258. The Time When Fruits Ripen (5)
Sudden profanity made the Sura Gate disciples furrow their brows. What gave this lowly freeloader the right to curse like that...?
"Honey!"
Before the Sura Gate men could step forward, a middle-aged woman shot toward them like an arrow, her shout making the white-haired man freeze with a scalded expression.
"D-dear..."
"Didn't you promise not to curse anymore?"
Hard to believe this was the same man who'd just spat venom like a yaksha—his neck shrank back meekly.
"S-sorry... It just looked like I was pressuring the folks who've treated us so kindly..."
But the woman shook her head firmly and pointed at their daughter.
"Even so, cursing starts all conflicts. Restrain yourself. What will Jiya learn from this?"
"Daddy...?"
Glancing at his adorable daughter's face, the man hurriedly cleared his throat.
"R-right. Got it. Ahem."
Then, plastering on a smile, he asked again in a polite tone.
"How can such dog-like scum be so rude?"
"...Honey."
"Hm? Did I say something wrong? Those bastards aren't even worth the black path thugs, are they?"
"Even if..."
The couple's back-and-forth finally snapped Ju Yeongsan's patience.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
As Ju Yeongsan unleashed his killing intent, the white-haired man stepped in front of the woman and child. The sight furrowed Ju Yeongsan's brow deeply.
'He... dispelled it?'
It wasn't full power, but it wasn't something to brush off easily either. Yet the woman and child behind him showed no sign of being affected, their faces blank with confusion.
Unlike his bulging veins, the white-haired man's voice remained polite, mindful of his daughter.
"I heard from outside you're from Sura Gate. That true?"
"Yes."
But only for a moment.
"One of the top sects among the 108 Peaks, or did I hear wrong?"
"What nonsense is this?"
A growl slipped through the man's gritted teeth, disguised as courtesy.
"It doesn't make sense for shit-eating bastards like these to be from a 108 Peaks sect."
"Honey!"
"Ah, sorry."
The woman scolded again, and the white-haired man stepped back. Glaring at them, Ju Yeongsan nodded, and Ho Gwon Danju advanced as his guard.
Crack.
Ho Gwon Danju extended one hand in a ready stance, prompting a smirk from the white-haired man.
"Kid, even without my sword, do I look that easy?"
"Where does a rice-munching parasite get off?"
As Ho Gwon Danju gathered his energy for a strike, a transmission sounded.
—Ho Gwon Danju. Let him hit you.
Ho Gwon Danju frowned in confusion, but Ju Yeongsan continued.
—This gives us justification.
Understanding his lord's intent, Ho Gwon Danju nodded and charged forward.
"Haat!"
His hearty punch cleaved the air, but the white-haired man casually caught it with one hand.
"If you're not going to do it right, stop."
"...!"
Caught too easily against expectations, Ho Gwon Danju panicked. Another transmission buzzed in his ear.
—Now!
Curious about the white-haired man's identity, but sect matters came first. He didn't dodge the incoming blow.
Cough!
Ho Gwon Danju rolled across the floor.
"Urgh!"
Clutching his chest like he'd taken a mortal wound, he writhed on the ground. Ju Yeongsan and the elder rushed to him.
"Yeonggi!"
"Ho Gwon Danju! You okay?!"
At that moment, Wang Geumsan and Jin Taesan emerged from the office and froze at the scene.
"What... is this?!"
Cough.
Amid it all, Ho Gwon Danju spat blood. Ju Yeongsan cradled him and bellowed.
"Daecheon Merchant Group Lord! Is this Daecheon Merchant Group's will?!"
Wang Geumsan and Jin Taesan scanned the room, grasping the situation. Anyone could see a major incident had erupted.
Glaring at their troubled faces, Ju Yeongsan shot to his feet.
"If you settle things like this, Sura Gate won't stand idle!"
With that, the sect leader stormed out of Daecheon Merchant Group, the elder hoisting Ho Gwon Danju on his back and following.
"..."
Everyone in the room realized things had gone terribly wrong.
#
"I'm sorry..."
Baek Hae-gwang bowed deeply.
"Those bastards—no, since they've hosted my family so kindly, I couldn't shake my old temper and..."
Despite Baek Hae-gwang and Seop Sojeong's sincere apologies, the mood remained heavy.
"First, move them somewhere else."
Wang Geumsan was quickest to suggest a response in the crisis.
"Sura Gate has their excuse now, flimsy or not—they won't sit still. Best to relocate them and deny everything."
Jin Taesan eyed Baek Hae-gwang quietly before shaking his head.
"We can't. We've already promised Sowoon."
He meant helping establish their sect. Wang Geumsan thumped his chest in frustration.
