Chapter 586
Episode 586
Episode 586. Backroom Deal (7)
At that moment, Young Master Huangbo Homyeong spoke.
“You would do well not to think of shaking me with that petty tongue of yours.” (Huangbo Homyeong)
However, Hyangok Noona did not answer at all and simply charged forward.
Crack!
A tag shattered in an instant from Noona’s strike.
So that is the Tiger-Subduing Great Net Sword?
As though its meaning of making a tiger submit was not wasted, it was a martial art overflowing with pressure.
Haecheong Sinni, Noona’s master, was known for the Tiger-Subduing Great Net Sword.
Well, it meant she was saying to shut up and just fight.
At this, Young Master Huangbo Homyeong wore a flustered expression, but soon took his starting stance and prepared to fight properly.
The Huangbo Clan mainly uses fist techniques, and they are enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jinju Eon Clan.
The Jinju Eon Clan tends to strengthen the body through hard body arts to respond to cold weapons, but the Huangbo Clan has none of that.
Perhaps because they are naturally large-boned and have excellent recovery, they do not seem to need anything like hard body arts.
By the way, the Huangbo Clan was originally famous as a family with a bold and fair-minded nature....
These days, it seemed that much of that family tradition had disappeared.
Enough that one of their children would commit the illegal act of match-fixing.
Young Master Huangbo Homyeong’s fist shot forward fiercely.
But Hyangok Noona lightly avoided that fist and swung her sword.
The place Noona’s sword aimed for was precisely where Young Master Huangbo Homyeong’s tag was.
As if he had expected it, Young Master Huangbo Homyeong swung his fist toward that spot.
Immediately, Noona’s sword technique changed in an instant, and Noona’s sword struck a tag in another place directly.
Crack!
He was properly fooled by the feint.
Was it because Hyangok Noona’s martial prowess was much stronger than expected?
Young Master Huangbo Homyeong’s expression began to distort more and more.
“You! Rat-like bitch!” (Huangbo Homyeong)
Ah... dear, he should not have said that.
The disciples of the Emei Sect mostly wear gray clothing, and their footwork is agile and changes quickly.
Perhaps because of that, they have many martial arts that strike and withdraw, so some martial artists would call them that with contempt.
“What did he say?” (Emei Disciple)
“That bastard!” (Emei Disciple)
Naturally, not only the Emei Sect disciples who were watching the duel from beneath the stage, but even the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect flared up.
“Ahem. That is not the will of our Huangbo Clan, so please do not misunderstand.” (Huangbo Clan Head)
The Huangbo Clan Head quickly drew a line.
The friendly martial arts competition was an official gathering where numerous clans and sects were assembled, so even one such word or action could easily become a major problem.
That was when it happened.
“......!” (Huangbo Homyeong)
Young Master Huangbo Homyeong’s form twitched violently.
And his expression was as though he had drunk filthy ditch water.
I soon realized what had happened and grinned.
Hyangok Noona....
Did you just unleash your venomous tongue through telepathy?
There was something Young Master Huangbo Homyeong had failed to consider, and that was that most experts skilled enough to appear here could send telepathy.
Telepathy is not something you fail to hear just because you block your ears.
But what in the world did she say for Young Master Huangbo Homyeong’s expression to look like that?
He soon gritted his teeth and charged at Hyangok Noona.
A bull-like charge that paid no heed to what was in front or behind.
However.
Whoosh!
Noona did not meet him head-on and lightly dodged, and he rolled straight off the dueling stage.
“......”
The match was decided in the blink of an eye.
Captain Geum Yeonhwa climbed onto the dueling stage and shouted.
“This duel is Hyangok’s victory!” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“Waaaaaaaa!”
“Snow Sword Heroine! Snow Sword Heroine!” (Crowd)
While the people’s cheers shook the dueling arena, Young Master Huangbo Homyeong sat there with a devastated expression, then quickly got up and removed the wax blocking his ears as he spoke.
