Chapter 71 – Unofficial History

Chapter 71 – Unofficial History

“What is it looking for?”

“Probably.”

Tang Do-won stared blankly at the snow leopard, which was making a purring sound.

A snow leopard was a clever animal. Its activity radius was wide, and because it valued its own territory, it did not bother to travel a long distance. Even more so for a snow leopard that had become a spiritual beast. It was famous for living in deep cliffs and mountains, never showing itself.

“There is a story that has been passed down since a long time ago. In Qinghai.”

“······.”

“That the snow leopard is looking for its master.”

“Hmm? Isn’t that an unofficial history we heard when we were young?”

At Tang Hae-soo’s question, Tang Do-won nodded his head.

“That is, that… the snow leopard, well…”

Because he could not compile the information wandering around in his mind in order, Tang Do-won shut his mouth. Having to spit out a long sentence for the first time in a long time, he was visibly exhausted. How was he supposed to live a social life like this? It was to the point of suddenly becoming a concern.

“Shall I tell it for you instead?”

Fortunately, as if this was not the first or second time, Tang Hae-soo naturally spoke in his stead.

“It is just a story like street gossip. That if a snow leopard spiritual beast reveals itself to the human world, a great event will surely occur. Strictly speaking, it is closer to a legend than an unofficial history.”

“An event?”

“Yes. A blue-eyed snow leopard sees through the human soul, and they say it recognizes the one who will bring about a great change to the world. Therefore, I heard it descends the mountain to make them its master.”

“Ah, then it is closer to a good thing.”

“Not necessarily. Since change has two meanings. The one whom the snow leopard serves as its master will soon stand at the peak. However, whether that will be the birth of a hero…”

Halting his words for a moment, Tang Hae-soo stared blankly at the snow leopard rolling at his feet. The snow leopard, biting its plump tail in its mouth, looked like a cat full of playfulness.

“…Or the arrival of a chaotic world, they say can only be known in the future.”

“······.”

A snow leopard that descended the mountain to find the one who would become its master.

The one whom the snow leopard, having seen through their soul, took as its master was said to be someone born with the destiny to change the world, whether for good or bad. It was a hard story to believe even while hearing it.

“Aye, what kind of nonsense is…”

At that moment, something flashed through San-ho’s mind.

‘No. If you look at it that way, does it make sense that I, who died in 21st-century South Korea, woke up in the Central Plains martial world?’

Right. His own situation was even harder to believe than some unofficial history or legend.

“Indeed. It is nothing more than a nonsense unofficial history. However, since this fellow is someone who finds interest in such things, he will probably bother you a few more times.”

Tang Hae-soo spoke as if it were no big deal, but San-ho’s mind was already filled with a single thought.

‘What if it’s real!!!’

If someone had told him a few years ago, ‘You will die and wake up in the body of Tang San-ho of the Sichuan Tang Clan,’ he would have clicked his tongue, calling them a crazy person. But how was it now? Since such a thing had actually occurred, a snow leopard choosing its master? This was a story with plenty of possibility.

Holding his forehead, San-ho let out a sigh.

‘Not a single day passes quietly…!’

If this statement was true. Whether it was someone who would bring about a chaotic world, or a hero who would stand at the peak… it meant that someone was bound to appear. And it was clear that it would have an adverse effect on his peaceful golden-spoon life.

‘Was my wish to live peacefully that grand!!!’

The snow leopard came to Sichuan of all places, and was discovered at Mount Yeongju near the Tang Clan. Thinking back on his past experiences, this could not be a coincidence either.

‘No. Let’s think positively. Whether it’s the arrival of a chaotic world or the birth of a hero, since I know in advance, I can prepare for it.’

As if having resolved something, San-ho raised his head. Oh God. You might not like what I am about to do from now on, but what can I do? This was all the fault of the God who threw me here…

***

Left in the annex, San-ho looked back and forth between the snow leopard, which was fast asleep while purring, and the child sitting in front of him.

‘Let’s keep all possibilities open.’

Since he did not know who it was that the snow leopard was looking for, San-ho counted the variables to consider. One of them was the child. The child who first discovered the snow leopard in the valley of Mount Yeongju.

Looking at the child who was staring straight up at him, San-ho spoke.

“Come here.”

“······.”

