Golden Night Journey (6)
Dongryong's sword stabbed sharply toward his vital acupoint.
Geum Pyo desperately twisted his body while stepping into the Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps.
Riiip.
His clothes were barely sliced, but he didn't think he'd dodged it. He'd seen Dongryong subtly twist his wrist at the last moment.
"Haat!"
He channeled the Tae-eul True Scripture to unleash the Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion.
Shwaaaaa.
Dozens of illusory swords and the true blade dominated Dongryong from all directions, surging in.
Normally, he should have seen his little brother swept into the storm of blades, bleeding and shredded. But a blue sword aura shot up, slicing through the blade storm.
Boom boom boom!
Dongryong folded space amid the shattered Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion, charging straight in. He deflected Geum Pyo's desperately flung sword auras with the blunt side of his sword in his left hand, closing the gap in the shortest distance.
Geum Pyo grimaced.
Damn Heavenly Killing Star!
The talent of the Heavenly Killing Star, which perfectly suppresses killing intent, is not something ordinary humans can touch.
The line from a book in Manseogo floated to mind.
Even so, a brother's heart refused to lose to his sibling, denying even truth itself.
"Haaaaap!"
With the Tae-eul True Scripture pushed to extremes, his uniform swelled as if about to burst. Illusory swords formed in the air, targeting Dongryong's deadly acupoints.
Shwaaaaa.
The two Ten Thousand Swords created nearly a hundred illusory blades, while the Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps scattered over a dozen afterimages to confuse the eyes.
True and false would be indistinguishable amid the honed blades. In such an extreme pinch, the Heavenly Killing Star wouldn't have the rationality left to discern the real body.
But.
Shwaaaaak!
The Heavenly Killing Star's talent wasn't at that level. Instinctual bloodlust. Efficiency for the next kill. A tenacious obsession and desire for murder that crushed ordinary things.
Like one seeking water amid endless thirst, or gasping for air in drowning depths.
The desire to kill overcame it all.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Dongryong's blunt sword shot forward, not even distinguishing illusory from true—not even trying—stopping abruptly just before slicing Geum Pyo's throat.
"...Hah, hah, hah."
The blade's chill crept up his thin nape.
"...Hehet, I win, bro!"
Back to his usual foolish little brother self, Dongryong beamed, reveling in his victory.
Idiot. Had he forgotten he'd been winning not just this time, but lately too?
"Yeah, good job!"
Geum Pyo ruffled Dongryong's hair, and the kid burrowed deeper into his big bro's embrace, delighted.
For a moment, Geum Pyo envied his opponent's insane talent, then smiled.
Because that opponent was someone he could never hate.
Then.
"There you all are."
"Eunho-hyung!"
Dongryong toddled over and hugged Eunho, who had become hard to see lately as a representative team executive. He whipped his head around, searching.
"Where's big senior bro?"
"Said he had something to pick up from Mantongbu and left."
"Mantongbu?"
Eunho had realized after half a year at the academy that regular students rarely had business at Mantongbu. And that it was an amazing place, with most graduates dreaming of joining it.
In that light, it was astonishing how casually big senior bro frequented Mantongbu. But with all the extraordinary events lately, he'd just shrugged it off.
Otherwise, he couldn't stay sane knowing what big senior bro dealt with "normally(?)."
Geum Pyo, brushing off his torn hem, asked casually.
"What's it this time?"
"No idea. Has he ever explained that stuff in detail?"
Eunho grumbled, a bit miffed. But he understood big senior bro's mindset too.
Big senior bro always shouldered everything alone. For them, and for Tae-eulmun's future disciples, he walked the razor's edge without hesitation.
One misstep, and he'd plunge into an endless swamp. Yet he never snapped at his juniors.
'Probably because he doesn't trust us yet.'
No expectations meant no anger.
"Sigh..."
The road was long. Before worrying about Tae-eulmun and his own path, he still had far to go just to catch up to big senior bro.
Lost in thought, Eunho suddenly thrust out a document.
"What's this?"
"Semester-end eval results. Saw it in your dorm, so I brought it."
