Chapter 31
“Since Senior Sister suddenly asked if I had any thoughts of going to the Martial Arts Academy. When I asked for the reason, I heard that Eldest Brother is planning to take the Regular Exam, and that is how I found out.”
It seemed Sa-ryeon was looking for a way even though she knew it was impossible. Should I call this foolish?
Then, feeling something strange at a certain point in the story, I tilted my head.
“Of course, it would have been impossible, but why did you refuse?”
The Martial Arts Academy is the gateway of dreams that all prodigies hope for. If it was Geum Pyo, who had climbed to the top 4, he would have been tempted enough, so it was strange that he refused at once.
“Isn’t Senior Sister the Sect Leader’s daughter? Even if that weren’t the case, I didn’t think I could comfortably eat the rice of the Martial Arts Academy after sending Senior Sister to a death ground.”
“…….”
I was speechless at the guy’s words.
Even though they grew up like siblings, they aren’t real siblings… seeing them think of each other was touching and grateful, causing various emotions to overlap.
“So, please take us.”
“Please take us.”
“Please take us.”
I came to my senses and shook my head.
“No. The Regular Exam is not such an easy path as you think.”
“…….”
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers bowed their heads deeply like puppies soaked in rain at my firm words.
“However, if the work I am planning is successfully accomplished, and in the meantime, you all complete the assignments I give you, I will think about it.”
“Really?”
“Really?”
“Really?”
“If you’re going to give the same answer, just one person do it.”
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze three brothers rejoiced as if they had already entered the Martial Arts Academy.
“Run back and forth to the peak of Splendid Cloud Mountain three times every morning.”
“Yes?”
“Why, can you not do it?”
“No! We can do it.”
“And from now on, try matching the sword formation I teach you fifty times a day. The period is half a year from now. You three must fit perfectly together without looking, listening, or speaking to each other.”
Gulp.
The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers swallowed their saliva simultaneously.
“In the midst of that, you must not miss the lessons at Kwaehwa Hall. If you complete everything up to Kwaehwa Hall, then I will consider it.”
“…….”
“The Martial Arts Academy exam is a test where even the prodigies of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families fail in rows and get injured. And deaths occur even among them. If your skills don’t reach that level, taking you along is no different from me carrying luggage to take the exam.”
The expressions of the three brothers darkened.
“So you must have something more than just the goal of wanting to enter the Martial Arts Academy. The resolve that I will shed blood for the brothers and sisters of the Taeeul Sect, and the effort for that resolve! If you don’t have this, you can just receive the protection of me and Sa-ryeon.”
At that moment, the youngest, Dong-ryong, hesitated and spoke.
“Then… aren’t Eldest Brother and Senior Sister shedding blood for us?”
I stroked the guy’s head.
“It is fine. That is what I must do as the Eldest Brother. Sa-ryeon will think so as well.”
“……I will do it.”
Dong-ryong spoke as if making a firm resolution, followed by Eun-ho and Geum-ryong.
“I will do it.”
“I will do it.”
The plan to make them give up by purposely giving them a difficult mission and intimidating them produced a strange result.
Of course, I don’t think these children can do all of that.
Nevertheless, since having such a heart itself is important, I needed to become the destination of their efforts.
“Understood. Then I will decide after seeing your achievements in half a year.”
“““Yes!”””
“Ah right, and this fact must be kept a secret from anyone. Since the adults within the sect will not grant permission for your attendance at the Regular Exam.”
***
I greeted Sect Leader Hong and my father separately, packed a simple bag, left the Taeeul Sect, and headed for Wang Bu.
Since it was a schedule for the next half year, I had to pack a lot of luggage, but since I couldn’t borrow a horse every time I moved, I had no choice but to choose the path of walking while trusting my internal energy.
“Should I have accepted a little money from selling the Seven-Colored Jewel?”
The first destination is Suzhou.
Since I use movement arts, distance wouldn’t be a problem, but there was no way to relieve the accumulating fatigue.
“Do I have to dig up treasure or something.”
I know a few treasure maps that are not yet known to the world, but the distance was too far.
“Let’s move first and think.”
Wang Bu is a place situated on a vast land half a shichen’s distance from the Taeeul Sect.
Since it was a village created from the beginning for people related to the Wang Clan to live in, the structure of the village was very different from a general appearance.
