Chapter 60
Baek Mu-Gun was the first to voice out his opinion.
“We need to look at our martial artists’ training in the long run. We should establish a systematic training course.”
“How do we do that?” Baek Cheon-Sang asked.
“We can divide the martial arts training course into external martial arts training, internal energy cultivation, swordsmanship training, and sparring drills. We can then systematically teach martial arts that are suitable for each course. However, if we do that, we should prioritize nurturing training instructors and assistants with professional knowledge and skills in each of those areas.”
“That sounds reasonable, but for us to train our martial artists, we require personnel capable of training them. How do you plan to recruit those talents?” Baek Cheon-Gi raised a question.
“We’ll prioritize the Baek Sword Sect’s bloodline. I also hope to fill the shortage of people by bringing in orphans from Zhejiang Province.”
“Orphans?” Cheon-Gi asked with a puzzled look.
“Bringing the orphans, who don’t have anyone to rely on in this world, over to the Baek Sword Sect and raising them as respectable warriors would allow us to accumulate good karma. They’ll also be appreciative of the Baek Sword Sect since we brought them in and raised them when they had nowhere else to go. They’ll certainly show affection and loyalty to the sect.”
“The Young Patriarch is right. For the Baek Sword Sect to rise to a higher place, we cannot ignore the public sentiment. If we save the orphans from their plight, the world will praise our compassion.” Cheon-Sang supported Mu-Gun’s opinion.
“If you two share that sentiment, then we should follow it.” Cheon-Gi no longer objected to the idea.
“We’ll have to start looking for orphans, then.”
“Don’t worry. I have an idea.” Mu-Gun replied to Baek Cheon-Ho, indicating that it wouldn’t be a problem.
“How long do you plan to nurture these talents for?” Baek Cheon-Ung asked.
“I plan to nurture one hundred people every year over a period of ten years.”
“If so, then we’ll be training a thousand warriors by the time we’re done. That would cost a lot of money. How do you intend to cover those expenses?”
“You don’t have to worry about the funds,” Cheon-Sang spoke on Mu-Gun’s behalf.
“What do you mean by that? Have you found a way to prepare the funds?”
“Just keep that in mind for now.”
Cheon-Sang didn’t elaborate further. He couldn’t reveal the Heavenly Secret Hall’s existence. Cheon-Gi and the others were curious about the details, but Cheon-Sang spoke so firmly that they didn’t inquire further. Cheon-Sang’s status was significantly higher than before. Mu-Gun’s comeback settled the succession issue, and Cheon-Sang’s martial arts reaching the Absolute Realm formed a dignity around him that they couldn’t dare oppose.
“I also have another suggestion,” Mu-Gun said.
“What is it?”
“I want to use the Sea Dragon Gang’s headquarters as our martial artists’ training center.”
“The Sea Dragon Gang’s headquarters?”
“It’s surrounded by the Fantasy Fog Array, making it impossible for other forces to approach. If we use that to our advantage, we’ll be able to train our martial artists without having to worry about external threats.”
“That’s a good idea.” Cheon-Ung voted in favor of it. “They’ll be isolated from the outside world, allowing them to focus only on their martial arts training. The Sea Dragon Gang used to inhabit it as well, so we don’t have to build infrastructures anymore.”
Cheon-Gi and Cheon-Ho didn’t express any particular disagreement toward Mu-Gun’s suggestion.
“Let’s do it your way.”
“Thank you.”
After setting up a basic plan for training the new recruits, Mu-Gun asked the Heavenly Secret Hall to search for orphans around the age of fifteen in Zhejiang Province.
***
At the side building where So Yeon-Hwa was staying, Mu-Gun was lying beside her after making love to her. All things were difficult before they were easy. Likewise, they could freely make love to each other now that they had experienced it once.
“Have you thought about going to Hangzhou with me?” Mu-Gun asked while fiddling with Yeon-Hwa’s hair with his hand, which acted as an arm pillow.
Mu-Gun planned to leave for Hangzhou in three days to withdraw the funds he left at the Myth Vault. It would take fifteen days at the bare minimum. He couldn’t leave Yeon-Hwa alone, so he suggested she go with him a few days ago. Yeon-Hwa had postponed giving her answer, saying that she would give it a thought.
