Chapter 328
Chapter 328
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 336
Chapter Title: The Thousand Gold Seal
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On the sailboat, Namgung Hyeok sniffed.
“You brats, already grown attached or something?”
“Sounds like they’re screaming to be spared.”
“Burying them in the ground doesn’t kill them.”
“Right.”
“Yeah.”
Geon Cheon-hwi chimed in with agreement, and Namgung Hyeok nodded vigorously before turning his body.
Yeo Man-chu stared at him with bewildered eyes.
“By any chance… were you impersonating the Wudang Sect?”
“Had to while we were escorting. There was a sharp one.”
“Ah…”
It transcended common sense.
Impersonating the Wudang Sect just to sell them out during an escort.
‘At least we didn’t get caught.’
Yeo Man-chu let out a sigh.
He felt sorry for the Wudang Sect, but he was, after all, a lay disciple of Shaolin.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“More importantly, there’s something else, right?”
“Ah!”
“This the one?”
Namgung Hyeok lifted a wooden box from his bosom containing the root of the solar ginseng.
Yeo Man-chu’s pupils twitched.
Ah, when he’d lost that, he’d thought the sky was collapsing.
Shaolin’s grand plan to restore the Great Return Pill had nearly crumbled, and the Thus Merchant Group had almost lost all trust and stability!
“H-How did you find it? It seemed utterly hopeless. Great hero! I’ll never forget this grace for the rest of my life. No, I’ll definitely repay it!”
“Sure, as disciples of the compassionate and all-merciful Buddha.”
“Amitabha, Amitabha! I’m impressed once more by your merit and Buddhist heart.”
“Amitabha, right? Heh heh heh!”
Namgung Hyeok chuckled slyly.
“We’re not ordinary fated ones, you know? In our past lives, we were really, just… damn, can’t even explain it in words!”
“Of course! That’s right. Past lives connect to form fate!”
“You get it, you get it. That bastard Hong Mok… no, that guy Hong Mok… no, from the days of the Venerable One, it’s a super sticky—no, a great fate! Haha!”
“Haha! Amitabha!”
“Yes, Amitabha!”
“Hahaha!”
“Hahaha!”
“Haha…”
“Haha!”
“…Gr-Great hero?”
Yeo Man-chu looked at Namgung Hyeok, who was gripping the wooden box tightly.
“Ah! Didn’t realize I was squeezing so hard. Haha, oof.”
“No, no. Haha!”
“We strangers? Huh? Haha, even bandits know gratitude, right?”
“Of course, Great hero. The Thus Merchant Group will never forget the Namgung family’s grace or your heroic spirit!”
Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly and released his grip on the wooden box.
Yeo Man-chu gazed at it with moved eyes.
“Ah!”
He carefully opened the lid of the wooden box.
Whoosh!
As the solar ginseng—resembling a mountain ginseng or arrowroot—revealed itself, a scorching heat brushed against his skin.
With the stolen solar ginseng proudly on display, color bloomed across Yeo Man-chu’s face.
“Great heroes! Truly, truly, thank you!”
He bowed deeply toward Namgung Hyeok and his group, more polite and emotional than ever.
“When it was stolen, I thought the sky was falling. Ah!”
Paeng Junghyeok and the others flinched.
They’d never dreamed the Thus Merchant Group’s chief steward would bow like this.
The escort warriors hurriedly tried to stop him.
“Chief Steward, please rise!”
“Chief Steward, your dignity…!”
Yeo Man-chu’s face hardened.
“Who would dare criticize bowing to a benefactor and lowering one’s head? It’s only proper!”
“B-But…”
“Enough!”
Yeo Man-chu firmly silenced the escort warriors and rummaged in his bosom.
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes gleamed.
Yeo Man-chu pulled out a blunt wooden seal. Crudely made, without ornamentation or finesse.
Yet the cool aura emanating from it bespoke its extraordinary nature.
“It’s a seal made of millennium cold iron.”
“Ch-Chief Steward, isn’t that the Thousand Gold Seal given by the Guild Leader?”
“Th-That represents the guild…”
It was the transaction seal used to represent the Guild Leader in the Thus Merchant Group’s highest-level external deals.
Yeo Man-chu wore a resolute expression.
“You saved our lives and protected the guild’s assets, Shaolin’s property, and our honor. Shouldn’t we show our sincerity in return?”
“B-But…”
“I’ll take full responsibility.”
At his dignity, the escort warriors bowed their heads.
Yeo Man-chu straightened his clothes and stood before Namgung Hyeok with utmost courtesy.
