People Grow the Most When They Get Beaten (2)
Hoegumgak.
This was the place that managed every bit of money flowing in and out of the Namgung Clan. Its master was furrowing his brow. A middle-aged man stood before him, holding out a letter of resignation.
"What the hell is this?"
"My resignation."
"I get why, but isn't this a bit rash?"
"He finally snapped out of it and started doing his job properly. Hurry up and process it."
"Heh."
Namgung Jeon, the head of Hoegumgak, just chuckled. Namgung Don, the deputy head, stared at him in disbelief.
"Damn it! My little brother's dead serious, and you're laughing? Bro! Come on, seriously!"
The two had been like brothers since way back, thick as thieves.
"Do you know how much I suffered because of that old geezer? And you're just sitting here grinning like an idiot! I can't do this anymore—handle it yourself!"
Namgung Jeon pulled a single sheet of paper from his bosom as he watched his younger brother throw the same tantrum he'd had since they were kids.
"If you're really set on leaving the Namgung Clan, I won't stop you. But I can't just let you walk without showing you this."
Namgung Don opened his mouth without a hint of hesitation.
"Good riddance! I was worried you'd try to hold me back. I'll drop by now and then. Take care."
As Namgung Don turned to leave, Namgung Jeon spoke softly.
"Your ex-wife's family name was Yoon, right?"
Namgung Don's footsteps halted in an instant. He whipped around, eyes blazing, and charged at Namgung Jeon.
There was something called the reverse scale—not a dragon's weak spot, but the one place you touched and it flipped out completely.
For Namgung Don, that was his runaway ex-wife.
"Damn it! Why drag up that wretched bitch? You really wanna go all the way to the end? After all I've done for you!"
Namgung Don grabbed Namgung Jeon's collar. Suddenly, warriors materialized from empty air, drawing their swords in unison toward him.
"What? Gonna kill me now that I'm useless? Makes sense—I've got dozens of the Namgung Clan's secrets. Go on, try it!"
"Tsk tsk."
Namgung Jeon clicked his tongue at Namgung Don's flushed face and nodded to the warriors. They sheathed their blades and vanished just as quickly.
"Gungbyeok."
Namgung Don flinched the moment Namgung Jeon opened his mouth. Gungbyeok was his real name.
He'd been born poor. Namgung Jeon had spotted his talent and helped him rise to this position—though it was Namgung Don's own skills that made it possible.
"Fancy a drink? Your boy's about old enough for the academy, right? I'm not your blood brother, but we're sworn brothers bound by booze. You gonna let your big bro here snatch away even the chance to send your nephew to the Midlands' top school, the Namgung Clan's Ilwon-dang?"
"Screw that. I'll send him with my own money."
"Entrance fee alone is a thousand silver taels."
Ilwon-dang wasn't just for martial arts—it taught every field of knowledge within the Namgung Clan. It boasted the finest facilities and instructors in the Midlands, each a renowned scholar unequaled in their era, flawless teachers without a single flaw.
Due to their expertise, it only accepted a select few. And yet, despite the astronomical fees, more parents vied to enroll their kids every year. It was only natural—every graduate made a name for themselves in their field.
"Just the entrance fee? They collect silver every month for 'field trips,' inviting famous scholars, excursions to the Nine Great Sects for self-defense training, merchant guild visits, imperial palace tours, meetings with hidden hermits in the mountains... Add it all up, and your savings won't cut it. Maybe a month, tops."
His grip on the collar loosened.
"I've got plenty of money!"
"I know! If the Namgung Clan's deputy head claimed to be broke, the world would laugh."
"You're buying the drinks, obviously."
"Of course! If the head of Hoegumgak got treated by someone, the world would mock us."
"Let's go, then."
"Oh, wait. Before that."
Namgung Jeon curled his lips meaningfully. If a dragon's weakness was its reverse scale, its most irreplaceable treasure was its yeouiju orb.
For Namgung Don, his one and only son was that orb.
Namgung Jeon stopped him and pulled out the paper again.
"Don't you wanna know where your ex-wife's living? For when your boy grows up and wants to see his mom. Gotta be prepared, right?"
Namgung Don's eyes widened impossibly as he snatched the paper.
[Third house on the right outskirts of Gungsanghyeon. Widow Yoon's place.]
"Where'd you get this?!"
Namgung Jeon spoke calmly.
"A parting gift, he said."
"Where'd it come from?!"
Tsk tsk. Still as hot-tempered as ever.
"The old man gave it to me before leaving."
"What?! That scatterbrained geezer? How? What the hell is that old fart's deal anyway? Come to think of it, there were so many weird things! You're a stingy old coot who pays peanuts but piles on the work, no foxy wife, so no bunny kid either, and your temper's so bad I'm your only friend!"
Namgung Jeon's upturned lips returned to normal.
"One day he drags this mystery old man—straight to Hoegumgak, the most critical spot in the Namgung Clan—and tells me to keep an eye on him! That geezer nearly botched deals left and right! Argh! Just thinking about him gives me a headache!"
