Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Securing the Funds
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Years.
The Sect Leader had clearly said as much.
It would take that long to rebuild the Five Dragons Palace.
But.
There were only five First Generation Disciples handling the key practical matters.
Including those who had gone out on errands, that made seven in total.
What if, during those years it took to rebuild the Five Dragons Palace, someone else became the chief disciple?
What about the Two Forms Heart Art?
What about the Ink Dragon Chaos Origin Art that would restore Jinmu to the absolute realm?
What about his grand dream of corrupting Wudang and, beyond that, the Righteous Martial Alliance?
Damn it all!
He had thought that all he needed was superior martial arts.
He had taken down Jinheo and seized Jinhye's weakness, so only five remained.
But he never imagined there would be separate qualifications required to become chief disciple.
Ever since returning from the site of the soon-to-be-rebuilt Five Dragons Palace with his master, worry kept him from sleeping well.
He sat in the Three Palaces Cavern to train, but he couldn't focus his mind at all.
No.
The Five Dragons Palace had to be rebuilt quickly.
Otherwise, he'd end up letting the chicken slip away while staring at the roof.
He couldn't spend the life he had regained through the Immortal Grass as an ordinary Wudang disciple forever.
What should he do?
The biggest problem with rebuilding the Five Dragons Palace was funding.
Wood could be had from the mountains, but buying other materials and hiring laborers and carpenters would require an enormous amount of money.
"Damn it, it pains me to use the gold I left with the battlefield..."
Crunch.
Growing ever more impatient with his thoughts, Jinmu roughly bit into his own fingernail.
"What to do."
Training wasn't what mattered right now. If he didn't secure funds quickly and rebuild the Five Dragons Palace...
Ah!
In that moment, a place flashed into Jinmu's mind.
Right, those guys!
There was no need to touch the money he had stashed with the battlefield.
Who knew what might happen in the turbulent martial world?
With that thought, Jinmu's face brightened fully as he dashed toward the Void Serenity Hermitage.
"Master!"
"Hm?"
"Please permit this disciple to head down to Danganggu for a short while."
"Danganggu? Is something the matter?"
"..."
Unsure how to respond, Jinmu paused in thought, and Myeongjin chuckled softly.
"You rascal, are you thinking of sneaking off for a drink?"
He had already heard from Cheongu and Cheongsang about how Jinmu had drunk in Danganggu last time.
"Very well. You don't really need my permission anyway. There's no building yet, but you've been verbally appointed Palace Lord of the Five Dragons Palace, and with just my approval, you're in charge of the practical matters. No need to seek permission from the Purple Empyrean Palace."
"Ah!"
Such a good deal existed?
Did that mean he'd have more freedom from now on?
As long as he got his master's permission, he could go anywhere.
No more going through complicated procedures to leave the sect.
"Go on, then."
"Thank you, Master."
As Jinmu bowed and turned to leave,
"Jinmu."
"Yes?"
"When you return..."
Myeongjin hesitated a moment before mumbling in a small voice.
"...a bottle of liquor..."
Ugh, you fallen Taoist priest...
"Yes! I'll bring back a nicely aged one."
What was one bottle of liquor?
Jinmu bowed to Myeongjin once more and left the room.
There was nothing special to prepare.
Just a single sword would suffice.
But.
"What are you lot doing?"
"Huh? We saw you heading down, Martial Uncle."
Cheongu and Cheongsang were gearing up.
"Nonsense. Train hard. Make sure to look after Master's meals."
"...Yes."
Cheongu and Cheongsang looked sullen, as if they had been robbed of a fun adventure.
Jinmu left them behind and flew down Wudang Mountain.
"So, how much is it?"
"At least one chestful."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yes."
U Munheum nodded in satisfaction at Jo Bang's words.
In a back alley where Gong Sa-cheok's gang had vanished.
There was the gambling den he operated.
U Munheum, who had been quite close to Gong Sa-cheok's crew, had secretly raided a spot the authorities hadn't uncovered.
Since Gong Sa-cheok and his gang had already been executed, no one knew.
The U Family School was already well-known in Danganggu, so he couldn't run it directly, but recovering the gambling den's money posed no issue.
As it wasn't collection time, the gambling den held an astonishing amount.
Not to mention the jewelry, houses, and land deeds pawned for gambling debts, the silver alone filled over one chest.
"An unexpected harvest."
"Yes. And as a bonus, we found the Qingyang Merchant Group's hidden slush fund."
"The Qingyang Merchant Group's?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Not a lot. A small chest of silver. But there's a night-luminous pearl the size of a finger."
"Night-luminous pearl?"
"Yes. They must have hidden it secretly."
"A night-luminous pearl. Jackpot."
Night-luminous pearls were rare items even in the imperial palace, worth a fortune.
"Where is it?"
"I brought it to your residence for now."
"My office?"
"Yes. You should check it."
"Hm. Well done. Very well done. I've been feeling stuffy lately because of that Jinmu bastard, but this clears it right up."
U Munheum pulled a money pouch from his bosom and tossed it to Jo Bang.
"Good work. Dismissed for the day—go have a drink with your men."
"Pardon? No, what did I even do to deserve this."
Jo Bang's mouth gaped wide at the heavy pouch.
Heh heh, he won't notice I skimmed some off the top, right?
