“W-What in the world happened here.”

The middle-aged merchant, who had been running a silk shop in the heart of Taiyuan, Shanxi for three generations, stood with his mouth agape.

“The, the silk.”

The silks that should have been densely packed were gone without a trace, various fixtures were damaged, and the man who should have been the shopkeeper, busy welcoming customers, was collapsed on the floor, drenched in sweat.

“A thief! We’ve been robbed!”

The merchant’s vision went dark, and his legs gave out. Although he already ran several silk shops, the one in Taiyuan was the largest, his main branch, and a symbolic place that had been passed down from his grandfather. For a thief to strike such a place. For all that silk to be completely cleaned out!

“I knew I was having too much good luck.”

For the past four months, the merchant had been touring the provinces, inspecting his stores and sealing a major contract. But the main branch he had returned to after so long was in a state of complete ruin. Unable to bear the shock, he collapsed to the floor. It was then that a voice spoke.

“Tsk, tsk, this place is in this state too. Martial artists, I tell you.”

A middle-aged man, who was clicking his tongue while surveying the inside of the shop, saw the collapsed merchant and his eyes widened.

“Oh? When did you get here? I heard you had a big deal, you’re back earlier than I thought.”

But the merchant, who was already half out of his mind, couldn’t hear him. Only one phrase from the middle-aged man’s words echoed in his ears.

“H-Here too?”

“Hmm?”

GRAB!

The merchant grabbed the middle-aged man’s collar and shook him violently.

“You said it yourself! That this place is in this state too!”

“W-Whoa, whoa, I did. But can’t we talk after you let go of my collar?”

“What happened? Martial bandits? Robbers? Or did a war break out and the government office commandeer it all? And what do you mean by martial artists?”

“Hey, I said let go and talk!”

The middle-aged man, who had finally shaken off the merchant’s grip, grumbled as he inspected his clothes.

“Aww, and this was a new outfit.”

“If you don’t tell me right now, you die and I die.”

“Alright, alright.”

“So, what on earth happened?”

The middle-aged man’s answer was simple.

“It all sold out.”

“…?”

“You weren’t robbed, it’s all gone because it sold out, my friend. So pull yourself together.”

The merchant, who had been staring blankly at the middle-aged man, barely managed to open his mouth.

“Are you crazy? Does that make any sense? Who would buy over a thousand rolls of silk all at once?”

“Government officials, merchants, martial artists. They all flocked here without distinction and swept everything away.”

“…Why?”

“Why else? Everyone’s trying to make a good impression on the Taiyuan Jin Family.”

“The Taiyuan Jin Family? The Jin Family I know?”

“Of course, the Jin Family. You think it was the Hengshan Sword Sect?”

“The Hengshan Sword Sect? Why them? Did something happen?”

“…You haven’t heard the news?”

“I’ve just returned after four months on the road. I came straight here without even seeing my wife’s face!”

“W-Wait! Please calm down. I’ll tell you everything.”

The middle-aged man, not wanting his new clothes to be ruined, quickly and simply explained the situation over the past few months. A shichen later, the merchant, having heard the whole story from the war between the Jin Family and the Hengshan Sword Sect to the present, muttered with a dazed expression.

“All of that happened?”

“I’m telling you. It’s a complete madhouse with the appearance of the Fire King. Not to mention Shanxi, the place is crawling with outsiders who have come to see him.”

The middle-aged man continued with an excited face.

“I’ve been doing business in Taiyuan for over twenty years, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a boom.”

“For that to be the case, the number of people on the streets doesn’t seem any different from usual…”

“The sun has been at its zenith for ages, who would still be dawdling on the streets? They packed their things and ran to the Taiyuan Jin Family long ago.”

“Hah… It’s hard to believe.”

“I sold out my entire stock, right down to the inventory.”

“A-Already?”

“Why are you so surprised? It’s nothing compared to you. And this is information I heard from a reliable source…” The middle-aged man whispered in a suggestive voice. “The meeting, which was originally scheduled for three days, is likely to be extended. The rumors are spreading fast, and the real big shots are starting to make their move.”

“Real big shots, you say?”

“The prestigious and great sects of the martial world have started to move. Even the head of the Shi Family Stronghold[1], said to be the greatest in the merchant world, and His Highness the Prince of Sangsan went to the Jin Family this morning.”

