Chapter 151 - Black Flame Dragon in the Midst of Chaos

Namgung Seonhwa shut her eyes tightly before opening them again, blinking several times.

"Is that person... the Sect Leader of the Yuwol Sect?"

A middle-aged man with his hands and feet tied behind his back and a gag in his mouth.

Since she was looking at me for an answer, I directed that gaze toward Haeryeong.

"When Young Master Jin attacked the manor, we headed to the Yuwol Sect."

"Huh..."

Seong Moran's jaw dropped.

"I'm certain the Mount Cangshan Sect struck the Yuwol Sect first..."

The Yuwol Sect served as the Mount Cangshan Sect's warehouse in Yueyang.

The Underworld factions also knew this, so they tried to move as quickly as possible.

It was a good opportunity to snatch the massive wealth the Mount Cangshan Sect had amassed in Yueyang all this time.

However, the Mount Cangshan Sect wasn't just going to sit back and watch.

It was only natural to retrieve what was theirs before it was taken by the Underworld, even if it meant getting their hands dirty.

That was why the Mount Cangshan Sect cut ties with the Yuwol Sect faster than anyone else and attacked them.

But.

"They were one step too late."

Why would we ever miss out on such a great opportunity in the first place?

Furthermore, even if the Mount Cangshan Sect had their wealth—which was practically theirs—stolen, they wouldn't be able to talk about it anywhere.

The moment they spoke of it, the secret pact between the Yuwol Sect and the Mount Cangshan Sect would be exposed.

This was the reason why I wasn't upset at all when Seong Moran asked if I was frustrated.

'By now, they must be losing their minds over the stolen wealth.'

As I couldn't hold back a triumphant smile, Seong Moran glared at me.

"Then did you cause that commotion on purpose to draw their attention?"

"Well... there were various reasons."

"I almost died!"

"That's why you are enjoying a boat banquet now, aren't you?"

"Don't think you can just brush it off with this!"

I didn't plan to do that anyway.

I looked at Haeryeong.

Haeryeong took out bank notes from her sleeve and handed one each to Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.

"What is this?"

"It is your share."

"Pardon?"

The two frantically opened the bank notes, and their expressions stiffened completely.

"T-Two thousand taels of gold?"

"This is our share?"

Even to Namgung Seonhwa, the amount written on the note seemed too large, and she couldn't hide her shock.

At the gazes of the two demanding an explanation, I nodded.

"As you said, Lady Seong risked her life, and Lady Namgung even put her name on the line, didn't you? Naturally, there should be compensation for that."

"Wow... you're really quite generous. It's my first time handling such a large amount of money."

"If I ever leave the Namgung Clan, could I join the Taiyi Sect?"

Wow, that serious look in her eyes. I think she's being genuine.

While the two women were staring intently at the bank notes containing a massive sum they owned for the first time in their lives, Eunho and Saryeon had their lips pouting out.

"What's wrong with you two?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why are your lips sticking out so far?"

"My oral structure naturally has fish-like traits."

I chuckled as I looked at the grumbling Eunho.

"Seeing your poor attitudes, I guess you guys won't be needing this."

"Pardon?"

I took out four pills and a coin pouch from my robes and showed it to them.

A strange scent of herbal medicine began to waft through the area.

"What is that? Senior Brother?"

"Pocket money and Danwol Pills. The Mount Cangshan Sect probably gave them to the Yuwol Sect. I was originally going to give them to you guys, but your attitudes are terrible..."

"Senior Brother! I have never once questioned your actions."

"Me too!"

"... M-Me as well."

Only after seeing even Eunho awkwardly clinging to me did I hand over the wooden box and the coin pouch to them.

Without caring who went first, the four of them headed out of the warehouse to absorb the spiritual elixirs.

I watched their retreating figures before turning toward the Yuwol Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader, who had been watching this situation unfold, was glaring with his eyes so wide they looked like they would pop out at any moment.

I approached him and untied his gag.

"Do you feel wronged?"

"Grrr... Do you expect to get away with this safely? You might not know, but all that wealth belongs to the Mount Cangshan Sect. The Mount Cangshan Sect will never let you off the hook."

I looked at Haeryeong and asked.

