All the way here, Yong Jamyeong had pondered why the Demonic Cult Leader had summoned him.
In both good ways and bad.
But he had truly never imagined the reason would be to introduce him to his son.
Naturally, Yong Jamyeong’s gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.
The next-generation Cheonma, and the man who had recently become the greatest topic of conversation in the murim. The many rumors and pieces of information about him were always contradictory.
Worthless, yet extraordinary.
The worthless deeds were so worthless they could not be believed, and the extraordinary achievements he had accomplished were so extraordinary they could not be believed.
And as if to prove those rumors were not merely rumors, at their first meeting he had been holding a ladle. The first words Yong Jamyeong heard from him had been, “Anyone want more soup?”
Geom Mugeuk bowed his head to his father.
“Thank you, Father.”
He did not know what hidden intention his father had in this matter, but he at least believed it was for his sake. He could feel it just from the way his father glanced at him.
Since Yong Jamyeong did not yet know what kind of people Geom Ujin and Geom Mugeuk were, such suspicions were only natural.
‘The Demonic Cult Leader arranged a meeting like this for the sake of his child’s connections? There’s no way.’
One conclusion came naturally.
‘In the end, is it money?’
A conclusion born of long experience.
No matter how they dressed it up, what martial artists ultimately wanted from merchants was money.
The Cheonma could not step forward personally, so he intended to put his son forward and demand money under some pretext?
Of course, the amount would be an astronomical sum befitting the names of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Eunha Merchant Guild.
‘If that is the reason?’
A martial artist would be enraged by the other party’s unreasonable conduct and try to punish it, but a merchant must not do that. If one was a merchant, at such a time one had to ask oneself:
‘What can I obtain in return?’
Concealing those inner thoughts, Yong Jamyeong spoke to Geom Ujin with proper courtesy.
“Forming a friendship with the Young Cult Leader is something I, of all people, would earnestly wish for.”
He meant it. There was nothing bad about building a relationship with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
—If you come out like this, I’ll have to call someone I know too.
—Who would you dare call against us?
—The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
It meant he could have such thrilling conversations. Provided, of course, that the other party had no hidden impure intentions.
Geom Ujin rose from his seat.
“Let us meet later.”
It meant he should spend time with Geom Mugeuk. And saying they would meet later meant that he should not leave right away, but stay for the day.
Yong Jamyeong was inwardly flustered, not having expected Geom Ujin to leave only the Young Cult Leader and himself behind.
‘What sort of situation is this?’
It was not something he, the leader of the Eunha Merchant Guild, could easily experience.
In any case, he had said they would meet later.
“I will see you later.”
Yong Jamyeong replied politely with a smile.
His flawless courtesy was not merely because the other party was the Cheonma. Yong Jamyeong the merchant was, by nature, not a man whose emotions became his attitude.
Geom Ujin slowly moved his feet.
Baek Chong, who had been standing behind Yong Jamyeong, grew even more tense.
When they had been sitting and eating, he had not realized it, but once Geom Ujin began to walk, the feeling was different again. Though he walked slowly, he did not seem slow, and it felt as if the air around him moved with him at its center.
Before leaving, Geom Ujin left Yong Jamyeong with a single remark.
“It will not be such a bad thing for you, either.”
What did that mean? Was it faith in his child? Or was it a hint?
Yong Jamyeong could not know. He had met countless people and gone through all manner of experiences, but today, that experience was of little use.
Meanwhile, once the Demonic Cult Leader left the place, Baek Chong actually became even more tense.
—There may be some trick, so do not let your guard down.
He sent that voice transmission to the martial artists with him. He, too, could not understand Geom Ujin’s actions. He did not focus on the fact that Geom Ujin had left Yong Jamyeong behind.
‘He’s leaving only the Young Cult Leader here?’
Since the Demonic Cult Leader had vacated the seat, the Young Cult Leader might act on his own.
Looking around, Yong Jamyeong asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Come to think of it, I don’t see a single guard. Where are they?”
“I left my guards at the main cult.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the three martial artists standing behind Yong Jamyeong and said,
“I told them to train until they reached the level of those gentlemen there.”
No one present would believe it, but it was true. In reality, they would be completely absorbed in training right now. With the mindset that even if they could not protect him, they should at least not become a burden.
Neither of the two men was the type to allow an awkward silence, so the conversation continued naturally.
“We’ve eaten, so shall we go out and walk a little?”
“Let’s do that.”
The two left the manor. Yong Jamyeong first asked what he had been curious about.
