It was impossible.
She had gone to someone she had met for the first time today and asked him to help with something this important.
If her mother or the warriors of the sword house heard this story, they would ask if she had gone mad. They would consider it more than a mistake—an incident.
‘But why do I feel so relieved?’
When she asked him to find a reason for her to tear it up, her whole body had tingled, and she had felt good. It was as if her instincts were shouting at her. That she had done truly well. She had never experienced anything like this before.
On top of that, the other party’s answer was perfectly suited to such madness.
“How many should I find for you?”
Such confidence, when he had not even looked at the agreement?
Whether those words were bravado or confidence did not matter. Because the sense of relief she had felt earlier returned to her heart.
“The more, the better.”
Just as she was about to hand the agreement in her hand to Geom Mugeuk—
Hwang In, who had been watching them until now, stepped forward.
“Miss Ju, that will not do.”
At Hwang In’s calm restraint, Ju Hyangwol’s hand stopped in midair.
“Miss Ju may not know this well, as you are not yet accustomed to agreements of this sort, but such an agreement must not be shown to an outsider.”
Hwang In was certain that Geom Mugeuk was an outsider. When he had investigated the Ju Clan Sword House in advance, there had been no one who gave off such a distinctive impression. And judging from the way Ju Hyangwol had spoken and acted toward them earlier, he was clearly not one of their people.
Then Geom Mugeuk asked Ju Hyangwol,
“Did you make a promise beforehand that you would not show it to outsiders?”
“No. I saw that agreement for the first time today.”
Hwang In cut in again.
“It is a contractual convention.”
Geom Mugeuk also dealt with him calmly.
“I wonder why someone so well versed in convention would make such a mistake.”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it convention, when drafting an agreement like this, to send it in advance so the other party has ample time to review it before meeting? It seems to me that the one who broke convention was you.”
At those words, Hwang In could not refute him.
Ju Hyangwol only learned that fact now. She had never experienced anything like this before.
“So let us leave the word convention out of this today. It was absent from the start.”
Hwang In realized that this young opponent before him was not as easy to deal with as he looked.
“Who are you?”
“A man who became a filial son thanks to Miss Ju.”
Hwang In could not understand what that meant. From the words alone, he could not tell whether they were on Ju Hyangwol’s side or truly people she had met at the entrance of the inn.
In any case, it was certain they were unusual people. Even while this tense exchange was going on, Geom Ujin and Hwi continued eating.
They even exchanged natural words such as, “Try this as well,” and, “Thank you.”
“If you read the agreement, you will know, but our merchant guild has made many concessions. That is why we were negligent in sending the agreement in advance. We thought you would be satisfied once you saw it in person. Read it. Then you will understand what I mean.”
There was clear confidence in Hwang In’s eyes.
‘Do you think you will find anything just by reading it?’
Geom Mugeuk accepted the agreement from Ju Hyangwol’s hand.
“Let’s have a look, then.”
Geom Mugeuk placed it on the table and began to read it slowly.
Even then, Geom Ujin and Hwi continued their meal. They paid no attention to this matter at all. At a glance, one might think he was doing so because he was angry at his son, but judging from his expression and the atmosphere around him, there was no sign of anger whatsoever.
Under the concentrated gazes of Ju Hyangwol and Hwang In,
Geom Mugeuk read the several-page agreement all the way to the final page.
“Why is there so much difficult wording?”
“Agreements use their own terminology. So? Did you find the parts that would justify tearing up that agreement?”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.
“I don’t think there are any such parts.”
Disappointment flickered across Ju Hyangwol’s face. She had thought that if it was this man, he might find some kind of answer.
By contrast, a satisfied smile appeared on Hwang In’s face, as if to say, I knew it.
“Now that you have confirmed it, please sign.”
Since she had even taken the unexpected action of showing the agreement to an outsider, it became even harder to delay signing now.
‘Was Mother’s choice right this time?’
She politely bowed to Geom Mugeuk.
“Thank you for reading it.”
Just as she was gathering up the agreement from the table—
An unexpected person broke the silence.
“First page, sixth line.”
Surprisingly, the one who spoke was Geom Ujin.
Ju Hyangwol quickly read the clause Geom Ujin had mentioned.
