Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 490

‘What’s this?’

Something about the atmosphere felt off.

As if it wasn’t surprising enough that the Divine Doctor had suddenly appeared at the Baekhwa Trading Company—what was this mood?

‘And why is that guy glaring like that?’

Cheol Ji-seon’s gaze toward the Divine Doctor was also strange. He was staring at him with unmistakable hostility.

What’s his problem?

In this bizarre situation, it was surprisingly the Divine Doctor who made the first move. After exchanging a look with Cheol Ji-seon, he cautiously spoke.

"How have you been? It’s been a long time…."

"…."

Despite the Divine Doctor’s greeting, Cheol Ji-seon only furrowed his brows, twisting his expression without saying a word in response.

I swallowed my surprise internally as I watched.

‘They know each other?’

It seemed like the Divine Doctor and Cheol Ji-seon were acquainted. And that the Divine Doctor was the one to greet him first?

‘…Come to think of it.’

I shifted my gaze to Je Gal-hyuk, who was standing beside the Divine Doctor. Now that I thought about it, Cheol Ji-seon’s original surname was also Je Gal. So, does that mean the Divine Doctor, as Je Gal-hyuk’s grandfather, also has the surname Je Gal?

‘Is that why they’re connected?’

If that’s the case, it makes sense, but I still didn’t understand why Cheol Ji-seon was displaying such open hostility.

Cheol Ji-seon, after hearing the Divine Doctor’s greeting, clenched his lips tightly, bit them a few times, then looked away and muttered.

"I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else."

"…"

Anyone could tell from his expression that he recognized the Divine Doctor, making his statement entirely unconvincing. Yet no one in the group pointed it out.

‘Look at his face.’

Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes trembled as if pleading with us not to pry.

Because of that, the others simply cast glances his way without saying anything further. Perhaps it was Cheol Ji-seon’s response that caused the Divine Doctor to say:

"…I see. My apologies."

The Divine Doctor, observing Cheol Ji-seon’s reaction, led Je Gal-hyuk away and continued walking.

As they left, the disciples nearby quickly bowed respectfully, but the Divine Doctor ignored their greetings and silently walked down the street.

‘Well.’

The situation didn’t seem particularly favorable.

I’d been hoping to ask the Divine Doctor about what had happened since the vessel had been reconstituted.

Running into him was fortunate, but now didn’t feel like the right moment to press him about it. After watching the Divine Doctor leave, I addressed my group amidst the slightly subdued atmosphere.

"I’ll head upstairs for a bit. Stay ‘quietly’ on the first floor while you wait."

With that, I stepped inside the trading company. By “wait quietly,” I meant not to start prying or poking around unnecessarily.

With such a sharp group, they’d probably get the hint. If anything happened, Moyong Hee-ah would likely warn them, so I decided to go about my business first.

******************

There are many martial organizations commonly found in the Central Plains, but broadly speaking, they can be divided into clans and sects.

The clans are based solely on bloodline inheritance, passing down their martial arts through family lineage. On the other hand, sects are formed by those who come together based on shared beliefs, even if they are not bound by blood.

While the directions they pursue may differ, both seek to carve a path through martial strength.

Within the areas they’ve taken root, they protect civilians from demonic beasts and continuously train in martial arts.

This is the most fundamental duty for those who live as righteous martial artists, regardless of whether they belong to a clan or sect.

The reason that prestigious houses, like the Nine Great Sects or the Four Great Clans, can maintain prosperous lives is due to this very principle:

They protect their regions with great strength, be it from demonic beasts or villains.

Moreover, there are those who live in symbiosis with these groups—namely, the trading companies that sponsor martial artists.

If strength for a martial artist lies in their skills, there are those who see wealth as their power.

These individuals use their wealth to protect themselves.

They fund sects or clans, request their protection, and at times, even hire them for personal security.

In fact, even the Four Great Clans often deploy their warriors as guards for the trading companies that sponsor them.

These clans are well aware of the importance of maintaining good relationships with trading companies to support their current affluent lifestyles.

‘Though such matters don’t exactly concern the Tang Clan or the Moyong family.’

Setting aside the Moyong family, which runs its own trading company, and the Tang Clan, which has amassed wealth by selling advanced weaponry,

Even the Gu family in Shanxi accepts sponsorships from trading companies in their local prefecture, and the famous Shanxi guild that hosts the Kowloon Assembly works closely with them.

Of course…

‘Our family is known for accepting only a pittance in sponsorship funds…’

That was Father’s policy. He believed that protecting Shanxi was our duty, and that we only needed enough money to sustain our livelihood.

[He has strong convictions. I admire that.]

Noya seemed to agree as if he understood.

‘How can that make any sense?’

To me, it was completely incomprehensible. In other regions, there are plenty of alternative clans and sects to replace each other.

But Shanxi is predominantly governed by the Gu family. With no substitutes, we could be raking in vast amounts in sponsorships, yet we only accept enough to get by.

‘It’s such a waste, honestly!’

From my perspective, where other people’s money is as good as my own, it was an absolute shame.