Despite everything, the three brothers had studied diligently for the written exams.
Dongryong's face lit up as he took his sheet.
"Whoa! Bros, I got two Grade A!"
"Lemme see... This is all practical duel theory. I told you to study tactics and strategy too. Otherwise, you'll get screwed on assignments later."
"Hiiing, but written exams are haaard..."
Eunho barked.
"Hard my ass! Just memorize what the instructors gave you! Honestly, anyone getting Grade E has rocks for brains. We spoon-fed it all—how do they still flunk? Those idiots should just go home. If a thick-skulled moron like that leads, the whole unit dies."
Dongryong's shoulders slumped. He'd been smug about beating Geum Pyo moments ago.
"...Got it. I'll study harder."
"Remember! Grow a brain or stick to Grade E."
Eunho pressed his brows harder.
"If anyone in our Yi family gets Grade E, I'll tell Dad to kick 'em off the registry."
"...Hiiing, okay."
Then Eunho turned to silent Geum Pyo.
"Geum Pyo-hyung. Say something."
"Uh, me?"
"Give Dongryong a word."
Under Eunho's prodding, Geum Pyo stared at his results, then bowed his head.
"Oh, me? Can I even say anything to Dongryong-gun, Eunho-ssi?"
"..."
A bad feeling hit. Eunho strode over and snatched the sheet.
And on it.
"...Insane!"
...Three Grade E.
A certain Geum Pyo said nothing more to Yi Eunho after that.
#
"How're we handling the leftover supplies?!"
"For now, transferring next year's allocations early to the Sichuan branch..."
"Those bastards'll write it off as scraps and request new ones. Close the records early so they can't!"
"Uh, the injured..."
"Reject transport for the injured, I said!"
"But they want to return to the Alliance for treatment..."
"If they wanna come back, let 'em walk! You know how much escort wagons cost?!"
"Deputy chief, complaints are flooding in from the warriors in transit..."
Everyone knew Mantongbu was always busy, but today's vibe was on another level.
Like a warzone.
Well, command centers got busier post-battle than during, so it made sense.
'The chief strategist plans to use this chaos.'
Man, what a schemer. If I hadn't lived two lives, I'd be wide-eyed and nose-cut.
'Dragging me in at his busiest hour.'
High-interest debtors' favorite trick, I'd heard. Creditors feel bad amid the frenzy and settle for less.
Soon, Jegal Somyeong stormed in, fuming.
"Idiots. They won't listen."
"You're here, sir?"
The deputy chief approached, but Jegal Somyeong flung his report on the floor.
"Rewrite this! Make it convincing enough for those elders to shut up and nod!"
"S-sorry, sir."
Still steaming, Jegal Somyeong scanned the room—our eyes nearly met.
"And why's the air so stuffy?! Air it out!"
That old fox. Pretending not to see me?
"Yessir!"
His thunderous order sent staff scrambling like lightning struck.
Jegal Somyeong started another task, then "noticed" me and scowled.
"You here... Ah, today, right?"
Sly as ever. But I wasn't bad at politics or mind games.
I bowed politely.
"If you're busy, shall I come back?"
"No need. It'll get busier, so let's wrap it quick today."
He slammed the door shut and sat. He skimmed a report, stamped it, and shoved it aside before speaking.
"I'm swamped, so cut the crap. Make it simple."
"Yes, sir. I don't want to bother you either."
"What do you want?"
He spoke while reading, not meeting my eyes.
Just like Hwang Gi-yeong from Small Justice Squad said—no differences from a loan shark.
That deliberate snub crushes creditor momentum, making it hard to demand payment.
Sure enough, I couldn't easily voice my demands.
"What I want is..."
"Short and sweet. No fluff."
"Y-yes."
Luckily, Hwang Gi-yeong was a pro at collections, and I'd heard his tales drunk countless times.
First step against tough debtors: make them realize exactly how much they owe.
Best way to drill that in...
"Have Dae-cheon Merchant Group handle supplies for Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi Alliance branches. And from the Gold Jade Treasury, I want the Azure Dragon Sword."
Demand more than owed.
