Chapter 787: Your Life Is Mine Now.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 787: Your Life Is Mine Now.
"Then, I shall circulate the official documents regarding the investment matters at a later date."
Sun-woo spoke as he looked toward the Elders.
"Understood. We shall also endeavor to prepare the funds as quickly as possible," Gye Sang-deuk replied with a nod.
"Thank you. If you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave first."
Bow.
Sun-woo slowly rose from his seat and offered a polite greeting to the Elders.
His manner was exceptionally courteous.
Seeing this, the Elders wore satisfied smiles. The polite attitude of the Uicheon Alliance Leader—who reigned without dominating—warmed their hearts.
"Indeed, we cannot keep a busy man tied down forever," Gye Sang-deuk said, nodding his head.
At those words, Sun-woo turned and walked toward the exit without a moment's hesitation.
The Elders simply watched his retreating figure with fond gazes.
Creeeeeak.
Thud.
Soon, the door closed, and Sun-woo’s form vanished completely.
"What do you all think?" Gye Sang-deuk asked slowly once he was gone.
"I believe it is a highly effective proposal. If the overall standard of living improves, people will naturally gather," Lee Se-jin replied, his sharp eyes gleaming.
The vision the Uicheon Alliance Leader was painting was far grander than he had imagined. To think he would burn through hundreds of thousands of Nyang in one go. If development didn't occur after pouring in that much money, it would be even more strange.
He truly is a remarkable man.
Lee Se-jin marveled inwardly again and again.
Not just his martial prowess, but his schemes, his insight to read the trends of the times accurately, and even the boldness to invest hundreds of thousands of Nyang without hesitation—there wasn't a single element that didn't command admiration.
As long as he remains the Alliance Leader, the Uicheon Alliance will become the order that leads the Central Plains Murim.
Lee Se-jin’s eyes began to sparkle. He was certain of it now. Under his leadership, the Uicheon Alliance would become the very definition of the world's leading order.
Lee Se-jin felt a swell of pride in his chest. It might be called getting ahead of himself, but the thought of spending his final years alongside a protagonist of the era filled him with overwhelming emotion.
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
Gye Sang-deuk’s sharp voice pierced his ear.
".........Pardon?"
His train of thought broken, Lee Se-jin asked back with a bewildered expression.
"I am not asking about the Alliance Leader's proposal right now," Gye Sang-deuk said, glaring at Lee Se-jin with a rebuking gaze.
"No, then what on earth are you—?"
"I am asking how he would be as a match for the Lady."
"Are you still clinging to that delusion!?"
Hearing Gye Sang-deuk’s words, Lee Se-jin jumped in shock and protested. He had delivered such a passionate speech about how absurd it was, yet it seemed the man hadn't listened to a single word.
"Delusion!? You call it a delusion!"
Gye Sang-deuk’s brow furrowed as he flared up at Lee Se-jin’s remark.
"It lacks reality and is far-fetched, so is it not a delusion?"
"How is it far-fetched? Are you saying the Lady is lacking in some way!?"
"That’s not what I mean! I’m saying there’s no possibility, so stop clinging to it!"
"Why would there be no possibility!?"
"I mean, realistically, isn't the age gap between them enormous? At that point, she’s practically his aunt."
Lee Se-jin continued, looking exasperated. Common sense dictated that a perfectly fine young bachelor wouldn't remarry a woman old enough to be his aunt.
"The Lady possesses a beauty that transcends age!"
"I agree that she is beautiful, but that doesn't hide the years she's lived, does it?"
"Men naturally prefer women who are a bit older."
"The problem is that she isn't just 'a bit' older."
There was a limit to what was acceptable for an older woman. The gap between someone in their twenties and someone in their forties far exceeded that limit.
"Aside from her age, isn't the Lady perfect? With a face as fair as a celestial maiden and hips that look like they’d bear children with ease—what man wouldn't fall for her!"
"He won't fall for her."
Lee Se-jin spoke with a firm expression.
"Look here, Elder Lee."
Seeing this, Gye Sang-deuk called out to him.
"Speak."
