Jin Cheon-hee finally settled on two merchant guilds for the final contracts.

The rights to the ondol would be granted to the Putuo Merchant Guild, which was affiliated with the Putuo Escort Agency. This decision wasn’t solely based on his connection to Abbess A-bi, but rather on the fact that their maritime trade routes would facilitate the smooth supply of materials. He was astounded when Gong Ban-ha unexpectedly appeared as the representative of the Putuo Merchant Guild.

“Shouldn’t you be with the Gong-woon Escort Agency?”

The Gong-woon Escort Agency was a small-to-medium-sized agency that leased space in the same building as the Putuo Escort Agency. After he had rescued her brother, Gong Il-sang, from bandits, he had met his sister, Gong Ban-ha, through that connection and had even been given the VIP room at the Cheonsang Inn.

To think that she was now with the Putuo Merchant Guild, not even the escort agency…

Gong Ban-ha let out a small sigh. “I am embarrassed to say this to my benefactor, but we ran into management difficulties. The Gong-woon Escort Agency has been reorganized into the Putuo Merchant Guild.”

Running a small escort agency can’t be easy.

In a way, an escort agency was akin to a modern delivery company. A large, established corporation could comfortably operate on its existing infrastructure, but for a small business, every single task was a formidable challenge. This was particularly true since the escort business wasn’t a blue ocean, but a blood-red one. If the world had followed the original novel’s trajectory, where the Cloud-Dragon Escort Agency met its demise, things might have been different. However, in this reality, the agency had firmly established itself, and any new agency had to overcome that formidable barrier.

The Gong-woon Escort Agency’s failure was inevitable.

Instead, it appeared that they had been absorbed into the Putuo Merchant Guild, forming a cooperative relationship with the Putuo Escort Agency. Mergers and acquisitions were the same in the Murim as they were in the modern world.

Jin Cheon-hee offered some words of encouragement. “Still, you possess a keen eye for trends, and many people are willing to assist you. I am certain that you will achieve success.”

“Thank you, Great Hero.”

Jin Cheon-hee guided Gong Ban-ha into a toasty ondol room.

“In the Zhongyuan style, we would normally use a table and chairs… but I had them removed, as I wanted you to feel the heat from the floor.”

Jin Cheon-hee led her to a floor cushion. Gong Ban-ha nodded and sat down.

Yoo Ho entered, having boiled tea, and brought it over on a small tray with a tea set. As if on cue, snow began to fall outside the window.

On a cold day, there’s nothing better than an ondol.

The warm floor naturally made one want to stretch out like a piece of sticky rice cake. Gong Ban-ha didn’t go that far, but she did place her hand on the floor, seeming to test its warmth.

“I heard you wish to purchase the construction method for this ondol.”

Swish.

Jin Cheon-hee poured her a cup of tea as he spoke.

Gong Ban-ha nodded. “Yes. That is why our merchant guild has made a bid, even if it strains us, to acquire it. I was so surprised to hear that you had invented it yourself, Great Hero.”

“I didn’t invent it. This is merely an adaptation of a method used elsewhere, modified for the Zhongyuan style.”

“And where is that place?”

“It is… very far away, and difficult to speak of.”

It’s the Republic of Korea-brand ondol, from the blue planet Earth. The third planet from the sun, located near the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Jin Cheon-hee swallowed those words.

Gong Ban-ha was lost in thought for a moment before speaking, ”The martial artists who experienced the ondol at the White Qilin Medical Pavilion are contacting numerous merchant guilds, wanting to build similar ones. We wish to learn directly from you, Great Hero, and build a business from it.”

In short, they want to be the official, licensed distributor.

Gong Ban-ha continued, “Furthermore, one sect leader spent a great fortune to have glass windows installed in his home. Of course, the transparency doesn’t compare to what the White Qilin Medical Pavilion has, but there are many who wish to emulate it, even to that extent.”

“Ah… I see.”

Jin Cheon-hee nodded. Neither he nor Gong Ban-ha was the type to beat around the bush, and time was money.

“I want thirty percent.”

“Thirty… percent?”

“Yes. Of the net profit from a single ondol construction, I wish to receive thirty percent of the proceeds.”

“…”

Gong Ban-ha sank into thought. “We were thinking one percent.”

Jin Cheon-hee continued, “If an ondol is used improperly, it can kill people. I will also be disseminating information on the dangers of an improperly constructed ondol.”

This era uses firewood, not coal briquettes, so it’s better than those days, but that doesn’t mean carbon monoxide poisoning is impossible. Even in the modern era, you still hear about accidents at campsites or with fireplaces in countryside homes. On top of that, improper construction often leads to fires. This is something that can kill people.

