Chapter 31: You Bastard? Are You from Zhongnan Sect? (Part 1)

"What on earth?"

"Don't look at me like that. I know I'm acting like an idiot."

Yoo Jong-san waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.

"Why do you care about someone you know?"

"Listen here, Gong Ru-ju."

"..."

"You're not from Hwaeum, are you?"

Gong Mun-yeon's face went blank.

What was this nonsense?

"You married into Hwaeum, so you wouldn't know. You don't understand what Mount Hua means to Hwaeum."

"What?!"

Gong Mun-yeon's mouth hung open.

What kind of nonsense was this? Why did it matter whether someone was from Hwaeum or not?

"Listen, Yoo Jong-san."

"Ah, forget it. I know what you're trying to say."

Yoo Jong-san let out a deep sigh.

"In a world where even kings can be bought with money, I know how ridiculous it sounds to care about Hwaeum."

Gong Mun-yeon stared at Yoo Jong-san in disbelief. What on earth was he going to say next?

"But I'm from Hwaeum."

"...What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everyone born and raised in Hwaeum grows up hearing stories about Mount Hua. From the moment we're weaned off milk, we're told, 'You must enter Mount Hua and become a great martial artist.' Even if we realize we don't have the talent to join Mount Hua, we grow up hearing over and over how Mount Hua has protected the world and Shaanxi."

Gong Mun-yeon tilted his head in confusion. What kind of sudden nonsense was this?

"It's not just me. My father, my grandfather—they all grew up like that. Mount Hua is the pride of Shaanxi, the pride of Hwaeum. And…"

Yoo Jong-san scratched the back of his head.

"Even if it's not my pride, it was the pride of my father and grandfather."

"...So what does that have to do with anything?"

"But if I destroy Mount Hua for a bit of money? When I go to the afterlife, do you think my father would let me off easy? I'd be beaten for days on end."

A low laugh escaped him.

When Gong Mun-yeon turned his head with a stiff expression, everyone else closed their mouths and slightly bowed their heads.

"So? Are you giving up a fortune just for that reason?"

"Giving up? What kind of giving up are you talking about? Didn't you hear the Sect Leader say he'd compensate us?"

"You believe that?"

"Whether I believe it or not, what would I even do with that money?"

Yoo Jong-san spat on the ground.

"Someone like you, who's planning to take the money and leave, might have plenty of places to spend it. If you go to Hangzhou, there's no shortage of places to throw money around. But where would I go with the money? I've spent my whole life digging in the dirt in Hwaeum. Now I'm supposed to go to Hangzhou? Suzhou? Don't make me laugh."

Yoo Jong-san couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

It was a ridiculous situation. When he first decided to climb Mount Hua, he had been dreaming of living lavishly with the money he'd receive. But now, here he was, saying these things.

'I must be insane.'

It wasn't something a sane person would do. Yoo Jong-san knew full well how stupid he was being right now.

But…

"You'll regret it."

"Of course I'll regret it! Damn it! Do I look like I don't know I'll regret this?! I know better than you! Of course I'll regret it!"

Yoo Jong-san shouted at the top of his lungs.

"But it'll be less painful than destroying Mount Hua with my own hands!"

Gong Mun-yeon looked at Yoo Jong-san with disbelief.

Yoo Jong-san, still agitated, took several deep breaths and let out a long sigh.

"Listen, Gong Ru-ju. I'm doing well enough to get by as it is. If I try to protect Mount Hua here, I'll lose money. Then I could just take that money and live miserably. But if I uproot the very foundation of Mount Hua, I'll live the rest of my life regretting it, holding onto useless money. I don't want to live like that."

Gong Mun-yeon glared at Yoo Jong-san, gritting his teeth.

'Is he in his right mind?'

He couldn't understand what Yoo Jong-san was saying. But…

'I don't need to understand.'

If someone was willingly jumping into a pit of fire, what obligation did he have to stop them? Losing one person wouldn't change the situation.

"Do as you please. It's not like losing you will make a difference."

"Who said it's just me?"

Gong Mun-yeon's movements froze. Slowly, his head turned. The sluggish movement of his head showed just how heated he was.

"Seo Mun-jang."

Seo Mun-jong walked over and stood beside Yoo Jong-san.

"What are you doing?"

"Can't you see?"

Gong Mun-yeon frowned.

But it wasn't just Seo Mun-jong. Perhaps spurred by Yoo Jong-san's words, five of the twenty or so people who had come up also moved to stand beside Yoo Jong-san.

"Well, well."

Gong Mun-yeon shook his head.

'Have I ever seen such pitiful fools?'

How could people who called themselves merchants make such stupid choices? Then again, that's why they were stuck in this backwater, barely scraping by.

'No, that's not it.'

Gong Mun-yeon's face, which had been unable to hide his disdain, quickly turned serious.

'If it weren't for Mount Hua, they wouldn't have made that choice. That just shows how much influence Mount Hua still has in Hwaeum.'

Letting emotions cloud your judgment was something a merchant should never do. The strength of Mount Hua that he had been so worried about was being demonstrated at this very moment.

Gong Mun-yeon quietly observed those who had switched sides. They all looked regretful but also relieved.

'Fools.'

