Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Like other prominent trading companies, the Baekhwa Trading Company had established branches throughout Zhongyuan.

Of course, it was said there were no branches in regions where the Moyong Clan, who controlled key territories, or local authorities had not granted permission.

Still, even excluding those areas, the company’s reach spanned nearly the entire continent.

The main headquarters was reportedly located somewhere in Xi’an.

When asked why Xi’an, out of all possible cities, was chosen as the headquarters, the answer was likely simple: the Mihoran Clan, to which the trading company’s master belonged, was based there.

Not that I had ever visited.

‘Why would I even go there?

’Perhaps someone like Gu Yeonseo or Gu Heebi might have reason to, but it certainly wasn’t my kind of destination.

Anyway, excluding its headquarters, the Hanam Branch was easily the most influential of all the Baekhwa Trading Company’s locations.

Hanam was not only home to Wudang and the Murim Alliance headquarters, but also one of Zhongyuan’s largest cities.

This branch generated more revenue than even the headquarters itself.

Its importance was reflected in its grandeur—the building was one of the tallest and most prominent in Hanam, a clear expression of the Baekhwa Trading Company’s stature.

Currently, I was standing on the top floor of that towering structure, in the Hanam Branch of the Baekhwa Trading Company.

The room was impeccably clean.

Not a speck of dust was in sight, and the air carried an almost oppressive sense of cleanliness.

It was so spotless it made breathing feel like a guilty act.

Or maybe I just felt uncomfortable in the space, which could explain why it felt that way.

Regardless, being here was undeniably unsettling for me.

“It’s been a while.

”The voice drew me out of my thoughts.

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly.

The tea set before me remained untouched.

I cautiously lifted my gaze and offered my respects.

“It has been a long time, Madam Mi.

”The person before me was none other than Mi Horan, the master of the Baekhwa Trading Company—And the mistress of the Gu Clan.

It had been roughly a year since I last saw her.

The last time had been during a particularly grueling period when I was training under Paejon.

Even then, I had gone out of my way to avoid her whenever possible.

Masking my true feelings, I addressed her politely.

“I happened to be in Hanam for business.

Since I heard you were here, I thought it would be proper to pay my respects.

”Madam Mi nodded at my words.

And that was it.

“…” “…”Silence hung thick in the air.

The room, already stark, now felt even more barren.

‘…Should I just leave?

’Would it be best to simply greet her and go?

That thought crossed my mind.

Though I was here for business, this was not how I had expected things to play out.

I hadn’t anticipated a one-on-one meeting with Madam Mi herself.

‘I only planned to greet her briefly.

’I had assumed she would be in Xi’an or Shanxi, not here in Hanam.

When I learned she was in town, my first instinct had been to feign ignorance.

But my business required me to acknowledge her presence.

Even so,‘Can’t the business handle itself without me?

’I was strongly tempted to limit my visit to just a polite greeting.

That’s how uncomfortable I felt.

In many ways, Madam Mi was even more intimidating to me than my father.

Not only did I not know how to interact with her, but there was something inherently unsettling about her.

Something that defied explanation.

How should I proceed?

Would it be better to excuse myself now?

As I wavered, Madam Mi broke the silence.

“I’ve heard the news.

” “…Pardon?

”For a moment, I wasn’t sure what she meant.

“You entrusted the company with a stockpile of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.

” “Ah.

”Her words clarified the situation.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron I had obtained in Guangdong— I had left it with the Baekhwa Trading Company for safekeeping.

Clearly, she was referring to that.

“The quantity is impressive.

Would you care to explain how you came across it?

”Her tone was calm, but the amount in question was indeed extraordinary.

Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron was no longer being discovered.

Over time, the metal had become so rare that finding even a small quantity was a monumental event.

Most of what remained was held by the nine great sects, the four noble families, or other powerful organizations.

Even these groups only possessed small amounts, often diluted with other metals to create alloys of immense value.

In short, Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron was a priceless resource.

And I had delivered it in its raw, undiluted form.

‘Several chunks of it, no less.

’It wasn’t just a single piece.

For all I knew, the amount I had brought could rival the total known reserves across Zhongyuan.

That Madam Mi could inquire about it so calmly was, in itself, remarkable.

“…I came across it by chance while in Guangdong.

It seemed ownerless, so I brought it back.

”I told the truth, avoiding any lies.

There was no point in lying to Madam Mi—she would see through it instantly.

