Chapter 48
“Then please share the plan with me.”
“Oh ho, how did you know I had already crafted a perfect plan? Haha.”
Yeohaeshin’s reply was as lighthearted as ever. But Gu Jabok waited for an answer with a serious expression.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yeohaeshin cleared her throat and spoke again.
“I heard the Seol family is starting some kind of construction. They’re currently recruiting laborers. So I was thinking—how about slipping someone in among the workers?”
“Sounds good. Do you have someone prepared?”
“Of course! I’ve got a top-notch scout ready. Just you wait.”
With her hands confidently on her hips, Yeohaeshin declared it proudly.
“Very well. This is my first time watching you handle something directly.”
“Look forward to it. I’ve got a real hunch about this. There’s something big going on—seriously.”
“I trust you, Chief.”
Gu Jabok looked at her fondly. Yeohaeshin beamed, clearly pleased.
But then, Gu Jabok’s eyes darkened slightly.
Yeohaeshin had a natural talent for handling information—an essential quality for a senior member of the Hao Clan.
Though the Hao Clan was a sect within the martial world, its nature was unlike typical sects that prioritized martial strength.
The foundation of the Hao Clan was the buying and selling of information.
People looked down on occupations like innkeepers, porters, brothel madams, carriage drivers, boatmen, and courtesans—but these individuals made up the decentralized network of the Hao Clan. They collected rumors and turned them into valuable intel.
Anyone could gather rumors. But to sift through the flood of information, extract what mattered, and refine it—that was not something just anyone could do.
True intelligence lay in piecing together fragmented information to perceive broader trends—and even uncover secrets.
‘But to her, it’s just a game.’
While most Hao Clan officials spent decades honing their skills, Yeohaeshin could read the flow and synthesize intel by instinct alone.
It was an incredible gift.
Honganhyeon was located on the route heading north through Hubei. It was also a direct path to the Jegal family in Yangyang, or the Namgung family in Hefei, Anhui.
Someone might think she stopped by merely in passing.
‘No, that’s not it. Definitely not.’
If Yeohaeshin’s instincts said there was something going on at the Seol estate, then there definitely was. That’s why, even though she ran wild like an untamed colt, she was indispensable.
‘Meanwhile, the Lord’s condition is only worsening… This girl doesn’t have much time left.’
The current state of the Hao Clan was nothing short of a mess.
Under its current leader, Yeo Sangyang, the clan had grown more powerful than ever in its history—largely thanks to his exceptional abilities.
But where there is light, there is also shadow.
Clan Leader Yeo Sangyang had recently entered a state of qigong deviation and gone into seclusion.
‘That damn Pagun Divine Art (破乾神功)…’
The Pagun Divine Art was a secret martial art left behind by the founding lord of the Hao Clan.
Though born in the lowest of ranks, the founder created the Hao Clan and left behind a technique said to be strong enough to shatter the heavens.
But it was extremely difficult to master. Since the founder, no one had reached full mastery of it.
Though it was passed down only to clan leaders, most couldn’t learn it, and a few generations ago, it was even forbidden altogether.
But Yeo Sangyang, upon becoming clan leader, chose to learn it anyway.
—“It is only right that the Hao Clan leader learns its martial art.”
It was an arrogant statement. Yet he believed he could succeed.
Having already reached the pinnacle, he made rapid progress in the beginning. But in the end, he succumbed to inner chaos.
That had been a few years ago.
‘He’s still holding on… but his life is hanging by a thread.’
Gu Jabok let out a heavy sigh.
Yeo Sangyang had five disciples, including Yeohaeshin. But no proper successor had been named. The other four were older and quickly gaining ground.
There was no telling how long Yeohaeshin’s youth could shield her.
‘A sharp needle in a sack will eventually poke through.’
Clever as she was, Yeohaeshin understood her situation better than anyone. That’s why she kept her distance from the main base.
She caused trouble, slacked off, and always seemed to be running away from responsibility.
But Gu Jabok knew better than anyone how smart and thoughtful she really was.
Which only made him sigh more often.
“…Um, about that…”
Yeohaeshin hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers.
“Yes, Chief?”
“How is Master doing…?”
She asked in a small voice, lowering her head.
“He’s holding on well. I think he’s doing better than when you last saw him.”
Gu Jabok offered some comforting words. Her dejected look pained him.
“Really?”
Her face lit up as she raised her head.
