Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: An Eye for an Eye
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"Why are you going through all this trouble? It's so tedious."
"Hm?"
After Shin Gong energetically ran off toward the brewery with the carpenters, Hyang-i asked bluntly.
I wondered where she got that steamed corn this time.
Lately, every time I saw her, she was munching on something.
"Don't you need to watch your figure?"
"Why would I need to do that?"
"What? Of course you do. Don't you know how important weight is for warriors who rely on stealth?"
"Pfft!"
"..."
"You should worry about people who actually need it. That's a concern for third-rate martial artists..."
Neung Un-bi pouted at Hyang-i's scoff.
True, despite how much she'd been eating, I'd never seen her gain any weight. It seemed masters had incredible metabolisms.
"Anyway, what did you mean by 'tedious'?"
"I told you before. Someone must have deliberately collapsed it."
"Right."
"So why are you taking the long way around? Circumstantially, it's obvious those Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild bastards plotted this to ruin the Sinpyeong Brewery... Wouldn't it be faster to just find the culprits and crush them?"
Of course, that would be the fastest way.
Before rebuilding the brewery, they had found traces that someone had intentionally collapsed it. If I unleashed the Waning Moon Squad to track them, they would surely find the culprit in no time.
And the trail would likely lead back to the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild, just as Hyang-i said.
But that would be problematic.
The Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild shouldn't be brought down so easily. I need to methodically stomp them down to their very foundations.
Moreover, it would be troublesome for the Demonic Cult to take the lead. It could inadvertently provoke the Zhongnan Sect's intervention.
Fortunately, Un Hak had already contacted the Orthodox Murim Alliance and confirmed that the branch's relocation had been approved. It seemed the Cult Leader at the main headquarters had pulled some strings, as they had smoothly obtained permission without a single word of protest from Mount Hua.
Of course, the Sword Saint's reputation must have played a brilliant part in this decision. Even the Zhongnan Sect couldn't ignore that name.
They were probably watching us with eagle eyes right now.
And I'm supposed to hunt down the culprits in this situation?
Ridiculous.
It was obvious they would look for any and every pretext to drive us out.
That's why the Demonic Cult won't get involved.
Instead, we'll use a proxy to slowly but surely swallow up the local commercial interests.
To outsiders, it would probably look like the Demonic Cult's Third Young Master securing financial interests for the soon-to-be-relocated branch.
But they would be mistaken.
Why would I help the Demonic Cult? This is purely for the sake of destroying the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild.
"By the way, isn't that kid over there a bit too young to be a carpenter?"
Neung Un-bi pointed to a young carpenter working at the brewery, trying to change the subject. Hyang-i replied while chewing on a mouthful of corn kernels.
"He's quite skilled, you know?"
"Oh? What an eye you have. Think you can become the master of the Demonic Cult with that?"
"...?"
I never said I would.
She's a master, fine, but why does she have to be so condescending all the time?
Just you wait. Once I've built up my skills, I'll smash that damn jaw of hers.
But wait, what did she mean by 'quite skilled'?
Her tone didn't seem to be referring to his skill as a carpenter.
"Hmm, a certain talent, I'd say?"
"Talent?"
"Yes. I don't know if he learned it or just knows it instinctively... but I think that kid understands formations."
"What? Formations?"
"Yes. That man, Shin Gong, seemed to have noticed it too, asking him this and that."
"...?"
At Hyang-i's words, Neung Un-bi focused his gaze on the young carpenter next to Shin Gong.
He had sun-tanned skin, but in terms of appearance, he looked to be around Neung Un-bi's age.
He must have started carpentry at a very young age, as his hammering skills were extraordinary.
But...
"Aigoo, you rascal! This is just a brewery! What are you doing putting that there?"
"Tch!"
Scolded by Shin Gong, the young man irritably threw down his hammer and headed somewhere else.
But the spot where he had just been bracing the wood...
...I felt a strange sense of incongruity.
It seemed out of place for a brewery, but if it were placed there, it would surely...
"Don't tell me? Was that the axis of a formation?"
"Probably? But now that I look, it doesn't seem like he learned formations. It must be instinct."
"..."
A frightening talent.