“You coward! To toy with me with that three-inch tongue of yours!” (Huangbo Homyeong)
“Toy with you with my three-inch tongue? I did not open my mouth.” (Hyangok)
“Did you not just toy with me through telepathy?” (Huangbo Homyeong)
“Do you have proof?” (Hyangok)
“......”
It was exactly as Hyangok Noona said.
Telepathy can only be heard by the person concerned, so other people cannot hear it.
“And even if it is true that I toyed with you through telepathy, I do not think you have anything to say about it. Unlike you, Young Master, I did not block my ears, so I heard it clearly. You called me a rat-like bitch.” (Hyangok)
“Wh-when did I....” (Huangbo Homyeong)
At that moment, Captain Geum Yeonhwa spoke.
“Everyone heard it.” (Geum Yeonhwa)
Her gaze was extremely cold, and thinking about it, she was also from the Emei Sect.
“......”
And when one blocks one’s ears and cannot hear sound, one ends up speaking loudly without realizing it.
That is why elders or blacksmiths with poor hearing tend to speak loudly.
That is what happens when you block your ears and make such a mistake.
On one side, people who appeared to be from the Huangbo Clan were shaking their heads.
In any case, Hyangok Noona safely advanced to the next duel.
When lunchtime came, I went to find Hyangok Noona with Mother.
“Noona, congratulations on advancing to the next duel.” (MC)
“Thank you.” (Hyangok)
Then Mother spoke.
“Congratulations.” (Mother)
“Thank you. Aunt.” (Hyangok)
“To celebrate your victory today, I was thinking of inviting the people from the Emei Sect as well and treating them to dinner tonight. Would that be all right?” (Mother)
“You do not have to do that.” (Hyangok)
“Would it be so difficult to buy a meal once to cheer for my niece? If your mother finds out later, she will grumble that I did not even do that much. Hohoho.” (Mother)
“In that case... all right. I will speak to Master.” (Hyangok)
Hyangok Noona went to see Haecheong Sinni and returned, then said that they would all come to Yeonpung Inn tonight.
“By the way, Noona.” (MC)
“What?” (Hyangok)
“What in the world did you say to Young Master Huangbo through telepathy?” (MC)
At my words, Noona smiled and said.
“You have a problem because you are too curious.” (Hyangok)
“I know that myself, but what I am curious about is what I am curious about.” (MC)
“Do you really want to know?” (Hyangok)
“Yes.” (MC)
“Do not regret it.” (Hyangok)
Noona told me through telepathy the words she had said to Young Master Huangbo earlier.
I soon understood why Noona had warned me.
And why Young Master Huangbo had shown that reaction as well.
Snow Sword Heroine....
I do not know who came up with it, but they truly gave her one fitting alias.
.
.
.
All of today’s duels ended.
After the fourth duel ended, the two people who had participated in the first duel finished treatment and resumed their duel.
In the duel that began again, the disciple of the Pungha Sect won by a hair’s breadth.
The Bigyeok Sect will have the atmosphere of a funeral house for a while.
My parents and Jinho Hyung had already returned to the inn.
Since we had decided to invite Hyangok Noona and the Emei Sect people, they must have gone ahead to prepare.
I planned to look around the temporary shops and then go to the inn.
I would be participating in the duel tomorrow, but that did not mean I intended to train more or anything like that.
When it came to training, I was genuinely working hard every morning.
And from the beginning, I did not intend to show my full strength and win.
Of course, if I were eliminated in the first duel, the Alliance Leader would not look kindly upon it, so it would be better to win about twice and then be eliminated.
After inspecting the temporary shops like that and looking over the commercial district as a whole, I was heading toward Yeonpung Inn when I ran into someone.
“Have you been well during this time?” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
He was none other than Young Master Ji Gyeonghwa of the Ji Clan.
“Yes. I have been getting by well enough.” (MC)
“First, I apologize for the current situation in which the contract with our family has not gone very smoothly.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
Well, it was certainly something he ought to apologize for.
