WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 223: The Invited Uninvited Guest
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The war between the Martial Alliance and the Blood Cult in Sichuan dragged on far longer than expected. Then drought struck Shanxi Province, Hebei, Henan Province, and Shaanxi Province, causing famine and slowing the economy across the martial world.
Escort agencies and merchant groups that had conducted business nationwide could no longer endure the losses brought on by the downturn and began withdrawing their branches.
Those who had worked at those branches were left with nothing to do during an already difficult time.
Amid all this, one merchant group in Anhui Province posted recruitment notices every day, taking in those who had been left idle.
It was the Great Heaven Merchant Group, operated by the Taeul Sect.
The Great Heaven Merchant Group had always operated conservatively. Now, by distributing the rice and grain it had stockpiled in its enormous warehouses throughout Jiangbei and Jiangxi, it entered an unexpected golden age. No matter how many people it hired, there were never enough hands.
Even local rice merchants, known for their exclusivity, welcomed the Great Heaven Merchant Group's expansion with open arms because its warehouses were overflowing with grain.
Whenever a new branch opened, the volume of goods in circulation increased alongside it. Rice merchants, famous for never leaving their seats, even began visiting Anhui Province in person.
Of course, Jin Taesan, who had spent his entire life as the Taeul Sect's Outer Hall Lord, had not stockpiled grain through some remarkable prediction.
It was simply because Jin Sowoon, who had wrested the Changgung Merchant Group away from the Namgung Clan, wanted the merchant group run conservatively.
Building warehouses and filling them with goods and assets out of their already limited funds did little for profits, but Wang Geumsan, who advised them, had actually welcomed Jin Sowoon's policy.
Wang Geumsan moved his brush as he gazed at Jin Taesan.
“You really are fortunate. Thanks to your excellent son, you're handling this much money.”
While other merchant groups suspended business and hunkered down to wait out the downturn, Jin Taesan had become the very image of a panda, working without pause.
“I could say the same about you, Lord Wang. Thanks to your clever daughter, aren't you handling even more money than I am?”
Jin Taesan's office, once so crowded with paperwork that there had barely been room to step, had become a bustling workplace filled with people coming and going.
At the desk beside him, Wang Geumsan was also working like a panda.
Wang Geumsan frowned deeply.
“How is this because of my daughter? It's all because of your damned son.”
“Hah! You've finally called my son, whom you doted on so much, ‘damned.’”
After receiving distribution rights from the Martial Alliance's Anhui branch, the Great Heaven Merchant Group had shared the volume of goods it could not handle alone with the Wang Family Estate.
Their already close relationship grew even closer. Wang Geumsan had bought up every available plot around the Great Heaven Merchant Group and built a shared office.
Then a series of disasters disrupted the movement of supplies in neighboring provinces. The Great Heaven Merchant Group and the Wang Family Estate, which had originally handled only the Martial Alliance's Anhui region, expanded their network through Henan Province, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.
No matter how many people they hired, there were never enough hands. No matter how much they worked, there was no end to it.
“Ah! How about this? I'll give you all the rights to the facilities we invested in together. In return, give us only ten percent of the profits.”
It was a proposal that would mean accepting enormous losses compared to the profits from distribution across Anhui Province, but Jin Taesan firmly shook his head.
“The Great Heaven Merchant Group does not suck the blood of others.”
“Damn it! Show some ambition! You're still young!”
“You aren't that old either, Lord Wang!”
The Wang Family Estate had faltered after cutting off trade with Mount Hua Sect and Mount Cang Sect. Yet after opening a new western distribution network, it had recovered its former prosperity.
Through trade with the Martial Alliance and grain distribution, it had grown influential across all of Jiangnan and Jiangbei.
At this rate, in a few years, it might be called not one of the three greatest merchant groups under heaven, but the greatest merchant group under heaven.
Yet there was no joy on Wang Geumsan's face. Instead, it was clouded with gloom.
