3
7
7.
Although spring is still far off, Infinite is bustling about unlike previous years.
It is none other than the Great that comes once every four years
To prepare the neck.
The graduation ceremony of the Murim Academy, held once every four years, is also the time that the Infinite Merchants look forward to the most.
Around this time of year, it is common for people to pay extra money in advance of the previous year to reserve a spot on the street.
Hundreds of graduates.
Each and every one of them is the pride of the sect and the family.
To celebrate them, people from all over the country who have a connection to the graduates gather infinitely, regardless of who they are, down to distant relatives. Since “entering the academy” is essentially no different from saying that he is a disciple of a great sect or the child of a powerful family, his relatives never come alone.
Not only did they bring numerous servants, but it was also common for them to hire escort agencies and ronin to come.
Furthermore, since the hired laborers came along with it, the school graduation ceremony was practically the best business opportunity for merchants.
Merchants from all over the country gather to seize such a great opportunity, and merchant guilds gather to supply them with goods.
Furthermore, when a large crowd gathers, tourists flock to see and enjoy the fascinating sight.
It is truly a phenomenon akin to a population explosion, where people call upon each other.
“Wow… I’ve never seen this many people before!”
Dong-ryong, his face strangely flushed, hops and skips, fully revealing his excitement.
He seemed unable to hide his joy at the thought of meeting his parents for the first time in a long while, even though he was likely happy to have been assigned to the Mengju Division.
“I guess they’re all just carefree people with nothing to do. I wonder why they even came all the way to watch the graduation ceremony.”
And next to him, Eunho, exuding a strangely irritable aura, was picking fights with everything as if he were bothered by the whole world.
“Look at this shoddy toy. To think you even think about doing business with something like this. Do you even intend to make any money?”
“Hmm… The candy isn’t sweet at all. It just ruined my appetite, damn it.”
“Why are there so many people? I really wish everyone would just disappear!”
I grabbed Eunho’s shoulder, who was fuming alone in a fit of rage like a boy suffering from ‘Fifteen-Three Diseases,’ and spoke.
“Eunho, anyone can fail an exam.”
Of course, I’ve never messed it up, though.
Nevertheless, as a senior disciple with a heart as vast as the ocean, he kept his words to himself for the sake of his fellow disciple.
Eunho, who had been silently bowing his head for a moment, slowly lifted his face.
Before I knew it, tears welled up in the fierce look in his eyes.
“H-Honest Brother… what happens to me now?”
Eunho, who said he would become a “damn cool person” for reasons unknown, with his idiotic… no, his own logic that “you aren’t cool unless you burn your bridges,” two
aspiration and three
I also applied to the Mantong Department.
Of course, a warning from the scholars at Jaeindang immediately flew in, but Eunho did not back down.
I spoke to him to comfort him.
“You’ll probably be assigned to a branch tucked away in a corner at the far end of the Central Plains for the crime of insubordination. Getting vacation only once every three years… I think you’ll come out of there as someone who’s broken in some way by the time your service is over.”
“Hoo….”
Eunho shed ugly tears.
You little brat, you should have stopped when I told you to stop messing around.
Anyway, there is an old saying that if you listen to your senior brother, you will get rice cakes even while sleeping…
“Senior Brother! Stop teasing me. Lee Eun-ho! You too! The results aren’t even out yet.”
“G-G-Is there really a need to wait for the results? It looks like the answer is practically obvious.……”
“Big Brother!!”
Just as Eunho’s tears finally stopped thanks to Saryeon’s comforting.
We arrived at Taepyeong Inn, where the people of Taeeulmun are staying.
Since he said he came with Jangju of Wanggeumsan, I naturally assumed he would have taken the annex, but surprisingly, he was located on this floor, which was full of people.
“Geumpyo! Eunho! Dongryong!”
As soon as we went up, the parents of the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers, who had been sitting timidly at the table, rushed toward us with delight.
“father!”
“mom!!”
Gold, Silver, and Bronze also returned to their childlike selves for the first time in a while and acted spoiled in their parents’ arms.
The father and mother of the guys wearing new clothes like the others.
The sight was incredibly awkward, but they looked happier than anyone else, so it naturally brought a smile to my face.
“Hmm, let’s see…….”
Leaving the touching reunion behind, I head to where the people of Taeeulmun are.
“Huh?”
The number of people is smaller than expected.
I questioned the person presumed to be the cause of this situation, as if I were accusing them.
“Surely you didn’t leave everyone behind to save money even on a day like this?”
“Why are you making such a fuss and blaming innocent people! Everyone couldn’t come because of that Master Baek you introduced!”
