Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“Huh…….”

For a moment, Yeo Jeonghye’s brain failed to keep up with Youngho’s words.

What? Spouting bullshit? Just as Yeo Jeonghye was about to say something while her razor-sharp glare flashed—

“So this is what the Gold-Blood Hall is like? Such miserable treatment that you leak killing intent at a guest.”

Youngho spoke with a deep, mocking sneer.

“You’d be better off hiring wandering warriors. With killing intent pouring out like this, do you think I’d be scared enough to trust the Gold-Blood Hall?”

At those words, Yeo Jeonghye flinched without realizing it. She looked at Youngho with a complicated expression.

He was skilled. She was the Branch Hall Master of the Gold-Blood Hall. That meant she possessed not only martial strength, but also the ability to earn money according to the Gold-Blood Hall’s principles—bringing in gains, not losses.

Yet he handled someone like her with frightening ease.

‘To speak of trust right in front of me…….’

It was not something that could be done with ordinary courage. To make money, trust always had to be the foundation.

Well, not just making money—trust was the foundation of all dealings.

In any case, he was no ordinary individual. At the same time, another thought crossed her mind—was the Fifth Young Master always like this?

From what she had heard until now, the Fifth Young Master was said to be timid and cowardly. But it seemed rumors were not to be trusted.

‘Unless he has no fear at all, he couldn’t approach me like this.’

Seeing Yeo Jeonghye’s aura gradually being reined in, Youngho smiled faintly to himself.

‘That’s right. Think. Be confused.’

That was enough for now.

Once Yeo Jeonghye finished sorting through her thoughts, her atmosphere changed. Compared to moments ago, she now spoke with a warmth that could not be compared.

‘He’s not an ordinary person. It wouldn’t hurt to form a connection.’

Having finished her calculations in an instant, Yeo Jeonghye took a sip of the tea before her and spoke.

“You mentioned the Orthodox–Demonic War, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. But that seems like something that’ll happen later, so let’s talk about it next time.”

At that, Yeo Jeonghye gave an alluring smile with her eyes.

“What do you mean by ‘will happen later’?”

Youngho wondered why she was smiling so seductively as she spoke, but since the question was more bland than expected, he answered lightly.

“Then let me ask you instead. Do you think the Orthodox–Demonic War won’t happen?”

As Youngho countered, he glanced at Yeo Jeonghye’s hand twitching in reflex and let out a soft chuckle.

“The Orthodox–Demonic War will happen.”

“You seem to know a great deal.”

“You can know even without knowing.”

The current Jianghu was probably the most chaotic era in all of history.

Originally, it was extremely difficult for the Unorthodox Faction to gather in one place. Betrayal was commonplace, and the Unorthodox Faction’s enemies were not only the Orthodox Sect, but also those within their own ranks.

Unlike the rigid Orthodox Sect, the Unorthodox Faction stopped at nothing and killed those with whom they had built grudges.

The one you thought was a comrade right behind you might not be one at all. That was the Unorthodox Faction. Then how did they gather in one place and establish the Unorthodox Alliance?

That question could be answered like this.

Because Cheonung existed. With just those words, one could understand why the Unorthodox Alliance was founded.

“Master subdued all the Unorthodox Factions with overwhelming martial might and established the Unorthodox Alliance.”

“That’s correct.”

“But no matter how much it’s Master, he can’t keep resolving the dissatisfaction that bubbles up inside forever. No—he can resolve other things, but when it comes to the Orthodox–Demonic War, he can’t keep stopping it.”

“That’s because the power of the Unorthodox Faction has grown too strong.”

“Exactly. You know it well. But do you really think the Orthodox–Demonic War won’t happen? Do you think those monkey bastards drunk on power won’t stir up trouble?”

“I don’t understand why you’re saying this.”

“It’s because I want to do business with you for a long time.”

“You wish to do business with me for a long time?”

“Yes.”

“This hall doesn’t mind even if the Orthodox–Demonic War breaks out.”

“Of course. The profits gained from war would be greatest for the Gold-Blood Hall.”

Yeo Jeonghye still could not understand the man called Youngho. But one thing was certain.

‘Is he playing with me?’

She had always believed she was the only one who could see one step further ahead than everyone else.

Yet Yeo Jeonghye was having a strange experience she had never encountered in her life.

“Will war break out in about three years? I don’t really know~.”

He was toying with her. The kind of sly composure and insight that only came from someone as wily as her own master—yet she was sensing it from this child far younger than herself.

“So, do you like paying in advance? Or do you prefer paying afterward?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The location of the gold mine.”

“Are you saying I should hand over Horyeung?”

“Are you crazy? Even so, that guy isn’t worth that much.”

Ahem.

Yeo Jeonghye cleared her throat and thought,

‘That was trying to take too much. To try trading a single gold mine for Horyeung…….’

While she couldn’t lift her head in embarrassment, Youngho spoke.

“Just assign Horyeung as my guard and take care of a few conveniences for me.”

“Conveniences… you say?”

“Yes, conveniences. Conveniences that satisfy me.”

“Your words are too vague. And it hasn’t even been confirmed yet that there is a gold mine.”

“In return, I’ll give you everything in the gold mine.”

“……What?”

“I said everything in the gold mine is yours. I’ll take zero shares.”

At those words, Yeo Jeonghye’s pupils shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.

“Not even one share—zero?”

“No, I’m just not taking anything. Do as you like.”

Is he insane? The thought rose on its own. No—no matter how crazy he had seemed until now, he wasn’t this crazy, was he?

It was gold. No—more precisely, a gold mine. He was saying he’d give up a gold mine overflowing with gold? Just to ask for a bit of convenience?

