Chapter 7 Pruning (4)

Chapter 7 Pruning (4)

Snap!

The sound of his index knuckle twisting sent the Sect Leader into a frenzy of terror and agony. He screamed.

“If you touch me, the Huashan Sect won’t survive!”

At those words, Gu Yangjie smiled faintly and muttered to himself.

“After touching the Huashan Sect’s wealth, do you really think such words will scare me?”

Even if something truly happened, Gu Yang-jeok was confident he could handle it.

So, it didn’t faze him in the slightest.

Watching Gu Yang-jeok fiddle with his ring finger, the sect leader let out a shrill scream.

“You… you crazy bastard!”

At those words, Gu Yang-jeok chuckled. Back in Huashan, he’d heard that a lot because of his rowdy personality.

His attitude now, however, was different from back then.

“How dare you speak to a Taoist like that?”

Thwack!

Gu Yangji’s fists rained down on the Abbot’s body.

Fortunately for the merchant, there wasn’t a single bleeding wound.

Only his entire body was covered in bruises too extensive to be hidden by his white robes.

Gu Yangjie grinned maliciously, deliberately making himself look cruel.

At times like this, it was best to show a madness no one dared oppose, forcing submission.

Even Yu Zhangming, watching from the side, tilted his head in surprise, wondering if this was really the same boy.

“I didn’t inflict any wounds on purpose.”

“You might as well have killed me!”

“Killed? How could a Taoist master kill so easily?”

With that, Gu Yangji flashed a sly smile at Zaming too.

The conversation had ended long ago.

For Zaming, whose secrets had already been laid bare, the sect leader was already little different from an enemy.

By gently prodding that point, Zaming, seemingly consumed by some deep-seated resentment, unraveled his bundle.

‘He didn’t mention the crucial higher-ups.’

For now, this was sufficient.

To truly confront them, both the Huashan Sect and Gu Yangji needed to grow stronger.

To fight directly would take at least five years.

They needed at least two or three martial artists strong enough to earn titles like ‘Divine’ or ‘Imperial’.

‘How can we grow strong with such vermin around?’

Gu Yangji stared intently at the Sect Leader.

Now it was time to shake his resolve with words.

“Well, if you refuse to speak, then hear my conjecture. It seems to me your superiors have abandoned you.”

“……!”

The Sect Leader’s eyes widened. But soon, he only glared at Gu Yangji with blazing eyes, still keeping his mouth shut.

His expression seemed to say it couldn’t be true, prompting Gu Yangji to smirk once more.

“You don’t think so? Then why hasn’t he come instead of that man?”

At those words, the leader couldn’t utter a single response. He seemed lost in thought, even forgetting his pain.

Watching this, Gu Yangji laughed deeply inside.

Eroding loyalty turned out to be surprisingly easy.

Doubt.

Or injustice.

You could even call it resentment.

Regardless, inserting a byproduct in the middle inevitably halves loyalty.

And if physical pain accompanies it, that half is halved again, reduced to a mere speck.

Gu Yangji’s next words drove that point home, clearly and subtly.

“Why can’t you say anything?”

“……”

“And yet you dare to grumble about not being safe with the Huashan Sect?”

Gu Yangji mercilessly undermined the leader’s standing.

Once, he might have been intoxicated by the delusion that he ruled the Huashan Sect.

His role now was to pour cold water on that delusion.

Click.

Gu Yangji drew the token the Sect Leader had given him from his robe.

“Not only will you be expelled from the Huashan Sect, but I’ll ensure you never handle its finances again.”

“……Guh.”

The Sect Leader bowed his head deeply.

At that moment, Yu Zhangming sent a telepathic message.

-I thought the Sect Leader hadn’t granted you that authority…?

-Senior Brother, we can’t let someone like this meddle with Huashan’s finances, can we?

After hearing the telepathic message, Yu Zhangming pondered briefly before asking.

-So you’re suggesting leaving the position of head of the Trading Guild vacant for the time being?

-I already have someone in mind.

Gu Yangji chuckled.

-The suitable candidate is someone you’re also familiar with, Senior Brother.

* * *

The next day.

