VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter 257
Chapter 257. The Time the Fruit Is Borne (4)
I looked at the wrist guard worn on my right arm with a satisfied expression.
“Hehehe.”
Inside the Black Thought Alliance, I had acted indifferent, as though I had been wearing it all along, and perhaps because that strategy worked, no one asked me about the Devouring Gauntlet until I left the Black Thought Alliance.
But that did not mean I could let down my guard.
Еń.u̇m̂ a
There were still many eyes watching even within the delegation.
Because of that, I had no choice but to secretly satisfy my curiosity about the Devouring Gauntlet while avoiding people’s gazes.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
‘This must be the demonic relic that raised the Yin-Yang Twin Demons all the way to the position of Protector.’
Of course, since it was a demonic relic of the Demonic Cult, if it used Demonic Qi or left traces of witchcraft, I intended to discard it immediately. But so far, it did not seem to have any ability other than the one I already knew.
PING.
I fired the tremendous qi gathered at the tip of my finger toward the Devouring Gauntlet.
Е̌.n̂ u̇ m̈a. і̀ d̈
HUM.
The Finger Wind, which normally would have been strong enough to break my forearm, seeped into the Devouring Gauntlet and vanished without a trace.
As I examined the Devouring Gauntlet’s effect, I tilted my head.
It was certainly an extraordinary ability.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
But it was difficult to believe that the Yin-Yang Twin Demons had risen all the way to the position of Protector with this alone.
‘There must be something more.’
Ė.n_um а. і̌ď
I searched through the Scripture Pavilion inside my head and examined the records of battles fought by the Yin-Yang Twin Demons.
When the Yin-Yang Twin Demons joined the Great Righteous-Demonic War, the war had already been going on for quite some time, so not many records remained.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have stored records while going around each Branch.’
If I had known I would return to the past, I would have done even more than that.
But who could have imagined there would be a second life in the first place?
Even now, I myself did not believe there would be a third.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Just as I had fallen into other thoughts, Ak Byeong-bi quietly approached.
“Are you truly certain you do not need to go?”
I naturally hid the Devouring Gauntlet.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you not say your sect’s merchant guild is in danger?”
“Ah.”
Е n̆ū m̀а̀
According to what Hao Gate had told me, the Asura Sect was coveting the Great Heaven Merchant Guild.
It seemed they greatly desired the exclusive logistics supply contract with the Anhui Province Branches that we had obtained from the Murim Alliance this time.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
‘Well, even I would covet it.’
Even though the scale was so large that we had to share it with the Wang Estate, a single contract alone would allow the Great Heaven Merchant Guild to earn in one year what it normally would have earned over ten years.
Of course, it was likely not only because of that.
Such an exclusive contract was impossible unless the Murim Alliance supported it directly.
Ẅě b n̂о̃ v̌еl̆ Е̂n u m̀а̊
The Murim Alliance.
In other words, it was practically a signal that Mantongbu was directly supporting the Taeul Sect, and it was no different from a prediction that the Great Heaven Merchant Guild and the Taeul Sect would spread their wings greatly in the future.
Of course, I did not know exactly why Mantongbu was supporting the Great Heaven Merchant Guild.
Perhaps they intended to burden me with a sense of debt and use me……
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
‘Debt? Burden? What is that? Hehe. I have not the slightest intention of being used easily!’
I intended to keep pretending not to know in the future as long as I could.
Е̇ ṅ_ū m a
But even so, I was not such a fool that I would let someone snatch away what had already entered my hand.
“Senior Il-myeong sent a letter to the main temple. Then is there really any need for me to step forward too?”
When I answered with a face that showed no particular worry, Ak Byeong-bi instead looked distressed.
“……Will that alone truly be enough?”
“Well, for the moment.”
But I really did not know why this man had changed so much after going to the Black Thought Alliance.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Since when had he cared about me this much? Good grief.
“Working in the Murim Alliance helps one’s sect, but conversely, the prosperity of one’s sect also governs one’s advancement within the Murim Alliance.”
“I know that.”
“As a representative of Murim Academy, you should be able to exert some influence on a Branch…… Yet you still intend to remain still?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
At my calm response, the shadow over Ak Byeong-bi’s face gradually deepened.
Е̌ n̂ um̄ а
“What if…… the Asura Sect takes the Great Heaven Merchant Guild from you?”
“If they take it, well, there is nothing I can do……”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“What?!!”
Damn it, that startled me.
Why was he yelling?
Anyone watching would think the Delegation Leader was a disciple of the Taeul Sect.
Е n um̈ã . і d
“From my perspective, it is not that great a matter.”
