guard.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

His voice boomed with power, shaking the air despite not using internal energy. Even the warriors holding swords flinched.

At that moment—

“I ordered them to do it.”

A calm voice spoke.

Everyone turned to look.

The warriors parted to reveal a man.

No longer pale or weak—his shoulders now strong, posture upright. He stood confidently, commanding the attention of everyone.

It was the youngest son, Jin Cheonwoo.

He had a strange, knowing smile on his lips.

Later, in the office:

“Unbelievable…!”

Bang!

Jin Gamuk stormed into his office, slamming the table in anger.

His fist turned red from the blow, but even that didn’t calm his fury.

Who wouldn’t be angry?

Even among the Jin family’s elite warriors, some had turned out to be spies working for Hong Guhyeon.

Some resisted and died; others cried and begged for mercy.

They had just returned from a long journey together. The betrayal was devastating.

Jin Cheonwoo quietly watched his father. He felt a mix of emotions—relief, familiarity, even calmness.

It felt like it was only natural to be here, facing his father like this—as if the past didn’t matter anymore.

As Cheonwoo smiled bitterly, Jin Gamuk’s anger slowly faded.

He was the head of the Luoyang Jin family. A pillar that could not waver.

Even a rash decision from him could shake the whole land.

Knowing this, he took a deep breath and calmed himself.

Now he looked like the father Cheonwoo remembered.

“This kind of thing… right here in the Jin family.”

“I handled it quietly,” Cheonwoo said.

Jin Gamuk looked at him, surprised.

Even though Cheonwoo had entered Luoyang with such a large procession, not a single rumor had leaked.

It meant the entire thing had been handled perfectly.

“Well done. But… did you learn anything?”

“They’re cunning. Very organized. If they think they’ll get caught, they bite their own tongues and die. It’s not easy.”

“I see…”

Jin Gamuk thought deeply. He suspected one of the Jin family’s rivals.

But he couldn’t think of anyone specific yet.

“We are the Luoyang Jin family. For hundreds of years, we’ve controlled the flow of money in the central plains. Many have tried to bring us down, but no one has succeeded. That’s why I am still here. Do you know what that means?”

“It means the Jin family may shake—but never fall.”

“Exactly.”

Even when kingdoms fell and dynasties changed, the Jin family stood firm in Luoyang.

Of course, that confidence had once been broken.

But now, it was time to restore it.

Then, Jin Gamuk continued:

“If they planned this so carefully, they must have outside help too.”

“The steward is investigating all businesses under the name Unryong right now. We’ll find someone suspicious soon.”

“Good. You’re thinking ahead.”

Jin Gamuk seemed pleased. Cheonwoo’s plan wasn’t to just catch the traitors, but to lure out the ones behind them quietly—without alerting anyone.

If lucky, they might strike back hard.

“You handled things well while I was away. I’ll take over from here. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

Cheonwoo nodded.

As long as no information leaked, he could now focus on finding out who was really behind this.

At the very least, his father would now be on guard—he wouldn’t be easily tricked again.

For now, that was enough.

But now it was time to move on to the main point.

“There’s one more thing. I had a conflict with Hochichae.”

“Hochichae? The Green Forest bandits near Luoyang? Why?”

“It happened while I was trying to save someone.”

“You? You saved someone?”

“Yes. A doctor. A very skilled one.”

Jin Gamuk looked closely at his son.

He finally noticed that Cheonwoo, who had been sick before the trip, now looked completely healthy.

“I didn’t realize. Are you okay now?”

“Better than ever. The poison’s completely gone.”

“Poison? You were poisoned?!”

Jin Gamuk had brought in many doctors before the trip, but none mentioned poison. He thought it was just poor health.

So he was shocked by this revelation.

But Cheonwoo continued:

“It’s thanks to the doctor I saved from the Green Forest.”

“…I see. Then bring this doctor to me. I want to thank them personally.”

That was the plan anyway.

He was already making it easy for Chae Sohwa, the doctor, to join the Jin family.

“And during that, you had a fight with Hochichae?”

“Yes. I used a bit too much force.”

“Haha, are the Jin warriors okay?”

“It was just me.”

“…What?”

Even Jin Gamuk hadn’t expected Cheonwoo to face Hochichae alone.

He would soon find out, though—Cheonwoo had fought Hong Guhyeon and others. It wouldn’t stay a secret forever.

So there was no need to hide it.

“Wait… you trained in martial arts, yes—but only when you were a kid, right?”

“I’ve been training in secret. You didn’t notice because I didn’t show it.”

“…Then what happened to Hochichae?”

“I crushed them. They won’t be able to act like bandits for a while.”

“…!”

Jin Gamuk was speechless. His eyes shook with shock.

A merchant family with little history in martial arts… and yet his own son destroyed a bandit group by himself?

It was hard to believe.

“In any case, the Green Forest will make a move. Let me handle it.”

“You? Don’t tell me… you’re planning to deal with Cha Hak-sang?”

Jin Gamuk mentioned the leader of Hochichae.

But Cheonwoo shook his head.

He didn’t care about Cha Hak-sang.

Everything he’d done so far was just to get closer to Chae Sohwa.

He was aiming for two birds with one stone.

The man he had in mind must be having a lot of fun by now—things were getting interesting.

“…What are you planning?”

Cheonwoo looked up and smiled.

Then he answered.

“I plan to negotiate directly with the King of the Green Forest.”

“…!”

Jin Gamuk’s face changed instantly.