Pride in not abandoning Mount Hua until the end?

That only mattered if Mount Hua survived. Even if they delayed the repayment date, Mount Hua didn't have the means to pay back the rest of the money. They had just lost a fortune due to a momentary lapse in judgment.

Having made his decision, Gong Mun-yeon calmly asked, "Does anyone else have second thoughts?"

The remaining merchants glanced at Hyeon-jong and Gong Mun-yeon before quietly turning their heads away.

"Sect Leader."

"..."

Gong Mun-yeon smiled softly and said, "I didn't realize Mount Hua's name still carried such weight. But it seems this is the end. Since the rest of you have no intention of delaying the repayment, we'd like you to repay the money we lent you now."

Hyeon-jong chuckled. His gaze wasn't on Gong Mun-yeon but on the merchants behind him.

"Is there really no one left who will help Mount Hua?"

"..."

When no answer came, Hyeon-jong nodded quietly.

"Then there's nothing we can do."

"Sect Leader."

"Don't rush me, Gong Ru-ju."

Gong Mun-yeon flinched.

Though the voice was soft, there was an undeniable authority in Hyeon-jong's tone.

Hyeon-jong glanced at Yoo Jong-san and the few merchants who had sided with him, then smiled faintly.

"Still, it's enough to know that there are still those who care for Mount Hua. It means the world hasn't abandoned Mount Hua yet, doesn't it?"

As Gong Mun-yeon stood there, unsure of what to do, Hyeon-jong raised his voice.

"Un-am!"

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

"Bring it!"

"Yes."

Un-am bowed his head and quickly walked off somewhere. Gong Mun-yeon frowned slightly as he watched.

'Is he really prepared?'

That couldn't be.

Gong Mun-yeon hadn't been idle either. If someone had lent that much money to Mount Hua, it would have reached his ears.

So was it a bluff?

No, that didn't make sense either. Bluffing only worked when you had something to back it up. But Mount Hua had nothing left. This wasn't a situation where bluffing could solve anything.

Before Gong Mun-yeon could finish his thoughts, Un-am returned. He had left alone, but now three people were coming back with him.

'Is that Elder Bae?'

Judging by the age of the people accompanying Un-am, they seemed to be elders of Mount Hua. One of them was carrying a large chest.

"Sect Leader, I've brought it."

Hyeon-jong gestured with his chin.

"Put it down."

"Yes."

Thud.

The chest was placed on the ground.

Gong Mun-yeon stared at the chest, then looked up.

"What is this...?"

"Inside is the wealth we owe you. Go ahead and check it."

"...You said wealth just now?"

"That's right."

Gong Mun-yeon looked at the chest with suspicion.

'Surely he's not joking with me.'

The Hyeon-jong he knew wouldn't joke around in a situation like this. So did that mean there was really wealth inside?

Though countless thoughts raced through his mind, now wasn't the time to think. The chest was right in front of him—what good would thinking do?

Gong Mun-yeon approached the chest as if entranced. Slowly, he opened the lid.

His eyes narrowed as he saw what was inside.

"This is..."

Wealth?

How could this book be wealth?

"Sect Leader. Are you mocking me?"

"Why would I do that? I've clearly given you what you asked for."

"What is this?"

"Read it and you'll understand."

Seeing Hyeon-jong's calm expression, Gong Mun-yeon bit his lip and pulled out one of the books from the chest. Standing right there, he began to read its contents.

Flip. Flip.

The sound of pages turning echoed through the quiet Mount Hua. With each page, Gong Mun-yeon's face grew paler.

"This, this is..."

His face completely drained of color, Gong Mun-yeon trembled as he held the book and looked at Hyeon-jong.

"What, what is this...?"

When Gong Mun-yeon couldn't continue, the merchants who had been watching him cautiously approached.

"What is it, Gong Ru-ju?"

"Let us see too."

"..."

When Gong Mun-yeon didn't respond, the merchants glanced at the chest. Seeing that there were still several books inside, they reached in and pulled them out.

"What on earth is this...?"

Their faces, initially tense, soon filled with confusion as they read the contents.

"Isn't this an account book?"

"That's right."

Hyeon-jong nodded calmly.

"But it looks like an old account book. Why would you bring this out now...?"

Hyeon-jong smiled faintly.

"The account books you're looking at were created by Mount Hua's previous generation to manage their businesses."

"...What? What does that mean?"

Hyeon-jong's eyes grew colder.

"Gong Ru-ju. Have you checked it?"

"..."

Hyeon-jong's voice rang out clearly.

"Those account books contain proof that the original owner of the businesses you're currently operating in Hwaeum is Mount Hua."

"What?"

"W-what are you talking about, Sect Leader?"

"Quiet."

Hyeon-jong sharply cut them off. Then, in a low voice, he spoke to those who still hadn't regained their composure.

"Mount Hua has shown you kindness. But you repaid that kindness with betrayal. Though Mount Hua is a sect that values virtue, we are not foolish enough to show goodwill to rats who bite the hand that feeds them."

Hyeon-jong's stern rebuke cut through the air like a blade.

"Based on these account books, Mount Hua will confiscate not only the businesses you're operating but also all the wealth you've accumulated through them."

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck on a clear day.