Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Charity
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“……?”
Why do I feel a chill when there’s no wind?
And why are my ears so itchy?
“My lord, they have all gathered.”
“Ah, have they?”
Neung Un-bi, who had been scratching his ear in annoyance, turned his head at Wang Cheon’s report.
Joo Seung and the warriors of the Lunar Eclipse Unit.
Having left Mount Qinghua, they had crossed the border between Gansu and Shaanxi in a single day and arrived at a place called the Qingya Inn.
After their meal, Neung Un-bi summoned everyone and gazed at the gallantly standing Lunar Eclipse Unit.
“My lord, what is the matter?”
As Neung Un-bi simply watched them in silence, Wang Cheon asked, puzzled.
What’s the matter?
There’s something I need you all to do from now on.
“Merchant Lord, are you ready?”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
“……?”
What was ready?
Just as everyone was wondering, the merchant caravan’s porters brought over several crates and set them down.
“Huh? What’s this?”
“Aren’t these the valuables we secured from Mount Qinghua?”
Wang Cheon and Joo Seung asked, their confusion growing.
“They are.”
“Why are you……?”
At their question, Neung Un-bi smiled brightly and said.
“The goods we took from the fortress must have had owners.”
“That’s true, but… surely not? You’re not saying you’re going to return all of this to its original owners, are you?”
“Of course not. It’s not like those bandits wrote down who they stole from and how much. How would we find the owners?”
“……”
That was true.
It would probably take a great deal of time just to find them.
Besides, most of it was likely stolen from passing merchants or travelers who wouldn’t live nearby, so returning it was impossible.
Then why?
“We raided the fortress, but we do not know the owners. Therefore, these goods are as good as ours now.”
“Hmm…”
That also made sense.
The original owners would have given up hope of ever getting their things back the moment they were stolen.
In other words, it was loot.
And with such loot, the one who held it was the owner.
“It’s quite a large amount. Too much for one person to take. So, after leaving Mount Qinghua, I’ve been thinking about how to use these things more meaningfully, and I’ve reached a conclusion. That’s why I’ve called you all here.”
“……?”
At his words, a murmur spread through the crowd.
Too much for one person, a desire to use it meaningfully, and if it involved them…?
Wang Cheon’s face lit up as if he had realized something, and he asked.
“My… my lord! Do you mean to say you’ll be sharing it with us?”
“Hm? What?”
“Haha! As expected of our lord. To think of us like this… As your Guard Captain, I am deeply moved.”
Was it because of Wang Cheon’s words?
Though everyone tried not to show it, the corners of their mouths were all turned up, clearly in high spirits.
“Haha, Wang Cheon.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“Bull… yes?”
“I do intend to share it, but who said I was sharing it with you?”
“……Pardon?”
Wang Cheon, who had completely misread Neung Un-bi’s intentions, tilted his head in confusion.
He was going to share it, but not with them?
Then with whom?
“I told the Merchant Lord in advance to seek out the local magistrate as soon as we arrived here.”
“Ah! So that’s why earlier…”
Come to think of it, hadn’t the Merchant Lord had a private conversation with Neung Un-bi upon their arrival and then gone somewhere?
It seemed he had gone to the local government office.
…But why?
“From what I’ve learned, there’s been a massive famine in this area recently, and people are starving to death in droves.”
“……Starving to death?”
“Yes. So I had him find out the details of all those poor souls.”
“……”
Wang Cheon’s eyes, which had been filled with excitement, narrowed.
Moreover, the waiting warriors of the Lunar Eclipse Unit slumped their shoulders, their disappointment palpable.
“My lord, could it be…?”
“It’s what you might call helping our less fortunate neighbors.”
“……”
Wang Cheon’s mouth snapped shut as if it had been glued.
What was he planning? Helping who?
“Excuse me, did I mishear you just now?”
“I’m sure you heard me correctly.”
“So you’re really going to help the needy in the area? They’re not even our neighbors.”
“Ahem, Wang Cheon. What kind of sophistry is that? All men under heaven are brothers, so anyone nearby is our neighbor.”
