Chapter 623
Chapter 623
Chapter 623. The Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle (2)
I headed to the Luoyang branch.
“Welcome.” (Eun Jungseon)
Eun Jungseon, the branch manager of the Luoyang branch, personally came out to greet me.
He, too, was a distant relative with the surname Eun, and unfortunately, he would pass away in a few years.
The cause of death was illness.
By the time treatment began, it had already been too late.
This time, I have to stop that from happening. (MC)
He must not die of illness and must continue serving as the branch manager of Luoyang.
Because in my previous life, the new Luoyang branch manager who succeeded him sold the Eunhae Trading Company’s information to the Baekcheon Trading Company.
We figured that out and tried to catch him, but the Baekcheon Trading Company noticed first and eliminated him before we could, so we could not even hold him accountable.
To prevent something like that from happening, treating Branch Manager Eun Jungseon’s illness in advance was the best method in many ways.
“Branch Manager. Are all the preparations for the move finished?” (MC)
“Yes. They are prepared to some extent.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Then, as I told you before, you may move to the new branch starting tomorrow.” (MC)
At my words, the branch manager asked cautiously.
“Um…… Is it really all right? That place is a haunted manor, so…….” (Branch Manager Eun)
Since he also lived in Luoyang, he must have heard plenty about that place’s infamy, so he was expressing his concern.
“Did the people who cleared and repaired that place this time say they saw a ghost?” (MC)
“Th-that is not the case, but…….” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Do not worry. I personally stayed there for several days and never saw a ghost.” (MC)
I only saw a small marten spiritual beast. (MC)
“Perhaps the ghost that was there moved somewhere else. Or perhaps the Black and White Impermanence took it away. It is fortune for us.” (MC)
At my words, the branch manager nodded.
“Since you guarantee it so, Young Captain, I will believe you.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“To be honest, staying there will be far better than staying here. The location is good, and the facilities are wider and more comfortable.” (MC)
The manor alone was ten times wider than this Luoyang branch.
“So please spend this winter there. And when the weather warms, we will begin full-scale construction. You can likely think of it as an expansion.” (MC)
“Understood. I will prepare as you said.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“And I believe I must now go to Beijing.” (MC)
“Already?” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Yes. I have finished everything I needed to do. Now I must go handle the next matter.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“And…….” (MC)
I spoke toward the outside.
“Physician! Please come in.” (MC)
At those words, the door opened, and the physician I had brought entered.
“Young Captain, why suddenly a physician……?” (Branch Manager Eun)
“I invited this physician because I was worried that your complexion did not look good, Branch Manager.” (MC)
“Do we not have a physician stationed at our branch?” (Branch Manager Eun)
It was one of the representative welfare benefits of the Eunhae Trading Company, and each branch had a physician dispatched from the main company’s medical hall stationed there.
“I know that too.” (MC)
And that resident physician examined everyone in every branch regularly every month.
Even so, the fact that Branch Manager Eun Jungseon realized his illness only too late and died from it meant that the physician, too, was in league with someone.
And that physician resigned in advance not long before the branch manager died of illness.
He had taken his share and left.
So the physician who came here as his successor identified the branch manager’s illness, but it was already too late.
I spoke gently.
“Even so, it is not a bad thing to receive another physician’s pulse diagnosis sometimes. And this man is a renowned physician in Luoyang. You know him well too, do you not?” (MC)
“Of course.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Then please receive a pulse diagnosis once.” (MC)
At my persuasion, he nodded.
“I will be in your care.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Hmm, first, please stick out your tongue.” (Physician)
The physician examined the branch manager’s eyes and tongue, then tilted his head and began taking his pulse.
As his expression gradually stiffened while feeling the pulse, the branch manager asked worriedly,
“Is there some problem?” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Phew…. This would have been dangerous if it had continued untreated.” (Physician)
“Pardon?” (Branch Manager Eun)
“There is a problem with your liver.” (Physician)
“The resident physician of our Trading Company said there was nothing wrong…….” (Branch Manager Eun)
“It seems some quack is playing physician somewhere. To think he could not catch the disease even with these symptoms. Tsk, tsk. If my disciple had done this, I would have struck him on the back with a pestle right away.” (Physician)
“…….” (Branch Manager Eun)
Branch Manager Eun Jungseon bit his lip.
He was the person who had led this Luoyang branch until now. There was no way such a person would fail to realize what the current situation meant.
“Then, is treatment possible?” (Branch Manager Eun)
“It is not too late yet. It will take a little time, but there will be no problem curing it completely.” (Physician)
“That is a relief. Then I will leave it to you.” (Branch Manager Eun)
I added a word as well.
“Please do not worry about the treatment cost and treat him well with good medicinal ingredients.” (MC)
At this, the physician nodded.
