Chapter 188 - Wang-jeok's Conflict
Golden Palace. That was what people in the world called the Golden Merchant Group's headquarters.
As the name suggested, it boasted a scale rivaling that of any kingdom's palace, and the grandeur and splendor of the main residence where Wang-jeok resided could truly be called the finest under heaven.
"This place that I built with my own hands..."
Wang-jeok's gaze, peering out through the window, looked profoundly complicated.
Ever since returning from his failed attempt to poison Yeon-hoo in Baekya-beol—only to be outmaneuvered himself—he had refused to meet anyone from the Blood Clan and hadn't stepped a single foot outside his quarters.
At first, he had been consumed by uncontrollable rage. Not only had he failed to reclaim his seized assets, but he was hit with a staggering ten million nyang in reparations, forced into a truce treaty, and his hopes of revenge dashed beyond reach. It was a humiliating outcome without equal.
Did I underestimate that bastard? Or was he a mountain too vast for me from the start? If it's the latter, then this path won't do...
What tormented Wang-jeok now was the direction the Golden Merchant Group should take moving forward.
He had long ago amassed the world's greatest fortune. But that alone wasn't enough to sate his ambitions, so he had allied with the Blood Clan to seize control of Murim itself.
Yet repeated failures, massive losses, and the death of his son had shaken his resolve to its core.
The world of Murim, defined by blood and death, does not suit a merchant like you. Think carefully about your true calling and decide how you wish to live from here on. And as a final warning: if you clash with our North even once more, you'll witness with your own eyes everything you've built crumble to dust.
Those were Yeon-hoo's words during their private meeting in Baekya-beol. At the time, Wang-jeok had dismissed them as mere insults, but as time passed and reason returned, he began to chew over their meaning.
Amassing the world's greatest wealth is achievement enough for a truly great life... If excessive ambition costs me even this, I won't be able to close my eyes in death.
Once his inner world began to waver, it spiraled beyond control.
But abandoning his dream of Murim supremacy and returning to the merchant path meant overcoming another massive hurdle: severing ties with the Blood Clan.
If I try to cut ties, they won't just sit idly by...
Wang-jeok thought of Jeokhon. He was a terrifying man. It was doubtful he'd accept a breakup quietly. And even if they somehow parted ways, turning into outright enemies could mean trading a minor wart for a gaping wound.
In that case, his only reliable pillar was Baekya-beol's Elder Council Leader, Seomun-hoe. And one other.
Winning over the Great Earth Sovereign, Somubaek—even if he was a puppet under Seomun-hoe, his symbolic weight alone could shield him from the Blood Clan's threats.
"What deep thoughts occupy you so?"
The middle-aged man who had been standing silently behind Wang-jeok asked cautiously.
Wang-jeok, eyes fixed on the distant horizon, replied.
"What if we returned to our roots at this point? Achieving even greater wealth than now—wouldn't that be a monumental feat the world would admire?"
"What do you...?"
"I'm asking what it would mean to abandon Murim supremacy."
"Group Leader!"
The middle-aged man's eyes widened in shock.
Wang-jeok let out a quiet sigh and continued.
"If it's a dream we can't attain, shouldn't we discard it before it's too late? I've already lost my only son—what good is claiming Murim hegemony now...?"
He trailed off.
Lately, his deceased son Wang-ho kept appearing in his dreams, shedding bloody tears and blaming him for his death. After such nightmares, he couldn't accomplish anything the entire day.
Perhaps that's why his resolve wavered even more.
The middle-aged man, still masking his surprise, spoke carefully.
"If you've decided to focus on the group's core business, then so be it. But to do that, we must first sever ties with the Blood Clan... It won't be easy."
"We'll find a way."
"Then have you truly made up your mind?"
Wang-jeok nodded heavily.
"I can't let my greed destroy the group."
"Understood. Then I will seek out a method."
"Only you must know of this. Understood?"
"Yes, Group Leader."
As the middle-aged man withdrew, Wang-jeok took a deep breath, steadying his gaze.
Confessing his unspoken inner turmoil brought a strange sense of relief.
Yeon-hoo's face resurfaced in his mind.
Still, I can't forgive you. By sheltering the Mudan Sect, you're no different from my son's killer. Even without force, there are plenty of ways to topple you and your North. From now on, you'll be the one fearing me, Yeon-hoo.
Somewhere in the Central Plains.
The lantern light bathed Blood Clan Lord Jeokhon's face in red.
Thud!
The hand setting down the teacup seemed rougher than usual, drawing the gaze of the middle-aged man sitting across from him.
He bore such a striking resemblance to Jeokhon that one might call them twins—Jeokhon's younger brother and the Blood Clan's second-in-command, Jeokun.
"The monthly stipend still hasn't arrived?"
"Yes. It's been over five days already. This has never happened before... Just in case, I've ordered checks on whether something's happened to Group Leader Wang."
Jeokhon's sharp brows furrowed even deeper.
