Chapter 621
Chapter 621
Chapter 621. The Circumstances of That Land (3)
Tap tap.
At the sensation of something once again tapping my opposite shoulder, I whipped my head around.
There was no way I had mistaken whether someone had tapped my shoulder.
There was no way I, a supreme peak master, would mistake something like that.
But I saw nothing, and I could not even sense any energy.
Whether it was a person or an animal, I should have been able to feel its unique energy…….
Since I could not feel anything at all, I had no choice but to be tense.
What is it? Is it really a ghost? (MC)
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
Just then, Geumryeong came out from inside my sleeve and, while looking toward my shoulder, slapped the table with its front paws.
“Kku! Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
“Wh-what is it? Geumryeong? Is there something here?” (MC)
I could not see anything, so the fact that Geumryeong was acting like that made it even scarier.
Perhaps they had heard my voice, because the door opened and the guard warriors came in.
“What is the matter?” (Guard Warrior)
“Are you all right?” (Guard Warrior)
I answered their questions.
“There is something here, but I cannot see it at all. But Geumryeong seems to be able to see it.” (MC)
At my words, everyone looked at Geumryeong.
Geumryeong still looked as though it were facing off against some being.
Where in the world is it? (MC)
It was then.
“Oh? Is something the matter?” (Miss Seohyang)
At the voice from behind me, I whipped my head around. Miss Seohyang was peering into the room with documents in hand.
Damn! I must have been too tense. (MC)
To think I did not even notice Miss Seohyang coming! (MC)
More importantly, this place is dangerous, is it not? (MC)
“Vice Officer Gwak! Why did you come here?” (MC)
“There is something I urgently need to ask you.” (Miss Seohyang)
“This place is dangerous! The unknown being currently here may put even you in danger, Vice Officer Gwak.” (MC)
“An unknown being? Do you perhaps mean that white marten?” (Miss Seohyang)
“Pardon?” (MC)
“A marten…… you say?” (MC)
At those unexpected words, I could only ask back blankly.
“Yes. A marten. It is incredibly cute.” (Miss Seohyang)
“…….” (MC)
Come to think of it, Miss Seohyang had the Ice Crystal Eye. Eyes that could see what was hidden.
In other words, that also meant what she said was true.
Miss Seohyang lightly knelt down and held out her hand.
“You are a good one, are you not? Come here.” (Miss Seohyang)
At her call, Geumryeong’s gaze shifted, and when that gaze reached her arms…….
Huh? (MC)
I saw a marten nestled in her arms.
Why did it only reveal itself now? (MC)
I was not sure whether Miss Seohyang had made the marten reveal itself, or whether the marten had revealed itself on its own, but in any case, I was relieved that the thing that had startled us had a real form.
“It really is a marten.” (Guard Warrior)
“Huh…… It really is.” (Guard Warrior)
“Whoa. Why is there a marten here, sir?” (Palgap)
That is what I want to ask. (MC)
Miss Seohyang’s Ice Crystal Eye did not only see the future, but instinctively perceived evil beings.
If that marten were a harmful being, she would not be reacting like that.
I carefully approached the marten and raised my hand in greeting.
“Hello?” (MC)
At my greeting, the marten wagged its tail.
I suppose that means it is glad to see me. (MC)
“Ahem, could it have been you who had been harassing the people living here all this time?” (MC)
At my question, the marten looked crestfallen.
Huh? (MC)
Can a marten even make a crestfallen expression? (MC)
As though answering my question, its tail drooped as well.
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
Just then, Geumryeong climbed up my body and sat on my shoulder.
“Kkui! Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
“Hm? You think this one seems to have some circumstances? You will ask for me?” (MC)
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong talked with the marten for quite a while, then spoke to me.
“Kkui! Kku! Kkuiik! Kku!” (Geumryeong)
“This one is a being that protects the vein of this land?” (MC)
Then that marten was a spiritual creature.
“There was something hidden by those who built a house here, and you were trying to tell them about it, but none of them could see you, so the misunderstanding happened?” (MC)
At my question, the marten nodded.
Whew, what a relief. (MC)
That it was not a real ghost, as I had feared. (MC)
But something hidden by those who built a house here? (MC)
The legend of the haunted house began after the Manor Master who built the manor here and his household were slaughtered…….
Is it the Manor Master’s possession? (MC)
“Can you guide us there?” (MC)
At my question, the marten nodded and slipped out of Miss Seohyang’s arms.
Then its form disappeared again, and I could no longer sense its presence.
When I hesitated because of that, Miss Seohyang asked,
“Why are you not coming?” (Miss Seohyang)
“We cannot see the marten.” (MC)
“Ah! I see. Then please follow me.” (Miss Seohyang)
Miss Seohyang nodded and took the lead, guiding us.
