Chapter v17c15

“Excuse me? What did you just say?”

It would be rude to criticize his hearing. So, Bi Ryu-Yeon, who always reflected on his overly timid (?) and kind (?) heart, considered being generous once again. However, repeating himself would not only be tiresome but also disrespectful to the perfectly functional ears of the guild leader. He couldn’t commit such a faux pas.

“I don’t like repeating myself. If I were to say it again, it would be as if I’m doubting your excellent hearing, Guild Leader Jang. I wouldn’t want to be so disrespectful. I’ve given you an opportunity. Even if you pretend not to have heard and ask me to repeat myself, my thoughts won’t change. It’s entirely up to you, Guild Leader Jang, whether you seize this opportunity to achieve your dream. But if you insist on refusing, there’s nothing I can do. Ah, it’s a shame if you let go of this chance to surpass the Central Plains Merchant Guild and become, no, soar to become the best escort guild in the world, all because of a momentary internal conflict over money.”

Shaking his head regretfully, Bi Ryu-Yeon stood up. As he turned to leave the room, a pair of hands grabbed his trousers tightly.

“W-wait a moment, Master Bi!”

Looking down, he saw the face of Jang Woo-Yang, the guild leader of the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild, a forced smile plastered on his face, sweat dripping from his brow as he struggled to compose his twitching facial muscles.

Smirk.

Bi Ryu-Yeon smiled.

Smirk.

As if infected, Jang Woo-Yang mirrored his smile, like a puppet controlled by invisible strings. But it wasn’t as natural as Bi Ryu-Yeon’s. It was a foolish, awkward grin. Still, Bi Ryu-Yeon, who claimed to be kind and gentle, refrained from saying something like, “You’re just like those lowly escorts.” It was a rare occurrence for him, a master of sarcasm and mockery.

“Master Bi, I was wrong. Please, have a seat. Let’s discuss this calmly.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon sat down again, without shaking off Jang Woo-Yang’s hand.

“I hope we can avoid wasting time like this in the future. Don’t you agree, Guild Leader Jang? It’s not just for businessmen. Time is gold for all of us humans, living our finite lives.”

“Of course. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Jang Woo-Yang nodded vigorously.

“Well then.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s signature invisible gaze pierced Jang Woo-Yang’s face. It was a gesture demanding confirmation that he understood. Jang Woo-Yang sighed inwardly.

“I believe that you have a grand ambition in your heart, Guild Leader Jang, waiting for the right moment to take flight. And this might be that golden opportunity. An opportunity that, once missed, will never return. Are you going to give it up just for a small profit?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s words were indeed igniting a fire in Jang Woo-Yang’s dream. He said with a hesitant expression,

“You did say you wanted thirty percent of the guild’s total revenue as your share of the profit, right?”

“That’s right. I’m glad you remember.”

“Excuse me? Glad?”

“I was worried that there might be something wrong with your hearing, Guild Leader Jang.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon replied with a wide smile.

It seemed his hearing was fine. Then was it his own mind that was malfunctioning, or his opponent’s sanity?

“I don’t lie about money. I’ve never forgiven a lie in a financial transaction, where trust is paramount.”

It sounded polite, but it could also be interpreted as a chilling threat.

‘Is he warning me?’

Years of experience in business had taught him to be perceptive.

‘What a pain in the ass.’

Jang Woo-Yang thought, unable to voice his true feelings.

‘Who would know what I’m thinking? It’s not like he can read minds…’

“You just thought ‘What a pain in the ass,’ didn’t you?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s casual remark, delivered with a smirk, was enough to make him choke.

“Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!”

He coughed uncontrollably, his surprise betraying him.

“Hmm, judging from your reaction, it seems you did?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon’s smile remained unwavering, like that of a Zen monk who had attained imperturbability. But that only made him more terrifying to Jang Woo-Yang. He knew what kind of person this man was. It had only been a few brief encounters, but the shock he had experienced was enough to shave years off his life. How could he forget? The memories were seared into his mind like a brand. And sometimes, he even saw him in his dreams, standing amidst the ruins of his business. The ending of the dream was always the same.

How could he possibly forget? Some memories were too vivid to be erased by time.

“Master Bi, do you truly understand the implications of your plan?”

“Of course. Do you think I would have come here without knowing?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon continued, his tone slightly annoyed.

“What do you take me for, Guild Leader Jang? Do I look like a delusional madman spouting nonsense without any basis? If so, I’m deeply disappointed.”

“No… that’s not what I meant…”

Jang Woo-Yang desperately stopped himself from nodding in agreement. He waved his hands frantically, flustered. He was constantly losing control of the situation.

“It means dethroning the Central Plains Merchant Guild.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon knew exactly what he meant. Could he really say that with such confidence?

‘How?’

