A proposal to invest a full four thousand silver pieces.
Disbelief spread across Chu Yongwol’s face.
“Four thousand silver pieces……”
Chu Yongwol lifted her teacup and took a sip.
“The tea tastes quite good, Young Master.”
Watching her, Yanghwi gave a quiet chuckle.
The reason she had suddenly brought up the taste of the tea.
Judging from the quality of the tea served to guests, she was subtly implying that Baek Family Manor’s finances did not seem particularly comfortable.
‘Well, our Baek Family Manor does look poor on the outside.’
The estate itself was enormous, having been passed down since the days of their ancestors, but the reality was that most of the buildings were left neglected because there was no money for maintenance beyond the bare minimum living areas.
There were even halls that looked like abandoned houses from the outside.
However—
“First, this is the advance payment.”
Yanghwi pulled out a chest filled with gold pieces from beneath his bed and set it down.
“It is two thousand silver pieces.”
“……”
While Chu Yongwol silently stared in shock at the sight of a child casually taking out such a large sum of money, Yanghwi continued.
“Regardless, from this point onward, we should discuss this with the Clan Head of our family.”
He called for a maid and had his message delivered to Baek Muryang.
However, when Baek Muryang entered a short while later, he was not alone.
“Hwi, would it be all right if this mother also listened?”
“Of course. In fact, I was about to ask you to join us.”
Jeong Inhwa was the only daughter of a fallen scholar who was fairly well-known in the surrounding region.
Although she knew little of martial matters, when it came to literature, she possessed the greatest insight within Baek Family Manor.
“Father. I was thinking of investing four thousand silver pieces of our family’s spare funds into Miss Chu’s Hundred Books Old Bookshop. What do you think?”
“Hmm. Four thousand silver pieces, you say?”
“Yes.”
“I happened to be considering where to put that money……”
The money had come from looting the Blue Snake Gang’s secret cache.
Considering the attention of the Blue Snake Gang, using the funds within Agan County could potentially cause problems.
In such situations, the best choice was to send the money somewhere far away and invest it.
And if possible, the investment target should have promising prospects for the future.
From that perspective, the Hundred Books Old Bookshop in Nanchang was the perfect investment.
“Hmm. Madam, what do you think?”
“Having read the writings Hwi produced, I believe they are certainly worth investing in.”
“Is that so? However, this matter would be better judged by someone with true business sense. I would like to hear Miss Chu’s opinion.”
“I too believe that Young Master Hwi’s writings will guide our Hundred Books Old Bookshop to an even higher place.”
“Is that so? Then I shall invest.”
“Pardon?”
Confusion appeared on Chu Yongwol’s face.
“I appreciate your trust, but……”
“Why do you say that, Miss?”
“Even if it is in the form of an investment, you are entrusting a huge amount of money to someone you have never met before. It seems like you have decided rather easily……”
After hesitating for a moment, Chu Yongwol continued.
“It may be rude to say this in front of Young Master, but this was still the decision of a child.”
It was true.
Four thousand silver pieces was far too large a sum to decide an investment based solely on the words of a young boy.
However—
Baek Muryang and Jeong Inhwa answered at the same time.
“Because it is something Hwi did.”
“If it is Hwi’s decision, then it can be trusted.”
A husband and wife shared one heart, and they spoke the same words at the same time before looking at each other and smiling.
Watching them, Yanghwi felt pleased.
‘I am finally seeing the results of spending the past month proving that I can be trusted.’
Indeed, Yanghwi had succeeded in building a fairly strong position within the Baek Family.
It was only natural.
From the very first day he arrived at Baek Family Manor, he had forced the Red Bridge Gang to retreat with nothing but his words.
That alone was already an astonishing achievement for an eight-year-old child.
Then, on the second day, he had looted the Blue Snake Gang’s secret cache and brought back a fortune of five thousand silver pieces.
Furthermore, although his understanding was still shallow, he had displayed talent by mastering Baek Family Manor’s true inherited martial arts—the Heaven-Covering Sword and the Six Directions Harmonization Art—on his very first day.
Before long, a belief had formed within Baek Family Manor:
Whatever Young Master Baek Yanghwi does, it is worth watching before judging.
“General Yanghwi. I trust your judgment. Therefore, if you are confident, we can invest the entire amount. However……”
Baek Muryang glanced at Chu Yongwol.
