Chapter 221
"You'll give it to me?"
"Yes! I'll give it to you! So please don't mention going into seclusion!"
Cheong Yeong-ja wanted to cry.
'Why is this man acting like this?'
When an elderly master spoke of entering seclusion, it sounded good on the surface, but conversely, it was like a threat saying he wouldn't interfere with sect affairs anymore, so don't think about doing anything under his name.
'My head already aches because of the Taiji Sword Sage.'
From Mount Hua's perspective, Wudang's Taiji Sword Sage was always a thorn in their side, still alive and well. If Mount Hua's Plum Blossom Sword Lord went into seclusion, Mount Hua wouldn't be able to breathe a word in front of Wudang until the Taiji Sword Sage passed away.
'I can't let such a thing happen in my generation!'
Considering that price, ten nyang of gold was nothing.
"I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you right now. I won't even ask what you plan to use it for. So please, please take back those words!"
"Hmm."
The Plum Blossom Sword Lord nodded with satisfaction.
"Sect Leader."
"Yes, Grand Uncle!"
"Though I say I'm taking money, would I really use such a large sum for personal matters?"
"..."
"It's all for Mount Hua, so don't worry too much."
What kind of nonsense is that, Grand Uncle?
Though he had so much he wanted to say, he couldn't bring himself to voice it. Cheong Yeong-ja swallowed the curses that had risen to his throat and forced an awkward smile.
"How could there be any doubt?"
"Hehe, I'm glad you understand. Well then."
Looking at the hand extended right in front of his face, Cheong Yeong-ja smacked his lips with a displeased expression.
"Must I give it to you right now?"
"You said you'd give it right away."
"…Just a moment."
Cheong Yeong-ja sighed and went into his room to open the safe.
'This is all operating expenses… '
Isn't a budget something that always seems abundant when you first see it, but becomes insufficient by the end? If ten nyang, such a large sum, disappeared from here, they might have to eat only grass for the rest of the year.
Wiping away the tears that kept trying to leak out, Cheong Yeong-ja fumbled around in the safe and picked up ten nyang of golden coins that gleamed yellow.
"Here it is."
The Plum Blossom Sword Lord cleared his throat and took the money Cheong Yeong-ja offered. Then, unable to hide the smile spreading across his face, he said:
"This money will become the foundation for Mount Hua to advance to new heights, so don't feel too sorry about it."
"…Yes, Grand Uncle."
"Well then."
As the Plum Blossom Sword Lord walked away cheerfully, Cheong Yeong-ja let out a low sigh.
'What on earth is he planning to do… '
More than the money, he was worried. What could he possibly be planning to use that fortune for?
That's when it happened.
"Ahem."
At the sound of a low cough, Cheong Yeong-ja jumped in surprise and turned his head.
'This appearance isn't something good for others to see… '
"T-Taiji Sword Sage, sir?"
Looking at the Taiji Sword Sage who was watching him with an awkward expression, Cheong Yeong-ja couldn't help but think various thoughts.
'Why is this person here?'
Of course, he knew that the Taiji Sword Sage had come to Mount Hua to meet the Plum Blossom Sword Lord. But hadn't the Taiji Sword Sage immediately gone to find the Plum Blossom Sword Lord right after exchanging light greetings?
'Did he hear all the conversation between Grand Uncle and me?'
No matter how much the other party was a sword master who dominated the world and Wudang's greatest sword, the Taiji Sword Sage, silently infiltrating the quarters where Mount Hua's sect leader resided was not something that could be overlooked.
When Cheong Yeong-ja was about to question the Taiji Sword Sage, considering the impact it would have on Mount Hua and the relationship with Wudang, he let go of everything at the voice that reached his ears.
"Sect Leader, I'm sorry to say this, but could you also lend me ten nyang of gold? On the day I return to Wudang, I will certainly repay that money."
"..."
Cheong Yeong-ja gazed at the distant mountains.
'Peace can go freeze to death.'
A demon had definitely descended upon Mount Hua.
* * *
"This is annoyingly tiresome, really."
Wei Yan-ho was rolling around on his bed.
This was definitely a dangerous place. Weren't there more and more people forcing labor upon him one by one?
He couldn't understand why everyone was so desperate to do something.
"Isn't it tiresome?"
For Wei Yan-ho, who sometimes thought even breathing was bothersome, understanding other people who sought out hardship was far too difficult a task.
But it was a clear fact that there were people in the world who sought out such things.
The person making sounds while loitering in front of his room right now seemed to be one of those people.
Knock knock.
Sure enough, the sound of knocking on the door soon followed.
'Don't they have anything better to do?'
Of course, it was quite early for ordinary people, but for Wei Yan-ho who was just about to fall asleep, it was no different from the middle of the night. Though he roughly figured out who it was from the presence, Wei Yan-ho couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
'If I don't answer, won't they just go away?'
They had probably brought some bothersome task. Rather than answering and making things bigger, if he just kept his mouth shut quietly, they might think he was sleeping and leave…
"I'm coming in."
That didn't seem to be the case.
Seeing the door open with a creak, Wei Yan-ho could only lament Mount Hua's poor accommodations that didn't even have proper locks.
'Isn't this what happens when you thoughtlessly build a sect on a mountaintop!'
He didn't know who first established Mount Hua, but if that person had even a bit of sense, they would have built the sect in the middle of a bustling area for the sake of their descendants.
To make offerings to Mount Hua, one had to risk their life climbing cliffs – what wealthy person in their right mind would climb Mount Hua to pray for enlightenment? There was a reason Mount Hua was falling behind Wudang.
