Chapter 63
Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Patriarch's Arrival
What was the most essential thing needed to grow a force's size?
Martial prowess? Charisma or fame?
Of course, those mattered too, but money always came first.
'I'm even paying that bastard Cheon Woojin a salary...'
There were at least three hundred first-rate warriors under the Moyong Family.
How much would it cost to pay their salaries every month?
Thus, the Moyong Family operated countless businesses as well.
'And when you run businesses, unavoidable issues crop up.'
They wouldn't get paid what was owed.
In other words, bad debts were inevitable.
Of course, no one had the guts to stiff the Moyong Family outright, but unavoidable situations still arose.
Some debts turned into hopeless cases that couldn't be collected, becoming losses for the Moyong Family.
A bad debt had arisen.
So how would the Moyong Family handle it?
'Report it to the authorities?'
That wouldn't yield any real gains.
What difference would reporting broke debtors make in the first place?
It would only tarnish their reputation.
So the Moyong Family handled these bad debts—and covered their losses—with a simple, straightforward method.
'Selling off the debt.'
They dumped the receivables on someone else at a discount.
And the sect buying them up from the Moyong Family was the Sagal Sect.
So what would the Sagal Sect do after buying the debts cheap?
'Squeeze out the money by any means necessary. And the easiest, most reliable way is human trafficking.'
The Moyong Family couldn't possibly be ignorant of such an obvious practice.
In other words, the family that Moyong Hui cherished so dearly had been tolerating the Sagal Sect's depraved ways.
Of course, that didn't mean the Moyong Family patriarch needed to come personally apologize to the victims.
The patriarch wouldn't even know about such trivial matters to begin with.
'It's all for show.'
With Moyong Hui watching, they were just putting on an exaggerated performance.
And the patriarch wasn't some idle layabout who would bother showing up for this.
'No way the head of one of the Five Great Families would mobilize over a little hostage drama in a brothel.'
No one had even died. It was just a minor disturbance.
Now it was my turn to step in.
"Cheon Woojin. I understand what you're saying. But how does that make it the Moyong Family patriarch's fault?"
I took a step forward, projecting my voice sternly.
Of course, I infused a bit of internal energy so the gathered crowd could hear clearly.
'This kind of staging is crucial.'
"My lord, how could this happen if the Moyong Family overlooked such matters? Especially since this gisaeng Eunha's parents borrowed from the Moyong Family itself."
"Even if we grant that the Moyong Family overlooked it as you claim, how would the patriarch know? I never imagined you'd pull something like this... Are you seriously suggesting the patriarch personally ordered that girl Eunha to be sold?"
"Not that, but..."
The previously confident Cheon Woojin faltered and fell silent.
Time to move to the next phase.
"Lady Moyong. Were you aware of this?"
"...How could I be? I've never even heard of human trafficking in Shenyang, let alone it involving our Moyong Family..."
"Then what do you make of this incident, Lady Moyong?"
"I don't think the Heavenly Warrior is lying... but I can't take his word alone at face value. I'll look into it personally and handle it fairly."
Sparks seemed to fly from Moyong Hui's eyes.
Her sense of justice had been thoroughly ignited.
Confirming that, I turned back to Cheon Woojin.
"You heard her. Lower your sword and release the hostage."
"But..."
"Do you distrust Lady Moyong? Or is it me, Mok Jimyeong, you can't trust? There's an order to everything! We'll investigate the full story before acting, so release her first!"
Using this unfamiliar speech pattern was giving me goosebumps.
But the play wasn't over yet, so I maintained a stern expression.
In the end, Cheon Woojin couldn't defy my command and sheathed his sword.
"My apologies, my lord. I acted too rashly."
The play was over.
The hostages were freed, and I'd planted seeds of doubt about her family in Moyong Hui's heart.
Just as the incident seemed resolved, over a hundred Moyong Family warriors belatedly surrounded us.
And the leader of the Heaven-Earth Division, who had escorted us here, spoke up.
"Apologies, but you'll have to come with us first."
He'd even drawn his sword, radiating menace.
'Good, this is exactly what I expected.'
We'd caused a commotion and taken hostages, after all.
We'd even sullied the Moyong Family's reputation. No way they'd just say, "Thanks for your hard work. See you next time," and let us go.
Their response was entirely predictable.
But Moyong Hui frowned, unable to comprehend.
"Captain Yoo, what is this? Drawing your sword?"
