Chapter v19c12

## A New Banner

– The Ultimate Symbol

“How is it, Branch Manager?”

“Hmm.”

Jang Woo-Yang carefully examined the garment he held, turning it over and over. His eyes were sharp, his demeanor serious. The white tiger emblem emblazoned on the front seemed ready to roar.

“It’s good. Let’s go with this. Is the banner still under construction?”

“Yes. Only the uniform is finished, so I brought it first.”

“How’s the publicity going?”

“I’ve already taken care of it.”

“Good, good! Now is the time for our Middle Heaven Merchant Guild to surpass the Central Plains Merchant Guild and become the best in the world!”

Jang Woo-Yang exclaimed, his voice filled with satisfaction.

“We’ve invested heavily in this! Now it’s time to reap the rewards!”

“Of course!”

He shuddered, recalling the nerve-wracking negotiations. Failure was not an option. They had a good chance of success. He remembered the meeting with his master a few days ago, the burning ambition, passion, and dreams rekindled in his heart.

* * *

“What do you think, Master?”

Jang Woo-Yang asked cautiously, swallowing nervously. His life depended on this. He couldn’t afford to be careless.

“Hmm… So you’re saying you want to use ‘Whitey’ as the face of the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild?”

“Y-yes. I want to incorporate the image of Mount Emei’s guardian deity, the white tiger of white tigers, the White Lightning Baek Mu-Hu, into our banner, uniforms, and everything else. And…”

“You want to make him the guardian deity of the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild?”

His master remembered. He had repeated it five times already.

“Yes. And we’ll take appropriate measures to honor him.”

What the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild needed most was a symbol. They were a relatively new guild, despite their recent growth and success. In contrast, the Central Plains Merchant Guild, the industry leader for over a hundred years, had a history spanning over 150 years. A long history meant credibility, and those 150 years had become a symbol of the Central Plains Merchant Guild’s trustworthiness.

To achieve his lifelong dream of making the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild the best in the world, he needed a symbol that could rival the Central Plains Merchant Guild’s long history and reputation. Without a powerful weapon, it would be nearly impossible to break the deep-rooted image of the Central Plains Merchant Guild in people’s minds.

“How much are you willing to pay for the usage rights?”

His master asked, his voice calm, getting straight to the point. It was like a surprise attack from a dark alley.

“Huh? Usage rights?”

“Of course. You have to pay a fair price to use Whitey’s image. You weren’t planning to get it for free, were you? That would be unethical and shameless.”

“O-of course not! But who should I pay? Do I have to offer tribute?”

“There’s no need to go that far. No need for complicated procedures like tribute. Look closer, my friend. The answer is right under your nose. How convenient. Hahaha!”

His master said, stroking his white beard.

“Y-you mean you, Master?”

His master nodded.

“Of course. I’m his authorized representative. I won’t stop you if you want to negotiate through a third party. That’s your decision. But don’t blame me if your intermediary loses a limb or two during the negotiations. I can’t be held responsible for that.”

It sounded more threatening than a direct order to deal with him exclusively.

“What happens if I use it without permission?”

Jang Woo-Yang asked cautiously.

“Are you making a criminal confession?”

His master’s eyes widened, and Jang Woo-Yang quickly waved his hands, denying any criminal intent.

“N-no, of course not! It was just a simple question. You know, the kind of pointless curiosity that everyone has, even though they know it’s useless.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t do anything even if you did. There’s no need for me to intervene. However, if your guild or your escorts happen to suffer a tiger attack, that’s beyond my control. If you’re willing to take that risk, then you’re a brave man indeed. Yes, a brave man indeed.”

He was saying that recklessness could be considered bravery, if you wanted to stretch the definition.

“I-I see. I don’t think I want to be brave.”

Jang Woo-Yang’s back was drenched in cold sweat. He had been naive to think he could get away with a simple request. He had made the fatal mistake of forgetting who the master was.

“You have to pay a price for the best. Are you prepared for that?”

He swallowed nervously.

His master gave him a moment to think, then declared,

“Now, shall we begin the negotiations?”