“Why did you ask to meet at this manor?”
“Because of the woman blessed with good fortune for food whom you saw earlier.”
“What is your relationship with that woman?”
“She is someone who came to kill us.”
From Geom Mugeuk’s earlier remark that he did not even know the woman’s name, Yong Jamyeong had guessed that she did not know who they were. If she had known, there was no way she would have dared not reveal her own name. Because she had not known, she could have plotted such a thing.
The problem was this.
‘They let a woman who tried to kill the Demonic Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult simply go?’
That was something that could never happen.
The reason for his visit had been revealed.
“So you called me because of that woman.”
“I believed so too.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Yong Jamyeong and said,
“But Father thought differently. You were surprised, weren’t you? I was surprised too.”
This private meeting between the two of them had not been discussed in advance? Was that really true?
Yong Jamyeong did not believe it. He was certain they wanted something.
As if he had read that thought.
“I have a favor to ask.”
Of course. There was no such thing as a good demon. Even those who called themselves righteous committed all kinds of schemes and trickery; how much more so would demons?
Concealing those feelings, Yong Jamyeong said gently,
“Say whatever it is.”
What do you want from the Eunha Merchant Guild? How much do you want?
But what came from Geom Mugeuk was not that sort of request.
“Please tell me your story, Guild Master.”
Yong Jamyeong stopped walking. Geom Mugeuk stopped as well.
“My story?”
“Yes. Any story will do.”
“May I ask why?”
“I thought carefully about why Father wanted to introduce you to me.”
Geom Mugeuk truly had pondered it. Before this was a matter between Yong Jamyeong and himself, it was a matter between his father and himself.
“‘Since you’ve met him, it would be nice if you became close.’ I don’t think he said it with that sort of meaning. My father is absolutely not that kind of person.”
“So? Did you find an answer?”
Geom Mugeuk nodded. The answer he had come up with was this:
“He must want me to learn from you, Guild Master.”
“What do you mean?”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk said,
“The life of a man who rose to the very top in a single field.”
“!”
For a moment, Yong Jamyeong said nothing. He felt as if he had been struck in a blind spot. He had never imagined that the Cheonma had introduced him to his son with such an intention.
But soon, Yong Jamyeong doubted the other party’s intent.
‘No. That cannot be.’
He would use this as the beginning and then demand something. The gaze looking at him was so clear and deep that he had simply been momentarily confused.
“The Cult Leader thinks far too highly of a mere merchant. All I know is talk of money.”
Geom Mugeuk instead looked excited.
“Isn’t that the most interesting kind of story?”
Geom Mugeuk strode ahead and said,
“Let’s go. How could we talk about money without wine?”
* * *
The two sat facing each other at an inn on the market street.
It was the very inn where every meeting in this place had taken place.
Geom Mugeuk and Yong Jamyeong sat facing each other in a corner. The martial artists, including Baek Chong, were ordered to stay as far away as possible.
It was because Yong Jamyeong thought that when the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was asking about his life, having guards standing behind him did not suit the occasion.
After the two poured wine for each other, they emptied their first cups.
“It has truly been a long time since I drank in an inn like this. In the past, I used to come and drink occasionally.”
“For someone who could buy this entire inn with the cost of a single meal, you are quite modest.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s sweet words, Yong Jamyeong answered with a smile.
“I enjoy being evaluated that way.”
As Geom Mugeuk filled his cup, he said,
“A healthy amusement.”
“Healthy? Not vanity and arrogance?”
“It’s fine as long as that amusement isn’t directed at people.”
For an instant, Yong Jamyeong flinched.
“What do you mean?”
“I am someone with this much money. I am someone who earns this much money. If that sense of superiority is directed at people, problems arise. At first, it may only be enjoying their envy, but gradually one begins to look down on people, and in the end inflicts deep wounds. Just as problems arise when the tip of a blade is pointed at people.”
Yong Jamyeong listened silently to Geom Mugeuk’s words.
“On the other hand, a sense of superiority enjoyed alone in a shabby inn like this is a healthy amusement. So please come often and enjoy it.”
Yong Jamyeong sank into thought without speaking for a moment. He had never once thought of it in that way.
“Is that why you do it too?”
As the owner of the Eunha Merchant Guild, Yong Jamyeong naturally knew about the three-party talks between the righteous, unorthodox, and demonic factions. Along with the news that the talks had been held in a small tavern had come the information that the place was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult’s regular tavern.
