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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Finding the Warehouse (2)
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Finally succeeding in fully opening the barrier formation of the emergency warehouse, the Heavenly Demon Gunryong wondered,
'What was in here again?'
Truth be told, he didn't remember the details of what was stored here.
But one thing was certain.
-Your Holiness.
This is our emergency warehouse and also a shelter where we can hide.
So, of course, we'll stock it with enough provisions to last a lifetime,
as well as various medicinal herbs, spiritual elixirs, and recovery pills for self-treatment in case of injuries.
It was the work of Sima Hui, the Ma An-cheon-noe renowned for his extreme meticulousness in planning and strategy, so there wouldn't be anything missing.
"That's right! This is definitely the place!"
As he drew closer, fragments of past memories aligned perfectly.
A transparent ice cave gleaming beautifully like the kingdom of ice.
It was called a cave, but it was taller and more vast than any ordinary building or pavilion.
Moreover, it served as a natural stone ice storage, so there was no worry of spoilage or rot.
"Ooooh!"
The moment the Heavenly Demon stepped inside, he let out an exclamation of admiration before even taking a proper look.
He couldn't help it.
Twinkle!
Surprisingly, something illuminated the dark interior: night-luminescent pearls.
These were rare treasures—orbs that emitted their own light.
'As expected of Hui.'
The Heavenly Demon stuck out his tongue in amazement at the thought of embedding such expensive night-luminescent pearls thickly into the floor and ice walls.
Thanks to them, the interior shone brightly without the need for torches, allowing him to clearly see the neatly categorized sections.
"This area's for storing grains and food supplies?"
The nearest section was packed with various grains and foodstuffs—enough to feed the entire Ghost Sword Manor for ten years easily.
The Ghost Sword Manor, currently struggling with financial woes and food shortages.
'For now, I'll send people later to transport these provisions.'
What truly astonished him lay beyond.
The next cavern held exactly what the Heavenly Demon had anticipated, and the moment he entered, the blinding brilliance made even his eyes widen in shock.
"Oh! Ooooh!"
The massive cavern was filled to the brim with gold bars and ingots.
Even relics considered antiques back in his 200-year-old era were piled up in staggering quantities.
Of course, these were all gathered from within the Demonic Cult.
"Incredible. Truly incredible."
The Heavenly Demon wasn't particularly materialistic, but this was an exception.
Above all, he marveled at Sima Hui's handiwork in meticulously sorting and organizing everything by category.
'Hui, unlike U-ryang, you would have found your path and lived happily—I have no doubt.'
The Heavenly Demon wasn't worried about Sima Hui like he was about Yang U-ryang.
Even back in the Demonic Cult, there was a saying that the world's most pointless worry was fretting over Sima Hui.
Moreover, Sima Hui was pure-blooded Demonic Cult lineage and direct descendant of the previous Cult Leader.
Tracking his whereabouts would be difficult at present.
Thus, the busy Heavenly Demon decided to put off investigating Sima Hui for later.
"There's so much."
The Heavenly Demon selectively pocketed the most valuable treasures relative to their size and weight.
A few gold bars, along with necklaces, bracelets, and other jewels whose value had multiplied several times since his era.
'This should be enough to revive the Ghost Sword Manor.'
If it fell short, he could always return for more.
The Ghost Sword Manor embodied Yang U-ryang's final will, and he felt so indebted and grateful that he wouldn't hesitate to give them every treasure in this warehouse.
"The gold bars and treasures are sufficient like this, and the rest..."
Beyond the treasure cavern were various medicinal herbs for treatment and now exceedingly rare superior spiritual elixirs.
'I have no need for elixirs.'
It wasn't because he lacked desire for them like with treasures.
In the past, the Heavenly Demon had been obsessed with spiritual elixirs and beast cores, resulting in his internal energy becoming the deepest in history.
In other words, his internal energy had already surpassed human limits and even exceeded immortal standards, rendering elixirs mere bitter snacks to him now.
'But it's different for Yang Dae-un and Yang Yeon-hwa.'
The reason the Yang family of Ghost Sword Manor was being relentlessly crushed by a mere Fine Sword Sect not even worth a family register.
It was the absence of internal energy cultivation.
How could they acquire elixirs or herbs to build internal energy when they could barely afford rice?
"Not just those two—I'll feed elixirs and herbs to all the talented young Yangs and properly cultivate talent."
Once the Heavenly Demon committed, he saw it through to the end.
To repay his debt to Yang U-ryang, he planned to elevate the Ghost Sword Manor to great heights.
Thus, he packed a generous haul of rare and expensive spiritual elixirs alongside the treasures.
'Good. This should suffice.'
Anything lacking could be sent later via escorts or through the North Sea Ice Palace.
"Just wait a little longer, Yang Dae-un. I'm coming."
And so, the Heavenly Demon's triumphant return began.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
While the Heavenly Demon was gathering immense wealth and elixirs to return to the Ghost Sword Manor,
the manor faced yet another crisis.
"My friend, can't you wait a bit longer?"
For some reason, Manor Lord Yang Dae-un was pacing anxiously, sweating profusely.