"Man, if they stay, it'll blow up. Better to throw money at it than blood."
Baek Hae-gwang, who'd been listening silently, chimed in.
"Truth be told, I was about to say the same. It feels too shameless to accept help with founding a sect on top of sheltering us wanderers."
"See?"
"You've already bestowed enough grace taking in my three. Staying longer would only harm you."
With even Baek Hae-gwang saying this, Wang Geumsan pressed harder.
"I'll find them a place. No worries about their livelihood."
But concern lingered on Jin Taesan's face.
"...If we pin the blame on them alone, won't they live as fugitives forever?"
"That's..."
Wang Geumsan trailed off, mouth clamping shut.
Sura Gate might not be mighty, but their 108 Peaks status and Murim Alliance backing were. If they leaned on the Alliance over this, Baek Hae-gwang's family could spend life on the run.
Jin Taesan spoke slowly.
"I heard you taught Sowoon."
"It wasn't much. Just something I didn't need anymore..."
Watching Baek Hae-gwang scratch his head sheepishly, Jin Taesan smiled warmly.
"From the day whiskers sprouted on his face, that boy carved his own path without leaning on anyone."
To a father's eyes, his son was still small. How proud yet anxious he'd felt seeing him stand alone.
"I know best it wasn't independence, but distrust in his unreliable father and masters."
Reclaiming the Tae-eul Divine Scripture, upholding Tae-eul Gate's honor—all Sowoon's doing. The boy had shielded even the elders from the storm.
Hearing him call this man a "master like a teacher"—how grateful was that?
"A kid out in the world alone, shouldering young juniors too. How much you must've meant to him."
That's why he wanted to repay double, triple.
"No need to bow anymore. And no reason to become fugitives for us."
Wang Geumsan stomped in exasperation.
"Taesan, you stubborn fool!"
"..."
But Jin Taesan raised a hand to silence him, firm.
"In five hundred years, Tae-eul Gate has never betrayed a debt. Even losing everything, we've kept faith—and we always will."
"..."
"Don't worry. This merchant group was our son's creation. If it can be a foundation for his master's new start, what better use?"
Jin Taesan turned to Baek Hae-gwang.
"Even if the group falls, we'll aid your sect founding. So..."
Finally, the father clasped his fists toward his son's master.
"Please continue guiding him well."
Even as their vast merchant group teetered on the jaws of ruin, Jin Taesan bowed. Baek Hae-gwang trembled.
Seop Sojeong's eyes welled up watching him.
"Honey..."
Lips bitten tight, Baek Hae-gwang returned the fist-clasp.
"First, my apologies. I vowed to walk the straight path, yet my conduct falls short. Shadows of the past linger. But if you'll entrust this to me as atonement...?"
"What...?"
Resolution gleamed in his eyes.
"Exactly that. Allow me to face Sura Gate in Daecheon Merchant Group's stead."
"..."
"..."
Jin Taesan and Wang Geumsan were speechless. Was this man sane? Sura Gate, backed by Shaolin, top of the 108 Peaks. Even Iron Sword Sect wouldn't tangle lightly.
"I'll start over from scratch."
Baek Hae-gwang bowed again. His wife Seop Sojeong followed, and even Jiya, with her innocent smile, bent awkwardly at the waist.
Wang Geumsan and Jin Taesan exchanged complicated glances.
#
'A million blessings.'
Ju Yeongsan sighed deeply.
He hadn't bought Jin Taesan's absurd tale. Still, he'd sent word urgently to their branch in Jingdo, only to be told to wait for headquarters. Four days later, certainty dawned.
'Damn it all, that bastard was telling the truth...'
For some reason, Shaolin wanted no part. They'd egged Sura Gate on over Daecheon Merchant Group's expansion, then backed out now.
Even so, Ju Yeongsan wouldn't halt. Investigations revealed Daecheon's vast network, branches dominating Tianmu Mountains, poised for Hangzhou. A golden goose indeed.
Any sect would covet it in Tae-eul Gate's hands. If black path sects expanding influence snatched it...
White path contraction in Anhui was inevitable.
'Yes, this is for justice!'
Then, armed Ho Gwon Danju entered with crisp poise.
"Preparations complete, Sect Leader!"
Prime contributor to this chance—beaten by a freeloader for perfect pretext. Sura Gate now had cause to strike.
"Wang Geumsan might intervene. Ignore them utterly. Subdue only Daecheon personnel swiftly, force the contract seal. Understood?"
"Yes! All briefed."
Justice proclaimed, greed glittered in Sura Gate Leader's eyes.
"Then let's go."
Donning his prized "Iron Armor" gauntlets, Ju Yeongsan led. His wrist-guarded disciples trailed in a long line.
