Heroic Deeds
Poor people toil endlessly just to make ends meet.
But even then, the money slipping through their fingers usually outpaces what they earn.
And even if they manage to save a little, it's just a pittance.
The surest way to make money is to let money make money for you.
Jeong Gwang had the capital for it.
And he had the talent to pull it off.
"Saje, think about it."
"...Pardon?"
"I've gotten the ball rolling, so you take it from here."
"...!"
Baek Seung-mu stared at him in bewilderment, and Jeong Gwang added,
"Don't just think short-term. Look at the long game. You can earn more than money, you know."
Baek Seung-mu furrowed his brow in thought before asking,
"...If I may, are you talking about something like fame or reputation?"
"Yeah. You get it."
Baek Seung-mu looked genuinely shocked.
"I never imagined you'd care about things like that, Sahyung."
"Who said anything about using my name? It has to be in Kunlun's name."
"Ah! So you're laying the groundwork for our sect in the Central Plains."
"Not some grand foundation. Just enough influence to make our voice heard."
Kunlun's remote location in the borderlands meant it had little sway in the Central Plains.
It was treated as one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, but it held no real power.
Jeong Gwang recalled a recent incident.
'It was fun and all, but it wasn't good for the sect.'
The young men smitten with Eon Ui-jin had picked a fight out of jealousy toward him—even with Kunlun elders right there.
Baek Seung-mu grasped his intent.
"You're right. We're on good terms with the Paeng Clan now, but who knows about the future. Better to prepare ahead. We can't end up like Tosa Gu-peng—discarded after victory."
"Saje, you're thinking awfully worldly."
"...And you're not...?"
"That's a compliment."
"...Haa. Thank you."
Jeong Gwang clapped Baek Seung-mu on the shoulder and sent a transmission.
The righteous sects thrive on justification. Let's build it up now, so no matter what Kunlun does, we'll have support.
You're saying we should do good deeds?
Of course.
...Why does it feel like we're plotting a conspiracy, then?
Jeong Gwang brushed it off as his imagination and looked around at the others.
Yu Jeong-pung, who'd been waiting eagerly, jumped in.
"Little brother, what were you two transmitting so openly about?"
"Good stuff."
"Like what?"
"Let's do some xiaoxing together."
The Dragon of Righteousness, known for his excess of chivalry, bit immediately.
"Sounds great! But it has to be real xiaoxing."
"Since when does xiaoxing have real or fake? Who's the judge?"
"...Hm. My bad, little brother. That was short-sighted of me."
Jeong Gwang let Yu Jeong-pung stew before turning to Jang I.
"You'll do it, right?"
"Th-thank you!"
"Y-yes, I'll work hard!"
Jeong Gwang nodded and looked to Baek Seung-mu.
"You'll work hard too, right, saje?"
Baek Seung-mu replied reluctantly.
"...Yes."
"Then what are you waiting for? Get moving."
"...Pardon?"
Jeong Gwang gave him an incredulous look.
"You don't have time to slack off. Take Jang and his mother and scout spots for the noodle shop first."
* * *
Jeong Gwang first met with Kunlun's elders and explained his idea.
"What do you think?"
Un Hak smiled faintly.
"Ask your master from now on."
"Whoa, Uncle, you retiring?"
"What? Haha! You're right. Time we took a break, eh?"
Un Hak and the other Un-generation Taoists burst into laughter.
Jeong Gwang gave Heo Cheong a sympathetic glance.
'Looks like heading back to Kunlun anytime soon's off the table.'
Heo Cheong looked troubled before speaking.
"It's a chance to help the needy. Let's do it your way. But..."
"...?"
"Leading with the sect's name will draw envy. That's the issue."
"You don't skip the kimchi for fear of maggots."
"Still, burdens lighten when shared. It'll help more people too."
Jeong Gwang smiled, satisfied.
'Master's always easy to talk to.'
The words he'd prepared flowed out.
"Right. We should bring in the Beggars' Sect and Tang Clan too."
"Add the Yue Clan. They have ties to the officials and it'll help. They'll want public favor for expanding their escort business."
Soon after, people gathered at Kunlun's quarters.
Tang Family head Dang Yeong-jung, Shandong Yue head Ak Hyeong-ik, and Beggars' Sect leader Yang Hoe.
They accepted Heo Cheong's request readily.
"Healing the afflicted... A chance to wash away misconceptions about our clan. We're in."
"Leave official coordination and child education to us. It costs, but it's good for the clan."
"We beggars chase righteousness. Happy to step up."
Dang Yeong-jung and Ak Hyeong-ik eyed Yang Hoe.
He was the only one not mentioning benefits.
Their stares must've stung, as Yang Hoe scratched his head reluctantly.
"...Well, that Jade Jade Dragon kid said he'd beg at the noodle shop, so we'll give generously..."
Thus, Kunlun and three other sects aligned.
Everyone got busy, but Jeong Gwang was the busiest.
Sitting in his room, he issued orders briskly.
"Yu hyung, round up those brokers from before."
"Got it, little brother."
Once the brokers assembled, Jeong Gwang declared,
"We're building on the empty land."
Ever the big spender—what would he splurge on this time?
One broker swallowed hard.
"Building what, exactly...?"
"Just that. Noodle shops, clinics, a small Taoist shrine, orphanage..."