That was Jo Bang's thought.
He didn't skim any for himself behind my back, did he?
That was U Munheum's thought.
"Enjoy your time."
"Yes, School Head."
After Jo Bang left, U Munheum quickly tidied the documents on the table and rushed to his residence.
He worried a maid might tidy up and touch it.
Or worse, his wife might find it and pocket the treasures first.
That Jinmu bastard won't break his promise, will he?
U Munheum recalled the promise: if he became chief disciple, he'd make Jinhye the Wudang Sect Leader.
Given that guy's skills, chief disciple was out of reach anyway.
He didn't know how he'd make Jinhye Sect Leader, but with the weakness in hand, he had no choice.
If Jinhye really became Sect Leader as promised, growing the sect would require a lot of money.
Perfect timing to stockpile funds—and money had fallen into his lap.
I should snag some spirit medicine with this chance. Jinhye needs to grow stronger than that Jinmu punk.
Bang!
Arriving at his residence amid such thoughts, U Munheum cautiously scanned around and opened the door.
"Hey, U School Head."
"..."
"Long time no see."
The man sitting in his chair, waving cheerfully, was...
Why the hell are you here?
He wanted to shout that, but shock froze U Munheum silent.
"Come in, come in."
The one inviting him like he owned the place was none other than Jinmu.
And with all the chests Jo Bang had brought—full of gold and silver—wide open, the room blazed bright even without lamps lit.
"You must be surprised. When a guest arrives, shouldn't you at least serve tea?"
"..."
"The U School seems pretty capable, huh? How much is all this?"
Jinmu grinned slyly.
U Munheum wanted to grab him by the collar and punch that smirk off—
If only he had the skill.
"Perfect timing. I had a favor to ask, but with this much, no burden."
"..."
"Hey, U School Head."
"..."
"We're rebuilding the Five Dragons Palace in our Wudang Sect this time."
"..."
"You'll help out a bit."
U Munheum nearly exploded in rage.
Why! How! What for!
The deal's done!
He wanted to scream.
"How about some sponsorship?"
The indigestion he'd just swallowed surged back up.
His neck stiffened; it felt like his blood pressure would spike and topple him any second.
"H-how much?"
"Not too much—just enough for the Five Dragons Palace rebuild."
"The F-Five Dragons Palace? The full amount?!"
It wasn't pocket change.
Building a Taoist temple on a mountain, no less.
The mere thought was horrifying.
"Of course, the full amount. Do I look like some back-alley thug who'd come personally for a few coins?"
Worse than a thug! Are you even a Taoist? A priest?!
"And this sponsorship isn't for me—it's for your son."
Absurd.
U Munheum glared neurotically at Jinmu.
"Think about it. Wudang, with its history and traditions, rebuilds the Five Dragons Palace. And the full cost is covered by the family of First Generation Disciple Jinhye."
"..."
"We'll engrave Jinhye's name and the U School Head's name right there. Not just anywhere—on the foundation stones. Or the inner pillars."
It didn't sound bad, thinking that way.
"Generations will see those names, won't they?"
Obviously.
"Imagine the publicity effect. Picture the senior sect members' gazes on Jinhye. How the other disciples will see him. His reputation will probably double from now."
"Hm."
Not wrong, but coming from him, it didn't quite land.
"Think long-term. This is an investment."
At Jinmu's sweet talk, U Munheum's stiff face began to soften bit by bit.
"Jinhye's going to be Wudang Sect Leader anyway, right?"
"Th-that's..."
Tempted but still distrustful, U Munheum ran countless calculations in his head.
"What's to agonize over? Even if I become chief disciple, your son gets to be Sect Leader."
"Even so, a non-chief disciple becoming Sect Leader has never..."
"Sheesh, want me to write up a formal pledge and sign it?"
At "sign it," U Munheum's eyes flicked to the brush and ink.
But.
"Guess you get the gist. I'll be off."
"W-wait, the pledge..."
As Jinmu suddenly stood, U Munheum rushed to the desk and scribbled a pledge in one go. He had to get that signature now that it was mentioned.
Secret deals needed ironclad proof.
"Oh, right!"
"..."
As Jinmu turned to leave, he didn't approach the brush but pivoted to the chests instead.
And casually scooped a fistful of silver into a pouch.
"Need to buy something."
Fine, take it.
Just sign the pledge first.
U Munheum grew frantic.
Just a few more characters. Hurry and sign...
"And one more thing."
"..."
"When you bring this to Wudang and hand it over, mind dropping my name casually?"
Jinmu never forgot to tend his reputation for becoming chief disciple.
"Like, say Jinmu helped take down the Qingyang Merchant Group or Gong Sa-cheok last time. Or saved your school's warriors in a pinch. Plenty of plausible stories. Got it?"
"..."
Whether Jinmu spoke or not, U Munheum's urgency mounted.
Just a few characters left. Almost...!
"Alright, see you later."
"..."
"Swing by the Void Serenity Hermitage sometime. I'll whip up some delicious pheasant soup."
"Enough!"
The pledge was complete.
But when U Munheum looked up, Jinmu was gone. Only the wide-open door swayed in the breeze.
"The s-signature... Damn it."
U Munheum stared blankly at the door, holding the finished pledge.