"Miss, they caused a disturbance regardless. It's not too late to escort them to the main family and sort out the details."
"That's not what I mean. Why draw your sword...? Are you planning to intimidate them with force?!"
"Just in case. Especially that Cheon Woojin—he's a peak expert, so resistance would be troublesome..."
"Captain Yoo!"
Moyong Hui raised her voice, seemingly too immersed in the drama.
She was already treating Cheon Woojin's words as established fact.
'Of course, it is the truth.'
I hadn't fabricated anything.
The Sagal Sect really had sold off that gisaeng Eunha, and the Moyong Family was indeed complicit.
The argument between Moyong Hui and Captain Yoo dragged on.
"Miss, I won't stop you from investigating personally. But we can't just let them go like this."
"The Heavenly Warrior didn't act out of malice, and no one was hurt. Besides, what's the reason for pointing swords at Young Master Mok too?!"
I was a little touched.
I hadn't expected her to defend me so pointedly.
'Looks like I've built up quite a bit of favor.'
The two days of effort hadn't been wasted—I felt proud.
Captain Yoo let out a small sigh in response.
"Haa, miss. Isn't that one his subordinate? Naturally, the master must come along too."
Moyong Hui seemed ready to counter again.
I raised my palm to calm her.
"Lady Moyong, I'm deeply grateful for standing up for me... but may I speak first?"
She retreated a step, looking frustrated but compliant.
Captain Yoo wore an expression of wary curiosity.
As I said, the play had been a resounding success.
Seeds of doubt were sown in Moyong Hui's heart, right on target.
'So now what?'
Even if she broke free from her family-first shackles, that was the end of it.
No way she'd suddenly swoon, "Oh, Young Master Mok," and fall for me.
'She might fall for Cheon Woojin instead.'
All I'd done in this play was rein in that bastard Cheon Woojin.
I was just a supporting actor, at best.
'Now it's time for me to take the lead.'
I strode forward toward Captain Yoo.
And opened my mouth.
"I'll admit my subordinate erred. But what does that have to do with dragging me to the Moyong Family?"
My sudden shift in tone made him furrow his brow slightly.
But he pressed on with his standard argument.
"A master's responsibility for his subordinate's mistakes is only natural."
"A master's responsibility for his subordinate's mistakes? Did you just say that?"
"...Young Master Mok, was it? Mind your words."
"Kuk, mind my words?"
Even saying it gave me goosebumps.
Cheon Woojin's acting was done, but mine was just beginning.
Bam—
I stomped the ground hard, lifting my foot high.
At the same time, I unleashed the Formless Qi—Chuwonrak's unique martial art—to its limit.
"I, Mok Jimyeong, have lived without a shred of shame my entire life! Yet the Moyong Family treats me like a criminal! A master's responsibility for his subordinate's mistakes? Then where is the Moyong Family patriarch who must take responsibility for this?!"
The stomp and invoking the patriarch were all for show.
It was to demonstrate to the gathered commoners and Moyong Hui: "I'm strong and righteous."
"Drag me away? Do you lot even have the ability? Mind your words? Are you the ones keeping silent out of caution?!"
For the record, my Formless Qi had silenced them all.
"I don't believe my subordinate lied. Therefore, I, Mok Jimyeong, will now thoroughly investigate this incident. And if evidence links the Moyong Family, I will hold their patriarch accountable!"
Of course, I had no intention of actually confronting the real patriarch.
Just roughly deal with the Sagal Sect under my lead, enlighten Moyong Hui... and gain some fame among the common folk?
That was the entirety of my plan.
'Oh, and show off my manly side too.'
No one within a li radius could move under my Formless Qi.
In that state, I slowly scanned the surroundings with a stern expression.
This was to firmly imprint my presence on everyone.
When I felt it was enough and prepared to release the Formless Qi...
'What? That guy?'
I spotted a single figure moving leisurely toward me.
'He slipped my Formless Qi already? No, when did he even...?'
I hadn't noticed until seeing him with my own eyes.
It was as if he'd mounted the Anti-Wave Return Formation...
'Wait, Anti-Wave Return Formation?'
The Moyong Family had only three publicly known Transcendent Realm experts.
And matching that appearance and attire, only one came to mind.
The middle-aged man who approached at an unhurried pace finally spoke.
"Were you the one looking for me?"
The Moyong Family patriarch, whom I thought would never show up here.
He had come in person.