"Time, you say! How much longer do you intend to delay!"
"One can only be so shameless!"
"I have been more than accommodating!"
The face of Hyun Jong was clouded with worry.
"I understand, but..."
At that moment, a man who had been at the very back of the group quietly stepped forward.
As he did, the others immediately fell silent and stepped aside. 'Is that fellow the leader?' Cheong Myung's eyes sparkled as he looked at the man who had stepped forward.
He had the typical appearance of a merchant.
A slightly plump face adorned with expensive silk clothing. 'He looks wealthy.' The man spoke up.
Cheong Myung listened intently.
"Zhang Mun In. Have you been well?"
"I did not expect Lord Gong Lu Zhu to come in person."
The man called Gong Lu Zhu smiled gently.
"I do not feel good about meeting Zhang Mun In under such circumstances. This person has tried to avoid climbing the volcano again as much as possible, but there are just too many who are urging him on, so please understand."
"I can only apologize."
Hyun Jong bowed his head lightly.
Then Gong Lu Zhu spoke in a slightly different tone than before.
"However, Zhang Mun In, you must also understand the feelings of others. The promised date has long passed."
"Um."
Gong Lu Zhu shrugged slightly.
In Cheong Myung's eyes, that gesture appeared quite arrogant.
"We have already made allowances for the volcano's situation several times. If you continue to break promises like this, it will be difficult for us to be lenient any longer."
Hyun Jong could not find any words to say.
Although his face appeared calm on the outside, Cheong Myung could see subtle twitches on Hyun Jong's face.
It was only natural.
No previous Zhang Mun In had ever experienced being tormented by creditors in front of the sect members.
"According to the contract, I should collect the price for breaking the contract right now."
Gong Lu Zhu shook his head with a smiling face.
"We too have lived under the grace of the volcano. We do not wish to act so harshly."
"Gong Lu Zhu!"
"We have already..."
"Ah."
Other merchants around them protested, but as Gong Lu Zhu spoke, they all fell silent.
They then subtly glanced at him.
"If one does not appreciate grace, they are no different from beasts. Do not think only of the grace you have bestowed. Anyone living in Hua Yin has grown up under the grace of the volcano, have they not? Do not forget the deeds of your predecessors."
"Um."
"That is correct."
Thinking everyone understood, Gong Lu Zhu smiled broadly and continued.
"So, I would like to offer a bit more consideration. I will give you seven days and nights from now. If you do not repay the borrowed money within those seven days and nights, I will take the price as per the original contract."
"G-Gong Lu Zhu, please wait a moment..."
"Zhang Mun In."
Gong Lu Zhu shook his head quietly.
"There is no more time. I am a person who deals with money. This is the best convenience I can offer. If you return after seven days and the payment is still not ready, I will seize all the buildings of the volcano as promised."
"Ugh!" Suddenly, a sound burst forth, and Gong Lu Zhu turned his head.
In his sight was Cheong Myung, who was covering his mouth.
"I have shown a foolish appearance in front of the child."
Gong Lu Zhu calmly extended his hand to signal.
"That will be all for today, Zhang Mun In. I hope that when we meet again, we can do so with smiles on our faces. Farewell."
As Gong Lu Zhu turned his body, the merchants who had followed him also turned away.
Yet, they did not forget to glare at Hyun Jong.
Watching them leave with an imposing air, Hyun Jong quietly raised his head and spoke.
"... Hah."
It was a sigh that sounded a bit empty and a bit weary, thus carrying a heavier weight.
"So."
Cheong Myung sat cross-legged, resting his chin on his hand.
"You say they are merchants from Hua Yin?"
"That's right."
"Ugh."
Cheong Myung's head bobbed back and forth.
Seeing this, Do In Myung slowly stepped back. 'I don't know what he's going to do next.
I should avoid this.'
The reason he was explaining this to Cheong Myung was very simple.
The fellow who had returned with great vigor had called all the young merchants and selected those who knew about the volcano's condition.
And the one who met his criteria was none other than Do In Myung.
Thanks to that, Do In Myung was now squeezing out everything he knew and didn't know to explain the volcano's situation to Cheong Myung.
"Hua Yin is the name of the village under the volcano, right?" asked Jo Geol, who was listening to Do In Myung.
"Yes, brother. I remember seeing it when I was out on business with my father."
"So, does that mean the volcano borrowed money from the merchants of Hua Yin?"
"That's what I can't say for sure..."
Do In Myung scratched his head.
Although it was about the volcano, the three great disciples could not know all the details.
They could only guess from the circumstances surrounding it.
"That Gong Lu Zhu is the owner of Tai Hua Lou in Hua Yin. It is the largest restaurant in Hua Yin, and I have heard that he is involved in various businesses based on that."
"Um."
"So if the volcano borrowed money, it would likely be from him..."
Suddenly, Jo Geol's face turned pale.
"Huh?" He turned his head and then quickly turned white.
Cheong Myung's neck was bobbing like a headless wooden puppet.
"Master! Pull yourself together! Master!"
"T-Tai Hua Lou..."
"What's wrong?" Jo Geol was shocked to see Cheong Myung in a daze.
