Chapter 43
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Sly Serpents Who Came Over the Wall.
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After staying in Shuangliu for a few days to see if the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild would try anything funny, Mujin was finally face-to-face with Dong-jeok and Jang-tae.
“You've worked hard.”
Dong-jeok and Jang-tae shook their heads at Mujin's words.
“It was fun seeing the world again after so long.”
“Everywhere we went in Sichuan, we heard stories about you, Young Master.”
The two had found it quite amusing to hear rumors about Mujin while hunting down the leader of the Sarim Faction and the sole surviving assassin from the Jeodong River.
“What about the cleanup?”
“We took care of it quietly, without anyone knowing.”
Mujin nodded at Dong-jeok's words.
The remaining assassins of the Sarim Faction and their leader would never be found in this world again.
As Mujin was reuniting with the two, Masok came running, out of breath.
“Young Master!!!”
“What is it?”
“I-it's...”
“What is it?”
“Th-that woman, Bu Cho-yeon... she's dead.”
Mujin's brow furrowed at Masok's words.
“Dead? By whose authority?”
“They say she hanged herself at the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild.”
“...”
Mujin's brow finally crumpled.
The woman who had accelerated the fall of the Yeomhwa Family several times over.
Hwa Mujin's mother's sister, the aunt of the two children growing up well in Seochang, had chosen death.
“Tch. And I was planning to deal with her myself.”
Mujin clicked his tongue in regret.
He had planned to send assassins after her, just as she had done to his family.
Not trash like the Sarim Faction, but a true killer who fed on the darkness.
His plan to grant her a miserable death on the cold streets after she had lost everything and been cast out into the harsh world was now ruined.
“What about that manager fellow?”
Dong-jeok spoke up in response to Mujin's question.
“An assassin from the East Gate should be on his trail.”
The East Gate.
An assassin group whose name was unknown to most members of the Orthodox Factions.
A place whose size, members, and location were unknown to anyone but its insiders.
Having used an assassin from the East Gate, whom he had known in his time as the Divine Demon, Mujin looked up at the sky.
Looking up at the clear sky, Mujin shifted his gaze and spoke.
“This matter... Dojin and Soyeon must never find out about it.”
At his words, the five people present nodded in unison.
“Masok. What about the thing I asked you to look into?”
“Yes. I went all over Shuangliu asking around, and it seems the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild has definitely pulled out. I've checked all the shops they opened and the inns where their people were staying.”
Mujin nodded at Masok's words.
“It's about time we headed back.”
Masok's face lit up with joy at those words.
Having lived his entire life in Seochang, he had never been away from home for so long.
Although the Pungyang Merchant Guild had been accommodating him without any trouble, he felt quite uncomfortable being in a foreign land, unable to see Dojin and Soyeon.
“Go and tell the guild master. We're leaving today.”
“Yes!”
Masok ran off excitedly.
At the news of Mujin's departure, not only Pung Gwan-o, the master of the Pungyang Merchant Guild, but also the heads of the Muryeong Merchant Association and the Geumeo Bank came running.
“We haven't even had a chance to properly host you, and you're already leaving?”
“That's right. You can't leave like this.”
“Please stay a little longer. Don't they say, 'Hangzhou in the east, Shuangliu in the west'? You should take your time and enjoy the pleasures of Shuangliu...”
Seeing Cheol-muk's and No-sak's eyes light up at the mention of pleasure, Mujin quickly cut Pung Gwan-o off.
“What good can come from a martial artist indulging in wine and women? I've left the family estate empty for too long. Now that your problems are solved, it's time for me to return.”
“But...”
The three men still couldn't hide their disappointment.
What Mujin had done for them in Shuangliu was something the three of them couldn't have achieved even if they died and were reborn.
They were small merchants who operated in Shuangliu and, at best, Sichuan.
Now they had the opportunity to trade tea from Hubei.
And not just any amount, but thirty percent of what the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild used to trade.
The profit from that alone for a single year would be an amount incomparable to what they had earned until now.
It was a well-known fact in the merchant world that the driving force behind the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild's rise to one of the top ten merchant guilds in the world was its monopoly on the Hubei tea market.
