Cousin Hyang-ok asked at my words.
“You know I’m competing tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. I know.”
“And you still came to ask me for a favor… What in the world happened?”
“Whew, well…”
I explained everything from beginning to end.
Before long, Cousin Hyang-ok pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“Honestly, that idiot…”
“Exactly what I’ve been saying.”
“All right. Wait here for a moment. I’ll speak to Master and come right back.”
“Yes.”
Cousin Hyang-ok returned a short while later. However, she wasn’t alone. Several other disciples had come with her.
They were required to move in teams of four.
Not long afterward, we arrived at Yeonpung Inn.
“Oh! Hyang-ok, you’re here!”
“Welcome.”
“It is good to see you, Uncle and Aunt.”
After greeting them respectfully, Cousin Hyang-ok spoke in a serious voice.
“Seo-ho told me what happened. Cousin Jin-ho is refusing to listen, isn’t he?”
“That’s right.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have a proper talk with him.”
“We’re counting on you.”
Father quickly added to Mother’s request.
“Just… don’t be too hard on him.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve been through enough myself to know where to draw the line.”
“R-Right.”
Cousin Hyang-ok looked at me.
“Then lead the way.”
“Ah, yes!”
I hurriedly took Cousin Hyang-ok to Brother Jin-ho’s room.
“Brother, it’s me.”
Brother Jin-ho’s irritable voice came from inside the room.
“You should give up too. No matter what anyone says, I’m competing in the next match.”
“We are going to persuade you, but I’m not the one doing it.”
“What?”
I threw the door open.
Brother Jin-ho stood in the middle of the room with bandages wrapped around his chest.
He couldn’t even wait for his injuries to heal before he started training again.
Seriously, how stubborn could one man be?
His ribs were broken.
No, this wasn’t determination. It was plain stupidity.
Good grief.
Brother Jin-ho flinched when he saw Cousin Hyang-ok standing beside me.
“Haah, Cousin Jin-ho.”
“H-Hyang-ok.”
Brother Jin-ho was one year older than Cousin Hyang-ok.
But he was every bit as afraid of her as I was.
“What exactly are you doing right now? Seo-ho told me everything. You injured your ribs during today’s martial match.”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“And you still intend to compete in your next match?”
“Yes! I can’t let this opportunity slip away! I need an epithet with enough weight to protect the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“And in exchange, you’ll become a cripple?”
“What?”
“So that’s your plan? You’ll become an empty shell and spend the rest of your life clinging to past glory? You seem to be misunderstanding something. Even if you make a great name for yourself, do you honestly think word won’t spread that you’ve been crippled?”
“Uh…”
“When the people targeting the Eunhae Merchant Group hear about you, do you think they’ll say, ‘There’s this cripple named Eun Jin-ho, but apparently he used to be a big deal, so we’d better leave them alone’? Or will they say, ‘There’s this cripple named Eun Jin-ho who used to be a big deal, but he’s nothing now, so we can attack without worrying’?”
“…”
“Why can’t you understand something so simple, Cousin? Did all that training turn your brain into muscle too?”
“N-No, that’s not…”
“What do you mean, it’s not? And even if you make a name for yourself, do you think Uncle and Aunt will say, ‘Oh, what a wonderful son we have! Who cares if he’s crippled as long as he becomes famous’?”
“…”
“Why aren’t you thinking about Uncle and Aunt, who would shed tears of blood over what happened to you? What about the Outer Chief Administrator, who would have to stand there and watch his perfectly healthy disciple walk straight into his own grave?”
“…”
“And what about your wife and the child she’s carrying? I’m sure you’ll all be very happy when you’re too crippled to sleep with her or even hold your own child. Isn’t that right?”
“Th-That…”
“Why are you only looking at what’s in front of you instead of thinking about your future? And if you don’t want that future, shouldn’t you stop this foolishness?”
“…”
After being battered by one verbal blow after another, Brother Jin-ho looked utterly ragged. He turned to me with desperation written all over his face.
His eyes begged me to save him.
But Brother, it’s already too late.
You should’ve come to your senses before you forced me to bring Cousin Hyang-ok here.
I spoke to Cousin Hyang-ok.
“Then I’ll wait downstairs. You cousins can enjoy a nice private conversation.”
“S-Seo-ho! Don’t leave me alone with her!”
Brother Jin-ho desperately reached out toward me, but…
Grab.
Cousin Hyang-ok caught his hand and spoke.
