Second-Rate Warrior Searching for a Legend (2)
The hall was as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.
Not only the hall masters, but even the elderly elders tried to say something, then stopped, bringing their already cold teacups to their mouths without knowing what to do.
“…Outer Hall Master.”
The one who broke the silence was Sect Leader Hong.
“Yes. Sect leader.”
“Do you perhaps know any trustworthy miners and blacksmiths?”
After thinking for a moment, Father nodded.
“Heo Ilnam’s father always supplies weapons to our Taeul Sect at a low price. And I have heard that the father of the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers used to be a miner.”
“Then as quickly as possible…”
“I will confirm it immediately.”
“Yes. After that, a real estate agent…”
“I will have Seokju Mountain purchased immediately.”
Father answered smoothly before the sect leader’s question even ended.
Yet even that seemed somehow unsatisfactory to Sect Leader Hong, as he gazed at me intently.
Then, as if he had decided something, he spoke with a firm expression.
“Do we have the money to buy Seokju Mountain?”
“Seokju Mountain has long been an ownerless rocky mountain. Even slash-and-burn farmers have never settled there because the land is barren.”
“Then purchase Seokju Mountain first. We will confirm the mine afterward.”
“Sect leader!”
“Do it.”
Father looked back and forth between me and Sect Leader Hong, then nodded.
“Understood.”
“Kuaehwa Hall Master.”
“Yes.”
“Visit Geumryong’s father and Heo Ilnam’s father and request their cooperation.”
“Understood.”
“Move quickly. Remember that the fate of the sect may depend on this matter.”
“As you command!”
Father immediately visited the government office and inquired about purchasing Seokju Mountain.
The officials, who usually demanded bribes whenever national property was bought and sold, merely asked what it would be used for when they heard we wanted to buy Seokju Mountain.
They did not find much fault.
After Seokju Mountain fell into the hands of the Taeul Sect, Heo Ilnam’s father and the father of the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers immediately climbed Seokju Mountain and confirmed that it was a place where an iron ore mine could be established.
According to them, this kind of thing was rare, but “because someone had dug deep into the middle of the cliff, it was easy to confirm.”
We had bought Seokju Mountain and discovered the mine, but we could not immediately begin development.
Funds were one issue, but more importantly, the Taeul Sect had never possessed a huge asset like a mine before, so we did not know what to do.
Moreover, if someone found out that there was an iron ore mine on Seokju Mountain, they might harm the Taeul Sect.
In the end, Sect Leader Hong and Father asked the Wang Family Estate for help.
“Kkeol kkeol kkeol. As they say, heaven helps those who help themselves. In the end, such a great blessing has been bestowed upon you.”
“I am ashamed.”
“I was worried the Taeul Sect might falter because of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild’s conduct. After all, it is my daughter’s sect.”
“Your words alone are enough to make me grateful.”
“So, how should I help you?”
“The Taeul Sect does not have the power to develop the mine on its own. If you would help us, estate lord, there would be nothing better.”
“Ho ho, for people who will soon become owners of a large mine, you are far too lax. If you are so weak to kindness, how will you make great money? Let us do this. I will invest in the mine. I will develop the mine and bring in miners. In return, you will exclusively sell half of the iron ore produced by the mine to us for ten years.”
Jin Taesan was stunned.
This was literally like swimming while touching the ground.
“Is it truly all right for you to do that? Then the loss you suffer, estate lord…”
“There will be a little loss at the beginning, but that is all investment. I looked into it separately, and they say the iron from Seokju Mountain is high-quality black iron. The reserves are also considerable, so there will be no need to worry for half a century. If we exclusively sell half of that amount, even considering the market price, it is a far more profitable condition for the Wang Family Estate.”
When Jin Taesan tried to develop the mine as a joint venture with the Wang Family Estate, he had expected to give up part of the profits.
However, the conditions Wang Geumsan offered gave the Taeul Sect complete benefit while also completely erasing worry about the initial capital.
“I heard the hall master’s son discovered the mine.”
“It seems that brat who wanders everywhere happened to discover it by luck.”
“Ho ho, it seems only the hall master does not know your son’s true value.”
“You flatter him too much.”