The seasoned elder was repeatedly bowing and pleading with a man in his thirties.
"Manor Lord Yang, this is troubling. The overdue interest alone is nearly twenty gold ingots."
A sleazy rogue was speaking disrespectfully to Yang Dae-un, who was old enough to be his father.
He was none other than the lord of the Black Gold House, usurers running loan shark operations in Yonyeong Province.
The Black Gold House lord had encamped at the Ghost Sword Manor with his underlings.
"I know. How could I not? I expect good news soon. Please, just a little more time."
This was precisely why Yang Dae-un was so flustered.
Even breathing cost money.
To sustain manor operations and search for his missing son Yang Hui-gun, he had no choice but to borrow from the Black Gold House.
"Lies again? Who would believe you?"
The Black Gold House lord was unaware that Fine Sword Sect warriors had raided the Ghost Sword Manor and been utterly decimated.
Understandably so, as the sect had sealed its gates and hushed it up, keeping the incident from leaking out.
"It's true. Please, just wait a bit."
"Cut the nonsense and pay up now..."
As the argument dragged on and the Black Gold House underlings—fiercer and more savage than warriors from mid-sized sects—prepared to threaten,
"Manor Lord! Finally... G-Gunryong is here!"
"He's here!"
At his subordinate's words, Yang Dae-un joyfully scanned the approach to Dome Green Mountain.
The peerlessly skilled Heavenly Demon had already reached the manor entrance before the report finished.
"Hey! Don't play games—pay my gold ingots now!"
Feeling ignored, the Black Gold House lord raised his voice, even mobilizing his men for force,
when...
"...!!"
An overwhelming aura engulfed him, making it hard to breathe or stand still.
'Huh? What's wrong with me?'
The Black Gold House lord scratched his bald head, wondering if he was unwell, but the cause had arrived right before him.
Incredibly, the Heavenly Demon had silently unleashed his killing intent toward him.
"Hey! How dare you stand before the lord!"
"This brat's lost his mind?"
The underlings, unaware he was the Heavenly Demon, stepped forward aggressively, but met a miserable end.
Krunch!
Before they could even approach—or realize they'd been hit—their arms twisted unnaturally, blood streaming from their faces.
This was the result of the Heavenly Demon flicking his finger to send finger wind.
"Gaaahhh!"
The once-arrogant underlings collapsed wailing from his casual strike.
Watching from point-blank range, the Black Gold House lord instinctively realized,
'This man... is a terrifying master!'
Black Gold House Lord Yeo Rip.
Having founded the Black Gold House at fourteen with a mere twenty silver taels as capital, he was a man of sharp insight.
Thus, he immediately gauged the Heavenly Demon's worth.
Messing with him meant not just his life, but the entire Black Gold House was done for.
Realizing this amid choking pressure, Yeo Rip forced a smile.
Y-Young hero. I failed to recognize a master—my apologies. If you could just...
As he begged, the Heavenly Demon lightly withdrew his killing intent and eyed him.
"This one merely came to collect gold ingots lent to the Ghost Sword Manor Lord."
Yeo Rip sensed the Heavenly Demon wasn't the merchant type, but a pure martial artist—rigidly devoted to the martial path.
From vast experience, he knew such men repaid debts reliably and generously.
"How much?"
"Principal plus interest... around fifty gold ingots."
"What?!"
Yang Dae-un leaped up in fury at Yeo Rip's words.
In truth, he'd borrowed just over ten ingots, totaling around forty-seven with interest—rounded up here.
Yeo Rip was impressive in his own right.
Daring to haggle even with death looming.
But he'd overlooked something.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Too low."
"Right?"
"Indeed. Then I'll just kill you all and send fifty ingots to the Black Gold House?"
"Yes. ...Yes?!"
Only then did Yeo Rip catch the oddity, his arms trembling.
"I'll make sure the borrowed gold is repaid. But the issue between me and the Black Gold House is ongoing?"
"That's..."
"Getting stabbed while collecting debts is par for the course for loan sharks, right? Let me pin a medal on you."
The Heavenly Demon ostentatiously snapped his fingers.
Boom!
A massive boulder near Dome Green Mountain pulverized into dust instantly.
"Hup!"
"Urk!"
Witnessing it up close, Yeo Rip and his cronies paled, tails tucked like frightened puppies.
Which thug could survive that?
"Y-Young hero—no, great hero! Spare us, and I'll forgive all the Ghost Sword Manor's debts and principal."
"No need."
"Please do. I insist."
"You will?"
"Yes."
There's a proverb: one word repays a thousand taels of debt.
The Heavenly Demon loved that saying.
One word had fleeced fifty gold ingots—how could he not?
"Fine then. You're spared. Get lost."
"Th-Thank you."
The Black Gold House's relentless torment of the Ghost Sword Manor and exorbitant interest were settled with a single word from the Heavenly Demon.
But Yeo Rip was still unaware of something.
"Oh, right. Black Gold House Lord."
"My name is Yeo Rip. Call me comfortably."
"Sure, Baldy."
"Ah...! Yes, great hero."
Smirk!
"Lend me some pocket money."
The Heavenly Demon was a ruthless man who saw things through to the end.