Then, with proper etiquette, he offered the Thousand Gold Seal.
“The Thousand Gold Seal means the Thus Merchant Group will never forget your grace, and it will serve as the key to open the guild’s doors whenever you wish.”
“Hmm.”
“As Yeo Man-chu, Chief Steward of the Thus Merchant Group and the Guild Leader’s only blood kin, I promise. As his sole nephew, I guarantee it!”
Namgung Hyeok’s face cracked as he looked at the seal extended with such excitement.
“A seal?”
“Yes, the Thousand Gold Seal.”
“A seal?”
“Yes.”
“No money? Why give a seal you can’t even eat… Mmph! Mmmph!”
Namgung Ryong hurriedly clamped Namgung Hyeok’s mouth shut.
Namgung Hyeok struggled.
Paeng Junghyeok and Tak Hyeokdong grabbed him from both sides, while Geon Cheon-hwi and Jang Ung tugged at his pant legs.
Paeng Junghyeok gnashed his teeth.
“Have you lost your mind, Young Master!”
“Insane! Do you know what that is? How dare you spout such nonsense!”
So Geolgae growled.
“With that, red carpets roll out everywhere! You mad young master!”
“Mmph! Mmmph! Mmmph!”
“Shut it! Shut up and take it!”
Namgung Hyeok twisted his body sharply while struggling.
The clinging group tumbled off like falling leaves.
Smack!
“Keek! Why me alone!”
So Geolgae shrieked, clutching the back of his head where he’d been hit.
Namgung Hyeok scowled and said.
“You beggar bastard. You got my clothes dirty! Damn it!”
“Th-This is beggar discrimination!”
“Damn!”
“Eek!”
Namgung Hyeok, having crushed So Geolgae, turned to Yeo Man-chu with an awkward expression on his dazed face.
“…Hey, you’re giving it, so I’ll take it.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Ah, well. Thanks.”
This wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.
Receiving the Thousand Gold Seal meant being a guest who could conduct any deal with the Thus Merchant Group…
At such a young age, had he truly transcended material desires?
“Amitabha. Give as you receive…”
No, that wasn’t it.
The others shook their heads.
Namgung Hyeok took the Thousand Gold Seal and tossed it to Geon Cheon-hwi before asking.
“But you’re the Guild Leader’s nephew?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Ah, nephew, huh. Good.”
“Pardon?”
Ignoring the puzzled Yeo Man-chu, Namgung Hyeok crooked a finger at Geon Cheon-hwi.
“Bring the Golden Immortal Pill.”
“Pardon?”
“Golden Immortal Pill.”
“…G-Golden Immortal Pill?”
“Yeah, the one I gave you.”
“Wh-Why that…”
“I need it.”
You’re using it now?
‘…If you were gonna give it and take it back, just say you lent it for a bit…’
Geon Cheon-hwi glared at Namgung Hyeok with trembling hands and a complex gaze.
What the hell was he planning to use it for?
“Wh-Why this?”
“Just take it.”
“…”
As Namgung Hyeok lightly clicked his tongue, Geon Cheon-hwi reflexively rummaged in his bosom and pulled out the Golden Immortal Pill.
The wooden box containing the failed Golden Immortal Pill made by Hong Mok appeared.
Tak Hyeokdong’s eyes bulged.
“What? Why do you have that in your bosom?!”
“I carry it in case I can survive by eating it right before dying. Why!”
“Gah! Carrying that around is why it got taken! Should’ve scarfed it down like I did!”
This bastard rubbing it in?
Geon Cheon-hwi glared murderously at Tak Hyeokdong and handed the wooden box to Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok took it and passed it straight to Yeo Man-chu.
“Here, take it.”
The Thunder Dragon Squad trio’s eyes shook like storm-tossed waves.
“Y-Young Master, why that?!”
Geon Cheon-hwi panicked but clamped his mouth shut. With the Thus Merchant Group right there, and given his position where he couldn’t question Namgung Hyeok’s actions.
He could only seethe inwardly.
‘My Golden Immortal Pill… my Golden Immortal Pill… Don’t take it, don’t take it. That precious thing…’
‘…Give up.’
‘You son of a bitch, it’s not yours, so don’t talk like that.’
‘Tch.’
Geon Cheon-hwi’s pupils quaked like an earthquake, turning red.
As Namgung Hyeok moved to hand over the box, Namgung Ryong subtly grabbed his wrist.
Shake, shake.
“That’s…”
“Hey, come on.”
“…Hmm.”
Namgung Ryong looked wistfully at the Golden Immortal Pill and quietly stepped back.
