Chapter 32: You Bastard? Are You from Zhongnan Sect? (Part 2)

No one dared to speak.

The declaration that came from Hyeonjong's mouth was too shocking. Those who understood what Hyeonjong was saying couldn't close their gaping mouths, while those who hadn't fully grasped the situation were too overwhelmed by the atmosphere to dare utter a word.

"Now, Sect Leader!"

"What do you mean by that, Sect Leader?"

Chaos erupted instantly.

The merchants, their faces flushed red, screamed as if in agony, but Hyeonjong's expression remained unchanged. The coldness in his face, something rarely seen, pressed down on the merchants like a weight.

"I mean exactly what I said."

"B-but…!"

"We don't even understand what's going on…!"

It was then.

"Silence."

Gong Munyeon's icy voice shut the merchants' mouths.

Hyeonjong and Gong Munyeon's gazes locked in mid-air.

"Sect Leader."

"Speak, Gong Ruju."

Though their attitudes hadn't changed, much had shifted. Hyeonjong no longer maintained his usual relaxed demeanor, and the softness that had once been present in Gong Munyeon's expression was gone.

"You're taking this joke too far."

"A joke, you say?"

"Yes."

Their gazes locked in mid-air. Even Hyeonjong, who would normally have brushed it off gently, didn't back down an inch at this moment.

"If the position of the Sect Leader of Mount Hua seems so leisurely that you can joke around with me, then I must say, it's regrettable."

Gong Munyeon clenched his lips tightly. His usual composure was visibly shaken.

"According to this ledger, most of the businesses under the Hwaeum Merchant Union now belong to Mount Hua. If we cannot present evidence that we acquired these businesses by paying a fair price to Mount Hua, then we have no right to protest the confiscation of our assets."

"You understand well."

"However."

Gong Munyeon smiled. But this smile was distinctly different from the ones he had shown before. It was forced and awkward.

"That's only if this ledger is genuine, isn't it?"

Hyeonjong silently glared at Gong Munyeon. But Gong Munyeon, undeterred by the gaze, continued.

"How can you prove that this ledger, which suddenly appeared, is authentic?"

"Are you saying…?"

Hyeonjong narrowed his eyes.

"That Mount Hua is presenting false evidence?"

"Mount Hua wouldn't do such a thing."

Gong Munyeon took a slight step back. But his attitude didn't change.

"But isn't it possible that even Mount Hua has been deceived by this false ledger? If this ledger's authenticity isn't verified, we cannot trust it."

"Well said!"

"That's only common sense!"

The merchants cheered, supporting Gong Munyeon's statement.

Hyeonjong, who had been quietly observing, slowly nodded. Then he turned his head and looked at Hyeonyeong.

"Jae Gyeong-gakju."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

"What do you think?"

"Their words have merit."

Jae Gyeong-gakju Hyeonyeong answered without changing his expression. The merchants cheered at his response.

"Then what should we do?"

"Sect Leader. The discussion has taken a wrong turn."

"Hmm?"

Hyeonyeong smiled faintly as he spoke.

"Determining whether the ledger is genuine or not isn't our responsibility, nor is it theirs. Isn't this the kind of matter that should be settled by the government office?"

"That's right."

Hyeonyeong continued, clasping his hands.

"That's why we've already submitted half of the ledger to the Hwaeum government office for verification. If the ledger is proven genuine, the government will personally confiscate their businesses."

Gong Munyeon's eyes widened.

"Y-you've already submitted it?"

"Yes. Why? Is something wrong?"

Hyeonyeong's calm retort sent a chill down Gong Munyeon's spine. Cold sweat began to seep from his back.

'We've been had.'

If they had been in Hwaeum, they could have dealt with this. But now they were at Mount Hua. While they were away, government troops could have already swarmed their businesses and taken control. There was no way to stop it with the people they had left behind.

'That bastard!'

Flames of anger flickered in Gong Munyeon's eyes as he glared at Hyeonjong.

Hyeonjong had planned this from the beginning. Showing the ledger to the merchants and settling the matter directly was just a smokescreen. What they had truly aimed for was to separate them from Hwaeum.

"When did you submit the ledger to the government?"

"Two days ago."

"…Damn."

Gong Munyeon gritted his teeth.

Two days was more than enough time to verify the ledger. Even though they had only submitted half, ledgers weren't something that could be compared in halves. It was clear that the ledger in the chest had already been thoroughly examined.

Which meant that government troops were already waiting at the foot of the mountain, ready to determine the ledger's authenticity and confiscate the businesses.

The Hwaeum government office had always been friendly with Mount Hua. If the Sect Leader had used his connections to apply pressure from above, it was as clear as day what the Hwaeum magistrate would do.

By now, chaos must have broken out.

"Sect Leader!"

An angry voice burst from Gong Munyeon's lips.

But Hyeonjong was no longer the lenient Sect Leader he had once known.

"Lower your voice."

An overwhelming aura emanated from Hyeonjong's entire body. Gong Munyeon, who rarely showed fear or panic, couldn't help but shrink back under the pressure radiating from Hyeonjong.

The name of Mount Hua.

The aura emanating from the man who now bore that name, which was nothing more than a shell of its former self, was unimaginable.

"You have no right to speak."

Hyeonjong's cold gaze swept over the merchants. Unable to bear the weight of his gaze, some lowered their heads and avoided his eyes.