It was a feat that required immense power, even to conceive. And Bi Ryu-Yeon was claiming he could pull it off. It wasn’t something that could be achieved with mere martial arts skills.

He felt a strain in his neck muscles and vertebrae. His neck was stiff, as if a metal rod had been inserted. He would have to visit a physician tomorrow.

But he still couldn’t believe it. If he blindly accepted this, he would be labeled a madman.

But considering Bi Ryu-Yeon’s meticulous and calculating nature, and the fact that he had even considered profit sharing, he must have something up his sleeve. Perhaps.

“Are you saying, Master Bi, that you have a brilliant plan that can elevate our Middle Heaven Merchant Guild to the top? If so, I’m all ears.”

There was no harm in listening. He could decide later. He didn’t have the power to kick Bi Ryu-Yeon out anyway.

“Of course. It’s what you call a win-win strategy.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon began to explain his plan.

“Th-that’s impossible!”

Jang Woo-Yang’s jaw dropped as he listened to the plan. It was true that if it worked, the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild could gradually encroach on the Central Plains Merchant Guild’s territory. It was possible, assuming everything went according to plan. But it was more logical to assume that such a miraculous turn of events wouldn’t happen.

“Oh dear, here we go again. Why do humans so easily limit themselves? How can you know without even trying? Can you confidently say that you know yourself, your potential, your future, perfectly?”

Jang Woo-Yang shook his head.

“No.”

He was too busy with his daily life to reflect on himself. His mind was preoccupied with the events happening around him. Self-discovery wasn’t his concern.

“And yet you’re already giving up in your heart? Heaven won’t help someone like that. Who would believe in you if you don’t even believe in yourself?”

There were too many people in the world who didn’t respect themselves. They belittled themselves, disparaged themselves, and damaged their own character. Did they find some strange pleasure in being subservient? Did they feel some perverse sense of satisfaction? He wanted no part in such twisted pleasures, if they even existed.

The weakness of seeking comfort within the confines of one’s self-imposed limitations, instead of breaking free, was a massive wall that blocked progress.

It was unfair for them to blame the innocent heavens for their lack of progress. Even the gods couldn’t force someone to act against their will. The right to shape one’s future, to set one’s limits, was entirely in the hands of the individual.

The teachings of “All is created by the mind” and “All phenomena are manifestations of the mind” were not false.

“Whether the well is deep or shallow, whether you can see the surface of the water or not, if you want to draw water, you have to lower the bucket, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Are you trying to drink water without even lowering the bucket? Are you expecting someone to draw it for you?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon relentlessly pressed Jang Woo-Yang. He was overwhelmed by Bi Ryu-Yeon’s forcefulness. Bi Ryu-Yeon continued,

“Of course, you can’t draw water if the rope is too short. Do you know what that rope is made of?”

“I’m ashamed to admit, but I don’t know.”

Jang Woo-Yang answered.

“It’s faith, faith! An unwavering belief in yourself! Absolute certainty! And the conviction that you will draw water! No one knows how deep it goes. That’s why you have to lower the bucket and wait. You have to wait, focusing your mind and putting in your best effort, weaving the rope with unwavering faith. Most people give up before the bucket even reaches the water. That’s the difference between those who can wait and those who can’t. Those with faith and patience drink the water, while those without only get a mouthful of air from the empty bucket. That’s what the Well hexagram, one of the three changing hexagrams in the I Ching, represents. The well remains in its place, even as the village and the people change.”

“…”

“So, what will you do? Are you thirsty? Then lower the bucket. No one else can fulfill your dreams for you. So either desperately lower the bucket and draw water, or die of thirst. The choice is entirely yours.”

“Sigh.”

Jang Woo-Yang sighed softly.

Even a bad relationship was a relationship. He had faced several near-death experiences because of his entanglement with Bi Ryu-Yeon, but ironically, the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild had grown rapidly. It was now a much larger organization than it was three years ago. When did the change begin?

It was after that old man, No-Sa-Bu, barged into his guild with his disciples.

It was still a mystery how they had managed to get this far, but he realized that it was time to gamble his life.

If he invested in this, there would be no turning back. A strange excitement washed over him. He believed that those who were given the chance to gamble their entire lives were chosen by heaven.

‘Alright, let’s take a gamble! All or nothing!’

Bi Ryu-Yeon wasn’t a simple person, so he must have something up his sleeve. This was too big of a deal to blindly trust him. But the temptation was even greater.

He finally made up his mind. Thirty percent of the profit was a hefty price, but it was worth it if he could become the best. It was a painful decision, but he suppressed the pain in his gut.

“Alright. If things go according to your prediction, Master Bi, we’ll join hands. There won’t be any problems, right?”

Jang Woo-Yang had finally chosen his fate.

“Of course not. Everything’s already in place.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon answered confidently.