Jang Woo-Yang tensed up, entering the most important deal of his life. He couldn’t afford to make a mistake. He wanted to be the best, not just the best in Sichuan. In reality, the negotiation was already over. His master’s last words weren’t the start of a negotiation, but the end. Pay the ultimate price. Show your sincerity. Jang Woo-Yang was willing.

“Oh, and ‘Whitey’ has an additional request.”

What now?

“What is it, Master?”

“He wants a monthly supply of various fresh meats, along with five jars of ‘Sohongju’ from the Sohong Pavilion.”

“White tigers drink alcohol?”

Jang Woo-Yang asked incredulously.

“Of course. He’s quite picky, you know. He won’t drink just any alcohol. Weren’t you curious why the Sohong Pavilion’s cellar gets destroyed every few months?”

Of course, he was curious. It was a local legend.

“Y-you mean the ‘Midnight Visitor’ is…?”

“Exactly!”

The mysterious visitor who appeared every month on a moonless night, destroying the Sohong Pavilion’s cellar and vanishing with five jars of their finest alcohol.

They had increased security, but it was no use. They had given up, resigned to their fate. There were many theories about the culprit, but none of them ventured beyond the realm of human possibility. And now he was telling him it was the king of the mountain?

“Isn’t that right, Whitey?”

As he spoke, a figure emerged from the darkness, its golden eyes gleaming like two suns. Jang Woo-Yang felt his knees weaken.

Grrrrrrr!

Baek Mu-Hu growled.

“What do you think, Whitey? Are you satisfied with these terms?”

Crrr!

Baek Mu-Hu shook his head. A clear rejection.

Grrrrrrr!

“Hmm… What? You want me to do that?”

His master nodded along with each growl.

‘Are they actually communicating?’

Could he really understand? Or was he just pretending? But Jang Woo-Yang lacked the courage to ask.

“W-what did he say?”

“He says it’s not enough alcohol. He wants at least ten jars.”

“Th-that’s too much! That alcohol is expensive… Ten jars…”

“Are you complaining?”

“H-how about seven jars?”

Crrr!

Baek Mu-Hu turned his head away, a gesture that was quite threatening, considering his size.

Jang Woo-Yang resisted the urge to draw his sword. He knew he would be the one getting torn apart. It was better to practice patience.

“Then there’s no choice. We’ll have to give up.”

His master added,

“Unfortunately, the negotiations have failed.”

“W-wait!”

Jang Woo-Yang jumped up, pleading with his master.

“If we disagree, can’t we compromise? Please give me a little more time.”

His master, who had been about to leave, sat back down. But Jang Woo-Yang, lost in thought, couldn’t speak.

“…”

He was still hesitant. His master spoke up.

“Let me give you some advice. People think the world is ranked in order. First, second, third, and so on. But that’s a mistake.”

He held up two fingers.

“You see? There are only two groups in this world. The best, and the rest.”

His words pierced Jang Woo-Yang’s heart like a spear.

He was right. No one cared about the second or third best guild. The title of “Best Guild in Sichuan” held more value than the ambiguous title of “Second Best Guild in the World.” That was why the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild had been emphasizing their status as the best in Sichuan.

“Which group do you want to belong to?”

He was at a crossroads again. But he had already made his decision long ago. All that remained was to act.

Jang Woo-Yang finally made up his mind.

It was worth the risk. He could reap the rewards of his investment. The difference in profits between being the best and being second best was astronomical. He knew it from experience.

Only those who were content with mediocrity feared risk. He wanted to move forward. He wanted to achieve greatness, even if it meant taking risks. He was also considering another factor.

For a mere escort like him, forming a connection with a martial arts expert like his master was a rare opportunity. Demanding a share of the profits meant becoming partners. It was a natural progression, forming a symbiotic relationship where both parties benefited.

Having a master like him as a partner would be advantageous for his business. It was worth taking a small loss to make a good impression. Reputation was everything in this industry. And once you lost your credibility, you lost everything.

“Alright! I agree! I accept all your terms!”

His master smiled, pleased with the deal.

“Congratulations on acquiring the ultimate symbol.”

“Thank you.”