Chapter 115: Leaving the Tang Clan - Part 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: Leaving the Tang Clan - Part 1
"The distribution rights for Jikgeumbang’s silk have been won by the Head of the Taehwa Merchant Group. Please visit the Jaegyeong Pavilion later with the remaining balance to finalize the transaction."
"Hahaha! Thank you, thank you!"
Ga Jin-myeong, the Head of the Taehwa Merchant Group, burst into a delighted laugh.
Jikgeumbang was a famous textile workshop located in Sichuan. Since ancient times, Sichuan silk had been renowned for its high quality, often referred to as Shu Silk, making it a highly sought-after specialty. The silk produced by Jikgeumbang, in particular, was of such exceptional quality that its price was double that of ordinary Shu Silk.
Because demand was so high, many merchant groups naturally coveted the distribution rights. However, Jikgeumbang’s silk had always been distributed exclusively through the Tang Clan, leaving others to do nothing but watch and swallow their envy.
Now that he had won the rights through this auction, Ga Jin-myeong couldn't help but be overjoyed. Although it had cost a staggering sum, it was an amount he could easily recoup and then some within a few years of hard work. Jikgeumbang’s silk was worth every penny.
Ga Jin-myeong had acquired more than just one or two businesses through this auction. Although he hadn't secured the weapon distribution rights—his original goal—he had snatched up all the other lucrative ventures, leaving him more than satisfied.
"Hahahaha!"
Watching Ga Jin-myeong gloat, Sun-woo felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
In truth, even as of yesterday, he hadn't intended to sell off the silk distribution rights. Who would want to sell a business that brought in a fortune as long as it was maintained?
However, it was a decision Tang Seo-yoon had made after much deliberation, and he couldn't go against her. She had chosen to save other businesses at the cost of the silk distribution, ultimately forcing the sale of Jikgeumbang. Maintaining the weapon distribution alongside another major venture required a massive influx of capital.
Still, knowing it was necessary didn't stop the pang of regret from gnawing at his gut.
"Hahaha! I never imagined the distribution rights for Jikgeumbang would actually hit the auction block."
Ga Jin-myeong was in high spirits. He felt as though he had stumbled upon an unexpected gold mine. People called him the 'Golden Hand' because every business he touched turned to gold. This was a testament to his extraordinary eye for business and his sharp intuition.
Right now, his intuition was screaming that Jikgeumbang’s silk would make the Taehwa Merchant Group even more of a titan. His jovial laughter echoed through the outer guest room.
He wasn't the only one. Satisfied smiles were plastered across the faces of many others. Even those who failed to snag the most lucrative businesses seemed to have bitten into decent enough ventures. Since some of the better businesses were won through partnerships, the majority of the crowd looked exceptionally bright.
However, not everyone shared in the joy.
In a corner of the outer guest room, a group of people sat looking utterly dejected. They were the disciples of the Qingcheng and Emei Sects. They hadn't managed to secure a single business during the second auction.
While Qingcheng and Emei were great sects belonging to the Nine Great Sects, the gap between them and the merchants—who had come prepared to spend every penny they had—was simply too wide. The disciples hadn't brought enough funds, initially hoping to buy things at a bargain. Bound by the inability to spend large sums without their sects' permission, they were forced to watch as the merchants swept up almost everything.
They had anticipated this outcome since yesterday, but they had participated anyway, clinging to a shred of hope. That hope had been crushed. They hadn't even secured a small-scale business, let alone a lucrative one.
"Sigh..."
Un-jeok-ja let out a deep sigh. He had left the main sect with grand ambitions, yet he had achieved absolutely nothing. Not only had he failed to secure a business that could pull Qingcheng out of its perpetual deficit, but he had also lost the woman of destiny who had made him feel the spark of love for the first time in his forty years. To top it off, he had suffered the humiliation of being suppressed in swordsmanship by the Tang Clan Head, a master of poison arts. The sighs came naturally.
