Chapter 182: The Next Best Option (2)
Chapter 181 – The Next Best Option (2)
“The Sect Leader of the Three Peaks Sect?”
Chae Seon-il opened his eyes wide.
And for good reason, was it not a completely unexpected figure? It wasn’t like they were acquainted either.
“Why from the Three Peaks Sect?”
“They say they came to deliver an item.”
The chief administrator also tilted his head as he answered.
Even as he reported, he too seemed unable to understand.
What item could the Three Peaks Sect possibly have to deliver to the Wuzhou Merchant Association?
He wondered if they had come to the wrong place, but there would be no such possibility. The Wuzhou Merchant Association was not some corner store.
Since they were talking about the Three Peaks Sect just now, it felt even more coincidental.
“Good grief. Let’s meet him in person first. Where is he right now?”
“I have shown him to the Reception Hall.”
“Let us go.”
“Yes, Owner.”
The chief administrator bowed and led the way. Even as he followed the chief administrator, all kinds of thoughts were jumbled in Chae Seon-il’s mind.
‘Could it be that the Jangheung Escort Agency failed and sent the Three Peaks Sect?’
It made no sense.
Sending someone from the Three Peaks Sect made no sense in the first place, but even if they did, it was not something the Sect Leader would come in person for.
‘Well, maybe it is for the best. I can use this opportunity to see if the Three Peaks Sect is interested in the escort business. It would be good to open up multiple routes anyway.’
For a merchant, meeting people was ultimately part of business.
If the Three Peaks Sect was growing stronger day by day like that, was he not someone he should have met at least once eventually?
While having such thoughts, the two arrived at the Reception Hall.
As they entered, the two men who had been drinking tea stood up and cupped their fists.
“How do you do, Owner? I do not know what to do with myself after you welcome an uninvited guest who came without warning like this. I am Do Ji-baek, who leads the insignificant sect called Three Peaks.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Chae of the Wuzhou Merchant Association. It is an honor to receive such a precious guest.”
“Haha, you flatter me.”
Polite greetings close to small talk briefly exchanged between the two.
However, Chae Seon-il was a merchant.
He was not someone who would babble useless small talk all day long.
He brought up the main topic at an appropriate moment.
“You seem to have traveled a long way, so why have you visited this humble place?”
“Haha, a humble place? There is no one in Guangxi Province who does not know the Wuzhou Merchant Association. Of course, it was not my intention to come here from the start. I just happened to have business in Wuzhou, and unintentionally came into possession of an item to deliver to your association.”
“An item to deliver…?”
“Please see for yourself first.”
Having finished speaking, Do Ji-baek sent a look to Gang Sang-do standing beside him.
Of course, Gang Sang-do was wearing a human skin mask and was only faithful to his role as Do Ji-baek’s attendant.
He set a large box on the table, opened the lid, and took out the contents.
At that moment, Chae Seon-il’s eyes shook.
“This is…! The Three-Lotus Seated Buddha Statue!”
“You recognize it immediately, indeed. It has truly found its proper owner.”
“A-ah, no. How is this here…?”
Chae Seon-il repeatedly looked back and forth between Do Ji-baek and the Three-Lotus Seated Buddha Statue.
Do Ji-baek wore a bitter smile.
“Actually, I was lucky.”
“What do you mean by being lucky?”
“I do not know how this will sound to you, but I picked it up on the way.”
“Picked it up on the way…?”
Chae Seon-il wore a completely clueless expression and then asked pressingly.
“Sect Leader, I want to hear details.”
“Yes, actually, I was on my way down to Wuzhou because I had business, and ran into the Black Mountain Stronghold on the way.”
“Oh. I heard the notoriety of the Black Mountain Stronghold is rising day by day…”
“They had already raided an escort party that passed by earlier than me and gathered plenty of spoils. Yet, without knowing how to be satisfied, they raided me as well. Quite foolishly, I must say.”
At that, Gang Sang-do, who stood silently beside him, let out a groan with a very uncomfortable expression.
However, Chae Seon-il did not pay the slightest attention to Gang Sang-do’s reaction.
He asked with his brow heavily furrowed.
“So what happened? Of course, the fact that you are standing here fine, Sect Leader, must mean their raid failed?”