“It would be nice if you could tell me who you are. But since that doesn’t seem possible, shall we learn letters first?”

With a bright smile, San-ho opened the cabinet containing writing brushes, ink, and paper.

He placed a fine-tipped brush suitable for the child’s hand size into their grasp, and having finely ground the ink, he set it down beside them.

“Now, hold the brush like this and on the paper…”

Word by word, stroke by stroke.

San-ho slowly wrote down the letters to match the child’s eye level. The child’s gaze moved along with the tip of the brush. After watching the black ink saturate the white paper for a long time, the child also picked up the brush following him.

“Hmm…”

An hour later.

San-ho was able to learn one fact.

Unfortunately, the child had no talent for writing.

Looking at the paper where things that could be either letters or drawings were born, San-ho forced a smile. Even as an empty word, it was difficult to say they did well, but Teacher Oh X-young said that praise was important for children.

“You did well! For your first time, to this extent is really doing well…!”

“······.”

Seeing the track of an earthworm drawn next to San-ho’s neat handwriting, the child hung their head sullenly.

This was bad. Recalling the teacher’s education, San-ho hurriedly added.

“Was it fun? Then that’s enough. Of course! Shall we… get to know your name a bit slowly?”

“······.”

“Is this not it? Ah, I see. Then the brush must be the problem. Right?”

“·········.”

“Ah, this isn't it either…?”

The child sullenly pouted their lips more and more.

Stroking the child’s head, San-ho carefully examined their expression. Wise parenting was this difficult.

***

A few more days passed.

Rummaging through the lacquer chest, San-ho looked at the child and spoke.

“I have some business to attend to at the market today. Let’s go buy the brush you will use and also buy some shoes.”

At the word 'brush', the child wore a grumbling expression for a moment, but soon leaped down from the chair.

Looking at the shoes that were tightly fitted to the child’s feet, San-ho chuckled softly.

They said children grow day by day, and indeed, those words were true. If they grew rapidly like bean sprouts at this rate, their feet would burst through the shoes in a few days.

“You’re coming with me, right?”

At San-ho’s invitation, the child’s eyes sparkled as they nodded their head.

It seemed they felt frustrated being only indoors.

Occasionally when they went outside Tang Clan Village, or when they climbed the mountain like before, the child did not hide their excitement and joyfully roamed Chengdu. Recalling the child who had always been expressionless since their first meeting, it was a development that made one rub their eyes and look again.

‘Seeing them express their emotions well now, it is fulfilling.’

Rolling up the child’s sleeves, San-ho tied the strings to make it easy to move. The sight of the child’s back as they tightly held his hand and quickened their pace was just like a child of that age, making San-ho burst into a soft laugh.

Leaving Tang Clan Village, they walked along the road connected to Chengdu.

Before long, the two were able to arrive at the market bustling with crowds.

“Hold my hand tight, and don’t go anywhere alone. It will be a big trouble if you get lost. Understood?”

“······.”

Thinking that it would be a major disaster if the child, who could not even speak, got lost, San-ho instructed firmly.

Since the Meteor Merchant Guild and the Sichuan Tang Clan began trading in earnest, not only the Tang Clan but also Sichuan Province was experiencing unprecedented prosperity. The merchants and crowds flocking in every day filled Chengdu.

Looking around the bustling and noisy market, the child nodded their head.

“Let’s go look at shoes first.”

Holding the child’s hand firmly again, San-ho moved his steps.

It was then.

“Young Master! Here, over here!”

Just as he was about to look around the business site that Yeo Woo-min was managing, the latter ran out and greeted him warmly.

“I was worried because you left in a hurry. Are you staying without any discomfort?”

“Of course! It’s so busy that my mind is completely blank, but… I think this place will be sorted out in a few days as well. By the way, was the matter that occurred in the Tang Clan resolved well?”

“Ah… not yet. Well, that will be resolved soon too.”

After lightly exchanging greetings, Yeo Woo-min asked San-ho.

“By the way, what are you doing here instead of coming inside? Is there something you need?”

“Yes. I’m looking to see some brushes and shoes.”

“Hmm. I sent the things you would wear separately… Did you perhaps not receive them?”

To Yeo Woo-min, who asked back in wonder, San-ho shook his head.

“I received them. It’s not for me, but the child doesn’t have shoes to wear.”

