Fallen Angel (1)
Before I could even explain, Cheonghwa immediately pushed back.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"It's not nonsense. Lay disciples can leave on their own business, right?"
"Sure, but you've only just become a nominal lay disciple. Isn't it time to focus on your martial arts?"
Cheonghwa didn't know one crucial thing. Before I could pour my effort into martial arts, I needed money. That's why I was leaving. But there was no way he'd understand if I put it like that.
"I just want to get some fresh air outside. And see my father."
"Your father?"
Cheonghwa's voice carried a hint of bewilderment. Heh. How about that? No matter how strict he was, he couldn't touch family. Who would stop someone from visiting their own kin?
"Yes. Got to brag about becoming a nominal lay disciple."
"Hm."
Cheonghwa stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"You won't go out and not come back, will you?"
"Me? Never."
In the old days, I might've considered running, but now that I was a nominal lay disciple, I planned to suck every last drop of benefit from this place.
"Fine. A breath of fresh air is necessary now and then."
"Oh."
He approved more easily than I'd expected. There wasn't much reason to deny me outright, but I'd figured Cheonghwa would block first and ask questions later.
"But take Myeong-gyeong with you."
"Pardon?"
This time, my face soured.
"Why?"
"How can I trust you to go alone?"
"Have I ever let you down? I said I'd come back."
"You need supervision. Left alone, you won't practice your martial arts."
I had no comeback for that. But what could I do? I just didn't have the talent.
"Does it have to be Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong?"
"Myeong-seong recently had an enlightenment and his skills are advancing quickly. He needs to focus now. Myeong-jin is the youngest anyway."
"Got it."
The important thing was getting out. I hadn't anticipated the tail, but it wouldn't stop me from doing what I needed.
Once my outing was approved, I headed straight to the outer courtyard, where the lay disciples gathered.
"Oh, the nominal one."
"Hwi-yeong! Long time no see!"
"How've you been?"
They welcomed me warmly the moment I arrived—enthusiastically, even suspiciously so. These were guys I hadn't exchanged a single word with back when I was a lay disciple. Some were even part of Sagong-hyeon's crew.
I knew exactly why they were acting so buddy-buddy.
News of my becoming a nominal lay disciple had already spread throughout the Wudang Sect.
They might not grasp the full implications, but they knew it meant special treatment from the sect.
For lay disciples more interested in connections than kung fu, I was a must-have contact.
"Congrats on becoming a nominal lay disciple."
"But what's a nominal lay disciple anyway?"
They crowded around me, all chummy. I let out a slight chuckle and scanned them slowly.
The lay disciples flinched. They knew full well how shameless it was—pretending to be friends now, after playing dumb when Sagong-hyeon had it out for me.
"Just means better kung fu training than regular lay disciples. Nothing special."
But I answered mildly, even flashing a smile. I needed connections too.
What we both wanted wasn't some lifelong best friend to share our burdens. Just business partners we could call when needed.
"This welcome's touching."
"Of course. We're classmates, right?"
Hahaha.
Hahaha.
Hollow laughter echoed through the outer courtyard. Keeping my smile, I got to the point.
"Right. Classmates. Classmate love, sect love."
"Exactly, exactly."
"So, I came to ask a favor of my classmates."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Lend me some money?"
The kids' faces froze like statues. A few in the back even started backing away.
"...Uh, that's..."
"Whew, gotta practice."
"See you later!"
They scattered like the tide. As expected. I'd just swatted away the sticky flies and moved on through the courtyard.
In the back yard, I found a group of lay disciples training together. Among them were the ones I wanted.
I waited until their session ended. Only then did they notice me.
"Not bad. A few months and you've got some poise."
I grinned. Compared to inner sect disciples, they still fell short, but the hard work showed.
Yeo Hong-yang and Jeon O-su collapsed onto the ground, dead tired. They were the ones I'd come for.
"Don't even ask. It's tougher than we thought. If we go out and embarrass ourselves, it's the sect's shame."
"True that."
Rumors of lay disciples getting beaten would quickly drop the "lay" part.
"What brings you?"
"Why so cold? Do I need a reason to visit friends?"
"Talking like that means you want something."
Chatting with lay disciples after dealing only with inner sect ones felt refreshing—they got straight to it.
