Tang Un offered a suggestion in response to Jeok Wigang’s question.
“What about clothing, Brother?”
“Hm?”
“Only martial artists buy weapons, but everyone in the world needs clothes.”
“Come on. There are already countless places selling clothes.”
“Exactly! That means we need to set ourselves apart. What about making clothes that look luxurious but are affordable enough for ordinary people? We could create some unusual designs too.”
Ha Muhyeon joined in.
“That sounds promising. It would be even better if we also sold separate garments reinforced for martial artists.”
Ye Yahyeon added his opinion as well.
“I agree. Could we not weave a large-scale formation into the fabric used for martial artists? The method of engraving it could be kept as a secret art known only to those responsible for the work.”
Engraving a formation would not be difficult.
In fact, all they needed was a frame with the formation already engraved into it.
Any clothing produced through that frame could then be endowed with defensive properties.
Clothing, then.
The problems were cost and quality.
They had to keep the price reasonable without sacrificing the quality.
“How many textile shops do we currently trade with?”
“A few, but the ones with good fabric charge high prices, while the affordable ones sell cloth of very poor quality.”
At that moment, someone came to mind.
Jeok Wigang looked at Ye Yahyeon and Jin Muryang.
“Why are you looking at us like that?”
“Baek Ryeongso.”
“What?”
“He said he was going to make clothes, remember?”
Ye Yahyeon and Jin Muryang exchanged glances, then waved the idea away.
“Oh, come on! He was only talking.”
“Even if he really is making clothes, how pretty could anything made by those huge, rough hands possibly be?”
“He probably gave up long ago and found something else to do.”
“You think so? Talking about clothes just made me remember him.”
“Now that you mention it, I am curious what he has been doing.”
“What if he really is making clothes?”
“I have never once imagined that man sewing.”
“It would be nice if he were. We might even run into him by chance.”
“Hahaha. That will never happen.”
“You never know what life might bring. We can discuss him later. First, contact the Lower Gate and have them compile a list of worthwhile textile shops. Any other good ideas?”
“Besides clothes?”
“Yes. We’re a merchant company. Are we going to sell nothing but clothes?”
“There is nothing wrong with specializing in one field.”
“That is true. Once people begin to see us as clothing specialists, they may buy exclusively from the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“No. That won’t be enough. We need something else too. Is there another line of business that could make the company flourish?”
Just then, Jeok Wigang noticed a bee.
It was busily carrying honey back to its hive.
Jeok Wigang clapped his hands.
“That’s it! We’ll use the Escort Sect to provide rapid delivery exclusively for our company’s goods.”
“What?”
Jeok Wigang turned to Jin Muryang.
“Your men are fast with their lightness arts, aren’t they?”
“They are.”
“If we strapped packs to their backs and had them run using lightness arts, how long would it take them to cover a hundred li?”
“Usually about the time it takes to eat a meal.”
“Really? Then anything within a hundred-li radius could be delivered within that time.”
“I suppose so.”
“How far could they go at most?”
“Hmm. Without pushing themselves too hard, perhaps a thousand li. But are there really goods that need to arrive that quickly?”
“Of course. Food ingredients could be delivered while still fresh, and medicinal herbs could be rushed wherever they are needed.”
“Would the men agree to do it?”
“We can’t simply order them around. We’ll make it a competition. The one with the best performance each month will receive a reward.”
“Ordinary rewards will not motivate them.”
“One of my pills or weapons.”
The eyes of the Escort Sect martial artists following behind them lit up.
Jin Muryang sighed when he saw their reaction.
“Judging by those faces, I think it will work.”
When he looked back, every one of them seemed ready to sprint away the instant the order was given.
Jeok Wigang chuckled.
“What do you think? Sound good?”
“Yes! It sounds excellent!”
“And whoever earns the very best results will receive Bone-and-Body Rebirth from me personally.”
A wave of scorching enthusiasm surged from behind them.
Jeok Wigang glanced at Jin Muryang.
“Doesn’t look like we’ll need to persuade them after all, does it?”
“No. If they run out of inner power halfway there, they will probably crawl the rest of the way.”
“Good. We’ll discuss the details once we arrive.”
*****
Upon reaching the True Martial Merchant Company, Jeok Wigang gathered its leadership and presented his ideas.
“Clothing sounds promising.”
“The delivery service would also be valuable, provided we can make it work. However, it will only be effective if we offer a wide variety of goods.”
“Supplying fresh ingredients is not a bad idea either. It should appeal greatly to wealthy nobles.”
“What about delivering wine and building materials?”
Good suggestions came from every direction.
If they could truly put this plan into practice, it would revolutionize the entire merchant industry.
They might even become the greatest merchant company in the Central Plains.
“Good. Still, we shouldn’t rush. Let’s secure business partners first. Teach the delivery runners faster lightness arts, and have them begin stamina training and delivery drills in advance.”
The company leaders nodded.
“Then please begin preparations. I’ll speak to my father.”
“Understood. We will start looking for suitable businesses.”
Jeok Wigang held out a booklet with a grin.
“I already found them. Focus your efforts on the businesses listed here.”
“What is this?”
“A booklet I had the Lower Gate compile. Since it came from them, the information should be reliable.”
When they opened it, they found a comprehensive list of promising shops organized by trade.
If they intended to visit every establishment in the booklet, they could not afford to sit around idly.
“There are quite a few. Let us hurry and visit every place on this list.”
At Deputy Merchant Master Jang Pyeong’s words, everyone nodded.
