Chapter 17: If Necessary (2)

If Necessary (2)

Clutching the letter to my chest, I came out to the marketplace with Mu-yeon.

I walked the same street as last time, but it wasn’t to the point where I was gasping for breath like before.

I could feel myself gradually improving, just from a bit of training.

‘It’s weird that I almost died just from walking that much.’

With a soft chuckle, I passed through the alleyway.

Walking a bit further, I saw the shabby building I’d seen last time. It was the Hao Mun’s Shanxi branch, where I’d gone before.

The difference upon arrival compared to last time was that the disciples, who had acted like a rowdy bunch before, were now wearing the same disciple robes as the branch chief and greeted me.

As I approached the building, someone greeted me.

“Welcome, Young Master Gu.”

“What the? You’re dressed neatly this time.”

“I apologize for last time.”

It was the same man who had cursed me out before. Tying up his messy hair and putting on neat clothes made him look like a different person.

“That doesn’t matter, but where should I go? Should I head underground like last time?”

“There’s no need for that, Young Master.”

Following the voice, I looked up and saw Branch Chief Do Un-chu slowly descending the stairs.

“It’s different this time, appearing right away.”

“How could I dare do otherwise to a valued customer? I must appear promptly.”

“So you’re saying I wasn’t a customer before?”

Do Un-chu simply laughed at the pointless quibble. I didn’t say anything further.

I could have said more if I’d wanted to, but from my perspective, I wanted to finish the business quickly and return, so getting straight to the point was the priority.

I followed Do Un-chu up to the second floor. Unlike the shabby building with its dusty first floor, the second floor was quite neat.

As soon as I sat down, a Hao Mun disciple brought me tea, but Mu-yeon stopped him.

It meant he didn’t trust them.

When the disciple showed a displeased expression at Mu-yeon’s action, Do Un-chu pointed it out.

“Control your expression properly, you’re in front of an important customer.”

It was a chilling voice.

“…”I apologize. Branch Chief-nim.”

“Make your apology to the Young Master, not me.”

“I apologize. Young Master.”

I waved my hand dismissively, signaling it was fine, and fixed my gaze on Do Un-chu.

‘This is annoying….’

Anyway, all the actions they were taking now were pointless theatrics.

They must have known beforehand that Mu-yeon would act like this.

And that Do Un-chu would immediately stop him and point out the disciple’s mistake.

I knew correcting the disciple’s slip-up properly was all part of the act.

Whether they were trying to show they were being respectful to me, or trying to gain the upper hand in the conversation, it was an annoying and bothersome act from my perspective.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to show me, but you’re just wasting my precious time, so let’s get to the point, Branch Chief?”

I refuse pointless drama.

Do Un-chu paused at my words, laced with irritation. His slitted eyes made it hard to read his expression, but I figured the message got across.

Do Un-chu soon let out a sigh.

“…”I’m not sure where we should even begin correcting the information we have on you, Young Master.”

“As I said last time, the information you have is likely correct, so you don’t need to try and change it.”

Do Un-chu took a quiet sip of the tea placed before him, and only then did he get to the main point.

“Regarding the request you mentioned, Young Master, if we resolve it, how much information will you provide us?”

“How much? You’re not asking for everything?”

“We are people who buy and sell information. We know the value of the information you possess better than anyone.”

The whereabouts of the person whom Hao Mun’s important members had searched far and wide for, unable to find.

Currently, it’s a situation where I can monopolize such information.

Naturally, I had no intention of spilling this information all at once.

The recapture of the Hao Mun Leader is something that happens several years later.

Of course, the Hao Mun Leader dies during the operation, but based on the information alone, it means he would live for at least a few more years.

Do Un-chu wouldn’t know that, of course, so it must be a very urgent situation.

‘I don’t know what relationship Do Un-chu has with the Hao Mun Leader, but if Do Un-chu becomes the next leader according to past information, wouldn’t that mean they have a deeply intertwined connection?’

If not, there would be no need to lead the recapture operation.

Yet, even in such a situation, Do Un-chu isn’t showing any signs of urgency or impatience towards me.

Whether he’s thoroughly hiding it, or simply judged it necessary as information, I can’t know that much.

To be precise, I didn’t need to know.

Regardless of Do Un-chu’s relationship with the Hao Mun Leader or what he might be thinking, it wasn’t a problem.

If it were an important relationship, perhaps.

I would have to use that, too.

‘If necessary, that is….’

“In the first place, Branch Chief, do you even believe what I’m saying?”

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t believe a brat who hasn’t even reached adulthood showing up out of the blue like this.

Do Un-chu laughed at my question.

“Such doubts are only permissible for those who can distinguish between fire and water.”

These were words I had said last time.

“…”Well then, I’ll tell you everything you need to know regarding the information, so don’t worry.”

“Understood.”

At my answer, Do Un-chu didn’t say anything further. He merely added the necessary clarifications.

“We estimate the commission period to be about a month. It could be finished faster if things go smoothly, but it likely won’t take longer than this.”

“…”A month, huh.”

By then, it would probably be summer. When you think about it, it wasn’t that long of a wait.

As I was organizing my thoughts, Do Un-chu suddenly spoke.

“…”May I ask just one thing?”

“If it’s something I can answer.”

“The Leader…”

Do Un-chu trailed off. Perhaps he was about to ask about the Leader’s life or death.

He must know himself. It might be important to Do Un-chu, but this was clearly unnecessary talk right now.

I said to Do Un-chu.

“You know that wasn’t helpful information for you right now, Branch Chief?”

My assumption that Do Un-chu had a close relationship with the Hao Mun Leader was purely speculation. In this situation, Do Un-chu’s words could have given me confirmation.

Of course, considering it’s Hao Mun, even that might be an act.

Do Un-chu remained silent.

