Fists Closer Than Gold
‘Seok Family!’
Hyeon Yucheon’s eyes blazed fiercely for an instant at the mention of the Seok Family.
To him, the heir of the Mangeum Clan, they were enemies as hated as the Murim Alliance itself.
In a way, wasn’t it because of their direct confrontation that his clan had been utterly destroyed?
“Is that true?”
Hyeon Yucheon forced down his rage and asked calmly.
What he needed now was not excitement, but a cool-headed gaze.
“Yes. To the point where they say no one dares touch anything the Silver Light Merchant Group has marked.”
Gu Seung-hwan spoke as if groaning in pain.
As he said, the Silver Light Merchant Group’s reputation in northern Hubei was polarized to the extremes.
Those who praised them were mostly high-ranking officials, orthodox martial artists, or wealthy merchants and clan heads.
On the other hand, those who cursed them were common folk and unorthodox warriors—and rightly so, for the Silver Light Merchant Group’s methods were brazenly predatory.
Since no one dared touch what they had marked, auctions lost their competitive drive, forcing sellers to hand over goods at rock-bottom prices.
“Lately, there’s talk that the Silver Light Merchant Group is expanding with the Seok Family’s backing. It seems they’re planning to open a branch on the site of the Black Sword Pavilion…”
The problem was their intent to seize it without paying a fair price.
‘The Silver Light Merchant Group was one I’d never even heard of when Father was alive.’
Yet now, they were called the largest merchant group in northern Hubei.
That meant they had powerful backers—and it had to be the Seok Family.
“And if… one refuses the auction and rejects selling to the Silver Light Merchant Group? What happens then?”
Gu Seung-hwan shook his head at Hyeon Yucheon’s question.
“Most people don’t. As long as you’re living in Hubei Province, clothes, food—everything flows through the Silver Light Merchant Group. And above all, the Seok Family backs them. With the protection of the world’s richest clan, who would dare oppose them?”
His words made sense.
The Seok Family wasn’t just some ordinary merchant house.
Even the Murim Alliance treaded carefully around them, arranging marriages between their children to forge ties.
“How much did they offer for the Black Sword Pavilion’s land and buildings?”
“Well…”
Gu Seung-hwan hesitated before forcing the words out.
“Fifty gold taels.”
“Ha!”
Hyeon Yucheon couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
‘They’re utterly mad.’
This was beyond the pale.
For the Black Sword Pavilion’s land and buildings, fifty gold taels was laughable—not even a fraction of their worth. Five hundred, or more, would have been reasonable.
Offering a mere fifty was blatant deception.
Sizzle!
Rage boiled up again, reddening Hyeon Yucheon’s face.
“Has it been auctioned off yet?”
Gu Seung-hwan, gauging his mood, bowed his head as if it were his own fault.
“Not yet. I’ve held off the auction on my end to buy time, but…”
He trailed off.
The rest was obvious without saying.
Even if delayed, the Black Room Auction House would dispose of it quickly for their own safety—and to curry favor with the Silver Light Merchant Group.
‘This won’t do.’
Having heard about the Silver Light Merchant Group, Hyeon Yucheon finally made his decision.
“Crushing opponents with wealth and gold taels, is that it?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon Yucheon sneered in confirmation.
The reason was simple.
“I’ll show you that fists are closer than wealth and gold.”
Fuming with righteous fury, Hyeon Yucheon headed straight to the Black Room Auction House, accompanied by the Black Wolf Three Swords and Gu Seung-hwan.
“Heh, don’t be like that. Just sell it. If you want even a tenth of the value, that is.”
Confronting the auction house owner, that was all he had to say.
“What?”
Treating the baffled Hyeon Yucheon like a child, he explained.
“There are people in this world you absolutely shouldn’t cross. Like the Silver Light Merchant Group’s leader, Yi Jeong-gap. He’s the maternal grandfather of the Seok Family’s third young master. Think you can handle that?”
He preached as if imparting worldly wisdom: bow to the strong, for that’s the way of the world.
Twitch!
As Hyeon Yucheon’s fist clenched at this pathetic drivel from the auctioneer,
“Ah! Perfect timing—they’re here.”
A wealthy entourage emerged from behind the auction house, right on cue.
They were decked out in expensive silks and glittering jewels.
Even their fluttering banners were of rare silk, embroidered with “Silver Light Merchant Group” in costly gold thread.
“Damn nuisances. Just sell it—why reject the auction?”
The leader of the group grumbled irritably.
A short, stocky middle-aged man with a flushed, drink-reddened nose.
This was Yi Jeong-gap, the head of the Silver Light Merchant Group.
He’d long eyed the Black Sword Pavilion site, and now that it was up for auction, he aimed to snatch it for free.
“Has the leader arrived?”
The auction house owner bent at a right angle upon seeing Yi Jeong-gap, rubbing his hands obsequiously.