“Yes. They must have let their guard down because I only brought an attendant. I did not want to get blood on my hands if possible, but I could not avoid the quarrel they picked first. Well, actually, it was also because my personality is such that I cannot stand by when seeing injustice.”
“Oh! Then you defeated them and retrieved this item…?”
“Yes. I confiscated the spoils of the Black Mountain Stronghold. That was when I saw this Three-Lotus Seated Buddha Statue.”
“Ah…!”
Chae Seon-il let out a sigh.
Although it was a relief to recover the lost item in this manner, it meant the Jangheung Escort Agency had failed this time as well, so his worries naturally deepened.
The chief administrator, who had been listening from the side, carefully intervened.
“Excuse me for interrupting, but how did the Sect Leader know that the item belonged to our association?”
“I interrogated those fellows. They said it was an item they snatched after raiding an escort party bound for the Wuzhou Merchant Association.”
“So you came all this way on purpose just to deliver it.”
When Chae Seon-il spoke, nodding his head heavily, Do Ji-baek cupped his fists and smiled.
“As someone belonging to the Jianghu, how could I just pass by when seeing injustice? Since I had stepped forward anyway, I wished to offer a small help to the Owner, who must be searching desperately for the lost item.”
“Thank you. I have indeed received a great favor.”
“Don’t mention it. I merely did my duty.”
Do Ji-baek replied calmly, drawing a good-natured smile.
Attendant Gang Sang-do, standing beside him, shook his head inwardly at Do Ji-baek’s shamelessness.
Do Ji-baek laughed heartily and added.
“Then, since I have delivered the item, I will take my leave.”
At that moment, Gang Sang-do flinched and looked at Do Ji-baek.
Huh? Leaving just like this?
However, Chae Seon-il quickly stepped forward and stopped him.
“Leaving like this? Since our association received a great favor, it is only proper that we reward the Sect Leader.”
“Oh dear, do not say such things. It was not done for a reward.”
“However, there is no free lunch in the world. If I do not pay a suitable price, I will end up suffering a loss of that amount elsewhere. So please allow me to repay the favor.”
“Good grief, a favor? I merely did what is proper as a human being, yet you are the first to call it a favor in all my life. Please do not do this.”
“Now, Sect Leader. I will be disappointed if you just leave like this.”
As Chae Seon-il held onto his sleeve and would not let go to the end, Gang Sang-do, who was watching, was actually on pins and needles.
And for good reason, because Do Ji-baek really looked as if he was going to pretend to be a good person all by himself and head back.
That was how perfect Do Ji-baek’s acting was.
At this point, Do Ji-baek let out a sigh and spoke.
“Owner, you really make me embarrassed.”
“Please do not be, and tell me if there is anything you want. This Three-Lotus Seated Buddha Statue was the most important item in this escort mission. Since the Sect Leader found it, how is it not a favor?”
“Hmm. If you insist…”
Now things seem to be going the right way.
While Gang Sang-do wore a satisfied smile inwardly, completely unexpected words flowed from Do Ji-baek’s mouth.
“Please do not scold the Jangheung Escort Agency too much when they arrive later.”
“Huh? Why is that…”
“The Black Mountain Stronghold is a fearsome organization in the Guilin area. The Jangheung Escort Agency must have also fought bravely, suffering immense casualties. As a fellow martial artist from Guilin, it weighs on my mind.”
“Oh…!”
Chae Seon-il gasped at Do Ji-baek’s generosity. Naturally, Gang Sang-do standing beside him also opened his mouth wide at that shamelessness.
“However, as a merchant, I cannot just overlook repeated failures. Since the Sect Leader speaks so, I will not press the Jangheung Escort Agency further, but I can no longer trade with them.”
“Sigh. It is truly regrettable.”
Do Ji-baek let out a sigh with an expression overflowing with sincerity.
‘Wow, this bastard is really! Really a son of a bitch!’
Gang Sang-do shook his head again.
Just then, Chae Seon-il stared blankly at Do Ji-baek with a determined expression.
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes, Owner.”
“Then, would you do me a favor?”
“If it is a favor?”