“……”
Was that how you were supposed to use that phrase?
More importantly, all that treasure… he was going to share all of it? With the less fortunate?
“Hah, damn it all! Help who? Why should we care about a major famine that the state should be handling?”
“……”
“I mean, how much did the men suffer to earn that!”
Neung Un-bi had expected the backlash, so he didn’t bat an eye.
“That sounds a bit strange.”
“What does?”
“As far as I know, you guys didn’t suffer at all.”
“……”
“If you think about it, I did everything by myself.”
“……”
Wang Cheon was at a loss for words.
It was true. The one who defeated the chieftain of Mount Qinghua, Jeon Il-seok, was Neung Un-bi.
Because he had been beaten so one-sidedly, the bandits lost their will to fight, so Wang Cheon and the Lunar Eclipse Unit had done almost nothing.
In truth, what skill could those bandits possibly have?
Even if they were one of the Eighteen Fortresses of the Green Forest, his men were the elite of the Demonic Cult.
They hadn't even broken a sweat.
Furthermore, it was Neung Un-bi who decided to raid the fortress.
In short, Neung Un-bi did it all.
But how could they let so much treasure slip into someone else’s hands? The gold was gleaming even in the night…
Even if not all of it, they had to get something.
“O-of course, that’s true. But who carried the packs? Huh? Do you have any idea how rugged that mountain path was?”
At Wang Cheon’s complaint, Neung Un-bi smiled faintly.
This guy. Did he really think I hadn't considered that?
“Wang Cheon, you’ve misunderstood something.”
“Pardon? What have I misunderstood?”
“Did you really think I would leave you all out?”
“……Th-then?!”
“Of course, there’s a share for you.”
“Ah! As expected of our lord!”
At Neung Un-bi’s words, Wang Cheon’s face brightened as if he had never been angry.
The others were the same, of course.
Their slumped shoulders perked up, and the corners of their mouths, which had drooped to the floor, shot up in an instant.
“Your transportation fee.”
“……Pardon?”
“I have to at least give you that much. Yes, of course.”
Seeing Neung Un-bi’s broad smile, a single thought popped into the heads of Wang Cheon and everyone else.
This infuriating lord of ours…
Still, it was a relief he was giving them something. It would be enough for drinks, at least.
“Haa, I was a fool to expect anything. Fine, just tell us what we need to do. Let’s get it over with so we can rest.”
“Hmm, I’m quite pleased to see such enthusiasm.”
“……”
Who’s happy about this?
It’s just that if I don’t, you’ll start making a fuss about orders and what not!
Wang Cheon could only sigh repeatedly.
But in a way, this might be a good thing.
The Demonic Cult distributing a vast amount of wealth to those suffering from a major famine?
Their reputation was bound to soar.
Hadn’t there been a need to change the Central Plains’ perception of the Demonic Cult since establishing the branch?
They had to live together from now on, after all.
“Alright. From now on, I will assign personnel according to the regions where the wealth will be distributed. However!”
“……?”
“You must not be discovered. No one is to know that we did this. Leave a letter for the recipients telling them never to speak of this to anyone else.”
“……Pardon? We have to do it secretly?”
“Of course.”
“But why?! We’re giving away money for free, and you want to do it anonymously? What kind of nonsense is that? Don’t you realize how much the Demonic Cult’s reputation could improve from this?”
“Tsk, tsk. You only know one thing and not the other, Wang Cheon.”
“What?”
As Neung Un-bi shook his head, the corners of Wang Cheon’s eyes shot up fiercely.
He felt like he was being called an idiot.
“Use your head a little. What do you think will happen if word gets out that the Demonic Cult distributed this?”
“What will happen?”
“The Green Forest will find out.”
“……”
“We can just give it away and leave, but do you think the Green Forest will stand by idly once they find out?”
“Why should we care about that?”
“……”
“We’re the ones who gain the fame, and the Green Forest will be the ones to take the blame.”
What a cold-hearted bastard.
Just like a member of the Demonic Cult, only thinking of himself.
“What if people get hurt because of it?”
“So what if they get hurt? Did we hurt them?”
