YSEM Chapter 25

At my words, my father asked,

“A secret agreement?”

“Here are the contents.”

I took out the contract I had made with Stronghold Master Jang Dae-su from my bosom and handed it to my father, who received and read it.

“…”

While reading the contract, my father widened his eyes and asked,

“Is this true?”

“Yes.”

“Are there really Snowsoul Grass, White Tiger Bell, and Snow Ginseng on O-dong Mountain?”

“That’s right.”

I took out a small paper envelope from my sleeve and held it out.

“To be certain, I brought back samples.”

Head Yeon quickly grabbed the envelope I placed on the table.

Then, she took out the herbal samples I had collected from the envelope and examined them.

Head Yeon’s hands trembled.

“It’s… it’s real… real medicinal herbs…”

Any merchant group worthy of being among the top hundred would have their own specialty items they deal with.

And currently, our merchant group’s main products are medicinal ingredients.

That’s how I was able to obtain the medicinal herbs used to treat my illness in my previous life.

The children of Eunhae Merchant Group received systematic education about medicinal ingredients from a young age.

Even so, it’s difficult to distinguish medicinal herbs without actually seeing them.

My father also found this curious and asked,

“But these medicinal herbs haven’t entered our merchant group in the past ten years, so how did you identify them?”

“If you remember what you’ve studied well, distinguishing them isn’t that difficult.”

I answered with a smile, and although my father was doubtful, he let it pass.

“But if these weren’t medicinal herbs, why did you make such a secret agreement?”

My father’s reprimand continued.

It was a reprimand I had anticipated, but I had also thought of a response to it.

“In case someone else discovers them, they might take them away, right? So I judged that it was necessary to secure priority.”

“That’s not the issue. Jang Dae-su might use this as an excuse to pressure the merchant group.”

“Ah, that’s alright too.”

“…?”

“If you look there, in the fifth line, there should be a clause stating, ‘The parties shall not blame each other for unavoidable reasons for not conducting a transaction.'”

I continued,

“I asked if it would be okay even if they might not be medicinal herbs, and he confirmed it was fine, so I included it in the contract.”

“Ah… So that’s why this clause is here.”

“Yes.”

I had included such a clause in preparation for my father’s or others’ criticisms, but the herbs on O-dong Mountain were undoubtedly medicinal herbs.

Head Yeon had just confirmed it.

“This trade was agreed to be conducted in secret. So please keep that in mind.”

“Sweeter things are prone to attract bugs.”

The reason medicinal herbs could be traded in secret was that they were medicinal herbs.

The sources of medicinal herbs and elixirs were usually kept secret, and that was something all parties involved in the trade tacitly agreed upon.

“Do you have anything else to report?”

At my father’s words, I shook my head.

“No.”

“Then you may rise from your seat. We have more matters to discuss now.”

* * *

Silver Moon Pavilion.

After Eun Seo-ho left, Eun Gil-sang chuckled.

“I thought he just had talent, but I was wrong. He’s also lucky. From his first lightly taken caravan journey, he brought back immense treasures.”

At those words, Chief of External Affairs Go Il-pyeong said,

“Of course, that’s true, but it’s not something that could have been achieved just with talent and luck. According to the report from Squad Leader Jeong-chung and his team members, the Young Master seems to be very intelligent. Of course, it was Hazelnut Oak Merchant Group’s own undoing, but the way he lured them into a trap and dealt with them shows that.”

“And he’s very daring too.”

Chamber of Commerce Circulation Head Yeon Dami chimed in.

In her hand was the sample of medicinal herbs Eun Seo-ho had collected.

“To make such a proposal to the Stronghold Master of O-dong Mountain!”

“Not shrinking back in the face of profit is the true mark of a merchant.”

Everyone nodded at Go Il-pyeong’s words.

“But I have a question.”

At that moment, Head of the Chamber of Generational Prosperity, Jeok Byeongcheol spoke up.

“Why did the Young Master make that craftsman his subordinate?”

“Isn’t it because he had no choice but to make him his subordinate since he hadn’t received permission from the Sangdan yet? It was an urgent situation that required such action.”

At Go Il-pyeong’s words, Jeok Byeongcheol continued with a smile.

“The Young Master didn’t say a single word about transferring that subordinate to the merchant group. It’s as if he intended it that way from the beginning.”

At those words, Yeon Dami chuckled.

“Our head is quite perceptive.”

“Is that so?”

At Go Il-pyeong’s words, she nodded.

“It’s as you said. That’s why I had to negotiate with the Young Master, not the craftsman.”

“It must have been tough for the Young Master too.”

Yu So-ak said.

“To negotiate with you.”

“…It was tough.”

However, Yeon Dami’s expression was strange.

“I was the one who had a hard time.”

“What?”

“He’s not ordinary. He hasn’t even learned how to negotiate. I’m certain. He’s a natural.”

“Hoho, to that extent. He’s the blessing of our Sangdan!”

“Indeed. Hohoho.”

While everyone was laughing, Jeok Byeongcheol’s eyes gleamed.

He was curious about what intention Eun Seo-ho had.

* * *

That evening.

Dong- Dong- Dong-

The bell rang ten times.

It signaled the beginning of Yusi (between 5-7 PM) and also indicated the end of the workday.

Tap.

I put down the brush and said,

“Chief of Internal Affairs. It’s time to leave work.”

At my words, he showed a regretful expression, but when I accepted the proposal to be Chief of Internal Affairs Yu’s assistant, there was a condition.

So he had no choice but to nod.

“You may leave work.”

Thanks to working hard today, the workload had decreased considerably.

I rose from my seat and said to Chief of Internal Affairs Yu,

“Chief of Internal Affairs, you should also leave work without overworking yourself. It’s good for your health.”

