Chapter 314
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 314
Chapter 314. In Lanzhou (1)
The boat we were on traveled up the Yellow River.
The water level was just right, and the wind was blowing from the west, so we made very good speed.
“Mount Hua is already in sight.”
“That's right.”
Jin-yu Musha nodded at my words. Then he glanced behind him and said,
“Myeongjong Musha seems to be feeling very emotional.”
I nodded at his words.
Myeongjong Musha had been standing motionless for a while, staring at Mount Hua, which was growing larger and larger.
His eyes looked complicated.
It seemed like he was filled with longing and regret...
I approached him.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. My lord. I behaved disgracefully.”
He quickly regained his composure and bowed his head.
“There is an old saying that even a fox, when it dies, turns its head toward the den where it lived. Mount Hua is the source of your martial arts and a place filled with many memories. How could you not miss it?”
“...Thank you for saying so.”
I looked at Mount Hua.
That place, which looked pink due to the plum blossoms in full bloom, was probably where the Mount Hua Sect was located.
“I heard that the plum blossoms of the Mount Hua Sect are very beautiful.”
“Yes, that's right.”
Mingzong Musha nodded.
“When the plum blossoms bloom, the whole area is filled with their fragrance. It's truly a spectacular sight.”
“I see.”
“So, I used to train with my senior brothers, wandering around places full of plum blossoms and catching the falling petals, but it wasn't easy.”
“I can imagine.”
“To be honest, I think I got a little too carried away at the last Dragon and Phoenix Duel. If I made it to the finals, I would have qualified to become a Plum Blossom Sword Master...”
Plum Blossom Sword Master.
It refers to a swordsman who can make plum blossoms bloom with his sword, but it also refers to the elite of the Mount Hua Sect.
“As expected, I was not qualified to be a Plum Blossom Sword Master.”
“Don't blame yourself too much. You were just unlucky.”
“...”
“And you weren't expelled, were you? You'll be able to return to Mount Hua someday.”
I patted him on the shoulder encouragingly and turned my head toward Mount Hua.
In my previous life, the Mount Hua Sect was still renowned, but I had the impression that they were unable to use their power.
The swords of Mount Hua should have been feared by the rogues of the martial world.
The ship sailed calmly and smoothly for several days, steadily making its way upstream.
Then, not long after passing Mount Hua, the captain shouted to the crew, "Everyone, get ready!
“We're going up!”
“Yes!”
The sailors went around giving advice to the passengers on board.
“The ship may rock a lot from now on. So it's best to tie yourself to the pillars or something to keep yourself steady.”
Someone replied to that.
“That's too much trouble. Do we really have to do that?”
“If you get thrown off the ship, you'll become fish food. The beams connecting the pillars of the ship are there to prevent that from happening.”
Sure enough, this ship bound for Lanzhou in Gansu Province had several unique features compared to other ships.
One was that an additional wooden fence-like railing had been added to the ship's railings.
There were also many beams in the middle of the ship.
Although it made it difficult to move around, there was a reason for it.
The river is very rough from the middle of Shanxi Province.
It would be nice if there was a continuous waterway from Shanxi to Lanzhou, but due to the terrain, there is no waterway large enough for ships to navigate.
The river continued northward from Shanxi.
So we had to go northward from Shanxi, then westward, and then southward again.
As a result, we had to pass through the rapids between the mountains by boat.
Still, it was much better than crossing this river. Crossing the rapids at this time of year was truly life-threatening.
I quickly tied myself to one end of the rope tied to the raft and said to my companions.
“It is best to do as the sailors say.”
Yoo Eung-am nodded in agreement.
“My liege is right. It is certainly faster, but it is also dangerous.”
I asked him, “Have you ever crossed this river to go to Gansu?”
“You must have traveled down this river to Gansu before, Yeo-mu.”
Yeo Eung-am nodded.
“Yes. I went there once on business.”
“I see.”
In fact, there was a branch of the Eunhae Trading Company in Gansu. Although it was a small branch, it was quite important.
This was because Yeonji Mountain in Gansu Province was the main source of yeast used by women to color their lips.
That was why my father went to Gansu Province for this purpose and met my mother.
However, the task the emperor has entrusted to me this time is dangerous, so I don't think I will be able to stop by the branch office in Gansu Province or visit my maternal family.
“The rapids are going to get rough!”
With the captain's shout, the boat began to rock violently.
It rocked so violently that I wondered if this was what it felt like to ride on the back of a dragon flying in the sky, but even so, the boat did not capsize and continued to move forward.
The problem was that we had to travel like this for two to three days.
With the boat rocking so violently, we couldn't even dream of a meal with soup, and had to make do with dried meat and other snacks.
“Is that why our Liege bought so much dried meat?”
I nodded in response to Lee Pil's question.
“I heard a story from Hyung-nim a long time ago.”
“Come to think of it, the people from the escort agency who went with us back then had prepared a lot of dried meat. I remember now.”
At least our group was fine because we had trained in martial arts, but the ordinary people were almost losing consciousness.
If we hadn't tied ourselves tightly with ropes, we would have rolled around on the floor and been thrown out of the ship.
That was when it happened.
“Ugh!”
A father's child slipped out of his arms.
The shaking was so severe that he lost his grip for a moment.
To make matters worse, the rope tying the child was also loose.
The child was also tied with a rope, but it was unclear whether it had become loose or whether it had been tied loosely from the beginning because the child was in pain.
The child lost his balance and rolled across the floor, passing between the railings and disappearing into the water.
It happened in an instant.
“Oh no! Seung-yeon!”
The child's father and mother rushed to the deck to save him.
