"Hmm?" In the distance, Qingming, who was watching the sect leader and the merchants from the eaves, sparkled his eyes with interest.
"So you would come out like this?" Qingming, gazing at the sect leader with a subtle look, couldn't help but chuckle.
He couldn't tell.
Was the sect leader's current action meant to truly push them into hell, or was it a final act of kindness even in this situation? It could be interpreted either way.
But one thing was certain: the current sect leader of the Volcano, Hyun Jong, was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
'Of course.' Hadn't he seen it? The sect leader, holding onto the door of the underground storage and weeping.
Even as his insides rotted away, he maintained the demeanor of a sect leader of the Volcano.
He bore the burden of a collapsing sect on his back while still retaining his gentleness and dignity.
Qingming narrowed his eyes and looked at the sect leader. 'But that cannot be all.' Patience had been sufficiently proven.
However, what the sect leader must possess is not just character and patience.
Those are certainly important.
But for the leader of a sect, especially the Volcano... there is something else that must be possessed.
'That is, calmness.' The position of a sect leader demands such a quality.
Even in a place where cultivators live, the essence of the Volcano is a martial sect.
Regardless of one's character, a sect leader must possess calmness to lead the sect.
For the glory of the Volcano, one must also be able to thoroughly commit to understanding gains and losses.
Did Hyun Jong truly possess the poisonous heart of a sect leader?
Leaning on the eaves with his chin propped up, Qingming slightly raised his body.
Crack!
Then, a sound like bones breaking echoed from his back.
"Ahh..."
Qingming groaned, clutching his waist and once again lying flat on the eaves. 'Oh, I'm going to die.' His body was so worn out that there wasn't a single intact part.
Despite continuously cultivating his energy and practicing healing techniques, his depleted innate energy showed no signs of returning.
In his mind, he calculated that he could regain his original state in about three months, but enduring those three months was the problem.
He had already entered a weak child's body, and now he couldn't even utilize that weak body properly.
"Hmm... I need to come up with some countermeasures."
Qingming sighed deeply and slightly lifted his head.
For now, his body was a later problem.
He needed to watch how this situation would unfold.
"Did you ask to postpone the repayment date?" Gong Munyeon frowned unconsciously.
He had thought something would come up.
He never underestimated the strength of the Volcano.
Dozens of sects rise and fall every day.
To last for hundreds of years in that chaotic world is no easy feat.
Though the Volcano's situation was not as good as before, a sect with such a long history must have its own strength.
Yet... 'Is this all that strength amounts to?' A hollow laugh escaped him. 'Have I overestimated the Volcano?'
Thinking about it, if they had any strength left, they wouldn't have been pushed to this situation.
Gong Munyeon sighed deeply.
"Sect Leader. I clearly told you before that I can no longer postpone the repayment date."
"Do not misunderstand. I am not asking Gong Luju for help right now."
"... What?" Hyun Jong quietly looked at Gong Munyeon before speaking.
"I fully understand the position of the Harmony Merchant Association. Therefore, I am directly asking all of you now. Even if it is a hundred thousand nyang, each person has a different amount they need to receive, correct?"
"That is true."
"So I am asking if there is anyone who can personally postpone the repayment date."
Gong Munyeon frowned. 'A shallow trick.' He couldn't understand what this meant.
"Then, does that mean those who cannot postpone the repayment date can still repay the money?"
"That is correct."
"Excuse me?" Gong Munyeon's eyes widened.
"Even if the Volcano is not what it used to be, there are still those who extend a helping hand to it. While they may not be able to gather a hundred thousand nyang, some have managed to prepare a portion. So if you all help, the Volcano can maintain its name. Therefore, I ask you. Those who show consideration for the Volcano today will surely be rewarded in the name of the Volcano."
The sect leader once again made a bow.
His posture was low, but a sense of dignity could be felt.
Seeing that, Gong Munyeon couldn't help but frown.
"What nonsense..."
"Indeed."
At that moment, Yu Jong-san, who had been observing the situation, interrupted Gong Munyeon's words.
It was unintentional, but for Gong Munyeon, who had suddenly been cut off, it was unavoidable that his brow furrowed.
"Are you saying that if we postpone the repayment date, you will reward us?"
"That is correct."
"Sect Leader. Let's be honest."
Yu Jong-san continued with a bitter expression.
"We all know that the Volcano might collapse as soon as tomorrow, and the sect leader knows this too. But to ask us to trust only your words and postpone the repayment date is to take the risk of not receiving that money, isn't it?"
"... That is indeed the case."
"Is that even a reasonable thing to say?" Gong Munyeon rearranged his expression.
It was true that Yu Jong-san had interrupted him, but he was saying what he couldn't say due to face.
It would have been better if Yu Jong-san had taken the lead.
Normally, he would have soothed Yu Jong-san to calm the situation, but this time, Gong Munyeon remained silent.
