The Merchant Gathering (3)
The inn was bustling with guests.
Finding an empty seat was nearly impossible, as most of the patrons were merchants who had come to participate in this year’s Merchant Gathering.
Naturally, the topic of conversation was money. Who sold what, where, and for how much profit, who suffered losses due to a bad contract, and who had their goods stolen by bandits.
The stories were endless, and just listening to them was enough to keep boredom at bay.
Of course, the Merchant Gathering and the legendary Seong Wangbo were at the center of these discussions.
“Is the guild master here too?”
“Of course. Hasn’t Seong always attended the Merchant Gathering without fail?”
“Indeed. He’s truly a diligent man. You could say he’s the true master of the Central Plains’ trade world.”
“I agree.”
We were eating nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation.
They had no idea they were being deceived. Or perhaps some of them did. There could be those among them who were part of the shadowy underworld.
I broke the silence at our table.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve sent a message asking the Chief Overseer to come here.”
It would have been more courteous to visit him in person, but given the current situation, it was impossible to leave for Shandong.
“I’m sure Master will understand. Haha, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”
Gong Suchan was genuinely pleased. Despite their stern relationship, they truly cared for each other.
I, too, was eager to see the Chief Overseer. It had been a long time since I last asked him to decipher the secret code.
Through this incident, I marveled once again at how many aspects of my new life were intertwined with my past and the conspiracies lurking in the shadows.
“Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the trade world. Buying and selling goods was incredibly exciting to me. Now, the trade world is my world. But it feels like that precious space has been trampled by those scoundrels.”
Gong Suchan was even angrier than I was. It was the first time both I and Guangdu had seen him so upset.
I understood his anger. It was similar to the shock and fury I felt when I discovered someone was pulling the strings behind the martial alliance.
“The trade world belongs to everyone who makes, sells, and buys goods. It shouldn’t be controlled by a few. Please, make sure they pay for this.”
“Understood. I’ll make sure to crush them.”
“If you need my help, just say the word. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Guangdu, who was sitting next to us, chimed in with a determined look.
“I’ll help with all my might too.”
“With the two of you, I feel reassured.”
Guangdu grinned and added, “Are those two people perhaps Galgun and Baek Danju?”
“Hahaha.”
“Oh dear! You’re just going to laugh it off.”
Even Gong Suchan, who had been tense, cracked a smile at Guangdu’s jest.
“Now that we’re at the Merchant Gathering, what do you plan to do next?”
Gong Suchan asked, and I replied firmly, “I plan to confront them head-on.”
“Head-on?”
I glanced at Guangdu, who flinched and asked, “Why are you looking at me?”
“Want to join me in a head-on confrontation?”
“I’ll pass! Rear support! That’s the perfect role for me.”
“Haha.”
Yes, it was a joke I could make because he was someone who would charge ahead without hesitation.
After finishing our meal, we returned to our room on the second floor, where Cheonma called out to me.
[Can we talk?]
[Sure.]
He had been silent since meeting Jong Sahee, so I decided to hear him out.
I didn’t need to go out of my way to appease him to obtain the Demonic Heart, but there was no need to be overly aggressive either.
I thought to myself, the Demonic Heart could be obtained today or not even in ten years. I had left the matter to fate.
Of course, leaving it to fate didn’t mean I wouldn’t make any effort.
At least one thing was clear.
To obtain the Demonic Heart, I needed to win over Cheonma’s heart.
“Guangdu, I’m going to meditate. Keep an eye on me.”
Guangdu was overly enthusiastic.
“Wow!”
“Why are you so excited?”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment. The moment when I get to guard you while you meditate!”
“Why? Have you been a hidden assassin all these years, waiting for the moment I meditate?”
“Please, no scary jokes at such a touching moment.”
“Why have you been waiting for this touching moment?”
“Because asking someone to guard you while you meditate is something you do with the most trustworthy person, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Haha, that’s me!”
“Given that you’re the only one here, it’s a terribly unfortunate fact for me and incredibly lucky for you.”
Guangdu pretended not to hear and put on a solemn expression.
“Go ahead and meditate! I’ll protect you with my life.”
“Haha. Keep a good watch.”
Using the table in the room as a focal point, I activated the Heavenly Qi Mind Technique.
Suddenly, Cheonma and I were standing on a massive table.
Cheonma began walking slowly toward me from about twenty feet away.
[Why did you want to see me?]
[Do you always get straight to the point? You never seem to tire of bantering with that annoying guy.]
[As expected…]
[I’m not jealous!]
[Haha. Just tell me what you want. You know we have to attend the Merchant Gathering soon.]
[That shadowy underworld event? Damn it! I can’t believe such scoundrels exist. An underworld market? How dare they use the word ‘underworld’ when I’m around!]
It seemed Cheonma was unaware of their existence too. Neither the orthodox sects nor the demonic cult knew, so it was only natural that the unorthodox sects were in the dark as well.
As Jong Sahee had said, they were truly hidden in deep shadows.
[Those bastards! Wipe them all out!]
Cheonma seemed genuinely angry. His fury mirrored mine to some extent. As someone who once ruled the martial world, it was infuriating to learn that a shadowy force had been operating without his knowledge.
[You orthodox folks are always up to something.]
[Don’t jump to conclusions. We haven’t identified them yet.]
[No one in our cult would do such a thing.]
[You never know what’s in a person’s heart.]
[Like you, for instance. Even when you’re inside, I can’t figure you out.]
[Hahaha.]
I burst into laughter at his comment. Cheonma seemed oddly pleased that his joke had landed.
[So why did you call me?]
Cheonma’s expression turned serious.
[I’ve been thinking since that day.]
He walked to the edge of the table.
I followed him, standing beside him. The table was so high that it felt like we were standing on the edge of a cliff.