The suitable candidate Gu Yangji had mentioned gasped in shock upon seeing Zha Meng, tightly bound in ropes.

No obvious external injuries were visible, but he was thoroughly beaten, slumped like a dog on a sweltering day.

“Wh-what on earth happened here?”

“Congratulations.”

Yu Zhangming bowed his head lightly.

His face bore a smile etched with sincere congratulations.

“From now on, Baekcheon, I hope you will fulfill your duties as the head of Geumhwan Trading Company.”

Gu Yangjeok watched him warmly.

Three hours before meeting Baekcheon.

Gu Yang-jeok had kept the head of the association awake the entire time, flipping through ledgers and leaving numerous instructions.

“Huh… How could things be like this?”

“Good heavens. A trading house that doesn’t even leave transaction slips.”

While most blamed the head’s negligence, they also murmured complaints about why things had been left in such a state.

The head of the association had grasped their intentions to some extent.

‘Seems he wants something from me.’

Gu Yangjeok, in particular, seemed to have vaguely sensed the presence of higher-ups, though how he knew remained unclear.

Yet he remained silent for one reason alone.

He believed that whatever he did here, it was all over anyway.

With no way to make a comeback, it was better to keep his mouth shut.

Just as the Sect Leader was feeling disheartened, Gu Yangjeok proposed a deal.

“Return the wealth and trading posts to the Huashan Sect.”

The Sect Leader questioned Gu Yangjeok’s demand.

“Why should I do that?”

“Because that’s your only option.”

Refuse, and you die.

Gu Yangji’s gaze, carrying that meaning, fixed squarely on the sect leader.

Gulp.

To say the sect leader wasn’t terrified would be a lie.

No matter how thick-skinned he claimed to be, the sect leader was a third-rate martial artist with pitiful skills, while Gu Yangji before him was a first-rate warrior who had defeated Zimeng.

They say when the gap is too vast, you can’t even look up.

His mind went completely blank.

And now, realizing he’d reached the point of having to bargain with his life, rage surged within him.

A directionless fury, not even knowing whom to blame, enveloped his entire body.

“Who would believe you’d spare me!”

“…I guarantee it.”

At that voice, the leader of the group turned his head.

The voice belonged to none other than Yu Jang-myeong.

“I swear it on the honor of the Spicy Sword and my position as a disciple of Hwasan.”

“You’re putting your position as a powerful late-stage disciple of Hwasan on the line?”

If it were Gu Yangji, it might be different, but coming from Yu Zhangming, it carried some weight.

A faint flush began to color the leader’s face.

“Can we truly trust that promise?”

-Just do as I said just now, brother.

At the telepathic message shot by Gu Yangji, Yu Zhangming frowned slightly.

It was a statement he personally disliked.

“Leave immediately with whatever assets you can mobilize and the position of Gold Exchange Chairman. We’ll be satisfied with that.”

“I… really… can I trust that?”

Hui Zhu wore an expression that said he couldn’t possibly believe it, yet a glimmer of hope that escape from this desperate situation was possible flickered in the corner of his eyes.

Yu Zhangming gave a small nod.

“I guarantee it.”

“…Good heavens!”

At those words, the head of the gold exchange gasped, and Jiaming frowned.

“You’re going to release that rat-like bastard?”

Smack!

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Yangji smacked Jiaming on the back of the head.

“You, just shut up and be quiet.”

“…Guh.”

Seeing Zha Meng, who seemed completely optimistic, the sect leader realized this was his last chance.

‘Better to hand everything over and flee than die like this!’

The sect leader’s mouth hurriedly sought a way out.

“I, I’ll bring the Golden Treasury right away.”

“The Golden Treasury? Well, well, so you did manage to embezzle something after all.”

Whoosh.

Gu Yangjie whistled softly. Yoo Jang-myeong sent him a telepathic message tinged with irritation, as if displeased.

-I did promise to send him when ordered, but did you really intend to send him like that?

-We have to send him. Keeping him tied up like this won’t make him pay a single coin. We need to give him a way out and let him escape.

Yoo Jang-myeong let out a faint sigh.

-But the time we have left is barely…

-Not us. Someone else will take our place.