His thoughts had developed from personal laziness to Mount Hua's direction of development.
If Mount Hua heard this, they would naturally say "mind your own business properly," but unfortunately, none of Mount Hua's people knew Wei Yan-ho's thoughts.
So there was no way they would install locks for him.
The door opened and Jin Ye-ran entered.
"What's the matter?"
Wei Yan-ho asked nonchalantly. Jin Ye-ran also answered nonchalantly, not having the slightest thought that Wei Yan-ho might be sleeping.
"Wei Jeong-han the Great Hero is looking for you."
"Father is?"
"Yes."
Wei Yan-ho's face slightly contorted.
"Is it urgent?"
"I don't really know…"
Wei Yan-ho scratched his head vigorously.
'Well, if it were urgent, he wouldn't have sent this person.'
If it had been urgent, he would have come directly. Wasn't Wei Jeong-han someone who took pleasure in waking Wei Yan-ho and made a hobby of flipping over the bed where Wei Yan-ho was sleeping?
"Ugh."
Wei Yan-ho let out a deep sigh.
Why wouldn't the world just leave him alone? Despite all the hardships he'd endured to emerge from the cave, the world was still a harsh place for him.
"Aren't you going?"
"Ugh."
Wei Yan-ho rolled around and got down from the bed. Then he let out a deep sigh.
"Let's go, let's go."
As Wei Yan-ho trudged toward the door, Jin Ye-ran extended her hand to stop him.
"Hm?"
When he looked up, Jin Ye-ran took out a towel from the basket she had brought and held it to Wei Yan-ho's face.
"There are other people there."
"..."
"Laziness might not be a sin, but there's no need to show that side of yourself to others unnecessarily."
Jin Ye-ran, who had gently wiped Wei Yan-ho's face, smiled slightly and put the towel back in the basket.
"Now let's go down."
"Yeah…"
Wei Yan-ho scratched his head.
'Something feels a bit strange… '
It was a ticklish feeling in his stomach. Since he'd never received such consideration from anyone other than his mother, it felt quite unfamiliar.
'Now that I think about it, that's true.'
Wei Yan-ho's life had been a continuous struggle.
Resisting his brother who tried to make him train somehow, being sold off as a military officer before meeting his master. Even after emerging from the cave, he had to be dragged around here and there, fighting and fighting again.
How many people had shown him kindness during all that?
"Ahem."
Wei Yan-ho cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness and followed behind Jin Ye-ran, who was leading the way.
"What's this about?"
"The other participants have arrived."
"…What does that have to do with me?"
"Perhaps since Young Master Wei could be considered junior to them, the meaning is for you to pay your respects?"
"Ugh."
Wei Yan-ho's face rapidly contorted.
"You're saying they called me down for such a trivial reason?"
"I don't know the exact reason either."
"Ugh."
Wei Yan-ho grumbled constantly even during the short time going from the second floor to the first floor.
Yet the interesting thing was that he still went.
'I don't want to get beaten.'
There was a time when he had realized he'd become a master and enjoyed the thought that he no longer had to be beaten by his brother or father, but heavens no.
His body, which had been cheerfully beaten since childhood, still cowered just at the sight of his father. Not just his father. He cowered when he saw his brother, and cowered even more severely when he saw his mother.
Wei Yan-ho, who had learned the ordinary truth that no matter how strong you become, you can never beat your father, was moving his steps today too with a sorrowful heart.
"Should I run away once things are reasonably settled?"
"Pardon?"
"Now that I think about it, it seems like I'll never be able to live as I please in the Central Plains where father and brother are."
"Ah…"
"People who've learned martial arts live long, don't they? Our father will probably stay healthy for another seventy years, and brother will live for over a hundred years."
Wei Yan-ho shuddered as if the mere thought was horrifying.
Wei Yan-ho's face became serious as he imagined a scene where his father would burst into his room and flip over his bed even when he was lying in bed with white hair and beard, and his brother would approach to give him a lecture.
'This isn't something to just let slide.'
It was a quite possible scenario.
"If I'm really unlucky, I might live being nagged even after I'm over a hundred years old."
"That won't happen."
"You don't know our family."
"No. That won't happen. Right now, Young Master Wei is a son and younger brother, which is why it's like this, but once Young Master Wei marries and builds his own family, they'll respect you."
"…Marriage?"
Wei Yan-ho flinched at hearing words he'd never imagined, but Jin Ye-ran didn't respond. Her pace just quickened a little.
"Marriage, marriage…"
Wei Yan-ho's face became somewhat serious.
He'd never thought about living by getting married. A lazy person has to give up many things in proportion to their laziness. For Wei Yan-ho, who had no concept of responsibility, supporting a family and raising children was like a story from another world.
"But is that the only way?"
It was something he'd heard in passing, but it sounded plausible.
Surely they wouldn't beat their son in front of their grandchildren. No matter how much Wei Jeong-han lived day by day for the pleasure of beating Wei Yan-ho, that hopeless father should have at least that much discernment.
Now he had money too… Coldly calculated, it could be called the best method to liquidate this semi-slave life.
But…
"Come on, who would marry me?"
Even if Wei Yan-ho were a woman, he didn't think anyone would marry him. Having quick situational awareness and knowing his place was one of Wei Yan-ho's few virtues.
"…There might be someone."
"Come on, who?"
"There is."
"What?"
"Ah, no."
Looking at Jin Ye-ran's back as she walked quickly with short steps, Wei Yan-ho said blankly:
"Why is she acting like that?"
For Wei Yan-ho, it was something he could never understand in his lifetime.