“Understood. Then I will go fetch the necessary medicinal ingredients.” (Physician)
“No.” (Branch Manager Eun)
The branch manager shook his head.
“There is no need to trouble yourself like that. I will come to you in person.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“If that is what you wish, that is good for me. You may prepare and come.” (Physician)
Like that, the physician returned, and only the branch manager and I remained in the reception room.
Silence lingered for a moment, and the one who broke that silence first was the branch manager.
“Young Captain. Since when did you notice?” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Notice what?” (MC)
“That I was ill.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“I found out not long ago. But you yourself did not seem to know, Branch Manager, so I sounded out the branch’s physician indirectly, and he answered as if it were nothing. Just in case, I invited another physician.” (MC)
“……I apologize.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“It is all right. You only need to recover quickly.” (MC)
At my words, he was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“Young Captain, when you just said that you ‘sounded out this branch’s physician indirectly,’ does that not mean you have already noticed something else as well? That the physician of this branch deliberately neglected my illness.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“…….” (MC)
“I meant that I am sorry for causing you concern, Young Captain, through my poor management. And I would like to handle this matter myself. Please allow it.” (Branch Manager Eun)
At this, I spoke gently.
“The branch manager of this Luoyang branch is Branch Manager Eun Jungseon.” (MC)
He understood the meaning of my words and answered.
“Thank you.” (Branch Manager Eun)
“Then, as scheduled, I will return to Beijing tomorrow. Please receive treatment well.” (MC)
“Yes. Understood. I will report soon.” (Branch Manager Eun)
I rose from my seat.
If I have done this much, he will handle the rest well on his own. Branch Manager Eun Jungseon is a person with that much ability. (MC)
He will be hurt by this incident, but Branch Manager Eun Jungseon has gone through quite a few hardships as well. (MC)
And it is also a problem he must resolve personally. (MC)
As the saying goes, the ground hardens after the rain, the Luoyang branch has to become more united through this incident.
Only then will it not waver at the interference or enticement of other Trading Companies, including the Baekcheon Trading Company.
The next day.
My party and I headed to Beijing.
Because it seemed I needed to quickly handle the matter of the Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle that had come into my hands.
Also, the timing was appropriate now.
Since Chunjing Castle was in Yunnan, once spring passed, even moving around would be difficult and exhausting.
Of course, I had no problem being active whether it was hot or cold, but the others moving with me were not like that.
As soon as I arrived in Beijing, I sent Warrior Ipil to request a visit with Great Hero Jinyoung.
Fortunately, that evening, Great Hero Jinyoung came to see me.
“I greet you, Great Hero.” (MC)
“Did you not say you were going to Luoyang? And yet you have already returned?” (Great Hero Jinyoung)
I nodded.
“Yes. A very important matter came up, so I hurried up here in haste to meet His Majesty the Emperor.” (MC)
“Is that so? Then let us go at once.” (Great Hero Jinyoung)
“Yes.” (MC)
Like that, we headed to the imperial palace and had an audience with the emperor.
The emperor asked me after I offered the highest etiquette.
“Judging by your expression, it seems there is something serious…… What is the matter?” (Emperor)
I am grateful that he asks so directly like this. (MC)
I took out the scroll from my robe and said,
“First, please look at this.” (MC)
At this, a eunuch approached me, placed the scroll on a tray, and presented it to the emperor.
The emperor unfolded the scroll.
“Mm…….” (Emperor)
Then, as if realizing that its contents were unusual, he spoke with a hardened face.
“Explain this.” (Emperor)
“Yes.” (MC)
I quickly explained the whole story.
“The reason I went to Luoyang this time was to secure land to expand the Eunhae Trading Company’s Luoyang branch. And I purchased the land with the haunted manor.” (MC)
“That place called the haunted manor is rather famous, is it not?” (Emperor)
“That is correct.” (MC)
The emperor knows about that place too. (MC)
“What in the world were you thinking, buying that place?” (Emperor)
I conveyed things as much as possible as they were.
However, I did not mention that there was a vein where pure energy flowed there, or that the ghost guarding it had actually been a marten spiritual beast.
“First of all, the location was very good, and the price was very cheap. So I went in and stayed there for a few days, but nothing in particular happened. That is why I purchased the place.” (MC)
I calmly continued.
“But because it had been neglected for so long, various areas needed repairs, and in the midst of that, I discovered this. Its contents were unusual, so I came up to Beijing right away.” (MC)
“Certainly, as you said, this is an unusual object. The bastards who wrote this had already been targeting the Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle long ago and committed that heaven-and-man-enraging deed…… Whew.” (Emperor)
Seeing him take a deep breath meant that he was very angry.