However, they were stopped by the sailors.
The sailors had no choice.
The living must live, and ordinary people cannot save a child by jumping into such a swift current.
Rather, they would die themselves.
And I was already moving.
I untied the rope that bound me, threw off my cumbersome outer clothing, and jumped into the rapids.
Splash!
I didn't know why I moved.
Maybe it was because the child's eyes met mine before he fell into the water.
The rapids here are dangerous even for martial artists.
However, I had mastered the Water Walking Technique taught to me by my Master.
I was confident that I could move freely in any rapids.
Furthermore, with the Ice Heart Technique, I could clearly sense what was in the water even with my eyes closed.
Thus, I had the ability to save a child who had fallen into the water.
But if I just stand by and watch the child die, how am I any different from Baek Cheon Trading Company and the Martial Alliance, who killed me in my previous life?
I expanded my senses as much as possible.
“...!”
I immediately swam toward the place where I sensed something.
Thanks to the Ice Water Technique, I was able to move safely through the water as if I were in a lake.
The water opened a path for me.
Splash!
I grabbed the child and immediately rose to the surface.
We were quite far from the boat, but I wasn't particularly worried.
“Phew...”
I took a deep breath and ran across the water.
This was an application of the Mooheunbo technique, which is part of the Ice Water Technique.
I quickly caught up with the boat and climbed aboard.
“Seung-yeok!”
When I returned with the child, the child's parents rushed over.
However, I held them back with my hands.
“Please wait a moment.”
I laid the child down and began to press on his chest. I had to make sure he was breathing properly.
Only after taking these measures did the child begin to cough violently, spitting out water.
“Phew!”
“Cough, cough!”
I patted the child's back and said to the parents,
“It's okay now.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“How can we ever repay you for this kindness?”
The child's parents bowed their heads repeatedly to express their gratitude.
I waved my hand to calm them down.
“The current is still strong. Hold him tight so he doesn't fall back into the water.”
“Yes! Yes!”
“I understand.”
I sighed as I watched the parents tie the child tightly with a rope.
“It's a real relief.”
Pal-gap handed me a towel, and I wiped my face with it and replied.
“Yes. I'm really glad.”
“What I meant was that I'm glad you are safe, young master.”
“Ah…”
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. I knew I was in the wrong.
“We were very worried.”
I apologized obediently to Seo Woo's words.
“I'm sorry.”
“I waited because I knew that you were safe, but I wish you had at least told us something.”
“I will do so in the future.”
“I'm not done yet.”
“...”
Pal-gap's nagging continued for several hours, and my ears were about to bleed.
About three days later.
The rough rapids were now calm, as if they had never existed.
We finally untied ourselves and were able to move freely around the boat.
The parents of the boy named Seung-yeok thanked me again.
“Thank you so much for saving my son.”
“I hear you. You are called Seonhae-miran, right? You truly live up to your name.”
As I blushed at the name, Seung-yuk bowed his head and greeted me.
“Thank you for saving my life. You're a handsome older brother.”
“Cough.”
Yes, handsome... older brother.
I guess I should like that, right?
In any case, I was glad that I had learned Binghaesu, as I was able to prevent a family tragedy.
“By the way, do you have a place to stay in Lanzhou?”
“I'm just stopping by, so I was thinking of staying at an inn.”
“I see. If you don't mind, how about staying at my house?”
My father's words made me feel awkward. I was being pursued by people.
I couldn't involve innocent people in my situation.
“Thank you for your kind offer, but we have some business to attend to, so we will have to move quickly as soon as we arrive in Lanzhou.”
“I see.”
“But if I have the opportunity, I will come visit you.”
“Then please visit us at our house later. Our house is...”
I quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, did you say your name was Seung-yeon?”
“Yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Five years old.”
“I see! You're so brave despite going through such a difficult situation!”
“Yes! My father told me that if I always live bravely, the world will help me.”
“That's right. That's how you should live.”
As we were talking, the captain of the ship approached me.
“I heard you are the heroes of the Dragon and Phoenix Duel, Master Xian and Master Xiao.”
“It's just a false name.”
“No, that's not true. I saw with my own eyes why Master Seonhyeok and Master So are called Seonhyeok. It is entirely thanks to Master Seonhyeok and Master So that there were no accidents on my ship.”
The captain continued.
“Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude by returning your fare.”
I waved my hands frantically.
“I don't think that's right. It is all thanks to the captain and the crew that we arrived here safely. The fare is your reward, so you can't refuse it!”
“But...”
“If you insist, then please help us once if we have the chance in the future.”
“Is that really all you want?”
“You know what I might ask of you later.”
“It doesn't matter. If you are Master Sang and Master So, you won't ask for anything unreasonable.”
The boat sailed smoothly upstream, and before we knew it, we arrived in Lanzhou.
“Please take a look.”
“Yes, thank you.”
We led the horses off the boat.
Horses are very sensitive animals, so I was worried about their condition when the boat was rocking up and down in the rapids, but fortunately, they seemed to be fine.
Still, they seemed to be sensitive to the unfamiliar environment, so I thought it would be better to let them rest a little.
So, we spent the night at a nearby inn and left early the next morning.
According to the letter from the emperor, Master Bang Hyo-myeong was staying half a day's journey away from Lanzhou.
We headed for the house where Master Bang Hyo-myeong was staying.
It was a fairly large estate.
“Where are you from?”
I was about to reveal my identity to the gatekeeper. But then.
“No! Aren't you my benefactor?”
“...?”
Behind the gatekeeper, the father of the boy I had saved, named Seung-yok, was running toward us.
(To be continued)