But openly showing that would be something only an amateur would do.
A merchant must be able to wear a mask when necessary.
Well, though I curse inwardly.
“Well, what can be done? The situation turned out that way.” (MC)
“Thank you for understanding.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
I never said I understood... well, it depends on how one interprets it.
“But what brings you here?” (MC)
“Ah, Grandfather and Father told me to escort Master here.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
I did not like that they did not come personally and instead told me to come, but since Young Master Ji Gyeonghwa had come, I decided to let it pass.
“Let us go.” (MC)
I headed to the Ji Clan estate with him. And I was able to meet the Clan Head and the Young Clan Head.
“Junior Merchant Eun Seoho greets the Clan Head and the Young Clan Head.” (Eun Seoho)
“Welcome.” (Clan Head)
I sat in front of them.
“May I take the fact that you called me here to mean that you will accept the proposal I gave you before?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, the Clan Head cleared his throat.
“Ahem, ahem. That is correct.” (Clan Head)
“I know that you were busy going here and there to prepare the money to repay the debt. But it seems things did not resolve well.” (Eun Seoho)
As if he had no good answer, he avoided my gaze.
Even if they had tried contacting people to borrow money, they would have been sects or clans attending the Great Murim Banquet.
But there was no way they would readily lend such an enormous sum as three million taels of silver.
As I have said before, the sects and clans of the murim are not as wealthy as one might think.
Ah... I am not sure about the Namgung Clan.
“Were you perhaps refused by the Namgung Clan as well? If we are speaking of the wealthiest place at present, it should be there.” (Eun Seoho)
“Ahem, ahem. We cannot bow our heads to the Namgung Clan.” (Clan Head)
In truth, I already knew that the Ji Clan would not hold out their hand to the Namgung Clan.
With that pride of theirs, there was no way they could lower their heads to the Namgung Clan.
“In any case, our family intends to borrow money from you.” (Clan Head)
“First, we must make this clear. Do you want me to repay the debt on your behalf? Or do you want me to lend you money?” (Eun Seoho)
“We will borrow money.” (Clan Head)
So, by taking the form of borrowing money and repaying the debt, they are saying they will not be dragged around by our Eunhae Trading Company?
It does not matter.
It is not a loss.
But when you look closely, there is hardly any difference, is there?
“Very well. I will lend you the money.” (Eun Seoho)
“How much is possible?” (Clan Head)
The one who answered my question was the Young Clan Head.
“Four million taels of silver. Would that be possible?” (Young Clan Head)
As expected.
It was exactly the amount I had predicted by combining the silver I had previously found in the cave outside Luoyang where they had been hiding with the information I knew about the Ji Clan.
“It is possible.” (Eun Seoho)
I nodded, then felt something strange.
Wait.
But why are there only the Clan Head, the Young Clan Head, and Young Master Ji Gyeonghwa here?
For matters like this, the Chief Steward in charge of finances should be present.
Shaanxi Province is not that far away, so he should have been able to come easily enough.
I asked carefully.
“By the way, is the Chief Steward not coming?” (Eun Seoho)
“We are currently looking for a new Chief Steward.” (Clan Head)
“Did something happen to the previous Chief Steward?” (Eun Seoho)
“Ahem, it was revealed that he was in league with those who deceived us. So he is currently locked in prison.” (Clan Head)
“I see. But before him, there must have been someone who served as Chief Steward....” (Eun Seoho)
“We dismissed him.” (Clan Head)
“Then could you not call that person back?” (Eun Seoho)
“How could we possibly lift our heads before him when we feel so sorry?” (Clan Head)
Is he saying that because he has a sense of shame? Or because of his pride?
The way I see it, it is the latter.
Still, should I be glad that he is alive?