Once a capable merchant known for his straightforward methods, he fell from grace due to absurd nitpicking and sabotage.

If such a man, now filled with venom, threw himself into commerce, he could not only take over the Golden Exchange but grow it even larger.

Gu Yangjeok watched the frantic running of the association head and smiled faintly.

“Be careful, you might break something while running around like that.”

“Yes, sir!”

The association head’s face brightened, occasionally revealing his bright red gums.

* * *

“From now on, Baekcheon, I hope you will fulfill your duties as the head of Geumhwan Trading Company.”

Gu Yangji added one more thing to Yu Zhangming’s words.

“And I have a favor to ask.”

“What might that be?”

Gu Yangji wore a perfectly natural smile.

“Well now, the head of the association ran off last night. We stripped him clean before sending him off, so he’ll probably need to spend some money here and there…”

Baekcheon nodded as if he understood.

No, rather, he wished to do it himself.

He couldn’t rest until he personally dealt with the man who had upended his peaceful life.

He was truly moved and grateful for this opportunity.

Thud!

Baek Cheon’s knees hit the ground where he stood.

“I truly thank you.”

“Oh, get up.”

Gu Yangjeok helped Baekcheon up and brushed the dust off him.

Then he resolved to make it perfectly clear that this was no free gift of fortune.

“You have much work ahead of you, and much to show us, don’t you?”

“……!”

“I have high expectations. And so does the senior brother here.”

To Baek Cheon, whose expression remained stiff, Gu Yangjeok emphasized once more.

“For now, Great Hero Baek is merely a merchant we can trust to some extent.”

Those words meant Baek Cheon was only trustworthy so far; he hadn’t demonstrated any real ability yet.

The moment even that trust vanished, this relationship would end.

It meant Baek Cheon, like the head of the Golden Ring Trading Company who had been left behind and was now only left to be chased, could end up like that at any moment.

‘…What a ruthless calculation, unbecoming of his young age.’

Baek Cheon’s body trembled once, but he steadfastly straightened his shoulders.

It was certainly a harsh remark, but it made him accurately recognize his current situation.

He had been given the guild and a chance for revenge after losing everything. He must prove himself worthy.

From Baekcheon’s perspective, it couldn’t have been better.

‘I thought dying like this would be the end.’

The path that had only the final destination left had been extended, thanks to the two brothers.

Thinking of the children left behind at home, Baekcheon spoke.

“I will do my best.”

“…Very well.”

Click.

When Baekcheon bowed sincerely, Gu Yangjeok and Yu Jangmyeong also bowed back in response.

* * *

Meanwhile, ominous rumors were spreading through the marketplace of Sangju.

“They say someone was beaten from last night until dawn?”

“I heard it was this guy named Gu Yangjeok from Hwasa Mountain?”

The rumor was too specific, so people asked the man who said it.

“Who said that?”

“A soldier patrolling nearby said so. Besides, the only Taoist priests wandering around Sangju at that hour were Gu Yangjeok and Yu Jangmyeong.”

People nodded at that.

‘Well, if a soldier said so…’

‘He probably knew the names from some register or document.’

But doubts lingered.

“Why would Taoist masters from Hwasa Mountain beat someone?”

“Does that even make sense?”

“But the soldier said so?”

Especially since, apart from the Geumhwan Trading Company, most of the area was undeveloped countryside. Once a sufficiently interesting rumor started circulating, it was customary for people to latch onto it and spread it like wildfire.

Especially when it involved a trading company – wouldn’t they usually think of ordinary civilians?

The fact that the company head was a martial artist vanished as the rumor spread. After all, third-rate martial artists weren’t much different from commoners.

The rumor kept circulating, and within half a day, it had seeped all the way to Hwasa Mountain.

Unfortunately, the first to hear the news was the sect leader, Baek Dan-hyeon.

“Gu Yang-jeok, you bastard!”

CRASH!

Unable to contain his rage, Baek Dan-hyeon slammed his fist into the wall.

“Summon him here immediately!”

On his desk lay a neatly written invitation.

Request for Participation in the Nine Dragons Tournament.