In Baek Mu-ryang's office within the estate.
Baek Mu-ryang asked once more.
"I heard you charmed So and Yeon, worked some scheme to take Blood Axe Gu-ak as your escort, and went out. But what on earth happened? Tell me everything that came after."
Yang-hwi answered Baek Mu-ryang's question briefly and to the point.
"Brother Gu and I raided the Blue Serpent Hall's secret stash."
That alone was enough to shock Baek Mu-ryang.
"What possessed you to do something so dangerous!"
"It wasn't dangerous."
Yang-hwi gave Baek Mu-ryang the same explanation he'd offered Gu-ak, but packaged it to sound more appealing and free of any sense of peril.
"How in the world... Yang-hwi, you're truly remarkable for a child."
Baek Mu-ryang wore an expression hard to put into words.
"No, even so..."
'Oops. Did I overdo it? Father seems suspicious.'
If his father started harboring doubts or unease, it would feel disappointing somehow.
So Yang-hwi quickly offered an excuse.
"Though the parents who bore me abandoned me, they must have passed on some extraordinary talent."
"Ahem, ahem. I... I see..."
Baek Mu-ryang seemed flustered, unprepared for Yang-hwi to say such a thing.
Thanks to that, any budding unease in Baek Mu-ryang's mind vanished like mist in the sun.
"So, is this wealth your share?"
"Yes. Though technically, it's the Baek family's."
Yang-hwi pushed the pile of gold ingots toward Baek Mu-ryang.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Father and the Baek family took in an orphan like me. I wanted to repay that kindness, and this is the fortune I gained in doing so. It should be used for the Baek family."
Baek Mu-ryang's face hardened with resolve.
"The Baek family contributed nothing to obtaining this wealth. It's rightfully yours."
"Since it's mine, use it for the Baek family as I wish."
"Heavens..."
In truth, Baek Mu-ryang had inwardly planned to reprimand Yang-hwi for getting involved with the Black Path tyrants.
But hearing it was for the family and repayment rather than greed left him unable to scold the boy.
"Even so, I can't accept all of it."
Baek Mu-ryang divided the pile of gold ingots precisely in half.
Even then, each half was worth more than two thousand nyang in silver.
"I'll accept your intentions. But half of this is pocket money from a father to his son."
Yang-hwi nodded without refusal.
"I'll use it gratefully and well."
'I knew Father would respond this way. He has a character that doesn't covet others' wealth.'
Even if the family's circumstances were dire, he shunned unjust means of gaining riches.
Yang-hwi had used repayment as an excuse precisely to make Baek Mu-ryang accept the wealth.
"You don't seem fazed. It's far too much for a child to handle."
"When Father commands, I, as your son and clansman, simply obey."
To be precise, it was because he'd already grasped the intent.
'He's giving me money to see how I spend it, testing my character. Even if he's accepted me as his son, to a father, I'm still just a child he met yesterday.'
"Father. What did you do with So? If you haven't scolded him yet, please go easy—he followed me out, after all."
"It's only been a day since you became brothers, and you're already looking out for your little brother? Good, siblings should be close. As for So... I didn't scold him."
Baek Mu-ryang looked pleased.
"He told me this: that following you around and seeing the world taught him the difference between a true warrior and a false one. I thought of him as just a little kid, but So's grown up so much already."
'No, Father. So's still young.'
Yang-hwi decided to bury the truth to let his father's joy continue.
Well, staying together like this, So would mature quickly unlike in his previous life.
That much was certain. Not a hope, but a plan.
"That's all the business. Go wash up and rest. You worked hard today."
"And you, Father?"
"I'll finish some work before sleeping. And with this much wealth... I need to decide how to use it."
Baek Mu-ryang grinned at the pile of gold ingots.
He seemed delighted at the thought of finally showing some generosity to the struggling household servants.
Yang-hwi almost warned him to be careful so the Blue Serpent Hall wouldn't catch wind, but he held his tongue.
A clan head, however small the clan. He would know that much.
"Then I'll take my leave. Good night, Father."