It was a clause stating that if anything occurred that damaged either party’s honor, they would compensate each other monetarily by mutual agreement.
“Is there a problem with this?”
Ju Hyangwol asked cautiously.
If the sword house and the merchant guild came to an agreement, who would have the advantage? For that reason, she had thought this clause was actually favorable to the Ju Clan Sword House. Had he perhaps named the wrong item?
Instead of answering, Geom Ujin pointed out other places.
“Second page, ninth line. Third page, second and seventh items.”
Ju Hyangwol read all the places Geom Ujin mentioned. They were not difficult contents; rather, they were parts she had thought were favorable to them. Parts she had believed the other side had conceded in order to join hands this time.
For example, there was a clause like this: if it was clearly revealed that the other party was at fault, then beyond monetary compensation, the use of force would also be permitted.
As Hwang In had said, it was a clause in which they had conceded as much as possible, allowing the sword house to attack the merchant guild.
‘Why is he only pointing out the parts they conceded?’
She looked at Geom Ujin in puzzlement.
Geom Ujin, who had been quietly gazing at her, abruptly asked,
“Are you certain that your side is stronger?”
“!”
In that instant, Ju Hyangwol’s heart dropped.
It was something she had not doubted even once throughout her reading of the agreement—no, not even once since entering this inn. She had naturally believed that the sword house was the stronger side.
What if that was not true? What if we are not the stronger side?
Then all of these clauses would become poisonous clauses, returning later as blades.
Preoccupied with the vague and difficult-to-understand parts of the agreement, she had overlooked the simplest and most important part.
The most frightening trap is not the trap that is hidden. When it is plainly exposed but no one regards it as a trap, its power is incomparably great.
Geom Ujin’s final words resolved all those doubts in one stroke.
“When a merchant gives up profit, there is always a reason.”
Ju Hyangwol felt that Geom Ujin was right.
‘That was what I had been missing.’
At the same time, the emotion that surged over her was the comfort and relief she had felt earlier.
She thought that perhaps the relief from before had not been because of the younger man, the son, but because of this father.
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and said,
“You were watching everything while pretending not to.”
“Didn’t you place it on the table and read it so that I could see it too?”
“I get my quick wits from you, Father. Ah! I should have inherited your brilliant mind as well.”
“You must have noticed too.”
Geom Ujin believed that Geom Mugeuk had thought the same thing. He must have noticed that he had been glancing at it from time to time. But Geom Mugeuk denied it to the end.
“In a parent’s eyes, their own child always looks the smartest.”
Ju Hyangwol realized that whenever she watched the two of them, she kept being drawn into them. It was the same now.
This was no time to stare at them blankly, and yet she had been looking enviously at the conversation between the two.
She looked at Hwang In.
As befitted the blood of a merchant, he controlled his emotions well.
“It seems there has been a misunderstanding. We are nothing more than a mere merchant guild. If we were that strong, why would we seek to join hands with the Ju Clan Sword House?”
Then Ju Hyangwol asked him,
“You tell me. Why?”
If they possessed military force stronger than the sword house’s? If they had hidden that fact and presented this agreement? Then this was not simple cooperation but a conspiracy.
Hwang In remained calm.
“It is a misunderstanding.”
“I’m sure it is.”
Ju Hyangwol lifted the agreement and tried to tear it up before his eyes.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk stopped her.
“Would tearing it up truly feel satisfying?”
Ju Hyangwol turned her head toward Geom Mugeuk.
“It would be better to keep it without tearing it. What you are holding is evidence.”
“Evidence?”
“Is it not evidence that they tried to swallow the sword house whole? If you tear it up, it may feel satisfying to you, but the one who will feel truly satisfied is that man.”
“!”
Ju Hyangwol felt dizzy.
At first, she had brought it to Geom Mugeuk and asked him to find a reason to tear it up.
So she had thought that reason had finally been revealed. She had been about to tear it up with delight. But that was not it. Even now, she had narrowly avoided the danger of falling into a trap.
And the traps continued to be discovered.
“Yes, I will keep it well.”
As she tried to place the agreement into her bosom, Geom Mugeuk spoke up again.
“You must not put it there.”
“Why?”
“Weren’t you about to tear up that agreement because you acknowledged that the other side is stronger?”