In the first place, I had no intention of using my sect’s help to rise in the world, and the path I would take was the White Wolf Pavilion, which everyone hated to go to anyway.
Unless the White Wolf Pavilion suddenly became a shortcut to promotion after the Azure Dragon Pavilion as of today, there would be no competition crowding into the White Wolf Pavilion.
“To begin with, the guild was established after receiving one branch of the Azure Sky Merchant Guild from the Namgung Clan. Unless I am the one operating it, it is not something I should concern myself with one by one. If it cannot be protected, it is only natural for it to be taken.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“…….”
Ak Byeong-bi wore an expression that said he could not easily understand my words.
Е num̈а̂
And I also knew what he was wondering about.
“Are you puzzled that I am not solving the problem by using my connections in the Murim Alliance?”
“……!”
Ak Byeong-bi’s eyes opened wide as though I had hit the mark.
Well, while he was in the Inspection Pavilion, how much convenience had he provided for his family?
Those who possessed power naturally tried to use that power to benefit their own side.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
To him, I must have seemed strange for going against an instinct followed by the overwhelming majority.
“I do not particularly have any strings to pull or any background through which I can request favors, but even if I did, I would not be very inclined to use them.”
Ak Byeong-bi, who had been listening silently with a frown, opened his mouth with difficulty.
“……Why?”
I shrugged once.
“No matter how high you build it, how long can a tower built precariously truly last?”
W е̃b̄ ń о̊ vе l̄ .Е̊ nü m̄ а
What one received from another, what one borrowed from another, did not become one’s own.
The reason the Taeul Sect could never escape the position of the weak until it was destroyed in my previous life was that it continued relying on the Gyeryong Merchant Guild.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
And in this life, because we seized the initiative and moved independently, the Taeul Sect could become different from how it had been in my previous life.
“If one treats something that is not natural as though it were natural and abuses it, one becomes arrogant. Even in the Ak Clan, are there not plenty of good-for-nothing scoundrels who take such privileges for granted?”
At my pointed words, Ak Byeong-bi’s face turned crimson.
But soon, after calming his excitement, his gaze looked more complicated than ever.
Е n̂ um̊ а
“……You are saying all of that comes from solving problems in the wrong way?”
I had deliberately provoked him to cut off the conversation, but instead, Ak Byeong-bi’s curiosity seemed to have been triggered.
“Well, something like that. Nothing eats away at a person’s character and turns him into a frog in a well quite like a sense of special privilege.”
“…….”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
After thinking for a long while, Ak Byeong-bi parted his lips.
“Your sect will not last very long.”
W̄ e̊ b̃ n̊ о̌vél Е̂nu m̃ a
Hm? Was this man trying to pick a fight with me right now……
“However.”
What was with those eyes?
For a moment, Ak Byeong-bi’s gaze seemed to contain an indescribable expectation and admiration.
“If, as you say, it overcomes its difficulties, then it will be reborn as a sect so great that the Ak Clan cannot even be compared to it.”
“…….”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
After saying that, Ak Byeong-bi sank into his own deep thoughts.
At his words, all kinds of thoughts began tangling inside my head as well.
It was not as if I was not worried either, but that did not mean I could solve every problem from beginning to end.
If someone had laid the foundation, then running atop it had to be done by oneself.
I believed Father could fulfill that role well enough. After all, he was the person who had protected the Taeul Sect even in those difficult circumstances.
‘Well, I did prepare separately too.’
En̄u̇_ṁа̂
I thought of my Martial Arts Master, Baek Hae-gwang.
Since there had been no contact from him for a while, I had thought he had truly found a way to live on his own, but in the end, he had contacted me.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
How could it be easy for a man who had once been a great figure of the Black Path to suddenly become the ordinary head of a household and feed a family of three?
As the saying went, one fell back on what one had learned. If he tried to make a living as a Black Path man as he had before, the faces of his wife and daughter must have flickered before his eyes.
When I checked through Hao Gate, it seemed he had tried to find work here and there, but while hiding his past, it had not been easy for him to make a living by the blade either.
He sent word asking whether he could stay at the Taeul Sect for a while as the ‘Guest Retainer’ I had once proposed, so I sent a reply telling him to go to the Great Heaven Merchant Guild.
Е̃.n ǔmа̃ . і̄_d̊
‘Still, he will have to live while suppressing his temper a little…….’
Creating a sect, especially a sect with Orthodox Path tendencies, was not easy.
Sometimes, politics was needed more than violence.
