"What the hell?"
"Don't look at me with that face. I know I'm acting like a fool."
Yu Jong-san waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.
"Why do you know someone?"
"Hey, Gong Lu-ju."
"......"
"You are not from the Huayun sect."
Gong Mun-yeon’s face went blank.
What does this mean?
"You wouldn’t know since you entered Huayun as a son-in-law. But do you know what Huashan means in Huayun?"
"No!"
Gong Mun-yeon stammered.
What nonsense is this? Whether one is from Huayun or not, why is it important right now?
"Listen here, Yu Jeom-ju."
"Ah, enough. I know what you’re trying to say."
Yu Jong-san sighed deeply.
"I know very well that in a world where even a king can be sold for money, talking about Huayun sounds ridiculous."
Gong Mun-yeon looked at Yu Jong-san with a bewildered expression, curious about what words would come out of his mouth.
"But I am from Huayun."
"...... So what?"
"Those born and raised in Huayun all hear stories about Huashan as they grow up. Once they are weaned, they hear that they must enter Huashan and become a master of the world. Even after realizing they lack talent and cannot enter Huashan, they grow up hearing how Huashan has protected the world and Shensu."
Gong Mun-yeon tilted his head.
What kind of nonsensical talk is this?
"It’s not just me. My father and my grandfather grew up the same way. Huashan is the pride of Shensu and the pride of Huayun. And..."
Yu Jong-san scratched the back of his head.
"Even if it’s not me, it was the pride of my father and grandfather."
"...... So what does that mean?"
"But if I were to destroy Huashan just to make some money? When I go to the underworld, would my father just let me be? I would be beaten for days on end."
A low laugh escaped.
As Gong Mun-yeon turned his head with a stiff face, everyone closed their mouths and slightly bowed their heads.
"So? You would give up a fortune for such a reason?"
"Give up? What do you mean give up? Didn’t the sect leader say he would compensate us?"
"Do you really believe that?"
"Of course I believe it. To put it bluntly, what would I do with that money?"
Yu Jong-san spat on the ground.
"For someone like you, who would just take the money and run, there are plenty of places to spend it. If you go to Hangzhou, there are places to spend money everywhere. But where would I go after making money? I’ve spent my whole life digging in Huayun, and now I’m supposed to go to Hangzhou? Suzhou? That’s just ridiculous."
Yu Jong-san couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
It was a laughable situation.
When he was climbing Huashan, he was immersed in thoughts of living lavishly after receiving money.
But now he was saying such things.
‘Crazy beggar.’ It was something he couldn’t say with a sane mind.
He knew very well how foolish he was being.
But...
"You will regret it."
"Of course I will regret it. Damn it! Do I look like I’m doing this without knowing that I will regret it? I know better than you! Of course I will regret it!"
Yu Jong-san shouted loudly.
"But it would be less uncomfortable than destroying Huashan with my own hands!"
Gong Mun-yeon looked at Yu Jong-san with disbelief.
Yu Jong-san, still unable to calm down, took several deep breaths and sighed heavily.
"Listen here, Gong Lu-ju. I’m doing well enough even now. If I try to protect Huashan here, I will lose money. Then I could just live miserably while thinking I should have just taken the money. But if I pull out the very roots of Huashan here, I will live regretting useless money until the day I die. I don’t want to live like that."
Gong Mun-yeon glared at Yu Jong-san, gritting his teeth. ‘Is he out of his mind?’ He couldn’t understand what Yu Jong-san was rambling about.
But... ‘There’s no need to understand.’ What kind of loyalty is there in someone who willingly walks into a fire pit? The situation wouldn’t change just because one person was missing.
"Do as you please. It won’t change anything if you’re gone."
"Who says I’m just one?"
Gong Mun-yeon’s movements suddenly stopped.
Then, slowly, his head turned.
The slow movement of his head seemed to indicate how angry he was.
"Seomun Jang-ju."
Seomun Jong walked over and stood next to Yu Jong-san.
"What are you doing?"
"Can’t you see?"
Gong Mun-yeon frowned.
But Seomun Jong wasn’t the only one who joined.
Perhaps spurred by Yu Jong-san’s voice, five out of the twenty or so who had come along stood by Yu Jong-san.
"Well, well."
Gong Mun-yeon shook his head. ‘Have I ever seen such foolish people?’ How could these so-called merchants make such a foolish choice? Well, that’s why they are living in this countryside, scraping by.
‘No, that’s not it.’ Gong Mun-yeon, unable to hide his disdain, quickly hardened his face.
‘If they weren’t facing Huashan, they would never have made such a choice.
This shows just how absolute Huashan’s influence still is in Huayun.’
Being swayed by emotions can lead to poor judgment.
Underestimating the opponent is something a merchant must never do.
It would be right to think that the power of Huashan, which he had been so worried about, was being demonstrated at this moment.
Gong Mun-yeon quietly watched the ones who had moved to the side.
They all looked somewhat relieved, yet still regretful.
‘Foolish ones.’ The pride of not abandoning Huashan until the end? Such pride only holds meaning when Huashan exists.
Even if they postponed the repayment date, Huashan wouldn’t have the means to repay the remaining money.
