novelraw Chapter 80 : Chapter 80
Chapter 80 : Chapter 80
Chapter 80 - As Long As It's Not Me
“So you're saying……”
When one hears a story that is utterly unbelievable, a hollow laugh is bound to come out.
The head of the Yi Family Clan.
Yi Gwon-su had just such an expression.
“You went to that O fellow and extorted five thousand gold nyang from him? Young Hero Biyoung did?”
“That is correct, Father.”
Sedong smiled shyly and nodded his head.
Even he, who had heard and seen it himself, found it hard to believe, so how must Yi Gwon-su feel?
“Heh…… he is a benefactor. A true benefactor.”
After the proposal to join the True Dragon Sect fell through, Yi Gwon-su had thought of Biyoung as nothing more than a noisy neighbor.
A wild child with considerable martial power, who deluded himself into thinking he could change the world alone.
A man he couldn't completely ignore because Sedong liked him so much.
But at this very moment, even Yi Gwon-su had no choice but to acknowledge Biyoung.
“Young Hero Biyoung has bestowed a great blessing upon us.”
Finally, a single flower of a smile bloomed on Yi Gwon-su's face.
Someone who didn't know the situation might tilt their head.
Was it such a joyous occasion that the Diancang Sect had collected the money they were owed?
It goes without saying, but Yi Gwon-su couldn't care less about the Diancang Sect's situation.
He wouldn't have been interested even if the amount they took was fifty thousand, not five thousand.
However.
If the tangible assets the Diancang Sect took belonged to the ‘O Family Manor,’ the story changes.
He was the master of a large family in name, but just by calling him ‘that O fellow’ instead of the family head, one could guess Yi Gwon-su's feelings.
There cannot be two suns under the sky, and in this palm-sized Yiliang County, one merchant family is enough.
“Sedong.”
Was it because of what Biyoung had done?
For some reason, Yi Gwon-su's voice calling Sedong also felt a degree warmer.
“Yes, Father.”
“Can you guess what kind of benefit Young Hero Biyoung has given us?”
“There is one thing that comes to mind.”
“Comes to mind, you say……”
Normally, Yi Gwon-su's brow would have furrowed.
Sedong always avoided a definite answer in this way.
Even while giving only correct answers every time.
This could be seen as the biggest difference from his first son, who clearly stated his claims even while being humiliated at times.
Yi Gwon-su wished that Sedong would resemble his brother's personality even a little.
Prudence was of course important for a businessman, but what was needed above all was the confidence to persuade the other party.
However.
Today, Yi Gwon-su decided not to point out Sedong's attitude.
“Speak. What effect does Young Hero Biyoung's collection of the money have on the Yi Family?”
“Since he did not take our family's money, it can be said that there is no direct connection. However, indirectly, it can be seen as having had two major effects.”
“Speak of the first one.”
“First, a powerful competitor related to the tea trade has disappeared. The tangible assets the O Family Manor had were surely funds prepared for the payment of tea leaves. But since all that money was used to repay the debt to the Diancang Sect, the O Family Manor now lacks the cash to buy tea leaves even if they want to.”
“You saw it correctly.”
There was something Biyoung had said to Yi Gwon-su as he left the Yi Family Clan.
About how it was about time to buy tea.
As he said, Yunnan was facing its once-a-year tea leaf harvest season.
The Yi Family Clan and the O Family Manor had fought a bloody battle every year to purchase a large quantity of tea leaves.
Because it was one of the few specialty products that could make money in this barren land of Yunnan.
The class of the seller also changes depending on how much of the tea supply is secured.
If the quantity is small, it would only be supplied to wholesalers in other regions, but if the quantity is large, there is a possibility of trading with the famous Shaolin or even the Imperial family.
He had been getting a headache at the thought of fighting a dog-eat-dog battle with the O Family Manor again this year, but before they even crossed hands, the opponent had fallen.
Biyoung.
By a single, incomparably gallant man.