“I was already troubled because the Black Mountain Stronghold has been rampant. This is already the third time the Jangheung Escort Agency has failed in an escort mission. So I was thinking of completely cutting off trade with them.”
“Yes, the Wuzhou Merchant Association must have its position as well. I spoke without considering that far. I am sorry.”
“No. I was truly moved by your generosity, Sect Leader. Thus, an idea came to my mind…”
“What might it be?”
“If the Wuzhou Merchant Association cuts ties, the Jangheung Escort Agency will tread the path of ruin anyway. So rather…”
“Rather?”
“I wonder if it would be a good idea for our association to acquire the escort agency and entrust its management to the Three Peaks Sect.”
“Pardon?”
Do Ji-baek opened his eyes wide in genuine surprise. However, Gang Sang-do standing beside him found it hard to tell whether this was also acting or real.
However, Do Ji-baek was truly surprised.
For he too had not expected them to come up with such an unconventional proposal.
Was this not a case where he threw bait and the fish jumped straight into the net?
At this point, Do Ji-baek’s desire also wriggled.
The words to write a contract right away rose to his throat, but he suppressed them tightly.
The more rushed one is, the more one must take a detour.
“That is utterly out of the question. How could I take on such a heavy responsibility…”
“Sect Leader! I am speaking seriously!”
Do Ji-baek stared at Chae Seon-il.
Indeed, they must be in a hurry.
The Jangheung Escort Agency was in charge of the goods coming from Guilin, but since they failed repeatedly, a backup plan would be needed.
Gang Sang-do standing beside him looked at him as if asking what he was hesitating for.
“Hmm. It is such a sudden proposal that I am a bit flustered.”
“Isn’t life originally something that changes suddenly one day? A person’s life changes depending on whether they adapt to it or not.”
Chae Seon-il looked at him as if asking, ‘Which one are you?’
He had heard that the drive of the Owner of the Wuzhou Merchant Association was extraordinary, but he did not know it would be this unchecked.
Only after a long while did Do Ji-baek nod as if reluctantly.
“If the Owner’s will is truly so…”
“Hahaha! Thank you! It seems all my worries have been cleared at once! I look forward to working with you!”
“I also look forward to it.”
“Strike while the iron is hot, they say. Since you traveled a long way, how about writing the contract now?”
It is good that he is straightforward.
Do Ji-baek hid his smile inwardly, pretended to hesitate for a moment, and nodded.
“Hmm. Let us do so. Since it is too far to come back anyway.”
“Haha, wise decision. Then, please come this way…”
Just then, a servant ran over and reported.
“Owner! The Jangheung Escort Agency has arrived!”
“…!”
In an instant, everyone in the hall flinched and looked back.
Do Ji-baek’s expression, in particular, contorted strangely.
‘The Jangheung Escort Agency already? They arrived faster than expected.’
He thought they would be quite late due to severe loss of strength, but they managed to hurry over.
Meanwhile, Chae Seon-il replied with a very lukewarm expression.
“Their load must have been light because they lost so much. Seeing how quickly they arrived.”
“Pardon?”
“No. I will go myself.”
“Yes, Owner.”
As the servant withdrew, Chae Seon-il turned to Do Ji-baek.
“Let us go together.”
“Pardon? Me too?”
“Yes, aren’t you the one who retrieved the goods the Jangheung Escort Agency lost? And you are also the one who will manage the escort agency in the future.”
“That is true, but…”
“Is there a problem?”
“Rather than a problem… actually, because my sect is a new one, we are receiving some check in Guilin.”
“Ah, territorial behavior.”
“Well, something like that. It is not incomprehensible, but recently the Biwol Sect’s territorial behavior has been quite severe… A few days ago, my son visited the Biwol Sect and returned injured.”
“Oh! Such a thing! I cannot stand this. You care so much even though it is the same region, Sect Leader!”
“Everyone has their own circumstances.”
“Let’s go. We must go and see their faces.”
As Chae Seon-il spoke, huffing, Do Ji-baek quickly received a promise.
“Then, Owner, please do not be swayed no matter how they slander me. It will only be slanders without evidence anyway.”
“Do not worry! What tricks can those who lost the goods play?”
Having finished speaking, Chae Seon-il walked with large strides, wearing a furious expression.