He froze.
"..."
Not glancing at me once since entering, Jegal Somyeong now stared.
"Are you insane?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know what you're asking?!"
I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Didn't you tell me to say what I want?"
"Hah! Why not ask for Mengju's seat while at it."
"Can you give it?"
"Nonsense!"
"I'm just gauging fair pay for what I did."
"For what you did?"
Demand more than owed, and the debtor sits to negotiate. Can't pay unowed otherwise.
"What you did was great. But not enough to swallow three provinces."
Like Jegal Somyeong glaring now.
"Then what's fair, in your view?"
He pondered, then spoke.
"Dae-cheon expanded to Tianmu Mountains, right? I'll give you Hangzhou branch supplies."
"That's not payment. We'd reach Hangzhou on our own anyway."
"Alliance work is a member's duty."
"Not exactly a full member. I went to Sahyeokryeon instead of Mantongbu work."
"Even so, Gold Jade Treasury's absurd, right?"
They'll deny endlessly.
"Why absurd? You knew the envoy mission was impossible."
"Yes. Impossible, and it failed. No Sahyeokryeon alliance."
"Don't forget their 'friendship relic' gift."
"They dumped a hot potato they couldn't touch."
"But in your hands, Chief Strategist, it's worth more than equal gold, no?"
Draw a high line first; negotiations anchor there.
Then pierce their intent.
"Honestly, you're planning to use that hot potato on the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, right?"
"..."
Jegal Somyeong eyed me complexly.
How do you know?
"You not announcing its return to the Alliance says it all."
"Blackmail?"
Corner them as desired, but don't bruise egos.
I shook my head politely.
"Of course not. I just want fair pay for my merits."
"That's a warrior's duty."
Imprint potential damages logically.
"For normal jobs, yes. But this was huge."
"Huge how?"
"Yes. A normal warrior to Sahyeokryeon? Dies or flees, reports incident. Then war with Sahyeokryeon—inevitable, and with Blood Cult unresolved, it'd devastate the Alliance."
Hold the high line; defend till 'maybe fair' sticks.
"Countless Alliance warriors dead, Alliance crumbling to dust."
"Absurd! Five centuries—such crises aren't new."
"Just examples. Anyway, if I don't get fair pay for such merit..."
Add justification; tilt the board.
"...why would others shatter bones for the Alliance?"
Jegal Somyeong hesitated, then spoke.
"Your mission won't be publicized anyway."
"I know. But no fair pay turns all members selfish."
"..."
Impression set: high line not unfair.
"..."
Don't push; wait leisurely till they speak.
"...I'll give the Flying Dragon Robe from Silver Jade Treasury, plus Zhejiang distribution rights."
Almost there.
I hid my rising smirk.
Flying Dragon Robe was great for offense and defense. But no immediate use.
Don't show hand; use for leverage.
I conceded a step, letting him feel victorious.
"As I said, Zhejiang's ours via Wang Clan ties anyway. Add Jiangsu rights. But item from Murim Treasury instead."
"Murim Treasury?"
"Yes. The Diamond Shield there."
Non-warriors undervalue shields. Shame to carry one.
Thus, godly Diamond Shield in lesser Murim Treasury.
My lowered demand furrowed his brows.
"A shield?"
"Yes."
From Gold Jade to this—natural suspicion.
"What for?"
Useless now, but in war, Diamond Shield bearers survived longest.
I downplayed.
"Solid iron lump, right? Melt for several swords."
"..."
I felt him pondering, weighing profits.
Accept if he gains; reject with excuses if loss.
Time for the wedge.
"If not, as I first said: Azure Dragon Sword from Gold Jade Treasury."
Tripping their resolve aids good collectors.
"..."
As expected, he nodded, convinced of his gain.
"Fine. Accepted."
"Thank you, esteemed customer."
Ah, slipped out in excitement...
"Esteemed customer? What's that?"
"Ah! Means a generous, steadfast gentleman."
"I see."
Jegal Somyeong nodded, pleased with the term.
Of course—back-alley slang unknown to him.
Looked a decade younger. Whew.