"Have you not told him yet?"

"No."

I told the Yuwol Sect Leader.

"You're mistaken about something. Right now, we are protecting you and your family."

"What kind of nonsense..."

"The Mount Cangshan Sect is currently searching all over Yueyang to silence you permanently."

"What?"

"I'm telling you, the ones who killed the most Yuwol Sect warriors were none other than the Mount Cangshan Sect."

"..."

The Yuwol Sect Leader stared at me with eyes full of disbelief.

But what could he do? The truth was the truth.

* * *

Haeryeong and I moved to a different location.

"The Sect Leader asked me to pass along his regards to you, Young Master."

"Is the Sect Leader doing well?"

"Yes. He is saying it is time for Haomun to spread its wings and is more active than ever."

"That's a relief."

"This is all thanks to you, Young Master."

As I drank my tea to hide my bashfulness, Haeryeong smiled brightly and pulled out ten bank notes from her sleeve.

"These are the funds from liquidating the gold, silver, treasures, and bank notes that were hoarded inside the Yuwol Sect."

"..."

Ten bank notes, each worth ten thousand taels.

"There was this much?"

It was a number so far beyond my expectations that I felt dizzy.

"Yueyang is the premier economic city of Hunan Province and one of the top tourist destinations in Jiangnan. Considering that the Mount Cangshan Sect has been gathering money to establish a branch in Yueyang, this is actually quite a small sum."

"Small, you say?"

"We couldn't liquidate the tangible assets the Yuwol Sect owned, such as guest houses and taverns. If we touched those, we would leave a trail."

"I suppose so."

They might find out eventually as time passed, but it wasn't an urgent matter right now, and it wasn't as if the Mount Cangshan Sect could do anything even if they knew, so there was no need to worry much about it.

Out of the ten bank notes, I handed two back to Haeryeong.

"...?"

Haeryeong looked at me with a face full of questions.

"It's the commission fee. For a while now, Haomun hasn't been taking any fees."

"Ah... That's entirely because you are a 'guest'..."

"I've never heard that such consideration is extended to a guest."

"..."

It was probably due to the consideration of people like Haeryeong and Yang Gunbaek that I hadn't been charged any fees.

However, relying on such consideration in business is bound to cause trouble eventually.

"Take what you're owed and deliver the best results. That is exactly what I want."

Haeryeong scrutinized my face for a while before letting out a long sigh.

"... You truly are an impossible young master to beat. Are you really okay with this?"

"If it weren't for Haomun's help in this matter, it would have taken much longer. And when people work, they should receive their due compensation."

"Then I will gratefully accept it."

Haeryeong carefully folded the two bank notes and tucked them into her robes.

"Since I received such a gift from you, Young Master, my own gift might pale in comparison."

"Hmm?"

Along with those puzzling words, Haeryeong gestured, and a maid brought over a wooden tray.

On it rested a shriveled root with nine stems and a booklet that looked as though it would crumble to dust if even lightly touched.

It didn't look much like a gift...

"What are these?"

"They are items retrieved from the Yuwol Sect Leader's secret vault."

"Secret vault?"

Even the warehouse contained an enormous amount of hoarded wealth, so what on earth could the items from the secret vault be?

"Have you ever heard of the Nine Spirits Divine Herb?"

"..."

The moment I heard that, my gaze unconsciously drifted toward the shriveled root.

"I-Is this the Nine Spirits Divine Herb?"

A wondrous spiritual elixir said to contain all the world's spiritual veins within its nine stems.

Its medicinal properties were so potent that if an expert with considerable internal energy consumed it incorrectly, their organs would melt under the medicine's overwhelming force—a truly terrifying spiritual elixir.

"He probably planned to offer it as a tribute, knowing he couldn't absorb it himself."

"..."

While I was pondering just how much internal energy would increase the moment I consumed that spiritual elixir, Haeryeong's words continued.

"The other one is the Blood Jade Hand."

"..."

My gaze, which had been captivated by the Nine Spirits Divine Herb, quickly snapped back to Haeryeong.

"If you mean the Blood Jade Hand... are you talking about the Blood Jade Hand I know?"

Haeryeong nodded in place of an answer.