“You said we agreed to receive forty percent of the profits, correct?”
“That is correct.”
Baek Muryang stared at Chu Yongwol.
The smile of a father disappeared, replaced by the authority of a Clan Head.
“Miss Chu. My wife is the daughter of a renowned scholar. Because of that, she knows how much of a share an author normally receives when publishing books.”
In that instant, Chu Yongwol realized she had found an opportunity to gain additional benefits and lowered her head with a smile.
“It is usually ten percent. Please consider this our Hundred Books Old Bookshop’s admiration and respect for Young Master Hwi’s literary talent. Then we shall write the contract as forty percent.”
Baek Muryang cut her off immediately.
“Hmm. That is not quite right. I understand that even handwritten copies with added commentary receive ten percent, yet you are offering forty percent. Hmm.”
At that moment, Chu Yongwol realized that Baek Muryang had not mentioned forty percent as a gesture of gratitude.
But it was already too late.
“The author receives ten percent. The basic production cost of the books is thirty percent. And the merchant who provides the production expenses and handles the sales receives sixty percent. That is the usual distribution, is it not, Madam?”
Jeong Inhwa smiled.
“Your knowledge is accurate, husband.”
“Since Miss Chu’s share is sixty percent, she is valuing the talent highly while still receiving the same profit ratio.”
Most scholars and writers did not know the detailed financial conditions involved in publishing, nor did they usually care to learn them.
Even with a scholar’s daughter present, Chu Yongwol had never expected someone to know the precise profit distribution.
She was caught off guard.
‘And that is not even true!’
“Clan Head, what you mentioned is not profit but the expenses that go toward—”
Once again, Baek Muryang interrupted her.
“Expenses. Yes. Expenses. And on top of that, we are investing four thousand silver pieces and even covering the cost of producing the books. Yet it remains forty percent. Hmm. Forty percent……”
Only then did Chu Yongwol understand Baek Muryang’s intention.
“……I apologize to the Clan Head of the Baek Family. Although you have shown great generosity by investing such a large sum, I failed to show the proper sincerity expected of someone from the merchant world.”
If one side was taking on the burden and risk of investment costs, the profit ratio naturally needed adjustment.
Chu Yongwol had intended to present the forty percent share as if she were offering generosity, securing goodwill while fixing the ratio.
But Baek Muryang had seen through it and pointed it out.
“I understand. The way of merchants is the pursuit of profit.”
Baek Muryang spoke with a gentle smile.
Chu Yongwol bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Then, Miss Chu, what ratio would you suggest after adjustment?”
“……”
After swallowing once, Chu Yongwol spoke with a trembling voice.
“Fifty percent. No, sixty percent.”
“Seventy percent.”
“……”
“Even if it were eighty percent, I doubt someone among my acquaintances in the merchant world would refuse.”
Baek Muryang subtly revealed that he had connections within the merchant world.
Chu Yongwol had no other choice.
Four thousand silver pieces.
It was an enormous sum that would cover all the expenses she had originally planned and still leave more behind.
In other words, the Hundred Books Old Bookshop could attempt this new challenge without taking on any real risk.
“I am grateful for your generosity. Let us set it at seventy percent.”
“Good. Miss Chu. Let us write the contract.”
Yanghwi looked at Baek Muryang with admiration.
‘As expected, he is my father.’
The investment proposal and the resulting adjustment of the profit ratio were things Yanghwi had also considered.
However, unlike his father, he could not create an atmosphere of consideration and generosity while extracting seventy percent of the profits.
Because that simply was not Yanghwi’s personality.
‘If I had brought Father in from the beginning, perhaps we could have gained even more.’
*****
After Chu Yongwol completed the contract and left Baek Family Manor, Baek Muryang called Yanghwi separately.
“Yanghwi. Would you like to have some tea?”
“I would be grateful.”
Baek Muryang called a maid and ordered tea.
A short while later, the father and son drank tea together.
“Tea contains the beauty of waiting. If one drinks carelessly because of impatience, one may even burn one’s mouth.”
“Your lesson will be engraved in my heart. I will always remember it.”
Because he understood the meaning behind those words, Yanghwi simply lowered his head.
However, seeing him like that, Baek Muryang let out a quiet sigh.
“……Hwi.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I considered it fate and took you in as my son. Yet you have already accomplished many things that even I could not have done. Do you know? Creating a connection between our family and a merchant guild has always been one of my greatest wishes.”