“I’ve thought about it a lot, but I don’t think it’s right for me to continue staying at the Baek Sword Sect.” Yeon-Hwa carefully brought it up.
The time she spent with Mu-Gun during her stay at the Baek Sword Sect was very limited. Mu-Gun was so busy with various matters that he didn’t have time to be with her. Yeon-Hwa, who didn’t know anyone, had no choice but to spend time alone in the side building.
However, she didn’t blame Mu-Gun. She knew full well that there he had a lot to do as the Baek Sword Sect’s young patriarch. Yeon-Hwa knew that this situation wouldn’t change much in the future, so there was no particular reason for her to stay at the Baek Sword Sect. She could consider it if she got married to Mu-Gun immediately, but she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to tie the knot yet. Rather than spending time meaninglessly like this, Yeon-Hwa thought it would be much more rewarding to continue her journey across murim as originally planned.
“Do you want to leave the Baek Sword Sect?”
“Yes. I’m going to continue my original plan of journeying across murim. I won’t be able to see you during my travels, which is a pity, but even if I stay here, it will be difficult to spend time with you. I think it would be better for me to take some time to develop myself instead and meet you again later on as a better person.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been too negligent of you.”
“I didn’t say all these to hear that. Thinking about what’s best for me led me to this decision. Please wait for me until I come back from my journey across murim.”
“Alright. I’ll respect your decision.”
“Also, if you pay attention to another woman just because I’m not around, I won’t let you off easily when I come back.”
“You shouldn’t pay any attention to other men either, then. No, don’t even laugh in front of another guy. I don’t want them to misunderstand and flirt with you.”
At Yeon-Hwa’s warning, Mu-Gun replied to her in a similar but more clever manner.
“If I become known as an ice-cold woman in murim, will you take responsibility?”
“Of course, I will.”
Mu-Gun’s confident remark made Yeon-Hwa chuckle brightly. She didn’t think she could have him all to herself. He was too good of a man for that. Even if he stayed still and did nothing, other women wouldn’t leave him alone. Of course, it would be perfect if he loved her with single-minded devotion, but she knew he wasn’t such a romanticist. Yeon-Hwa just hoped that Mu-Gun’s feelings for her wouldn’t change and that, if she could ask for a little more, she’d always be first in his heart. Hence, She was relieved when Mu-Gun confidently remarked that he would take responsibility for her.
“By the way, letting you go alone on a journey through the tough and difficult murim worries me.”
“I’ll be careful and pay attention to everything, so don’t worry too much.”
“Good. Always keep in mind that martial arts are not everything in murim.”
“I will.”
Yeon-Hwa could feel Mu-Gun’s affection for her from his worried words and gaze. Filled with his love, she snuggled into Mu-Gun’s chest and hugged him tightly.
Then, shyly, she said, “Hug me.”
“As much as you want.”
Mu-Gun hugged her as if he had been waiting for this moment. Even though they already had sex several times, the two began to make love passionately as if it were their first time.
***
Three days later, Mu-Gun boarded a ship headed to Hangzhou with his six followers and fifty intermediate-ranked Baek Sword Corps warriors.
Yeon-Hwa left the Baek Sword Sect earlier to continue her journey across murim. Her trip would take at least a year.
Mu-Gun felt sad for not being able to see Yeon-Hwa during that period of time, but he was willing to endure it for the sake of her growth.
Upon departing from the Wenzhou Port, their ship sailed smoothly and reached Hangzhou in seven days. Mu-Gun checked into a room at an inn the Eun Merchant Group often used, then immediately headed to Feilai Peak located on Mount Murim, where he left the deposit slip and membership plaque that he received in exchange for depositing his money at the Myth Vault.
Mu-Gun hid those items inside a stone cave at Feilai Peak, so they wouldn’t go missing unless the stone cave collapsed. Someone could have found it and taken it, but Mu-Gun hid it so well that it was unlikely for that to happen. Having arrived at the stone cave at Feilai Peak, Mu-Gun recalled his previous life’s memories, then began digging a two-foot hole in a particular spot. As the bottom of the cave came into view, he found an iron box wrapped with a worn-out cloth.
Mu-Gun took out the iron box, removed the cloth, and opened it. The deposit slip and membership plaque he had left in it was still there. He took it and descended the mountain. The next day, he wore a pigskin mask, which he newly obtained from the Heavenly Secret Hall, and visited the Myth Vault.
