The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 335

신마의선 (335)

“Then who has it?”

The head merchant paused for a moment at Han Seol-hwa’s question.

But he soon replied nonchalantly.

“I heard it was already sold to someone else. I didn’t sell it directly, and I only heard about it, so I don’t know who it was sold to.”

Han Seol-hwa stared intently at the head merchant.

She might have been ignorant of the ways of the world, but she wasn’t foolish or oblivious.

The head merchant’s noticeably flustered expression and trembling eyes.

Han Seol-hwa could tell that he was lying.

More than anything, the Jowha Geonjam wasn’t an item that could be easily circulated in the market.

She knew the reason well, which was why she had readily sold it to him.

Because she could retrieve it whenever she set her mind to it.

“That can’t be.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

The head merchant, who had inadvertently retorted, paled at Han Seol-hwa’s next words.

“You sold the imperial family’s treasure like that?”

“……!”

The head merchant was greatly agitated and began to sweat profusely.

It was as she said.

When Han Seol-hwa first sold him the hairpin, he was immediately able to recognize its value.

Blue jade (靑玉) [a type of precious jade, often associated with royalty].

Moreover, the hairpin made of Kunlun jade (崑崙玉) [a rare and highly prized jade found in the Kunlun Mountains], which was rarely produced only in Qinghai, was not an item that could be easily found.

Above all, the phoenix carving with its wings spread as if it were about to fly was also extraordinary.

It was a treasure worthy of being presented to the imperial family.

As expected.

Only three days after being displayed in the store for sale, the phoenix hairpin (鳳簪) [a decorative hairpin, often symbolizing status and beauty] was immediately sold.

Even though this place was a remote area far from the Central Plains, there were still wealthy people who made a name for themselves.

And among them, there were people with an eye for beauty who recognized the value of the item.

The selling price was 15,000 nyang [an ancient Korean currency].

It was the price paid for the purchase plus an additional 50%.

He regretted not having set the price higher if he had known it would sell so quickly, but it had already left his hands and there was nothing he could do.

But before long, a problem arose.

The buyer who had purchased the phoenix hairpin demanded a refund.

There was nothing wrong with the item itself, and there were no particular issues in the sales process, so he naturally refused.

However, the buyer turned pale and began to stubbornly demand a refund.

As far as he knew, the buyer was a high-ranking official who had been in public service for many years.

If he interfered with the business with his connections, it would be difficult for him as well.

Inevitably, he accepted the other party’s request and repurchased the phoenix hairpin.

And he called 10,000 nyang as the repurchase price.

However, even after bearing the loss of 5,000 nyang, the other party readily agreed to the transaction.

As a result, the phoenix hairpin remained in his possession, and in addition, he had earned an income of 5,000 nyang for nothing.

And the same thing happened several more times.

People who had purchased the phoenix hairpin at a higher price returned after a while and refunded it, even at a loss.

At first, he was happy with the unexpected good fortune that had come his way.

Because just having it was like having money rolling in without much effort, the phoenix hairpin itself was considered a cornucopia.

But at some point, he began to feel uneasy.

Because similar situations continued to repeat themselves.

At this point, he couldn’t help but wonder about the identity of the phoenix hairpin.

So he quietly began to inquire about the phoenix hairpin by visiting people who were well-versed in this field.

And in the end, when he learned the truth, he was shocked.

He thought it was no ordinary item, but he never imagined it was a treasure that had flowed out of the imperial family.

Moreover, it was the Empress Dowager (皇太后) [the emperor’s mother and a figure of immense power], the Emperor’s mother, who cherished it the most…….

He didn’t know how such a treasure had flowed into the hands of the woman in front of him, but that wasn’t important.

The problem was that he had traded a treasure from the imperial family with a clear origin.

Now that he knew the truth, he could no longer sell the phoenix hairpin.

No matter how big a merchant he was, he couldn’t ignore the dignity of the imperial family.

If someone were to report it to the court, his entire family could be exterminated.

No matter how crazy he was about money, he only had one life.

