chapter 13
3. Magic Merchant (2)
Yuran tapped the desk with his fingers like corn.
A calm pause to organize your thoughts. At the end, Yuran opened her mouth.
“You’ve been acting like a tongue in your mouth lately and have gained my favor… “I don’t think I ever ordered you to be my advisor.”
A word that reminds us that Siwoo’s current actions are clearly an act of overstepping his authority. This was also an attempt to calm down the second-rate warriors on the left and right.
However, there is nothing in that statement to say that opinions will not be heard. There is a hidden intention that the language will not be abolished.
Siwoo noticed this and bowed deeply.
“Yes. However, since it was an important matter that depended on the fate of the country, I leaned on the magnanimity of the country with a feeling of relief. “The person who spoke outside of his authority without going through the necessary procedures will definitely pay for his actions later, so I ask you to listen to the person’s advice even if you do not accept it.”
When Si-woo bowed too low and entered, even the second-rate warriors did not have an issue.
This is possible because Yuran listens carefully to the opinions of third-rate military personnel when managing his country. Although the route of travel is an area in which third-rate warriors cannot be involved, it was thought that it was okay to just listen.
“Okay, tell me. “Did you say we had to change our path?”
“Yes, it is.”
Siwoo straightened his back. He was unusually tall compared to the average of this era, making second-class warriors look up at him. Intended intimidation. A faint smile appeared on Yu-ran’s lips as he looked at Si-woo.
Siwoo continued the discussion in the chat room and began his prepared speech.
“Pyo Guk-ju would have wanted to use the symbolism of Taesan to travel safely. “Taishan is a place where many emperors throughout the history of the Central Plains held ceremonies, and as it is the cultural center of the Central Plains, it is a place that the government always keeps an eye on.”
The Bongseon ceremony, which began with Qin Shi Huang, is a ritual where emperors who left behind great achievements announced to heaven that they had conquered the world. And the place where the ceremony takes place is Taesan.
In other words, Taishan is not simply one of the five mountains or a famous mountain. It is the main axis of the Heavenly Order centered on the central plain and the mountain on which the legitimacy of the nation depends.
Therefore, Taesan does not dare to touch the green forest. Yuran also planned to use this.
However.
“But if you’re planning to use it as a hideout to avoid being chased by the Jinju people, and if you’re planning on turning all witnesses into jiangshi and killing them… All these restrictions become useless. Rather, it becomes a good hiding place that catches the pursuers off guard.”
Of course, not everything can be solved by eliminating murder. In the original work, wasn’t he eventually discovered by Ha Jin-yang and died miserably by the main character?
However, this was possible because Ha Jin-yang’s abilities were outside the standard. If you intend to stay for a while until you can outrun Jinju Eonga, as originally intended, it will be more difficult to get caught. Although Taishan is not a very high mountain, there is at least a place for one person to hide.
“Recently, in the Jinju family, the fight over the position of successor has reached the extreme. This is all the more true because Jinjueonga is a Sega that is close to the Sapa, originally dealing with martial arts and Kangsik techniques. Some of the more aggressive factions have long since been disciplined for fighting with other factions, and the two sons at the center of the rivalry are said to have suffered numerous assassination attempts. And in a few days, the successor will be officially decided.”
Jinju Eon’s successor, GuThis is something that Yuran also knows. Shanxi, where Jinju Village is located, is right next to Shandong, so I couldn’t have known about it.
However, because the previous story was something he had not had in mind at all, Yuran’s smile became brighter.
“Does this mean that whoever is eliminated in the succession competition can escape to Mount Tai?”
“That’s right.”
“Is there any reason to leave the Taihang Mountains and come all the way to Taishan?”
The Taihang Mountains are a mountain range that separates Shanxi and Shandong. It is a huge mountainous area that extends 1,000 ri (400 km) from north to south and about 375 ri (150 km) from east to west. In general, it is a refuge frequently visited by criminals from Shanxi and Shandong.
However, when it comes to Jinju Eonga, it is a different story.
“The Taihang Mountains are an area of green forests.”
“Yes.”
“You probably know that Nokrim has colluded with several companies. In particular, the Taehang Mountains are an area that is no different from Jinju Village’s front yard.”
The smile on Yuran’s lips deepened.
In proportion to that smile, her rebuttal became sharper.
“Then, on the other hand, wouldn’t it be possible to escape to a place other than Shandong?”
“There are a total of three provinces in the central plains that directly border Shanxi. But these three cannot be a refuge. There are the Jongnan Sect and Hwasan Sect in Shaanxi, the Shaolin Temple in Henan, and the Peng Family in Hebei. “There is no way they can leave the Jinju clan alone, which is why Shandong, which has no steadfast guardian, is their only refuge.”
“What if we go all the way north and cross over to Saeoe?”
“Not only is it unlikely that a child from a prestigious family will come up with the idea of escaping from the central plains, but the road from Jinju Eon’s headquarters to Sae-eop is very long and difficult. “If you make a rational escape plan, it is an option that you have no choice but to rule out.”
“What if we continue to march east from Shandong and smuggle in, or go down to Jiangxi and Zhejiang?”