"Why does it seem like you’re itching to find fault with everything I say, Elder Lee?"
"Isn't it because everything you say is an absurd stretch?"
"Be honest. Do you just not like me?"
"What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that! I have no personal feelings against you!"
Lee Se-jin flared up, raising his voice. What kind of drivel was he talking?
"If that’s not it, there’s no reason for you to be acting so disagreeable!"
"That’s because you keep talking nonsense, Elder Gye..."
"What, you little brat!?"
Gye Sang-deuk’s face turned beet red as he glared at Lee Se-jin. He was filled with rage.
"I’ve been wondering if you’d lost your mind since you babbled about me being senile earlier. You really have gone crazy. Do you have no respect for your elders!?"
"We are both Elders, where is the hierarchy in that!?"
"There is one here, you brat!"
Thwack!
Gye Sang-deuk promptly smacked Lee Se-jin on the head.
"Aaaargh! I can't take it anymore! You old fossil!"
Having been hit, Lee Se-jin’s face flushed deep red as he swung his fist.
Whoosh.
Gye Sang-deuk lightly dodged the punch.
"This brat is swinging his fists? Fine, today I shall carve the lesson of respect for one's elders into your very bones!"
Soon, a fierce brawl broke out between the two.
"Both of you, calm down! Calm down!"
"How can fellow Elders be fighting like this?"
"What a disgraceful display on such a good day!"
"Everyone, stay calm..."
The other Elders tried desperately to stop them, but it was no use. The meeting room quickly turned into a scene of chaos due to the two Elders' fistfight.
*
Sun-woo began to walk briskly.
He wanted to deliver the news as soon as possible—the news that he had convinced the Elders—to Ha Su-ryeon.
Hehehe... Ha Su-ryeon...
As he walked, a devious smile began to spread across Sun-woo’s lips. He was incredibly pleased with the fact that he had won the bet.
He couldn't help but be happy. He had managed to get his hands on a talent as immense as the Leader of the Hao Clan so easily.
Sun-woo’s pace quickened even more.
After walking for a while, he stopped in front of the outer guest room inside the Cheonmu Alliance. He slowly smoothed out his grinning expression, making it dry and unreadable.
Knock, knock, knock.
He then lightly tapped on the door.
"Come in."
A voice as clear as a bell drifted from inside.
Creeeeeak.
Sun-woo pushed the door open immediately. The scene inside came into full view.
There, he saw a woman with a voluptuous figure, her face hidden behind a veil. It was Ha Su-ryeon, the Leader of the Hao Clan.
"You don't even ask who it is?" Sun-woo said in a calm tone as he looked at her.
"Because I recognized the sound of your footsteps, Lord Sun-woo."
"You have sharp ears."
"The Leader of the Hao Clan must have eyes and ears sharper than anyone else's," Ha Su-ryeon replied with a soft smile. Her voice was melodious, the kind that made one feel good just by listening.
"By the way, how did it go?" Ha Su-ryeon asked, her eyes sparkling. She was asking about whether he had succeeded in persuading them.
".........."
At her question, Sun-woo fell silent with a heavy expression.
"......Did it not go well?" Ha Su-ryeon asked curiously, wondering if the task had failed.
"Before that, I have something to ask."
Sun-woo finally spoke up slowly.
"Ask away."
"As the condition for the bet, how much of a stake were you going to demand?" Sun-woo asked with a serious face.
He failed to persuade them!
Seeing his reaction, Ha Su-ryeon cheered inwardly. Judging by his behavior, it seemed he had failed. And his failure was her opportunity to acquire a stake. She was about to get her hands on an enormous fortune without much effort.
"Thirty percent."
Ha Su-ryeon spoke with a confident expression.
"Thirty percent!?"
Hearing that, Sun-woo’s eyes widened as if he hadn't expected it at all.
"Yes, I was going to demand a thirty percent stake."
Of course, it was a lie. The fair stake she had in mind was around ten percent. But she exaggerated. She knew he would obviously try to negotiate it down during the compromise.
Let's act generous and settle for ten percent.