I know.
Father had always wanted the family to gain a stable source of income.
Perhaps even the way he skillfully handled Chu Yongwol was the result of imagining this exact situation countless times in his mind.
“I will make certain that this contract with the Hundred Books Old Bookshop becomes a blessing for our family.”
“Yes. I believe you will. It has only been a month since we became father and son, yet I find myself trusting you to a strange degree. However……”
Baek Muryang gathered his thoughts while drinking tea before continuing.
“Hwi. You are a peerless prodigy, and you are also a genius. Even if I were much older, I would still only be an ordinary man, so your thoughts are bound to differ from mine in many ways. However, elders have their own role to play. I can see impatience in you.”
“……”
Yanghwi remained silent.
Because Baek Muryang had struck the heart of the matter.
‘Was it really that obvious?’
Indeed, Yanghwi had been rushing.
Anyone who had seen everything he had done so far would naturally think that Yanghwi was a monster possessing extraordinary talent in martial arts, literature, and business.
The reason he hurried so much was because his goal was simply that great.
‘The Greatest Clan Under Heaven. Even after returning thirty years into the past, it is a goal that would be difficult to achieve even by dedicating an entire lifetime.’
And furthermore…… considering that the Namgung Clan would become a threat as the Baek Family grew stronger, he needed to hurry even more.
Before his life ended, he had to establish the foundation and remove obstacles.
“I believe there is a saying: once a tiger is mounted, it is difficult to dismount. Hwi, it seems you view becoming my son as if you have climbed onto the back of a tiger.”
“That is not true, Father. I have never once considered becoming a member of the Baek Family a mere opportunity.”
“I know. However, I want to ask you something. With your talent, you would have shone anywhere, at any time. Why, then, were you living as a beggar?”
That was true.
Even without considering the miracle of traveling back through time, Yanghwi had already realized his own talent around this period in his previous life.
Yet he had continued living as a beggar because—
“I had no reason to live.”
However, in his previous life, for the beggar boy who merely lived because he had been born—
his father, the Baek Family—
had become his reason to live.
They had made him want to continue living.
“Among all forms of gratitude, is not saving someone’s life considered the greatest? Father, you gave me that greatest kindness.”
“Is that why you are trying so hard to repay me?”
“Yes.”
“Then, in your eyes, is the relationship between father and son one where kindness must always be repaid?”
“That is……”
For the first time since his return, Yanghwi found himself unable to answer.
“Yanghwi of the Baek Family. This is the first lesson a flawed father gives to his capable son. Always engrave the principle of self-cultivation and family management into your heart.”
“……”
Remaining silent, Yanghwi reviewed their conversation.
His father had begun by praising his talent, then pointed out his impatience, and finally emphasized the principle of cultivating oneself, managing one’s family, governing the nation, and bringing peace to the world.
The entire flow of his words rearranged itself in Yanghwi’s mind.
‘That’s right. The reason my goal is to create the Greatest Clan Under Heaven is……’
Because it was his father’s dream.
And because he believed it was the path that would allow those precious to him to become happier.
More than that—
Because he considered Baek Family his home, Baek Muryang his father, Jeong Inhwa his mother, and Baek Heonso and Baek Yeonyeon his siblings.
If his family did not consider him family in return—
If he lost sight of the most basic foundation—
then even his goal would lose its meaning.
‘Truly, Father is…… a father.’
‘Even though I surpassed his age in my previous life, he is still teaching me.’
If one drank too quickly, even water could go down the wrong way.
Although the mind of a Peak Realm expert in his late thirties resided within him, his body was still that of a child.
And now was the childhood he had been given the chance to correct.
Move quickly, but do not rush.
Yes.
Following the teachings of his family—
open, swift, and steadfast.
“Father’s words will be engraved in my heart. I will never forget your guidance. Thank you.”
“Yes. Do that.”
Baek Muryang felt satisfied.
Although his son seemed to have gained a realization somewhat different from the lesson he had intended to give, it did not matter.
What mattered was the fact that they both regarded each other as father and son.
And then—
The next day, a man who treasured family in a way different from both Yanghwi and Baek Muryang came to Baek Family Manor.
“Younger Brother, did we not still have unfinished business between us? It has been over a month without any word from you, so I came here myself.”