Jang Pyeong gave Jeok Wigang a martial salute.
“You have worked tirelessly, Merchant Master. To make all these preparations while traveling such a long distance... You are truly a blessing upon the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“It’s only what I should do. All right, everyone. Let’s work together and make the True Martial Merchant Company the greatest merchant company in the Central Plains!”
“Yes!”
*****
“You’ve returned safely?”
“Yes.”
“You did well. I heard what happened. You received compensation from the Tang Family?”
“Yes. Tenfold compensation.”
“Hah. Tenfold? Was that not excessive?”
“I stopped there only because no one had died. Otherwise, the Tang Family would have...”
He did not finish, but Jeok Rihyeon understood.
The Tang Family’s name would likely have been erased from the Five Great Families.
As he considered that, another person caught his eye.
“And who might this young gentleman be?”
Tang Un stepped forward energetically and introduced himself.
“Greetings! I am Tang Un, Young Family Head of the Tang Family!”
“What? No... What brings the Young Family Head of the Tang Family here?”
“I have decided to receive guidance from Brother from now on. I will be in your care. Please treat me well.”
“Ah...”
You really should not have crossed that river...
Though now that he had followed Jeok Wigang here, it was probably already too late.
Jeok Rihyeon regarded Tang Un with pity.
“Oh! I will, of course, pay every expense I incur while staying here.”
“What? No, no. You have come as our guest. We should be the ones providing for you.”
That would ease Jeok Rihyeon’s conscience.
Tang Un’s family had entrusted their precious son to them, doubtless unaware that they had sent him straight into hell.
“Thank you for welcoming me so warmly.”
He had taken a guilty offer of hospitality as a heartfelt welcome.
Well, no harm done. If Tang Un was pleased by it, that was enough.
“Of course. Think of this as your own home and make yourself comfortable. Tell me whenever you need anything.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Yes.
Consideration.
Soon enough, nothing but screams would be coming from that mouth.
The least they could do was feed him properly.
“Is Grandfather at the training grounds?”
“Hm? Yes. He seems to be enjoying himself immensely now that he has Wiun to teach.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
Jeok Wigang looked at Tang Un.
“I have a younger brother named Jeok Wiun. Come to think of it, both your names contain Un.”
“Hahaha! Is that so?”
“You should be the same age.”
“That sounds wonderful. I came here and gained both a friend and a brother. This place must be perfect for me.”
Tang Un laughed heartily.
Jeok Rihyeon muttered inwardly.
Yes. Enjoy yourself while you still can... Come to think of it, I forgot about Father... Poor boy...
Jeok Wigang was not the end of it.
The Heavenly Martial Emperor, Jeok Mugun, was waiting.
He might even be harsher because Tang Un was someone else’s child.
Still, if Jeok Wigang had brought him here as a younger brother, the boy had to possess exceptional talent. His father would surely be pleased.
“I’ll head to the training grounds, then.”
“Go ahead. And, ah... Young Family Head Tang...”
“Please feel free to call me by my name.”
“Very well... Assign Un one of the newly constructed halls.”
Tang Un looked deeply moved.
“To think you would take such care of me... I shall honor you as I would my own father!”
“No, that is...”
Tang Un stared at him with such shining eyes that Jeok Rihyeon could not bring himself to refuse.
“Y-Yes...”
And just like that, Jeok Rihyeon had acquired an adopted son from the Tang Family.
*****
KWA-KWA-KWAAANG—
GRRRRIND—
A sudden explosion shook the earth, startling Tang Un.
He looked around frantically.
With a blast and tremor of that magnitude, some disaster should have broken out nearby.
Yet everything around them remained calm.
What was that?
Had he imagined it?
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
KWA-KWA-KWAAANG—
Another explosion rang out, accompanied by a violent tremor.
GRRRRIND—
Tang Un turned to Jeok Wigang in alarm, but Jeok Wigang spoke as though it were nothing noteworthy.
“Not bad. He managed to withstand all of Grandfather’s attack at thirty percent power.”
What?
Thirty percent?
This monstrous force was only thirty percent?
Tang Un stared at Jeok Wigang in disbelief.
A moment later, he saw what had caused the explosions and tremors.
A middle-aged man stood smiling with his hands clasped behind his back.
Before him was a young man in rags who looked as though he might stop breathing at any moment.
They were Jeok Mugun and Jeok Wiun.
“Hoho. Impressive. You managed to block my Azure Thunder Flashing Wind when it contained thirty percent of my power.”
“HAH— HAH... HAH... If I... didn’t block that... I would’ve died! Of course... I had to block it... HAH— HAH... I want... to live a long life!”
At the end, Jeok Wiun shouted as if deeply wronged.
“You little rascal. Do you truly think this grandfather would kill his beloved grandson? I only attack with as much force as you can endure.”
Jeok Wiun thought bitterly that if his grandfather loved him twice as much, the old man really would kill him.
“Your brother has returned today, so we will stop here.”
At the word brother, Jeok Wiun turned his head and saw Jeok Wigang standing nearby.
“When did you get back?”
“You’ve improved a lot.”
“I didn’t have much choice if I wanted to survive...”
“You must be terribly attached to life, judging by how much stronger you’ve become.”
“Brother... I should at least get married before I die.”
“Oh? Is there a woman you like?”
“No... I spend all day at the training grounds. How am I supposed to meet a woman?”
“Is that so? Then your brother will find someone for you.”
“Really?”
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