“…Well. I feel like I’m being sold off.”
“Aren’t we actually being sold off for one hundred thousand nyang?”
Gwak Jindo and Muk Hyeonhak trudged through the streets of Namchang, fully aware of their situation.
The Maengju had abruptly ordered them to go to the Hwanggeum Family and take charge of training the children.
He hadn’t even mentioned how long they’d have to do it. Of course, both Gang Un and Muk Hyeonhak had insisted that he was talking nonsense, but once they heard the details, there was no way out.
Since the Hwanggeum Family had provided one hundred thousand nyang in support, it was only right for them to repay that kindness.
Knowing just how dire the Murim Alliance’s situation was, Gang Un and Muk Hyeonhak did not protest further and set out for Namchang.
“Doesn’t that mean the Hwanggeum Family’s vault must hold at least one million nyang?”
“That’s too much, but I suppose they’d need at least that much to hand out a hundred thousand nyang to the Murim Alliance so casually.”
Gang Un spoke, and Muk Hyeonhak replied. Under the leadership of Jegalheon, even the Murim Alliance was undergoing tremendous changes.
A hundred thousand nyang—more than enough money to transform an entire organization.
The buildings were newly renovated, and they’d even bought up nearby properties. The Elixirs that had been occasionally given out as rewards to Murim Alliance warriors were now being supplied regularly to everyone.
With such noticeable changes, all eyes in Jungwon were turning toward the Murim Alliance.
And as for how the Murim Alliance could afford such spending—everyone had their suspicions. It was, of course, support from the Hwanggeum Family, their Dongmaeng.
“We’re only able to operate like this because the Gaju has changed, right?”
“It’s only natural. There’s hardly anything a family can do without a Gaju. So, you could say that’s the reason.”
“That kid made a bold move. No matter how much he’s the Gaju, making such a massive expenditure can’t have been an easy decision.”
“That kid isn’t just any ordinary child.”
Even before, they’d witnessed it, but Gold-necked Hwan was difficult to describe as anything less than extraordinary. Whether it was insight, strategy, or martial prowess, he had abilities far beyond what a boy his age should possess.
He even had the earth-shattering talent to copy any Mugong he’d seen just once. While there were plenty of promising young talents in Jungwon, Muk Hyeonhak and Gang Un couldn’t think of a single peer who could surpass Gold-necked Hwan. Only the rest of Jungwon didn’t know yet.
They crossed Namchang and entered the Hwanggeum Family. The guards at the main gate seemed to know they were coming and opened the doors immediately.
“It sure has changed here.”
“I don’t think they really needed to change anything, but it looks like they did anyway.”
Muk Hyeonhak and Gang Un entered the manor and looked around. Even last time, the Hwanggeum Family was splendid, but now it had grown even more opulent. The exterior had changed, but what stood out even more was the lively energy inside.
“So, where are we supposed to go?”
“Is there no attendant to guide us?”
After passing through the outer garden and arriving at the inner courtyard, the two wandered a bit. It was customary to send someone to greet guests arriving from outside. If no one had been sent, then the Hwanggeum Family’s etiquette was lacking. If someone was sent but late, then that person was at fault.
Gang Un prepared to have a word with the attendant if they arrived late. Soon, he saw someone approaching slowly in the distance. The figure gradually became clearer. It was Muk Hyeonhak who recognized who it was.
“That friend is still here?”
“So it seems.”
The man approaching with an annoyed look was neither an attendant nor walking with any particular courtesy. And that was fine—because he could get away with it.
It was Gwak Jindo, a fellow martial artist of similar age.
“You really know how to welcome guests.”
As soon as Gwak Jindo arrived, Gang Un spoke. Gwak Jindo shot back immediately.
“The last time you lot arrived late, so I figured I’d be late today too.”
“When were we ever late?”
“Back when you came to the family house, you made us wait forever.”
“Your eyesight must be going bad. After taking such a beating from the Jangmunin of Haenam, the aftereffects must be catching up now.”
Muk Hyeonhak, Gang Un, and Gwak Jindo began their usual banter. It wasn’t exactly a brawl—just a display of familiarity.