“I want to, but the work doesn’t decrease…”

As he said that, Chief of Internal Affairs Yu coughed awkwardly. Anyone could see that the workload had decreased significantly.

“Ahem, I see.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I bid farewell with a bow and immediately headed to my residence.

“Young Master, you’re back?”

“Yeah, I’m back.”

“But are you really coming back from work?”

At Palgap’s question, I lay down on the bed and said,

“Yeah.”

“You’ve worked hard. But Chief of Internal Affairs Yu is too much. Making you work before you’ve even recovered from the journey.”

“It’s because I’m too competent.”

Actually, working before recovering from the journey wasn’t too harsh for me.

Returning to the office and working immediately after coming back was too natural for me before I lost my life.

I just wanted to rest when I could.

Once I officially become the Sodanjju, I won’t be able to enjoy the luxury of resting after returning from a caravan journey.

There’s a saying.

Someone quit their job because they wanted to rest and opened a small store, only to find out they could rest even less.

So I’m resting in advance before becoming the Sodanjju.

Later, even if I want to rest, I won’t be able to do so freely.

“What would you like to do for dinner?”

“Shall we eat with Potter Gong’s family?”

“Then I’ll prepare it that way.”

* * *

Hearing the bell signaling Myosi (between 5-7 AM), I rose from my bed.

I did some breathing exercises and changed my clothes.

During the caravan journey, I had no choice but to train in the evening, but now that I could maintain a regular schedule, I resumed my martial arts training in the morning.

I opened the door and went out, and my master entered the front yard of my residence just in time.

“Greetings, Master.”

At my bow, my master also bowed in return.

He said such formalities weren’t necessary, but my master still showed me respect.

“Did you rest a bit yesterday after finishing the caravan journey?”

At my master’s question, I smiled bitterly.

“I worked.”

“…I see.”

My master also showed a slightly regretful expression, but only that. He firmly said,

“But it’s not good to skip or reduce training because it’s hard. People aren’t that weak. We can endure, and after enduring, we become stronger.”

“…Yes.”

It was as I expected.

“Then let’s begin the training.”

“Yes.”

The training started with running.

I ran around the yard with sandbags attached to my body.

The front yard of my residence was quite spacious, so just running around the yard made me gasp for breath.

“Huff, huff, then should I assume the horse-riding stance now?”

At my question, my master shook his head.

“No.”

“…?”

“You can train that separately at night. I think you can sufficiently train to build strength on your own now without my guidance.”

My master continued,

“From today, I will teach you swordsmanship.”

“Swordsmanship…?”

“Yes.”

My master smiled.

“You’ve built a sufficient foundation to formally learn martial arts now.”

At those words, I cheered inwardly.

It meant that the day I could openly use martial arts was not far off.

“The swordsmanship you will learn starting today is True SnowTwelve-Form Swordsmanship. This swordsmanship was created based on the properties of snow. The higher your level, the more you will realize how excellent this swordsmanship is.”

“I can tell just by the name.”

I answered with a smile.

“It seems to incorporate the heaviness and lightness of snow, the swift movement of snow in a blizzard, and the changes when snow is blown by the wind.”

At my words, my master’s eyes widened.

“Impressive. You’re right. How did you know?”

How did I know?

I learned this swordsmanship in my previous life.

“You said it was based on the properties of snow. And snow doesn’t have just one property, right?”

“You’re perceptive.”

My master showed a satisfied expression.

“Additionally, you will learn footwork together.”

“Footwork… do you mean how to walk?”

Of course, I knew what footwork was.

I had also mastered footwork in my previous life.

However, I asked as if I didn’t know because it might seem suspicious if I knew too well.

“It would be more accurate to understand it as how to move. Whether you wield a sword, a knife, or your fists, fighting means you have to move your body according to your opponent.”

“That’s right.”

“Footwork allows you to move your body efficiently. Its practical use is even greater. So you must learn footwork as an essential skill.”

“Yes.”

“The footwork I will teach you is called Traceless Footwork. This is also one of the Gajeon martial arts, and if you master it, you can walk on snow-covered ground without leaving a single footprint.”

In other words, it enables the level of leaving no traces.

The fact that no footprints are left has many uses in various aspects.

I had greatly benefited from this footwork in my previous life as well.

“First, let’s learn how to handle a sword.”

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And so, five days passed.

I sighed, looking at my palms.

My palms were covered in blisters.

It was natural.

Today, I held a wooden sword and practiced the basic stances a hundred times each.

There are a total of nine basic stances in swordsmanship.

That means I swung the sword nine hundred times.

Every single day.

Being faithful to the basics was my master’s belief and teaching philosophy.

That’s why my hands were always blistered like this.

Still, after about a month, calluses would gradually start to form.

I knew from experience.

The time when I could fully use martial arts was approaching.

However, that didn’t mean I would reveal my true skills.

I had to deceive White Heaven Merchant Group and the Murim Alliance to expand my freedom of movement.

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.

.

While working at the Chamber of Wealth Management, I received a summons and arrived at Silver Moon Pavilion, entering inside.

It seemed no one had arrived yet, as I was the only one inside.

I sat on a chair in front of the long table.

Doing this suddenly reminded me of my previous life. In those days, I sat to the left of the head seat where my older brother Jeong-ho sat.

And in this place, meetings involving tens of thousands of nyang in silver took place every day.

But…

Even though I had experienced it, it now felt like a dream.

I sighed at the fact that I had to walk the path I had taken to become one of the top three Sangdans in the world again.

Of course, those were enjoyable days.

However, running a Sangdan wasn’t just about enjoyable things.

Still, with the memories of my past life, I could go a bit faster this time.

At that moment, the door opened, and someone entered.

I quickly rose from my seat.