Aftermath (3)
I knelt before Cheonghwa and my seniors in what felt like a scolding posture. The seniors lined up on either side of him stood with arms crossed, brimming with confidence. In the back, I spotted Myeongjin senior, who must have tagged along quietly.
"You've put on a bit of weight in those few months. Not training properly?"
"Training..."
I rolled my eyes upward, thinking it over. Honestly, I hadn't done any formal training. But I'd gotten stronger naturally anyway. I'd even experienced life-or-death battles, which were better than training.
"Still, I have gotten stronger."
"Hah. Sounds like you're confident."
"Of course."
"That's right. You've always been that kind of guy."
Cheonghwa nodded. Just as things seemed to settle smoothly, Myeonggyeong let out a shrill screech.
"Master! Shouldn't we discipline this junior more? He didn't come back to headquarters for months without a word!"
"Isn't that just how lay disciples are?"
"W-well, sure, but! It's outrageous!"
Myeonggyeong turned away sharply when I looked at him. It felt like seeing a cousin at a holiday gathering.
"Junior, don't be too hard on him. Hwi-yeong must have had his reasons."
"Even you, senior...!"
Myeongseong jumped in to defend me, flipping Myeonggyeong's eyes in fury. Myeonggyeong grabbed the shoulder of Myeongjin, who was lurking silently behind, and shook him.
"Junior! Am I the one in the wrong here? Am I the only one annoyed by this?"
"...Seems like it."
"Aaaargh!"
Myeonggyeong trembled as he glared at me, his eyes full of grievance—like how dare you act this way toward me? I felt a little wronged myself.
"Still outrageous. He was out there and didn't even send a greeting letter to his seniors."
"Ah, so that's what upset you."
"N-no, not at all? I was just pointing out what a junior should do."
Cheonghwa smiled slyly, hitting the nail on the head. That's when I finally understood why Myeonggyeong was yelling. But I hadn't had time to squeeze in writing letters.
I rubbed my palms together casually to soothe him.
"Senior, let's grab something delicious later. Master too. I'll treat."
"I heard. You've made a fortune, huh?"
"You weren't spying on me, right?"
"Does Wudang seem like the type? How rowdy would you have to be for news of you to reach Wudang itself?"
Cheonghwa rattled off rumors about me: dominating the underworld in Wuhan, crushing Wuhanshanghui, wielding some mysterious power that made Jedeokdongchang vanish.
"Ignore the last one. How could a Daoist believe in monstrous strength like that?"
"You could pull it off."
"Even Master..."
"Anyway, we're not here to eat. Wudang's in an uproar because of you."
I furrowed my brow. What now? They hadn't just come to see me.
"Why?"
"Jegalsega demanded we excommunicate you."
"What?"
Even I, ignorant of the murim world, had to tilt my head at that.
"What nonsense is that?"
"Spreading your bad rumors, saying you're tarnishing Wudang's reputation. As fellow orthodox sects, they're offering 'advice.'"
"You've got to be kidding."
I couldn't help but chuckle. I hadn't expected the prestigious Five Great Families to stoop to such childish tactics.
Everyone knew by now that Jegalsega backed Wuhanshanghui.
In Wuhan's latest shakeup, Hwi-yeong Merchant Group had endured, boosting Dongho Merchant Association's status. Meanwhile, Wuhanshanghui kept fumbling and self-destructing.
Especially slashing other goods to bet everything on Nokrim Twelve Forms—a total blunder.
Those were books, not consumables; demand would inevitably drop. With every printer in the Central Plains jumping in, supply exploded.
Wuhanshanghui's warehouses, stuffed at a premium, became worthless inventory. Meanwhile, they lost market share in their old lines to Dongho.
Plus, everyone in Wuhan's streets knew Hwi-yeong Merchant Group cozied up with Hobuk Pojungsa. Public favor shifted to us, and Dongho rapidly claimed overall market share.
"Unbelievable. So you came to investigate that slander?"
"Investigate? What?"
"Huh?"
I blinked in confusion. Not here to verify the rumors?
"The sect leader was furious. 'How dare they tell us to excommunicate our disciple!' It irked me too."
"Oh."
That was touching. No wonder martial artists saw their sects as family.
"So we dismantled all the formations Jegalsega installed here. Cut every internal and external tie."
"...What?"
