The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 379

To be honest, since the story unfolded in an unexpected direction, I stared blankly at Wang Hyeon-seong, and Wang Hyeon-seong, shrugging his shoulders and smiling broadly, said to me, "When you live as a merchant, you experience many things like this and that. Although we can't sense killing intent like you martial artists, we still have a merchant's intuition."

"And with that intuition, you realized that they wouldn't attack us?"

"Yes. Usually, when bandits attack, they don't follow us from behind, making a loud noise like that. They usually take a position in the area they want first, and then attack from all sides at once to make us unable to move."

After hearing that, I realized that they had just been following us on horseback from behind.

Perhaps they had heard the news that we had passed by and had been following us diligently.

"Then would you mind waiting for a moment?"

He gave me a slight smile and approached the bandits.

The one who seemed to be the highest in rank among them was still kneeling, and his motionless appearance seemed to indirectly teach how desperate he was.

"You said you need medicine? Are you seriously injured?"

"Yes... he is seriously injured."

"Then you should go to a doctor, why did you come to me? Although I have medicine, this medicine is only for first aid, it cannot be a fundamental cure."

"That's... we're not in a situation where we can go to a doctor right now."

"Why? Is it that difficult to move? Then it's even more of a problem...? The medicine I have is just a slightly effective medicine, it's not a mysterious medicine that can save a dying person. It would be better if you don't have too high expectations."

"B-but... I really came here with the feeling of grasping at straws. Please give me the medicine...!"

He said with a very desperate expression.

To be honest, his attitude was unexpected.

Because such loyalty was not something that could be easily found among bandits.

But there were a few things that bothered me in his words.

It seemed Wang Hyeon-seong was the same, as he immediately opened his mouth to the bandit.

"But how did your leader get so seriously injured?"

"That's..."

"By any chance, did he get injured while robbing someone? If you're asking me to treat a wound that was sustained for such a reason, in the end, you're asking me to do something that will increase the risk in my buying and selling of goods... Why should I do that?"

"That's..."

"Tell me the truth. Did it happen while trying to harm others?"

He, as if it were true that he had been injured while robbing another merchant guild, flinched for a moment and then opened his mouth.

"That's... right. You're right."

"Did he really get so seriously injured during a robbery?"

"Yes... a few days ago, we heard that the goods that the Cheonhwa Merchant Guild was carrying were small and valuable, so we tried to take them. But in conclusion, we failed. The martial arts of one of the escorts were so outstanding that many of our brothers were defeated by him. In the end, we couldn't even take the goods and retreated... More than ten brothers lost their lives on the spot, and even our leader is dying from the injuries he sustained then."

"As I thought."

When Wang Hyeon-seong nodded his head and said, the man, stealthily glancing at him, said, "I came here with the feeling of grasping at straws, so couldn't you please show me mercy?"

"Hmm..."

Wang Hyeon-seong, as if he were contemplating something for a moment, opened his mouth again.

"Alright. I don't know if this will be helpful, but I will give you the medicine for now."

"Thank you so much...! I will not forget this kindness."

"Wait."

"......?"

"But I didn't say I would just give it to you. Of course, you must have known when you came, but I am a merchant. A merchant never just gives away even a small item. It means that everything is ultimately done through a transaction."

"A transaction! Of course, I have also prepared money. It will be at least fifty silver coins. I will give you everything."

Wang Hyeon-seong shook his head with a firm expression.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not helping you in the hope of getting money. It may sound arrogant, but fifty silver coins are just a pittance to me, whether I have them or not."

"A pittance... then is there something you want? Ah...! If you help us this time, we will never touch the goods of the Eungnam Merchant Guild in the future."

"Is that all the condition is? To be honest, we're not being attacked even now."

"Keung..."

The bandit let out a groan.

The condition he had offered was actually a useless condition.

"Then is there anything you want...?"

He asked in a dazed voice.

But Wang Hyeon-seong, as if he had been waiting, gave a faint smile and answered immediately.

"There is just one thing. It's uncertain whether you will accept the condition."

"What condition is it...?"

"If you agree to accept the condition, not only will I give you the medicine, but I will also arrange for the most skilled doctor in this area to go and examine him."

The bandit's eyes became as big as fists, and he hurriedly said to Wang Hyeon-seong, "I will accept any condition! If only I can save my leader."

"A good mindset. If I tell you my condition... it is to liquidate your life in these mountains and come into our Eungnam Merchant Guild."

"Yes...?!"

"Do I have to say it again? I said come into the Eungnam Merchant Guild. Our merchant guild needs a lot of people right now. It might sound bad if I say it like this, but we have to protect our goods from people like you."