Now was the time to press the sect leader a little more.
'It's all over now.' Here, the Volcano would meet the end of its long history.
For a martial sect like the Volcano to collapse not by the strength of other sects but by the power of money would leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the onlookers, but that made it all the more meaningful.
"Mr. Yu."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"What can I offer?"
"... What?" Hyun Jong straightened his shoulders.
A cool breeze blew in from somewhere.
As he felt the wind, Hyun Jong smiled brightly.
"The Volcano has nothing left. What remains is only the honor of having sustained Harmony and Servitude for many years. What I can stake is only the name of the Volcano."
"That..."
"If you ask what you should believe in, the answer is this: the name of the Volcano. The history of the Volcano. Is that not enough?"
Yu Jong-san fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words.
The name of the Volcano.
The history of the Volcano.
Yes, perhaps those words held some meaning.
If those gathered here were not merchants.
To merchants, names and history hold no significance.
For merchants, the only thing that matters is money.
Is it profitable or not? Those who bet everything on that are merchants.
Yet, to ask merchants to take the name and history as collateral?
"Haha."
Yu Jong-san couldn't suppress his laughter.
"Sect Leader, are you being too unreasonable?"
"Unreasonable, you say?" Hyun Jong quietly looked at Yu Jong-san.
The weight of his gaze made Yu Jong-san flinch and step back unconsciously.
"It may be unreasonable."
But contrary to that heavy gaze, Hyun Jong's voice was only gentle.
"But I want to try being unreasonable. I believe that the name left by the Volcano, which has protected Harmony and Servitude for hundreds of years, is not in vain."
"..."
"I want to ask in reverse. What does the Volcano mean to you? Is there truly no value in the name of the Volcano, in the history of the Volcano?"
No one could speak.
The Volcano.
Who would dare to say that name is light? And who would dare to say that history is in vain?
Though now only traces remain, faded, no one could dare to take the name of the Volcano lightly.
Especially those who have lived with roots in Harmony would feel that even more.
Thus, no one could easily continue the conversation.
Except for one person.
"It seems the conversation has strayed a bit."
Gong Munyeon stepped in to lighten the atmosphere.
Hyun Jong's gaze turned to Gong Munyeon.
Unlike Hyun Jong's somewhat relaxed gaze, Gong Munyeon's eyes were sharper than ever.
"To summarize, you are saying that those who can personally postpone the repayment date may do so, while those who cannot should take their money today, correct?"
"That is correct."
"Very well."
Gong Munyeon nodded.
"Normally, this would be something to oppose in the name of the Harmony Merchant Association, but as someone who knows the principles, I will allow it. If anyone wishes, they may personally postpone their repayment. However!"
Gong Munyeon turned sharply with a piercing gaze.
"Those who do so must bear the responsibility. Those who postpone the repayment date will not receive separate protection from the Merchant Association. Even if they are cheated out of their money."
It was a subtle pressure.
"You may choose. Those who will keep the repayment date stay here. And those who think they will postpone the repayment date, please go over there."
Gong Munyeon's hand pointed to the side.
"Is this sufficient? Sect Leader?"
"Yes."
Hyun Jong nodded readily.
"I do not know what this means. But I will respect the sect leader's opinion until the end. Even if the Volcano is about to disappear, the position of the sect leader of the Volcano is one that should be respected, is it not?"
Hyun Jong smiled silently.
"Thank you for your consideration."
Gong Munyeon couldn't help but frown.
Even after he tried to provoke him, Hyun Jong's attitude remained unchanged.
'Break that attitude.' After a brief pause, Gong Munyeon spoke playfully.
"What do you think? Unfortunately, it seems there is no one willing to postpone the repayment date?"
"..."
"Look."
Gong Munyeon pointed behind him.
Hyun Jong's gaze followed Gong Munyeon to the merchants.
Those who met Hyun Jong's gaze quickly averted their eyes.
"Do you need more time?"
Hyun Jong did not answer.
He simply closed his eyes.
"No matter how long you wait, nothing will change. No one will give up a fortune for the faded name of the Volcano. So let’s stop now, Sect Leader. Please step back and relinquish the hall. You have done enough."
Gong Munyeon, intoxicated with a sense of victory, unconsciously spread his arms.
"Now, with this..."
"Tsk."
At that moment, the sound of shuffling footsteps came from behind.
Gong Munyeon turned around unconsciously.
"... Mr. Yu?"
Yu Jong-san walked over with a face as if he had chewed something unpleasant, heading toward the place where those who would postpone the repayment date were supposed to go.
"What on earth..."
Seeing Gong Munyeon's incredulous expression, Yu Jong-san sighed deeply.
"... Excuse me, Mr. Yu. What on earth are you thinking?"
Gong Munyeon's angry voice sharply echoed around.