“This isn't the life I wanted in my old age!”
“As men, shouldn't we all possess the grand ambition to conquer the world in the one life we're given?”
“I was made to spend my days quietly watching my grandchildren!”
Jin Taesan raised his voice in response.
“Do you think I'm any different? Why must a born martial artist like me be processing documents all day?”
“Hmph! I've heard plenty about how you never showed any talent for martial arts.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?! I am the father of Jin Sowoon, whose name now resounds throughout the world! Do you think a tiger could be born from a dog?”
The two heads of the Great Heaven Merchant Group and the Wang Family Estate shouted as they argued, but the employees around them only shook their heads. No one tried to stop them.
They only watched closely to see whether the two men stopped moving their brushes.
The moment either of them did, everyone else's overtime would be guaranteed.
After venting their frustrations for a long while, the two soon ran out of steam and lowered their voices.
“Your son went to Shanxi Province this time, didn't he?”
“Why are you suddenly distancing yourself? You usually call him ‘our Sowoon.’”
Jin Taesan snorted but still answered.
“I heard he's gone as part of the Martial Alliance delegation.”
“Does it make any sense for an Academy student to be included in a delegation?”
“When has that brat ever acted within the bounds of common sense?”
Wang Geumsan stroked his chin.
“Hmm... If he's going because of the rumors that he's close to the Black Path, there could be trouble.”
Jin Taesan's brush stopped cold.
“Why?”
No matter how much a father might resent his child, a child was still a child.
Wang Geumsan cleared his throat and whispered.
“Keep your brush moving. The other employees are looking this way. In any case, that's how politics work. Even the smallest flaw gets blown out of proportion.”
“Hmm... Are you saying that brat's path to success could be blocked?”
“It might be slowed down.”
“That's good, then.”
“What?”
This time, Wang Geumsan's brush stopped.
It was a shocking thing to hear from a father who should have wanted nothing more than his son's wealth and glory.
Jin Taesan shrugged casually.
“If his rise is halted, my work will decrease too.”
“...”
“And I never intended to grow the merchant group so large in the first place. As long as the people of the Taeul Sect don't go hungry, that's enough.”
He said that, but Wang Geumsan knew.
Jin Taesan worried about Jin Sowoon more than anyone.
Even now, after hearing that something might happen to Jin Sowoon, the face that had already looked like a panda had darkened like a brown bear.
Wang Geumsan gave him a warm look and offered comfort.
“Don't worry. He's a clever boy. He'll get through it.”
“...”
Perhaps Wang Geumsan's comfort had helped.
Jin Taesan, who had been hunched over like a criminal, lifted his head.
“Start moving your brush again. Stop trying to slack off.”
“...”
#
In truth, I didn't care much about what people said about me.
In my previous life, no matter what I did, people never even talked about me.
I once pissed myself during a battle, and even that never became a controversy.
Even so, I didn't like how my reputation in this life kept getting stained by the Black Path.
I already disliked my epithet enough, yet all these ridiculous rumors about me being the Joint Successor of the Black Path Alliance kept attracting lunatics.
I'm someone with a kind heart, closer to the orthodox factions than anyone else!
Just look at me now.
Wasn't I the only one looking after the trembling horse handlers?
Ever since we entered Gakmun Stronghold's territory, their anxiety had visibly grown.
“I heard Gakmun Stronghold is the most vicious in Shanxi Province.”
“Not only that. Apparently, it has the most men too.”
“Phew... If I'd known this would happen, I would've left a will behind.”
Every trading journey carried risk, but they had never faced much danger or pressure before. Naturally, they were terrified.
I comforted them.
“You don't need to worry too much.”
“Yes?”
They looked at me with wide, innocent eyes, and I even gave them a gentle smile.
Where else could you find someone from the Black Path with kindness written all over his face?
“If a fight breaks out, stay as close to me as possible. Then you won't die or suffer serious injuries.”