Returning to his room after leaving the office, Yang-hwi tallied up the wealth he'd gained.
'In silver, exactly two thousand and fifteen nyang.'
Enough to employ ten servants for over half a year. An enormous sum, especially for a mere child like Yang-hwi.
In other words, too much for a child's body to easily put to use.
But.
Yang-hwi had already decided how to spend it before the day even began.
'Invest it and grow it. I can't settle for this much.'
Yang-hwi's goal was to elevate the Baek family to the world's supreme clan.
That meant expanding numbers at least a hundredfold and martial prowess beyond comparison.
For that, even two thousand nyang in gold would fall far short.
"Let me think. Which merchant house will prosper most in Jiangxi Province in the future?"
He'd love to head straight to the future top merchant house in Zhejiang Province, the Danso Merchant House, and invest. But an eight-year-old couldn't travel to another province.
A province was as vast as a small kingdom, distances immense.
No matter his past life's knowledge, his young body couldn't endure it.
'For now, stay within Muju—no, limit to Ak-an County in Jiangxi Province.'
The jianghu was vast and perilous. Rash movement, even with past memories, could cost his life.
Yang-hwi, who had wandered as a ronin for over a decade, knew that better than anyone.
"That place it is."
Yang-hwi recalled a merchant house that would skyrocket in ten years, showcasing brilliant business acumen.
The Hundred Books Merchant House. True to its name, it dealt mainly in paper and books, later expanding for massive growth. Around this time, it was still running a used bookstore, as he remembered.
'The Hundred Books Merchant House's head... now it's the daughter, probably. Rumors always said Chu Yong-wol had real talent for commerce.'
Perfect. Hundred Books Merchant House it was.
The issue was it being in Nanchang, not Muju where the Baek estate lay. But he could make them come here.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A month later, at dawn.
As always, Baek Mu-ryang gathered the children early in the morning to teach them martial arts.
"Yang-hwi, even though you grasped the hidden essence of the Heaven-Covering Sword at once, your body is still that of an eight-year-old. Diligently temper it."
Yang-hwi agreed.
Martial arts ultimately meant wielding weapons or fists against foes.
A stronger body was naturally advantageous.
"Practice your inner arts diligently too. The Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art holds mysteries of both internal and external cultivation, allowing simultaneous qi gathering and body training."
"Understood, Father."
Yang-hwi bowed his head and continued practicing the Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art until Baek Mu-ryang departed.
'Qi gathering is slow, but the body training effects are outstanding.'
Third-rate martial art or not, it was foundational.
Like the Namgung clan practicing the Flying Swallow Sword before the Divine Vault Sword, or Wudang building basics with the Six Unions Sword before the Taiji Sword.
In that sense, the Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art was ideal for building fundamentals.
A remnant of its once-prestigious clan origins, perhaps?
"Father will go now. Train for two more hours, eat, and then study literature."
"Yes, Father."
"Yes!"
"Understood."
Baek Mu-ryang smiled warmly at the three siblings chorusing in reply, then left the training ground.
From then on, Yang-hwi taught Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon between his own practice.
"So, when executing the first form, step one more inch forward."
"But I learned it this way, brother."
"That's for when you were shorter. As your body grows, so must your movements adapt."
The passing servants saw but said nothing.
Over the past month, Yang-hwi had imprinted his genius on everyone in the household.
"Brother, what about me?"
"Yeon-yeon needs to build more strength. Want to practice the Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art with brother?"
"Yes!"
Watching Baek Yeon-yeon hop about mimicking the art brought a smile to his face.
"Wow, you're doing great. Yeon-yeon could become the finest female knight in the future."
"Really? Hiya, hiya!"
"Good, good!"
Showering her with enchanted praise, Yang-hwi felt a gaze and turned.
Baek Heon-so watched with a subtle expression.
"Ahem. That's enough training. Let's eat and study."
The Baek family skipped breakfast, ate lunch early, and dined heartily at dinner.
A tradition... sort of. It had become an unspoken rule amid tight finances.
Jeong In-hwa, the mother, joined them for the meal.