Their jaws dropped wider with each item.
"Uh... the shrine on prime land?"
"A modest one. Not everyone can trek up the mountain. This way, folks can stop by for blessings and simple rites."
"...And the orphanage?"
"To house and raise orphans."
"...We get that, but why such expensive land...?"
"That's all we've got."
The brokers were impressed inwardly.
Jeong Gwang meant it literally, but they saw deeper meaning.
'What a vessel. Knew it from the fat commissions.'
'Orphans don't have to rot on the outskirts. True sage, that Jade Jade Dragon.'
Jeong Gwang paid them handsomely enough to satisfy.
They pulled out all stops, roping in carpenters and suppliers.
Work progressed swiftly.
Kunlun provided land and built structures.
Tang sent clinic doctors.
Beggars gathered the needy.
Yue smoothed officials and dispatched orphanage teachers.
It wasn't simple.
Fronting cash and manpower wasn't the end.
But where there's a good cause, spoons line up.
Hebei Paeng head Pang Su-gwan, with his keen instincts, signaled interest first.
Heo Cheong relayed it, but Jeong Gwang shook his head.
"Paeng can't join."
"Why not?"
"Come on, you know."
No one knew how Pang Su-gwan might change as Alliance Leader.
This was to bolster Kunlun's influence against that.
Heo Cheong knew, but struggled with refusal.
"Sigh. Guess I have to be blunt."
"Be direct—they'll take it better."
"True, given his temperament. Alright."
Heo Cheong met Pang Su-gwan straight-up.
"Clan head, to be frank, we want this under Kunlun's name."
"Oh? Why so?"
"Sorry to say it, but it's a safeguard."
"...You doubt I'll keep my word, so you're building Kunlun's voice?"
"Yes. We'd appreciate understanding."
Pang Su-gwan scowled silently, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Fine. I don't even trust myself fully—how could Kunlun? Pull me back if I stray."
"Naturally."
"But."
He held up a finger gravely.
"If my path for the Alliance is right, Kunlun protects me."
"Agreed. But do you trust Kunlun?"
"Sigh. Not entirely."
"Then why?"
"It's the most trustworthy. Beggars too, but we're already allied with Kunlun. Let's make it work."
As Heo Cheong looked grateful, Pang Su-gwan added,
"Oh, nearly forgot. One more condition."
"What?"
"Other sects will half-join. Match their support. We can't look shabby, even from behind."
Fair enough, so Heo Cheong agreed.
But he added his own.
"My disciple bows out of the training sessions. Handle it fully."
"Hm..."
Pang Su-gwan thought of Jeong Gwang.
His free spirit made his participation so far a miracle.
'Many'll be disappointed, but they've all learned the methods. Time for Paeng to lead.'
Attendance was booming anyway.
Perfect for Paeng influence.
"Regrettable, but good for us. Gladly."
"Announcing post-election might spark rumors. Better now."
"Agreed. Let's publicize it."
Both smiled contentedly.
A deal where each got and gave satisfyingly.
* * *
Rumors spread fast.
In moments, to the Alliance and locals alike.
Sects eager to join visited Kunlun quarters.
Locals praised Kunlun, eyeing better days.
Jeong Gwang ignored the minutiae, guiding Baek Seung-mu's martial arts.
"Saje, right arm two inches low, left knee half a cun short."
"Huff. Huff. H-how do you see all that?"
"I see it."
"Huff. Huff. Sorry for asking silly questions."
Baek Seung-mu kept unleashing Yuryonggeom before collapsing spread-eagled.
"Urk. S-Sahyung, a short break?"
"One gak."
"Th-thanks."
Lying there, he gazed at the sky.
Cloudless blue filled his vision.
"...Sahyung, Kunlun has tons of clouds, right?"
"Tons. Miss 'em?"
After hesitating, Baek Seung-mu murmured,
"Maybe 'cause I haven't earned my Dao title or entered the inner sanctum... I still can't believe I'm a Kunlun disciple."
"I can't believe I'm one either."
"Yeah, even I see that."
Jeong Gwang flicked a jipung; Baek Seung-mu deftly blocked with his sword flat.
Ding—
"Haha, Sahyung, this saje's improved a lo—gurk!"
The follow-up hit his forehead; he winced.
"Why no mercy?"
"No mercy, and you'd have a hole there."
"Ah. True."
Baek Seung-mu nodded wryly, then smiled bitterly.
"I've picked up too much from you."
"Good thing, right?"
"...Of course. Though honestly, I was surprised this time. Other motives aside, it's such a good deed."
"Ah, land prices rise, then sell."
"Right? You've got that side... Wait, what?"
To Baek Seung-mu's wide eyes, Jeong Gwang explained.
"Any business drawing crowds jacks up prices, yeah?"
"...Yes."
"Even after new owners."
"...True."
Holding those crowds is the new owner's job.
Not Jeong Gwang's, who'd already sold.
"Sell high. Hold and wait."
"...But selling'll make people badmouth the sect."
"Buy cheap outskirts land next."
"...Pardon? Won't that get us called land speculators?"
Jeong Gwang sighed.
His saje handled money and people well, but missed the key.
'Still too pure.'
Jeong Gwang decided to explain kindly.
"Build there again. Say we're moving to help the more neglected. Got it?"