Chapter 170 Geumryongdang (2)

Chapter 170: Geumryongdang (2)

In martial arts novels, the daughters of wealthy families are almost always described as beauties.

Especially if they’re the daughters of prestigious martial arts clans, they’re often praised as the most beautiful women in the Central Plains.

That’s why back then, I left comments politely pointing out the implausibility, like, ‘It’s not like beauty is hereditary, nor is it absent without wealth, so why are beauties only born into rich families? Is the author an idiot? LOL.’

But.

After reincarnating into the martial arts world, I realized that wasn’t an exaggeration.

Due to the social custom of polygamy, the probability of a beauty emerging from a wealthy family was overwhelmingly high.

For example, let’s say a man named A in his mid-30s made a fortune and became rich.

In modern times, he’d probably squander his wealth on luxury goods or imported cars, but that’s impossible in the martial arts world.

So, what’s left?

Finding a pretty, young woman to marry as a new wife.

A’s son, having grown up seeing his father do this, also developed no aversion to taking multiple wives.

After several generations, the genes ensuring the birth of handsome men and beautiful women inevitably remained within that family.

However. There was a family that shattered this common sense of mine.

The Golden Dragon Sect I’m currently in, and the Martial Emperor City in the northeast.

The reason is simple.

They made choices for the family’s prosperity without regard for appearance.

As a result, the bloodline of the Muwangseong Lord gained physique unmatched under heaven, but became toads.

The bloodline of Geumryongdang became the wealthiest under heaven, but acquired looks like catfish.

‘It’s a tragedy.’

As Edward the Iron Alchemist said, it seems the world truly operates by the law of equivalent exchange.

After all, they gained power and wealth at the cost of their looks being ruined.

Anyway, that’s not what matters now.

‘How do I get out of this…’

Breaking through this crisis comes first.

I shook my head to clear my mind and locked eyes with Geumsocho.

The young catfish, boasting a broad forehead, met my gaze.

Blush.

Her face flushed, and she began to look embarrassed.

“Hahaha, looks like our Socho likes you too!”

The situation only grew more serious.

‘I have to cut this off somehow.’

I opened my mouth with the same resolve I’d used facing my greatest enemy, the bloodthirsty demon Hyun Sanwol.

“Ahem, I’m grateful for your kind regard, but I’m not yet in a position to start a family…”

“If the master of Hanjung Sangryeon says he’s not in a position, who in the world could possibly marry? And marrying will improve your position. You’ll become my son-in-law, Geumgeuk.”

“……!”

The day before, in Hanjung, I had pretended to Geumgeuk that I knew nothing about Hanjung Sangryeon.

Geumgeuk also understood me as the figurehead put forward by the Jikryongdang.

But speaking like this now means he’s caught on that I am the true master of Hanjung Sangnyeon.

Just as I thought.

As I made a face wondering, “How did he know?”, Geumgeuk answered calmly.

“I thought a place like the Jikryongdang couldn’t possibly hold a talent like you.”

“……I really can’t compete with you.”

“Then when would be a good time to set the date?”

Demanding a date just one day after meeting?

Seems he came fully prepared.

“Th-that is……”

“Before this year ends would be best.”

“Miss Geum still looks so young……”

“Hmph, isn’t fifteen the perfect age for marriage?”

No way, you’re talking about marrying off a middle school sophomore?

She probably hasn’t even finished growing yet.

“The clan leader’s offer to give me his daughter is an honor I could scarcely accept, but I already have a beloved in my heart.”

He tried to dodge it with a lie, but Geumgeuk was no pushover.

“Hahaha, don’t worry. I was prepared for this when I decided to give you my daughter. For a hero like you, three wives and four concubines is the norm, isn’t it? Anyway, who exactly is this beloved? That woman named Myohyang? Or the renowned daughter of the Blue Forest Lord? Surely not the Red Flower Sword of the Red Dragon Sect?”

Damn it.

The more they talked, the more he felt like he was sinking into a quagmire.

‘Damn it.’

He had no choice.

He’d have to pull his last big lie.

“If this year is inconvenient, then next spring…”

“Um, Master, I have something to tell you.”

I signaled to Geumsocho with my eyes, and Geumgeuk smiled knowingly.

“Seems you’re embarrassed. Understood. Choa, step outside for a moment.”

“Yes, Father.”

Shy Maggi… No, Geumsocho left, and I spoke in a deliberately serious tone.

“I have a beloved, but until I achieve my goal, I have absolutely no intention of marrying!”

I deliberately emphasized certain words to convey my resolve.

“…What is your goal?”

“To avenge my foster grandfather.”

“Your foster grandfather… you mean Tae-eul Jin-in, correct?”

“Correct.”

“I recall he passed away fighting some unknown demonic cultivator?”

“I believe that bastard belonged to the Ten Demon Sect.”

Though I had no proof, only suspicion.

“Hmm… Well, few masters could truly stand against Tae-eul Jin-in.”

“Therefore, until I split the Ten Demon Sect in two, I have no intention of marrying anyone.”

While I clearly intend to avenge my grandfather, the claim that I won’t marry is a lie.

What skill do I possess to halve the Ten Demon Alliance?

Moreover, my grandfather in heaven wouldn’t wish for me to live alone forever, consumed by vengeance.

But this is the martial world, ruled by Confucianism.

Geumgeuk nodded as if he fully understood.

“You choose a difficult path.”

“Difficult or not, I must do it. That is the way of the martial artist.”