So he hid the phoenix hairpin in a deep place.

But he never dreamed that the person who had first sold him the phoenix hairpin would come back.

Moreover, she knew about the identity of the phoenix hairpin and even demanded to know its whereabouts, so he couldn’t help but lie.

So, at this moment when he was even more anxious.

‘Wait a minute?’

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Maybe this wasn’t a crisis, but an opportunity.

The woman in front of him was clearly a martial artist.

‘This is the last chance to get rid of this troublesome thing!’

Even if the fact that he sold the phoenix hairpin was revealed and he was investigated by the government, he could just make the excuse that he was threatened and couldn’t help it.

Above all, it was returning to its original owner, so he only needed to leave the maximum profit.

“Ahem.”

The head merchant, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, cleared his throat and tried to appear calm.

“Isn’t it up to us whether we sell it or not? But you never know. If you are willing to pay a reasonable amount, we can try to find out its whereabouts.”

Han Seol-hwa was inwardly dumbfounded.

“A reasonable amount? You mean 20,000 nyang isn’t enough?”

“Well, we have to do the legwork ourselves. Please take into account the information fee paid in the process and the possible risk allowance.”

“So? How much do you want?”

“At least 30,000 nyang…….”

The head merchant quickly shut his mouth.

Because of the murderous intent felt in the eyes facing him.

He felt that he might really die, and his whole body trembled.

It was then.

“Oh? Aren’t you Seonja-nim [a respectful title, often used for someone with exceptional skills or wisdom]?”

Someone who entered the Black Dragon Merchant Guild cautiously spoke to Han Seol-hwa.

When Han Seol-hwa turned her head to look at the other person, the middle-aged man who met her gaze was surprised and bowed deeply.

“Oh, you’re right! I received a message from this guild and was waiting outside in advance, but it seems we missed each other.”

Han Seol-hwa, who had been quietly examining the middle-aged man, slowly nodded her head.

Because she realized that he was wearing the unique attire of the Shinma Merchant Guild.

“You belong to the Shinma Merchant Guild.”

“Yes. My name is Yang Yi-seo from the Black Dragon River Province branch. I am the branch manager here, though I am inadequate.”

The middle-aged man, who identified himself as Yang Yi-seo, approached Han Seol-hwa with a respectful attitude.

“By the way, what brings you to this remote place? If you need anything, you can ask us.”

Instead of answering, Han Seol-hwa glared at the head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild.

Yang Yi-seo belatedly realized that the atmosphere in the hall was unusual.

Han Seol-hwa’s appearance, exuding coldness, clearly showed that she was angry.

On the other hand, the head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild, who was facing her, had eyebrows and a beard that were frozen white and hung with icicles, but he stood upright and confronted her without yielding an inch.

‘Even though merchants risk their lives for money…….’

Yang Yi-seo clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight.

He clearly didn’t know who he was dealing with right now.

“Do you know who this person is?”

The head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild paused at Yang Yi-seo’s question.

Come to think of it, he still had no information about the other party’s identity.

However, there must be a good reason why the branch manager of the Shinma Merchant Guild, which has been expanding its business at a frightening pace recently, was so polite.

“Who are you, anyway……?”

Yang Yi-seo sighed.

“I hope you haven’t made a mistake with this person?”

The head merchant was startled by Yang Yi-seo’s explanation that followed.

“This is Bingok Seonja Han Seol-hwa, the one who is called the Shinma Three Venerables of Muwi.”

“Th, that…….”

“If you have been even slightly rude to this person, you will never be able to trade with our Shinma Merchant Guild again. No, we will risk our lives to make you pay the price for it.”

“…….”

“The reason why we don’t touch the main items handled by the Black Dragon Merchant Guild is because the guild leader instructed us to promote mutual coexistence, not because we lack the ability to do so.”

“Th, thank you for that.”

“Then please explain clearly what’s going on.”

The words were polite, but they contained a clear warning.

And the head merchant knew this.

