Chapter 26 - The More You Take, the Deeper the Bond

Geum Asu led the way through a secret passage beneath Golden Manor.

The passage was as intricate as a maze. I could sense deadly traps and mechanisms hidden throughout the walls, ceiling, and floor. The tension of Geum Sayeon, who followed alongside me, was palpable.

After countless turns along a convoluted route that only someone who knew the way could navigate, we reached the secret storeroom where Golden Manor's treasures were kept.

“You saved our lives, so I ought to give you my entire fortune. But that would hardly be practical.”

“I wasn't expecting that much.”

“I could reward you with a fixed sum, but how about this instead? Take as much from here as you can carry out in one trip. You may not use a cart or receive help from anyone else.”

“So anything I can carry out is mine?”

“That's right.”

“May I use internal energy?”

“Of course.”

“Then I could carry out quite a lot.”

“We would all be dead if not for you, benefactor. This much is only fitting.”

“Thank you.”

“I'll give you two hours, starting now. Will that do?”

“That's more than enough.”

I walked slowly into the treasure vault.

* * *

As Geom Mugeuk entered the treasure vault, Geum Sayeon asked Geum Asu a question.

“Are you sure you'll be all right?”

“What do you mean?”

“With his martial skills, our benefactor might take more than you expect. Won't you regret losing it?”

Geum Sayeon smiled as though she were joking, but inwardly she worried that her father might later make himself ill with frustration. He had devoted his life to accumulating wealth. Now a large part of that life might disappear in someone else's hands.

But her father's response was unexpected.

“Is there anything in there more precious than what we saved today?”

Geum Asu patted his daughter's shoulder.

“It's enough that you and Yang are alive. If I had lost you two as well...”

He could not bring himself to finish. All his life, people had said he would not bleed a drop even if pricked with a needle. Yet when it came to his child, he was a man who would freely shed both blood and tears. He had simply never had a chance to express it.

If anything, this ordeal had brought home a painful realization.

His family was worth every last bit of his fortune, yet he had neglected them to amass that very wealth. He regretted it bitterly.

And there was another reason he would not begrudge giving away his entire fortune.

There were many ways to die. Had he died striving toward some goal, he could at least have gone without regrets. But this time, he had been betrayed by a trusted retainer. He probably would not have been able to rest in peace even in death.

“That young warrior is no ordinary man.”

“No. His skill was extraordinary, despite his youth.”

“It wasn't only his skill that I noticed.”

“What else did you see, then?”

“I've been trying to find a way to describe it, but I still can't. He has a presence that defies words.”

He had met countless people throughout his life. Never before had he encountered someone so young who possessed such composure and such a distinctive air.

“Money can be earned again. But the chance to form a bond with someone like him might come only once in a lifetime, if at all.”

Moreover, the other man was young. Geum Asu hoped that the bond would endure into Golden Manor's next era, when his daughter and grandson would lead it.

“So I don't mind even if he takes everything. The more he takes, the deeper his bond with us will become.”

* * *

I could say one thing with certainty: I would never enter another treasure vault like this for the rest of my life.

On one side stood a mountain of gold objects, so dazzling that it hurt to look at them. Buddha statues and warrior figures, tableware and ornaments, every sort of animal from tigers and toads to turtles and pigs—everything imaginable made of gold was piled there. They must have arranged it neatly at first, only to heap it into a mountain when the sheer quantity became too much.

Precious gems filled the display cabinet beside it, along with jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and bracelets, and jade pendants worn by women.

Pottery stood on display on the opposite side, with paintings by famous artists hanging behind it. The vault was truly filled with all manner of rare treasures.

The next display held things that sent a thrill through me.

There were night-shining pearls that illuminated the dark, and poison-warding pearls that prevented poisoning when held in the mouth. The poison-warding pearls in particular were of the finest quality, remarkably small.

There were five of each. Even with money, they were difficult to obtain, making them more valuable than any other jewels in the vault.

Delighted, I collected the night-shining pearls and poison-warding pearls first, tucking all of them into my robe.

An enormous fortune had just gone into my robe, but I was only getting started.

Next, I slipped expensive rings onto my fingers and layered on bracelets and necklaces. I wore so many that their dangling weight grew heavy.

I looked for something to hold the gold. A large leather sack would have been ideal, but unfortunately there was nothing suitable.

Would I have to take off my clothes and wrap it in those?

As I considered this, I spotted a bolt of fabric standing in a corner. On closer inspection, it proved to be heavenly silkworm silk imported from beyond the frontier.

I used my sword to cut the largest piece possible, made it into an enormous wrapping cloth, and swept the gold objects onto it.

Since I could carry it with internal energy, I kept rearranging the contents to fit in as much as possible. I left the paintings and pottery behind; they might crease or break, and I wasn't sure of their exact value anyway.

I spared no thought for the master of Golden Manor's circumstances. At least when it came to money, he wasn't someone I needed to worry about.

And so I filled both my allotted two hours and the wrapping cloth to the brim, gathering up the treasures.

Geum Asu and Geum Sayeon's jaws dropped when they saw me emerge from the secret vault.