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, and it felt uncomfortably heavy.

Then,“Did you report this to the Murim Alliance?

”Gulp.

I swallowed hard at her question.

By law, any discovery of such materials within the orthodox sects’ jurisdiction had to be reported to the Murim Alliance.

Of course, I hadn’t reported it.

If I had, they would have confiscated it under the pretext of “unclaimed property.

”“…No, I didn’t report it.

”Madam Mi said nothing, simply staring at me.

Was she about to chastise me?

If she did, I wouldn’t take it lightly.

‘Do you know what I went through to get that?

’This iron was crucial for my plans.

If Madam Mi disapproved,‘I’ll just take it to another trading company.

’I was already prepared to retrieve it and sell it elsewhere.

As I braced myself, she finally spoke.

“You did well.

” “…?

”Her unexpected praise left me dumbfounded.

I stared at her in disbelief as she continued,“Did you inform your father?

” “…Not yet.

” “That, too, was the right choice.

If your father knew, he would have insisted on reporting it to the Murim Alliance.

”She wasn’t wrong.

My father was the type to adhere strictly to established laws, even if he didn’t agree with them.

He was a man of little material desire, which only made things more frustrating.

“I will handle the matter.

You needn’t worry.

” “…Thank you.

”Though surprised, I was relieved to hear her response.

And perhaps because the tension had eased, I found myself asking a question I’d been holding back.

“Um… where is she?

” “You’re asking about the branch master, I presume.

” “Yes.

”I was referring to Moyong Hee-ah, who had recently become the Hanam Branch Master.

The fact that she had joined the Baekhwa Trading Company at all was surprising enough.

The news of her rapid promotion to branch master had been even more shocking.

She had told me it was to “gain experience,” but…‘I praised her a little, and she went and did this!

’What could she possibly have done to rise so quickly?

Madam Mi was no ordinary person.

If Moyong Hee-ah had achieved this position, it was a testament to her exceptional abilities.

This meant one thing:"Moyong Hee-ah must have done an exceptional job to impress Madam Mi.

"While I already knew Moyong Hee-ah was talented in this line of work, even I found this surprising.

“The branch master is currently away on an assignment,” Madam Mi said.

“An assignment?

” “Yes.

It’s also the reason I’m here in Hanam.

And…”Tap.

The sound of Madam Mi folding her fan echoed through the room.

“It’s related to you as well.

” “…Pardon?

”I furrowed my brows at her unexpected words.

“Related to me?

What do you mean?

” “It’s not confirmed yet, so just keep it in mind.

When the time comes, I’ll explain everything.

” “Wait a moment, Madam Mi, I—” “I’ll handle the matter of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron personally, ensuring it’s dealt with favorably.

” “…”Her words left me silent.

What she meant was clear: she would take care of the iron in exchange for my silence on the current matter.

And, when the time came, I was to listen obediently to whatever request she had.

“So that’s why it went so smoothly.

”It seemed I’d been roped into something whether I liked it or not.

“I suppose it’s unavoidable.

”Still, I couldn’t exactly call it a bad deal.

If Madam Mi was personally overseeing the iron’s handling…“The profits will likely be higher, and it’ll be much safer.

”The risks I’d normally have to manage would be significantly reduced.

The only real issue was…“What could she possibly want me to do?

”That was the troubling part.

What kind of task warranted sending Moyong Hee-ah, not to mention Madam Mi herself being here in Hanam?

And why did it involve me?

I had countless questions, but there was no way to ask them now.

Clicking my tongue silently, I shifted gears.

Since Madam Mi had effectively shut down further inquiries, I decided to change the topic.

“Madam Mi, if I may ask a favor unrelated to this matter…”Her gaze sharpened slightly, intrigued by my sudden request.

“A favor?

What is it?

” “Would you be able to help me arrange lodging?

I’ll likely be staying in Hanam for about three months.

”Both for my recovery and other plans, I needed a place to stay for an extended period.

While I could arrange this myself, going through the trading company would undoubtedly be quicker and more efficient.

"Originally, I planned to ask Moyong Hee-ah for help.

"Unfortunately, she wasn’t available at the moment.

Madam Mi considered my request for a moment before nodding.

“There’s a suitable place nearby.

I’ll send someone to guide you there.

” “Thank you very much.

”I didn’t ask about the cost.

I was wealthy now, after all.

“Gone are the days of begging Muyeon for spare change.