“His Highness the Prince of Sangsan too?”

“That’s why even the slow-as-molasses government officials have gotten busy. A member of the imperial family is coming, so they have to show their faces and make a token of their sincerity, don’t they?”

“That’s right. And they have to get there faster than anyone else.”

“What kind of place is this Taiyuan? It may not be the Central Plains, but it is undeniably the foremost commercial city in Shanxi. You can buy just about anything here.”

“Local procurement. Makes sense.”

“And as more people look for things, items will become scarce, so the prices will go up too.”

The merchant’s eyes gleamed. He realized this was not something that would end in a day or two. The panic and despair he had felt at first had long since vanished, and a mountain of silver coins shimmered before his eyes.

This is an opportunity.

He could make connections with figures from the martial world, the merchant world, and the government, and if he played his cards right, he could land a massive deal. Having finished all his calculations, the merchant said to the middle-aged man.

“I filled a few warehouses just in case. I’ll sell you a portion at a reasonable price, so speak freely. Who do I need to go see?”

The middle-aged man, who had just hit the jackpot, smiled broadly and replied.

“For now, just remember three people. The Fire King, the Lesser Family Head of the Taiyuan Jin Family, Jin Wi-gyeong, and the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi, Jin Tae-kyung.”

“…The Fire King and the Lesser Family Head, I get. But why that scoundrel, Jin Tae-kyung?”

“Ahem, it’s the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi now. And he is a youth that will soon become a great master who will sway the world.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Tsk, tsk, for a merchant, you’re so out of the loop.”

The middle-aged man savored the look of confusion on the merchant’s face. And finally, he revealed the fact he had been saving for this very moment.

“The Fire King has taken the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi as his disciple.”

“What? Is that true!”

“I’m telling you. Two days ago, an elder of the Zhongnan Sect who didn’t know that fact caused a scene and went back after getting a harsh lesson. He’s already entrusted the sacred object of his sect to the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi.”

“Th-Then…”

“It’s safe to say that half the people visiting the Jin Family now are going not to see the Fire King, but to make a good impression on the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi.”

The Fire King was certainly one of the handful of Transcendent Realm masters in the world, but he was as old as he could be, and had no real power base to speak of. But Jin Tae-kyung was different. He had his young age of twenty-one, outstanding martial talent, and the strong background of the Taiyuan Jin Family.

No, that’s not right.

Now it was the opposite. The Taiyuan Jin Family had gained a tremendous background. The background of the famous Fire King, and of Jin Tae-kyung, who could grow into a Transcendent Realm master comparable to his teacher in the future. The merchant’s face flushed red with excitement.

“That’s truly like giving wings to a tiger.⁵”

“That’s why you have to get on board before it flies away.”

It was an opportunity worth pouring his entire fortune into. Having finally made up his mind, the merchant opened his mouth.

“I must meet the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi at once.”

“Of course, that’s how you should be thinking. But right now, it’ll be hard to meet him even if you go with a thousand gold pieces.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. According to the Jin Family, he suddenly entered closed-door cultivation.”⁶

“Closed-door cultivation? That thing martial artists do? No, why on earth would he do that now?”

The middle-aged man sighed deeply.

“That’s what I’m saying. I heard Heavenly-Shaking Sword is also in seclusion, talking about enlightenment or some such.”

“Hah, isn’t there some way?”

“I wonder. The situation has gotten too big too quickly. It seems the Jin Family estate is bursting at the seams, so they’re being selective about who they let in.”

“You, didn’t you say you had a rather close acquaintance with some host at the Jin Family? I hear you even slipped him a few bribes.”

“He’s dead. In the last war.”

“Oh dear.”

With big shots from every field on the move, it wasn’t easy for mere merchants like them to squeeze in. As the two of them put their heads together and agonized, the merchant suddenly spoke.

“I do have one person I know over there.”

“Ooh, someone you know well?”

“Very well. He’s the one my wife gave birth to.”

At the merchant’s reply, the middle-aged man’s forehead wrinkled. Having known each other for a long time, they knew each other’s family histories inside and out.

“You mean your eldest son?”

“Yes. The unfilial brat hasn’t shown his face in years. Judging by the fact that my wife hasn’t said anything, he must have managed to stay alive somehow…”

The middle-aged man nodded, his face deflated.

