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Chapter 103: A Generation, Maybe More
Kaifeng.
Haewon Chamber of Commerce.
The Haewon Chamber of Commerce has three security guards: Hamwoldae, Wonmyungdae, and Cheongyeongdae. All three, who should be attending to their business tasks, are waiting for instructions from the Bangju.
Around noon, the Great Daeju Yang Seungwon summoned the leaders of the guards to his office.
The two men and the woman present were attentively watching Yang Seungwon.
Yang Seungwon set aside the books he was reviewing and looked at the leaders.
“Everyone, it seems that the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce is unwilling to relinquish the Jin'an night market. Recently, they’ve recruited the Pung Family and the Tak Family from Waryong Manor. You must have heard rumors about them at Yonghyeeru, so I don't need to explain who they are.”
The two men exchanged glances.
The only woman present, Yeon Seolju, had a worried expression.
‘The Pung Family and the Tak Family... I've never heard those names before.’
‘I should have paid more attention to the names of the Wanderers who joined as disciples...’
At Waryong Manor, she usually stayed out and didn't think about mingling with them. Even if she had wanted to, her mother wouldn't have allowed it.
‘Perhaps I might recognize their faces...’
If they were disciples who trained at Waryong Manor, she might have seen them in passing.
Then, the leader of Hamwoldae, Gal Hong, asked:
“Yeon Daeju, if they are so skilled, shouldn’t they be known at Waryong Manor?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t involved in the management of Waryong Manor. But I might recognize them if I see them. But would it change anything if I did?”
“At the very least, there is a minimum courtesy, even among Wanderers. They might yield a bit to Yeon Daeju.”
Gal Hong looked at Sang Am, the leader of Wonmyungdae, seeking support.
“I think so too. There’s a code of honor in Murim.”
Sang Am supported Gal Hong.
In fact, an unwritten rule in Murim is that disciples of the same school, sect, or clan should not fight among themselves.
Gal Hong nodded in satisfaction.
“......”
Yeon Seolju felt uncomfortable but couldn’t disagree alone, so she remained silent.
Yang Seungwon, determined to find a solution, took another step forward.
“Yeon Daeju, how about meeting with them discreetly? Not to ask them to yield, but to understand their position.”
“Alright, I’ll try to arrange a meeting. But don’t have too high expectations. Wanderers think very differently from regular disciples.”
Yeon Seolju agreed to meet with the Pung Family and the Tak Family, though with some apprehension. She was proud that the disciples of Waryong Manor were recognized in the guilds, but she was also concerned about potential tensions with them.
‘I hope we can maintain good relations...’
It would be embarrassing for disciples of the same guild to fight among themselves.
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Zhengzhou, also known as Jeongju.
Baek Manor.
The Master of Baek Manor, Baek Seungho, was looking at his daughter Baek Miju, who had returned after getting married. Baek Miju endured her father’s gaze with firmness.
“So, you want to reestablish Waryong Manor in Zhengzhou, and you need financial support?”
“Yes, father, you know that the Swordsmanship of Waryong Manor is authentic. Even the Namgung Family desired it. With a bit of support, we can establish ourselves quickly. It would also benefit Baek Manor since my son would be a strong ally.”
“......”
Baek Seungho thought for a moment before speaking.
“What do you plan to do about the Lunar Fairy? If she causes trouble, everything will fall apart again.”
“I’ll send her a separate gift. After digging up my husband’s bones and building their headquarters over Waryong Manor, her revenge should be complete, right?”
“Are you saying you’ll join the Yoomyung Cult?”
“No, I just want to settle our grudges. If we don’t blame her for what she did, I don’t think there will be any problems.”
“Do you think Mubaek and Seungbaek will agree to this?”
“It doesn’t matter; Waryong Manor won’t attack the Yoomyung Cult. If the Seven Great Sects couldn’t do it, how could Waryong Manor?”
“Hmm...”
Baek Seungho sighed.
That made sense.
As long as the Yoomyung Cult didn’t attack them, there would be no reason for Waryong Manor to see them as enemies.
“First, settle the grudge with the Lunar Fairy. But don’t think about joining the Yoomyung Cult. Baek Manor, Yang Manor, and Waryong Manor are allies of the Seven Great Sects.”
“Yes.”
“Once the matter with the Lunar Fairy is resolved, we’ll discuss this again.”
“Leave it to me.”
Baek Miju was confident.
Recently, the Yoomyung Cult seemed to avoid conflicts with the Seven Great Sects. Even if disciples of the Seven Great Sects provoked them, they handled the situation quietly.
Some said they had already secured a solid status, and others said they had aligned themselves with the imperial government, so they wanted to avoid trouble.
She didn’t know what the truth was, but it was true that the Yoomyung Cult was being softer.
But she wasn’t basing her decisions on vague assumptions.
‘They said that if I brought the Sacred Artifacts, they would fulfill any wish.’
Recently, the Great Daeju of the Jungwon Chamber of Commerce, Im Haesoo, had told her this.
It was an open secret among tomb raiders that the Yoomyung Cult was gathering the Sacred Artifacts. If she handed one over to the Yoomyung Cult, she would receive at least ten thousand taels of silver, or they would fulfill any wish.
She had hesitated for a long time after obtaining a Sacred Artifact by chance. In the end, she decided to take the money.