“If you feel grateful to me, please tell Sowoon to visit Wangbu once. Perhaps because of the mistake I made at our first meeting, he refuses to come no matter how many times I invite him, and it weighs heavily on my heart.”
Jin Taesan inwardly cursed his son.
When a person like this called him, who was he to resist?
Even though he was his own child, Jin Taesan could not understand him.
#
“So you are telling me to visit Wangbu?”
“In any case, is he not the person who offered good conditions to the Taeul Sect? Beyond conveying thanks, as the head senior brother, it is only natural for you to visit the home of a junior sister and offer your greetings.”
At Kang Chaeseok’s words, I glared and spoke.
“You are not thinking of selling me off to the Wang Family Estate, are you?”
“Kehehem. Who said anything about selling you off…”
“No, from what I saw back then, you looked like you wanted to wrap me up nicely and send me to the Wang Family Estate.”
“Ahem. This is all for the Taeul Sect…”
“I am not going.”
“What!”
“Why would I go there? In any case, Estate Lord Wang is investing because of his own interests.”
“No, even so…”
“Then acknowledge that I have completed Kuaehwa Hall.”
“What?”
“Then I will go offer my greetings.”
“What kind of sudden nonsense is that?”
“There is something I must do. To do that, I must move right now, but if I have to complete Kuaehwa Hall, I will need another half a year.”
Sect Leader Hong, who had been listening silently, opened his mouth.
“What are you planning to do that cannot be done six months later?”
I could not speak honestly here.
If I said I intended to take the official exam with the junior brothers as the head disciple of the Taeul Sect, they would look at me like I was a madman, just as Saryeon had.
“I am sorry. I cannot tell you yet.”
“You damned brat. How are we supposed to help you when you are doing something you cannot even tell us about?”
“When the time comes in half a year, I will tell you.”
“Urgh.”
Kang Chaeseok shook his head and kept emptying his cup.
“Is it important?”
“Yes. It is important.”
“How important is it?”
“It is something the future of the Taeul Sect depends on.”
“Kehek!”
“!”
“!”
At my words, Kang Chaeseok, who had been drinking, choked and coughed, while Father, who had been quietly holding his cup, widened his eyes and looked at me.
Sect Leader Hong gazed at me intently, then looked at Jin Taesan.
“What do you think?”
“…He is a wicked brat who does not even tell his own father anything in the first place. I do not know.”
Father looked strangely sulky, his lips pouting in a way that did not suit him.
“When you ask to be considered as having completed Kuaehwa Hall, does that mean you have already learned all the martial arts?”
“Yes.”
“…Hmm. Very well. Do so.”
“!”
“Sect leader!”
Sect Leader Hong continued calmly.
“All the actions you have taken until now have been for the Taeul Sect. I believe the actions you take from now on will be no different. You are doing the things we should have done, so at the very least, I do not want to break your wings.”
“…”
“…”
While Kang Chaeseok and Father lowered their heads deeply, Sect Leader Hong smiled softly and said,
“However, be sure to offer your greetings to the Wang Family Estate before you leave.”
#
Stagger, stagger.
On the way back to the lodging after leaving Daehyeon Hall.
Unlike usual, Father had drunk four bottles of bamboo-salt clear wine bestowed by Sect Leader Hong, and his gait was reminiscent of the footwork of Drunken Fist.
“Please come to your senses, Father.”
“Let go, you brat. This father of yours is perfectly fine.”
“Then walk straight.”
“Forget it. This useless father of yours, if I cannot even walk on my own, you will take me to the mountains and abandon me, won’t you?”
“Ah, why are you acting like this?”
“You brat, the worst child in the world is one who tells his parents nothing.”
“Then what is the best child?”
“A child who comes and chatters about every little thing in detail.”
“If you wanted that, you should have had a daughter. Why did you have a pitch-black son?”
“When the sect leader had a daughter, I really wanted to switch you out right then.”
“Good grief.”
I took the Seven-Colored Jewel from my robes.
Within the Taeul Sect, where only moonlight had been shining, a brilliant seven-colored radiance lit up the surroundings.
Father, who had been displaying drunken steps, suddenly stood as straight as bamboo.