“...”
Though they were still trembling, the horse handlers nodded earnestly.
Then Blood Brawl, who had been tilting his head beside me, asked, “Why are you going out of your way to look after them?”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren't they just horse handlers? I heard you met them for the first time on this escort work.”
Hah. Of course a Black Path scoundrel with a dark heart wouldn't understand.
I answered with a benevolent expression.
“A chivalrous hero upholds justice wherever he goes.”
“...A chivalrous hero?”
Was this man picking a fight with me?
If he kept this up, even I had limits to how much I could tolerate, Blood Brawl or not.
“I've heard more than one or two rumors about you. When someone has that many rumors surrounding them, there are only two possibilities. Either some of them are true, or they're exaggerated.”
“Why leave out the possibility that all of them are lies?”
“There's no smoke without fire.”
There is, though!
I was living proof.
“Then let me ask you something. Why did you suggest taking this route? Did you want to fight Gakmun Stronghold?”
“Fight those fools? What fun would that be?”
“Then why choose a road where casualties are inevitable?”
Blood Brawl narrowed his eyes.
“I wanted to see how you and the delegation would respond.”
“What the fuck did you just say?”
“...Did you just curse?”
What he said had been so absurd that my true feelings slipped out.
“I'm sorry. It just came out... but is that really the only reason?”
“What other reason would there be to take this road?”
“...”
Blood Brawl looked genuinely curious.
I had plenty to say, but talking to a lunatic would only give me a bigger headache.
So I shut my mouth.
Gakmun Stronghold would be appearing soon anyway.
The road leading up the mountainside began narrowing strangely.
The escort warriors, who had traveled on both sides of the carriages as if guarding them, had no choice but to move to the front and rear. The caravan naturally stretched out.
With the road made this narrow, it was easy to attack from the high ravines on either side.
Most Green Forest strongholds used this method when collecting tolls.
No one gave a signal, but everyone knew the Green Forest bandits would soon appear.
I adjusted my grip on my sword and checked the horse handlers' positions.
After we walked a little farther...
“Waaaaah!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Waaaaah!”
The mountain ridges shook with shouts that echoed from every direction.
At the same time, crowds filled the heights of the ravines, as well as the road ahead and behind us.
Normally, only a few Green Forest bandits blocked a road to collect tolls. They seemed to have gathered everyone because they knew we were martial artists.
Or perhaps they knew we were a Martial Alliance delegation.
“Greetings. The Sangbang Escort Agency pays its respects to the Mountain Lord.”
“Welcome. I am Son Hobang of Gakmun Stronghold.”
Normally, after this exchange, the escort warrior would hand over the toll and the Green Forest bandits would open the road. When the escort warrior did not move, Son Hobang's brow furrowed.
“Do you not intend to pass through?”
“Well...”
The escort warrior glanced at Ak Byeongbi.
Ak Byeongbi stepped forward.
“Listen, Green Forest bandits! We are a Martial Alliance delegation carrying out Alliance business. Open the road.”
“The Martial Alliance?”
“A delegation?”
Whispers spread through the Green Forest bandits at Ak Byeongbi's words.
“Hah! Green Forest bandits...”
Yet unlike the ordinary bandits, who were visibly flustered, Son Hobang, their representative, did not seem concerned.
If anything, they looked displeased that Ak Byeongbi had not addressed them as Mountain Lords.
Son Hobang took a step forward and growled.
“So what if you're the Martial Alliance?”
“What did you say?”
“This is Gakmun Stronghold's mountain. If you want to pass, pay.”
Ak Byeongbi did not back down.
“Do you dare call a mountain you occupy illegally your own property?”
“Then leave your belongings behind.”
Clang.
As if there was nothing more to discuss, Son Hobang drew their saber. The bandits spread throughout the ravine began raising their weapons one after another.
The delegation members also began preparing for battle.
