Chapter 662: Imperial Reinforcements
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 662: Imperial Reinforcements
"But Sun-woo, how much are you going to invest?"
Yorang asked, tilting her head curiously.
"I don't know. Maybe around a hundred thousand nyang?"
"That much!?"
Yorang asked back, her face a mask of pure shock. It was an amount far beyond her imagination.
"…Sun-woo, didn't you say the trade business carries high risks?"
Neung So-hwa questioned him, looking perplexed. It was Sun-woo himself who had discouraged seeking outside investors, citing the danger. So why was he investing such a massive sum now?
"It’s not that much money to me," Sun-woo replied nonchalantly.
His attitude was so casual it almost bordered on arrogance.
"A hundred thousand nyang… isn't much money?"
Neung So-hwa pressed him, unable to comprehend his logic.
"I have the Cat's Eye Stone you gave me, don't I?"
"The value of that stone is only about a hundred thousand nyang. How can you say it is not a large sum? Is it not nearly your entire fortune?"
"My total assets are worth a lot more than that."
Sun-woo continued in a calm tone.
"Just how much is your total fortune, then?"
Neung So-hwa asked, her curiosity piqued. She wondered exactly how wealthy he was to consider a hundred thousand nyang a pittance.
"It’s probably around six hundred thousand nyang."
"…Hah."
A hollow laugh escaped Neung So-hwa's lips. She was stunned by the sheer scale of the figure. Six hundred thousand nyang? How could an individual possess such wealth? With that kind of capital, he wasn't just rich; he was on the level of a regional tycoon.
"…Sun-woo-yaaa… you had that much money?"
Yorang’s eyes went wide. She knew he was well-off, but hearing the actual number doubled her shock.
As the Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, her monthly salary was two hundred silver taels. That alone was enough to put most wage earners to shame, but Sun-woo’s six hundred thousand nyang was an amount she would have to work for 250 years without rest to accumulate. How could she not be shocked?
"I received half of the compensation from the Geumcheol Sect last time," Sun-woo explained calmly.
In the past, Sun-woo had extorted a massive sum of one million nyang from the Geumcheol Sect as reparations. At the time, he had handed the entire amount over to Tang Seo-yoon, believing it wasn't his money since it was compensation for the damages the Tang Clan had suffered.
However, Tang Seo-yoon had returned five hundred thousand nyang—half of the total—to Sun-woo. She judged that they wouldn't have received a single cent if it weren't for him. Though he had refused repeatedly, she forced the money on him, making Sun-woo a tycoon with a total net worth of six hundred thousand nyang.
"You got half of it!?" Yorang gasped.
She knew he had handed the million nyang to Tang Seo-yoon, but this was the first she’d heard of him keeping half.
"She just gave it to me, saying it was money they never would have seen without me anyway."
"…That’s amazing."
Yorang’s eyes began to sparkle. She saw Sun-woo in a whole new light now that she knew he was a man of such immense wealth.
"Anyway, I’m planning to invest about a hundred thousand nyang."
"…Isn't that… too much for a first attempt?" Yorang asked, her expression turning worried.
"It’s not even that much. Running a merchant guild takes a lot of capital to begin with. A hundred thousand nyang is just enough to get the basic structure in place."
Sun-woo spoke with a composed face. Operating a business required significant funds. Especially for international trade, the required capital was larger than three or four ordinary businesses combined.
"…What if the business fails?" Yorang asked, her confidence plummeting after hearing Sun-woo’s realistic assessment.
"Then I lose it. Simple as that," Sun-woo replied dismissively.
"But… if the business fails… it’ll be hard to even get your principal back…" Yorang’s voice trailed off, sounding dejected.
"I’ll just have to deal with it," Sun-woo said firmly.
"…Is that really okay?"
"Investment, by definition, is the act of taking a risk to make a profit. If I’ve decided to invest, I have to bear that risk as well."
Sun-woo continued calmly, "Besides, it’s not like it’s a burdening amount, right? It’s not like I’m investing my entire fortune."
"…Then why did you oppose recruiting other investors earlier? They would have to bear the risk of their investment too, wouldn't they?"
Yorang asked, confused. She wanted to know why he had been so against it. If investment was an individual's responsibility, shouldn't they be allowed to recruit others?
"That’s a different situation."
Sun-woo shook his head. "I’m investing while knowing the full context of the situation. Other investors wouldn't know the inner workings. Investing while knowing the facts is different from investing blindly."
He continued, "I’m investing with all the circumstances considered. So, even if the business fails, the responsibility for this investment lies entirely with me. You don't need to worry about the loss. It’s my problem to handle."
"…Sun-woo, you’re so bold."
Yorang gazed at him with a dazed look in her eyes. To casually drop a massive sum like a hundred thousand nyang and then insist on taking full responsibility… how could a man be this bold?
He was cool. Too cool. She felt like there would never be another male as capable and magnificent as him in this world.
"It’s just common sense," Sun-woo replied flatly.
To him, it was only natural to accept the potential loss of an investment. If one wanted profit, one had to embrace the corresponding risk.
"I’ll… work hard… I’ll work so hard to make sure this business succeeds."
Yorang looked at Sun-woo with determined eyes. If she didn't give it her all after he backed her like this, she would be no better than a thief.
"Right, right. Make sure you succeed and grow my money."
"Yes!"
Yorang answered vigorously. Her eyes shone with a burning desire to earn a fortune for the man who had trusted and invested in her.
"I shall also invest, Yorang."
Neung So-hwa, who had been listening to their conversation, finally spoke up.
"Forget it, Sohwa! Why would you invest in a business that's going to fail?"
Yorang pouted as she replied. It seemed she hadn't quite let go of her grudge against the other woman yet.
"Calm your anger, Yorang. My intentions were not as you think."