“…Wh-What is that?!”
“I prepared something like this to become the best child, but if I cannot become one anyway, I should just trade it for taffy.”
“Y-You are saying you will give that to me?”
Father already looked as if all the alcohol had left him.
“Forget it. I have already become an unfilial child, so what use is being filial now?”
Father suddenly cleared his voice and said,
“Do you know this? Above the best child, there is a child sent by heaven.”
“…”
“A child sent by heaven brings his parents a jewel with a dazzling color.”
Saying that, Father took the Seven-Colored Jewel from my robes and held it up before his eyes.
“Good grief.”
“I-Is this real?”
“I do not have the ability to appraise jewels, so I do not know, but Namgung San said it could buy three palace-like mansions, so would it not be real?”
“N-Namgung San? Why did Namgung San give you this?”
“In truth, I made a bet with Senior Namgung San. I won that bet and received it.”
“Ho ho…”
“Use seventy percent of the money from selling the jewel however you wish, Father, and with thirty percent, please buy up all the blind lands around the Taeul Sect.”
I told him to use it however he wished, but that money would ultimately flow into the Taeul Sect.
Because that was the kind of life Father had lived.
“Blind lands? Why?”
“Some of them should be turned into fields for growing famine-relief crops, and some space is needed to install mechanical formations. If the number of disciples increases, should we not increase the number of buildings too?”
“Mechanical formations? Do you know how much those cost?”
Father tilted his head as if it was not entering his mind properly.
“If money steadily comes in from the mine, would we not be able to install mechanical formations too? I happen to know someone who is skilled but cheap.”
I spoke while thinking of Jegal Cheon, who was probably suffering hardships in prison right about now.
“If we install mechanical formations, we can better defend against outside forces, and based on that, we can also build our strength. Is that not the foundation of a great sect?”
“…”
Father looked at me with eyes as complicated as the jewel giving off seven-colored light.
“Let us go, Father. This filial son sent by heaven will pour you a drink.”
“…Come to think of it, you secretly drank earlier, didn’t you?”
“What are you talking about? A filial son sent by heaven does not drink alcohol.”
“If only your mouth did not work so well.”
#
Saryeon packed a large bundle and joined the group of Seeing Nature Envoys.
Before entering the Martial Academy, she would undergo intensive training to match the level of those who would enter through the official exam.
Everyone in the Taeul Sect came out to see Saryeon off.
After first greeting the elders and hall masters, Saryeon stood before Sect Leader Hong and his wife with tears welling in her eyes, as if she might cry at any moment.
It seemed she was deeply anxious about leaving her parents’ embrace for the first time.
“Do well. When you go to the Murim Alliance, take good care of the disciples.”
Instead of answering, Saryeon only nodded.
Then the junior brothers rushed over, surrounded Saryeon, and made a commotion as they all tried to say goodbye to her.
Only after it finally quieted down did she stand before me.
“You really do not regret it, right?”
Saryeon still looked full of guilt.
“The intensive training period is only half a year. If you do not want to fall behind those who enter through the official exam, you will have to train so hard it feels like death.”
“…If it feels impossible, give up on the official exam anytime. I will succeed with all my might so that I can take care of all the junior brothers myself.”
“Yes. That level of resolve is enough.”
Even though I smiled at her, Saryeon stood in front of me for a long while, fidgeting with her fingers as if she had something to say.
“We will depart.”
Then, when Lee Jagon said they would depart, she did not know what to do and joined the procession.
And she looked back several times.
After everyone from the Taeul Sect went inside, I remained there for a while and waited until the procession was no longer visible.
At that moment, the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers quietly approached my side.
“Senior Brother.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Please take us with you.”
“Hm? Where?”
“You said you are taking the official exam. We want to follow you there too.”
“!”
Where on earth had the secret leaked from?
Only then did I understand why Saryeon had looked back several times while being pulled along by the procession.
“Do you think the official exam is some children’s game? Do you know what people of the murim world call the official exam?”
“They call it the hellish official exam. Please take us on that path too.”
“Please take us.”
“Please take us.”
The three brothers looked so resolute that they seemed ready to grab my trouser legs.
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