”Those times when I barely had any allowance—and often none at all after one of my many misadventures—were behind me.

No longer did I need to scrutinize price tags just to afford a single dumpling.

Anyway, since I’d gotten what I came for, it seemed like a good time to make my exit.

As I subtly prepared to slip away,“You mentioned staying for three months.

”Madam Mi’s words made me pause and sit back down.

“Does that mean you plan to participate in the martial tournament?

”She was referring to the Shinryong Martial Tournament, an event hosted by the Murim Alliance during the summer—a festival that would coincide with my time in Hanam.

“Yes, I figured I’d give it a shot since it’s happening.

”It wasn’t something I needed to hide, so I answered plainly.

Madam Mi regarded me with a peculiar expression.

“I see.

”Her gaze carried an unusual weight, and her next words were spoken with an uncharacteristic caution.

“I don’t have much advice I can offer, but if you insist on participating… please take care of yourself.

” “…?

”Her unexpected concern left me wide-eyed.

This was even more surprising than the compliment earlier.

“…Thank you,” I stammered, bowing my head.

Madam Mi simply nodded in acknowledgment, saying nothing further.

The silence that followed was unbearably awkward.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I rose to leave.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.

I’m sure you’re busy, and I wouldn’t want to intrude any further.

”With that polite excuse, I stood up, feeling a sense of relief.

“Talking to her feels ten times more exhausting than fighting someone.

”Even though it was just a brief conversation, I felt utterly drained.

As I made my way out,“By the way,” Madam Mi called out.

I froze mid-step.

“She mentioned Miss Tang is here with you.

”The mention of Tang So-yeol made me pause again.

“…Yes, we happened to meet by chance.

”Chance wasn’t the wrong word.

There was no need to elaborate further.

Madam Mi then asked,“Will she be staying at the same lodging as you?

” “Most likely.

”Unless Tang So-yeol specifically asked for separate accommodations, we’d likely share the same place.

It wasn’t like the lodging would be small, especially with Seong Yul staying with us as well.

At my response, Madam Mi seemed to hesitate briefly, as if something about the arrangement bothered her.

After a moment, she spoke again.

“You’re becoming more like your father in some ways, which is commendable.

But there are aspects of him you needn’t emulate.

” “…I beg your pardon?

”Her cryptic statement left me baffled.

“What do you mean by that?

” “Never mind.

Off you go now.

”She dismissed my question with a wave, signaling the end of the conversation.

Confused, I tilted my head but complied.

As I turned to leave, however, I caught her muttering under her breath:“Of all things, it’s that trait he inherited… those children will have a hard time.

”I stopped in my tracks and turned back, but Madam Mi was already engrossed in a letter, no longer paying me any attention.

“Did I hear that right?

”Was I just imagining things because I wasn’t feeling well?

That had to be it.

It seemed more urgent than ever to seek out the Divine Doctor.

My condition might be worse than I thought.

“I’ll stop by the lodging first and then head straight to find him.

”With that plan in mind, I followed the guide to my new accommodations.

However, I wouldn’t even have the chance to settle in before realizing how unnecessary that plan was.

Upon arriving at the lodging,“You bastard!

How dare you make a move like this!

” “Ah, your age must be catching up with you.

No wonder you’re struggling to keep up.

” “What did you just say!?

”I froze, dumbstruck by the scene before me.

Instead of the quiet respite I’d expected, I was met with utter chaos.

“You’ve been losing every game so far, and yet your mouth is running wild!

” “And yet, I’m winning now, aren’t I?

”The property was spacious, nestled near a mountain with a pond that housed large koi fish.

The atmosphere was serene—until now.

“Damn it all!

One more game, right now!

”The Divine Doctor, who I had planned to visit, was flipping over a Go board and shouting furiously.

“Haha,”Across from him sat a young man with familiar black hair, laughing at the outburst.

No, not a young man—It was Paejon, one of the Three Supreme Beings, also known as Heaven’s Exile, smirking smugly at the Divine Doctor.

“How amusing.

Unfortunately, I have no desire to continue.

Your skills are so lacking that it’s not even enjoyable.

Perhaps next time, if I’m in the mood.

”His words were insufferably condescending.

“Grrr!

”The Divine Doctor, seething with frustration, collapsed into his chair.

Paejon, meanwhile, continued to laugh heartily.

As for me…“…”I could only stare, speechless, at the chaos unfolding before me.