As expected of a master. To think she was observing so well while stuffing her face with corn... No, that's not it!
"Isn't... isn't that an incredible talent? To instinctively know the axis of a formation? And a carpenter, at that?"
"What does being a carpenter have to do with it?"
"Huh?"
"Everyone is born with their own talents. If someone recognizes it, they can help it manifest. If it goes unnoticed, it's forgotten. And even if it does manifest, there's no telling how far it will grow."
"..."
At Hyang-i's words, Neung Un-bi blinked as he watched the young man.
The talents one is born with.
Martial, literary, technical, artistic. And countless others besides.
But as Hyang-i said, not everyone gets to make their talents bloom.
Many are forced to give up, unable to even try to develop their talents due to their circumstances.
This young man was the same. He was probably seeing things differently from the other carpenters.
If he hadn't been a mere carpenter but part of a place like the Zhuge Clan, his talent might have blossomed magnificently. They prized experts in mechanisms and formations more than anyone.
But the chances of a young man of his status forming a connection with the Zhuge Clan were slim. He'd have to at least get his foot in the door to show his talent.
I felt a sense of pity for some reason.
If he hadn't had to worry about making a living.
If someone had reached out a hand to him, there's no telling how far he could have developed. He might have lived a life far better than... no, a completely different life from the one he had now.
"Why? Is he on your mind?"
"Hm?"
"Well, in your current situation, Third Young Master, recruiting talented people is one of your most important tasks."
"..."
"That's likely why the Cult Leader sent you to the Central Plains. There was nothing for you to gain at the main headquarters."
Hyang-i was right.
After I displayed my martial prowess, the checks on me would have grown even more severe. They wouldn't have allowed me to gain any power or talent.
If I wanted to challenge for the throne, I would have had no choice but to find talent in the Central Plains.
"Still... it would be better not to recruit him."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just because someone has talent doesn't mean they'll blossom as quickly as you, Third Young Master. You don't know when it will bloom, and it might even wither before it fully does."
"..."
"And you'd take him in based on a single talent that's barely more than instinct? What if that talent vanishes halfway through? Think carefully. You don't have much time left, Third Young Master. And it's not like you need someone who knows mechanisms and formations right this second. If you do, I'd recommend targeting the old man, Shin Gong, instead. Along with a separate formation expert."
She was right, as always.
If I were actually thinking of taking the Cult Leader's throne.
But as I've said countless times, I don't have the slightest intention of doing so. The only reason I haven't run away yet is to learn what Hyang-i calls her 'miscellaneous arts'. And thanks to her, my martial arts are improving by leaps and bounds, aren't they?
The important thing was that I had taken an interest in the young man.
Perhaps it was a kind of pity.
But regardless of the reason, couldn't someone guide him toward the right path?
Just as the young man named Cheok Wol-rin met 'him' and made his own talent blossom.
Just as Neung Un-bi, who was nothing more than a vagrant child, met the Cult Leader Dam Un-cheon and became his disciple, all because someone recognized his talent.
"Still... I'm interested."
"Pardon?"
"I need to learn a bit about that friend. Besides, now that Shin Gong has agreed to help us, there are things to be done."
At Neung Un-bi's words, Hyang-i pouted.
"Tch, I still have a lot of corn left..."
"I didn't tell you to come."
"You didn't, but I have to. I'm the maid who must protect the Third Young Master."
"...Then do as you please."
Neung Un-bi shook his head as he watched Hyang-i get up, grabbing a handful of corn.
She already had one in each hand... Her appetite was really...
But how could I scold her? If I did, I might find myself embedded with corn kernels.
Approaching the brewery, Neung Un-bi spoke not to the young man, but to Shin Gong.
"How is it going?"
"We've just begun. It was built so haphazardly to begin with... we'll have to tear it all down and start over."
"My apologies. We are men who know nothing but martial arts."
"Ah, that's not what I meant..."
"It's alright. By the way, you'll need to decide on a name for your carpentry workshop now."
"A name for the workshop?"
"Yes. Since you're starting the business again."
"Hmm..."
"As I said, the Demonic Cult will not be involved."
"My goodness, the more you say that, the more it sounds like a lie."