“I will give you serious advice. Bring that Chief Steward back. He is someone who has supported the clan for a long time. If you wish to normalize the clan right now, that person is absolutely necessary.” (Eun Seoho)
“...Understood. But if you lend us the money, is there any need to call that person back?” (Clan Head)
Tsk, tsk. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“No matter how much money I lend you, depending on how that money is used, the clan may fall into hardship again. If things go wrong, the collateral you put up may be transferred over.” (Eun Seoho)
“...Understood.” (Clan Head)
I moved on to the next topic.
“Now, let us talk about collateral.” (Eun Seoho)
“Collateral? Is there really a need for that? Do you not trust our Ji Clan?” (Clan Head)
“Then, Clan Head, did you expect that you would borrow money from me?” (Eun Seoho)
“......”
“Is that not what collateral is? It is for safety against unpredictable risks. And I am rather timid, you see. Four million taels of silver is a considerable fortune even to me. And if you repay that money safely, there will be no problem, will there?” (Eun Seoho)
“Th-that is true.” (Clan Head)
“There should currently be collateral set on the entirety of the clan’s assets. Am I correct?” (Eun Seoho)
“...You are correct.” (Clan Head)
“Then let us simply change the rights holder of that collateral.” (Eun Seoho)
In other words, if they could not repay the money, all of the Ji Clan’s assets would become mine.
“I will set the interest at fifteen percent.” (Eun Seoho)
“Th-that much?” (Clan Head)
“What about that is expensive? Go to the marketplace. There are plenty charging thirty or forty percent.” (Eun Seoho)
“......”
“There is nothing for you to worry about. As I just said, if you repay all that money, there will be no problem.” (Eun Seoho)
Four million taels was truly an enormous sum.
Even if they saved and saved again, it would be hard to repay that huge sum quickly.
So they would have no choice but to mind my mood for a considerable period of time.
Even if they do not want to be leashed, in the end, they will have no choice but to be leashed.
That is why I say there is hardly any difference when you look closely.
By the way, if they sold things like this mansion and land in Luoyang, they could reduce the debt somewhat, but seeing that pride of theirs, that seems impossible.
“Then shall we draft the contract?” (Eun Seoho)
I drafted the contract together with the Clan Head, and we completed the contract by signing it mutually.
“By any chance, do you have any thoughts of reducing the debt?” (Eun Seoho)
“Hm?” (Clan Head)
“I can reduce it by about ten taels of silver.” (Eun Seoho)
“What do you mean?” (Clan Head)
“I mean exactly what I said. I think you need time to gather everyone’s spirit so that the Ji Clan can unite firmly and overcome this crisis.” (Eun Seoho)
“Mm, that is not wrong, but what is your ulterior motive in proposing that?” (Clan Head)
“Ulterior motive? Do you see this clause?” (Eun Seoho)
It was the clause stating, [The Ji Clan shall actively strive to reduce its debt, and Eun Seoho shall actively support this.]
“I am saying this based on this clause.” (Eun Seoho)
“I-I see.” (Clan Head)
“It is not a bad proposal.” (Young Clan Head)
At the Young Clan Head’s words, the Clan Head nodded.
“Very well. Try pushing it forward.” (Clan Head)
“Thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
With this, I have secured the basis to invite Hyangok Noona.
In that way, I left the Ji Clan.
Young Master Ji Gyeonghwa, who had followed me out to see me off, spoke.
“Thank you for enduring so much.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
Still, this person is the most clear-headed. It is fortunate that the future of the clan is not only bleak.
“And thank you for saving our family.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
“That depends on what you do from now on. The family has not completely come back to life yet.” (Eun Seoho)
“I know that. But the urgent fire has been put out.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
It seems Young Master Ji Gyeonghwa also does not like the words and actions of the Clan Head and the Young Clan Head.
“You will be going out for the duel tomorrow, correct?” (Ji Gyeonghwa)
“That is right.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then... please be careful. There is an unsavory rumor about the person who will be your opponent, Master.” (Ji Gyeonghwa)