Chapter 298

Chapter 298
## 298. The Black Flame Dragon Showing Itself (2)

—

Long, delicate eyelashes.
Beneath them, deep irises shimmered, catching the evening moonlight.
Her minimal cosmetics gave her features an innocent, youthful air, but by contrast, the crimson court dress—crafted to elegantly hint at her contours—imbued her with the presence of a mature lady.
In one light, she resembled a divine maiden; in another, she mirrored a high-class courtesan.
It was remarkable how such conflicting impressions could reside within a solitary soul.
Moreover, once her identity was revealed, yet another layer was added to her image.
“Allow me to pay my respects. This unworthy girl is named So-eul Jeong, representing the Eun-ha Merchant Group.”
Her posture and manners were perfectly balanced, neither excessive nor lacking.
One could sense a refined elegance that had been ingrained throughout her entire life.
“If you mean the Eun-ha Merchant Group……”
Before my statement could fully form, a gentle grin graced So-eul Jeong’s features.
“Indeed. It is precisely the Eun-ha Merchant Group that the Young Master is familiar with.”
An intense sense of honor resonated in her tone.
After all, Sim-ho Jeong, recognized as one of the four legendary commercial titans under heaven alongside the Wang clan, was her sire.
Her household had commanded trade for generations, wielding massive authority over the territories of the ancient Wei kingdom, centered in Henan.
They acted as both rivals and associates to the Wang clan, which controlled commerce in the southeastern lands, centered in Anhui.
Regrettably,
“What brings a representative of the Eun-ha Merchant Group to seek me out?”
Following my inquiry, So-eul Jeong shifted her gaze toward So-so Wang.
So-so Wang abruptly averted her face with a sharp snort.
“I became aware of Young Master Jin’s reputation, which has been reverberating across the land recently, and out of pure reverence, I desired an audience. However, for some reason, it appeared my intentions were not being accurately conveyed to the Young Master, so I risked being impolite to hasten here.”
“Ha! For heaven’s sake, what sort of ridiculous nonsense is that!”
So-so Wang attempted to interrupt, but So-eul Jeong paid her no heed and raised her eyes to look at me once more.
Her large gaze was remarkably tearful.
Like a tranquil reservoir that tempts one to plunge into its depths without hesitation.
“Young Master Jin is far more commanding and grand than the rumors imply. ……This girl’s pulse is racing so fiercely that I can scarcely gaze upon you for long.”
“……Ha! Honestly! ……Ha! Honestly!”
Her stunning looks, her captivating silhouette, and her innocent declarations were quite sufficient to sway any man’s focus and resolve.
“Oh dear…… I have spoken far too forwardly. Please pardon my lack of propriety.”
So-eul Jeong dipped her head once again.
In a mystifying fashion, with every shift of her posture, a distinct aroma drifted forth.
If it had been a sugary fragrance mere moments ago, it was now replaced by the crisp, floral scent of an untouched blossom.
‘She is highly practiced.’
The most striking element was how effortlessly every movement and word fell from her lips.
As though everything had been choreographed to align perfectly with the laws of nature.
No matter what sort of gentleman he might be, if he possessed the basic instincts of a man, she was an individual he could not help but admire.
I likely would have reacted the same way.
‘Provided I remained ignorant of her true identity, that is.’
Offering a radiant grin, she gestured to her attendant and took hold of a decorative missive.
Matching her court attire, it was fashioned from crimson silk detailed with gilded embroidery.
“Would you deign to accept this girl’s sincerity, as I wish to become better acquainted with the Young Master?”
The invitation, resting upon fingers as pale as fresh rice cakes, was extended in my direction.
“Jin Ora……”
So-so Wang, who had been on the verge of intervening forcefully, clamped her mouth shut, seemingly stifled by So-eul Jeong’s unbothered composure.
She must have recognized that intruding mindlessly without the recipient’s leave was unrefined behavior.
I redirected my attention from So-so Wang back to So-eul Jeong.
“Miss Jeong……”
“Please address me as Eul-mae.”
Not a chance in hell.
“……Miss Jeong. There is a single matter I would like to clarify.”
I chose not to alter my manner of address, yet her expression did not falter in the slightest.
“What might that be?”
“Is this summons being offered by Miss Jeong as an individual, or is it presented on behalf of the Eun-ha Merchant Group?”
“Ho-ho. Does the distinction carry any weight?”
“Naturally, it does.”
“…….”
