Chapter 26: The More You Take, the Deeper the Bond
Chapter 26: The More You Take, the Deeper the Bond
Geum A-su led the way through the secret passage hidden beneath the Golden Manor.
The path was as complex as a labyrinth. I could sense lethal traps and mechanical devices concealed everywhere—within the walls, the ceiling, and even beneath the floorboards. Behind us, I felt the palpable tension radiating from Geum Sa-yeon as she followed closely.
After twisting and turning through a convoluted route that only those intimately familiar with the manor could navigate, we arrived at the secret vault where the treasures of the Golden Manor were stored.
“Since you saved our lives, it would be only right to offer you my entire fortune, but realistically, that is a difficult promise to keep,” Geum A-su admitted.
“I don’t expect that much.”
“Setting a fixed amount to repay you is fine, but how about this instead? You may take as much as you can carry out of here in a single trip. However, you cannot use a cart, nor can you receive help from anyone else.”
“Are you saying you’ll acknowledge whatever I manage to bring out on my own?”
“I am.”
“May I use my internal energy?”
“Of course.”
“Then I might end up taking quite a lot.”
“If not for you, we would all be dead,” Geum A-su said firmly. “This is the least I can do to compensate you.”
“Thank you.”
“I will give you two hours starting now. Is that acceptable?”
“It’s plenty.”
I walked slowly into the treasure vault.
*
As Geom Mu-geuk entered the vault, Geum Sa-yeon turned to her father.
“Are you sure about this?”
“About what?”
“With the Young Hero’s level of martial arts, he might take more than you expect. Won’t you regret it later?”
Geum Sa-yeon spoke with a playful smile, but inwardly, she worried her father might actually fall ill from the shock. Her father was a man who had dedicated his entire life to amassing wealth. Now, a significant portion of that life’s work could vanish into someone else’s hands in an instant.
However, her father’s reaction was unexpected.
“Is there anything in there more precious than what we protected today?” Geum A-su asked, patting his daughter’s shoulder. “The fact that you and Yang-yi survived is enough. If I had lost you both…”
Geum A-su couldn’t finish his sentence. He had lived his whole life hearing that not a single drop of blood would come out of him even if he were pricked with a needle, but when it came to his children, he was a man who would shed rivers of blood and tears. He simply never had the chance to express it before.
In truth, this incident had sparked a profound realization. He had been so focused on gathering wealth that he had neglected his own flesh and blood—the very people he wouldn't hesitate to give his entire fortune to save. He felt a deep, lingering sense of regret.
And there was another reason why he didn't mind giving away his riches.
There are many kinds of death. If one dies while striving for a goal, there are no regrets. But in this case, it had been a betrayal by a trusted vassal. Had he died there, he wouldn't have been able to close his eyes in peace.
“That young man is no ordinary person,” Geum A-su remarked.
“I know. Despite his age, his skills were extraordinary.”
“It’s not just his skill that I saw.”
“Then what else did you see?”
“I’ve been trying to find the right words to describe it, but I couldn't. There is an indescribable aura about that youth.”
Geum A-su had met countless people throughout his life. This was the first time he had encountered someone so young who possessed such absolute composure and such a unique atmosphere.
“Money can be earned again, but a connection with a person like that comes once in a lifetime—if you’re lucky.”
Moreover, the man was young. Geum A-su hoped that the bond with this youth would continue into the next era of the Golden Manor, led by his daughter and grandson.
“That is why it doesn’t matter how much he takes. The more he takes, the deeper our bond will become.”
*
I can say this with absolute certainty: I will never step foot in a treasure vault like this again for the rest of my life.
On one side, gold was piled up like a mountain, so bright it was blinding. There were Buddha statues, statues of warriors, tableware, ornaments, and all sorts of animals—tigers, toads, turtles, pigs. Everything imaginable was crafted from solid gold and heaped together. They must have been neatly displayed at first, but as the quantity grew, they were likely just tossed onto the pile.
In the display cases next to the gold were rare jewels: rings, necklaces, bracelets, and jade ornaments for women.
On the opposite side, ceramics were lined up on shelves, and behind them hung paintings by famous masters. It was a room filled with every kind of precious rarity.
And next to those were the items that truly excited me.
Night-shining Pearls that illuminated the darkness, and Poison-Repelling Pearls that prevented poisoning if held in the mouth. The Poison-Repelling Pearls, in particular, were of the highest quality and very small.
There were five of each. These were items that couldn't be easily obtained even with a mountain of money, making them more valuable than any other jewel in the room.
I happily gathered the Night-shining Pearls and Poison-Repelling Pearls first, tucking them into my robes. An immense fortune was already on my person, but I was just getting started.
Next, I slid expensive rings onto every finger and layered bracelets and necklaces until my limbs felt heavy.
I looked for something to carry the gold in. A large leather pouch would have been ideal, but unfortunately, there was nothing suitable.
Should I take off my clothes and use them as a sack?
Just as the thought crossed my mind, I spotted a roll of fabric in the corner. Upon inspection, it turned out to be Heavenly Silkworm Thread fabric from the Outer Lands.
I used my sword to tear off the largest piece possible, fashioned it into a massive bundle, and began sweeping the gold inside. Since I could move objects using internal energy, I rearranged the items to fit as much as humanly possible. I left the paintings and ceramics behind; they were too fragile and risked being creased or broken. Besides, I didn't know their exact value.