The monthly funds from the Golden Merchant Group. He'd only received the report of their delay that morning.
Of course, he could dismiss it as a minor delay, but considering Wang-jeok's recent behavior, a bad feeling gnawed at him.
What happened in Baekya-beol...?
In truth, Wang-jeok had been scheduled to meet Jeokhon immediately upon returning from Baekya-beol.
Yet he had vanished back to the Golden Palace without a word, and no message had come since.
For a man who treated promises like his life, this was unthinkable.
Jeokun spoke cautiously.
"The envoy from Hwangha Suryeon has been begging to see you for days now."
"He still hasn't left?"
"We told him to go, but he insists on meeting you. It shows how seriously they view the clash with Geomga."
"What Hwangha Suryeon wants from us is simple. Not a full alliance, but troop support in exchange for compensation."
"Likely. But there might be more to it, so perhaps you should meet him."
Jeokun pressed, and Jeokhon silently tilted his teacup.
"Wang-jeok is unreliable. Using this opportunity to secure a new funding source wouldn't be bad."
"You mean Hwangha Suryeon?"
"Yes. Excluding the Golden Merchant Group, the Continent Merchant Group is the only option left, but they're under Baekya-beol's direct influence, so no good. That leaves Hwangha Suryeon—the richest among the Eight Great Families."
Jeokhon nodded silently. It was true.
Hwangha Suryeon was known for amassing wealth rivaling the Golden Merchant Group, the greatest among the Eight Great Families of Baekya-beol.
Jeokhon fell quiet for a moment, then drained his cup and spoke.
"Just send him away."
"..."
"It's a war we mustn't intervene in. The moment we do, we make Geomga a great enemy. We can't act rashly without knowing Geomga's alliances. Besides, Hwangha Suryeon is a place we must never join."
"If that's your will, brother, I'll send him back."
"Right now."
"Understood."
Jeokun departed.
Jeokhon instinctively reached for his teacup, realized it was empty, and strode to the window, flinging it open.
Creak.
Outside lay a breathtaking vista: countless pavilions rising through the forest, the moon hanging above.
Jeokhon narrowed his eyes at the razor-sharp crescent moon.
Opening the Blood Vault comes first. Whoever it was couldn't have taken everything inside. I'll claim what's left and complete the clan's secret ultimate arts. The great undertaking begins after that.
Whoosh.
A biting wind clawed at Jeokhon's face.
Then, from the empty space behind him, a voice drifted in.
"My lord, it is I."
"What is it?"
"We've found an eyewitness who saw someone exit the Blood Vault."
Flicker!
Jeokhon's eyes flashed with light.
"Where is he now?"
"The children are bringing him. He should arrive in no more than two days."
Jeokhon's lips curled upward.
Finally, the witness he'd awaited so long. The sharpness from Wang-jeok's issues melted away.
"How goes the opening of the Blood Vault?"
"They haven't breached even the first gate yet."
"Once I meet the witness, I'll go to the Blood Vault myself. Prepare accordingly."
"As you command."
The faint presence faded with the wind, and Jeokhon's lips curled again.
A witness, eh...
The Sea King Namgon had one more special ability: shipbuilding.
From massive warships to swift speedboats, anything that passed through his hands became a peerless vessel unmatched in the world.
Yeon-hoo and his group were riding a small warship Namgon had personally crafted, heading north.
Splash!
Though small, its warship build made it heavy, so speed should have suffered—yet the vessel carrying Yeon-hoo matched the pace of a speedboat.
Cheol-u marveled at the ship's velocity.
"The Sea King seems useful in many ways. A ship this size moving this fast is a first for me."
Yeon-hoo nodded in agreement.
A two-day journey remained, but at this speed, they'd arrive in one.
"Take your medicine."
At Dongbang Ri's voice, Yeon-hoo immediately entered the cabin.
Cheol-u watched with a faint smile.
Just then, Seobaek emerged, spotted Cheol-u, and approached.
"Something good happen?"
"Nothing."
"No good news, yet you're smiling?"
"When did I smile?"
"Just now. Come on, tell me what it is."
"My lip itched, so quit bothering me."
"Really nothing?"
"Want me to prove it with a punch?"
"No, sir."
Seobaek quickly stepped back.
He held a harpoon in one hand. Instead of his usual martial robes, he wore the bizarre outfit from Hwangha Suryeon that Yeon-hoo had brought.
As Cheol-u eyed him suspiciously, Seobaek waved the harpoon with a grin.
"My lord wants me to test this outfit's effects firsthand. Might as well catch some fish and grill them while I'm at it."
"Don't damage the clothes."
"Of course."
Bam! Splash!
Seobaek kicked off the deck and plunged into the river.
Intrigued, Cheol-u leaned over to peer at the spot—then froze, a strange sensation prickling him. His gaze sharpened toward the forest beyond the riverbank.
Swish.
He scanned the wind-rustled woods keenly, but nothing seemed amiss.
Cheol-u furrowed his brow.
Something definitely moved...