Especially since this was the headquarters of the businesses operated by the Wang Clan, Wang Bu also had the nickname ‘The Village Where Lights Never Go Out.’
However, for some reason, the entire Wang Bu felt quiet.
Let alone people related to the commercial world walking around the mansion of the Wang Clan Head in the center of Wang Bu. They were hanging pots to boil soup and hanging meat to roast.
The general manager who was guiding the way spoke.
“The Manor Master has cleared his entire schedule saying he has an important appointment today.”
“Huh? Then did I come for nothing?”
“Huhu, that cannot be.”
While I was contemplating whether I should go back immediately or not, the general manager smiled strangely and guided me to Wang Geum-san.
“The younger student of Murim, Jin So-un, greets you. Have you been peaceful all this while?”
In Wang Geum-san’s quarters, not only Wang Geum-san but also his only daughter, Wang So-so, was together with him.
“Hoho, I made a mistake with you back then, but I thought I had resolved it a little, but I guess not.”
“What do you mean. The things you have already given me were so big that I do not know how to repay them.”
“It’s not resolved. Not resolved.”
Wang So-so was covering her mouth and giggling.
I confessed honestly.
“What was the reason you suddenly asked for me? I almost became a wretch sold off instead of a debt, didn’t I?”
“That is because I wanted to repay the debt to you.”
“Saying you’ll repay the debt almost ruined my life.”
“Why is it ruining your life. It is you possessing a power that cannot be easily obtained.”
“……?”
“Is martial power the only strength in the world? Financial power can accomplish as many things as martial power cannot.”
It is not exactly wrong. Actually, the biggest obstacle for the Demonic Cult in dominating the Jianghu was the 3 Great Tycoons.
The 3 Great Tycoons, where Wang Geum-san disappeared, banded together tightly and did not succumb to the pressure of the Demonic Cult.
Although the Demonic Cult exterminated the clans of the tycoons with storm-like momentum, the remaining retainers did not succumb to that and continued to resist.
The affairs of the world ultimately do not turn without money.
The Demonic Cult also eventually went through the process of negotiating with the 3 Great Tycoons, and they remained in the Jianghu where the Murim Alliance had disappeared.
“By the way, you seem to have some certainty as you are still going your own way. So I thought I made a mistake again.”
“No. Thank you for your concern.”
“Are you planning to take the Regular Exam?”
“!”
An appearance of striking with unexpected words in an unexpected place.
Wang Geum-san’s eyes were already full of conviction. Indeed, the title of the World’s 4 Great Merchants was not received by just anyone.
“What do you mean? Father?”
Wang So-so asked, but Wang Geum-san did not answer and only looked straight at me.
As I also did not answer, Wang So-so’s complexion started to get worse and worse.
“Brother! That makes no sense. Even I, who stayed home all my life, know how terrible the Regular Exam is.”
“So-so. Your father is talking about something important right now. Talk about your personal concerns later.”
“…….”
Wang Geum-san spoke firmly this time even to his daughter whom he cherished terribly.
I also could not spoil this atmosphere, so I answered obediently.
“How did you know?”
“Yielding the One Hundred Eight Peaks privilege to your junior sister and moving urgently at a point where the Regular Exam is half a year away. Moreover, at this important moment when no one knows how the Taeeul Sect will stir again. Then isn’t there only one answer?”
“…….”
Since Wang Geum-san also has a personal information network, he wouldn’t have inferred it from fragmentary information alone.
However, the appearance of predicting a person’s goal with only individual actions showed that the wealth Wang Geum-san built was not a coincidence.
“Traditionally, there is a story that the Nine Sects One Gang uses one entire unit to put one genius into the Martial Arts Academy. In the case of the Five Great Families, two units. Even after doing so, they say there are countless examinees who fail to enter the Academy. But the Taeeul Sect has no such capacity. What do you intend to do?”
“Originally, the Regular Exam is a test made so that an examinee can pass with their individual ability.”
“Right, and as the competition rate of that test increased, it became this situation.”
“Even so, the large framework does not change.”
“Hmm, are you saying you will just crash into it?”
At my seemingly reckless appearance, regret hovered in Wang Geum-san’s eyes.
