Chapter 30 - The Second-Rate Warrior Seeking Legends (2)

The hall was as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

Not only the Hall Leaders, but even the elderly elders didn't know what to do, repeatedly stopping themselves from speaking to bring their cold teacups to their mouths instead.

"... External Hall Leader."

The one who broke the silence was Sect Leader Hong.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Do we happen to have a reliable miner and blacksmith?"

After thinking for a moment, my father nodded.

"Heo Ilnam's father always supplies weapons to our Taiyi Sect at a low price. And I heard that the father of the Geum-eun-dong Brothers used to be a miner."

"Then as quickly as possible..."

"I will check on it right now."

"Right, and after that, fetch a property broker..."

"I will purchase Mount Seokju immediately."

My father answered readily, even before the Sect Leader could finish his questions.

However, even with that, Sect Leader Hong seemed somewhat dissatisfied as he stared at me intently. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke with a firm expression.

"Do you happen to have the money to buy Mount Seokju?"

"Mount Seokju has long been an ownerless rocky mountain. Not even slash-and-burn farmers have ever settled there because the land is so barren."

"Then, purchase Mount Seokju first, and verify the mine afterward."

"Sect Leader!"

"Do it that way."

My father looked back and forth between Sect Leader Hong and me before nodding.

"Understood."

"Kwaehwa Hall Leader."

"Yes."

"Visit Geumryong's father and Heo Ilnam's father to request their cooperation."

"Understood."

"Move quickly. Keep in mind that the sect's fate may depend on this."

"Your will!"

My father immediately stopped by the government office to inquire about purchasing Mount Seokju.

The officials, who typically demanded bribes when buying and selling state land, merely asked what it would be used for when he said he wanted to buy Mount Seokju. They didn't nitpick much.

After Mount Seokju fell into the Taiyi Sect's hands, Heo Ilnam's father and the father of the Geum-eun-dong Brothers immediately climbed the mountain and confirmed that it was a suitable location for an iron ore mine.

According to them, such a thing was rare, but they said, "It was easy to verify thanks to someone digging a deep hole in the middle of the cliff."

We had purchased Mount Seokju and discovered the mine, but we couldn't start developing it right away.

Funds were one thing, but the Taiyi Sect had never possessed such a massive asset like a mine, so they had no idea what to do.

Furthermore, if someone found out there was an iron ore mine on Mount Seokju, they might try to harm the Taiyi Sect.

Eventually, Sect Leader Hong and my father requested help from Wangga Manor.

"Hahaha, they do say heaven helps those who help themselves, and in the end, it has bestowed such a great blessing upon you."

"We are ashamed."

"I was worried that the Taiyi Sect might stumble due to the Gyeryong Merchant Group's actions. After all, it is my daughter's sect, is it not?"

"Thank you just for saying so."

"Right, how should I help you?"

"The Taiyi Sect does not have the capacity to develop the mine on our own. It would be ideal if the Lord of Wangga Manor could help us."

"Haha, for people who will soon be the masters of a large mine, you are quite lax. Being this susceptible to sentimentality, how can you expect to make big money? Let's do this. I will invest in the mine. I'll develop it and bring in the miners. In exchange, you will exclusively sell half of the iron ore produced from the mine to us for ten years."

Jin Taesan was astonished. This was literally like swimming while touching the ground.

"Is that really alright? Then wouldn't you be taking a loss, Lord of Wangga Manor..."

"I might take a slight loss in the beginning, but that's all part of the investment. I did some separate checking and found out the iron from Mount Seokju is high-quality black iron. The reserves are substantial enough that we won't have to worry for half a century. If we can exclusively sell half of that volume, considering the market price, it's a condition that greatly benefits Wangga Manor as well."

When Jin Taesan planned to develop the mine as a joint venture with Wangga Manor, he had intended to give up a portion of the profits.

However, the condition Wang Geumsan offered was incredibly favorable, granting complete benefit to the Taiyi Sect while completely erasing any worries about initial capital.

"I hear the Hall Leader's son discovered the mine."

"The boy wanders all over the place, and it seems he found it by sheer luck."

"Haha, it seems the Hall Leader is the only one who doesn't know your son's true worth."

"You praise him too much."

"If you feel grateful to me, please tell Sowoon to come visit the Wang Estate sometime. Perhaps due to my mistake during our first meeting, he hasn't come no matter how many times I invite him, and it makes my heart truly uneasy."