“Ah! If it is that, please come this way.”

Yeo Woo-min took out a few pairs of leather shoes with neat and luxurious patterns to show. Just as expected of the bloodline of the Meteor Merchant Guild, he had excellent discernment and picked out things that would suit the child at a single glance.

Lifting the dark green shoes among them, San-ho fitted them on the child’s feet.

“How is this?”

The shoes gently wrapped the small feet.

The child stared blankly into San-ho’s eyes.

San-ho was reflected exactly in the black, round eyes.

“Do you like it?”

Only after asking back once more did the child nod their head.

After buying snacks and a children’s brush at the market, the three moved to the room where Yeo Woo-min was staying.

It was because Yeo Woo-min had to leave the inner castle in a hurry due to the incident that occurred at Mount Yeongju, and thus had not finished his work. Since the selection of goods to be sent to Hunan and Nanjing was finished, they had to finalize the quantity of several items manufactured by San-ho.

Taking out the book of Sincerity Beyond Appearances first, Yeo Woo-min spoke.

“When I showed it to those working in the merchant guild, the reaction was amazing. Because the Central Plains is so vast, it is hard to meet family or friends, but they said if they exchange letters using this, they would feel closer.”

“Since we can keep printing copies once the woodblock production is finished, we just need to adjust the schedule.”

“Since they are not difficult characters, it won't take long.”

The distribution of trade goods also left a good profit. However, if one took full charge of everything from product manufacture to distribution and sales, a truly massive profit would be generated. A satisfied smile spread across Yeo Woo-min’s face as he recalled the wealth to be earned with this single book.

“You’re going to have a meal before you go, right? I will treat you.”

“Ah. Then let’s just look at the hairpin prototype and eat. The child has fallen asleep.”

While Yeo Woo-min and San-ho were conversing, the child, who had been holding a sweet, had already fallen fast asleep.

Nodding his head, Yeo Woo-min brought up the manufacturing process, saying that the production was more difficult than expected. The hairpin, one of the items manufactured by San-ho, was used as a hair ornament but had a form where a thin dagger was hidden inside.

Although this kind of hidden weapon existed occasionally, it was not a well-selling product because the appearance was not pretty.

“It would be good to add rubies here and attach a loop.”

“Oh. If that is done, it is certainly pretty as a hairpin itself, so women will like it very much.”

However, the newly made hairpin was already a top-grade product in itself. Furthermore, since the dagger inside incorporated the technology of the Tang Clan, reservation orders were already flooding in like a tide.

It was then.

The child, who had fallen asleep with their head on San-ho’s lap, suddenly opened their eyes wide. And then they hurriedly raised their body.

“Are you awake? Let me just organize this…”

Interrupting San-ho’s words, the child shook their head vigorously.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“······.”

“It seems they mean to go outside…?”

Looking at the child pulling the hem of San-ho’s clothes, Yeo Woo-min spoke cautiously.

“They always wanted to play more… why are they acting like this today of all days?”

With a puzzled face, San-ho tilted his head. Because even if there were times he was tired because the child clung to him to play more whenever they went on a walk to Chengdu or the mountains, the child had never wanted to go home first.

“It seems they are tired. Ah, once the matters of the Tang Clan are sorted out, I plan to visit you along with the Merchant Guild Leader. Would that be alright?”

“Yes. I will contact you separately.”

Ultimately unable to win against the child’s urging, San-ho packed his belongings.

The sky had turned dark before they knew it.

Opening the tavern door and coming outside, San-ho looked at the child and spoke.

“Oops, you’re going to fall.”

At that moment, San-ho’s steps, which had been light, came to a sudden halt.

A faint smell carried on the wind.

A smoky smell. An unpleasant smell of something burning.

Pulling the hem of San-ho’s clothes, the child urged him once again.

“······.”

For some unknown reason, thump, thump. His heart beat wildly.

Somehow sensing an ill omen, San-ho picked up the child in his arms and quickly deployed lightfoot art. Since it was not a very long distance in the first place, arriving in front of the Tang Clan took only an instant.

And what he saw standing before the gate was.

“······What in the world is…”

It was a giant pillar of fire with black smoke rising.

A flame shining brightly in the dark sky as if the sun had risen. Around it, sparks like fragments of stars were flying wildly, carried by the wind.