"So, Yeon-yeon, did you train well this morning?"
"Yes, Mother! I practiced the Heaven-Covering Sword from start to finish over a hundred times!"
"Me too! I worked hard on the Harmony of Principles and Six Unions Art. Brother Yang-hwi taught me!"
Jeong In-hwa smiled warmly, then coughed lightly.
"Ahem, ahem."
Yang-hwi gazed steadily at his mother.
Jeong In-hwa had been frail since childhood, rarely venturing out.
After bearing two children, she'd developed a chronic illness, now spending over half her days abed, rarely leaving her room.
Yet she always joined her children for at least one meal each day—a devoted mother.
'She embraces even me, not her blood, with such affection.'
He couldn't bear to see such a woman pass from illness in just five years.
'I need to earn big money fast. For Mother's smiles to continue.'
With that thought, Yang-hwi smiled and spoke to Jeong In-hwa.
"Mother. Are you feeling very unwell?"
"Much better today. Don't worry."
"I heard from So and Yeon that you spend most of the day in your room. If you're ever bored, call for me anytime. I'll keep you company."
Jeong In-hwa smiled softly.
"Yang-hwi, you're such an affectionate child. I'm fine, so take good care of your siblings."
"It's my nature to be overflowing with affection. Can't dote on them more than this, Mother. Right, kids?"
"Yeah!"
"Yes, brother."
Yang-hwi gazed fondly at his siblings for a moment before turning back to Jeong In-hwa.
"Mother. What do you do in your room most days?"
"I read books. Poetry and classics have been my hobby since childhood."
He knew that. And he knew her true passion lay not in poetry or classics, but elsewhere.
"Then, Mother. Are you uninterested in lowly tales and miscellany from the streets?"
Lowly tales and miscellany—stories gossips spread, heroic jianghu sagas.
Commonly called trifling yarns or novels.
"Lowly tales?"
Jeong In-hwa showed curiosity, naturally so.
Unable to venture out, her hobby was collecting such tales for vicarious thrills.
"Yes, Mother. Wandering the streets since childhood, I've heard many amusing stories."
"Will you play storyteller for me?"
Storyteller: one who spins yarns in busy markets, inns, or taverns for coin.
"If you're interested, I can write down what I remember. Might I have some blank books?"
"Of course. I'll have one placed by your bed."
"Since I'm at it, make it two, please."
"Easy enough. Consider it done."
After enjoying the warm family meal, Yang-hwi returned to his room.
Two blank books and writing tools sat on the bedside table.
'Hmm. Which story to tell first.'
During his ronin days, travel or intense training left idle time aplenty.
Yang-hwi would seek out lowly tales then, memorizing every word of the best ones.
'Decided.'
Yang-hwi titled the two blank books Conquest of the East and Delayed Absolute Love, then filled them swiftly in one go.
Moments later, he took Delayed Absolute Love to Jeong In-hwa's room.
"Mother. It's Yang-hwi. I've finished writing and came to deliver it."
"Thank you so much."
Jeong In-hwa took Delayed Absolute Love and began reading slowly.
Her mildly interested expression gradually shifted.
"This is..."
"What do you think?"
"Fresh and entertaining. Where did you hear such a story?"
Yang-hwi smiled.
'Bound to be. It's a romantic novel that swept the future like a storm.'
For reference, Yang-hwi's mind held over a hundred such tales.
"I pieced together snippets I'd heard and tweaked them to be more fun, in my opinion."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"They say you're a martial prodigy, but your literary talent is no ordinary thing."
Delayed Absolute Love had a depth impossible for an eight-year-old.
Lacking life's experiences and insights, no one could conceive it—more than mere entertainment, it carried the weight of seasoned observation.
'If he filled such parts purely from imagination...'
A genius. Heavenly literary talent destined for great authorship.
Jeong In-hwa gazed at Yang-hwi with pure admiration.
Seeing that, Yang-hwi felt confident to make one request.
"So, Mother. Could you send a letter to Nanchang for me?"
With seed money secured, it was time to earn in earnest.