It was something that had been weighing on his mind, and this was a good opportunity to address it. In short, he was going to launch a ‘No Fakes, Use Genuine Products’ campaign.

“There are many who would pay for the White Qilin Medical Pavilion’s medical reports.”

Gong Ban-ha was lost in thought. “…I cannot win against you, Great Hero. Thirty percent. For an exclusive mutual contract.”

To give up thirty percent, she had to have an exclusive deal. If Jin Cheon-hee turned around and sold the technology to this guild and that guild, Gong Ban-ha would have been stabbed in the back.

Jin Cheon-hee replied, “That is a good deal.”

He had been expecting that much from the start.

Next up was the sale of Blue Jade.

For this, an unexpected bidder stepped forward: the Gongsun sisters, Gongsun Hyeon and Gongsun Yeong. Of course, Gongsun Yeong had just been dragged along; the owner of the Gongsun Merchant Guild was her older sister, Gongsun Hyeon.

And the escort who had come with them… was Wang Gak-yeon.

Gongsun Yeong, dressed in a martial arts uniform embroidered with the Gongsun family’s symbolic pine tree, was doting on Wang Gak-yeon as if she were her favorite stuffed doll.

“Hey, Benefactor Shorty! Wow, you’ve gotten tall!”

Gongsun Yeong’s voice was as boisterous as ever as she waved enthusiastically at Jin Cheon-hee. Jin Cheon-hee greeted her in return, and next to her, Wang Gak-yeon was blushing furiously.

“Gak-yeon-ah!”

“Cheon… Cheon-hee-ya!”

Wang Gak-yeon’s face turned bright red.

She probably didn’t expect to come back here for work.

It seemed Wang Gak-yeon, who had left declaring, ‘I’m going to go do something amazing!’, hadn’t expected to be dragged back for business before she’d even finished.

Wang Gak-yeon has also grown up well.

It had been a long time, and she had matured greatly. Notably, the quiver on her back was empty.

She’s entered the Realm of Mind Bow.

It seemed Wang Gak-yeon had, at a young age, achieved the same realm as Phantom Archer, who could shoot his internal energy in place of arrows. He was happy that his friend had gotten stronger. Jin Cheon-hee’s mood lifted automatically. Behind the two, Gongsun Hyeon was panting as she tried to catch up.

“Girls… just… just a moment… let’s rest…”

“See, Eonni, I told you to just ride the palanquin up.”

“That’s right, Eonni. Or do you want me to carry you?”

As Wang Gak-yeon naturally shifted into a piggyback stance, Gongsun Hyeon frantically waved her hands. “No, no! What would people think? I can’t do that! Honestly…” Even as she spoke, Gongsun Hyeon’s eyes glistened with honey as she gazed at the two of them. Her oddly contorted posture remained the same, but her complexion had noticeably improved. When you’re around bright people, you tend to become brighter yourself.

Ever since that day, Gongsun Hyeon had lived every day grateful for her sister’s presence. Then, through Jin Cheon-hee’s introduction, Wang Gak-yeon had entered her life, and it seemed she had been living a happy, scheming life, pinching Wang Gak-yeon’s plump cheeks.

The Gongsun Merchant Guild’s growth rate has been terrifying lately.

It wasn’t just about making money; their skill at eliminating competitors was astonishing. And everyone in the Central Plains knew that Gongsun Hyeon was the one behind it.

Jin Cheon-hee offered a martial salute. “It is wonderful to see all three of you.”

“I am pleased to be able to see the Little White Dragon, whose great name resounds through the Murim.”

The elder sister, Gongsun Hyeon, still formally greeted Jin Cheon-hee. Gongsun Yeong, as if displeased with her sister’s formality, wrapped her arms around her from behind and lifted her straight up.

“Eek! Yeong-ah!”

“C’mon, Eonni, you’re plotting some terrifying scheme again, aren’t you? Let’s not do it to Benefactor Shorty. Okay?”

“…Huu, Yeong-ah.”

“Yeah, Eonni? It’s not like I do this to anyone else.”

As Gongsun Yeong nuzzled her cheek against her sister’s, Gongsun Hyeon finally couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“I give up. Honestly. This is why the clan members are starting to notice we’re close.”

“I still don’t get why we have to hide it.”

“As I have told you time and time again, the dynamic between the main and branch families in our Gongsun Clan is rigid…”

“Alright, alright, I get it.”

Gongsun Yeong waved her hands dismissively. She had been born with the Supreme Yang Physique, and had lived her entire life swinging a sword, the very embodiment of a martial artist. Gongsun Hyeon was no match for her boisterous energy.