Inwardly, Jin Taesan cursed his son. Who did he think he was, holding out when a person like this was calling for him?

Even if it was his own child, Jin Taesan couldn't understand him.

* * *

"So you want me to visit the Wang Estate?"

"Regardless, isn't he someone who offered our Taiyi Sect great terms? Setting aside showing our gratitude, as the Eldest Senior Brother, visiting a junior disciple's home to pay your respects is naturally something you should do."

At Kang Chaeseok's words, I narrowed my eyes sharply and spoke.

"You're not planning to sell me off to Wangga Manor, are you?"

"*Ahem. * Sell you off, who said anything about selling you off..."

"I don't know, it looked to me back then like you wanted to wrap me up nicely and hand me over to Wangga Manor."

"*Ahem. * This is all for the Taiyi Sect..."

"I'm not going."

"What!"

"Why would I go there? The Lord of Wangga Manor is investing for his own profit anyway."

"No, even so..."

"Then acknowledge that I have completed the Kwaehwa Hall's curriculum."

"What?"

"Then I will go pay my respects."

"Where did that come from all of a sudden?"

"I have something I need to do. I have to move right now to get it done, but wouldn't I need another half a year to complete the Kwaehwa Hall's curriculum?"

Sect Leader Hong, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth.

"What is it that you plan to do, that you can't do it half a year from now?"

I couldn't speak honestly here. If I said I planned to lead my junior disciples as the head disciple of the Taiyi Sect and take the standard exam, they would look at me like I was crazy, just like Saryeon had.

"I apologize. I cannot tell you just yet."

"If you're going to do something this damn secretive, how are we supposed to help you?"

"I will tell you when the time comes in half a year."

"*Groan. *"

Kang Chaeseok shook his head and began to constantly knock back his drinks.

"Is it important?"

"Yes. It is important."

"Just how important is it?"

"It is a matter that the future of the Taiyi Sect depends on."

"*COUGH-COUGH! *"

"!"

"!"

At my words, Kang Chaeseok choked on his drink and coughed, while my father, who had been quietly holding his cup, glared at me with wide eyes.

Sect Leader Hong stared at me intently before looking over at Jin Taesan.

"What do you think?"

"... He's an ungrateful brat who doesn't even say a word to his own father in the first place. I wouldn't know."

My father, seemingly hurt, was uncharacteristically pouting his lips.

"Are you saying you've already learned all the martial arts, which is why you're asking to be recognized as having completed the Kwaehwa Hall?"

"Yes."

"... Hmm. Alright. Do as you wish."

"!"

"Sect Leader!"

Sect Leader Hong continued speaking calmly.

"Everything you've done so far has been for the sake of the Taiyi Sect. I believe what you'll do going forward won't be any different. Since you are doing the things we should have been doing, I at least do not want to clip your wings."

"..."

"..."

While Kang Chaeseok and my father deeply bowed their heads, Sect Leader Hong formed a gentle smile and spoke.

"In exchange, make sure you pay your respects at Wangga Manor before you go."

* * *

STUMBLE-STUMBLE.

On the way back to my quarters after leaving the Grand Sage Hall.

My father, who had uncharacteristically drunk four bottles of the Bamboo Salt Cheongju bestowed by Sect Leader Hong, walked with steps reminiscent of the Drunken Fist's footwork.

"Get a hold of yourself, Father."

"Let go, you punk. Your father is perfectly fine."

"Then walk straight."

"Forget it. If this useless father can't even walk on his own, you'll probably just throw him away on a mountain, right?"

"Ah, why are you being like this?"

"You punk, the worst child in the world is one who doesn't tell their parents anything."

"And the best child?"

"It's the child who comes and chatters about every single detail, inside and out."

"Then you should have had a daughter. Why did you have such a gloomy son?"

"I already felt like swapping you out when the Sect Leader had a daughter."

"Unbelievable."

I pulled out the Seven-Color Jewel from my robes.

Within the Taiyi Sect, which had been illuminated solely by the moonlight, a radiant cluster of seven-colored light illuminated all directions.

My father's posture, which had been showing off drunken footwork, suddenly stood as straight as a bamboo stalk.

"... W-What is that?!"

"I even prepared something like this to become the best child. But since I can't be that anyway, I guess I'll just trade it for some candy."