“Looks like the lingering effects from your injury after the Sword Summit are still with you.”
“It just means we fought hard. If you don’t get hurt in a fight like that, did you really fight at all?”
Gang Un and Gwak Jindo kept bickering. Muk Hyeonhak slowly stepped back. When these two got together, they’d always go on and on about the past, and it was tiresome.
From the ambush at Namhae twenty years ago, to the regional battles in Haenam instigated by the remnants of the Demonic Cult, and up to the Sword Summit eight years ago that signaled the start of Botam’s destruction—they’d been through a lot together, so there was plenty to talk about.
Muk Hyeonhak changed the subject.
“How’s Yangha hyung-nim these days?”
“I heard he’s bedridden now. That old man always pushed his body recklessly, so this was bound to happen.”
Gwak Jindo clicked his tongue. Pa Su Haemong Gu Yangha, the eldest of the Namhae Samgaek. He was already in his eighties back then.
“He was such a skirt-chaser—guess he can’t chase anymore.”
“So when you visit him now, he keeps saying he wishes he’d die soon, huh?”
The three headed toward Okmyogak, laughing. That’s how martial artists with similar backgrounds talked.
At first, many were warm and friendly, but the more comrades they lost, the more abrasive they became. With this kind of banter, when someone died, they could simply curse and move on with composure.
Soon they arrived at Okmyogak. Standing there in perfect posture was Gold-necked Hwan. As they approached, Gold-necked Hwan immediately bowed to them.
“You have arrived, Elders.”
“Yes, Gongja. No, Gaju. You’re so young, it’s hard for me to call you Gaju.”
Gang Un chuckled heartily as he quickly scanned Gold-necked Hwan’s physique. Muk Hyeonhak did the same.
Their thoughts were the same.
“Something’s different.”
By observing a person’s posture and muscles, you could roughly tell what Mugong they’d trained. Someone trained in palm techniques would have thicker skin on the palms, and those who focused on kicking would have more developed legs.
In the past, Gold-necked Hwan had the stance of a typical Namhae swordsman, sharpness hidden within apparent slackness. Now, it was hard to get a read on him. They could only sense that something was quietly coiled within.
“Still, we don’t need to call you Gaju, do we? After all, we’re much older.”
“Of course.”
Gold-necked Hwan replied crisply, and both Muk Hyeonhak and Gang Un’s faces brightened.
“You really are an open-minded kid. Sometimes, among the Odaesega Gajus, there are those who try to lord it over others, even with less experience.”
“Are you talking about the Namgoong Gaju?”
“No, not necessarily him specifically…”
Just as it seemed their conversation would drift into another round of banter, Gold-necked Hwan turned and greeted Gwak Jindo again.
“Master, thank you for your hard work as well.”
“Yeah, well, since I’m here, let’s work these kids hard.”
“That’s not possible for now. There are still some children suffering from elixir side effects. They need a bit more rest.”
At Gold-necked Hwan’s words, Gang Un and Muk Hyeonhak’s eyes flashed. No matter their age, martial artists couldn’t help but be curious about elixirs. And these were the very children they were to train.
“What kind of elixirs did you give them that they’re having trouble digesting?”
“They didn’t all take the same thing. Sunfire Lotus, Ten-Thousand-Year Extreme Blood Tonic, Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal, and Gumyung Sulsam, things like that.”
At Gold-necked Hwan’s reply, Gang Un and Muk Hyeonhak were momentarily dumbfounded. There are tiers even among elixirs. But the ones Gold-necked Hwan just mentioned were the sort only given to the direct disciples of the Gupailbang.
And he’d given all those to the Muin Dae. There was another reason they were so shocked.
Normally, the elixirs given to trainees aren’t that potent. Strong elixirs can actually be harmful. So they assumed he’d only used something like Haijawhan from the Hangnam sect, or perhaps the Sohwandon that the Shaolin Temple sold for five hundred Eunja.
Gang Un tried to hide his surprise as he pressed further.
“How many members are in the Muin Dae?”
“About seventy-two.”
“Ah, seventy-two.”