“…As you can see, this is how it is. There’s a power struggle between the main and branch families, so we were hiding our relationship, but Yeong-ah… has no intention of hiding it, so more and more people are catching on.”

Gongsun Hyeon sighed, her expression pale. Her goal was to pass the position of Patriarch to Gongsun Yeong and then leave. To do that, she had to use the fight between the main and branch families. But her younger sister, Gongsun Yeong, was an “older sister-holic” without a single shred of ambition.

Looks like she’s finally starting to grasp reality.

Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t say it out loud, but it seemed Gongsun Hyeon herself was beginning to realize that it might be impossible for her cousin to become the Matriarch.

Gongsun Hyeon said, “And Yeon-i, whom you introduced, is serving as my bodyguard and helping with the guild’s work. She has reached the Realm of Mind Bow and has begun to be called the ‘Little Bow Queen’.”

It seemed she was calling Wang Gak-yeon “Yeon-i” as a nickname.

“Yeon-ah, you’re home. Why are you acting so shy?”

“…”

Wang Gak-yeon, her face beet-red, shrank back. At that, Gongsun Yeong grabbed Wang Gak-yeon and lifted her up, just as she had her sister.

“Aaargh! Eonni!”

“Hahaha! What’s there to be shy about! This is more than enough for a triumphant return!”

“B-but… I haven’t returned triumphantly! I didn’t get a secret manual, or eat an elixir…”

Wang Gak-yeon had high standards.

It was then.

“Gak-yeon-ah!”

A booming voice echoed from behind Jin Cheon-hee. It was Elder Phantom Archer. The moment he spotted Wang Gak-yeon, he rushed over, shouting.

“You’ve grown so much.”

His large eyes began to well up with cow-sized tears.

Wang Gak-yeon, flustered, yelled back. “Dad, are… are you crying?!”

“What are you talking about. This dad doesn’t cry over things like this.”

His shoulders began to shake.

She was his child who had ‘left home for the Murim’. Although he had waited patiently with the heart of a martial artist, this was his daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. Seeing how much she had grown, the heart of a father couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Don’t cry! Dad!”

“I told you I’m not crying.”

Even his lips began to tremble.

Gongsun Yeong, unable to watch any longer, gave Wang Gak-yeon a firm slap on the back.

“Go on, give him a hug.”

“Oh, geez…”

Even as she said it, tears welled up in Wang Gak-yeon’s eyes. No matter how much she wanted to leave for the Murim, get a cool epithet, and become a Great Hero, life away from home was still hard. Even with Jin Cheon-hee looking out for her, it couldn’t compare to living at home with her family.

“…Dad.”

Wang Gak-yeon couldn’t hold back any longer and threw her arms around her father.

Phantom Archer patted her back and said, “Don’t cry, my daughter. Your dad… will do better.”

“…You’re the one crying, Dad.”

Watching the scene, Gongsun Hyeon spoke calmly.

“Yeon-ah. I’m giving you two days off. Spend today reconnecting with your father.”

“What are you talking about? I’m going to work.”

“Enough! Take it when I offer it.”

Gongsun Yeong cackled.

운룡표국, 雲龍鏢局

Illusion (호환, 虎患): Literally “Tiger-Inflicted Calamity” or “Tiger-Inflicted Misfortune.” This is a historical term from Joseon-era Korea referring to the very real and frequent danger posed by tigers, which were once abundant on the Korean peninsula.

Willow Leaf Saber (유엽도, 柳葉刀): Literally “willow leaf saber.” A type of single-edged Chinese saber (dao) popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It features a moderate curve and a blade that tapers towards the tip, resembling a willow leaf, making it versatile for both slashing and thrusting.

소형제; A familiar, friendly term of address for a younger male.

A brilliant and influential strategist from China’s Three Kingdoms period who served the warlord Cao Cao. Unlike more famous strategists known for battlefield victories (like Zhuge Liang or Zhou Yu), Xun Yu was a master of political administration, logistics, and talent recruitment. However, his story is tragic; he ultimately fell out of favor with Cao Cao over ideological differences and was forced to commit suicide.

Describes a refreshing, cathartic, and satisfying moment where a frustrating situation is resolved, often through a protagonist’s clever or overwhelming action. The feeling is likened to the crisp, refreshing fizz of drinking a carbonated cider.

A core concept in Wuxia and Xianxia (cultivation) genres. A Heart Demon is an internal, psychological obstacle born from unresolved trauma, obsession, guilt, or profound despair. It can physically manifest as a blockage in one’s Qi circulation, halting a martial artist’s progress and potentially leading to Qi deviation or death.

Type of body scan machine.

陣法

進法