They had ultimately lost a fortune due to a moment of poor judgment.
Having made his judgment, Gong Mun-yeon calmly asked, "Is there anyone else who has different thoughts?"
The remaining merchants glanced at Hyun Jong and Gong Mun-yeon, then quietly turned their heads away.
"Jangmun-in."
"......"
Gong Mun-yeon smiled gently.
"I didn’t expect Huashan’s name to still be so high. But it seems this is the end. The remaining ones have no intention of postponing the repayment date, so we would like you to repay the money we lent you."
Hyun Jong laughed heartily.
His gaze was directed not at Gong Mun-yeon but at the merchants behind him.
"Are there really no more who wish to help Huashan?"
"......"
When no answer came, Hyun Jong nodded quietly.
"Then there’s nothing that can be done."
"Jangmun-in."
"Don’t rush me, Gong Lu-ju."
Gong Mun-yeon flinched.
Though his voice was low, there was a power in Hyun Jong’s voice that could not be defied.
Looking back at Yu Jong-san and a few merchants standing separately, Hyun Jong smiled brightly.
"Still, it’s enough to confirm that there are those who still care for Huashan. It means that the world hasn’t abandoned Huashan yet, right?"
While Gong Mun-yeon was caught in a dilemma, Hyun Jong raised his voice.
"Unam!"
"Yes, Jangmun-in!"
"Bring it here!"
"Yes."
Unam bowed his head and quickly walked away.
Watching him, Gong Mun-yeon frowned slightly. ‘Is he really prepared?’ That couldn’t be.
Gong Mun-yeon hadn’t just sat idly by either.
If someone had lent such a large sum to Huashan, it would have certainly reached Gong Mun-yeon’s ears.
Then, was it just a bluff? No, that didn’t make sense either.
A bluff is something you do when you have backup.
But right now, Huashan has no backup, does it? It’s not a situation where bluffing can solve anything.
Before Gong Mun-yeon could organize his thoughts, Unam returned.
He had gone alone, but now he was back with two others.
‘Elder Bae?’ Judging by the age of those coming with Unam, they seemed to be the elders of Huashan.
One of them was holding a large box.
"Jangmun-in, I brought it."
Hyun Jong gestured forward.
"Put it down."
"Yes."
Thud.
The box was placed on the ground.
Gong Mun-yeon stared at the box, then looked up.
"What is this...?"
"Inside, there is the treasure that you must repay."
"...... Did you just say treasure?"
"Yes."
Gong Mun-yeon looked at the box with suspicious eyes. ‘You can’t be joking with me, can you?’ The Hyun Jong he knew wouldn’t joke in such a situation.
So, does that mean there really is treasure inside?
Many thoughts raced through his mind, but now was not the time to think.
The box was right in front of him; what was there to think about?
Gong Mun-yeon approached the box as if entranced.
Then he slowly opened the lid.
His eyes widened as he confirmed the items inside.
"This is...?" Treasure? This book can’t be treasure, can it?
"Jangmun-in, are you making fun of me right now?"
"That can’t be. I’m giving you exactly what you wanted."
"What is this?"
"You’ll know when you read it."
Seeing Hyun Jong’s calm face, Gong Mun-yeon bit his lip and pulled out one of the books inside the box.
Then he began to check its contents right there.
Swoosh.
Swoosh.
The sound of pages turning echoed through the quiet Huashan.
With each page turned, Gong Mun-yeon’s face turned pale.
"This, this is...?" Gong Mun-yeon, whose complexion had completely changed, trembled as he looked at Hyun Jong.
"What is this...?" Unable to finish his sentence, the merchants, who had been watching Gong Mun-yeon’s reaction, slowly approached him.
"What is it, Gong Lu-ju?"
"Let us see too."
"......"
When Gong Mun-yeon didn’t respond, the merchants cautiously glanced at the box.
Upon confirming that several books remained inside, they reached out to pull them out.
"What on earth is this...?" The faces of those who checked the contents, slightly tense, soon turned to confusion.
"This is an account book, isn’t it?"
"Yes."
Hyun Jong nodded readily.
"It seems to be an old account book, but why suddenly...?"
Hyun Jong smiled brightly.
"The account book you are looking at is one that Huashan’s previous generation created to manage the business."
"...... What? What does that mean?"
Hyun Jong’s eyes slightly darkened.
"Gong Lu-ju, have you confirmed it?"
"......"
Hyun Jong’s voice rang out clearly.
"The account book contains proof that Huashan is the original owner of the business you are operating in Huayun."
"What?"
"N-No, what does that even mean? Jangmun-in?"
"Quiet."
Hyun Jong firmly interrupted their words.
Then, addressing those who still hadn’t regained their senses, he spoke softly.
"Huashan has shown you kindness. Yet you have repaid that kindness with enmity. No matter how much Huashan is a sect that values virtue, it is not a place that would show kindness to rats that bite the hand that feeds them."
Hyun Jong’s stern reprimand poured out sharply.
"Thus, based on this account book, Huashan will confiscate not only the business you are operating but also all the wealth you have accumulated based on that business."
A bolt from the blue struck down.