Father stomped his feet as if he felt wronged.
Then, patting his father’s shoulder with a chubby hand.
“Anyone can tell you two are father and son. To think you talk about money before greetings the moment you meet—haha!”
Geum Tae-san shouted angrily at the generous words of Wang Geum-san.
“How can you say such harsh things!”
“…….”
Wow, saying that is harsh? Father, you are being too harsh.
Am I ashamed to show this anywhere?
Even though he says that, I let out a chuckle at the sight of my father scanning my face and whole body to see if I was hurt.
“You’re rich, so why have you lost so much weight?”
“What are you talking about? Because my father, the head of the Outer Hall and the leader of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, doesn’t send me living expenses, I am barely scraping by day by day…”
“Do you think I don’t know how much money is going into your hands?”
Anyway, even though I hadn’t told him, my father knew my financial situation inside and out.
I tried to quickly change the subject of the conversation, and just then, the head of Mt. Wanggeum came to my aid.
“You… have changed a lot.”
Wang Geum-san was staring at me intently with a strange look in his eyes.
“Now I can naturally sense the aura of a master.”
Hmm, is that so?
But before I could even exchange a few words with him, “Brother!!!!!!!!”
Someone charged at me like a bull.
The protagonist of the intense display of affection was none other than Jegal Cheon-gi.
“Hmph, Brother! I almost couldn’t make it. Fortunately, thanks to you calling me, I am overwhelmed with emotion to be able to take in your radiant appearance with my own two eyes.……”
All sorts of grandiose words of praise pour out.
But it looks like Master Baek Haegwang really works them hard.
For some reason, the only disciples who came were Yoo-seong and Wang So-so.
Looking at Yuseong, it seemed like the limit for the infinite row was high… … How did Soso manage to get here?
“Brother… have you been well?”
Soso, who seems to have grown up suddenly since I last saw her, tidies her hair with a flushed face.
She was beautiful even in her childhood, but now that she has reached adulthood, she is shining so brightly that it is truly dazzling.
I patted his head.
“Yeah. You’ve changed so much, too.”
“Brother, you’ve become even more handsome since I last saw you…”
at that time.
“big.
buy.
brother!”
A cold voice interrupting Wang So-so’s words.
The main character was Sa-ryeon.
Soso paused for a moment, then smiled kindly again and continued speaking.
“Brother…….”
Wang So-so turns her head to look at Sa-ryeon and smiles sweetly.
“Mr. Hong…?”
“If you are a disciple of the Taeeulmun, you should pay attention to your titles, shouldn’t you?”
“My brother and I have gone beyond that kind of relationship…….”
I quietly slipped away as an uncomfortable atmosphere spread.
In any case, greeting the Sect Master is the top priority as the chief disciple.
Of course I think so.
The two women’s sphere of influence(?)
I stepped away and looked around for the clan leader, but I couldn’t find him at all.
Then, my father’s voice flew toward me.
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you greeting the Sect Leader immediately?”
“Where is the Sect Leader?”
“Haha, has this fellow lost his mind? Can’t he recognize me even though I’m right in front of his eyes?”
I followed my father’s fingertips.
And there.
A rough ronin who looked as if he had been through all kinds of battles was gleaming in his eyes.
Wait, who on earth are you?
I looked at my father again.
“Who is this person…….”
“What are you doing? Why aren’t you greeting me? Have you already forgotten what the Sect Leader looks like?”
Is this the Munju I knew?
It’s been a long time, Soun.
A ronin I had never seen before greeted me as if he knew me. Amidst the boisterous commotion, a party that wasn’t quite a party broke out.
All sorts of rare foods and drinks were served, but since it had been a long time since they had seen each other, everyone was too busy chatting with one another.
The one who expressed the most intense emotions was Mr. Lee from the mill.
“No, I’m just a mill owner…… Why are my sons……?!!”
Whether it was joy or a scream, he seemed to be indescribably moved by the fact that the three brothers had successfully managed their school life side by side.
If you cry like that already, what are you going to do at the graduation ceremony later?
The meal that started in the early evening seemed to have no end until late into the night.
Nevertheless, as they had to prepare for the graduation ceremony tomorrow, they returned to their rooms one by one.
Saryeon and the brothers Geum, Eun, and Dong also decided to stay at the inn today.
Late at night, after everyone had gone to bed.
Munju, my father, Wanggeumsan Jangju, and I moved to a different spot.
“……
So I refused.
I discussed the recent meeting with Jeong Do-hoe.
Even though my story had ended briefly, the three people could not easily speak due to the gravity of the situation.
“So Jeong Do-hoe reached out a hand…….”