“I might fail. No, I will certainly fail. Trying and failing is different from giving up without trying.”
“But isn’t it too dangerous a test to do so? That must be why you can’t talk about it either.”
“What is important is the spirit of not giving up. Even if I fail, if this spirit continues, my junior brothers will prepare with more effort, and the disciples of my junior brothers will prepare with even more effort. I think this is not a problem of admission to the current Martial Arts Academy, but the path the sect must advance.”
At my words, Wang Geum-san shut his mouth tight like a mute. Conversely, Wang So-so had her mouth wide open as if surprised.
After being silent for a long time like that, Wang Geum-san spoke as if reciting alone.
“They said a dragon can fly regardless of whether it is a stream or the sea.”
Wang Geum-san nodded.
“Whether you take the Regular Exam or whatever you do, just make sure to return alive. Even if you lose everything, if you have the heart to start again, that is experience, not failure.”
“Thank you.”
“The reason I called you is that I thought I could be of some help to your journey.”
As Wang Geum-san looked at Wang So-so and nodded, Wang So-so brought a wooden tray lined with silk from one side.
On the tray, a silver finger-sized tablet and a small pouch were placed.
“This is called the Silver King Pass, used by the family members of our Wang Clan.”
I gulped at Wang Geum-san’s words. The thing called Silver King Pass was no different from a kind of credit certificate used only by the direct bloodline of the Wang Clan.
It was a kind of usage guarantee payment certificate that allowed one to use the businesses operated by the Wang Clan, of course, and also lend money from the money houses contracted with the Wang Clan.
“That… seems like too undeserved an item.”
“Hm? What are you thinking? I plan to bill the Taeeul Sect for all the money you spend at the money houses.”
Wang Geum-san certainly has a talent for smashing the other person’s good mood in an instant.
“I’m giving this to use when utilizing the businesses our Wang Clan operates. If you want to poke around the four directions of heaven and earth, shouldn’t you be able to use the stables freely at least?”
“Ah……. Yes. Thank you.”
I felt a lot of gratitude, but for some reason, I felt a sense of disappointment at the same time.
“Ah right, I am giving that because our So-so insisted that we must give it.”
“F, Father. When did I insist.”
Wang So-so blushed and bowed her head deeply.
“I thought she might become a bit more mature if I sent her to the Taeeul Sect, but only her body grew, she is still a child. A child.”
I looked at the slightly open pouch and opened my eyes wide.
Unlike my expectation that copper coins would be inside, the plump wallet was full of gold coins.
“Why, are you still not resolved?”
“Yes? What do you mean? I have always respected Manor Master Wang very much even usually.”
As the wallet entered my bosom, my tongue rolled smoothly.
Long live the rich.
***
In my past life, while I was recognizing the data of the Universal Affairs Bureau’s Heart-Form Pavilion and putting it into my head, there was a time when my hand stopped abruptly.
-Taeeul Sword Emperor.
My hand stopped at the appearance of a random word, which was a matter of course.
The legendary master who dominated heaven and earth with ten thousand swords and made everyone who stood before the sword kneel.
This absurd legend was a story used by people of the Jianghu when teasing the Taeeul Sect which uses the same name.
Naturally, as the protagonist of an absurd story that even the Taeeul Sect disciples didn’t believe came out from the deepest part of the Heart-Form Pavilion, I had no choice but to stop.
Even in the Heart-Form Pavilion, the oldest materials.
Among the materials that had been piling up for hundreds of years because their importance could not be judged, the name of Taeeul appeared.
-The influence of the Dark Sky intensified and covered the sun.
-The Master of Ten Thousand Swords willingly stood before ten thousand people.
-The Ten Thousand Swords made the Dark Sky retreat.
-The Masters of the Sun are concerned that the Ten Thousand Swords will fill the place where the Dark Sky retreated.
-The Masters of the Sun decided to separate the Dark Sky and the Ten Thousand Swords from the human world.
-Next to Cho’s Tray. The hell where the sky and earth meet. They sealed the Dark Sky and the Ten Thousand Swords at that end. Then the world was peaceful.
Stories full of codes that could not be inferred much at the time.
Later, when I was stuck in a deep mountain valley and reviewing the materials of the Heart-Form Pavilion for pastime, I could finally realize the importance of this information.