"Y-You're going to give that to me?"

My father had a look on his face like he had completely sobered up already.

"Forget it. I've already become an unfilial son. What's the point of acting like a dutiful one now?"

My father suddenly cleared his throat and spoke.

"Do you know? Above the best child, there is a child sent from heaven."

"..."

"A child sent from heaven brings their parents a brilliantly shining jewel."

With that, my father pulled the Seven-Color Jewel from my robes and held it right up to his eyes.

"Oh, please."

"I-Is this real?"

"I don't have the ability to appraise jewels so I wouldn't know, but since Namgung San said it could buy three palatial mansions, shouldn't it be real?"

"N-Namgung San? Why would Namgung San give you this?"

"I actually made a bet with Senior Namgung San. I won the bet and got this."

"Haha..."

"Use seventy percent of the money from selling the jewel however you want, Father, and use the remaining thirty percent to buy up all the unused land around the Taiyi Sect you can find."

I told him to use it however he wanted, but that money would ultimately flow right back into the Taiyi Sect anyway.

Because that was the kind of life my father had always lived.

"Unused land? Why?"

"I need some space to turn into fields for growing famine relief crops, and some space to set up mechanisms and formations. If we happen to get more disciples, won't we need to expand our pavilions as well?"

"Mechanisms and formations? Do you know how much those cost?"

My father tilted his head, as if he couldn't quite wrap his mind around it.

"If money keeps coming in steadily from the mine, won't we be able to set up mechanisms and formations? I just happen to know someone who has great skills but comes at a cheap price."

I said this while thinking of Zhuge Cheongi, who was probably suffering hardships in the Golden Jade Prison right about now.

"If we install mechanisms and formations, we'll be better defended against the invasions of outside forces, and we can also use that as a foundation to grow our strength. Isn't that the groundwork for a great sect?"

"..."

My father looked at me with eyes as complex as the jewel radiating seven colors.

"Let's go, Father. This filial son sent from heaven will pour you a drink."

"... Come to think of it, you were secretly drinking earlier, weren't you?"

"What are you talking about? Filial sons sent from heaven do not drink things like alcohol."

"Honestly, you and your smooth talking."

* * *

Saryeon packed a large bundle and joined the group of talent scouts.

Before entering the Murim Academy, she was going into intensive training to match the level of those who would be coming in through the standard exam.

Everyone in the Taiyi Sect came out to see Saryeon off.

After bowing to the elders and Hall Leaders first, Saryeon teared up as if she were about to cry right in front of Sect Leader Hong and the Sect Leader's wife. It seemed she couldn't help but feel anxious about leaving her parents' embrace for the first time.

"Do well. Make sure you take good care of the disciples once you go to the Murim Alliance."

Saryeon only nodded instead of answering.

Then the junior disciples swarmed over, surrounding Saryeon and making a fuss to say their goodbyes, and only after they finally settled down did she stand in front of me.

"You're sure you have no regrets, right?"

Saryeon still seemed to be filled with guilt.

"The intensive training period is only half a year. You'll have to train hard enough to feel like dying if you don't want to fall behind the ones coming in through the standard exam."

"... If you feel like it's too much, give up on the standard exam at any time. Even if it takes everything I have, I'll rise high enough to take care of all our junior disciples."

"Right. That level of resolve is enough."

Even though I smiled for her, Saryeon stood in front of me for a long time, fiddling with her fingers as if she had something she wanted to say.

"We will depart now."

Then, as soon as Lee Jagon announced that they would be leaving, she joined the procession, not knowing what else to do.

And she looked back time and time again.

After all the people of the Taiyi Sect went back inside, I stayed behind for a moment, waiting until the procession was out of sight.

Just then, the Geum-eun-dong Brothers slid over next to me.

"Senior Brother."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Please take us with you."

"Hm? Take you where?"

"You said you're taking the standard exam. We want to follow you there too."

"!"

Where the hell had the secret leaked from? Only then did I understand why Saryeon had looked back so many times while being pulled along in the procession.

"Do you think the standard exam is some kind of child's play? Do you know what the people of Jianghu call the standard exam?"

"They call it the Hellish Standard Exam. Please make sure you take us along on that path."

"Please make sure to take us."

"Please make sure to take us."

The three brothers looked resolute, as if they were ready to grab onto my pant legs.