As soon as he heard that, Gang Un began calculating. Truthfully, it was hard to even estimate, since those elixirs hardly ever appeared in the market. Their prices started in the thousands of Eunja at minimum.
Muk Hyeonhak, on the other hand, didn’t even bother calculating and spoke up directly. He’d been around the Jianghu for decades, and had even been the Biyun Gakju of the Murim Alliance for three generations running. He knew exactly what kind of items appeared and were popular in the Jungwon black market.
“How could you have gotten seventy such elixirs onto the market? That’s impossible. Didn’t you just give a few to some and then hand out something easier to find, like Baeknyeon Seolsam, to the others?”
“I paid a premium for them. When you raise the price, you can get them faster than you’d expect.”
“…You can actually get those by paying extra?”
Those are already ridiculously expensive—paying a premium on top of that? Even the Gupailbang wouldn’t be so extravagant. Gold-necked Hwan glanced up, then replied.
“I paid up to twice the going market rate for some.”
“…Is that so?”
Muk Hyeonhak was speechless. He knew Gold-necked Hwan wasn’t one for empty boasts. Even so, not all his questions were answered.
“Even so, could those children handle such potent elixirs? And why did you bother finding elixirs with such precisely divided yin and yang properties in the first place?”
“Because I recruited those with blocked meridians.”
At that answer, Muk Hyeonhak and Gang Un, who had been keeping their expressions in check, couldn’t help but have their eyes twitch.
Recruiting children with blocked meridians to form the Muin Dae. That explained it—it was the kind of idea you’d only see in dreams.
“…Was there really a reason to go that far?”
“There was no reason not to.”
Gold-necked Hwan replied. For a moment, Gang Un and Muk Hyeonhak lost their momentum.
Compared to the Murim Alliance’s warriors, who had to share two grindstones for their swords, this was unbelievably luxurious.
It was so excessive that even Jegalheon had once suggested selling off one of the Cheon Gi they’d acquired.
Of course, they’d known the Hwanggeum Family could throw around money, but not to this extent. This was beyond anything they’d imagined.
“Aren’t you worried you’re being too extravagant?”
“I can always earn more money.”
Sometimes, the newly rich show off their wealth, and it’s obnoxious to see. But Gold-necked Hwan’s tone was never boastful—just natural and matter-of-fact.
And really, what was the point in bragging? Whether it was Mugong or money, those who boasted would clam up as soon as someone richer or stronger appeared. That was always an eyesore. There was no one who could overpower Gold-necked Hwan with wealth.
Sensing that the conversation was just highlighting their own poverty, Gang Un changed the subject.
“Fine, fine. Then we don’t have any immediate work to do?”
“That’s not quite it.”
Gold-necked Hwan said.
“In truth, I wanted to discuss what Mugong to teach the children.”
Both Muk Hyeonhak and Gang Un fell silent at his words. They had certainly thought about it on their way here—what Mugong would the children learn?
They were reluctant to pass down their own Mugong. No matter the Dongmaeng, these were their family’s secret arts. They’d barely shared them with the Murim Alliance’s warriors, let alone outsiders.
But Gold-necked Hwan said something completely out of left field.
“I’ve tried creating some Mugong myself. I’d like you to take a look and give me your thoughts.”
“Hmm?”
Did he just say he created Mugong, as casually as if he’d prepared a meal?
They knew Gold-necked Hwan was a genius who could replicate any Mugong after seeing it once, but they hadn’t expected him to go as far as creating his own. That was an entirely different matter.
“Would you mind coming with me to the Yeonmujeong? I’ll show you the Mugong there.”
Gold-necked Hwan said.
As he turned and headed for the Yeonmujeong, the two stopped being surprised. If they thought about it rationally, no matter how talented he was, it was hard to believe anyone could create a new Mugong at thirteen.
There were plenty of charlatans who’d cobbled together various arts and claimed to have created their own Mugong. Gold-necked Hwan might not even realize what it meant to say he “created” a Mugong.
Doing their best to calm their minds, the two followed Gold-necked Hwan. Now that they’d steadied themselves, they actually began to look forward to seeing Gold-necked Hwan demonstrate his Mugong.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.