Wang Hyeon-seong, as if the words he had just said were a joke, let out a chuckle by himself.

But the bandit, as if he still didn't understand properly, couldn't even laugh and was just looking at Wang Hyeon-seong.

"Can't you decide? Then I can't help it... Then I can't give you the medicine."

"....... I will. No, I will! I will enter the merchant guild. So please give me the medicine...!"

The bandit's tone had changed to honorifics at some point.

"You've thought well. Take this first."

Wang Hyeon-seong took something out of his luggage and approached the bandit.

And then he helped him, who was still kneeling, to stand up and put the item he had just taken out in his hand.

It seemed to be the Eungnam Merchant Guild's golden wound medicine that he had been looking for so eagerly.

"Tell me where I should send the doctor."

"That's, there's our hideout in the corner of the plain behind there..."

"Draw a detailed map. So that I can send someone, right?"

He wrote down the way to their hideout in detail on the paper that Wang Hyeon-seong had taken out of his bosom.

Wang Hyeon-seong folded it carefully and put it in his bosom, and then said, "When we arrive at a nearby village, I will immediately send a letter and send a skilled doctor. And as soon as your leader recovers, everyone should come to the Eungnam Merchant Guild in Hubei Province."

"Yes. I understand!"

"Then go back quickly. Don't you want to give him that medicine as soon as possible?"

"I'll be on my way. I will never forget this kindness...!"

"Hehe. You can repay that kindness by becoming a member of the Eungnam Merchant Guild and working hard. And I will also set a generous salary, so don't worry about that."

"Huk... you're even giving me a salary? I thought I would have to work for free, of course..."

"How can I make you work without giving you a salary? I want you to work for our merchant guild for a long, long time in the future."

At Wang Hyeon-seong's gentle voice, the bandit's eyes welled up with tears.

Perhaps he had never received such kindness a few times in his life.

He thanked Wang Hyeon-seong several times and eventually left to give the medicine to his leader.

The rough sound of horse hooves once again kicked up dust and gradually grew more distant.

"There was a little incident, but it was resolved easily. Let's all get going now."

We began to move towards Sichuan again, and I, walking side by side with him, said to him, "You're amazing. If it were me, I would have drawn my sword right away without even thinking of listening to their story... And even if I had known, I don't think I would have been able to trust them completely."

"Hehehe... I would have been like that in the past too. But as I ran the merchant guild for a long time, I was able to realize two things."

"May I ask what you have realized?"

"Of course. First, if you fight with an opponent, you make an enemy, but if you win them over, they become your side. This might sound like a very obvious thing... but if you make someone who was about to become your enemy your side, it's like getting a double effect."

I felt like I knew what he was trying to say.

If you make an enemy and kill that enemy, in the end, you have nothing, but if you make someone who was about to become an enemy your side, you are in a situation where you gain an advantage.

"And the second is... most bandits did not become bandits because their humanity was vicious."

"Ah... I see."

"Because they had no way to make a living... most people start banditry because of their resentment for being taken advantage of by others. Of course, there are some among them who really like to harm others and become bandits because banditry suits their aptitude... but isn't it a merchant's intuition to distinguish that well?"

Since Wang Hyeon-seong, who must have suffered more damage from bandits than me until now, said that, something touched my heart.

In particular, in a situation where he could have hated bandits unconditionally, he showed a side of extending his hand to him first.

Looking at that, I couldn't help but think of the Demonic Cult bastards and my situation.

'Will a day come when I also extend my hand to them first?'

But to be honest, I can't picture that scene in my head at all yet.

Come to think of it, it's because they are not being pushed and pushed to invade the Central Plains, but are invading to achieve their own purpose of the Demonic Cult's world.

'But... I might be able to talk to some of them...?'

I don't know why the obnoxious face of the Demonic Fire Hall Master suddenly flashed through my mind.

Although he is also an unavoidable Demonic Cult member, and a person who is always self-willed, it seems it's because he keeps his promises to some extent and is also open to conversation.

"Manager-nim. I learn a lot thanks to you."

I said, bowing my head to him sincerely, and Wang Hyeon-seong waved his hands, saying he was embarrassed.

However, my bow was sincere.

Not just eliminating an enemy, but making them my side.

Because in fact, it was a way of thinking that I would not have easily thought of if it were the me of the past.

Of course, distinguishing between real villains and people who do bad things unavoidably is something I will have to work on in the future.

"It's not that I make an offer to all bandits to join the merchant guild. But, if I can save those who can be saved, wouldn't that alone be one of the rewards of living in this Central Plains?"

"You are right."

We got closer and closer to Sichuan like that, and in the meantime, I felt proud because I felt that I was learning so much.

(End of Chapter)