Sensing something strange, Yeo Jeonghye hesitated briefly, then spoke in a voice filled with conviction.

“Are you saying you’ll give me profits greater than even the outbreak of the Orthodox–Demonic War?”

“That’s right. So I’m counting on you.”

“We require advance payment.”

“I’m post-payment.”

“That doesn’t align with this hall’s rules.”

“Be flexible.”

“What will you do if the gold mine isn’t found?”

“Want me to die, then?”

At that, Yeo Jeonghye let out a groan-like sound.

“You treat your own life far too lightly.”

“My life is precious. And I’m saying this because I have it. So hand Horyeung over to me first. And if gold is found in the gold mine, take care of my conveniences. This should be acceptable, right?”

“……Understood.”

“Then I’m leaving.”

With those words, Youngho rose from his seat and went outside. Watching that, Yeo Jeonghye let out a long, heavy sigh.

She hadn’t been able to seize the initiative in the conversation even once. It was the first time she had lost control of a discussion to someone other than her master.

“So that’s the Fifth Young Master I’d only heard rumors about?”

She had thought he only possessed talent in martial arts, but even his schemes surpassed her own. To be led around like this by someone not even past his coming-of-age—it made even the Branch Hall Master of the Gold-Blood Hall seem insignificant before Youngho.

No, in truth, it seemed Youngho genuinely regarded the Gold-Blood Hall as insignificant.

‘That can’t be true.’

“Huu….”

Yeo Jeonghye let out another deep sigh, then called for someone.

“Take the Blood Wolf Unit to the location marked on the map. And tell Horyeung to keep watch on the Fifth Young Master. Ah, the essence is protection, so don’t forget that.”

“Understood.”

The person who received her orders moved quickly, heading off to relay the message to Horyeung.

Yeo Jeonghye tapped the table repeatedly with her fingers as she thought.

‘It could explode at any time.’

The current state of the Unorthodox Faction was far worse than Youngho thought. Those overflowing with power kept insisting on driving out the Orthodox Sect and unifying the Central Plains, and Cheonung was blocking them with overwhelming force.

Knowing Cheonung’s personality well, Yeo Jeonghye’s head ached all the more.

‘He should just wage war already!’

Cheonung hated war. No—more precisely, he loved peace. That alone was enough for many to say Cheonung was not fitting of the Unorthodox Faction.

How could the Unorthodox Faction love peace? Even though he possessed the power to crush the Orthodox Sect outright, Cheonung did not move, and people were gradually growing dissatisfied.

The Eighteen Strongholds of the Yangtze Waterways were especially problematic.

‘I heard recently that the position of the chief stronghold leader loyal to the Alliance Lord has been shrinking.’

It was likely an issue born from not being able to vent their overflowing power. Even so, Cheonung was not the kind of great man who would allow the waterway strongholds to indulge their desires freely.

At this point, she could only hope that there was no gold mine where Youngho had indicated—or that the gold mine would bring profits greater than even the outbreak of the Orthodox–Demonic War.

To prevent the Orthodox–Demonic War, enormous losses would have to be endured. If she accepted the gold mine Youngho offered, she would have to stop the Orthodox–Demonic War.

In short, it would be unbelievably exhausting.

She did not have the nerve to carry something like a lightning bomb on the verge of exploding in her arms. The fact that Cheonung was holding it in his hands made him seem incredible.

But……

‘He said there were multiple places that know about the gold mine’s location, didn’t he?’

That meant he intended to continue doing business with her. Perhaps for as long as he lived.

She had no idea how he knew where the gold mine was. Truly, she had no idea at all. A sense of unease lingered, but she could not grasp its true nature.

‘Could he be an agent of the Demonic Cult……?’

This matter brought an enormous gain to the Gold-Blood Hall. But what if the Demonic Cult was lying in wait at the gold mine’s location? She ran through the possibilities, but the likelihood seemed low.

Still, Yeo Jeonghye was cautious if nothing else—never arrogant. She would thoroughly investigate whether there was an ambush, and only then proceed to develop the gold mine.

Yeo Jeonghye sincerely hoped that there would be no gold mine at the location Youngho had marked.

……Very sincerely.

“So that’s how it is.”

“……Pardon?”

“You have to be my guard.”

“Why would I……?”

“Why else? Because I bought you.”

“No matter how much the Gold-Blood Hall operates on capitalist logic, things can’t be handled this abruptly.”

“Really? I thought she was simpler than that.”

“…What?”

Because Horyeung knew Yeo Jeonghye well, it made even less sense to him.

‘Why in the world am I being told to guard the Fifth Young Master?’

Though he couldn’t understand it, once Horyeung unfolded the paper a servant had brought, he was able to understand—just a little.

Very little.

– Protect the Fifth Young Master.

– Monitor the Fifth Young Master.

Seeing how simply it was written, he even doubted whether it truly came from Yeo Jeonghye. But there was no way a madman inside the Gold-Blood Hall would dare swap such a document.

And at the instruction to monitor Youngho, Horyeung felt an unfamiliar sense of unease.

“You’ve checked everything?”

“Yes.”

“Then from today on, you’re my guard.”

“I will do my utmost.”

“Being a guard isn’t anything special. Just think of it as becoming my guard for life.”

“…Pardon? For life?”

“There wasn’t any term written on that paper, was there?”

“How do you know that…?”

“Because I asked for it that way. Anyway, you’ll be attending me for quite a long time, so pack your things and come out.”

With that, Youngho went straight outside. Horyeung stared blankly after him for a moment, then snapped out of it and hurriedly went to pack his belongings.