[It seems the Gu clan head truly failed in raising his son.] ‘It’s fine; I didn’t exactly grow up with proper education.’ [In what world is that considered fine?]

Noya sounded exasperated, but I ignored him.

In any case,

While I understood that it was my father’s policy and our ancestors’ will,

The Gu family had been living more comfortably from my father’s generation onward.

The reason being…

‘It’s because of this place.’

Father married into an incredibly influential family.

If the Central Plains has the Nine Great Sects and the Four Great Clans,

The world of trading companies has its own top organizations.

These are known as the Three Great Companies of the Central Plains.

These three companies possess absurd amounts of wealth, and one of them was precisely where I was now.

The Baekhwa Trading Company.

This is where Lady Mi serves as the head, and unofficially, it’s the wealthiest establishment in the Central Plains.

I knew well that the reason the Gu family could even sustain itself was due to Lady Mi.

But…

"Oh my…!! It’s an honor to be in the presence of such a noble young master!"

This kind of treatment is a bit hard to endure…

On the top floor of the Sichuan branch of the Baekhwa Trading Company—

In what seemed to be the branch manager’s office, I was receiving a very grand reception.

A large man, likely in his forties, with a shiny, balding head, was smiling at me with a slick gesture that seemed at odds with his build.

Scrub-scrub-scrub—

He was rubbing his hands so fast that the sound echoed throughout the room.

"I heard you were in Sichuan, but I should have come to greet you first… Truly, I’m very sorry…!" "…Yes…"

It was my first time experiencing such a reception, so I felt quite flustered. All I’d done was announce my name upon arrival.

Yet, the branch manager had rushed down, practically insane, to bring me here in person.

It must be because of Lady Mi.

Seeing this, I could faintly sense just how influential Lady Mi’s position was as the head of the company.

‘The room is quite something.’

Despite a somewhat rough atmosphere, the room’s decor exuded the value of the trading company. There were expensive-looking ornaments everywhere.

And beyond that…

‘Even outside the room…’

There was a noticeable presence of martial artists stationed around, seemingly guarding this space.

Two master-level martial artists, three at the peak level.

‘Quite a high level for guarding a mere branch manager.’

Even a peak-level guard would require considerable payment, so the cost of hiring martial artists of this level must be immense.

Considering the pride of these martial artists, it must be quite significant.

‘So, this guy may look unassuming, but he’s definitely capable.’

With that thought, I began to see him in a slightly different light.

"I am Dongbu, the branch manager of the Sichuan branch. It is an honor to meet you, Young Master." "…Yes, pleased to meet you." "Oh, please, you don’t need to speak so formally! How could I, a mere commoner, possibly… Heh heh."

"It’s fine… It feels a bit strange to lower my speech."

"Oh my, you’re even so polite…! I can see a brilliant future for the Gu family!"

Honestly, I felt too uncomfortable to relax my speech. Isn’t it a bit much to call a branch manager a “mere commoner”…?

‘I feel drained.’

As always, I didn’t enjoy talking to merchants for long.

People skilled in this field are experts at draining one’s energy.

Before the atmosphere grew too overbearing, I decided to get to the point.

"I’ve come to ask if you can handle selling a few items for me." "Oh, of course. Please, tell me anything. I will secure the best price for…"

Thud-thud-thud!

"Eh?"

Before he could finish, I pulled out all the Night Pearls from my sleeve. The few radiant Night Pearls rolled across the floor, and the branch manager’s expression froze.

He even rubbed his eyes, as if he thought he was seeing things.

Watching him, I smiled awkwardly.

"Would you be able to buy all of them?"

"…Ah…Uh… what?"

I was slightly concerned by his stunned expression, but fortunately, we managed to complete the transaction smoothly.

Thank goodness.

If he’d tried any tricks, I might’ve had to burn down the entire Sichuan branch. Instead, he didn’t try to haggle and even seemed inclined to offer more.

After some time had passed and things had settled down a bit.

"Once we’ve verified the authenticity of the items, I will issue you a receipt immediately."

The branch manager was explaining with his polished head glistening under the light.

Perhaps because of the magnitude of the transaction, the man who had been rubbing his hands earlier was now a sharp-looking merchant.

Perhaps the shock had been so great that it left no room for pretense.

After all…

‘Each of these items could be seen as a treasure, and I’ve brought dozens.’

It’s an era where Night Pearls are nearly impossible to find.

Bringing so many must have been quite a shock.

"Given the nature of these items… Even for a young master, we must confirm their authenticity. I hope you don’t mind…"

"That’s fine. Take your time."

"Thank you for your understanding. And also…"

"Yes?"

The branch manager hesitated, looking slightly awkward.

"If all of the Night Pearls prove genuine… we may not be able to provide the full payment at once…"

"Then, we can issue a promissory note. I don’t need the funds immediately."

My intention was to secure some funds to facilitate future movements. I didn’t actually need a large sum at this moment.

Besides, I wouldn’t even have a place to store it all right now.

‘By the way…’

This sum was so high that even the Baekhwa Trading Company couldn’t handle it all at once. At least, I wouldn’t have to worry about money issues anytime soon.