"Hmph! If not that, then what?"
"I believe in your skill. You are a woman who has tasted more varieties of snacks than anyone else in the Central Plains. I believe that if you select and import snacks that suit the palates of the people here, you will surely succeed."
Neung So-hwa looked at Yorang with eyes full of conviction.
"…Really?"
"Indeed. Trust me. Have you ever seen me utter a falsehood?"
"…No… Sohwa has never lied."
Yorang shook her head. Unlike Sun-woo, who lied as easily as he breathed, Neung So-hwa had never once told a lie. She only spoke the truth. That was why Yorang could believe her when she said she trusted her.
"Then believe me. You are my friend, my sister, and like a child to me. Why would I ever lie to you?"
Neung So-hwa’s flame-like eyes sparkled. There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her gaze.
"…Mmm… I’ll believe you… Sohwa-yaaa…"
Yorang nodded. She felt that, unlike Sun-woo, she could trust So-hwa’s words.
"I am glad you believe me."
Neung So-hwa gave a bright, happy smile. It seemed Yorang’s anger had finally dissipated.
"But Sohwa, how much are you going to invest?" Yorang asked curiously.
"I intend to invest about a hundred thousand nyang, just like Sun-woo."
"Th-that much!?"
Yorang asked back, flustered. She was bewildered by how easily they both spoke of a hundred thousand nyang as if it were pocket change.
"Yorang, I am of the Imperial Family. That amount is roughly equivalent to the allowance I received as a child."
"…Ugh… An allowance…"
Yorang’s face fell. A hundred thousand nyang was an amount she would have to work for over forty years to earn. Hearing it treated as mere pocket money gave her a sudden sense of relative deprivation.
"You look unwell, Yorang," Neung So-hwa noted with concern.
"…It’s just… I feel a bit empty… A hundred thousand nyang is something I’d have to work myself to the bone for forty years to earn… but to Sohwa, it’s just an allowance…" Yorang slumped her shoulders.
"Do not let it trouble you. If you apply yourself, you can become even wealthier than that."
"…Do you really think so?"
"Of course. With a massive capital of two hundred thousand nyang and the cooperation of the Imperial Court, it is entirely possible. So do not worry. You are no longer a mere wage earner. You are now the head of a merchant guild engaged in international trade."
Neung So-hwa comforted Yorang with a gentle expression.
"…Okay… Thank you, Sohwa-yaaa."
Yorang nodded, expressing her gratitude to Neung So-hwa for taking the time to comfort her.
"It is only natural. You are my friend."
"…Sohwa."
Yorang looked moved. She liked Neung So-hwa—the way she could warm someone’s heart so thoroughly without even making a show of it.
Grab!
"Waaaaah… I’m sorry for being cranky."
Yorang threw herself into Neung So-hwa’s arms, her emotions overflowing into action.
"Think nothing of it. I can handle any amount of your crankiness."
Pat, pat.
Neung So-hwa gently stroked Yorang’s hair, a bright smile on her face. A heartwarming atmosphere began to fill Sun-woo’s quarters.
*
After some time had passed...
"By the way, Sohwa."
Sun-woo, who had been quiet, finally spoke up while looking at Neung So-hwa, who still had Yorang in her arms.
"Speak."
Neung So-hwa replied in a soft voice.
"I’m curious about something…"
"What is it? If it is something I know, I shall answer anything."
"Why did you come to my room?"
Sun-woo asked with an awkward expression. He had been so caught up in the business talk that he’d completely forgotten to ask why she had visited in the first place.
"Ah!"
Neung So-hwa let out a small exclamation as she remembered.
"My apologies. I had completely forgotten that I came here with a purpose."
A slight blush crept onto her face.
"No, it’s fine. No need to apologize. Anyway, why are you here?"
"It seems the Imperial Court will be sending reinforcements for this Great War of Righteousness and Demons."
Neung So-hwa’s expression turned grave.
"Wh-what!?"
Sun-woo asked back, stunned. Imperial reinforcements? What on earth did that mean?
"I heard the Cheonmu Alliance requested support from the Imperial Family. And it seems His Majesty has granted that request."
"But why!?"
Sun-woo looked bewildered. In the world of Wuxia, there was a fundamental non-aggression pact between the government and the Murim. Martial artists were not to touch government officials regardless of their strength, and the government was supposed to turn a blind eye to incidents involving martial artists, even if crimes were committed. This was an unspoken rule between the two sides.
So why was the Imperial Court interfering in the affairs of the Murim by sending reinforcements? It made no sense. Even if this was the setting of a smutty Wuxia novel, it was still a Wuxia world. There were no exceptions to this rule.
"Hmm… It seems His Majesty wishes to use this opportunity to pull the Demonic Cult out by its roots."
Neung So-hwa spoke with a calm face.
"The Demonic Cult?"
"Yes. To the Imperial Court, the Demonic Cult has always been a thorn in their side. They deceive the people with sweet words, leading them to doubt and harbor hostility toward the Imperial Family."
Neung So-hwa’s expression grew even more somber.
"It seems he views this Great War as a golden opportunity. He believes that by collaborating with the Cheonmu Alliance, the greatest organization of the Orthodox Faction, they can successfully subjugate the Demonic Cult."
"…Sigh… This is getting out of hand…"
Sun-woo’s face darkened. He realized the situation was escalating far beyond what he had anticipated.
"But where did you hear this information?"
Sun-woo asked, looking suspicious. Officially, she was supposed to be in closed-door meditation. Who could have delivered such fast-breaking news to her?
"Chief Ma sent a letter," she replied simply.
"He said the Imperial Army is about to descend upon the Tang Clan, so I should stay well-hidden."
"The Imperial Army is coming to the Tang Clan!?"
Sun-woo gasped. This was news to him.