“…I see.”

“Yes. If I can fight and defeat the Ten Demon Alliance, I will. I believe that.”

He gave a half-hearted nod at my stubborn answer.

‘Phew…’

That was close.

* * *

An hour later.

After a rather intense debate, I managed to extract a very generous reward from Geumgeuk.

‘Hehe, gotta go brag to Myohyang.’

Han Jung Sangryeon had secured the cooperation of the Man Gold Coin Exchange for its advance into Guryongseong.

Some might think it would be better to just take a lump sum payment.

That would be a huge mistake.

Whether Hanjung Sangryeon could establish a stable foothold in Guryongseong hinged entirely on how many trading partners they could secure.

In other words, they needed to build trust with as many merchants as possible.

But trust in this era was harder to cultivate than raising the trading temperature on the Hongdangmu Market.

Fraud and robbery were rampant in a world without CCTV, let alone fingerprint identification.

This was an unavoidable problem even for the relatively large Han-Chung Trading Guild.

In fact, scammers exploiting the names of reputable merchant guilds or trading houses were everywhere.

Ultimately, to build trust, they had no choice but to spend considerable time becoming familiar faces and demonstrating integrity.

Therefore, Mo-Gyeok Yeon-Ju and Myo-Hyang were prepared to face significant losses in the early stages.

But what if Manggeumjeonjang stepped in to introduce clients and even vouch for them?

‘That’s a free pass, plain and simple.’

Not only would their trust rating skyrocket from Grade 9 to Grade 0, but they could secure an enormous number of clients.

That meant minimizing the initial losses.

‘I can hear the dividends rising!’ ’

It meant my pockets would grow thicker.

“Puh-huh.”

“What’s so amusing?”

Oh dear. Overcome with joy, I laughed out loud without meaning to.

“Ah, no. It’s just that you agreed so readily, Master…”

“Hahaha. What’s so difficult about that? Especially since it’s repaying the debt of saving my life.”

“Hearing you say that, I don’t know where to put myself.”

“The more I see you, the more I like you. A hundred times better than our second son.”

“Cross-dressing… No, are you still troubled by women’s issues?”

For a moment, I almost asked if he was still cross-dressing.

‘That would have been a disaster.’

No matter how much I dislike him, I couldn’t possibly out him.

“Ah… He’s better now. He’s living honestly and seems to have come to his senses. He’s learning the ways of the battlefield now.”

“That’s good news.”

“The thing is, he’s utterly hopeless at it. Speaking of which, his martial arts are poor, and sometimes I wonder if he’s really my son—he’s so slow-witted.”

“…Don’t worry too much. They say slow and steady wins the race. He’ll stand out soon enough.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

I did my best to keep him company, treating him like a client I was dealing with.

As a result, I could barely get up from my seat until after sunset.

“Why don’t you have a meal before you go?”

“My family is waiting for me.”

“I suppose that can’t be helped.”

“Then I’ll visit again next time.”

“I’ll even arrange a room for you. Come anytime you’re bored.”

At the mention of a room, the little pike beside me started staring at me with eyes like it was eyeing prey.

‘Yeah, no way I’m coming.’

“Hahaha.”

I laughed it off and quickened my pace, soon reaching the main gate.

Just as I was about to step out toward freedom, Jin Gyeok’s voice reached me.

“Oh dear, I was so engrossed in our conversation I forgot to tell you something. Huh? Why that look on your face? Like you’re listening to someone you hate…”

“Ah, no. I was just leaning in to listen carefully.”

“Right? Well, you wouldn’t do that. ”

He continued with a relieved expression.

“Not long ago, I heard rumors from Hui merchants that things aren’t looking good in the Shima region.”

“Rumors, you say…?”

“Rumors that the Demon Lord has been ousted from his position as Lord of the Realm.”

“Huh? Then this is serious! We shouldn’t be standing here—we should report this to the Lord immediately…”

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. It’s just a rumor; nothing serious will come of it.”

“No.”

What kind of safety complacency is this?

We should be dispatching at least one guard dog right now.

Tap tap.

He tapped my shoulder twice in greeting.

“Well then, go on inside.”

“Ah… Yes.”

* * *

“It’s probably nothing.”

Leaving Geumryongdang, I heard some rather unsettling talk, but I decided not to dwell on it anymore.

After all, what could I do about it?

What if I went straight to Mun Sang and said, ‘Prepare for war, it’s coming soon,’ and then nothing happened?

I could end up facing a lawsuit demanding compensation for the entire preparation fund.

Anyway, that’s not what matters now.

“Hyah!”

Hyah!

Increasing the Jinmugwan officials’ exam pass rate is a hundred times more important.

Only when it reaches 100% can we sustainably take in the next batch, and the batch after that.

‘The era of Noryangjin is over. Now it’s Jinmugwan’s turn.’

The day Jinmugwan Cupbap sweeps through Guryongseong is not far off.

Just as I and everyone at Jinmugwan were pushing through the final sprint, sweating buckets, Yoo So-pyeong, looking like death warmed over, appeared in the headmaster’s office.

“M-Master!”

“Snore… Cool. Huh?! What is it?”

“It’s a disaster!”

” Why again? What’s so urgent you’re making such a fuss?“

”Th-that is…“

Sensing something was seriously wrong, I snatched the paper Yoo So-pyeong brought and checked it.

”Damn it!“

I soon realized Jinmugwan was facing its greatest crisis yet.

”Now we’re resorting to subcontracting?!”