The Demon Sword Sect group watched with bitter distaste at this sycophantic display.
“Who the hell is it? Who owns this lot?”
Yi Jeong-gap bellowed furiously.
When the real victims should have been the ones shouting.
“I’m the owner of that lot.”
Hyeon Yucheon wanted to sever his head on the spot but couldn’t resort to force immediately, so he provoked him instead.
“What? A kid?”
As Yi Jeong-gap tried to dismiss him crudely,
“If a kid’s property tempts you enough to offer less than a tenth the price… then you’re not a kid—you’re worse than a beast.”
Hyeon Yucheon was gifted in many ways.
One was his sharp, florid tongue.
“W-what did you say?”
Yi Jeong-gap couldn’t believe his ears.
Who was he?
High officials and even Murim Alliance northern Hubei branch members bowed to him whenever he appeared.
He dined with Seok Family elites, dominating Hubei’s commerce.
Yet this young boy called him worse than a beast.
“Even your ears are fattened?”
Unable to contain his rage, Yi Jeong-gap barked orders at his subordinates.
“What are you waiting for? Rip that arrogant brat’s mouth off!”
They were super first-rate warriors hired by the Silver Light Merchant Group—skilled ones at that.
They had no desire to join this pathetic brawl, but gold’s power was immense.
Swish!
As they reluctantly drew weapons to deal with Hyeon Yucheon,
Whoooosh!
Suddenly, a ferocious gale of inner energy erupted from Hyeon Yucheon’s direction—impossible to describe in words.
It was, of course, the Black Wolf Three Swords unleashing their power.
Each a super peak expert, they were untouchable by mere super first-rate rabble.
“Consider this a warning. Anyone who takes a single step will lose their head.”
And not just that.
Cheonjwa, the hot-tempered youngest of the Black Wolf Three Swords brothers, issued the threat.
Gulp!
At super first-rate level, one could gauge strength to some degree.
Only then did they realize.
These three who looked like ordinary middle-aged guards were rare powerhouses even in northern Hubei.
“Puhahaha! Ridiculous!”
Ignorant of martial arts, Yi Jeong-gap blabbered obliviously.
“The men I hired are super first-rate experts! Know what that means? You pathetic old fogeys can’t even look them in the eye!”
The ignorant always make the most noise about what they don’t understand.
Unaware, Yi Jeong-gap strutted proudly, convinced his guards were superior.
“Um…”
“Leader.”
But what was this?
His ever-reliable, fearsome super first-rate guards were shrinking back?
“What’s wrong with you? Hurry up and slaughter that kid and his geezer sidekicks!”
Among those gathered behind the Black Room Auction House, only two failed to read the room.
Yi Jeong-gap and the auction house owner—just those two.
“Th-the opponents… they’re all super peak experts.”
The highest-ranking among Yi Jeong-gap’s guards forced out the words.
“What? What did you say?”
Yi Jeong-gap doubted his ears.
‘No way. Super peak warriors don’t just hire out to anyone.’
He was right.
Moving super peak experts with gold alone would cost a fortune.
Even Yi Jeong-gap, head of the Silver Light Merchant Group, couldn’t afford it.
Moreover, they didn’t lend their strength lightly—you needed connections too.
Only someone like the Seok Family patriarch could manage that.
Clang, clunk!
In the end, Yi Jeong-gap’s guards dropped their weapons to the ground and surrendered.
“Forgive us, Leader. We sell our skills, not our lives.”
At their actions, Yi Jeong-gap finally grasped the shit from the bean paste.
“Hey! Don’t do this…”
Panicking like his feet were on fire, he tried persuading his guards again, but
“You three masters! Could you be… the renowned Black Wolf Three Swords?”
The eldest guard ignored Yi Jeong-gap entirely, addressing the Black Wolf Three Swords directly.
Nod.
Cheonjung nodded in affirmation.
That ended the standoff between the two groups.
“We’ll take our leave. We respect the Black Wolf Three Swords’ will.”
Fearful of offending them, they fidgeted nervously.
Yi Jeong-gap and the Silver Light Merchant Group were scary, but worst case, they could flee Hubei.
But the Black Wolf Three Swords were wanderers who’d scoured the Central Plains hunting the Demon Sword Ghost Elder.
Who knew when they might cross paths again?
“Thanks.”
At Cheonu’s gesture to go, whoosh!
Yi Jeong-gap’s guards vanished without a trace—not one remained.
In the end, only Yi Jeong-gap and the auction house owner were left.
“What the hell is going on?”
Yi Jeong-gap flailed in utter confusion.
Having watched calmly, Hyeon Yucheon finally stepped forward.
“Yi Jeong-gap. Sell me the Black Sword Pavilion’s buildings and land for fifty gold taels.”
But then, to everyone’s shock, Hyeon Yucheon said something unexpected.
Of course, it was pure mockery.
“But… how much for your life?”