“There is no choice but to be caught by the pursuer before then.”
Yuran nodded her head in satisfaction. This is solid, flawless logic. Would she really say that she was the one he had his eye on?
But there is a fundamental error.
“Your concerns are correct. However, this is not a reason to change the path of the journey. If they were conscious of their pursuers, wouldn’t they naturally try to avoid encountering us? Moreover, we are a representative nation. If it does not match the original travel schedule, the person who signed the contract will have doubts and investigate, but they will be wary of this and will try to avoid it rather than harm the country. Also.”
Yu-ran unfolded the map that was rolled up in the corner of the desk and showed it to Si-woo.
Although it was not precise, it was close to the best map that could be produced in this era.
There were a total of three squiggly lines drawn on the map.
“The two routes, excluding the original travel route, take seven days and nights longer, and you may encounter bandits. This means that the risks and losses are high to change the course based on that slight possibility. Moreover, both of the candidates for successor to the Jinjueon family have not yet moved beyond the status of second-rate warriors, so we can easily overcome that with our military forces.”
Siwoo swallowed dryly at the expected rebuttal.
From here on, it is a matter of trust rather than rationality. A negotiation decided by the trust Siwoo has built over 99 days. That’s why he wasn’t sure about persuasion.
But now it’s something that can’t be bitten.
Siwoo calmly opened his mouth.
“Pyo Guk-ju will not want to encounter the fugitive and us, and even if he does, the negotiations will be difficult.”He said there is room and that even if negotiations fail, we can overcome it. But all three are wrong.”
“The reason is?”
“It’s because of the tonghonbu (通魂符), a family tradition passed down from generation to generation in Jinju.”
“Intermarriage…”
Yu-ran rested her chin and looked at Si-woo, as if interested.
A gaze that began to contain more questions than interest.
Siwoo ignored it and continued talking.
“Yes. The tonghonbu is a talisman that assists and strengthens necromancy, and is a treasure passed down only to the head of the family. The competition for the successor of the Jinju Eon family is also a competition to occupy this intermarriage department. “This is also the reason why Jinju Eonga can still command power as a member of the Murim family even though it has not produced a peak expert for a long time.”
“Um, yeah. “I understand what you mean.”
Yuran nodded her head.
And Siwoo continued to say what he couldn’t say.
“Okay. When a successor is chosen and one’s own power is disintegrated, it is natural to run away, and it would be better to take one or two of the family’s treasures while running away. “If it helps with escape or has great symbolism, it will kill two birds with one stone.”
“Exactly. Moreover, both successors are second-rate warriors, but this is only in the martial arts section. “Kangsi-sul is a sorcery, and its power can change depending on external factors.”
“How useful is intermarriage?”
“If a successor uses it, it will be comparable to that of a first-class expert.”
“First-class expert…”
Yuran repeated heavily. It had to be that way. Because top-notch masters are rare and powerful warriors.
Moreover, Yu-ran had met top-notch experts several times while working at Haga Sangdan. It was bound to be something that touched my skin more than Siwoo.
“Okay… Even if your original purpose was to run away, once you have that much power, you might want to get revenge. In order to build up the strength to fight against Jinju, they will not hesitate to attack passers-by and turn them into jiangshi. It will be difficult for a son of a famous family to lead a wild life in the mountains, so they will often visit nearby villages. To do so, they will need wealth. They will kill and rob anyone who passes by…”
Worry began to pile up above Yuran’s mutterings.
If what Siwoo said was true, heading near Mount Taesan itself was tantamount to suicide.
In any case, if Siwoo’s words are true.
“But the most important problem still remains. How on earth did you find that information? No, is it true in the first place?”
The story related to the intermarriage department is something that even Yu-ran does not know. It means that it is a secret that few people even within Jinju Eon know. However, it makes no sense for a third-rate warrior to know that fact.
Yu-ran was not easy enough to ignore what he said because it was plausible. When Yu-ran asked about the source of the information, Si-woo spoke as if he was saying something difficult.
“… When I first came to this country, I was often misunderstood as the son of a high-ranking family. Although Pyo Guk-ju did not express it, I think he must have thought that way.”
“It still is. At first, my skin was as white as a ghost, and my skin is still white enough now. Moreover, since the skin is clean, it must have been taken care of by several people, and the kidneys…”
Yu-ran, who was trying to say something, froze. Because I was embarrassed to praise Namjeong’s appearance in detail. However, Siwoo was nervous.I continued speaking without noticing.
“Yes. Actually, the misunderstanding is not a misunderstanding. “I am the son of a prestigious family.”
And the instrumental space that follows.
Siwoo paused for a moment and spoke as if he were lamenting.
“Is it so. There was a time when people enjoyed luxuries that even the emperor could not enjoy. The days of wearing clothes that even the government’s tailors could not make, eating food that even the government’s chefs could not make, and learning knowledge that even the government’s scholars did not know…”
Siwoo tilted his head up and looked up at the ceiling.
His gaze was on the night sky above the ceiling. I was counting the countless constellations.