“Yes, really.”
“That’s a relief. I mean, come on—it’s our Master we’re talking about. He’ll pull through, I know it. I believe in him!”
Yeohaeshin continued brightly, as if she hadn’t been gloomy just moments ago. As if saying those words could make everything better.
“Of course. He’s strong. He’ll overcome this.”
“Whew, I should go find some elixirs or something. Yeah! I’m gonna get the best medicine and send it to Master!”
As if the Hao Clan leader lacked rare elixirs. But Gu Jabok smiled, moved by her sentiment.
Yeohaeshin shyly put her head towel back on and skipped out of the room.
“Yeeeong-yak~ This Wangsam is off to find medicine, he says~”
Her humming faded into the distance.
Gu Jabok let out a deep sigh.
A few days later, on the top floor of Hwayeong Inn, loud shouting rang out.
“Yeohaeshiiiiin! You brat!”
Gu Jabok clutched the back of his neck in frustration, his inner energy flaring.
In his hand was a crumpled note.
He jumped to his feet and paced the room, muttering to himself.
“Should I go after her? Seriously, what should I do with that wild child? Honganhyeon isn’t even that far… Maybe I should follow. No, if I get caught… Ugh.”
With a long sigh, he threw the note.
Sent professional scout Wangsam to the Seol estate. One innkeeper spot is empty now, but it should be fine. Take care of the inn.
– Haeshin
The next day after the guests had left the Seol estate, Commander Wi came to Yeonhongwon.
“You’ve worked hard entertaining the esteemed guests, Young Miss.”
“You too, Commander Wi. I’m sure you had a lot on your plate.”
“Not at all. Everyone knows you worked the hardest. The Lord himself praised you highly.”
“Really? Haha.”
“He also said you should think of a reward you’d like.”
“Grandfather truly is generous. It would be rude to decline, so please tell him I’ll think about it.”
The word “reward” made Unyeong’s eyes sparkle. She’d been wondering how to bring it up—and now she had the perfect opportunity.
‘I should ask him to buy land in Hyogamhyeon.’
The land where the meteorite iron was buried was just a bare rocky mountain. Its owner would probably be happy to sell.
‘There’s a lot of use for meteoric iron.’
With happy thoughts, Unyeong’s lips curled into a soft smile.
“You seem pleased.”
“Hahaha, who wouldn’t like rewards?”
“Indeed.”
Commander Wi nodded and continued.
“Starting tomorrow, there will be construction outside the back wall of the Yeonhongwon courtyard for the new training ground. Please bear with the inconvenience.”
“I heard from Father. So it begins tomorrow. Thank you for the notice, Commander.”
“There’s more good news.”
At the mention of good news, Unyeong’s eyes lit up.
“The delicious powder will be sold through the Seol Trading Company.”
“Wow, really? I’m surprised Grandfather approved.”
“Yes, though he expressed some concerns as well.”
“What concerns?”
“That imitation products would be too easy to produce.”
Commander Wi’s expression grew serious.
“Well, he’s not wrong. There isn’t much of a secret recipe.”
Unyeong nodded calmly—it was a concern she had expected.
But it didn’t matter.
“Hmm. So, how about this, Commander? What if we send small gifts of the powder to martial artists in the Murim Alliance?”
“To martial artists?”
“They often travel and camp out for missions, right? If we send it as gifts, they’ll end up eating it out in the field. And later, they might want to buy it themselves.”
“Ho. That’s brilliant, Young Miss.”
In fact, this was Unyeong’s biggest motivation for creating the powder in the first place. Fighting for your life was already hard enough—having to do it on an empty stomach was just cruel.
She wanted martial artists to be able to eat well—by making tasty, easy-to-prepare powders available to everyone.
There were plenty of ways to make money. Just developing the meteoric iron mine would bring in a fortune. And that wasn’t even the only one she remembered.
“Young Miss, will you also be selling the Golden Wound Balm you gave to Lord Dojin?”
“Oh, you saw that? Did my brother mention it?”
“Yes. He said it was very effective.”
“My brother, I, and Warrior Bang have all used it. Everyone says it’s great. I’d love to sell it if possible.”
“Then perhaps we could include it along with the powder when sending gifts to martial artists.”
Commander Wi’s eyes sparkled.
Unyeong gave a satisfied smile.
As expected, he picked up on it right away.
One would be a gift.
The other—a source of income.