[I know you well.]
[You just said you couldn’t figure me out even when I’m inside.]
[At least I know this. You won’t give up on the Demonic Heart.]
[You’ve got that right.]
After staring into the abyss below for a while, Cheonma finally spoke.
[My grandfather said this when he left the cult.]
Surprisingly, he was about to reveal a hidden secret.
[To unlock the secret of the Demonic Heart, martial arts alone are not enough.]
This was the moment when the secret of the Demonic Heart was about to be unveiled.
I repeated his grandfather’s words.
[To unlock the secret of the Demonic Heart, martial arts alone are not enough?]
It was a profound statement, open to various interpretations.
Cheonma’s interpretation was this:
[In other words, you must master both the pinnacle of demonic arts and the pinnacle of orthodox martial arts to unlock the secret of the Demonic Heart.]
It was the most fitting interpretation. Since it was the Demonic Heart, it couldn’t rely solely on orthodox martial arts.
It seemed his grandfather had concluded that their Blood Thunder Transformation Art alone wasn’t enough to unlock the secret. What exactly was the Demonic Heart that required such martial prowess?
[Your grandfather failed. He created the Celestial Crane Art, but even that couldn’t unlock the secret of the Demonic Heart.]
[We can’t be sure. He might have already become a demonic god.]
[That’s just your wishful thinking. Based on the letter we found in the cave, there was no indication of that. Instead, he left his martial arts for future generations with a broad mind, like an enlightened monk. He didn’t seem like a demonic god or even a demon.]
Cheonma couldn’t refute my words.
I wasn’t trying to corner him. We needed to make judgments based on solid facts regarding the Demonic Heart.
[Do you think you can unlock what your grandfather couldn’t? Even your grandfather, who created the Celestial Crane Art, couldn’t do it.]
[Hmph! The same goes for you. You can’t learn the Blood Thunder Transformation Art. As I said before, the principles are completely opposite.]
[Isn’t that the same for you?]
[It’s a martial art created by my grandfather. If he, who mastered demonic arts, created it, then I should be able to learn it too. Even if I can’t grasp its essence, I won’t die. I have no body to die.]
[So that’s what you were counting on.]
That was why he desperately wanted the Celestial Crane Art.
He then spoke with resignation.
[But I won’t be able to unlock the secret of the Demonic Heart. Previous Cheonmas couldn’t, and neither could my grandfather. There’s no way I can.]
Perhaps that was the conclusion he had reached, which led to this meeting.
[Do you know why I wanted the Celestial Crane Art so badly?]
I had a hunch about the reason.
[Because you wanted to become a demonic god.]
Cheonma was startled by my words.
[How did you know?]
[You’re an easy person to read. Though you might not want to admit it.]
[You fool!]
Cheonma let out a long sigh and said,
[Yes, I thought it was the only way to free myself from your body. But I realized it was impossible. However, there is a way to unlock the Demonic Heart.]
[What is it?]
After a brief pause, Cheonma made a surprising proposal.
[Let’s unlock it together.]
[What?]
[Yes, I’ll reveal the secret of the Demon Seal. Let’s join forces to break it.]
The thought crossed my mind that perhaps, with the Heavenly Demon’s help, I could unravel the Demon Seal.
If that were true, would I truly master the greatest demonic arts and become a demon god, just as the words left on the Demon Seal suggested?
[Why are you offering to help me?]
[Because I can’t break it on my own. But in return, I have one request.]
[What is it?]
[I’ll tell you once we’ve uncovered the secret of the Demon Seal.]
I didn’t hesitate for long. I was already swept up in the current of fate that had brought the Demon Seal and the Heavenly Demon to me.
[Alright.]
[Good.]
[Then tell me about the Demon Seal.]
[I can’t explain it here. It’s not something that can be conveyed with words.]
[Then how?]
[There’s a place we must go together if you wish to learn.]
[Fine, once this is over, we’ll go together.]
My relationship with the Heavenly Demon had shifted once more. As our relationship changed, so too did our destinies.
Even though I was determined to kill him, I couldn’t predict how things would end between us.
That afternoon, a grand merchant gathering was held in the main hall of the Dongho Trading Company.
Numerous invited merchants gathered at the company’s headquarters.
Seong Wangbo was dressing in a room reserved for honored guests. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, clad in pristine silk garments.
A short, white-haired old man stared back at him. When had he grown so old? He needed to fulfill his dreams before it was too late.
Suddenly, he recalled something the Dark Merchant had once said.
“If you take my place, you’ll find yourself dreaming new dreams.”
What did he mean by that?
Just then, the door opened, and a man entered, carrying a splendid ceremonial robe.
As Seong Wangbo extended his arms, the man helped him into the robe.
Seong Wangbo was startled to realize that the man dressing him was none other than the Dark Merchant himself.
“How is it that you’re here?”
“Haha, it’s an event for merchants, so I had to come. Now, raise your arms.”
“No, I can manage.”
“It’s fine. Go on, lift your arms.”
“Yes.”
As Seong Wangbo complied, the Dark Merchant helped him into the robe.
The two of them stood before the mirror, exchanging words.
“It suits you well. Gold is your color.”
“Thank you.”
For a moment, they gazed at each other through the mirror.
The Dark Merchant asked him, “What do you plan to do now?”
“He’s sure to attend this gathering.”
“Indeed.”
“I’ll draw him in, just as you instructed. Soon, you’ll witness the art of using poison against poison.”
“How?”
Seong Wangbo smiled brightly and replied, “Is there anything in this world that money can’t achieve?”
His confident words made the Dark Merchant laugh heartily.
“Hahaha.”
“Hahaha.”
In the mirror, the two of them laughed together for a long time.
When the laughter subsided, the Dark Merchant spoke with vigor.
“Go show those martial artists the true power of money.”