I Became the Owner of the Heavenly Flower Palace-Chapter 6: Heading Toward Gireon Mountain

The sudden mention of the word 'treason' caught Jincheon's attention.

The merchant who brought it up quickly tried to calm his interlocutor.

"I've heard it too, just rumors."

The merchant tried to back out, but it was too late. The middle-aged man lowered his voice in alarm.

"Treason in Anhui, what if it spreads to Nanjing?"

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

Nanjing is the center of politics and logistics in the South. Though it doesn't compare to the capital, Beijing, its impact is significant.

However, Jincheon was skeptical.

'Treason? In Anhui?'

Treason isn't easy. It would require either the support of the populace or enough military power to incapacitate the central government in one fell swoop.

'It can't be possible, can it?'

There's no significant armed force in Anhui Province. Capturing Nanjing would be serious, but as long as Beijing remains stable, suppression would inevitably follow.

'Could it be just a rumor?'

Jincheon was convinced the men were jumping to conclusions. But even baseless rumors have their origins.

"As I said before, I witnessed it myself in Hebi..."

The merchant paused dramatically, then continued in a hushed voice.

"It wasn't just the government forces involved. Can you believe the Nangong clan was there too?"

"What? The Nangong clan?"

The middle-aged man was shocked, but to Jincheon, it was an unfamiliar story that didn't quite resonate.

"Why would the Nangong clan be involved?"

"That's why they say it's treason. If it were not so serious, why would the haughty Nangong clan cooperate with the officials so easily?"

Jincheon was not convinced, but the middle-aged man seemed to agree, nodding repeatedly.

"Moreover, even ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the great Huiyang trade guild couldn't squeak out a word and had to cooperate."

Jincheon knew of the Huiyang trade guild.

It was impossible not to know; once in Anhui, you'd hear about it whether you liked it or not.

It was the first time he'd seen the extent of the guilds' influence.

Yet even the Huiyang trade guild couldn't avoid inspection.

"My goodness. But why? They usually have their hands well-greased; couldn't they have just nudged the officials they usually bribe?"

Money and power are inevitably intertwined. Surely, the Huiyang trade guild had its backers, and high-placed ones at that.

Yet even that didn't work.

"That's why they say it's treason, isn't it?"

"Huh."

The middle-aged man sighed heavily.

"It's people like us traders who end up dying because of it. The chaos in every city of Anhui Province has had me tied up for days."

The merchant grumbled, but the middle-aged man tried to offer some comfort.

"Well, at least you got out without a scratch. Whatever it is, it'll quiet down in a few months."

His agreement didn't mean he believed it was truly treason.

"Don't worry too much. As long as you're healthy, you can always make more money."

"That may be true, but... sigh, the losses over these past few days..."

Their conversation, a mix of commiseration and information exchange, seemed endless.

Jincheon lost interest at that point.

'Could it really be involved with treason?'

A sudden thought about 'that gentleman' or the 'elite guards' crossed his mind.

But soon, Jincheon shook off the thought.

That was an excessive suspicion, one that only those who believe the world revolves around them would entertain.

Click-clack, click-clack.

He wondered if the gentleman was alright. But worrying now was pointless.

His own predicament, reaching Gireon Mountain, was of greater concern, so Jincheon let go of his worries with a small sigh.

With the monotonous rocking of the carriage, he slowly approached the distant Xi'an.

****

Thud, thud.

Accustomed to the cheap carriage's vibrations, Jincheon, who had been dozing off, suddenly opened his eyes.

'What's happening?'

He looked around, puzzled.

People's voices filled the air, and the carriage slowed, stopping and starting repeatedly.

Jincheon checked his belongings first. His seated cargo and the money bag hidden inside his clothes were intact.

Relieved, Jincheon quietly asked the person next to him.

"What's happening?"

"I'm not sure either."

The tired-looking middle-aged man replied.

"They've suddenly started inspecting. We're close to Nan Province, and I don't know what this is all about..."

Sleep instantly fled.

'An inspection? Could it be...'

An unpleasant memory flashed through Jincheon's mind as he tensed and scanned the surroundings.

The area was an empty plain. As if to indicate they had entered Gansu, the landscape was desolate, with a few carriages lined up on the road.

The middle-aged man was right; there was definitely an inspection ahead. But soon, Jincheon saw a strange sight.

'Women?'

About ten martial artists, clad in military gear and armed with swords and bows, were conducting the inspection. There were men among them, but more than half were women.

'What? They don't seem to be government forces...'

From their attire, they were clearly not officials. Women in the military were unheard of.

Click-clack, click-clack.

The carriage moved forward slowly. Jincheon observed them more closely.

"Wow."

He couldn't help but exclaim. The sight of the women was strikingly exotic.

With distinct features and large eyes, some had silver or blonde hair. They were exceptionally foreign-looking and mesmerizingly beautiful.

"Be careful."

The middle-aged man next to him commented offhandedly.

"Can't you see the swords? Thinking lightly of them because they're women would be a huge mistake. In the martial world, there are three types of people you must beware of..."

His words trailed off.

It was now the turn of Jincheon's carriage.

Swoosh.

A female warrior inspected the carriage. The passengers were just tired travelers with hardly any luggage.

"Pass."

Her voice was decidedly dry.

The coachman nodded and took up the reins.

Click-clack, click-clack.

The old horse moved forward without needing the coachman's urging.

From the creaking wagon, Jincheon watched the warriors fade into the distance.

‘Brutal.’

Gansu was the frontier.