"True friends are those who lend a hand in times of need. There's no need to treat those who raise a sword in difficult times as friends. Go back. When you return to Hwaeum, everything will be over. Originally, we should have taken everything from you, but…"

Hyeonjong let out a sigh.

"I cannot completely disregard the effort you've put in until now. So, I will allow each of you to take one cart's worth of belongings."

"S-Sect Leader."

Even those who were slow to catch on couldn't help but understand how the situation was unfolding by now.

"I have shown you the utmost generosity."

It was then that Jae Gyeong-gakju Hyeonyeong spoke.

"Sect Leader. These are the ones who insulted Mount Hua and even tried to steal its assets. Not only that, but they also tried to repay Mount Hua's kindness with enmity. To show such generosity to them…"

"If a beast tries to bite, baring my teeth in return would make me no better than a beast."

Hyeonjong waved his hand.

"I've already made my decision, so Jae Gyeong-gakju, do not mention this matter again."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Hyeonyeong bowed his head.

"Go down and see for yourselves. Don't you need to confirm with your own eyes how things have turned out?"

Gong Munyeon's face twisted completely. Baring his teeth, he glared at Hyeonjong as if he wanted to kill him.

"Sect Leader. You've been hiding a venomous heart behind that gentle face."

"A venomous heart, you say…"

Hyeonjong smiled faintly.

"If you say so, then perhaps it is. But it's nothing compared to yours."

"…I won't forget this debt."

"Do as you wish. Unam. Escort them out."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

Gong Munyeon turned sharply. Without waiting for Unam's guidance, he began walking toward the mountain gate.

The merchants, unsure of what to do, quickly followed Gong Munyeon. They needed to descend the mountain as quickly as possible to see what had happened in Hwaeum.

As the merchants headed toward the mountain gate, Hyeonjong let out a soft sigh.

"Sect Leader! You've worked hard."

"Hmm."

Hyeonjong smiled gently at Hyeonyeong.

"Now, Mount Hua is done. It's finally over!"

"Don't get too carried away. We've only crossed one mountain."

"What bigger mountain is there? Everything will be fine now."

Hyeonjong chuckled as he watched Hyeonyeong, who was so happy he didn't know what to do with himself.

It had been decades since he had seen Jae Gyeong-gakju so delighted. Everyone had been carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders.

'This is all thanks to that child.'

It could truly be called Mount Hua's fortune.

He would have to give a great reward, but what kind of reward could possibly honor such a feat? He couldn't stop smiling.

For a moment, Hyeonjong's gaze, lost in thought, turned to Yoo Jong-san and the remaining merchants.

"And…"

Those who met the Sect Leader's eyes immediately bowed their heads.

"You did not lose your sense of righteousness until the very end."

Hyeonjong's attitude was distinctly different from how he had treated the other merchants earlier. Though he didn't lose his sternness, there was a clear softness in his tone.

"Sect Leader. We don't even understand what's going on…"

"The fact that your businesses belong to Mount Hua remains unchanged. Naturally, what belongs to Mount Hua must return to Mount Hua. But I will allow you to continue operating your businesses and receive compensation for it."

"…."

Yoo Jong-san's expression became complicated.

Though their situation was better than those who were now hastily descending the mountain, they were still losing their businesses. Even Yoo Jong-san, for instance, was being reduced from the owner of a fabric store to a mere manager.

"Then…"

Just as Yoo Jong-san was about to protest, Hyeonyeong subtly spoke up.

"Excessive greed brings misfortune."

"…."

"You used assets that weren't originally yours to oppress others, and that is also a crime. Mount Hua is simply giving you an opportunity to lessen the weight of that crime."

A sigh escaped.

If all of this had stemmed from falsehoods, then Hyeonyeong's words were correct.

'Grandfather. What have you done?'

He felt ashamed.

"Jae Gyeong-gakju."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"However, it's true that these people did not betray Mount Hua's righteousness and helped us in the final moment, isn't it?"

"You are correct."

"Let's discuss this together. See if there's a good direction to take. Mount Hua should still be a warm place for its friends, shouldn't it?"

"Yes, Sect Leader. I will follow your words."

Hyeonyeong subtly stepped forward and gestured to the merchants.

"Come this way. Let's go to Jae Gyeong-gak and discuss the future."

"…Yes."

The merchants followed Hyeonyeong. Their faces were filled with complex emotions.

As everyone moved away, Hyeonjong remained alone, quietly surveying Mount Hua.

There hadn't been a day when he hadn't taken in this sight. But today, the Mount Hua that entered his eyes felt distinctly different from yesterday.

The desolate and faded buildings now seemed to brim with vitality.

'Is everything determined by the heart?'

No. It doesn't end there.

Mount Hua, which had always received nothing but bad news, had finally received a blessing after decades. The flow of things is strange; once it changes direction, it's not easy to reverse it by human effort.

Now that the tide has turned in a good direction, Mount Hua will be different from before. Hyeonjong believed that.

Perhaps, starting today, the forgotten glory of Mount Hua will return.

'It must.'

A clear smile, free of worry, bloomed on Hyeonjong's wrinkled face.

"…Y-you…"

And then, a clean, wrinkle-free face twisted in rage.

"You bastards!"

Flames flickered in Chung Myung's eyes.

What? One cart's worth?

Beasts, this and that?

"Alright. I'll show you exactly what a beast is!"

Hyeonjong had sent them away.

But Chung Myung would not let them go.