"Sigh..."
Bulheo Satae also let out a heavy breath. Her situation was no different from Un-jeok-ja’s. Her ambition to pressure the Tang Clan with martial might had vanished into thin air; she had been suppressed by the Tang Clan Head without even getting a chance to swing her spear. She hadn't secured a single business, and she had lost a woman she considered a talent capable of reviving Emei’s future right before her eyes. It would be a lie to say she wasn't miserable.
"This concludes all the auctions. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who participated!"
With Sun-woo’s closing remarks, the auction came to an end. The outer guest room was a sea of contrasting human emotions—those laughing brightly and those slumped in gloom. Sun-woo’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the dejected disciples of Qingcheng and Emei.
*
Un-jeok-ja and his group led their disciples toward the main gate to leave the Tang Clan. Their expressions were the polar opposite of when they had arrived. If they had entered with hope and desire, they were leaving with despair and exhaustion.
Thud, thud.
Even their footsteps, which had been so light before, now felt as heavy as lead.
"Are you the disciples of Qingcheng?"
It was then. A beautiful, melodic voice from behind brought them to a halt. Un-jeok-ja slowly turned his head toward the source of the voice. Standing there was a beautiful middle-aged woman with an air of profound elegance.
"Greetings, Un-jeok-ja. I am Un Ga-ryeo, the mistress of the Tang Clan. I have something urgent to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?"
The middle-aged beauty, the Great Matriarch, smiled, revealing her white teeth. Mesmerized by her beauty, Un-jeok-ja nodded reflexively.
"Please, follow me."
The Great Matriarch turned and began to walk away. Un-jeok-ja and the other Qingcheng disciples followed in her wake.
*
Following the Great Matriarch, Un-jeok-ja soon arrived at a certain pavilion. It was the location of the inner guest rooms. Un-jeok-ja stared at the back of the Matriarch’s head with a nervous expression.
Why had she suddenly called them and asked them to follow? Was she going to charge them for the repairs to the training ground they had damaged yesterday? Or was she going to reprimand him for his rudeness toward the Tang Clan Head? He couldn't guess the reason at all.
Creeeak.
While he was lost in thought, they arrived at the door of an inner guest room. The Great Matriarch opened it.
"Please, go inside."
Un-jeok-ja entered the room under her guidance, only to find unexpected guests already there.
"Bulheo Satae!?"
The guests were the disciples of the Emei Sect, who, like Qingcheng, had failed to obtain any businesses.
"Un-jeok-ja!?"
Bulheo Satae also looked surprised to see him. Why was he suddenly appearing here?
It was then.
Step, step.
While the two were staring at each other in confusion, the sound of footsteps approached from behind. Drawn by the sound, Un-jeok-ja turned around. There stood the Tang Clan Head, walking toward them with a relaxed expression.
Coming to a stop right in front of them, the Tang Clan Head spoke calmly.
"Please, take a seat first."
Though confused, Un-jeok-ja couldn't remain standing forever, so he led his disciples to their seats. Once everyone was settled, Sun-woo looked at them and opened his mouth.
"Now that everyone is here, let’s talk business."
A smile played on Sun-woo’s lips as he looked at them.
*
"Talk business? What do you mean by that?"
Un-jeok-ja asked in surprise. Hadn't the Tang Clan already sold off most of its businesses? Why was he talking about business to them now?
"Didn't the Tang Clan sell most of its businesses through the auction? What business is there left to discuss?"
Bulheo Satae seemed to share the same doubt, her eyes fixed on Sun-woo.
"Most were sold, but not all."
Sun-woo gave them a meaningful smile. At his answer, the faces of the Qingcheng and Emei disciples began to flush with anticipation. If there were businesses not sold at the auction, there were only two possibilities: the weapon distribution business and the medicinal herb distribution business. Either way, they were the cream of the crop.
"Are you planning to hand over the weapon and herb distribution rights to us?"