I carried a bundle far larger than my own body. It was so huge that they could not begin to imagine how much it held.

I was only able to walk straight out because the vault's doorway was enormous. Otherwise, I would have had to break through the wall.

“I'll settle for this modest amount.”

THUD.

The floor shook as I set the bundle down with a heavy thud.

Seeing rings on every finger and necklaces and bracelets draped thickly around my neck and arms, Geum Asu burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

“Shouldn't you be crying?”

“It's true that losing part of my fortune saddens me. But I'm pleased to know, at least, that you aren't a hypocrite. The hypocrites I know would have taken only a few things to preserve their pointless, petty dignity. But how bitter they would feel inside! I can't stand people like that. Desire is the most precious and important emotion that governs humanity.”

He was an ardent champion of desire. That desire was likely what had made him the wealthiest man in Fujian.

“Cutting the heavenly silkworm silk to make a wrapping cloth was a very wise decision, too.”

“Thank you.”

“It's a shame to part so soon. Stay for a drink, at least.”

“I'm not the sort to sit drinking with treasure beside me. I'll see you another time.”

“If I need help, may I seek you out again?”

“Of course. Earn plenty more by then.”

Geum Asu laughed heartily at that. Once again, I could feel that the more honest I was about money, the more he liked me.

“Where should I go to find you?”

“Leave a message under your name at any West Lake Inn in the Central Plains, and I'll come to see you.”

The West Lake Inns were secret contact points run by the Cult. They received messages like these and relayed them to important figures within the Cult.

“You truly are no ordinary man, benefactor.”

Geum Asu would know that only extraordinary people maintained contact points in this fashion.

“Take care until we meet again.”

“May fortune favor you in battle.”

With a deep bond forged between the master of Golden Manor and me, I took my leave. Such a connection could hardly be a loss for me, so I departed in high spirits.

* * *

I acquired a carriage in the village, loaded it with treasure, and set off for the Cult.

On the way back, I sold the gold and treasures in batches. No single place could handle the quantity, so whenever I stopped in a city, I visited several establishments to sell the jewels.

Having wandered the Central Plains all my life, I knew exactly what could be found where, and where to sell it. I sold every piece of gold and jewelry except the night-shining pearls and poison-warding pearls.

I divided the proceeds among the three most trustworthy banks: Central Plains Bank, Continent Bank, and Wind and Cloud Bank. My total came to an astounding three million eight hundred thousand taels. It was far more money than I had expected.

'Thank you, master of Golden Manor. You may not know it, but this money will become the foundation of an organization destined to be a legend in Murim.'

I left three million five hundred thousand taels in the banks and returned with bank drafts for only three hundred thousand.

As soon as I returned to the Cult, I went to Heavenly Demon Hall to see Father first. As always, he presided over the hall like an immovable mountain.

Walking along the red carpet known as the Path of Blood, a question suddenly occurred to me.

Father must listen to Sima Myeong's reports here several times a day, making important decisions. Some people lived because of those decisions, and others died.

Was he truly satisfied with this life?

Had he been pushed into becoming the Heavenly Demon, just as Yi An and I had been pushed into our own roles? Was what he truly wanted hidden deep within his heart?

“I heard you left the Cult grounds.”

“I went to earn some money.”

“Why do you need money?”

“I can't live on your money forever, can I? And I think I'll need quite a lot in the future.”

“What do you intend to spend it on?”

“I'd like a private force of my own.”

“A private force?”

Father's expression grew a little sterner.

“The Demon Supremes each have their own subordinates, don't they? If I'm to contend with them, I'll need a force of my own.”

“Out of the question. If you have one, your brother will want one too. Then the Demon Supremes' relatives and disciples will want their own. Absolutely not!”

I hadn't expected to get permission on my first attempt. Nor was it urgent.

Once good subordinates gathered, one by one, the water would eventually overflow. When that happened, nothing would stop the dam from collapsing.

I didn't press him, and Father made no further mention of it.

“Did you earn much?”

“Yes, quite a lot.”

I took a thick envelope from my robe and held it out.

“This is for you, Father.”

Father extended his hand, and the envelope flew from my hand to his. It was an exquisitely smooth yet swift use of object manipulation through the air, embodying the subtleties of an advanced martial art.

He checked the contents. Inside was a bank draft for one hundred thousand taels.

“What is this money for?”

“It's spending money for you.”

“What?”

Father was taken aback. It probably wasn't because the amount was too large for spending money, but because of the very words “spending money.”

“I have plenty of money.”

“I know. You're the richest man in the world. This is the first spending money I've ever given you, as thanks for bringing me into this world and raising me.”

After looking down at the bank draft for a moment, Father abruptly asked,

“Are you trying to butter me up?”

“I intend to flatter you shamelessly in the future, but this money isn't part of that. I wanted to give you some at least once. I'll leave you to rest, Father.”

I bowed respectfully and walked out along the Path of Blood.

Father's gaze burned into the back of my head until I left the hall. He must have been thoroughly flustered.

After all, he had probably just become the first Heavenly Demon in history to receive spending money from his son.