TSBIRBV Ch 38

Chapter 38 Namgung Un (3)

Yegyeol, always carrying around the “petite Senior Brother” in his heart, reported the day’s outcome imagining his praise, and sweettalk spilled out of his lips.

“If only I had known what a magnanimous man you were at our first meeting. A pity.”

Samrang, aware it was Yegyeol’s decision to draw in Yipseon and Okhyeong sects, could only click her tongue at the boy’s shamelessness. In every way, he was the opposite of their lord.

“Thank you for speaking so kindly of me,” Tang Seoak said with a pleasant smile, though his mind churned.

Watching closely, it seemed Young Master Wen was not particularly averse to banquets and gifts. If his nature had been truly unbending, he wouldn’t have accepted his courtesies — nor come this far into Tang’s trap at all.

Suddenly, Seoak recalled a suspicion: perhaps Jin Sam had deliberately left a wedge between himself and the boy.

It was Jin who whispered that raising the penalty twofold would do the trick… Did he earn his recent promotion to general manager by taking credit for that scheme?

Jin Sam had always seemed a gullible man, swayed easily by honey words. So Seoak manipulated him without concern, thinking him always within his palm. But what if that simpleton had grown fangs while feeding on Tang’s nectar?

Across from him, Yegyeol emptied another cup with a sly grin.

Burns well.

If he couldn’t watch flowers, he’d at least watch fire.

“We feared Qinghai might sever ties with Tang,” Seoak said with an affable laugh, “but now, seeing the new guild master, all my worries seem foolish.”

Yegyeol tilted his head and denied with feigned perplexity.

“Why would you think that?”

Pretending ignorance, though he knew.

Seoak closed his lips. To say it was because of contracts handed to Emei and Qingcheng branches would only sound petty.

Instead, he admitted softly:

“In truth, because of the unfortunate incident on our last caravan. My own cousin commanded the escort that day. It was very shameful.”

“The compensation paid was generous enough. I won’t hold it against you.”

Yegyeol waved a magnanimous hand, pretending grandeur. When he thought of Tang’s payouts and the fenced goods through the Black Spot, he could smile warmly even at a poison frog.

“Though we hired other escorts this time, Tang has always been Qinghai’s long-time friend.”

He leaned forward slightly, gesturing. Seoak — though martial senses were sharp enough — obligingly leaned closer as though humoring him.

“The reason I entrusted contracts to other sects was because I am young. Worries abounded. With trouble on my very first caravan, I had to show I could act.”

“Ahh.”

Seoak laughed with teeth bared. He too knew what it was to be fettered by bloodline and age.

“You must have found it trying.”

Catching the flicker of his expression, Yegyeol smiled weakly.

“If I cannot endure this much, how dare I call myself Qinghai’s master? Still, I worried my inexperience may have soured Tang after so long a friendship.”

Without Senior Brother present, feigning weakness made his lips tremble. He dipped his head, let his shoulders sag.

The effort seemed to work. Seoak’s tone softened.

“I understand well. I too was made an external director of Tang at a young age, and endured many jealous barbs.”

He poured Yegyeol’s cup with unusual care. Yegyeol raised it, eyes meeting his.

“I’ll explain things properly to the clan elders.”

“Truly?”

“You have my word.”

Seoak smiled warmly, nodding benevolently.

“I hardly know how to repay such kindness.”

“If my sincerity reaches you, that is enough.”

Yegyeol beamed. In truth, the only sincerity he cared for was Haryang’s — but he had no intent of sharing that here.

“Of course. I’ll rely on Tang’s aid again.”

He raised his cup, Seoak raised his in return.

“I may be distant from Merchant Jin now, but meeting a guild master so reasonable is a relief.”

Back at the residence Qinghai had rented in Sichuan, Yegyeol demanded washing water as soon as he arrived. Servants brought a silver basin; he scrubbed his hands several times before drying with perfumed silk. Shaking his head:

“So cloying.”

Samrang, who had watched in silence, asked bluntly,

“Why entertain him so politely? You could have discarded him cold.”

“I want to see what he’s thinking. Even as a collateral branch, a scion of the Five Great Families bowing to please a merchant — odd, isn’t it?”

His original plan had been to lay blame entirely on Jin Sam and then withdraw.

“But we still need to trade in Sichuan. Annoy Tang too much, and it’ll be troublesome.”

He hadn’t intended to treat Seoak so well — until he discovered his Senior Brother’s involvement with the Black Spot.

“Troublesome?” Samrang blinked slowly, unconvinced.

“We need to receive money from the Black Spot, meet Black Ghost — imagine Tang blocking us at every turn. Wouldn’t that be a nuisance?”

“Fair. Even a dog barks louder in its own yard.”

She nodded finally, comparing it so.

The main purpose was always meeting Senior Brother. But another ran below it: discovering his true identity.

Yegyeol still knew nothing.

How Haryang had survived after the Kunlun massacre.

Why he had been expelled.

How he had come to hold Qinghai.

When he had begun leading the Black Spot’s branch.

Don’t get greedy.

He recalled the pale-faced senior esper muttering those words. He dismissed the memory and asked casually:

“This caravan runs to Chongqing?”

“Yes.”

Contracts renewed with Tang, they now had to collect payment from the Black Spot there before returning home to Qinghai.

“Shall we follow along?”

“What brings this idea?”

“Earlier…”

Yegyeol mimed twisting his wrist.

“Seoak said the Yangtze Waterway Alliance was a menace. When he tried nudging Yipseon and Okhyeong into larger escorts, it was practically a challenge.”

He grinned, combative.

“We dug the first trap. It’s only fair to step right into theirs too.”

“…But his trap is for Yipseon and Okhyeong, not you,” Samrang protested. Still, watching two cunning men plot at each other while calling it fair and square was amusing.

Her amusement soured, however, when Yegyeol so readily placed himself in danger. Ever since the day their lord had called her full surname, she had revised her duties: it wasn’t enough that her charge survive in pieces. He had to survive whole.

“That’s why I need to see with my own eyes.”

“Then of course I follow wherever you command.”

After some thought, she nodded.

“Come to think, a seller of jujube trees was based in Chongqing.”

“Perfect. We’ll visit too.”

Yegyeol clapped happily. The thought of being apart from Senior Brother was miserable, so he wanted to finish everything outside and rush back. At last, he now understood why senior espers, supposedly mighty, dragged their feet until their guides kicked them out the door.

Turning those trees into lightning-struck relics may drain me — but if I head back to Black Spot quickly enough, it’ll be fine.

Thank goodness Chongqing lay far closer to Sichuan than Qinghai.

I’d meant to haggle harder, but there’s no choice — business will close here and now.

Samrang exhaled with hidden relief. She already had the bait prepared to steer him when the time came.

Footnotes:

• Collateral vs direct branch (직계 / 방계) — within great clans, direct bloodline holds power, collateral holds service roles.

   

• Lightning-struck jujube wood (벽조목) — luxury item, timber prized for talismans, seals, beads.