For those who possessed strength, the very attempt to persuade someone with inadequate eloquence was no different from training in patience.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
But on the other hand,
‘He might break the mold instead.’
Е n̈ú m а̃
I also felt a little anticipation over how the Sword Demon under Heaven would restrain his temper before politicians and ‘educate’ them.
“I do not know whether to say you are too good-natured or simply foolish.”
Wang Geum-san clicked his tongue.
A guest who had suddenly barged in.
Simply because he had come with an introduction from ‘Jin So-un,’ Jin Tae-san treated Baek Hae-gwang with utmost courtesy.
“Is he not a guest sent by So-un? Of course I must receive him respectfully.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Tsk. I am saying that you are going too far.”
In a way, Wang Geum-san’s reason for clicking his tongue like this was only natural.
Usually, a ‘Guest Retainer’ referred to someone who was given a room in a pavilion, provided with meals and the like, and exchanged martial arts or learning.
In short, there had to be something given and received.
But this man named Baek Hae-gwang had not yet revealed his background, and he had even brought his family with him to request the position of Guest Retainer.
In response, Jin Tae-san said he would see to their convenience and gave them the entire guest annex of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, even assigning servants so they would suffer no inconvenience.
Е́n̊ ü má. іd
Wang Geum-san’s voice grew louder.
“Moreover, you say you will help him found a sect? Are you in a position to help someone else right now?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“What can I do? My damned son already sent a letter telling me to do that.”
Because Baek Hae-gwang had suddenly appeared, Jin Tae-san was now looking into land near Hefei and searching for carpenters.
In a situation where he did not know when the Asura Sect might barge in, Jin Tae-san was putting effort into something unrelated, so from Wang Geum-san’s perspective, it was deeply frustrating.
“Could you not simply give him a suitable amount of money and send him away, as I said?”
Ѐñum̂а. іd̈
However, Jin Tae-san firmly shook his head.
“That boy So-un said he received a favor from this man. Is that damned brat the sort to say such things easily?”
Then he smiled with an indescribable sense of relief and satisfaction.
“If there is anything this inadequate father can do, I should do it for him as much as I can.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
How grateful had he felt upon hearing that a boy who had nowhere to rely on and had never relied on others had received someone’s grace?
Even if the Great Heaven Merchant Guild collapsed tomorrow, Jin Tae-san wanted to repay Baek Hae-gwang for the grace his son had received.
Ẅ é b ňо vе l En u m̃ а̄
And as a father, he also felt joy in being able to do something for him.
While the two of them were bickering like that, a servant announced that guests had arrived.
“Where did they come from?”
“They say they are from the Asura Sect.”
“…….”
The two men’s gazes intertwined with complexity.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Show them in.”
After answering, Jin Tae-san turned to Wang Geum-san and said,
“I will handle this.”
“No, I will stay as well.”
“Estate Master.”
Wang Geum-san patted Jin Tae-san’s shoulder.
W̆eb ń о̂ v̆e̊ l̀ Ẽ ń u m̊ а
“From the moment we began handling the Murim Alliance’s work together, the Wang Estate and the Great Heaven Merchant Guild became inseparable. I will not speak at length about this.”
Wang Geum-san wore a firm expression, as though he had taken his seat and would not move.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Jin Tae-san had no choice but to let out a small sigh.
A moment later,
Three men entered.
The man standing on the left was the one who had previously conveyed the Asura Sect’s wish to buy the Great Heaven Merchant Guild. Judging from how respectfully he attended the remaining two, the other two clearly held high positions within the Asura Sect.
Ẁ é b n̄ӧvěl Еn̈ŭṁ à
The three who entered stood before Wang Geum-san and Jin Tae-san, then simply stared intently at the two of them.
‘Phew…….’
It was a clear sign that they had no intention of greeting first.
After letting out a long sigh, Jin Tae-san eventually rose from his seat.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Welcome. I am Jin Tae-san of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild.”
Only then did the visitor nod and open his mouth.
Е ñ u m а̃
“Pleasure. I am Ju Yeong-san, Sect Leader of the Asura Sect.”
“So you were the Sect Leader.”
Ju Yeong-san glanced at Wang Geum-san and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. It has been a long time, Estate Master Wang.”
At his effort to maintain composure, Wang Geum-san gave a faint laugh.
“So it has. Was the last time ten years ago, when you begged me to arrange two thousand taels for you?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Wh-what is that supposed to mean!”
“Watch your mouth!”
At Wang Geum-san’s words, the men standing on either side of Ju Yeong-san took stances as though they would spring out at any moment, but Ju Yeong-san raised his hand and stopped them.