The place we arrived at after following her was one of the many buildings in the manor.
“It seems to be telling us to dig up the floor here.” (Miss Seohyang)
The floor of this building was wooden planks.
So that meant we had to lift all the planks.
“We will need to bring tools.” (MC)
I was about to call Palgap, but Miss Seohyang spoke.
“There are tools in this manor’s storehouse.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Pardon? How did you know that?” (MC)
“Because I saw it.” (Miss Seohyang)
“Ah…… I see.” (MC)
It seemed the scene of the future Miss Seohyang had seen was us taking tools out of this manor’s storehouse.
A little while later.
We brought tools from the storehouse and began working.
It was fairly difficult work, but with the expectation that there would be something there, everyone worked hard lifting stones and digging out dirt.
When we had dug down for about one shichen like that.
Thock.
I heard the sound of a shovel striking something hard.
“There is something here!” (Warrior Yeo Eungam)
Warrior Yeo Eungam, who shouted that, carefully brushed away the dirt, and what appeared there was…….
“It seems to be an underground storehouse or a tunnel.” (Warrior Yeo Eungam)
It was a door made to lead downward.
“Let us dig out the surrounding area safely.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Guard Warrior)
We dug the ground around it widely enough that the entire door was visible.
The revealed door was wider than expected, enough that two people could enter at the same time.
“Let us open it.” (MC)
At my words, Warrior Seou grabbed the door handle and lifted it upward.
Creeeeak.
When the door opened, stairs came into view.
Perhaps because air had not circulated there for a long time, a musty smell flowed out.
“It would be a bit much to go in right away. Let us go in after ventilating it a little.” (MC)
“That would be best.” (Guard Warrior)
Once the smell had lessened to some extent and it seemed to have aired out, I took only three people and went inside.
The other warriors decided to keep watch outside.
I handed out the silk pouches containing night-shining pearls that I had prepared, and each person hung one around his neck.
Because there seemed to be no light inside.
Step, step, step.
As we descended the stairs like that, a large cavern appeared.
And the moment we shone the night-shining pearls into that cavern, we could only freeze in place.
“…….” (MC)
“Kku! Kkuiiiit!” (Geumryeong)
Because an enormous amount of gold and silver was piled up, enough to make Geumryeong jump around in joy.
On top of that, there were a few things that looked like artifacts as well.
It was probably the secret vault of the Manor Master who had first built this manor…….
I felt as though I understood what this place was, but I could not understand why the marten had tried to inform people of it.
The marten was only a being that protected this place’s vein, so why had it tried to inform people of this place?
While looking around inside with that question in mind, I noticed something that did not quite sit right.
This place was the vein of a place where the earth’s vital energy flowed.
But part of that clear vital energy was unable to radiate upward.
Why? Is there something on the floor? (MC)
I lowered my stance and swept my hand over the floor.
Is this brick? No, it is gold! (MC)
Gold had been laid across the floor like bricks.
Could these have been blocking the vein? (MC)
I carefully removed one of the gold bricks laid on the floor.
Fwaat!
Clear energy was felt in an instant.
Pure energy was surging upward.
You marten! So this was why you tried so desperately to tell people about this place. (MC)
It must have disliked this situation, where part of this place’s vein was blocked and could not function properly.
So it had tried to inform people about this place. So they would clear away all the gold on the floor here.
Then the vein through which vital energy flowed would be able to perform its proper function.
“First, let us remove the gold bricks on this floor.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Guard Warrior)
We worked hard to remove the gold bricks on the floor. But why had the marten not been able to remove these gold bricks with its own power?
Even though it had rendered those masters unable to do anything.
Once we had removed all the gold bricks laid across the floor, I could finally feel this place’s vein functioning properly.
Mm, this feels rewarding. (MC)
“Hm? My Liege. There is something here.” (Warrior Ipil)
At that moment, Warrior Ipil called me.
“This…… seems to be something important.” (Warrior Ipil)
What Warrior Ipil pointed at was a scroll wrapped in several layers of oil paper.
What is it? (MC)
When I tried to pick up the scroll, Warrior Ipil stopped me.
“My Liege, I will examine it first.” (Warrior Ipil)
“Ah, yes.” (MC)
Warrior Ipil took out gloves made of deerskin from his robes, lifted it up, and examined it carefully.
Well, there was no place as skilled at handling poisons as the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“There is nothing problematic.” (Warrior Ipil)
“That is a relief.” (MC)
Warrior Ipil handed me the scroll after removing the oil paper, and I unfolded it.
“Mm? This…….” (MC)
“This is?” (Guard Warrior)
“This somehow…….” (Guard Warrior)
“Kkuiik!” (Geumryeong)
Seeing Geumryeong squeak at the sight of it made it certain.
“It is a map marking the location of the Sword Tomb.” (MC)
As I looked at the region, I could not help but furrow my brow.