Of course, she planned to hand it over personally.
The fewer people who knew, the better.
If the Yoomyung Cult valued that item so much, she could trade it for reconciliation.
For Baek Miju, who wanted to establish a Murim family on her own, grudges were a luxury. She had no interest in pursuing the impossible.
Perhaps, because she no longer had any love left for her late husband.
.....................
Zhengzhou, also known as Jeongju.
Yang Manor.
In the guest hall, the young master Yang Iseon and the Waryong Swordsman Yeon Mubaek were sitting, conversing. Neither of them seemed happy.
“Brother, Zhengzhou is as chaotic as Luoyang these days. The guilds are too aggressive. With the Seven Great Sects silent, it feels like the era of the warring states.”
“Is Yang Manor also receiving requests?”
Yeon Mubaek recalled being dragged into the fight between guilds by the Baekse Chamber of Commerce. Could the same thing be happening with Yang Manor?
“The guilds that our disciples are involved in have been continuously sending people. But we’ve still politely declined. We have many disciples, so there are many guilds we’re connected to.”
“Ah!”
“The problem is the shops directly operated by our disciples. Until now, they’ve been under Yang Manor’s protection and haven’t affiliated with any guild. But recently, some from the Evil Faction have offered to be their protectors.”
“Protectors?”
“Yes, they say they’ll protect them in exchange for tributes. It seems they believe they can now challenge Yang Manor. Before, if they attacked us, the Seven Great Sects would intervene, but now that they’re silent...”
“Ha! When will the Seven Great Sects return to their former glory? After the massacre at Eunha Manor last year, it seems they’ve closed their doors completely...”
“Now, they see nothing beyond the headquarters of the Yoomyung Cult. With such a powerful enemy, they have no time to intervene in minor disputes.”
“But the Yoomyung Cult is secretly intervening in these disputes, aren’t they?”
Yeon Mubaek made a sharp observation, and Yang Iseon couldn’t say anything in response.
The Yoomyung Cult was still operating in secret, while the Seven Great Sects remained inactive.
“The world is in chaos. The Seven Great Sects should rise now more than ever, but they remain silent.”
Yeon Mubaek was furious at the inaction of the Seven Great Sects, which allowed the Yoomyung Cult to take over Waryong Manor without opposition. It was a betrayal to their allies who had made great sacrifices.
“What you say is true. We should be supporting our disciples right now. That’s why I wanted to ask for your help.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“As I said, the Evil Faction is demanding tributes from our disciples. The problem is that they’re scattered, so it’s difficult to help them in time. If the attacks are simultaneous, we won’t be able to handle it.”
“Ah! When you need help, let me know. Seungbaek and I will assist you.”
“Thank you for saying that. We won’t forget your help. Yang Manor and Baek Manor are grateful.”
“No need to thank me. We’re not strangers.”
“Haha, thank you for saying that. My sister married someone spectacular.”
“No, we’re the ones who are grateful to have been accepted.”
Yeon Mubaek didn’t think much of Yang Iseon’s request. Even as guests, they would have helped in such circumstances. Besides, Yang Manor was his in-laws, so there was no need to think twice.
“Ah! I’ve heard recently that your mother is working to rebuild Waryong Manor. Did you know that?”
Yeon Mubaek smiled bitterly.
“Yes, she’s come to see me several times. She says she wants to settle the matter with the Lunar Fairy once and for all.”
“Settle it?”
Yang Iseon frowned.
After digging up her husband’s bones, how could she consider settling the grudge?
“She wants to forget the revenge because it’s impossible in reality.”
“What! And what do you think?”
In Murim, it’s said that ‘a gentleman’s revenge is not late even if it takes ten years.’ But here, they wanted to forget it after a year. It was outrageous.
“Ha! My thoughts don’t matter. She’ll do what she wants.”
“But if Waryong Manor is rebuilt, you’ll be the leader, right? You should be the one to make that decision.”
“......”
Yeon Mubaek only sighed without saying anything.
It was half and half.
Out of honor for his father, revenge was the answer. But, thinking about reality, he wanted to compromise. He knew he would be criticized for it, so he couldn’t say it.
After a while, Yeon Mubaek asked.
“Brother, who do you think is the leader of Murim now?”
“Hmm. Right now, it seems to be the Yoomyung Cult.”
“How long do you think they’ll last?”
Yang Iseon’s expression darkened.
From the imperial family to merchants, everyone wanted to be on good terms with the Yoomyung Cult.
“At this moment, at least a generation, maybe more...”
“That’s why I can’t blame my mother’s decision. I don’t see any other hope. I hate the Seven Great Sects. I trusted them, and now I see no hope.”
Yang Iseon wanted to say, ‘Why don’t you become that hope?’ but he held back.
He had no right to criticize him.
He himself wasn’t thinking of becoming that hope either.
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Kaifeng.
Dajeong Teahouse.
Noon.
The leader of Cheongyeongdae from the Haewon Chamber of Commerce, Yeon Seolju, was waiting at a table reserved for her guests.
She was about to meet with the 'Pung' and 'Tak' from the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce.
Yeon Seolju held a cup of hot tea, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement.
Who would they be?
Would they treat her with respect as a senior in the guild?
As her mind wandered in thought, the door suddenly swung open.