I didn't worry about the Golden Manor Lord’s circumstances. He wasn't someone who needed pity when it came to wealth.
I spent the full two hours packing the bundle to its absolute limit. When I finally emerged from the secret vault, Geum A-su and Geum Sa-yeon’s jaws dropped.
I was carrying a bundle far larger than my own body. It was so massive that it was impossible to imagine the sheer weight of what was inside. The vault door was large enough for me to walk through; otherwise, I would have had to break down a wall to get out.
“I’ll take just this modest amount.”
Thud.
The floor vibrated when I set the bundle down.
Seeing rings on every one of my fingers and necklaces and bracelets draped around my neck and arms, Geum A-su burst into a boisterous laugh.
“Hahahaha!”
“Shouldn't you be crying?” I asked.
“It’s true that seeing my fortune dwindle makes me sad, but I am more glad to see that you are not a hypocrite. The hypocrites I know would have taken only a few items to maintain their useless, petty pride—all while their hearts ached with regret! I detest such people. Greed is the most precious and important emotion that governs a human being.”
He was a true advocate for greed. It was likely that very mindset that had allowed him to become the wealthiest man in Fujian.
“It was also a very wise decision to tear the Heavenly Silkworm Thread to make a bundle,” he added.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sad to see you go. Stay for a drink.”
“I’m not the type to drink while sitting next to a pile of treasure. I’ll see you next time.”
“If I ever need help, may I seek you out again?”
“Of course. Until then, make sure to earn plenty more.”
Geum A-su roared with laughter at my words. I felt once again that the more honest I was about wealth, the more his favor toward me increased.
“Where should I go to find you?”
“If you leave word under your name at any West Lake Inn across the Central Plains, I will come find you.”
The West Lake Inn was a secret contact point operated by the Cult. It served to receive necessary messages and relay them to important figures within our ranks.
“As expected, you are no ordinary man.”
Geum A-su would know. Only extraordinary people operated contact networks in such a manner.
“Take care until we meet again.”
“I wish you martial fortune.”
After establishing a deep bond with the Golden Manor Lord, I left. Since the connection was by no means a loss for me, I departed in high spirits.
*
I procured a carriage in the village, loaded it with the treasure, and headed toward the Cult.
On the way back, I sold off the gold and jewels bit by bit. Since the quantity was too much for a single merchant to handle, I stopped at various cities and visited multiple shops to liquidate the gems.
Having wandered the Central Plains for a lifetime, I knew exactly what was where and where to sell things for the best price. I sold off all the gold and jewelry, keeping only the Night-shining Pearls and the Poison-Repelling Pearls.
I divided the resulting cash and deposited it into the most trustworthy banks: the Central Plains Bank, the Continental Bank, and the Pungun Bank. The total amount I amassed was a staggering 3.8 million taels. It was far more money than I had anticipated.
Thank you, Golden Manor Lord. You might not know it, but this money will become the foundation for an organization that will one day become a legend in the Murim.
I left 3.5 million taels in the banks and returned with only 300,000 taels in bank notes.
As soon as I returned to the Cult, I went to the Heavenly Demon Hall to see my father. He was guarding the hall like a great mountain, just as he always did. Walking along the "Path of Blood"—the long red carpet—a question suddenly occurred to me.
My father must sit here, listening to Sama Myeong’s reports several times a day and making critical decisions. Decisions that mean life for some and death for others.
Is he truly satisfied with this life?
Could it be that my father, like me and Lee An, was also pushed into the position of Heavenly Demon? Perhaps what he truly wants is hidden deep within his heart.
“I heard you left the Cult,” he said as I approached.
“I went out to make some money.”
“Why money?”
“I can’t live off your wealth forever, can I? And I think I’ll be needing a lot of it in the future.”
“What do you plan to use it for?”
“I want to form my own private organization.”
“A private organization?” My father’s expression sharpened slightly.
“The Demon Lords each have their own subordinates, don’t they? To deal with them, I need an organization of my own as well.”
“That cannot be. If you have one, your brother will want one too. The kin and disciples of the Demon Lords will also seek to have them. I forbid it!”
I didn't expect to get permission right away. It wasn't an urgent matter, anyway. Once good subordinates gathered one by one and the water eventually overflowed, the collapse of the dam would be unstoppable.
I didn't push, and my father didn't mention it further.
“Did you make much money?”
“Yes, I made quite a lot.”
I pulled a thick envelope from my robes and held it out.
“This is for you, Father.”
As my father reached out, the envelope flew from my hand through the air toward him. It was Telekinesis, performed with a sublime level of smooth, rapid mastery.
My father checked the contents of the envelope. Inside were bank notes worth 100,000 taels.
“What is this money?”
“It’s an allowance for you, Father.”
“What?” My father was genuinely startled. He wasn't surprised because the amount was too large, but because of the word "allowance" itself.
“I have plenty of money.”
“I know. You are the wealthiest person in the world. The money I just gave you is my first allowance to you, given out of gratitude for bringing me into this world and raising me.”
After staring down at the bank notes for a moment, my father suddenly asked, “Are you trying to flatter me?”
“I’ll be doing plenty of cringeworthy flattery in the future, but not with this. I’ve wanted to give this to you at least once. Now, please rest, Father.”
I bowed politely and walked back out along the Path of Blood. My father’s gaze burned into the back of my head until I left the hall. He must be incredibly bewildered right now.
After all, he had just become the first Heavenly Demon in history to receive an allowance from his son.