"...If you need warriors later, you can simply hire them then."
"Without a protection fee?"
"Such corrupt practices should be abolished. How could we demand a protection fee merely for having a relationship?"
"But the gold in the chests..."
"Consider it a grant."
"A grant?"
"Yes."
Shin Gong still looked puzzled.
No, he seemed anxious about what the Demonic Cult might do in the future.
But it wasn't my money anyway...
"If it truly bothers you, think of it as an investment."
"An investment?"
"Yes. Use it for now, and once you start making a profit, you can pay it back little by little. In return, you must destroy the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild."
"Hmm... Very well. Let's do that."
"More importantly, I have a favor to ask."
"Please, speak."
"Could you lend me a few of your carpenters?"
"The carpenters?"
"Yes."
"What for...?"
"As they say, strike while the iron is hot. Now that I have money and people, it's time to start moving."
"To do what?"
"I'm thinking of stealing some of the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild's jobs."
At Neung Un-bi's smile, Shin Gong couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
Though they had only met today, he acted as if he had planned everything all along.
Moreover, it was as if he knew that I would take his hand...
"Very well. Let's do that. I'm quite curious to see what you have planned, Third Young Master. How many should I give you?"
"Five should be enough, I think. And please, let me take that young man with me."
Shin Gong asked, puzzled by Neung Un-bi's pointing finger.
"Chang-i?"
"Is his name Chang-i?"
"Yun Chang. He's a disciple of mine. But he's incredibly stubborn..."
"Craftsmen are supposed to be stubborn. It's fine. It's not like I know anything about carpentry anyway."
"I understand. Chang! Come here!"
"...?"
At Shin Gong's call, the young carpenter, Yun Chang, ran over.
"Pay your respects. This is the Third Young Master."
"I am Yun Chang."
"I am Neung Un-bi. It's a pleasure."
Neung Un-bi greeted him without a hint of arrogance, and Shin Gong smiled with satisfaction at the sight.
No one would have said a word even if he had been condescending...
For some reason, just like Hwang Ja-seong, I wanted to trust him.
"By the way, what are your plans for laborers? The carpenters can't do everything, can they? Perhaps you'll use the warriors under your command?"
"Of course not. It might be fine within the Sinpyeong Brewery, but outside, we have to be wary of prying eyes. I'll go out and look for laborers."
"The interference from those Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild bastards won't be easy to deal with..."
As Shin Gong wore a worried expression, Hwang Ja-seong, who was standing beside him, suddenly spoke up angrily.
"Ahem! How could you forget about me?"
"...Pardon?"
"We have more than enough laborers, don't we?"
"..."
"There's no brewing to be done until the brewery is rebuilt, so please take the Sinpyeong Brewery's workers."
"Ah! Would that be alright?"
"Of course! From now on, I, Hwang Ja-seong, have decided to become a man of the Demonic Cult—no, a man of the Third Young Master."
"Ah... yes, haha."
Did he have to go that far? What good would it do me to have more people now...
Still, since he was offering to help, it saved me some trouble.
"Did you all hear that! The Third Young Master needs laborers, so if anyone wants to go, step forward!"
"I'll go!"
"Me too!"
At Hwang Ja-seong's words, people raised their hands from all over.
In an instant, five carpenters and a crew of laborers... anyway, a large group was formed. More than enough for the work that needed to be done.
"But, Third Young Master."
"Yes."
"You mentioned earlier that you were going to steal the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild's jobs?"
"Yes."
"How do you plan to do that?"
"I'm going to give them a taste of their own medicine—the same method they used to crush their competitors."
"Their competitors... Don't tell me? You're going to take on construction projects for a dirt-cheap price like they did?"
"No."
"Pardon?"
"I plan to do it for free."
"F-For free?"
"Yes. You could call it... a talent donation."
"Talent... Pardon? Donation?"
"I plan to snatch away every single one of their contracted projects. I'll even cover the penalty fees if necessary. I have more than enough money."
Neung Un-bi's lips stretched into a wide, sinister smile.
It was, so to speak, 'an eye for an eye'.
Those bastards from the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild. This time, I'll gouge out their eyes and pull out all their teeth.