For a brief heartbeat, a flicker of mild disconcertion crossed So-eul Jeong’s face before it vanished completely.
“Hmm…… this girl does not quite grasp the difference, so perhaps you could enlighten me?”
“If it is a personal request, I must decline; and if it comes from the Eun-ha Merchant Group, it is redundant for me to receive it, given that So-so Wang has already turned it down.”
“……!”
The eyes of both So-eul Jeong and So-so Wang widened in unison.
Observing them in that state, they resembled a pair of hares startled by the sudden appearance of a predator.
“……I-in any case, are you stating that you refuse?”
So-eul Jeong was unable to conceal her bewilderment, as though she had never encountered such a blunt dismissal before.
“For what cause……”
Beginning to demand an explanation, she abruptly silenced herself.
It was obvious her mind was working rapidly, analyzing how the current dynamic was playing out.
I offered her no further window and shifted into motion.
“With that, I shall take my leave.”
As I stepped forward, So-so Wang flashed her tongue mockingly at So-eul Jeong and then trailed behind me with an air of victory.
Why exactly are you the one looking so pleased?
“Jin Oppa!”
So-so Wang, pulling close to my side, muttered in a hushed tone.
“Just as I thought, my judgment was flawless. Truly, there is nobody quite like Jin Oppa.”
I failed to grasp the meaning behind her words, so I considered asking but thought better of it.
There was hardly an action more petty than whispering directly in front of a rival who had just suffered a setback.
I could feel a burning glare locked onto the crown of my neck.

Upon entering the study, I recounted the recent exchange to my sire and Merchant Leader Wang.
However, their reactions were rather peculiar.
“This boy So-un…… as expected, the Wang household belongs to you……”
“Father!”
“Ahem…… my apologies. At any rate, Tae-san. You didn’t inform him?”
“…….”
A complicated quietude, hinting that another event had transpired, hung among the three individuals.
“……It was simply because I wished to spare him unnecessary stress.”
At my sire’s candid explanation, Merchant Leader Wang rolled his head back.
“Regardless of that……”
“Is there a problem developing?”
“Well…… if you want to call it a problem, I suppose there is one.”
As the Dae-cheon Merchant Group pushed its operations into Hangzhou within Zhejiang Province, the volume of merchandise they required grew exponentially, yet securing those provisions was proving problematic.
The majority of travelers visiting Hangzhou for leisure were descendants of noble households or individuals of elevated rank.
Products that satisfied their tastes were typically crafted in Hebei.
Yet, because the bulk of the artisans in Hebei were tied to the Eun-ha Merchant Group or allied guilds, they found themselves unable to acquire the merchandise directly without the authorization of the Eun-ha Merchant Group.
“Naturally, since the Eun-ha Merchant Group also requires the grains and fabrics of Gangnam, we agreed to a fair trade, but they are stalling instead of finalizing the agreement.”
“Does the Eun-ha Merchant Group possess an alternate channel to obtain grains and fabrics?”
Merchant Leader Wang offered an affirmative nod.
“Though not as vast as Gangnam, they maintain distribution networks in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan.”
The primary commercial associate of the Eun-ha Merchant Group had always been the Wang clan.
However, realizing that the Wang clan’s demand for high-end commodities stems from the Dae-cheon Merchant Group, they had presented altered terms.
“It must connect to the written request that the lady presented just now.”
“The Eun-ha Merchant Group is marking its one hundred and eightieth year. They claimed they are gathering figures to display martial prowess on that occasion.”
If performances and melodies are vital components of an ordinary celebration, what entities of immense stature like the Eun-ha Merchant Group invariably flaunt is their own reach.
They wish to demonstrate the scope of their authority.
The Eun-ha Merchant Group was insisting upon my presence at the celebration as a prerequisite for the agreement.
“So they expect me to show up and perform to elevate the mood.”
The simplest method to display one’s reach is to show a prominent figure acting according to one’s desires.
From the viewpoint of a martial practitioner, flaunting one’s skills before a massive crowd is nothing short of degrading.
The spectacle of a legendary warrior arriving to perform party tricks was certainly an effective demonstration of power.
“The Eun-ha Merchant Group maintains a tight bond with Shaolin. Notably, the second heir of that lineage is an alumnus of the Academy. You must be familiar with his name. So-gun Jeong.”
I gave a nod of assent.
The documentation of his advancement to the rank of a Great Hall Master was recorded within the archives of the Bureau of Universal Knowledge.