A deep smile began to form on her lips. The thought of appearing generous while still gaining a massive fortune made her smile naturally.
"Do you know how much thirty percent is?" Sun-woo asked her with a look of shock.
"Wouldn't it be around a million Nyang?" Ha Su-ryeon replied with a mischievous smile.
A thirty percent stake would be worth at least a million Nyang, even by conservative estimates. She had demanded such a fortune as the stakes for the bet.
".......Are you... serious?" Sun-woo asked with a somber expression.
"Lord Sun-woo, I staked my life on this bet. I think a million Nyang is actually quite cheap for my life," Ha Su-ryeon said in a gentle tone.
"Staked your life......."
Sun-woo trailed off, looking as if he were deep in thought.
"Surely you aren't planning to go back on your word?"
Ha Su-ryeon pulled a scroll from her robes.
Rattle.
She untied the string and unfurled it immediately. A certificate bearing Sun-woo’s signature was revealed. It was a document stating he would unconditionally accept her demands.
"You even put your signature on it like this."
Ha Su-ryeon spoke triumphantly. Sun-woo silently stared at the certificate she held out.
"........I have no intention of going back on my word."
Sun-woo finally spoke in a calm voice.
"An excellent choice."
Ha Su-ryeon gave a bright laugh.
"Leader of the Hao Clan."
Sun-woo looked at her with a steady gaze.
"Yes, go ahead."
Ha Su-ryeon met his gaze as she spoke.
"Your life is mine now."
Sun-woo spoke with a thick smile spreading across his lips.
"Pardon!?"
Hearing this, Ha Su-ryeon asked back in bewilderment. Sun-woo’s words were completely different from what she had expected.
"I persuaded them. Every single one of the Elders."
"Th-that... can't..."
Ha Su-ryeon’s eyes began to tremble. She was horrified by the completely unexpected turn of events.
"From now on, call me Master."
Sun-woo spoke with a wicked smile.
"......M-Master!?"
"You said it yourself, that your life is mine. Then wouldn't a title like 'Master' be the most fitting?"
"I can't! How could I say such a thing!"
"Didn't you say you entrusted your life to me?"
".....I... I did say that, but......."
Ha Su-ryeon began to stammer. She had indeed said she was entrusting her life. But that was mere bravado she had spouted when she thought she had won the bet. In truth, she had never considered such an extreme outcome.
"Surely you aren't going back on your word? Not the great Leader of the Hao Clan."
Sun-woo spoke as he looked at her. Then, he pulled a scroll from his own robes.
Rattle.
He untied the string and unfurled the scroll. A certificate bearing Ha Su-ryeon’s signature was revealed. It was a document stating she would fulfill whatever condition he desired if she lost the bet.
"You even put your signature on it like this, didn't you?"
Sun-woo spoke with a smile that was nothing short of diabolical.
".............."
Hearing those words, Ha Su-ryeon’s face began to turn pale. She realized she was completely cornered. There was no way out.
"Now, hurry up and try calling me Master."
When Ha Su-ryeon remained silent, Sun-woo began to urge her with an amused expression.
".......Ma......Mas....ter.."
Finally, Ha Su-ryeon spoke in a voice as faint as a crawling ant.
"What? I can't hear you."
Sun-woo cupped his hand to his ear, acting as if he couldn't hear her. It was a very exaggerated gesture, clearly intended to tease her.
......You can hear me perfectly fine!
Grit.
Seeing that, Ha Su-ryeon gnashed her teeth. This was a man whose five senses were sharper than anyone's because he had reached the Profound Realm. For him to act like he couldn't hear made her blood boil with irritation.
"..........Master.."
But she had no choice but to utter the word "Master" once more. she recognized that she was in a situation from which there was no escape.
"Now I can hear you clearly."
Sun-woo wore a satisfied expression. Hearing the word "Master" from the mouth of such a prideful woman gave him a strange sense of pleasure.
"Then, shall we fulfill your duties as a slave?"
Sun-woo spoke with a lecherous smile. And upon hearing those words, Ha Su-ryeon’s face turned as pale as it could possibly be.