In the code system of the Murim Alliance, the Murim Alliance is generally compared to the sun.
Conversely, the Demonic Cult is pointed out as the Dark Sky, comparing it to the Heavenly Demon.
Then, who does the Ten Thousand Swords mentioned in this code refer to?
At a glance, it could be seen as a force with ten thousand people, but if so, it doesn’t fit the word ‘seal’.
Since there was clearly a designation of ‘Master of Ten Thousand Swords’ in the ciphertext.
I, who deciphered the code up to here, trembled.
“Was the Taeeul Sword Emperor real?”
The Taeeul Sect entered the One Hundred Eight Peaks at the same time the Murim Alliance was established.
And for nearly five hundred years, it had never been excluded from the One Hundred Eight Peaks once.
Such a thing was possible for unique sects like the Gangcheon Sect or Mount Mao Sect, which had strong forces comparable to the Nine Sects One Gang.
However, the Taeeul Sect had never left the One Hundred Eight Peaks for four hundred years despite having almost no development.
At this part, I came to think that the legend of the Taeeul Sword Emperor might be true.
‘Perhaps they placed the Taeeul Sect within the One Hundred Eight Peaks in preparation for the Master of Ten Thousand Swords who might appear again someday.’
That is the reason I am looking for the Taeeul Sword Emperor, putting aside elixirs and treasures, at this point half a year before the Murim Academy Regular Exam.
Identifying the first location wasn’t that difficult.
-Cho’s Tray.
Tray is often used as a word meaning a lake.
Cho’s Tray means that the tray itself has representativeness, and considering a place called Cho with a representative lake, one could think of the State of Chu from the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period.
In the end, the answer points to Hunan Province where Dongting Lake is located.
“But it won’t be easy… because this time happens to be when Hunan Province is the noisiest.”
At this time in the past life, the rare elixir Mita Holy Water is discovered in Hunan Province.
This elixir with the property of Extreme Yin had such strong cold energy that an ordinary person would have to cut off their entire arm just by touching it due to frostbite.
However, if a martial artist consumes it in a special way, it has the function of giving an effect like Body Reformation and simultaneously bringing about the opening of minute meridians.
Moreover, although it is of Yin property, both men and women can consume it, so it was an elixir that anyone who learned martial arts coveted.
“Thanks to that, many died too.”
Among the personnel who entered the underground valley of Spirit Plateau to find the Mita Holy Water, a whopping five thousand died.
An excessive figure even considering that a bloody wind blows every time an elixir appears in the Jianghu.
Moreover, the reason this incident became famous nationwide is that among these five thousand people, people from the Namgung Clan and Namgung Seon-hwa, the granddaughter of the current Clan Head, were included.
It was also the reason I didn’t dare even with sixty years of internal energy.
If I enter alone into a place where even the elites protecting the young lady of the Namgung Clan entered and couldn’t return alive, could I even preserve my life?
“Should I have told them?”
Namgung San suddenly came to mind, but I immediately shook my head.
“Stop it, if I take one step wrong, I might become a shaman.”
Saving someone who will die in the future was something I could only do within the limit of me moving personally.
“Hiiing”
While I was lost in thought, the horse rented from the stable snorted as if it wanted to run.
“Do you want to run too? Let’s run excitedly for once.”
I gripped the guy’s reins tightly and turned the horse’s head toward Yueyang.
***
After arriving in Yueyang, I stopped by the stable operated by the Wang Clan to entrust the horse first thing.
Because we ran a long distance, the horse was covered in dust and in quite an exhausted state. Seeing such a horse, the owner of the stable clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk, what was so urgent that you overworked the horse like this?”
“Because the schedule was tight.”
“I am sorry, but your horse cannot be exchanged for another guy.”
“Ah, I just came to entrust it but….”
“Eh?”
The owner of the stable scans my appearance up and down and clicks his tongue again.
“Then wouldn’t it be better to go to another place? Our stable is famous for being expensive in downtown Yueyang.”
“Ah, I plan not to pay.”
“What!”
The eyes of the stable owner turn sharp.
I quickly took out the Silver King Pass I received from Wang Geum-san from my bosom and showed it.
“The Manor Master said I could use it as I please if I show this.”
Seeing the Silver King Pass, the stable owner’s eyes opened roundly and he bent his waist in half.
