#176: A Clan With Roots (1) — The Patriarch of Sichuan

Since there was still nothing that could be called a clear system, they could not receive guests at the clan itself.

In the end, Gyeong Hang received the honored guests at Full Moon Pavilion, the largest tavern on Manguwi Street.

“Now, we can renew the contract like this.”

“Is this truly all right?”

The leader of the Chengdu Textile Association was greatly surprised.

The contract Gyeong Hang handed over contained terms far more generous than when they had traded with the Divine Iron Merchant House. Of course, Jin-hyeon’s clan would profit as well, but compared to the terms from the Divine Iron days, the Textile Association’s gains were considerable.

“The Patriarch’s will is to begin modestly. Of course, because of the ties from trading with Divine Iron for so long, I am serving as a bridge, but I am literally only the Supreme Patriarch. The one actually running the clan is the Patriarch, so I must follow his will.”

Though he said that, there was no trace of reluctance on his face. Rather, Gyeong Hang’s warm, smiling face was filled with nothing but sincerity.

“Huh, I’m not sure if this is truly all right. On top of that, this year’s silk is not of good quality, so I cannot know whether next year will go well either…”

With anyone else, he would not have spoken so frankly. It was an inner thought he could show because his counterpart was Gyeong Hang.

Gyeong Hang gave a bitter smile.

“In any business under heaven, the quality of goods cannot always be good, can it? And it is not as if you are someone who does not make an effort, Association Leader. The trust built up until now is no small thing either, so I believe we can trust each other this much and move forward.”

“If you will do this much for us, then we can only be grateful.”

The association leader kept bowing his head.

“Thank you, truly. To be honest, I was greatly worried that Supreme Patriarch Gyeong might call for terms similar to the Divine Iron days.”

“This year, many things have happened in Sichuan. Whatever else may be said, are we not all people of Sichuan? Is it not better for good things to be good for all of us? Let us not merely stumble through business with each other. Let us build new trust and become true partners on a human level.”

“Of course! We will continue to work hard.”

“Heh heh, we will do the same.”

“As it happens, many sects among the Eight Martial Houses have suffered greatly of late, so I know many friends who are worrying themselves sick. Since things have turned out this way, I will go back and try to persuade them.”

“If you would do that for us, what more could I ask?”

In such matters, one could glimpse Gyeong Hang’s seasoned skill.

Even though the clan’s name value had grown in ways seen and unseen, he did not overreach when making deals. Instead, he gave the other side greater profit and quietly made them spread word of it.

Of course, even if the size of the businesses grew, this kind of transaction would continue for the time being. Later, once mutual trust became sufficient, the profits would be adjusted again.

If the other side showed more greed than necessary then, he would simply cut ties cleanly. If one hesitated because the money right in front of them felt too precious to lose, neither one thing nor the other would work out.

If both sides had grown sufficiently, a moderate amount of greed was no flaw. That word, moderate, was important. Gyeong In-geol and Gyeong Do-cheon had lost the trust of their business partners because they did not understand moderation.

As Gyeong Hang’s management ability, which he had hidden all this time, began to show itself in earnest, the foundation of the new clan was becoming terrifyingly solid.

After finishing all the meetings he had aimed for, Gyeong Hang patted his waist.

“Oh dear, doing this again after so long is no ordinary task.”

As he leaned against the wall and rested for a moment, something suddenly came to mind and he opened his mouth.

“Is anyone outside?”

“Yes, Supreme Patriarch.”

The person who opened the door and entered was Do Il-gang.

Gyeong Hang smiled.

“I told you not to just stand outside, but to rest in the next room.”

“It is all right. This is the task I was entrusted with, so I must do my best.”

Gyeong Hang liked Do Il-gang’s kind eyes and honest attitude.

Whatever else might be true, it seemed that his grandson had an eye for people. That alone put him greatly at ease.

Whether a martial family or a merchant house, in the end, one had to judge people well to avoid ruining one’s house.

“I am sorry. I heard you are also in the middle of intense training.”

“Not at all. Training is training, and work is work. You need not feel so sorry, Supreme Patriarch.”

“Heh heh, then I will do that.”

“But why did you call me?”

“Ah.”

Gyeong Hang glanced out the window.

“Where is the Patriarch now? Is he training?”

“He was training until I left.”

“Mm, I see.”

Gyeong Hang felt regret inwardly.

‘Is he still thinking? Or is he not taking it seriously?’

There was no way he would not take it seriously. Gyeong Hang knew very well that Jin-hyeon was no less intelligent than anyone else.

He would know what the words and actions Gyeong Hang had shown all this time meant.

‘I should wait a little longer. He must have his own thoughts.’

Clang! Clang!

Ok Jin’s appearance as he struck with the hammer was not particularly dynamic.

It was simple and steady. That was all.

But Jin-hyeon knew that any skill, when brought to the extreme, was bound to become simple.

Even something like striking a hammer, which did not look special at all, would naturally reveal the best path after decades of minute adjustments and making countless objects.

The hammering Ok Jin was showing now was a movement only the finest artisan could display. It was a movement without a single wasted motion, yet filled with the delicacy to strike exactly where he needed to strike.

Chiiik!

Ok Jin examined the iron plate he had taken out after quenching it, then asked Jin-hyeon.

“How does it look to you, Patriarch?”

Jin-hyeon briefly looked over the iron plate, then shook his head.

“It is even overall, but it will need to go through the process a few more times.”

“How many times do you think?”

“Roughly five or six?”

Ok Jin smiled.

“Five times should be enough.”

“Because it is you, Master Hammerer Ok, five times. If it were another smith, it would have to go as far as six.”