“In Yiliang County, the only merchant groups that can monopolize a large quantity of tea leaves are us and the O Family Manor. Since the O Family Manor's cash has run out, we can achieve our desired goal without a fight.”
“That is also what I think.”
“You said there were two things before. What is the other one?”
“The price of a product is determined by supply and demand. Since the O Family Manor is in a situation where they cannot purchase tea leaves, the price of tea leaves will also go down. This will also remain entirely as profit for our family.”
“Correct.”
The smile on Yi Gwon-su's lips deepened slightly.
Let's assume I am a person who harvests tea leaves.
The case where the Yi Family Clan and the O Family Manor are both begging me to sell them the goods.
Conversely, the case where there is no place to sell other than the Yi Family Clan.
In which case can I sell the tea leaves for a higher price?
The disappearance of a competitor means that one can monopolize the goods and at the same time induce a drop in the purchase price.
By draining the O Family Manor's cash, Biyoung had created this secondary effect.
“There is one more thing I would like to say.”
Towards the satisfied-looking Yi Gwon-su, Sedong carefully reported.
“Speak.”
“Initially, Biyoung had no intention of collecting the O Family Manor's money immediately. Since the Diancang Treasure Red Seal is with an elder in Simao, he was planning to move after creating the certificate that the money had been received.”
“And yet?”
“The reason Biyoung changed his schedule…… was because of me.”
“You……? You mean it was for you, Sedong?”
“Yes. For the Diancang Sect, it makes little difference whether they receive the debt today or a month later. But our situation, it can be said, is different.”
“………….”
He was right.
The process of obtaining the monopoly right for the tea leaf harvest season ends in a week or two.
A few days that don't matter much to some can be the most important period in the world to others.
“The reason Biyoung changed his schedule was purely to give me support. Because he knew that collecting the debt at this point in time would be a great benefit to the Yi Family Manor.”
“The Awl Selection Period. So it was an action with that in mind.”
“That is correct.”
The Awl Selection Period.
A test to seat the one who brings great benefit to the Yi Family Manor as the young family head.
By that standard, Biyoung had given Sedong a tremendous gift.
He had not used Yi Gwon-su's funds, nor had he dragged it out for a long time.
A single day.
Not even a single penny.
The task that had started like that had, in the end, brought a huge profit to the Yi Family Clan.
“I did not do much in this process. But Biyoung willingly took on a troublesome task for me, who had entered the Awl Selection Period. Father, you said that the achievements of a supporter are the achievements of the child.”
“So?”
“It is fine if my efforts are not recognized, but I hope that the good deed Biyoung has done is well reflected.”
“Hmm…….”
Yi Gwon-su hummed lowly.
To an onlooker, it was a reaction that might seem like he was in a bad mood.
But the butler, who had watched him for a long time, showed a most proud smile.
Because it was a reaction that came out when Yi Gwon-su was truly satisfied.
‘This is the first time. Seeing him push his claims so confidently…….’
He was a child who would hesitate to speak even a fact that was certain unless the sky split in two.
Looking back at his past statements, his current attitude was a world-changing transformation.
‘Is this also a change brought about by Young Hero Biyoung?’
Sedong was a warm-hearted child.
He had thought that was a fatal flaw as a businessman.
But it seemed that it could also be a strength when showing courage for others like this.
A brilliant mind and a confident conviction.
At this very moment, he seemed to be a person who possessed both of the two qualifications for a family head that Yi Gwon-su had in mind.
Was it because of that?
Yi Gwon-su nodded his head with an uncharacteristically gentle tone.
“I will surely remember.”
***
At the entrance to the path leading to Kongtong Mountain.
Inside a shabby tavern, two middle-aged men are exchanging cups of wine.
“You there. Have you heard that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“They say a ghost lives on this mountain in front of us.”
“A ghost? Hehe. My good man. With such a bushy beard on your chin, you still believe in such things?”
“I didn't believe it at first either. But you see. Recently, after the Tiger-Bear Stronghold disappeared, haven't the movements of merchant caravans become more frequent?”