“Cousin, you shouldn’t hold up someone who has better things to do. Seo-ho, hurry along and take care of your business.”
“Yes, Cousin.”
I smiled broadly and closed the door.
Click.
“The problem may be settled, but I’m worried whether Young Master Jin-ho will be all right.”
I nodded at Paltgap’s words.
“He’ll be fine. It might take him a while to recover from the emotional wounds… but that’s still better than letting him compete, aggravate his injuries, and end up in serious trouble.”
“That is certainly true.”
Brother Jin-ho’s problem was dealt with for the moment, but I still had something else to do.
I couldn’t forget the disappointment on Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa’s face when he realized Brother Jin-ho hadn’t died during their match.
“Paltgap, I’m going out for a little while.”
.
.
.
A short while later.
I left the inn with my Escort Guards.
The first round of the main tournament was currently in full swing, and the excitement surrounding the Murim Grand Assembly had reached a fever pitch.
Naturally, there were also people who went around picking pointless fights.
I used to think they only acted that way because they were drunk. However, thanks to the Prohibition Decree remaining in effect for several years, I had learned something important.
There were quite a few people in this world who did reckless things while perfectly sober.
Of course, they didn’t act that way when the situation was obviously unfavorable to them.
Someone who did would be genuinely insane.
It was something like selective rage syndrome.
Though as far as I was concerned, both kinds were equally insane.
In any case, that was why it was best to bring Escort Guards along.
I didn’t necessarily need to bring all six of them, but considering why I was leaving the inn, there was no telling when or where something might happen.
Therefore, I brought all six.
My destination was the Ji Clan estate.
It was the place where I had the highest chance of finding some kind of clue.
We soon arrived there.
Although the Ji Clan was considered a prestigious martial clan, it wasn’t on the same level as the Namgoong Clan, so its estate was also smaller.
Then again, the Namgoong Clan estate was absurdly enormous.
We had been watching the estate for a while when someone emerged from inside.
It happened to be the very man I was waiting for, Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa.
His Escort Guards weren’t walking openly or confidently. Instead, they kept glancing around their surroundings, which looked extremely suspicious.
– Let’s follow him.
– Yes!
We concealed our presence and quietly followed behind him.
His destination was a small manor on the outskirts of Luoyang.
Is this place abandoned?
I could sense several people inside.
I ordered the other Escort Guards to watch from a distance, then infiltrated the manor with only Escort Guard Jin Yu.
He had reached the Profound Realm, and he was the only one among them who specialized in stealth and infiltration.
After slipping inside the manor, we crossed the rooftops and searched for Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa’s presence.
When we drew closer and focused internal power into our hearing, we heard several voices.
“What an unfortunate outcome.”
“P-Please, give me just one more chance!”
“You have already been eliminated. What chance could possibly remain?”
“…”
“A promise is a promise. You failed to carry out our instructions, so we can no longer clear your debt. It is regrettable, but what else can be done?”
“If that debt isn’t repaid, my clan will be ruined!”
“That is the Ji Clan’s problem.”
“I beg you! Please!”
“Then it seems we have nothing further to discuss.”
I heard the man coldly dismiss Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa before leaving.
Soon afterward, Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa let out a heavy sigh and left the manor as well.
This was my chance.
I sent a Voice Transmission to Escort Guard Jin Yu.
– Take Escort Guard Seo Wu and Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am and follow the men who just left.
– Yes!
Escort Guard Jin Yu disappeared. I secretly followed Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa while signaling the remaining Escort Guards to follow me.
We trailed his party and blocked their path when they reached a deserted area.
“We meet again.”
“Who are you?”
“There is something I’d like to ask you. Could you spare me a moment?”
Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa shook his head.
“I have no time for this. Get out of my way.”
“You nearly killed my brother. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“…!”
Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa flinched.
I had struck directly at the truth, but as expected, he feigned ignorance.
“What are you talking about? I was just as startled as anyone! Wait, you said he was your brother. Are you from the Eunhae Merchant Group?”
“Yes.”
“You are truly insolent! Even if I injured your brother, how dare you track me down and harass me like this?”
“That’s rather hurtful. Why don’t you tell me the truth? How much debt have you accumulated?”
“…!”
“How much do you owe for them to have that kind of hold over you?”
His eyes widened until it seemed impossible for them to open any farther.
“H-How did you know?”
“I asked how much you owe. Don’t bother trying any clumsy tricks. There are few people in this world who can match me when it comes to money.”