The Flame Ghost Consort and Blood Brawl, who had been watching with interest to see what the delegation would do, gradually circulated their internal energy.
Ak Byeongbi gave a low warning.
“If you don't step aside, much blood will be spilled.”
“We'll see whose blood is spilled. Men!”
The moment Son Hobang shouted, boulders began falling behind the caravan.
The tumbling boulders quickly blocked our retreat, turning us into rats trapped in a jar.
‘This could be harder than I expected.’
The ravines were too high, and there were more bandits than I had thought.
At this rate, someone might be killed or injured by a stray weapon.
‘Damn it...’
Tension crackled through the air.
Anyone could see that a clash was about to break out.
I quickly climbed onto a carriage and took up position.
I had to protect the horse handlers instead of dealing with the Green Forest bandits.
As if signaling the beginning of battle, Son Hobang raised their hand high.
“Gakmun Stronghold, those bastards...!”
Yet they suddenly stopped speaking.
The Green Forest bandits, who had been ready to rush forward, flinched one by one and froze in place.
‘What?’
Even after we revealed the Martial Alliance's name, Son Hobang had seemed determined to fight. Yet I had the strange feeling they were looking at me.
“...You there!”
Son Hobang pointed in my direction.
Were they calling me?
Before I could wonder for long, they asked, “...Are you the Black Flame Dragon?”
They had called me by that damned epithet.
Damn it. Why was that epithet coming up here too?
When I nodded with an uneasy expression, Son Hobang's face stiffened.
“You truly are the Black Flame Dragon, the Stronghold Lord of Black Dragon Stronghold and Flower-Strict Stronghold?”
Why the fuck was this coming up now?
The delegation, Blood Brawl, and his group, who had been preparing for battle with tense expressions until moments ago, all stared at me in disbelief.
I tried my best to ignore the eyes fixed on me.
“I thought someone who subdued Flower-Strict Stronghold would be older, but you're even younger than I expected...”
No, it's a misunderstanding.
Son Hobang carefully asked, “By any chance, have you come to issue a Mountain King Challenge?”
“I haven't. I only happened to pass through here.”
“Is that so...?”
Son Hobang turned their head to one side and moved their lips.
Then they nodded and said, “We can't collect a toll from a fellow Green Forest comrade. Open the road!”
I'm not one of you!
We're not allies, so hurry up and start the fight!
Contrary to my wishes, the Green Forest bandits holding their weapons at the ready began putting them away one by one.
Soon, Son Hobang and the others blocking the road stepped aside and opened a path.
Then Son Hobang said to me, “Tell Green Dragon that we have been following with great interest the rumors of Green Dragon pursuing the Battle King's Path in Jiangnan. Gakmun Stronghold is always prepared to accept a challenge.”
“...”
Gakmun Stronghold truly did nothing until our caravan passed through.
Some of them even waved after we went by.
We passed through Gakmun Stronghold peacefully, without a battle or even a toll, but the caravan's atmosphere became even more awkward.
Blood Brawl's voice cut through the silence.
“...A chiiivalrous hero? What kind of chivalrous hero owns two strongholds?”
For the first time, Blood Brawl spoke with an utterly dumbfounded expression.
“...”
Even at Blood Brawl's mockery, I had nothing to say.
More precisely, Ak Byeongbi's stare had become so sharp and painful that I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth.
Damn it.
I hadn't been caught in Sichuan, only to get caught in Shanxi Province.
Then a bright voice, completely out of place with the mood, rang out.
“Oh! So you're a bandit chief? Does that mean I can become a bandit chief too?”
Until the day before, Dang Seohui had been obsessed with playing chivalrous hero. Now her future dream had somehow changed to becoming a bandit chief.
“...No. It doesn't work like that.”
“I'm curious. How did you become a Stronghold Lord?”
I don't know. One day, I just found myself a Stronghold Lord... Really.
Footnotes:
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