Yu-ran did not see a single lie in Si-woo’s lament.
“I gained a lot of knowledge during those years. Part of the knowledge is that Pyo Guk-ju’s father is Hagasangdanju and about Tonghonbu. “
As the secret that had been thoroughly hidden was revealed so easily, Yuran’s complexion hardened slightly.
But Yuran was more than happy. This means that the reliability of information about intermarriage couples is that high.
If that information is true, Siwoo saved Pyo Guk once. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a debt of life.
After pondering for a long time, Yuran finally nodded his head.
“That’s a valid opinion. “I will listen to your request.”
“Pyo Guk-ju’s grace is like the sea… “
“However.”
Siwoo’s body, which was about to bow, froze at that one word. Above him, Yuran spoke clearly.
“If what you say is wrong. If there is no one in Taishan. So, if it only causes damage to the country… How will we take responsibility?”
Responsibility.
Siwoo thought about those cruel words for a moment, then bowed to Yuran. He didn’t care at all that Yuran was younger than him.
“No matter what, I will make up for the loss of Pyoguk with my own body.”
“The body is not enough.”
Yuran said coldly.
“Be prepared to sacrifice your life, understand?”
“I will keep each bone in my mind.”
“Good. “You can go out.”
Siwoo bowed politely and left the office.
After Siwoo left, Yuran stretched out and smiled brightly.
“Phew… Good. From now on, I will have to pray to the gods of heaven and earth that nothing happens on Mount Tai.”
“Wouldn’t that mean you would only suffer losses?”
To the question of the second warrior standing next to him, Yuran answered by pressing his nose.
“Minimizing risk is a manager’s virtue. Regardless of whether the Jinjuan family’s children come to Taishan or not, the mere possibility of that is enough reason to rule out the route. And if Taesan decides to go another route, whatever happens to Taesan, it has nothing to do with the interests of the merchant, so wouldn’t it be more reasonable to impose a debt on that man? “If you could get a man of that size for just fourteen days and nights worth of food, wouldn’t you be Hongbok?”
Hearing her words flow like a stream of clear water, the second warrior bowed his head humbly. She thought that Si-Woo was much better suited as a staff member than she was.
Yuran’s satisfied nod filled her office with warmth.
*
“I did it! Did it! “I did it!!”
Siwoo was happy in the yard. Waves of joy tremble throughout my body.It was fluttering.
It was natural for her to be unable to hide her excitement as the issue she had been worried about since she first entered Pyoguk had finally been resolved.
In order to share this joy with everyone, Siwoo quickly logged into the chat room.
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-Seonhyeop Siwoo: (Video)
– Seonhyeop Siwoo: Persuasion was successful!!!
-Seonhyeop Siwoo: Okay, f*ck, this is s*xual intercourse.
-Urban Siwoo: s*x site ㅇㅈㄹㅋㅋ That bastard stopped using English for a few days and went crazy.
-Hwasul Siwoo: ㅊㅊㅊㅊㅊㅊ Even I am proud.
– Seonhyeop Siwoo: Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I would have gotten stuck in the middle and given up.
-Hwasul Si-woo: The hard discussion was rewarding.
-Akashiu: What were you going to do if persuasion didn’t work?
-Seonhyeop Siwoo: Then he must have run away… Anyway, I did it and it’s over now.
– Seonhyeop Siwoo: Are you trying to persuade Jo Yujin? Jo Yoo-jin said she has been avoiding you since she was revealed to be a possessor.
-Akashiu: ㄴㄴ Why did I talk to that b*tch lol?
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Siwoo returned to the dorm in a happy mood.
Perhaps he wasn’t asleep yet, but he heard Doyeop’s thin voice in the darkness.
“Brother Siwoo. What have you been doing? … ?”
It was an uneasy voice, but Siwoo, who was drunk with joy, answered without making a big deal of it.
“To Pyo Guk-ju’s office. “I have something to say.”
“What to say? “What on earth did you say this night?”
Despite Do-yeop’s urging, Si-woo’s tone was calm.
“A request to change the travel route.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Doyeop calm down after the misunderstanding was resolved.
“So Pyo Guk-ju listened to what I said?”
“Uh. “It will probably be announced tomorrow that the route has changed.”
Siwoo smiled and lay down next to Doyeop.
Doyeop’s cheeks turned red, but the darkness covered it up.
On a night when the stars dimly illuminated each other’s shapes, small horses followed one another.
“But why did you decide to change the route?”
“Because the original travel route was dangerous. “If we had gone that way, the country would have been completely destroyed.”
“Her… “Then Siwoo saved my life.”
“Why so much? “I just did it because I wanted to live.”
“Even so, it is true that I saved it. Not just me, but the entire country…”
“It’s not wrong, but… But don’t take it too seriously.”
“Okay… How on earth did Pyo Guk-ju convince him? That person probably didn’t believe in quite a few things…”
“There is a way.”
“Then… “
The conversation continued under the moonlight.
The conversation continued so precariously that it seemed as if it would never stop, until Doyeop dozed off.
And the next day. With the announcement that the route had been changed, the journey began.