Un-jeok-ja asked bluntly, his voice tinged with excitement.
"I’m not handing them over."
Sun-woo drew a firm line. Why on earth would he just hand over such lucrative ventures?
"Instead, I want to work with you."
"What does that mean? Are you saying you’ll share a stake in the distribution rights with us?"
"No, that’s not it either."
Sun-woo shut down Bulheo Satae’s suggestion immediately. He was willing to work together, but he didn't have the slightest intention of sharing equity. How could she even suggest something so presumptuous?
"Hmph. Are you telling us to become subordinates of the Tang Clan then?"
Bulheo Satae asked with a look of displeasure. Was he suggesting that Emei, a prestigious sect and one of the Nine Sects and One Gang, should serve the Tang Clan? It was beyond arrogant; it was insulting.
"Subordinates? Not at all. I’m talking about establishing a mutually beneficial partnership."
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Bulheo Satae spoke in a sharp tone, her anger clearly not yet subsided.
"As you know, the Tang Clan is currently short on manpower. Short enough that it’s hindering our weapon and herb distribution. On the other hand, Qingcheng and Emei have an abundance of manpower. I’m suggesting we exchange what we each need."
"Clan Head, I think you’re mistaken. We aren't so desperate that we need to beg the Tang Clan for—"
"Twenty years."
Sun-woo cut her off and continued.
"I will guarantee twenty-year long-term employment for the secular disciples who come to the Tang Clan. I will provide performance bonuses, compensation in case of emergencies, and even long-term service allowances. Furthermore, I will pay a referral fee to your respective sects for every disciple hired."
The eyes of Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae widened at Sun-woo’s proposal.
"And if you dispatch main sect disciples, I will pay them management-level salaries. Like the secular disciples, they will receive various allowances on top of their performance bonuses."
Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae sat with their mouths agape. Where else in the world would someone maintain a twenty-year employment contract for martial artists? And for secular disciples, no less?
The martial prowess of secular disciples varied, but most never reached the first-class level. Therefore, it would usually be more profitable to hire first-class experts on short-term contracts rather than providing long-term employment and various benefits to secular disciples. This proposal was so radical it was hard to comprehend.
"The martial strength of secular disciples falls far short of first-class ronin. The Tang Clan would suffer massive losses, wouldn't it?" Bulheo Satae asked.
"It’s fine. In fact, I consider it a gain," Sun-woo replied, his perspective being entirely different. "If martial artists from Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang Clan all manage the merchant groups together, what bandits or marauders would dare target them?"
Indeed. Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang Clan were all masters of Sichuan and renowned powers in the Murim. If they formed a united merchant group, even the chief of the Green Forest wouldn't dare cross them. Their names alone carried that much weight.
"If this deal goes through, the number of people seeking to enter Qingcheng and Emei as secular disciples will increase even further."
This was true. If the path to joining the Tang Clan’s merchant groups was guaranteed simply by being a disciple of Qingcheng or Emei, everyone would scramble to join their secular branches.
"Of course, I can't take every secular disciple, but I can guarantee the employment of over a hundred people per year."
Un-jeok-ja shook his head. No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed impossible. Twenty years meant at least two thousand people. The cost of the various allowances and salaries would be astronomical. It was too high a price to pay for secular disciples who weren't even first-class. He even doubted if the Tang Clan had enough money to survive the first year.
"Do you even have the money?" Un-jeok-ja asked sharply.
"Wasn't the reason I sold off most of the businesses to raise that very capital?" Sun-woo answered confidently.
This was an opportunity. If it succeeded, the Tang Clan’s manpower problem—its greatest weakness—would be solved, naturally allowing them to maintain the weapon and herb businesses. While the quality of the guards might be lower due to hiring secular disciples, that gap would be filled by the reputations of Qingcheng and Emei. No one would be foolish enough to attack a Tang Clan merchant group backed by those two sects.
"I believe this is a tremendous opportunity. What do Qingcheng and Emei think?"