He clenched his fists tightly before finally forcing himself to answer.
“Thirty thousand silver taels.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You expect me to believe the Ji Clan is being threatened like this over a mere thirty thousand silver taels? I already told you not to play clumsy games with me.”
“…Three million silver taels.”
“That is considerably more believable. Though I suspect the true amount is even higher.”
He flinched again at my words.
I already had a general understanding of the Ji Clan’s strength, so estimating the scale of its debt wasn’t difficult.
After learning my lessons in my previous life, I had continuously gathered information on every major clan and sect.
“More importantly, how did you end up owing such an enormous sum?”
“…”
He only bit his lip and refused to answer.
“No matter how extravagantly you lived, you couldn’t have amassed that much debt through simple luxury. Was it an investment? Or gambling?”
His eyes wavered.
“Ah… You lost money on an investment, then turned to gambling because you were trying to win it back?”
He flinched again.
This man was remarkably easy to read.
“My lord! Please do not involve yourself any further!”
At the Escort Guard’s warning, I spoke coldly.
“I understand your loyalty, but I’m currently saying something that may help your lord, so I suggest you remain silent. Are you capable of repaying his entire debt?”
“…”
The Escort Guard withdrew with an embarrassed expression. Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Are you saying that you could repay my clan’s debt?”
“The Eunhae Merchant Group already ranks twentieth among the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven, and many expect us to rise even higher this year. Does that answer your question?”
“…”
He dropped to his knees before me.
“You would never repay such an enormous sum without demanding compensation! I will do anything, so please save the Ji Clan!”
“My lord…”
In my previous life, the Ji Clan hadn’t fallen, perhaps because Young Lord Ji had successfully killed Warrior Jo Un and received their backing.
However, once a person accepted support through such a secret arrangement, the leash would remain around their neck for the rest of their life.
Thinking back, there had been quite a few occasions in my previous life when the Ji Clan’s actions made no sense.
So this was the reason.
In that case, I would be the one holding their leash this time.
“First, I need to hear about your arrangement with them. Tell me why you tried to kill my brother.”
“…”
“You must also become an ally of the Eunhae Merchant Group. Accept those conditions, and I will repay your debt.”
He answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Very well.”
There was no reason for him to hesitate. If he rejected my offer, the Ji Clan would be ruined.
“To begin with, I know very little about them. Somehow, they learned of our circumstances and came to our clan estate not long ago with that proposal.”
“And why did you trust them?”
“They showed us convincing proof that they could be trusted.”
The proof they brought included capturing the men who had defrauded the Ji Clan into making those investments and destroying the gambling house where the losses had occurred.
“Huh…”
“Why do you react that way?”
“It was their scheme from the very beginning.”
“What do you mean?”
“How else could they have captured the investment swindlers so easily and destroyed the gambling house whenever they pleased?”
I continued.
“They couldn’t leave the swindlers or the gambling house behind, either. If they did, someone might discover their involvement. They were simply cleaning up the evidence themselves.”
“…”
One might wonder how anyone could fall for such a simple scheme, but it made sense when the Ji Clan’s nature was taken into account.
Unlike other clans, they were a martial clan that devoted itself almost exclusively to martial arts.
Furthermore, anyone capable of targeting the Ji Clan would have eliminated every person intelligent enough to serve as the clan’s brain while preparing this scheme.
In other words, they had deliberately left the Ji Clan blind and deaf.
Keep whispering honeyed promises into someone’s ear after cutting them off from the truth, and eventually anyone would fall for it.
People who had dedicated their entire lives to martial arts couldn’t possibly understand business, so they had become easy targets for fraud.
By the time they realized what had happened, it must have already been too late.
Still, why had a clan that cared for nothing but martial arts suddenly taken an interest in business?
I would have to investigate that later.
“…Grr.”
Young Lord Ji Gyeong-hwa ground his teeth.
He told me what he knew about them.
“The man told me that if I reached the main tournament, I had to kill my opponent no matter what. He said someone had to die during this friendly tournament.”
“Why?”
He answered my question.
“I don’t know. I asked because I was curious as well, but he merely told me to shut my mouth and do as I was ordered.”
“I see.”
“In any case, I will cooperate with you completely.”
“Good. That is the proper attitude.”
I hadn’t expected to uncover their true purpose so easily in the first place.
“We can ask the man who just left why they’re doing this.”
–TL Notes–
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