Geon Cheon-hwi bit his lower lip.
Yeo Man-chu, who had blankly watched the whole exchange, felt questions bubbling up in his mind.
‘What the hell is this thing to make them act like that?’
His gaze swept over Geon Cheon-hwi, trembling like he had malaria, and Namgung Ryong, sending pleading looks.
Even the Thunder Dragon Squad was drooling like mad…
‘These guys who didn’t even blink at the Great Return Pill or solar ginseng.’
Yeo Man-chu stared at Namgung Hyeok in bewilderment.
“This is…?”
Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly.
A compassionate Buddha’s smile bloomed.
“Will you grant me one request?”
“Of course. Naturally, Great hero. Anything I can do…”
“Then, could you deliver this to Shaolin?”
“Pardon? To Shaolin?”
“Didn’t I keep saying? I have a very, very deep connection with Shaolin. And make sure—absolutely—to tell them it’s from me. Too hard?”
“Hmm? No, not hard at all. We’re heading to Shaolin anyway…”
He couldn’t refuse after emphasizing the connection like that.
“But… to whom should I deliver it?”
“Along with the solar ginseng.”
“Ah…?”
The solar ginseng was naturally destined for Shaolin’s senior monks.
‘What kind of item is it?’
Curiosity surged.
Yeo Man-chu stared at the wooden box, unable to resist, and stealthily lifted the lid.
Flash!
“Hmm?”
In an instant, a rich, tickling fragrance at the nose tip made his mind reel.
‘Supreme. Supreme bliss!’
“Ah… Amitabha!”
A Buddhist chant escaped his lips unbidden.
The whole world seemed filled with lotus scent, as if he’d mounted a lotus throne.
Even the nearby escort warriors gaped.
“Wh-What is this?”
“A spirit pill I’ve never seen!”
“N-No, where on earth did such a spirit pill…?”
Even those of the Thus Merchant Group, who handled all manner of treasures, were seeing this spirit pill for the first time.
For such a rare spirit pill to appear like it was just a dumpling!
He asked in shock.
“Y-You want me to deliver this to Sh-Shaolin?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, Amitabha!”
Its tremendous aura even overshadowed the solar ginseng’s heat.
‘If they knew it was a failed product, they’d flip out.’
Imagining Shaolin’s monks tumbling in the mountains, Namgung Hyeok chuckled inwardly.
But unlike his thoughts, he spoke with a serious gaze.
“Please deliver it properly.”
“Y-Yes…”
“This is all merit, right.”
Of course, my merit. Hong Mok would clutch his neck if alive.
‘Not your business? Jealous? Come back to life then.’
You liked reincarnation, so go do that.
Namgung Hyeok inwardly laughed again, picturing Hong Mok wailing underground.
Yeo Man-chu was left dazed.
‘Does he really have a connection with Shaolin? Yes, sending such a precious item must mean something.’
His actions were eccentric and beyond norms, but Namgung Hyeok’s Buddhist heart seemed genuine.
You could feel he truly cared for Shaolin.
What fate made him set aside everything—even risking his life—to resolve Shaolin’s crisis?
Even as the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families clashed intensely, he hadn’t ignored their plight, proving the Namgung family’s inherent goodness.
Yeo Man-chu steeled his resolve.
“I’ll stake my life to deliver this to Shaolin.”
“Hey, no need for your life.”
“No! Merchants don’t just pay lip service to trust.”
“Yeah, yeah, deliver it well!”
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
It looked sinister, but to Yeo Man-chu, it appeared as the Buddha’s compassionate smile.
So Geolgae shook his head watching it.
‘…Buddha, one’s heading your way today.’
From his expression, he’d toured paradise.
Heh heh.
That devilish Namgung Hyeok had thoroughly won someone over.
The others looked at Yeo Man-chu with pitying eyes.
Thus, after the sailboat dropped the Thus Merchant Group’s people ashore, it turned its prow back toward Hangzhou.
Watching Yeo Man-chu wave cheerfully from the dock, Namgung Hyeok chuckled.
“Reeled in a sucker.”
Geon Cheon-hwi grumbled as he cut in.
“You’re the sucker.”
“What?”
“What’s the reason for giving away even that precious Golden Immortal Pill?!”
Driving me insane, really…
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue at the muttering Geon Cheon-hwi.
“How would a sparrow understand a phoenix’s intent?”
“…”
“Just watch, and you’ll see.”
Everyone tilted their heads at Namgung Hyeok’s meaningful words.
‘Watch my ass. My Golden Immortal Pill…’
Only Geon Cheon-hwi shed silent tears of sorrow.