In the end, his question was this:
So do you also enjoy a healthy amusement at that Pungryu Tavern?
Geom Mugeuk immediately understood what he meant. That was why there was certainty in his answer.
“No. I’m different.”
“How so?”
“I genuinely like the owner of that tavern. The wine tastes good, the food is delicious, and above all, he makes his guests feel comfortable. If you come to the main cult next time, I will be sure to take you there.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s bright smile, Yong Jamyeong also spoke with a smile.
“You are very good with words. That is a talent essential to a merchant. What do you think? Have you any thoughts of entering the world of commerce?”
“Do you suppose Father recognized in me the sprout of a money tree and introduced me to you, Guild Master?”
As such jokes went back and forth, the mood was good.
Unexpectedly, Yong Jamyeong liked this meeting. Though he did not know how much of the other party was genuine, nor when he might reveal his true colors, conversation with him flowed without obstruction. For some reason, it was enjoyable.
But when the sword and money met, a good atmosphere could not continue forever.
Rather, it would be better to ask while the atmosphere was good.
“What do you want from me? Money?”
Looking into Yong Jamyeong’s eyes, which did not fear death, Geom Mugeuk asked in return,
“If it were money, would you give it?”
A taut tension flowed between the two.
“How much do you want?”
A smile formed at the corners of Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
“How much do I want? To hear those words from the richest man in the world? That is everyone’s dream.”
Despite Geom Mugeuk’s joke, Yong Jamyeong answered seriously.
“The amount is not what matters. What matters is what you can give me in return.”
Now, the playfulness disappeared from Geom Mugeuk’s face as well.
“I think the situation is one in which you could misunderstand enough, but you saw my father, didn’t you? Did he look like someone who would call you here because he needed money?”
Then came a meaningful addition.
“If Father needs money, he is a man who goes to get it, not one who summons someone.”
Yong Jamyeong understood. There was a double meaning in those words. At first glance, it sounded as if he meant he would pay a courteous visit, but that was not it. It meant he would storm in and take everything.
If he went so far as to say that, it did not seem he had called him because of money.
“I misunderstood. I apologize.”
“It would be strange if you didn’t misunderstand.”
No. If so, then the present situation was even stranger.
What on earth did the Demonic Cult Leader and this Young Cult Leader want from him?
“Do you know what question people ask me most often?”
Geom Mugeuk answered precisely.
“How can I earn a great deal of money?”
Yong Jamyeong nodded and asked,
“Why do you not ask that?”
Then came an unexpected answer.
“Because the answer will be in your life anyway, Guild Master. That’s why I said I wanted to hear your words.”
Yong Jamyeong himself did not trust the other party’s words. People were beings capable of lying at any time. What he trusted was the other party’s life. When seeing a person, he looked at the road they had walked.
“Are you truly curious about my story? If I talk about the past, it will become embellished, and in the end it will turn into boasting. Other people’s boasting—won’t it be tedious?”
“Boasting is tedious when someone who is not impressive acts impressive. The boasting of someone truly impressive is a magnificent adventure tale.”
Yong Jamyeong’s admiration naturally made him think of bloodline.
‘The Cheonma’s son is indeed his son.’
Otherwise, there was no explaining this intensity that came from such a young age.
“I always try to live while upholding two things.”
“What are they?”
“The first is that I try not to fear death. The second is that I try not to make the pleasure of earning money my highest value.”
“Neither seems to suit the principles of the richest man in the Central Plains. Could you explain in detail?”
The story of his life flowed out naturally.
“The reason I did not make the pleasure of earning money my highest value is because I confirmed that I am someone who feels more pleasure in earning money than in spending it.”
Most successful merchants possessed such a tendency.
“I have seen far too many people become obsessed with the pleasure of earning money and be devoured by that thing called money.”
This thought was likely the reason the name Yong Jamyeong carried a power stronger than money.
“It seems similar to martial arts. When one becomes too deeply obsessed with winning, one can end up being devoured by martial arts.”
“An apt comparison.”
The two drank together. Their cups clinked more forcefully than before.
“Then what is the reason you try not to fear death?”
Yong Jamyeong’s eyes deepened as he recalled that day he could never forget.
“When I was young, I once nearly died. I survived just before death. Ever since that day, I have lived with the thought that my life is a bonus, and that gives me courage in all things.”
“As a martial artist, I find myself interested in the ordeal of life and death you crossed.”
It is an opportunity to fulfill the long-cherished wish that remained your resentment until the day you died. So recall that day well.
“What happened that day?”