“Does Estate Master Wang not know how ugly it is to live by chewing on memories of the past?”
“Well…… Ah! But I do know quite well how foolish it looks to play Mountain King while riding on a tiger’s back.”
At the remark that jabbed at how they were trying to expand their influence while carrying Shaolin Temple on their backs, the people of the Asura Sect crumpled their faces and shut their mouths.
Еnǔ ḿ.а
In the end, unable to watch any longer, Jin Tae-san stepped forward to calm the situation.
“Everyone, please stop. You did not come here to quarrel, did you? Estate Master, please stop as well. They are my guests.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Hmph!”
At Jin Tae-san’s dissuasion, the quarrel finally stopped, and the three men took their seats.
Ju Yeong-san, wearing an arrogant expression, immediately brought up the main point.
“I believe our opinion was sufficiently conveyed last time. Have you made your decision?”
Ѐn̊um̂а̂. і̇d
Despite the other party’s rude attitude, Jin Tae-san answered with a noble yet courteous manner.
“As I said, the Great Heaven Merchant Guild is responsible for the livelihood of the Taeul Sect. I answered that we have no intention of selling.”
“We will pay a sufficient price.”
“…….”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“How does one million taels sound?”
An astonishing sum had been named, but Wang Geum-san snorted.
Е̃ n ũ.ṁ а̃.і̇ d
“What daylight robbers! You are trying to snatch up a merchant guild that monopolizes distribution for the Murim Alliance’s Anhui Province Branches for a mere one million taels.”
At his intervention, Ju Yeong-san’s gaze sharpened.
“One million taels is money that merchant guild could not earn even in ten years.”
“Of course, if we look only at the sum, that is true. But if we consider the advantage of possessing the Murim Alliance’s exclusive distribution rights and the other advantages that will derive from them, it is far, far too lacking.”
At last, both hands of the Asura Sect Leader began trembling.
“……I understood that the owner of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild is the Taeul Sect.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Hm? Did anyone say otherwise?”
When Wang Geum-san shrugged, Ju Yeong-san did his best to ignore him and looked at Jin Tae-san.
“Guild Master, think carefully. In any case, the Asura Sect will enter commerce. Once that happens, it will be only natural for the Great Heaven Merchant Guild’s influence to diminish. However, if you sell the merchant guild now and step away, we will purchase the iron ore operated by the Taeul Sect at twice the price in the future.”
“…….”
After thinking for a long while, Jin Tae-san firmly shook his head.
“We still have no intention of selling.”
W е̂ b̀n о̃.v́ ѐl Еn̄ u m̄а
“You frustrating man……”
Ju Yeong-san crumpled his face and raised his voice.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Do you still not understand? This matter is not merely the intention of the Asura Sect. It is also connected to Shaolin Temple’s advance into Anhui Province. Surely you are not saying you will pick a fight with Shaolin right now?”
“Shaolin Temple……”
As a shadow fell over Jin Tae-san’s face, Wang Geum-san cut in.
“Shaolin Temple? If Shaolin Temple gets involved, then our Wang Estate will become thugs too……”
Еň um̈ а.їd̂
At that moment, Jin Tae-san stopped Wang Geum-san.
“Estate Master.”
But Wang Geum-san, unable to calm his excitement, snorted angrily.
“Did I say something I should not have? No, are those bastards not being far too blatant!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Estate Master!”
When Jin Tae-san stopped him again, Estate Master Wang finally took a step back.
Е̂ nǔ ḿӓ
“……Ahem. Tsk.”
When Wang Geum-san’s mouth closed, Ju Yeong-san looked triumphant.
“You have thought well. The Wang Estate’s financial power may be great, but can it truly face Shaolin Temple, the Mount Tai and Northern Dipper of the Murim……”
“I did not say I would sell.”
“Huh?”
In front of the Asura Sect Leader, whose eyes grew wide enough to pop out, Jin Tae-san searched inside his robe and pulled out a letter folded into a crumpled square.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“After the Asura Sect visited, I also looked into matters here and there. And there is one fact I learned……”
Then he grinned at him.
“They say Shaolin Temple will withdraw its hands from this matter.”
“Wh-what?”
“Did you perhaps not confirm it?”
“What nonsense……”
Ẇ е̇ b̂ ń о̊v еl̆ Е n u̇m а
As if he had not known, Jin Tae-san clapped his hands.
“Ah! It seems the message has not been delivered yet. According to what I received, the Asura Sect entering commerce cannot be helped, but Shaolin Temple will not use its power over the matter.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“What is that supposed to……”
As if driving in the wedge, Jin Tae-san handed over the letter.