“As expected, your eye remains unchanged.”

Jin-hyeon shook his head.

“My eye may still be useful, but I will no longer be able to hammer like I did before. I have no intention of doing so either.”

Ok Jin smacked his lips inwardly. As the person who knew best just how exceptional Jin-hyeon’s skill had been, his regret was beyond words.

But he understood Jin-hyeon. The current Jin-hyeon had become a martial artist, and was even the Patriarch of a clan. He would not have time to silently swing a hammer.

“How is the place you are staying? Is it all right?”

“Heh heh, of course it’s good.”

Ok Jin looked around.

Past the forest west of Manguwi Street, there was a fairly large open space. With good scenery and good air, it was the perfect place to build forges.

Even now, several forges were being built, and already more than a hundred smiths were arranging things here and there.

“We are looking again for residences for the smiths near Jianyang. We will secure one for each of you in good locations, so please wait just a little longer.”

“Heh heh, right now, we would have no complaints even if we slept in the forge. You may take your time.”

“That won’t do. Now that you have entered my clan, I will make sure you are treated properly.”

Jin-hyeon smiled.

“As family, of course.”

Ok Jin burst into loud laughter.

“It is an honor to hear you say that.”

“I will stop by from time to time. Hearing your hammer again after so long puts me in a very good mood, Master Hammerer Ok.”

“Please visit often even if you are busy. In the end, everything we produce will return to you, Patriarch.”

“Haha, I know that using well what you give me is what will bring joy to all of you too. I will come often.”

Whatever else could be said, Jin-hyeon’s clan was certainly different from ordinary clans.

There was no fence, and even the smiths belonging to the clan lived in a completely different place. Even so, they declared themselves members of the same household.

Creating a sense of belonging to the same place, even without building a broad and massive wall.

That was the first beginning of this clan.

After looking around the smiths’ site, Jin-hyeon immediately headed to a tavern in Jianyang.

There was Gang Yeo, Guild Leader of the Five Tigers Merchant Guild.

“It has been a long time.”

“It has.”

Jin-hyeon sat down across from him without hesitation and looked around.

“What grand matter are we discussing that you reserved such an expensive room?”

“Still, this is a meeting where the owner of a merchant guild receives an honored guest, so I should spend some money.”

The Five Tigers Merchant Guild itself had settled well in Sichuan. Already, the Sichuan merchant world was greatly surprised by the Five Tigers Merchant Guild’s financial power and information network.

As the Guild Leader of such a place, even if he didn’t want to, he needed to show a certain appearance to the outside. Spending money on purpose was all because of outside eyes.

“By the way, did you have any difficulty on your way here?”

“How far is it, that it would be difficult?”

“You are currently the most famous person in Sichuan, are you not? People coming and going must have made things quite difficult by stopping you.”

Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh.

“I thought that might happen, so I came by the forest path.”

“As expected.”

Gang Yeo filled Jin-hyeon’s cup.

Jin-hyeon didn’t ask Gang Yeo about the alliance. Once matters were settled, he would give an answer on his own. It was taking longer than expected, but Jin-hyeon didn’t want to rush him for no reason.

Jin-hyeon also filled Gang Yeo’s cup and asked.

“So, why did you call me?”

“What special reason could there be? I called you to tell you about the housing sites for the smiths you asked of us, and to give you some recent information from Chengdu.”

Gang Yeo gave a bitter smile.

“I originally meant to go all the way to Ziyang…”

“It’s fine. We both know perfectly well that we are busy.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

He handed Jin-hyeon the documents set to one side.

“We have roughly secured the sites, and for those who like living on streets with many people, we also looked for bustling places. In such areas, there is no need to build new houses.”

Jin-hyeon carefully checked the documents and smiled.

“You learned quite well from Gold Lord Seomun. This is very thorough.”

“This much is nothing.”

Gang Yeo took several letters from inside his robes.

“Please read these later on your way back. They contain information about the current mood of the Murim, centered around Chengdu.”

“I will receive them gratefully.”

“Shall we have a drink?”

“I am busy, so I cannot drink much.”

The two emptied their cups refreshingly.

Gang Yeo quietly looked at Jin-hyeon, then suddenly let out a sigh.

“I truly do not understand.”

“What?”

“They say the Cheongyang Association Leader was a transcendent master. And that you defeated him head-on?”

Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh and flipped through the documents.

“It somehow turned out that way.”

“A transcendent master is not someone you defeat because things “somehow turned out that way.””

“So what are you dissatisfied with?”

“It is not that I am dissatisfied. I just find it strange. No matter how I look at it from every angle, you do not seem to have the power to face the Heavenly Will Alliance, and yet, strangely, I have faith in you.”

“That’s praise, right?”

“Of course, since you are a monster who crossed the wall at your age, I understand that you are full of confidence. But it does not seem as if you are trying to face them with confidence alone.”

“If this were a world where confidence alone solved everything, why would I try to smash the Heavenly Will Alliance? Everyone would be living well on their own.”

“That is true as well.”

Gang Yeo filled Jin-hyeon’s cup again.

Even as he held up his cup and received the wine, Jin-hyeon’s eyes were scanning the contents of the documents.

Gang Yeo filled his own cup as well and spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.

“I will speak directly.”

Only then did Jin-hyeon put the documents down.

“Speak.”

“I have not yet given you an answer to the alliance proposal, have I?”

“That is true.”

“I invited you today intending to settle that matter.”

Jin-hyeon tilted his head.

“The phrase ‘settle it’ sounds a bit strange. If you will do it, say you will. If not, say you will not.”