“That’s right.”
If not, then there would be nothing wrong with this agreement.
“If you possess evidence that is unfavorable to them, how do you think they will act?”
When Ju Hyangwol looked at him with eyes that seemed to say, surely not, Hwang In calmly said,
“I will say it again, but we are merely merchants.”
Ju Hyangwol could now see him objectively. That this mere merchant was far too composed.
She asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Then what should I do?”
“You should store it somewhere safe. Entrust it to the safest place you can think of.”
Ju Hyangwol fell into thought for a moment.
“Since I was young, there was someone I considered the safest.”
“Then entrust it to that person and have them keep it.”
“I can’t. He has already passed away.”
The place where she had felt safest was in her father’s arms.
It was something she did not need to say, yet for some reason she wanted to say it. Was it because she had been under such great psychological pressure today? Or was it because she wanted to tell these two men who had strangely captivated her? She could not understand her own emotions.
She forced herself to be brave. In any case, this matter was her own, and it concerned her family.
“I will handle it myself. Thank you very much for your help.”
The moment her words ended,
another unexpected situation unfolded.
Geom Ujin extended his hand toward her and said,
“I will keep it for you.”
The moment she heard those words, Ju Hyangwol’s chest tightened.
Over the sight of Geom Ujin holding out his hand, the image of her father overlapped.
Geom Ujin was looking at her bluntly, but the father superimposed over him was smiling.
“I found the parts that should have been torn up, so I suppose I should take responsibility as well.”
Geom Mugeuk knew that was not the reason.
His father, influenced by him lately, could help her briefly. Yes, he could even gladly find the contents of the agreement for her.
But to take custody of this?
When there was no knowing when or how their affairs would be concluded? When they had matters to handle in Shaanxi? This was absolutely unlike his father.
Then there was only one conclusion.
The Hwangdo Merchant Guild was connected to the matter we had to handle in Shaanxi.
The person who had heard from Sima Myeong and knew about this mission was Father. I had deliberately not asked. Since I would find out once we arrived anyway, I wanted to focus entirely on traveling with Father at least during the journey there.
When all the Demon Venerables had gathered, Strategist Sima had said this:
—To move experts and an organization of this caliber, an enormous amount of funds would be necessary. After investigating in secret, we found a clue to track down the bastards behind them.
Since he had said they had tracked the source of funds, they would likely have to deal with people of immense wealth even after going to Shaanxi. Perhaps the Hwangdo Merchant Guild was one of their subordinate organizations, or a place connected to them in some way.
“It is all right. Give it to me.”
After hesitating, Ju Hyangwol, as if possessed by something, handed the agreement to Geom Ujin with trembling hands.
Hwang In, who was watching the scene, felt stifled in his chest.
When he had come here, he had truly never imagined he would experience something like this.
Hwang In’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk.
‘Whoever you are, you have provoked the wrong opponent.’
They must have thought him a mere peddler. But if they had known what kind of place the Hwangdo Merchant Guild was, they would not have dared step forward so fearlessly.
“I am busy, so I will take my leave for today.”
Geom Mugeuk did not simply let him go as he turned away.
“Oh, and don’t just leave. Pay the price for renting out the entire inn.”
To Hwang In, who turned back with a slightly stiffened face, Geom Mugeuk added with a smile,
“If you are a merchant, shouldn’t you settle accounts properly?”
Soon, Hwang In smiled calmly and replied,
“Of course. I am someone who is precise when it comes to accounts given and received.”
He called the innkeeper, paid the price, and left the place.
Once Hwang In had left, Ju Hyangwol felt as though a storm had swept through.
What if I had not risen from my seat? What if I had signed right there?
How would her fate have changed?
“According to what you said, they may come to steal that agreement.”
At her concern, Geom Ujin called the innkeeper and ordered new dishes.
“Since you have sat down, eat before you go.”
Ju Hyangwol experienced an unexpected situation until the very end. She had never thought she would end up eating with these people.
The one who reassured her in Geom Ujin’s stead was Geom Mugeuk.
“You need not worry. The thing you entrusted is now…”
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father with gentle eyes.
“Stored in the safest place in this murim.”
Absolute Regression, Chapter 453