“Well, you might as well try contacting him this time. Who knows? He might be doing well as a respectable martial artist.”

At those words, the merchant let out a hollow laugh.

“A silk merchant’s son, a martial artist? He’s probably waiting on someone hand and foot.”

“Wouldn’t it be good if that someone was the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi?”

“No way. If that’s the case, my family name from today onwards will not be Hyeok, but Gyeon. Gyeon[2], as in dog!”

***

“Ah-choo!”

With the sneeze, my back felt cool. Lying face down on the bed with my upper body exposed, I spoke quietly.

“Mujin, do you want to die?”

Hyeok Mujin, who was wiping my back with a cloth soaked in cold water, replied.

“Oh, my apologies. My nose suddenly got itchy.”

“Try it one more time. It will be the last sneeze of your life.”

“…Yep.”

“Good. Keep wiping.”

Swish. Swish.

Every time the cold cloth brushed against my back, a throbbing pain flared up. It was only natural, as my entire upper body was covered in dark blue bruises.

Damn it. It’s been two days and I’m still in this state.

This was a first for me. Until now, I had always recovered quickly from any considerable injury with sleep mode and energy circulation. The [Physical Foundation] and [Internal Foundation] I had poured points into every time I leveled up were not easily damaged by ordinary blows. However…

As expected of a Transcendent Realm master.

In front of the Fire King, none of that mattered. He was quiet for a long while, then suddenly chased me down and beat me up. It wasn’t even the Flaming Divine Palm Arts, just his bare fists, but it felt like my bones and flesh were being separated. By the time I came to my senses from the immense pain, I was in the infirmary of the Jin Family estate, and after being moved to my quarters, I have been confined to bed for two whole days.

“That damned old man.”

“Gasp.”

At my words, Hyeok Mujin sucked in a breath.

“Squad Leader, are you crazy? You’ll really die if you keep that up.”

“Let him kill me. What are people outside saying?”

“For now, the official story is that you’re in closed-door cultivation. It would be a bit much if a rumor spread that the Fire King beat up the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi.”

“And my older brother?”

“What could the Lesser Family Head do? When he first heard the report, he got incredibly angry and went to find Great Hero Jeok…”

“He went to find him, and?”

“After seeing the burnt manual of the Flaming Divine Palm Arts, he apologized several times and came back.”

“Sorry for what? Did I set it on fire? He set it on fire. And he beats a person like this just because it got a little singed?”

“When I took a peek, it wasn’t just a little singed. The cover with the title was almost half-burnt, so the Flaming Divine Palm Arts became just ‘Flame.’”

“Anyway, it’s probably best we stop talking about this. You might not care, Squad Leader, but I’m too scared to continue. If Great Hero Jeok suddenly walks in while we’re talking like this, we’re both dead men, aren’t we?”

“That’s true.”

Hyeok Mujin’s foresight was great. Not long after he finished speaking, the door burst open.

“Ugh!”

“…You two, what’s with that reaction?”

“N-N-Nothing.”

The small old man, Jeok Cheon-kang, narrowed his eyes and looked at us, then snorted.

“Fine. Since it didn’t reach my ears, I’ll let it slide this time.”

Showing an unexpectedly cool side, he gestured towards Hyeok Mujin with his chin.

“You, get out now. You’re in the way.”

I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I think it would be better if you stayed.

Hyeok Mujin responded to my desperate gaze.

“Yep. I will take my leave now. Good luck, sir!”

“Right.”

…Son of a bitch.

As Hyeok Mujin scampered out, I was seized with anxiety. The way Jeok Cheon-kang was looking at my naked upper body was unusual.

“W-Why?”

Surely, it can’t be.

But Jeok Cheon-kang’s eyes were glinting with an unreadable heat.

“Take off your pants too.”

“Gasp. W-What do you mean by that?”

“Take everything off, don’t leave a single scrap of cloth.”

I desperately covered my chest. My voice trembled with shame and fear.

“I-I like someone.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

So he has a Western mindset!

I’m doomed. I can’t see a way out. Just as I froze, Jeok Cheon-kang bellowed.

“Ah, I’m going to perform Marrow Cleansing, so take off your clothes and lie down right now!”

Ah, you should have just said so sooner.