Was it a mistake born of impatience, or a calculated move?

He was likely wearing a mask made of human skin, so there was no way to know from his expression.

Besides, he didn’t seem like the type to reveal things through his expression anyway.

After a moment of thought, I spoke to Do Un-chu.

“Yejeok Mountain Range.”

At my words, Do Un-chu’s eyes widened slightly.

The name of a vast mountain range located in the south. It wasn’t exactly where the Hao Mun Leader was, but it was one of Heukya Gung’s branches.

‘I don’t know exactly where in the mountain range it is, though.’

The reason I specifically mentioned this place is that this branch holds information Do Un-chu might need.

“This is a deposit. This much should be sufficient.”

Whether he believed it or not didn’t matter.

“If you plan to verify it, you should bring someone skilled in formations.”

It was unlikely that Heukya Gung hadn’t made any countermeasures.

The reason the Murim Alliance had trouble finding Heukya Gung’s stronghold was all due to the formations.

For now, that concluded our discussion.

I left Do Un-chu behind and stood up to return to my family’s estate.

‘A month.’

It felt like a bit too long to just wait around.

---

Back on the marketplace street, on the way to the family estate, I was now habitually buying yakgwa. Naturally, they were for Wi Seol-ah.

Not just me, but all the servants in my quarters gave Wi Seol-ah snacks, so she looked a little plumper compared to when we first met.

As I walked, a breeze blew.

“It’s still cool because it’s spring… but starting next month, it’ll be summer again, and I’ll probably be dying again.”

These were Mu-yeon’s words.

A month later would be early summer. Just as Mu-yeon said, summer would arrive next month.

‘Summer….’

Something vague, like I was about to remember something but couldn’t quite grasp it, stirred in my mind, leaving me feeling uneasy.

What’s making me feel so weird?

Thump.

I stopped my feet, which had been walking towards the family estate. It was because a memory, hazy like fog, had surfaced.

If it was summer around this time, there was a major event.

“…Why is this coming to mind now?”

It was around this time that the secret records of the Geumcheon Yeon family, who were warriors and also ran the foremost trading company in the past, were discovered.

The first discoverer of the records was the Sichuan Tang family, but the one who ultimately acquired them was none other than a sinister sect from Sichuan called the Gyecheon Sect.

Both the Tang family and the Gyecheon Sect were located in Sichuan, making them rivals.

Later, when the Demonic Cult appeared, the Gyecheon Sect joined them.

‘The Geumcheon Yeon family’s records are also in Sichuan.’

….Damn it.

Thinking about the location and timing, I clicked my tongue.

The records were discovered in late summer, and while I wanted to claim them myself if possible, rather than letting them end up in the Gyecheon Sect’s hands…

The location was the problem.

‘I have no way to go to Sichuan right now.’

The deadline Hao Mun set was one month; I had enough time and would have liked to go and come back if only I had a way.

I had no excuse to travel all the way to distant Sichuan.

Should I say I needed to go on a trip?

‘There’s no way the family estate would allow that.’

Suddenly claiming there was treasure hidden in Sichuan that I needed to retrieve wouldn’t fly.

While the Geumcheon Yeon family’s records might not have contained vast amounts of gold and silver, they were said to hold many valuable spiritual pills that weren’t easily obtainable.

It was said that this was also the reason the Gyecheon Sect Leader reached the Hua Jing realm before becoming a demonic cultivator.

‘I at least want to prevent the Gyecheon Sect from taking them.’

Even if I couldn’t have them, I didn’t want them falling into the hands of those who would become demonic cultivators.

Of course, it would be even better if I could have them.

But if I couldn’t, I had to find another way.

“Should I leak the information to the Beggars’ Sect?”

Few would believe it if I said it, but it might be possible to advance the timing and disrupt the flow.

Though, I doubt just telling the Beggars’ Sect right now would even spread rumors.

The reason I hesitated despite various easier methods was simply greed.

Even though I gained the chance to regress and thought I just wanted to live a peaceful life, now that a treasure trove is right in front of me, I’m reaching out for it.

“Crazy bastard, doing this again. If you know you can’t, you should know when to give up.”

Even after learning the hard way through suffering in my past life, my desires are still unreasonably high.

Why did it have to pop into my head now and make me ache like this….

My heart filled with pointless emptiness. Wondering if I should at least buy something to eat, I looked around.

I spotted a steaming dumpling shop in the distance and immediately headed over. It was because the dumplings I ate last time were delicious and memorable.

“Are you buying dumplings too, Young Master?”

“The dumplings I had last time were delicious.”

“But didn’t you spend all the money you brought when buying the yakgwa earlier…?”

“Pay for it.”

“?”

“Pay for it.”

“Yes…”

I’m sorry.

Don’t make such a gloomy face. I said I’ll give it to you, didn’t I?

‘Come to think of it, I don’t think I gave them the money for the items I bought for them last time either….’

Seeing Mu-yeon sadly take out copper coins from his pocket, I turned my head.

I felt a slight pang of guilt.

‘I really have to give it this time.’

I really, truly intended to give it this time.

Really….

After buying the dumplings, I returned to the family estate. By the time I arrived, the sun was already beginning to set.

As I entered my quarters’ entrance, Wi Seol-ah hopped over to take my outer robe, so I handed her the yakgwa along with the clothes.

Seeing her beam with joy the moment she saw the yakgwa and then run off to the other attendants, I felt proud, thinking it was indeed a good purchase.

‘It’s a shame about the Geumcheon Yeon matter, but it wasn’t mine to begin with.’

There’s nothing more foolish than regretting something you never had.

What could I do when there was no way?

…But.

“My name is Gu-jeol-yeop. I request a sparring match with a blood relative from the main family.”

I never expected that method to come find me directly.