They were loath to let Mujin, who had handed them something the guild had guarded so fiercely, leave just like that.
“It's not like we'll never see each other again. It's only Seochang. It's just a stone's throw away. Besides, you'll have much more work to do from now on, so you don't need to worry about me.”
At Mujin's words, the three men nodded, their faces still full of regret.
“We will visit you often.”
“As you said, Young Master, Seochang and Shuangliu are very close.”
“We will see you again soon.”
And so, the three men bid them a reluctant farewell.
Leaving the three men waving from the street outside the guild, Mujin and his party left Shuangliu in a four-horse carriage pulled by black horses.
On their way out of Shuangliu, the common folk who recognized Mujin's carriage waved or shouted their thanks.
Receiving the cheers of the common people for the first time in his life, Mujin smiled as he looked out the carriage window.
People he had never met shouted his title, and elderly men bowed deeply to his carriage. This continued on and on.
‘This isn't so bad.’
This life was very different from his past one.
The scenery he saw while walking the path of righteousness was quite different from the one he had seen while walking a path of blood after losing the woman he loved.
“Gulp. And then what?”
Dong-jeok asked, swallowing hard at Cheol-muk's words.
Not only him, but Jang-tae, who was also listening, had sweaty palms.
Mujin, who had been lost in thought, turned his gaze to the Four Demons, looking at them.
“I heard that Pungwollu has a very special kind of entertainment you can't find anywhere else.”
“Wh-what is it? This special entertainment?”
“It's...”
-*Thwack!*
Cheol-muk's words were cut off by a slap to the back of the head from Mujin, prompting resentful glares from Dong-jeok and Jang-tae.
“Get a grip, you two. And here I thought you were talking about something important.”
“...”
Dong-jeok and Jang-tae looked at Cheol-muk with regretful eyes.
“Enough with the nonsense. How are the new warriors?”
Dong-jeok answered the question that changed the subject.
“Yes. They seem to be following the training well. They're not as good as the warriors we trained, but they're managing to keep up. I think their fundamentals will be solid in about half a year.”
“Then that's fine.”
With that, Mujin closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
A few days later, Mujin's four-horse carriage entered Seochang.
Having finally returned from his trip to Shuangliu, which had taken a little over a month, Mujin was looking around the familiar family estate when two old men came rushing toward him.
“Young Master!!!”
“Young Master!!!”
Mujin's brow furrowed at the unusually effusive greetings from Elder Jo and Manager Do.
“What is it? Did something happen? Why are you two acting like this?”
Mujin felt awkward seeing the two old men so happy to see him they looked ready to embrace him, their eyes welling up with tears.
“We missed you so much.”
“You have no idea how eagerly we've been waiting for you, Young Master.”
“What happened?”
“Well...”
Just as Manager Do took a deep breath to spill the story, the Poison Emperor appeared with a faint presence.
“You're back. I hear you've made a name for yourself again in such a short time. The Hidden Dragon of Sichuan, they call you now.”
“Thank you for staying here while I was gone. Did any riffraff cause trouble?”
The Poison Emperor gave a wry smile at Mujin's question.
“No insects came buzzing around. But two serpents slithered over the family wall and settled in. I wore myself out dealing with them alone.”
Hearing this cryptic remark, Mujin tilted his head.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Speak of the devil. Here they come now. See for yourself.”
The Poison Emperor's gaze went past him, and Mujin turned his head.
“Amitabha. We finally meet.”
Seeing the old monk who bowed his head slightly with his palms together, Mujin shot a questioning look at Manager Do.
But Mujin's gaze quickly returned to the family's main gate.
“We finally meet. I am greatly indebted to you for what happened in Gamnak.”
Seeing the Buddhist nun with the clear, ringing voice, Mujin's thoughts deepened.
Why would a monk and a nun visit his family estate together?
-*Are those the serpents?*
The Poison Emperor gave a small nod in response to Mujin's telepathic message.
-*And they're not just any serpents, so be careful. One wrong move, and those serpents will swallow your two siblings whole.*
‘Swallow? My siblings?!’
For now, Mujin cupped his fist in salute to the two, who clearly looked like they were from the Shaolin Temple and Emei Sect.