The Blood Jade Hand is one of the ten forbidden arts designated by the Murim Alliance.

"It seems they used this to spread rumors about the Demonic Cult all this time."

I kept nodding as I listened to her story.

They must have thought that no matter what they did or what suspicions they raised, simply throwing the Blood Jade Hand at their opponents in the end would completely overturn all doubts instantly.

"If it weren't for you, Young Master Jin, everything would have eventually played out exactly as the Mount Cangshan Sect and the Yuwol Sect intended."

"... That's a relief."

Even as I said that, I couldn't help the gritty taste left in my mouth.

The fact that the desires of those who cried out for the 'subjugation of demons and destruction of evil' at the very frontlines of the Murim Alliance had strayed from the 'Orthodox Path' was not a pleasant reality for someone who had sacrificed his life for 'justice' in the past.

"It's meager, but this is my gift."

Watching Haeryeong push the tray toward me, I asked.

"If it was from a secret vault, you didn't really have to mention it."

No matter how much of a guest I was, there was no need for Haomun to reveal everything.

"Of course, besides these, there is also a ledger of the high-ranking officials the Yuwol Sect bribed over the years. We didn't bring that along, thinking it would be more useful for us."

"No, what I mean is..."

"Young Master."

Haeryeong spoke in a firm tone.

"We are information brokers who buy and sell information, but at the same time, we are also an institution that analyzes it. And according to our analysis, right now is the moment when your value is at its most affordable, Young Master."

"..."

"We consider you far more important than you think, Young Master."

Haeryeong's eyes were filled with strong conviction.

Unable to give any other response to her unexpected words, I merely gulped.

"So if you really feel burdened by it, just consider it a friendship fee."

At Haeryeong's words, a gentle smile formed on my lips before I knew it.

"Did you hear the story about Yang Gunbaek?"

"I scolded him severely. I asked him if that was all he paid to make a friend."

"Then I will gratefully accept it."

I carefully tucked the Nine Spirits Divine Herb and the Blood Jade Hand into my robes.

Haeryeong was looking at me with the gaze of a mother watching food enter her child's mouth.

Feeling somewhat awkward, I quickly brought up another topic.

"Who do you think will become the master of Yueyang going forward?"

The seat of Yueyang was empty.

The fierce fighting currently happening between the Underworld Murim and the Orthodox sects was, in the end, an all-out war over who would take Yueyang.

"I believe the Underworld Murim, including the Dark Blood Gang and the Black Axe Palace, will likely end up dominating Yueyang."

"Hmm..."

So she thought that as well.

The Orthodox sects, including the Mount Cangshan Sect, had lost trust due to this incident.

It was clear that the Mount Cangshan Sect's influence over the sects that followed them would diminish for a while.

Ultimately, failing to unite as they kept reading the room, they would no longer be able to boast their former prestige.

And it was obvious that the Mount Cangshan Sect, or anyone else from the Orthodox faction, would have to pay a tremendous price in blood to claim Yueyang once again.

"Is there no room for Haomun to step into that position?"

"Pardon?"

Haeryeong, in a rare display, widened her eyes like a rabbit and blinked rapidly.

It was a face of disbelief at what she had just heard.

"The Underworld will try to take a bite, and the Mount Cangshan Sect will strive not to lose their standing. Couldn't Haomun wedge itself right between them?"

"... As you know, Young Master, we are in a position where we cannot show ourselves on the surface."

"Couldn't you just extend your reach covertly?"

"..."

A look of complete incomprehension.

Since we already had a good relationship going, should I give her a gift?

"How does the Yueyang Branch Chief position sound?"

"Pardon??"

"The current Yueyang Branch Chief will probably be moving to a new position soon. And customarily, the branch chief's seat is often filled by someone recommended by the predecessor."

"That... is true. But I haven't heard any news of the Yueyang Branch Chief relocating. Do you know where someone of his stature is heading?"

"He will come to the Taiyi Sect as a dispatched specialist."

"Pardon?!"

Haeryeong, who had never once lost her elegant composure until now, stared at me with her jaw wide open, unable to take her eyes off me.

'No, is it really that surprising?'

Haeryeong's reaction hurt my feelings a little.