Sudden bombshell. And Myeonggyeong nodded like it was obvious!
"Ink-stained fools who only know how to fan flames."
"Right. Did we look like we'd abandon a disciple on hearsay? Huge insult."
Myeongseong chimed in. Myeongjin muttered something, but I couldn't hear.
They all seemed relaxed, but I was panicking.
"No, wait—that's not right! Why ruin Wudang's ties with Jegalsega over me?"
"You're no ordinary lay disciple. You've caught the sect leader's eye—basically a headquarters disciple. Demanding we boot you secretly? Cowardly and petty. Better to cut them off. Thought they were decent folk."
"But still, sigh..."
My heart grew heavy. As a former Gokjeon Pavilion member, I knew Wudang and Jegalsega's bond. Two orthodox giants in Hobuk—deeply intertwined.
Wudang, being Daoist, lacked business savvy; Jegalsega filled that gap. Wudang bolstered their weaker martial force. It wasn't obvious in these peaceful times.
Now, Wudang lost that sweet deal. Because of me.
Well, not entirely—I hadn't expected it. I figured Jegalsega would slander me behind the scenes, but not Wudang snapping ties.
What I'd thought was wrapped up was snowballing. But Cheonghwa just chuckled heartily. These murim folk knew nothing.
"It's fine. What trouble could arise?"
"Plenty, I bet."
I sighed deeply. First, I sent word to Jo Choongheon: cancel all my plans for today.
"No point overthinking. It's not like it's happening now. You just came to check on me?"
"Came to see how busy you must be to delay headquarters visits. But you don't look swamped."
"I am super busy! Had a packed schedule—canceled it all."
"Why?"
"'Cause Master and seniors showed up."
I grumbled as I headed out. I'd purged yesterday's hangover with a quick Lesser Heavenly Circuit.
"Let's eat outside. I need some hangover soup too."
"Sounds good."
Seeing Cheonghwa and the seniors follow casually, I let out an absurd chuckle. Daoists? Even in crisis, their movements oozed leisure.
***
"Does this make any sense?!"
Jegalyun bellowed. The paper she flung smacked the faces of those standing with hands behind backs.
"Merchant Lord. Explain yourself."
Wuhanshanghui's lord, Cheon Yeongin, bowed trembling. Being pressured by this girl young enough to be his daughter was humiliating—but worse was his rookie mistake.
"My error."
"Obviously! Otherwise, these results make no sense!"
The paper fluttered down, detailing why Wuhanshanghui had to dissolve.
Plummeting market share. Irredeemable debt for Nokrim Twelve Forms. Toxic inventory. Eroding trust. They'd limp years maybe, but wither slowly. No reason for Jegalsega to prop them up.
"Jegalsega's pulling out of Wuhanshanghui effective now."
"M-miss!"
Cheon Yeongin dropped to his knees. Dissolution in his tenure? Career-ending stain.
He'd planned to salvage it, take blame, and exit. But Jegalyun gave no time.
"What? Planning to jump ship?"
"N-no, that's not..."
Cornered, he stammered; she pressed harder.
"Don't spout nonsense. Think Jegalsega's a joke? You can't work anywhere now. Go haul bricks."
"Miss, miss!"
Cheon Yeongin wailed, but she signaled outer warriors. Jegalsega men seized his arms, dragging him out.
Remaining staff shuddered, unsure how far her rampage went.
"What are you lot doing?"
"...Pardon?"
"Get to work! Fighting Wudang—is that a game?!"
They bolted, bowing frantically.
Misconception: Jegalyun raged to boost efficiency her way—not just temper.
No time for morale-killers now. Clashing with Wudang burdened even outer house.
Murim Alliance already urged apology, mediation over the rift.
But allied families and sects always clashed eventually. Shaanxi's Huashan and Jongnam? Bitter rivals.
Alliance wanted to mediate orthodox infighting, but two tigers can't share a mountain.
"Hoo."
Jegalyun slapped her cheek hard. It swelled red, stinging. Time to snap to.
Of course, Jegalsega prepped for Wudang war—hence the expulsion demand via messenger.
"Useless mute weaklings."
Her eyes gleamed. She'd show Daoists scorned the world's harsh reality.
Next day: Merchant groups trading with Wudang all cut ties with excuses.
Curtain rose on full Jegalsega-Wudang clash.