The first to swallow the sound of
As a merchant who must always walk the middle path, perhaps because he has faced such situations many times, he was empathizing more deeply with my dilemma than anyone else.
“It must show just how much you and the Taeeulmun have grown.”
It is likely not solely due to my performance.
The fact that the power of the Taeeulmun and Daecheon Merchant Guild has been growing faster than ever before also influenced this matter.
But interest can simultaneously become hostility.
In the past life, no one paid any attention to the Taeeulmun.
Therefore, he merely struggled on his own to find a place for Taeeulmun to reside amidst the raging storm.
It is different in this life.
Taeeulmun, which was slowly growing into a giant tree, had to prepare for the jealousy and opposition of others before facing the storm.
Only after dodging their sharp axes will you finally face the storm.
The place where silence fell for quite a while even after I had finished speaking.
Do you perhaps think I did something wrong?
Father was simply continuing to drink, while the clan leader remained quietly lost in deep thought, doing not even that.
I wonder how much time passed like that.
Father looked at Munju, as if he was tired of drinking any more.
Even the Head of Mt. Wanggeum remained silent, perhaps thinking that this was not a matter for him to step forward in, and eventually, the Head of the Sect, who had been silent for a long time, asked a question in return.
“Did you make that choice merely out of pride?”
It is true that I tried hard not to bend my pride, but I did not make the choice because of my pride.
I shook my head firmly.
“no.”
Moonju’s gaze was fixed on my two eyes.
That gaze, blazing as if on fire, was something I had never seen before, neither in this life nor in my past.
Admiration for the unfamiliarity was short-lived.
Even if he had made that choice out of pride, I would not have blamed him.
yes?”
I was dumbfounded by the unexpected words.
Honestly, I thought you would blame me or scold me…
I felt somehow foolish for having prepared the reason for refusing and even how to handle it.
While I was staring blankly at the unexpected words, the Munju continued speaking.
I bestowed upon you the position of High Disciple not merely to have you take responsibility for the other disciples in my absence.
His heavy voice soon flew in.
It is you who will lead the Taeeulmun while I am away.
“……!” [Leads the Taeeul Gate.]
For some reason, my heart tingled at the Master’s words.
“so.”
His unwavering gaze is fixed in my two eyes.
“Wouldn’t it be my duty to support you no matter what choice you make, and to share that responsibility with you whenever necessary?”
For the first time today, he raises his glass with a smile that curves the corners of his eyes.
I quietly watched him slowly and upright as he quenched his thirst.
Come to think of it, despite all the things that happened in my past life, I never once resented the Sect Leader.
He was always fair and just and broad-minded, and he was a person who cared for others first, no matter how much he was suffering himself.
No matter how much his outward appearance has changed, the Sect Leader is still the Sect Leader.
Seeing him like this, I felt a sense of relief realizing that he was indeed the sect leader I knew.
“I probably would have said the same thing if I were in that position. I am well aware of how dangerous it is to take sides in today’s martial arts world.”
“Thank you, Master.”
After a round of serious conversation, everyone felt a little lighter and shared a drink.
At that moment, the head of Mt. Wang Geum-san grumbled softly.
“Still, wouldn’t it be better not to let our guard down too much? Since we rejected their offer, they will surely use their power in a cunning way.……”
A rare dark shadow fell across Wang Jang-ju’s face.
“The Wang clan has suffered such things countless times, too. Now that we have grown too large for them to touch, our attitude has shifted from hostility to coexistence, but… there have been more than a few crises where our family nearly faced ruin due to their schemes.”
The head of the Wang family, the greatest in the world, suffered such hardships and became a great merchant
To think that even Wang Geum-san, known as [Name], is expressing concern.
I couldn’t even imagine how vicious their methods were.
As no one answered, the worry on Wang Jang-ju’s face deepened.
“It could potentially cause direct harm to the Taeeul Sect. Such things don’t happen often these days.……”
Ddddddddd.
Before Wang Geum-san could even finish speaking, the table began to vibrate slightly.
Soon, the glasses and snacks on the table also began to shake.
I was astonished and followed the source of the energy.
And there.
“Hmm…….”
There was Hong Mun-gi, the sect leader, who spewed out a murderous aura that was rough and incredibly brutal.
He spoke in a voice colder and more composed than ever.
He said, “Go ahead and try it as much as you want.”
It gives the impression that rather than steeling one’s resolve, one is actually hoping the other party crosses the line first and provides a pretext.
I couldn’t say anything because the sight was so unfamiliar.
I’ll show you what it’s like to be bitten to death.
So, who on earth are you?