“If you are referring to the Meteor Spear So-gun Jeong, I am well aware of him.”
Furthermore, if one were to present lackluster martial abilities in a venue housing an exceptional expert from the Martial Alliance.
‘On the contrary, it would be quite easy to face public humiliation.’
To think they would construct such an environment and deliver an invitation.
Their underlying motive was so painfully apparent that it brought forth a bitter smirk.
“Aware that you serve as the head of this cohort, they are pressing for it even more aggressively.”
Reflecting on it, I had personally received a countless array of summonses, hadn’t I?
The title of Martial Academy head was a designation that naturally provoked people’s intense fascination.
Furthermore, because I hailed from a minor, obscure lineage, that fascination was bound to be multiplied.
‘I merely discarded them all without a second glance because dealing with them was tedious.’
It was hardly shocking for such a request to be funneled through my sire.
“There is no cause to give it any thought.”
My sire spoke with resolve.
“Even if we abstain from trading high-end merchandise, our returns remain substantial. You have no obligation to enter an environment where you do not wish to go.”
My sire expressed himself in this manner, but my perspective leaned in a different direction.
“No, why should we do that?”
“What?”
“What kind of margins exist on high-end merchandise? Why should we discard that revenue merely to protect a bit of pride?”
“…….”
“I intend to construct a water feature for every single courtyard of the Tae-eul Sect.”
“You previously claimed such things were a waste of capital……”
My sire wore a look of profound betrayal.
“Naturally, it is a waste of capital when resources are scarce, but when resources are overflowing, does it not simply become a standard luxury?”
My sire, whose features had turned rigid, questioned me.
“So…… you intend to participate?”
Is that not blindingly obvious?
I nodded my head without a moment’s delay.
“Naturally. Is it not a venue where profit can be realized? I would attend twice, nay, five times over.”
The returns on luxury commodities cannot be weighed against standard manufactured items.
Essential provisions are dictated by cost-efficiency, but wealthy fools are eccentric individuals who believe their dignity is compromised if an item is priced too modestly.
This, I can state with absolute certainty, having spent significant effort managing the messes of noble heirs within the Martial Alliance.
Those fools become increasingly desperate for items the higher the price tag climbs.
It was practically equivalent to scooping up wealth while drifting effortlessly in shallow waters.
And I should discard this opportunity just to maintain a shred of dignity?
‘Besides, this gathering will not merely exist for the Eun-ha Merchant Group to summon me for the sole purpose of inflating their status.’
They dispatched their prized offspring simply to summon a practitioner from a sect barely larger than a speck of dust.
Even while anticipating that their dignity would be severely bruised if I declined.
Of course, I remain uncertain whether this strategy originated from the Merchant Leader or So-eul Jeong herself.
‘So-eul Jeong herself appeared as though the concept of being turned down had never even crossed her mind.’
The issue lay in the fact that her visit occurred during the dark hours, rather than during the day when countless eyes were watching.
Had So-eul Jeong possessed true confidence in her position, she would have arrived during daylight hours.
Yet she arrived under the cover of night.
In the end, her choosing to move under the cover of night implies her actions were guided by another’s hidden agenda.
‘They deduced that I would decline, in other words.’
The characteristic cynicism of those who hold authority can be detected even in trivial matters.
Even if I overlook it on this occasion, comparable situations will undoubtedly persist.
Because whether one is a laborer or a master, a sharp point emerging unexpectedly from a pouch is bound to cause irritation.
If it is an irritation I am destined to confront regardless, it is far more advantageous for me to deliver the opening blow.
At the very least, by striking first, I can uncover the adversary’s vulnerability before they realize it.
As I remained buried in these reflections for a moment, Merchant Leader Wang’s voice broke through.
“Just as I suspected…… an absolute fixation on wealth. Combined with a detached spirit that disregards all rules and constraints to achieve an objective.”
Merchant Leader Wang was observing me with a somewhat mesmerized expression.
“Just as I suspected, it is undeniable that the instincts of a merchant, rather than a martial artist, course through your veins! Would you truly not care to venture into commerce?”
This isn’t his way of mocking me as a fellow consumed by greed, is it?

I instructed them to hold off on delivering a response to the summons for the time being.
To begin with, given that I had voiced my rejection directly to So-eul Jeong’s face, an immediate reply would be inappropriate.
‘Because it presents a chance to evaluate their persistence.’