“It means they carried out this heaven-and-man-enraging plan.” (Emperor)
“I think so as well.” (MC)
“Seeing this makes me feel grateful to you anew. If not for you, something terrible would have happened in Chunjing Castle.” (Emperor)
For instance, something like Prince Zhuxian dying while being tortured.
Tap, tap, tap.
The emperor fell into thought as he tapped the armrest with his finger.
Tap.
Had about one meal’s time passed? At last, his finger stopped.
“I will ask you.” (Emperor)
“Please ask, Your Majesty.” (MC)
“Are you free right now?” (Emperor)
“……Pardon?” (MC)
For a moment, I asked back, but soon realized the emperor’s intention in asking.
“I am merely prepared to go anywhere, should Your Majesty command it.” (MC)
I absolutely needed to be included in the exploration of the Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle.
If I confirmed what was discovered inside, I might be able to resolve the questions about what had happened in my previous life.
And honestly, I was curious.
Just what kind of place was it that the Blood Cult had been so desperate to explore the Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle?
Meanwhile, the emperor’s question continued.
“In your view, how many people are needed to explore this Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle?” (Emperor)
“About one hundred should be enough. Too many people would likely be a hindrance instead.” (MC)
“You do not mean only people with martial power, do you?” (Emperor)
“That is correct. That number includes trap experts and experts in mechanism formations.” (MC)
“Understood. You may go now.” (Emperor)
Pardon? (MC)
“What are you doing? Not going out?” (Emperor)
It was clearly an order to leave, and I had no excuse to say anything more.
So I bowed with proper etiquette, then quietly withdrew.
Mm……. (MC)
It seems the emperor has quite a lot to think about. (MC)
.
.
.
After returning to the Beijing branch, I spent each day working as usual.
Because there were too many piled-up tasks to focus only on the matter of Chunjing Castle.
“Young Captain, Chief Manager Jaegal has arrived.” (Palgap)
“Tell him to come in.” (MC)
This time, I had formally given Mister Jaegal Cheondu the position of chief manager.
The martial arts academy had not yet been established, but if the person in charge of the overall organization of the martial arts academy had no position, it would be difficult for him to work.
After the martial arts academy was established, he was scheduled to work as chief manager and instructor.
“Here, I have organized the basic framework.” (Jaegal Cheondu)
“You have worked hard. Then this means we need to find instructors suited to this.” (MC)
“Yes. Once spring comes, the buildings will begin going up in earnest, so we will become busy.” (Jaegal Cheondu)
Beijing’s winter was cold.
Since it was a region close to the northernmost part of the empire, it could not be helped.
So once midwinter arrived, all construction stopped, and the martial arts academy was the same.
It was obvious as day that things would become busy once spring came.
That was why the only time I could go to Chunjing Castle in Yunnan Province was before spring arrived.
When I met the emperor before, it seemed as though he would command, “Send people at once to explore the Sword Tomb of Chunjing Castle.” (MC)
Is he perhaps trying to confirm whether there really is a Sword Tomb in Chunjing Castle? (MC)
Or is it a matter of selecting personnel? (MC)
Those questions did arise, but I soon set them aside.
It was none other than His Majesty the Emperor handling it, so he would do well on his own.
As I had said before, apart from the fact that His Majesty the Emperor was frightening, if I had to choose just one person to entrust work to, he was so remarkable that I would choose His Majesty the Emperor.
About fifteen days passed like that.
During that time, I exchanged letters several times with Father through Geumryeong.
Things like securing a new site in Luoyang and beginning the move, planning to add extensions in spring, and the progress on the establishment of the martial arts academy in Beijing, and so on.
Father sent back replies filled with trust.
[They call it a haunted manor, but if it were truly a haunted manor, you would not have chosen that place. Above all, since you value people most, you would not have chosen a place with problems.] (Father)
As expected, Father knows me well. (MC)
[This time, I sent Captain Yong and the others to Hainan Island, and we decided to begin construction based on the blueprints designed according to your advice. The official dispatched from the imperial palace told us to handle it as we saw fit.] (Father)
If he had heard the rumors, that official would be cautious on his own.
Hainan Island was not a cold place, so it did not matter much even if construction began now.
I look forward to the naval base and the Eunhae Trading Company’s anchorage that will be built there. (MC)
Captain Yong and the party will like it too. (MC)
[And stop by home when you have time. Should we not discuss your marriage?] (Father)
As Father said, I did need to go there soon.
Matters about the marriage could be exchanged through Geumryeong, but there were still things that had to be discussed face-to-face.
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
I gave Geumryeong a silver coin.
A silver coin was quite a large sum of money, but actually, considering its speed, this was much cheaper.
But that is a secret from Geumryeong.
Just then, Palgap’s voice was heard.
“Young Master! Great Hero Jinyoung has arrived, sir.” (Palgap)
The time has finally come. (MC)