"Gungbyeok."
"Quit calling me that!"
"You seem to have forgotten who I am for a moment."
"......"
There was one man whose infamy had surpassed even the former Ghost of the Battlefield.
The Money Demon, Namgung Jeon.
The devil of money, said to devour any coin that caught his eye!
"Y-you think threatening me now will scare me?!"
Anyone could see Namgung Don was terrified.
Namgung Jeon smiled again and handed him the paper.
"Even I couldn't buy this with money. Keep it safe."
Then, slowly but precisely:
"It's a parting gift from the Gold King himself."
Namgung Don stared blankly at the paper, then at Namgung Jeon.
"G-Gold King?"
His voice dripped with disbelief.
"You mean the former head of the Tianxia Merchant Guild, who retired decades ago?"
Namgung Jeon beamed.
"That's the one. Now let's go get that drink. I rented out a whole tavern just for today."
Namgung Don's voice trembled suddenly.
"W-wait. D-does that mean I... I've been treating the G-Gold King like that all this time?!"
"Why the stutter? I just did the same."
"That's different—you're my bro! You wouldn't really screw me over! But the Gold King... that guy's obsessed with money! Wait, why was a guy like that under the Namgung Clan? Did you know?"
"We'll talk over drinks. You've had it rough. I could only entrust him to you. Sorry, little brother."
"This isn't the time! What are you doing? Let's go drink—spill everything!"
"I said I will."
That was when it happened.
"Urgent report."
A top intelligence warrior from Hoegumgak burst through the door. His gaze flicked briefly to the deputy head, Namgung Don. He'd opened his mouth upon entry but now clamped it shut.
"It's fine. Speak."
With Namgung Jeon's permission, he continued.
"The Gold King left Hoegumgak and headed straight for the youngest young master's residence. And..."
The warrior hesitated to say more.
"And what?!"
Namgung Don, now aware of the old man's identity, couldn't hold back.
The warrior spoke carefully, his voice laced with uncharacteristic bewilderment.
"It seems... the Gold King has joined hands with the youngest young master."
"What? Why all of a sudden? There was zero connection before! Is this for real?!"
Unlike the flustered Namgung Don, Namgung Jeon's eyes calmly darkened.
Finally making your move, Gold King!
Decades ago, a deal known only to two men.
-Gold King, why would someone like you stick around the Namgung Clan? Got a grudge against Elder Namgung Cheon? If so, give it up. I'm not one to say it, but our elders are all freakish geniuses. Just think of it as getting struck by lightning on the road. Easier that way.
-I just want a simple deal. I heard your clan was about to strike a big business with our guild.
-How the hell do you know that? It's top secret—only a handful in the clan know.
-You'd expect the head to know, right? Money buys everything.
-Sigh... Another leak to plug. Fine, if you know, cut to the chase. What do you want?
-I just wanna roam the Namgung Clan freely. Give me some spare corner. Oh, and when you purge leaks, use guys who don't know my face. Awkward if they recognize me.
Namgung Jeon, lost in thought, finally spoke. Gone was the jovial tone he'd bantered with Namgung Don in.
"Deputy head, listen up."
The man who held the most money in the world.
The Money Demon, Namgung Jeon.
Namgung Don, cowed by the aura, responded instantly. He knew this wasn't normal—and his earlier resignation talk was just griping over neglect.
"Yes, sir!"
"The Gold King may be an individual, but the money he moves is never just his."
Like Namgung Jeon, Namgung Don's demeanor shifted in a heartbeat. The man who'd ranted about his ex was gone.
"If the Gold King moves, the Tianxia Merchant Guild moves."
"Exactly. Which means..."
Namgung Don picked up:
"The place with the second-most money after the Namgung Clan is stirring. And that means..."
Namgung Jeon continued:
"The one force that could actually hurt us is on the move. From now on, all of Hoegumgak's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Divisions—by order of the head. Track every money flow related to the youngest young master and report directly to me. And overtime until we pinpoint the Tianxia Merchant Guild's movements."
"......"
Namgung Don's eyes said he understood, but his face screamed misery.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Bro, I just woke up! Haven't seen my kid in over ten days!"
"Don't worry. I've been looking after him."
"......"
"Fine. One hour. That's it."
"Thanks!"
Namgung Don bolted without looking back. Namgung Jeon watched proudly, then hardened his expression and turned to the warrior.
"You've got a job."
The male warrior grinned playfully.
"What about you, head? Slacking off again...?"
Namgung Jeon chuckled. After twenty years, these guys were getting too cheeky—he couldn't even smack them anymore.
"I'm going to meet the old man myself. Nothing faster than asking directly."
"Then why order the deputy around like that?"
"Gotta punish a brother for backtalk. You go too, Ilbi."
"Where to...?"
He grinned.
"The imperial palace, obviously. Deliver a letter to the prime minister yourself."
Ilbi regretted asking.
* * *
Meanwhile, with Namgung Daeso.
"Hold up! This is fishy!"
"Amitabha."
Thwack!!!