“This location is…… Yunnan Province, correct?” (MC)
“Yes. That is correct.” (Warrior Ipil)
“To be exact, it is Chunjing Castle in Yunnan Province.” (Guard Warrior)
“But this content written here. If this is true…….” (Warrior Ipil)
“…….” (MC)
I put it into my sleeve and said,
“First, please keep this matter secret.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Guard Warriors)
But Geumryeong, who had an uncanny sense for the smell of money, did not discover this vault…….
Why? (MC)
There seems to be a reason. (MC)
With that question in mind, we went outside, and those who had been waiting greeted us with relieved expressions.
“Is everyone safe?” (Guard Warrior)
“Yes. We are safe.” (MC)
I turned my head and looked at the marten nestled in Miss Seohyang’s arms.
Its expression was very satisfied.
“Is this what you wanted?” (MC)
The creature nodded.
“In any case, since you told us about something good, you should receive something in return as well.” (MC)
I held out one of the gold bricks I had brought with me.
Kyaaaaaak! (Marten)
But the moment the marten saw the gold, it turned its body away in disgust.
“Kkui! Kku!” (Geumryeong)
“That one hates gold? So if I am going to throw that gold away, I should give it to you?” (MC)
As expected of Geumryeong. It never misses an opportunity.
In any case, that reaction seemed to tell me why the marten had not been able to personally remove the gold laid on the floor of that underground vault.
That creature hated gold.
At this level, touching its body with it was out of the question.
So it had needed help from another being.
“Gasp! What is that, sir?” (Palgap)
Palgap asked while looking at the gold brick in my hand, and I answered casually.
“It was piled up below.” (MC)
“Is that really true, sir?” (Palgap)
“Wow!” (Guard Warrior)
“But we cannot say it is ours yet. We have to follow the proper procedures so there will be no trouble later.” (MC)
I immediately went to the Grand Clan Head of the Jegal Family.
“I will purchase that manor.” (MC)
“Oh! Have you decided?” (Grand Clan Head)
“Yes. I think I understand why your old dear friend liked that place, Grand Clan Head.” (MC)
“My thought was correct. You may handle the contract through me.” (Grand Clan Head)
Like that, I paid the price and proceeded with the contract.
As he put the signed contract into an envelope, the Grand Clan Head spoke with a satisfied expression.
“That fellow will be pleased when he hears that the place was sold.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Well, it is a good thing for both sides.” (MC)
“But is the ghost of that place all right?” (Grand Clan Head)
“Yes. It does not seem to have malicious intent, so it is all right. I can soothe it properly. And the more I look at it, the better its location is, and I like it.” (MC)
I continued.
“And…… could you have the others step away for a moment?” (MC)
At my serious expression, the Grand Clan Head nodded and dismissed those around us.
“Very well. What is the matter, that you asked me to have the people step away?” (Grand Clan Head)
“That is…… because I discovered a vault there.” (MC)
“A vault?” (Grand Clan Head)
“Yes. And so, where is the heir of the Manor Master who first built that manor?” (MC)
“I do not know why you are looking for him, but he is already dead.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Pardon?” (MC)
“He died ten years ago.” (Grand Clan Head)
“By any chance, the cause of death…….” (MC)
“He died of illness. It was stomach cancer.” (Grand Clan Head)
“I see. But how do you know that so well?” (MC)
“How could I not? He was a notorious wastrel of this Luoyang. Perhaps because he suddenly came into a large sum of money, he mingled with wastrels and became one himself.” (Grand Clan Head)
“…….” (MC)
“It is property that the person who received the transfer of ownership of the land did not recognize, so normally it should be divided in half with the one who bought the land. But since that man is dead, the ownership of that vault is the same as the one who owns the land.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Then…….” (MC)
“It means all of it is yours.” (Grand Clan Head)
“Understood.” (MC)
“You have had a windfall. Congratulations.” (Grand Clan Head)
I did not mention the detailed size of the vault or the items inside it.
The reason I did not reveal that to the Grand Clan Head was not because I intended to deceive him.
It was because the fewer people who knew a secret, the better.
In particular, the map of the Sword Tomb that I had obtained pointed to Chunjing Castle, and it was already an item that had passed through someone’s hands.
Because the contents written on that scroll were an operation to excavate that Sword Tomb.
[……If we take Chunjing Castle into our hands through the above series of operations, we will begin excavation in earnest from that point.]
In my previous life, I had not understood why Chunjing Castle had to be ruined to such an extent, but now I felt I understood.
Could the reason the Manor Master of this manor and his entire family were slaughtered have been this map? (MC)
It was not impossible.
There were still many questions left, but I had obtained unexpected wealth and very good land as well.
Then shall we now begin the expansion construction for the Luoyang branch? (MC)