***
Jang Hyun-Sung, the Myth Vault owner, relaxedly savored the new tea that arrived yesterday. However, General Manager Kwak Il-Hyun suddenly opened the door of his office and barged in, ruining the relaxing moment.
“Sir! It’s an emergency.”
“What are you making a big fuss about?” Hyun-Sung asked with a frown.
“A man carrying a Golden Dragon Plaque visited us to withdraw money.”
“A Golden Dragon Plaque?”
The Myth Vault issued a membership plaque according to the amount of money deposited so they could identify their customers. A Golden Dragon Plaque was issued to customers who deposited more than 100,000 silver nyang, which meant they could withdraw more than a hundred thousand silver nyang as well.
“That’s right. Moreover, his membership plaque was issued thirty years ago.”
“Thirty years ago?”
“Yes. He entrusted us with 200,000 silver nyang at a five percent interest rate back then.”
“Then, the interest he has accumulated so far...”
“It amounts to 300,000 silver nyang.”
“Holy shit! How much did he say he wants to withdraw?” Hyun-Sung asked after cursing at the enormous interest.
“All of it.”
“He wants to withdraw all 500,000 silver nyang?”
“Yes.”
“How much money is currently in the reserves of our shop?”
“A little over 500,000 silver nyang.”
“If he withdraws all of his money, we’ll probably have a problem with our cash flow.”
“If things go south, it could even disrupt the Hangzhou Merchant Company’s business.”
“Ugh, have you identified him?”
“We don’t have a single piece of information about him.”
“Hmm. Delay the date of payment to two days from now and confirm his identity.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“For starters, I’m going to go meet my brother and decide after. Now, do as you’re told.”
“Understood.”
After giving instructions to the general manager, Hyun-Sung immediately visited Jang Hyun-Chul, the Hangzhou Merchant Company Head.
“Why are you here at this hour?” Hyun-Chul asked, finding his behavior strange.
“A while ago, a man visited the Myth Vault and requested to withdraw 500,000 nyang.”
“500,000 silver nyang?”
“Yes. 300,000 of that amount came from interest.” Hyun-Sung’s reply made no sense.
For the past thirty years, the Myth Vault and the Hangzhou Merchant Company had been using the 200,000 silver nyang that Mu-Gun entrusted to the Myth Vault in his previous life to their hearts’ content. Considering the profit they earned from it, they knew full well 300,000 silver nyang wasn’t that high. However, they felt as if it would be a pity to just immediately give it away.
“300,000 silver nyang in interest?”
“He deposited the money thirty years ago.”
“Huh, I’m surprised someone entrusted that amount to us for that long.”
“I’ve delayed the date of payment for now, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“It’s definitely a waste to pay the interest, which amounts to more than the principal amount.”
“That’s my point. Is there a way we don’t have to give that man money?”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
“Silencing him with death. We don’t have to return the money of the deceased.”
“However, if such an incident becomes known, the Myth Vault’s credibility will completely crumble.”
“Then if we’re going to do it, we have to make sure no one finds out.”
“It’s not as easy as you make it sound.”
“It’s not that difficult if you borrow the Byeok Sword Manor’s power.”
“The Byeok Sword Manor?”
“No one will suspect the Myth Vault if that man was killed by a Byeok Sword Manor martial artist due to an argument.”
“That’ll probably work, but will the Byeok Sword Manor do it for us?”
“If we pay them 100,000 silver nyang as a reward, they’ll even kill ten people for us.”
“Isn’t 100,000 silver nyang too much, then?”
“Even if we give them 100,000 silver nyang, we’ll still be taking the remaining 400,000 silver nyang. We’ve got nothing to lose. We have to pay the Byeok Sword Manor that much for them to move anyway, and even if we don’t have to, we still have to keep investing money in the Byeok Sword Manor’s development. It won’t be a waste if we consider it an investment.”
“That’s true.”
“Have you found out where that man is staying?”
“I’ve instructed our men to do that. I’m sure they already checked it.”
“Okay. You should return to the Myth Vault for now and figure out that man’s movements. I’m going to go see the Byeok Sword Manor’s patriarch.”
“Understood.”
Hyun-Sung returned to the Myth Vault, and Hyun-Chul headed to the Byeok Sword Manor.
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