"Need to borrow money."
I cut right to it. Unlike the others, they didn't bolt.
"Touchy subject."
"How much?"
Jeon O-su chuckled without unease, while Yeo Hong-yang jumped straight to the amount.
My eye for people hadn't rusted. Some assets carry a premium for future potential. Even if modest now, the growth prospect gets priced in—like land.
They weren't judging my current skills, but my future value.
"As much as possible."
I smiled. Their eyes turned sharp and calculating.
"Ah, is that rumor true?"
"What?"
"That your master is Cheonghwa Zhenren."
"True."
"Oh, really?"
Yeo Hong-yang's gaze deepened, as if recalculating my worth with the new info. While he eyed me oddly, Jeon O-su spoke first.
"I don't have much to lend, though. Just a fancy junior steward title."
"How much?"
"About five hundred silver taels."
I was surprised but kept cool. Showing shock in money talks is amateur hour. Five hundred silver taels could feed a family of four for three years. I hadn't realized they valued me that highly.
"Yeah, not much."
The words came from Yeo Hong-yang, not me. Jeon O-su looked bitter but didn't argue. The speaker was the son of the Merchant King, after all.
"I can do two thousand."
"Without telling your father?"
My body trembled slightly. Two thousand taels was massive. You'd need at least a fifth-rank official's credit to borrow that much.
Yeo Hong-yang was valuing me like a fifth-rank official.
"If I tell Father, you'd become his connection too. I want you as mine."
Yeo Hong-yang's eyes gleamed. As the Merchant King's son, he had ambition. His youthful fire even made me feel younger—though I actually was now.
Maybe it was their youth, but they moved fast. Out came paper and brush for promissory notes and IOUs.
I reviewed them carefully. Something felt off.
"No interest?"
"No interest. No repayment deadline either."
Yeo Hong-yang said it like it was obvious. They didn't look like they'd made a mistake.
A slight pang of guilt hit me. Felt like a senior merchant dumping trash on juniors.
"Isn't this too loose?"
"You're undervaluing yourself."
But they were firm.
"Disciple of Cheonghwa Zhenren, special treatment from Wudang. That's plenty. If I had more to lend, I'd offer it."
Iha dongmun.
Running the Hwi-yeong Merchant Group, I'd avoided mingling with martial artists as much as possible. Only later, as it grew, did I have to. I'd always undervalued them and underestimated their worth. But martial artists apparently held more value than I'd thought.
I grinned. Even without being one, I knew my own value.
"You know how to deal."
Yeo Hong-yang and Jeon O-su grinned back. I took the notes; they took the IOUs. Outing prep complete.
The morning of departure. Myeong-gyeong was out even earlier than me, arms crossed confidently.
"Today's the day we head out."
"Don't think you'll slack off just because we're going. Master tasked me with watching you."
"When have I ever slacked?"
"Your face says otherwise right now."
He was right—my expression was probably beaming. This was my first real free outing since regressing. The last trip to Yichang had been a clear mission.
"Myeong-gyeong's right. I don't know what you plan out there, but plan on coming back quick."
Cheonghwa scolded me, but it went in one ear and out the other.
He droned on about dignity, conduct, and precautions befitting a Wudang disciple. I half-listened.
"Off you go, then."
"Yes, Master."
I clasped my hands in salute, bowed, and turned. I started forward, but Myeong-gyeong quick-stepped ahead.
"Martial artists walk with seniors in front."
"...Yes. Lead on."
I yielded and we left the Wudang Sect. The moment we passed the main gate, the air felt crisp, the mountains more stunning and majestic.
Myeong-gyeong was just as mesmerized by the sights. He'd entered Wudang Mountain young, so he hadn't seen much of the world either.
Once fully down the mountain, he stopped. I watched quietly from behind. His face flushed as he turned.
"Come to think of it... where are we going?"
I chuckled. Him leading was absurd from the start. I was the path. Control of this trip was mine.
"Follow me."
"Where to? What's the purpose?"
Like any kid, Myeong-gyeong brimmed with curiosity.
"A few stops."
"To Wuhan."
"Why Wuhan?"
"Hubei's capital."
I swallowed the rest.
Every provincial capital had officials who approved merchant groups.
That's right. This outing was to establish my merchant group.