“Ah, aigo, I, I am sorry. I did not recognize a precious person.”
Seeing his attitude change rapidly, he is a person who will succeed.
“It is fine. You may rise.”
“……Ah, yes. Th, thank you.”
At my sudden informal speech, the stable owner’s expression changed into a strange shape that was neither laughing nor crying.
“Do I just need to take care of the horse?”
“Ah, by any chance, is there a room for me to stay in the stable?”
“Yes?”
My whole body ached from running without rest for four days. I intended to stay for a few days to relieve travel fatigue and prepare.
“…….”
“Why? Is it not allowed?”
Normally I would have booked an inn, but his disregard assuming I had no money from the first meeting was offensive, so I intended to stay here.
“Ah, no. I will serve you personally. Please come inside.”
“I’m going in.”
After relieving travel fatigue and handling a few tasks at the stable operated by the Wang Clan for three days, I left the stable.
Yueyang had a lively appearance just like the one I saw in my past life.
Countless people wandered the main street, and in front of the stalls, many merchants raised their voices to sell their goods.
I passed those quite decent shops for a long time and entered an alley a little away from the main street.
There were shops that looked lower in quality than the decent shops I had seen before.
And among those shops, I stood in front of a drapery.
Ha Clan Drapery.
“Cheap martial arts uniforms and robes have newly arrived. Please take a look.”
The owner of the drapery was soliciting customers showing cheap cottons.
I approached that owner and spoke.
“I am looking for a special fabric.”
“What kind of special thing are you looking for?”
“It would be good if it is the darkest and deepest fabric.”
The owner’s expression stiffened for a moment and then relaxed quickly.
“Just in time, there is fabric that came in from the Western Regions, but I haven’t unpacked it yet. Would you like to come inside?”
“Of course.”
As I followed inside, a small corridor appeared.
“Ah, before that, excuse me, but may I verify if you have money.”
“Of course, I have enough, so do not worry.”
“That is not the correct answer.”
The owner who was smiling brightly suddenly turned serious and pulled a knife from his waist, and at the same time, knives flew from all directions creating a flower calyx.
“I know. It is just that I entered for now because I don’t have a Black Pass.”
“If you don’t want to die, go back.”
“Do you solicit customers for unsold fabric while not soliciting important customers?”
“Because most guys who say such things are insignificant guys.”
“I will put my hand in my bosom for a moment.”
I carefully took out the Silver King Pass from my bosom and showed it.
Then the owner’s eyes flashed open.
“With this much, can I be an important customer?”
This place that looks like an ordinary drapery.
It was the Yueyang Branch of the Rogues’ Guild.
***
The place I was guided to following the owner was the stairs going to the basement at the end of the drapery corridor.
As I went down along those stairs, a large room appeared, and inside the room where there was not even a hole for light to enter, Night Luminous Pearls were shining light instead.
“I did not recognize a precious person. Please excuse the time it took for verification.”
He is talking about the time it took to send a carrier pigeon and receive it to verify the authenticity of the Silver King Pass.
Since it hasn’t been a week since the Silver King Pass was issued at the Wang Clan, no matter how few the owners are, it would not have been easy to know the authenticity of the Silver King Pass in advance.
“It is weird to say this is in exchange, but please give me a Black Pass or something. Since I think I will use this place often.”
“Are you talking about this? I will prepare a Special Grade Black Pass for you.”
Inside the room, strange devices and weapons were placed.
There were items, poisons, and mechanism devices that could not be easily obtained in the market, and treasured swords that seemed to have been taken from someone.
“What do you need? We have everything from hidden weapons to elixirs. If it is not here, we will scour the world to bring it to you.”
“I know well about the rumors. But what I need right now is information.”
“Ah… information sometimes requires greater value than a treasured sword.”
The owner rubbed his palms once and said.
“What information do you want?”
“Please find a place in Hunan Province that fits the place name ‘The end of hell where the sky and earth meet’.”
Since it was too simple a clue, I expected it to take some time. However…….
“The amount is 20 nyang of gold.”
“Eh?”
At the too-quick answer, my head tilted.
Then the owner also tilted his head.
“Didn’t you come to find the Mita Holy Water?”
At the appearance of a word that should not have come out of his mouth, my eyes flashed open.