Of course, they could not understand why Cheong Myung was acting this way.
Suddenly, Cheong Myung sprang up as if he had regained his spirit and glared at Do In Myung with fierce eyes.
"Yikes?" Then, in a flash, he lunged at Do In Myung and grabbed him by the collar.
"Is that fellow really the owner of Tai Hua Lou?"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"The owner of Tai Hua Lou is lending money to the volcano and trying to seize the volcano's buildings?"
"Calm down, Master!"
"Calm down? You want me to calm down right now?"
Hey, you guys! Do I look calm to you? Cheong Myung released his grip on Do In Myung's collar and began to scratch and pull at his hair.
"Master, what's wrong?" Yoon Jong asked, but Cheong Myung could not respond at all.
The reason was simple.
He could not explain it.
Because! 'Tai Hua Lou is a part of the volcano! This is insane!'
Just because one is a Daoist does not mean they live off grass.
For small and medium sects, they might manage to survive on the money they earn from receiving guests, but for a large sect like the volcano, that alone is not enough to sustain them.
Those who pursue strength, like swordsmen and warriors, are only interested in becoming stronger themselves and do not contribute a single coin to the sect's livelihood.
To feed such parasites collectively requires a vast amount of money.
Thus, the volcano had several businesses in Hua Yin.
One of those businesses was Tai Hua Lou.
But now the owner of Tai Hua Lou is lending money to the volcano and trying to seize the volcano's buildings? That does not make sense.
Yes...
The fact that it does not make sense means something has gone wrong somewhere!
"... Jo Geol."
"Yes?" Cheong Myung gestured silently.
Jo Geol approached with a puzzled look.
Cheong Myung whispered something only Jo Geol could hear, and Jo Geol's eyes widened in surprise.
"That?"
"Can you get it?" Jo Geol stammered.
"Ah, no. I can get it, but..."
"Then hurry and bring it."
"... Really?"
"Do I look like I'm joking right now? Brother?"
"I'll get it."
Jo Geol left the room with a slightly tense expression.
'What is he planning to do?' Yoon Jong watched this scene with a tilted head.
Jo Geol's reaction was unusual.
But there was no need to think too deeply about it.
Before even half a breath had passed, Jo Geol returned with something in hand.
He presented it to Cheong Myung with a peculiar expression. 'A robe?' No, is it clothing? But why is he bringing that out in this situation? Cheong Myung took the clothing Jo Geol handed him and without a moment's hesitation, he threw off the robe he was wearing.
"Huh?" Then he quickly began to put on the clothing Jo Geol had brought.
A tight-fitting black outfit...
"What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to ask."
"Huh?" Cheong Myung replied nonchalantly.
"Anyway, I have to ask the disciples. They won't give me a proper answer, and they'll probably tell me to stay out of it."
"Of course! That's the right thing to say!" So, I will ask directly!
"Wait a moment!" Sweat began to flow down Yoon Jong's forehead.
Until now, what Cheong Myung had done was within the volcano's affairs.
Therefore, despite the many potential problems, it was somehow manageable.
But what he was about to do would not end with just the volcano's matters.
'I have to stop him.' If he is lucky, it might end with just gathering some information... 'But that’s unlikely!' Cheong Myung is, so to speak, a person without reverse gear.
One can tell just from what he has done so far.
This fellow will definitely cause trouble! He could bet his life on it.
And if this fellow goes down the mountain and causes trouble, the repercussions will be uncontrollable.
If he cannot stop this here, Yoon Jong will also bear responsibility.
If the elders of the sect find out about the trouble this fellow caused, the chief disciple Yoon Jong will not be safe either.
But how should he stop him? If he could stop him with just a few words, he would have done so already.
Yoon Jong, sweating profusely, finally spoke.
"What are you trying to do?"
"I'm going to ask directly!"
"And if they don’t answer?"
"They don’t answer?" Cheong Myung tilted his head.
"That’s not something that usually happens. They all beg me to stop when I ask."
What do you mean stop, you crazy fool! Yoon Jong racked his brain with all his might.
"You, you are a Daoist, right?"
"Huh?"
"Yes, you are a Daoist. You are a disciple of the volcano!"
For some reason, Cheong Myung seemed to take pride in being a Daoist and a disciple of the volcano.
So if he could stimulate that part well...
"A Daoist shouldn't do such things! That would be no different from the black market thugs!"
At that, Cheong Myung nodded deeply.
"That is indeed true. A Daoist should not do such things."
It seemed that this tactic had worked.
Yoon Jong's face brightened with a glimmer of hope.
"Y-Yes!"
"But brother! Listen carefully!"
"Huh?"
"There is a saying in the scriptures! Kill the Buddha, kill the ancestors! When you meet a Buddha, kill the Buddha, and when you meet an ancestor, kill the ancestor!"
"..."
"So! To truly achieve the Dao!"
Cheong Myung finally pulled the black mask he had been holding over his face.
Then, he boldly shouted, "Sometimes, one must know how to break the Dao!"
What is he saying? This crazy fellow.
"I am going! To find the true Dao!"
Yoon Jong deeply realized the fact that stopping Cheong Myung was fundamentally impossible.