With its harsh climate and rough terrain, it attracted rough people—including many who had committed crimes and fled here.

More than anything, Gansu had bandits—ruthless raiders on horseback who ambushed travelers, stealing their wealth and their lives.

Jincheon assumed the inspection must have been an effort to root out such bandits.

“You must’ve liked that woman quite a bit,” the middle-aged man beside him chuckled. “You were staring at her so intently.”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you say something to her earlier? Young folks can always find a way to connect.”

Jincheon smirked bitterly.

“Do you think she would’ve let me? I’d be lucky to avoid getting stabbed.”

“Kuk, kuk, kuk.”

The middle-aged man laughed heartily at Jincheon’s response.

“That’s true. You’d be in for a world of trouble. Ah, right—about what I was saying earlier. In the martial world, there are three kinds of people you should always be wary of: children, women, and the elderly.”

Jincheon raised an eyebrow. Be cautious of the weakest-looking people? The middle-aged man shrugged.

“It just means never let your guard down. Honestly, is there anywhere in the world that isn’t dangerous?”

Jincheon nodded in agreement before asking,

“Is it always like this here?”

“Here? Hmm, I’ve hardly ever seen inspections like this...”

The man trailed off before continuing,

“Nan Province is fine. It’s a big city. But the smaller towns are different. Everyone’s in on it together. In the worst cases, the local authorities even work with the bandits.”

His words sent a chill down Jincheon’s spine.

“Are the bandits that much of a problem?”

“Nan Province is safe. But if you go further toward Jiayuguan or Yumenguan, it’s another story entirely.”

Shaking his head, the middle-aged man took the opportunity to launch into a series of personal experiences and stories he’d heard.

Jincheon half-listened, occasionally nodding along.

Creak, creak.

The wagon rattled along the road, and the middle-aged man’s voice droned on without pause.

And little by little, Jincheon’s carriage continued toward Gireon Mountain.

****

“It’s been a long journey.”

Jincheon sighed.

This was the city of Jiuquan, home to Jiayuguan Pass. At last, he had arrived at a city near Gireon Mountain.

‘It was really far...’

He’d thought it sounded far when he first heard the name Gireon Mountain, but he hadn’t expected it to be this far.

‘I finally understand what a “difficult road” really means.’

He had prepared himself for a long trip. The real issue was the people.

Restaurants that served food unfit for consumption. Filthy lodgings that were barely better than sleeping outside. Merchants who forced their wares onto travelers.

And petty thieves who, despite the owner standing right there, would still try to walk off with someone else’s luggage.

‘Tch. Do I look like an easy target?’

The answer was undeniable.

Despite holding the title of saengwon—a scholar who had passed the preliminary exams—Jincheon was, at the end of the day, a pale, soft-handed unemployed man who had spent over a decade doing nothing but reading books.

Click-clack, click-clack.

The carriage that had dropped him off disappeared into the distance, but Jincheon paid no mind.

His gaze was fixed on the faraway view of Gireon Mountain—a long stretch of white peaks lined up in the distance.

‘Impressive.’

The name Gireon was a phonetic borrowing. In its original form, it meant sky, which was why people had once called it Tianshan—the Celestial Mountains.

A mountain as sacred and beautiful as the heavens—this was Gireon Mountain.

‘But still, I made it. I really came all the way to Gireon Mountain.’

It was the first job he had taken as a rookie merchant.

And, of all things, it had taken him to the westernmost end of the Great Wall—to Gireon Mountain.

But instead of feeling discouraged, Jincheon felt proud.

‘First, I should find an inn...’

After checking that his luggage was intact, Jincheon set off on foot.

The best way to avoid aggressive peddlers was to walk away from the drop-off point.

Of course, wandering too far and ending up in the middle of nowhere would be just as problematic.

Step, step.

Jincheon walked toward the city, doing his best to appear as unremarkable as possible.

Yet he couldn’t help but glance around curiously.

Thus, Jincheon arrived in the city of Jiuquan, nestled at the foot of Gireon Mountain.

The inn Jincheon chose was a decent place.

It wasn’t fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but for a cheap price, he would get both a room and breakfast—even if it was just bland wheat noodles.

After entering his room and setting down his belongings, Jincheon reached into his robes and pulled out a money pouch along with a smaller bag.

He wasn’t concerned about how light the money pouch felt—he just needed to make sure the amount left was correct.

Then, he opened the other bag.

Tok.

A single red orb fell into Jincheon’s palm.

It was the very same orb entrusted to him by Gungju, the middle-aged man. The one that had accompanied him all the way here.

Swoosh.

Jincheon lifted the orb, examining it closely.

As always, it gleamed brilliantly, radiating its beauty beneath the setting sun.

‘It’s beautiful.’

Throughout the journey, Jincheon had periodically checked on it.

Not only because it was something he absolutely could not lose—but also because it was stunning.

Every time, he couldn’t help but marvel.

‘What kind of gemstone is this?’

He didn’t know much about jewels or precious stones.

But he did know that gems of such a vivid red color were rare.

‘...It must be worth a fortune, right?’

Jincheon sighed as he fiddled with it.

Not that it mattered. It wasn’t his.

Once he delivered it, he’d never see it again.

Even so, he had grown attached to the red gemstone.

Carefully, he placed it back into its pouch and tucked it safely into his robes.

Then, he stood up.

“Let’s go.”

Outside, the sun was setting.

Shops were closing their doors.

Inns and taverns were beginning to light their lamps.

The moment of truth was approaching.