“We provided the cause.”
“So why should we care about that! I’m already unhappy about giving away the money, and now you want to give up the fame too? Are we some kind of saints? This is a famine that even the emperor can’t solve, so who are we to…!”
“……”
As Neung Un-bi frowned deeply and crossed his arms, Wang Cheon, who had been raising his voice, caught his breath and spoke calmly.
“Haa, my lord, no matter how I think about it, I can’t understand. Please, reconsider. Please?”
“……”
“Since when did you start helping others? And don’t you know the saying that you should help those closest to you first?”
“That’s why I’m trying to help our neighbors right now.”
“Neighbors… my ass! I won’t do it. I can’t!”
“Hmm, alright. Then you don’t have to.”
“……”
Neung Un-bi, who had been staring at the persistently defiant Wang Cheon, said curtly.
“If you don’t want to do it, then don’t. Who’s stopping you?”
“……”
Joo Seung. You do it.
“……”
“From now on, you’ll handle everything except for Wang Cheon. You can be the Guard Captain, and you can be second-in-command, below one and above all…”
“Ah, damn it! Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll do it, alright?!”
“……”
“Damn it all, is my position some kind of trophy? Why do you always threaten to give it away? I’ll do it out of sheer frustration, fine!”
Wang Cheon grumbled as he approached the merchant and snatched the personnel assignment sheet.
“Son of a bitch! What are you all staring at? Get a move on! We have to distribute all of this tonight!”
“……”
Unable to control his simmering anger, Wang Cheon took it out on the innocent warriors of the Lunar Eclipse Unit.
That temper of his.
He was going to do it anyway, yet he always had to rebel like that.
Still, his angry face was quite amusing. It was as if he felt a thrill every time he teased him like this.
As Neung Un-bi watched the now-active Wang Cheon with a pleased expression, Un Hak, standing to the side, frowned deeply.
Neung Un-bi…
He was an utterly incomprehensible person.
He had just provoked the Green Forest.
By now, news that their brother had been struck down would have reached the King of the Green Forest, which was surely like poking a hornet’s nest.
And yet, he didn’t seem to feel a shred of tension.
He himself was already worried sick.
Was he fearless, or just ignorant of the ways of the world…?
And helping the needy?
It was absurd enough that the Demonic Cult had raided a fortress, but to use that money to help people?
It was beyond baffling.
Moreover, how could he speak so informally with his own Guard Captain? Wasn’t the Demonic Cult all about survival of the fittest and absolute obedience to superiors?
In fact, even they in the Orthodox Faction didn’t act like that.
There was an etiquette and a code of conduct to be observed between superiors and subordinates…
Un Hak’s mind was a mess. The Neung Un-bi he had witnessed so far was so different from his preconceived notions of the Demonic Cult.
“Amitabha… Heavenly One.”
“Hey, shut it.”
“……”
“Why do you keep annoyingly chanting your Daoist titles? It pisses me off just hearing it, so stop.”
Un Hak, who had unconsciously muttered his chant in his turmoil, flinched at the voice from beside him.
It was her. The one named Hyang-i.
There were many things he didn’t understand about the Demonic Cult, but the one he understood the least was her.
Maidservant.
A term for a female attendant who serves at one’s side.
But he was beginning to think it might have a completely different meaning in the Demonic Cult.
Perhaps her title wasn't maidservant, a serving girl, but a serving blade.
At first, he couldn’t help but find it absurd, but after experiencing her firsthand, he knew.
She looked like a cute girl, happily munching on steamed corn held in both hands, but she was a master whose skills he couldn’t even begin to fathom…
Even her gaze was murderous, wasn't it?
For a moment, he thought it wouldn’t be strange if those corn kernels turned into hidden weapons.
“What are you looking at?”
“……”
“What? You want some too? Then go get your own damn food. Why are you coveting what someone else is eating? For a so-called Daoist, you’re so petty.”
As Hyang-i hid the corn behind her back and glared at him, the so-called Daoist, wary of even letting his robes brush against her and upset her, could only repeat his chant.
…Amitabha.
Silently, of course. In his mind.