“That's true.”
“They say that every merchant caravan that passes through here hears strange sounds. And at late hours of the night and in the early morning. This month, this is the fifth time I've heard the same story.”
“R-Really?”
The expression of the middle-aged man who had been chiding him finally began to turn serious.
“Once, the escort warriors of a merchant caravan rushed in the direction of the sound. To check if it was a person or an animal, or if it was really a ghost.”
“And then?”
“They said that no matter how fast they ran, they couldn't find the source of the sound. The more they chased, the farther the distance grew instead of closing. Who could run that fast on a dark mountain at night where you can't even see properly in front of you? That's why the rumor of a ghost started to spread.”
“Heo. Just when I thought the traffic on this mountain was finally becoming frequent……”
The middle-aged man shivered while listening to the story, as if he felt a chill.
A ghost, you say.
Just when he was happy that the bandits were gone, are you saying that something even worse has appeared on Kongtong Mountain?
At that moment.
A ghostly wail echoed from afar.
-Aaaaaaaak!
-Keoheoheoheoheok!
The two men, without waiting for the other, flinched in surprise and shrugged their shoulders.
“Wh-What is this sound?”
“You heard it too, right? A ghost. It must be a ghost.”
“But it's only early evening now, isn't it? This is just the entrance to Kongtong Mountain.”
“Have you ever seen a ghost care about the time and place?”
-Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!
“Heek!”
At the continuously echoing ghostly wails, the two men couldn't stand it and jumped up from their seats.
“Ah, this won't do. Let's get out of here quickly.”
“My, oh my. What in the world is happening on Kongtong Mountain? Ah. Come to think of it, didn't they say the Diancang Sect has returned to Kongtong Mountain?”
“Does that matter now? No matter how great the Diancang Sect is, how will they catch a ghost? They'll either abandon the sect right away or tightly bolt their doors at night.”
The two men, as if fed up, hurriedly paid their bills and left the tavern.
The sky had already darkened, and it felt like they would really encounter a ghost if they stayed any longer.
And…….
“………….”
On the opposite side of the table they had vacated, there was a pair of a man and a woman.
It was dark so they couldn't be seen properly, but if it had been broad daylight, they would have surely drawn a lot of attention as a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
“Honestly…… these idiots just have to make it obvious, don't they?”
When the man sighed, the beautiful woman sitting opposite him smiled brightly.
“Still, looking at the time, it seems they've increased their training hours. I don't think they've ever come down to the entrance at this hour.”
“So what if they have. Their voices saying ‘I'm tired now! Save me!’ can be heard all the way inside the tavern. Are they in their right minds? When Kongtong Mountain should be prospering, they're chasing away the people who are here……”
The handsome man grumbling was Biyoung.
He had quickly grasped the situation after hearing what the two men were saying.
Because of the screams they let out while running up and down Kongtong Mountain, his Senior Brothers were being mistaken for ghosts.
Since they had started using the proper Flying Eagle Steps after eating the spirit pill, the riffraff would never have been able to catch up with his Senior Brothers.
It would have been utterly impossible for the escort warriors to catch them.
-Iyaaaaaaaaaaa!
They were, at this very moment, driving innocent people into fear.
“I can hear all the other voices, but I can't hear Junior Brother Mu's voice.”
Jeong-i, sitting with Biyoung, perked up her ears and asked.
“He's the kind of guy who wouldn't show it even if his side was pierced.”
Biyoung smiled bitterly once and turned his head.
“I'll have to check as soon as I go up. If their skills have improved enough to cause such a ruckus. If I think it's just a fuss, I won't let them be.”
Watching Biyoung, who was vowing with shining eyes, Jeong-i smiled a bittersweet smile.
The image of her junior brothers and sisters who would soon suffer a mishap (?) came to mind.
But on the other hand, she also let out a sigh of relief.
‘As long as it's not me.’
Looking at Biyoung, who was glaring, Jeong-i had a slightly irresponsible thought.