#
"Daecheon Merchant Group, hear us! You've inflicted irrecoverable wounds on our Ho Gwon Danju through insidious plots and ambush. Surrender the culprit and compensate!"
His voice boomed, echoing—fight was inevitable anyway.
"Freeloaders" were vital guests. Handing one to foes tanked trust. Sometimes honor trumped gold or force.
Sacrificing guests for fear invited scorn. Only option: hide them, validating Sura Gate's assault.
'Kuhuhu, true four-sided siege.'
Grinning at swallowing the goose, as Ho Gwon Danju—bearing "irrecoverable wounds"—shouted his final warning, per custom thrice before action.
"Daecheon Merchant Group, hear us! You've inflicted irrecoverable wounds on our Ho Gwon Danju through insidious plots and ambush. Surrender the culprit and compen—"
Then.
Creeeak.
The firmly shut doors opened. The white-haired man strolled out casually.
"...Cough, ahem. Man, this is embarrassing."
...Baek Hae-gwang, the very man who'd left Ho Gwon Danju with "irrecoverable wounds."
Sura Gate disciples, poised to charge, gawked in disbelief.
Center of attention, Baek Hae-gwang scratched his cheek shyly and bellowed.
"This seat—no, I am... the lord of Baekgeom Gate. Ahem, Baek Hae-gwang."
Such awkward nonchalance amid tension.
"W-well, I regret my past actions and wish to apologize."
Ho Gwon Danju's face went slack at the sudden apology. Undeterred, Baek Hae-gwang clasped fists and bowed to him.
"So please, head back."
Finished, Baek Hae-gwang shuddered like his body itched.
Silence hung briefly.
Then, Sura Gate leader and disciples erupted in mad laughter, some tearing up in mockery.
"Kahahahaha!"
"What a lunatic!"
"Ever heard of Baekgeom Gate?"
"First time. But the name screams third-rate!"
Amid sneers and derision, Baek Hae-gwang remained impassive.
Ju Yeongsan stepped forward.
"Why doesn't Daecheon Merchant Group step up?"
Baek Hae-gwang shrugged lightly.
"It's my mess; I'll clean it."
"Hah... Abandoning a guest?"
"Not abandoning—I'll handle it."
Ju Yeongsan sighed loudly on purpose.
"What group discards guests?! Especially Tae-eul Gate's Daecheon!"
"...Black or white path, same thick skulls."
Ju Yeongsan glared indignantly.
"You alone? What'll you settle? Your head?!"
"Sheesh, one punch and now heads roll..."
"Then? Fight us?!"
To the sharp bark, Baek Hae-gwang just smacked his lips nonchalantly.
"...I was trying to apologize..."
"Idiot! 'Blood debts demand blood'—you know the saying?!"
"I've taken plenty; it's no good..."
"Shut it! Take responsibility with blood!"
"Keep interrupting, you son of a—er, Sect Leader?"
Glancing back briefly, Baek Hae-gwang scratched his head and nodded.
"Truth is, this suits me better."
He drew a sword borrowed from a merchant guard.
Shing.
"Might cause damage, so... all at once?"
"Hah... hahaha..."
Ju Yeongsan gaped at the fearlessly mad act. Ho Gwon Danju asked blankly.
"Sect Leader, what now?"
Over a hundred elites—Sura Gate's finest disciples. Enough to war mid-tier sects. Facing alone? Utter madness.
"Kill him. After today, no one trusts Tae-eul Gate's Daecheon."
A dead guest? No dealings. Alliance might probe too.
"Attack!"
"Yes!"
At Ho Gwon Danju's order, five disciples charged with hearty punches.
"Told you all at once..."
These five: elites among elites. The mad white-hair should shatter sword in one second, stance break in two, vitals hit and qi twist in three, vomit blood in four, die in five.
Or so it should be.
Thud, thud, thud.
Yet the five charging Baek Hae-gwang crumpled like marionettes with cut strings.
"W-what...?"
Ju Yeongsan's eyes bulged as Baek Hae-gwang's casual voice rang.
"Don't worry. Just knocked out."
"Impossible..."
"Keep cutting in, you bi—er, anyway, if you won't come, I'll go."
Baek Hae-gwang finally assumed a proper sword stance seriously.
Click.
Instantly, inexplicable dread hit.
"W-what is..."
To Ju Yeongsan, a massive crimson demon loomed behind Baek Hae-gwang.
Not just him—disciples sensed crisis from fallen comrades, lunging in group assault.
But.
"R-run—"
Too late; Ju Yeongsan shouted futilely.
Ping— The air-rending whoosh engulfed every Sura Gate disciple.