It was the truth. This was a massive chance to increase the number of secular disciples while simultaneously aiding the sects' finances. But that was exactly why they were suspicious. Why offer such a golden opportunity to rivals who also vied for the title of the best in Sichuan?
"Why us?" Un-jeok-ja asked. He felt he couldn't move forward without a clear answer.
"Though we were rivals competing for business rights in Sichuan, aren't we all fellow members of the Orthodox Faction? I would much rather have the honor of working with Qingcheng and Emei than with merchants who don't know the first thing about chivalry."
Of course, that was nonsense. The business was built on the brand power of the three sects; it would be meaningless without them. Moreover, he suspected that partnering with other merchants would lead to them embezzling behind his back, so he brought in these two sects who were relatively ignorant of the ways of the world.
"Furthermore, with the Demonic Cult beginning to stir, not just the Tang Clan, but Qingcheng and Emei could also face sudden attacks. The Tang Clan wishes to establish a firm alliance with the Qingcheng and Emei Sects."
This part was true. After the Poison Demon’s failed raid, the Demonic Cult could strike the Tang Clan at any time. He needed to bolster his forces constantly in preparation. And Sun-woo had chosen Qingcheng and Emei as that supplementary force. They would make excellent shields.
"Does that answer your question?"
Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae pondered Sun-woo’s words. They understood his logic, but their suspicion didn't entirely vanish. Since when had the Tang Clan cared so much about friendship? They were the ones who had ruthlessly snatched up businesses whenever they saw an opening.
However, it didn't seem like he would say anything else even if they pressed him, and the terms were too good to simply refuse.
"How many days will you give us?"
"We need time."
Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae spoke simultaneously. They needed to send word to their respective main sects.
"As much as you need," Sun-woo replied with a smile. He was certain they would accept before long.
.
.
.
.
As expected, Sun-woo received positive responses from them within a few days. A business entity encompassing all the great sects of Sichuan—Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang Clan—was born.
*
"When will you be back?" Tang Seo-yoon asked with a calm expression.
"I’ll be back soon. Two months at the most?" Sun-woo replied after stroking his chin.
"You are the Clan Head. You shouldn't leave the Tang Clan for too long," Tang Seo-yoon said, her voice laced with worry.
"That’s why I have this excuse of a honeymoon."
Sun-woo grabbed the scruff of Yorang’s neck as she stood beside him.
"Let go! I’m staying here!" Yorang threw a tantrum, but Sun-woo ignored her. Even if she acted human, she was still a dangerous monster. There was no way he was leaving her alone in the Tang Clan.
"This was my purpose for coming to the Tang Clan in the first place. I can't keep her waiting any longer."
It was true. The Tang Clan was merely a means to an end. The means should never become the end. The reason he had stayed for a month to organize the clan was so he could live a happy life with Ok-ryeong. That month had already felt far too long. He couldn't delay any further.
"Sigh."
Tang Seo-yoon let out a long sigh. She understood his reasons, but it was hard to let him go like this.
"What did you tell the Great Matriarch and the Third Madam?"
"I told them I was going to visit my master to report on the Demonic Cult."
"You’re full of lies."
"It’s a burden I have to bear."
Sun-woo chuckled at her remark. Since falling into the Murim, he felt like he was becoming nothing but a liar.
"Don't be late."
"Don't worry. I’ll bring back two incredibly powerful masters when I return."
Sun-woo spoke with an exaggerated gesture, spreading his arms wide.
"Heh."
Tang Seo-yoon let out a small laugh at the sight.
"Well then, I’m off."
Drag, drag.
Sun-woo began to walk, dragging Yorang by the scruff of her neck.
"No! I don't want to go!" Yorang screamed her refusal, but it was futile. He simply kept moving forward.
‘Ok-ryeong, I’m coming.’
Tap, tap.
Sun-woo patted the Poison Essence in his robe twice and quickened his pace. It was time to return to Ok-ryeong.