“I am Hwa Mujin of the Yeomhwa Family. But may I ask why you two have come to visit?”
At Mujin's direct question, Great Monk Hyeon-u and Abbess Jinhwa gave gentle smiles.
“I have come because I have an urgent matter to discuss with you, Young Master Hwa.”
“I, too, have come after deep deliberation on how my sect can repay the kindness you have shown us, Young Master Hwa.”
‘The monk has something to discuss, and the nun wants to repay a debt?’
Mujin couldn't figure out what these two Buddhist disciples had to do with his siblings.
“Let's go inside and talk. Masok, bring some tea.”
“Yes!”
Masok, who had gotten out of the carriage, hurried inside, followed by Mujin and the rest of his party.
When they took their seats at the pavilion in front of the guest house, several people were already there, engaged in conversation.
“...”
Mujin found the situation of having strangers in his family estate quite unfamiliar.
‘Why are so many people gathering in a place that seemed so desolate even a dog wouldn't bother with it?’
All sorts of people were now gathering in a place that, not long ago, seemed like it could collapse at any moment.
“Greetings, Young Master Hwa! Thanks to your help last time, I am still alive and well.”
It was only after seeing the nun step forward and cup her fist that Mujin realized she was the one he had met in Gamnak.
“Ah, it's you from back then. It was nothing, so don't trouble yourself over it.”
Despite Mujin's cold words, Myeong-ryeong simply smiled and watched him.
“My name is Dang Ho-jeong, and I came here with my grandfather. I'm so happy to finally meet the famous Young Master Hwa.”
Seeing the lively Dang Ho-jeong speaking with a bright smile, Mujin glanced at the Poison Emperor beside him.
‘This old man.’
He had already drawn the line regarding any marriage proposals last time.
Yet, he hadn't given up, and his intentions in bringing a new granddaughter were blatantly obvious.
“It's been a while.”
When even Dang So-hye greeted him, Mujin gave a cursory reply and walked into the spacious pavilion.
“Everyone, please have a seat.”
Myeong-ryeong of the Emei Sect, Great Monk Hyeon-u of the Shaolin Temple, and the Poison Emperor sat down.
The Poison Emperor looked at the three young women and spoke.
“We have important matters to discuss with Young Master Hwa, so you three should leave us for a moment.”
At his words, the three young women rose from their seats.
“Sister, shall we go see Dojin and Soyeon?”
“Yes.”
“Let's go together.”
Mujin and the Four Demons watched, unable to take their eyes off the three women as they walked away, chatting.
The Four Demons, in particular, were staring blankly at the young women.
If this weren't the Yeomhwa Family estate, and if the Four Demons weren't Mujin's subordinates, it was the perfect scene for a sword fight to break out.
“You four go and oversee the warriors' training.”
Snapping out of it at Mujin's words, the Four Demons bowed their heads and left.
As they were leaving, Masok arrived with the tea. After each person received a filled teacup, they finally began their discussion.
“Let's start with the Emei Sect. You said you came to repay a debt?”
“That is correct. Thanks to Young Master Hwa's help, the disciples of my sect were able to avoid a humiliation too terrible to even think about. How could we possibly remain idle? Thus, after much deliberation, we have made a great decision, and I hope the Yeomhwa Family will accept it.”
Abbess Jinhwa intentionally mentioned the Yeomhwa Family, elevating the matter to an official affair between the Emei Sect and the Yeomhwa Family.
-*Keep your wits about you.*
The Poison Emperor's telepathic message reached Mujin's ears.
“What kind of repayment are you offering that you must speak of it so formally?”
Despite Mujin's words, which drew a clear line, Abbess Jinhwa maintained her gentle smile and spoke.
“We wish to pass on one of the Emei Sect's secret arts to the Yeomhwa Family. It is a secret art of our sect that is not passed down to the laity, but the debt we owe is great, so our Sect Leader made this momentous decision, insisting it must be done.”
“...I appreciate the offer of a secret art. But to whom, exactly, do you intend to pass it on? I am already training in my own unique art, and my siblings are learning our family's secret arts. The only ones left are the elder and the manager, and they are both quite old, which would make it difficult to accept them as disciples.”
Despite the polite refusal, Abbess Jinhwa did not back down.