After hesitating for a moment, reluctant to open his mouth.

Soon, when the head merchant revealed the conversations he had with Han Seol-hwa, Yang Yi-seo was speechless in disbelief.

“Ha…….”

Yang Yi-seo had heard rumors that the head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild was dealing with precious items that could not be freely distributed in the market.

And he could tell at a glance that he had the phoenix hairpin.

If an item of that price had been traded, there was no way the rumor wouldn’t have spread in this narrow world.

The last rumor he heard was that the sold phoenix hairpin had been refunded.

He was bargaining with Han Seol-hwa, trying to scam her.

The obsession with money is so scary.

As a fellow merchant, he couldn’t help but understand.

In fact, it was his last chance to make a profit using the phoenix hairpin.

With a soft sigh, Yang Yi-seo opened his mouth.

“But do you know what?”

Yang Yi-seo cast a pitiful look at the head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild, who was wondering.

“If you want to live a long life, you don’t need a famous doctor or tonic. Just don’t be greedy and follow the natural order.”

The head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild flinched at the merchant’s words that followed.

“The moment you become blinded by excessive greed, death is already hovering nearby.”

“……!”

“I’m a merchant too, so I know how much you want to make a big profit. But no matter how good money is, what’s the use of it when you die? Are you going to take it to the afterlife?”

The head merchant, who had been standing there with a blank expression for a while, looked back and forth between Han Seol-hwa and Yang Yi-seo and sighed.

Leaving Han Seol-hwa aside, there was no point in turning Yang Yi-seo in front of him into an enemy.

“Please wait a moment.”

The head merchant, who had disappeared to the back through the door leading to the inner hall, reappeared after a while.

He was holding a small wooden box in his hand.

He opened the wooden box and showed the contents inside, then hesitated and handed over the wooden box.

“Hmph.”

Han Seol-hwa, who had confirmed the Jowha Geonjam, snorted coldly.

Then, she withdrew her inner strength and stared at the head merchant.

“You should consider that person your lifelong benefactor. Because he just saved your life.”

“…….”

The head merchant bowed his head deeply.

Because he had nothing to say even if he had a mouth.

Han Seol-hwa threw a check at him.

“Oh? Are you leaving already?”

Yang Yi-seo grabbed Han Seol-hwa, who was turning around.

“You’ve come all the way here, so please have a meal before you go. If it becomes known that I sent Seonja-nim away without treating you to anything, I’m sure I’ll get an earful from the main guild.”

“I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Oh, no, this is not right. I won’t be able to face my daughter if you just leave like this.”

“Daughter?”

Yang Yi-seo smiled brightly at Han Seol-hwa’s question.

“Yes, So-hwa……. She said she had a conversation with Seonja-nim before. She’s been talking about Seonja-nim ever since……. She’s making a fuss about becoming a great master like Seonja-nim when she grows up. Haha.”

Han Seol-hwa suddenly recalled the face of a young girl.

“The child with the mole under her ear.”

“It’s an honor that you remember her.”

“She was a very pretty child with a lovely smile.”

“I’ll be sure to tell her when I see my daughter next time. She’ll be very happy.”

“Next time?”

“She’s in Muwi with her mother. I thought it would be safer there than here.”

“I remember her liking and following her father very much, she must miss you a lot.”

Yang Yi-seo’s eyes became sad at those words.

“But what can I do? I have no choice if I want to feed my family.”

Han Seol-hwa’s eyes curved softly at his voice full of longing.

Han Seol-hwa turned her head and looked at the head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild.

“Wait a minute.”

The head merchant, who was embarrassed by this situation and was silently and slowly retreating, froze in his place.

Han Seol-hwa said to him.

“I’ll have to cut down the price of the item a bit.”

“Yes?”

Han Seol-hwa stared at him silently as he asked back in embarrassment.

The head of the Black Dragon Merchant Guild wore a tearful expression.

He was going to renegotiate the deal that had already been settled now…….

But because he had committed a sin, he had no choice but to nod his head weakly without refusing.