‘I’ll also need to think about how to handle the Eternal Cold Iron.’

A few years from now, I’d be raiding Bi-gol to secure some Eternal Cold Iron. Rather than selling it, I planned to craft a weapon with it.

I already had someone in mind for that work.

"I’m truly grateful for your understanding, Young Master…!"

As the conversation flowed smoothly, the branch manager returned to his usual self, rubbing his hands together again.

Suppressing my irritation, I finally asked the question that had been on my mind.

"Branch Manager."

"Yes?"

"This is more of a personal curiosity."

"Oh, Young Master! Ask anything! I’ll tell you everything I know… or don’t…."

"What did the Divine Doctor come here looking for?"

"…"

When I mentioned the Divine Doctor, the branch manager’s expression stiffened again.

"…How… did you…"

Was this supposed to be some kind of secret?

"I ran into the Divine Doctor on the way here. I actually have a bit of a connection with him."

I wasn’t sure if the Divine Doctor felt the same, but that was how I saw it.

The branch manager, upon hearing this, broke into a nervous sweat. He seemed deeply flustered.

"Haha… Young Master, this concerns client confidentiality, so I’m afraid…"

"Of course."

"Thank you, Young Master. I knew you’d understand…!"

"I do."

I could understand the branch manager’s position. Client trust was essential.

It’s the most important virtue a merchant should uphold.

But.

Rumble.

I dragged one of the Night Pearls across the table with my finger. The branch manager’s gaze followed the pearl as it rolled along.

"So, I’m curious—how would you approach our trust, then?"

"…Young Master?"

"If I told my ‘mother’ that you handled all of these Night Pearls, I think she’d be quite pleased…"

Just saying the word “mother” made my tongue feel strange. I’d never once addressed Lady Mi that way.

Although it was a forced term, the impact on the branch manager was significant. Sweat beaded on his shiny head.

"Haha…Young Master… That is…"

"You could just casually mention it as if talking to yourself. If so, I’d be more than willing to send a positive report about you."

"…!"

"To Mother, of course."

The mention of sending a commendation to Lady Mi made the branch manager’s eyes waver wildly.

"But… if you firmly choose not to say a word…"

I picked up a Night Pearl. The branch manager’s gaze followed its movement.

At the same time, I released my energy, filling the room with an invisible barrier.

To prevent any sounds from escaping.

"Then I might feel inclined to sell these Night Pearls to a different branch. Odd, isn’t it? I wonder why I feel that way… I can’t say for sure."

As I said this with a bright smile, the branch manager’s lips trembled. He stood at a crossroads of choice.

Trust with his clients, or his future.

That was likely his dilemma.

‘Perfect.’

A merchant’s desire to uphold client trust is admirable. Under normal circumstances, I would gladly sell my items to such a merchant.

However, I preferred someone who was a bit more self-serving, especially when I held the advantage.

Such individuals are easier to control from a position of power.

"That…well…"

The branch manager was still hesitating. Watching him, I slowly stood up.

It didn’t matter if he chose not to comply.

If I wanted to know why the Divine Doctor had come, I had other ways to find out.

With that thought, I reached out to gather the Night Pearls.

At that, the branch manager cried out urgently.

"Oh dear! The Divine Doctor was looking for the White Demon Stone, of all things!"

"…"

"Ah… I can’t even imagine why he’d want something like that! Such an item, where would I even find it! Haha!"

The branch manager shouted, dripping with sweat. Seeing this, I sat back down.

I rolled the Night Pearls toward him once more.

"You’re a passionate worker. My mother would appreciate someone like you."

"Oh… not at all! Haha… I’m just doing my duty."

Although it seemed like he had just abandoned his duty, I pretended not to notice.

As I sat there, Noya’s voice echoed in my mind.

[You must… never join the Demonic Path.]

‘Why?’

[If you fell to such temptations, you’d bring ruin to the world. If only… if only I had a body… I’d put an end to this vile brat myself!]

‘What a terrifying thing to say. Aren’t we on the same team, Noya?’

[Why does that sound like a Taoist asking to eat meat? I’m not on your side!]

What’s he going on about?

‘Besides, the Huashan Sect allows meat, doesn’t it?’

Even Woo-hyuk of Wudang, who doesn’t normally eat meat, had some. Even Hwang Ah-bul, the Shaolin monk, ate meat.

Surely a Taoist can have meat if he wants.

Not to mention, Noya’s always lecturing about passing down his will and all that.

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He really switched sides quickly.

Ignoring the wild ranting, I turned back to the branch manager with a smile.

"I’ll be sure to mention you to Mother. I hope we see each other often."

"Thank you, Young Master…!!"

Scrub-scrub-scrub.

As I listened to the sound of his hands rubbing together again, another thought crossed my mind.

‘The White Demon Stone, huh.’

The Divine Doctor had come to the Baekhwa Trading Company looking for the White Demon Stone.

I couldn’t imagine why he needed something like that.

‘Interesting.’

Things had fallen into place in quite an amusing way.

The White Demon Stone (백마석 / Baekmaseok), once impossible to obtain due to the disappearance of White-Rank beasts,

Was something I happened to have.