“We intend to pass on the Flowing Snow Cloud Palm. As long as it does not conflict, it can be practiced alongside your family's secret arts, so you need not worry.”
!
At the mention of the Flowing Snow Cloud Palm, Mujin's expression hardened.
‘They're determined. Are they trying to turn someone into a nun?!’
The Flowing Snow Cloud Palm was a palm technique personally created by the founder of the Emei Sect, a secret among secrets.
It was not a martial art that could be carelessly taught to someone of the secular world simply out of gratitude.
If such an art were passed on, there was no telling when Soyeon's name might end up on the Emei Sect's Buddhist register.
“She is my only sister and the only girl in our family. To offer such a child the Flowing Snow Cloud Palm... that is too much.”
Mujin once again politely refused.
The Flowing Snow Cloud Palm was certainly a superb, high-level palm art.
However, he saw no need for Soyeon or Dojin, who were already learning the secrets of the Flame Emperor, to learn another unarmed palm technique like the Flowing Snow Cloud Palm.
Especially if the price was having her name added to the Buddhist register.
Despite Mujin's repeated refusals, Abbess Jinhwa maintained her smile and asked.
“If you are worried that learning a secret art from the Emei Sect will lead to her name being entered on the Buddhist register, I can assure you that is a needless concern.”
-*It's just bait. Do you think the bond between master and disciple, once formed, can be easily broken?*
The Poison Emperor's telepathic message once again reached Mujin's ears.
Even without the Poison Emperor's message, Mujin was thinking the same thing.
He might not subscribe to the idea of king, teacher, and father being one, but he certainly understood the bond between a master and disciple.
Just as he was about to refuse once more.
-*Brother!*
-*Brother!*
Two children running toward him from a distance came into view.
The two children ran precariously, as if they might fall at any moment, their eyes red with tears.
With no other blood relatives in the large estate besides Mujin, the two children, who looked only to him, seemed to have suffered quite a bit during their separation of just over a month.
Seeing Soyeon, who looked like she was about to fall, Mujin instinctively shot forward.
“Young Lady! Be caref—”
Before Masok, who was following behind, could finish his sentence, Soyeon lost her balance and tumbled forward.
“Soyeon!”
-*Thump!*
The moment she lost her balance, Soyeon kicked off the ground, flipped in mid-air, and landed, throwing herself into the arms of a surprised Mujin, who had run out barefoot.
“Brother!”
“Brother!”
Looking at Soyeon held tightly in his arms and Dojin clinging to his leg, something warm surged through Mujin's heart.
“You waited a long time, didn't you?”
“Yeah!”
“Yes!”
Even the mature Dojin seemed to have found the month-long wait to be long, as he held onto Mujin's leg tightly and refused to let go.
Behind the children, the three women approached.
“My apologies. We were playing with the children when word came that you had returned...”
He didn't need to hear the rest of Myeong-ryeong's trailing words to know what happened.
They must have come running the moment they heard he was back.
“Brother! That nun over there taught me something amazing!”
“Something... amazing?”
“Yeah!”
Mujin shifted his gaze from Soyeon to Myeong-ryeong.
“It was nothing special. I just taught her a little of the Taming Tiger Palm.”
“Did you watch the children train?”
Mujin narrowed his eyes as he asked, and Myeong-ryeong quickly waved her hands in denial.
“I wasn't watching them train their secret arts. Please don't misunderstand. We were just playing a game of stepping on each other's feet, and since they were having fun, I showed them a few moves. The Taming Tiger Palm is a basic technique widely known even among the laity, so I didn't think it would be a problem.”
At Myeong-ryeong's words, Mujin averted his gaze from her.
“It's so much fun!”
Mujin gave a wry smile at Soyeon's words.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah! That nun said when you came back, I could learn a palm technique that's way more amazing than that one. Brother, when can I learn it? Can we start today?”
At Soyeon's question, her bright eyes sparkling with anticipation, Mujin turned to look at the people in the pavilion with a troubled expression.
She was a child who was already greedy for martial arts.
The Poison Emperor, too, was speechless after hearing Soyeon, letting out only a low groan, while Abbess Jinhwa simply savored her tea, her gentle smile never wavering.