“My son happened to travel together with the Small Buddha this time. This is what I heard through that side.”
At that, the three men of the Asura Sect examined the letter in turns with their eyes blazing.
Ѐṅ um̂ ӓ . і̆ d̈
If it was Small Buddha Il-myeong, he was an important existence even within Shaolin Temple.
There was no way someone like that would speak nonsense, and there was even less reason to drag such a person into a lie.
“If you do not believe it, you may verify the facts.”
At Jin Tae-san’s confident attitude, Ju Yeong-san’s gaze settled calmly.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“……Even without Shaolin Temple, do you think we cannot deal with a single Great Heaven Merchant Guild?”
Then he subtly gauged Wang Geum-san’s reaction.
W ӗb̃ ǹǒ v́ёl Ēn ú mа
“If the Wang Estate and Shaolin Temple do not step forward, then this will be a contest between the Asura Sect and the Taeul Sect. The Asura Sect is confident it will not lose.”
At the words that subtly tied the Wang Estate and Shaolin Temple together, Wang Geum-san wore a dumbfounded expression, but he did not step forward.
Because now was Jin Tae-san’s time.
As if responding to that feeling, Jin Tae-san took one step forward.
“You seem to misunderstand something.”
Then he corrected the Asura Sect Leader’s words in a relaxed voice.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“To be precise, it would be a fight between the merchant guild created by the Asura Sect and the Great Heaven Merchant Guild.”
“……!”
“And.”
There was not the slightest hesitation on his face.
“In a fight like that, I do not think I would lose.”
“Hah!”
Ӗ n̈u m̃ȧ .і́ ḋ
Even at the Asura Sect’s scoff, Jin Tae-san was confident.
Because the fact that he had been able to grow the Great Heaven Merchant Guild this much in a short time was due to Jin Tae-san’s own ability.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
On top of that, when Wang Geum-san wore a smug expression as though he agreed, the faces of the Asura Sect’s people slowly began to stiffen.
Without Shaolin Temple’s help, dealing with the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, which had already taken root around Anhui Province, would not be easy.
Ju Yeong-san ground his teeth.
“It is truly pleasant to see such confidence. But do you know this? Merchant guilds belonging to Jianghu can never escape the logic of power.”
W е̃.b̈nо̆v̊ е̊ l̄ _Eñû.ṁa
“…….”
“I heard the Taeul Sect is still keeping its gates sealed. Is that correct?”
“That is correct.”
Ju Yeong-san snorted and spoke coldly.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Operating a merchant guild while keeping the gates sealed does not accord with reason.”
“…….”
É n̂ u̇ m̄ а̊
“I am saying it deserves condemnation.”
BANG!
Wang Geum-san, who had been listening quietly, slammed the table down with anger.
“I have tried to watch quietly, but this man!”
However, Ju Yeong-san merely stared steadily at Jin Tae-san.
“We are fully willing to mobilize force to offset our lack of financial power. So the Taeul Sect had better begin opening its gates and preparing.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
At the blatant threat, Wang Geum-san trembled with rage.
Ju Yeong-san looked at him and added,
“I will say one thing to Estate Master Wang as well. If the Wang Estate steps forward, Shaolin Temple will certainly step forward too. Therefore, do not recklessly involve yourself in the affairs of Jianghu.”
With those words, the three men rose from their seats at once.
This much justification was enough.
For now, the priority was to confirm whether Shaolin Temple’s opinion was true.
Wěḃ n̆ о́ v̈ ė l Е̇.n̊ů m̊ а
Without even leaving a farewell, the three men opened the office door wide to leave.
At the door, a white-haired man and a middle-aged woman were standing still.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The three tried to pass around them and go outside.
Step.
Step.
The white-haired man moved and blocked the path of the three.
W̃ е́ b n о̇ v̈ е̄l Е̇ n̂um̆ a
“What is this……!”
Even after that, he obstructed their path several times.
Ju Yeong-san, whose mood was already foul because of Wang Geum-san, could not possibly speak kindly.
“What the hell are you people doing?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
He drew up his internal energy, even thinking he would knock them down in one blow if they were picking a pointless quarrel.
However,
Wе̄ b_n̊оv̊ е l̃ Еn̊ u m̌ а̄
“Hmm.”
The white-haired man introduced himself with an utterly relaxed expression.
“I am a Guest Retainer of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, you bastards.”
It was the plainest and rudest self-introduction in the world.
Konten Bab Belum Tersedia
Bab ini belum memiliki konten teks atau sedang dalam proses penyuntingan.