To gauge the depth of their fixation on this faction, I advised them to await the arrival of a subsequent invitation before offering an answer.
[What if no further invitations materialize?]
My sire raised such an inquiry, but I merely shrugged my shoulders in response.
If it fails to arrive, then it fails to arrive.
My sire is an exceptionally resolute individual regarding such matters.
The following afternoon, after reporting to Hae-gwang Baek, losing consciousness once, and recovering, I witnessed an unusual sight at the training grounds while proceeding to join Do-won Jang as arranged.
It appeared as though not only Sa-ryeon but also the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers were instructing the students of the Tae-eul Sect, though the nature of the instruction was rather peculiar.
“Pay close attention! The Dae-sahyung declared. He stated that this precise meditative respiration is the sole mechanism that will preserve your thread of life under any circumstance.”
“The Dae-sahyung declared that the Jianghu is a domain where you forfeit your existence if you relax your vigilance for even a fleeting heartbeat! Based on my own path, that is an absolute reality!”
“The Dae-sahyung declared. You must rigorously practice and practice further to successfully execute it even once in true warfare!”
“You must adhere to the Dae-sahyung’s instructions implicitly! If you obey them completely, you will invariably survive!”
Aside from constructing a bizarre myth around my persona, they were terrorizing the youths by painting the Jianghu in excessively grim colors.
‘At this pace, I fear the youngsters will become overwhelmed with terror and abandon the sect instead…….’
Just as I prepared to step onto the grounds to command them to moderate their approach.
“““Understood! We shall remember it always!”””
……A response thundered forth in perfect unison.
“…….”
What in the world, the youngsters were actually absorbing it with absolute gravity.
“Moving forward, I shall begin by rectifying your Small Heaven Sword Technique once more. Those who possess readiness, step forward!”
Upon Geum-pyo’s command, the students began to surge forward, heedless of who took precedence.
I wavered over whether to intervene or let it slide, but ultimately turned my steps away.
It appears somewhat extreme, yet extremity serves better than inadequacy.
Those individuals will manage perfectly well on their own, no doubt.
I immediately directed my path toward the forge.
A massive ironworks constructed by demolishing a partition of the primary Tae-eul Sect structure and broadening the space.
I had even established a storefront so Do-won Jang could conduct commerce whenever he pleased, yet Do-won Jang himself had completely boarded up the stalls.
“It appears you are lacking in assignments. Observing you taking a reprieve like thi……”
Before my remark could fully exit my mouth, Do-won Jang scooped up a handful of earth from the floor and flung it directly at me.
I swiftly evaded the projectile utilizing the Tae-eul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps.
“What is the meaning of this, why are you launching earth at someone?”
“Someone? Do you consider yourself someone? If you were a proper person, you would possess a moral compass! What manner of individual is a person devoid of a moral compass!”
“Come now, I was merely offering a bit of humor.”
“A bi-it of humor? Is it a bi-it of humor to demand a masterpiece be forged within a single half-year when I hadn’t even kindled the furnace flames yet?”
Yet there truly was no alternative course of action for me.
Recognizing that the agents of the Demonic Cult were making moves across the Jianghu, and having assembled all the components for the Jeok-gwang sword, I could not simply allow it to be forged according to the timeline of the original history.
Furthermore, Do-won Jang had successfully produced the Jeok-gwang sword in a mere half-year during my prior existence.
Granted, that is a reality the current version of him does not possess.
I spoke while intentionally feigning a manner to observe his reaction.
“I had no alternative, Elder. For the tranquility of the Jianghu……”
“……Tsk.”
At the sight of Do-won Jang tightening his brow and letting out a sharp click of his tongue, a trace of apprehension began to stir.
Could it be that he failed to complete the task?
Regardless, in my prior existence, Do-won Jang had fashioned the Fifteen Divine Tools driven by his bitter malice toward the Demonic Cult. Since he does not harbor that malice at this juncture, he might lack the capacity to ma──.
Thump—
“……!”
Contradicting my doubts, Do-won Jang tossed down an elongated object concealed within a length of fabric.
“I shall abstain from inquiring where you came into possession of that malevolent token. Nonetheless, you would be wise to employ it with utmost caution. It is assuredly not a creation born of the mortal realm.”
The malevolent token he alluded to could only be the Blood Sea Jade.
Now the remaining uncertainty lay in whether he had successfully integrated it, precisely as he had in my prior existence…….
Gulp.
With a racing pulse, I slowly began to unwrap the protective fabric.