Chapter 141 < Just Leave It Be >
Yeon Harin headed to the training hall as usual.
Her face shone brighter than ever before, radiating a cheerful aura.
As she stepped into the training hall, she saw people already engrossed in training.
Among them were Cheon Kyungwan, Yoo Seoyeon, and Cho Seoran.
Apart from them, ten attendants, who usually trained diligently, were absent at the moment. They were all busy with other tasks and would likely arrive in about one or two more hours.
Since it wasn’t long after the day began, most of them were probably with Byeok Taesan.
Yeon Harin began warming up slowly.
Suddenly, Yoo Seoyeon, who had been deep in training, paused and stopped her practice.
She felt a strange sense of incongruity.
Yoo Seoyeon turned her gaze to Yeon Harin.
Today, Yeon Harin appeared far more beautiful than usual, as if her face was glowing.
No, it wasn’t just her face. The aura emanating from her entire body had changed.
Even though she already possessed an overwhelming presence due to her beauty, today, it was excessively radiant.
The moment she entered the training hall, she had disrupted Yoo Seoyeon’s concentration, which had been entirely focused on her training.
Yoo Seoyeon stood in a daze, staring at Yeon Harin.
She wasn’t the only one. Cheon Kyungwan and Cho Seoran had also stopped their training at some point and were now gazing at Yeon Harin.
“What in the world happened to her?”
After a moment of puzzlement, Yoo Seoyeon’s eyes widened as a thought crossed her mind.
“No way…!”
Yoo Seoyeon studied Yeon Harin’s face closely as she continued to warm up.
And she was certain.
Without hesitation, she approached Yeon Harin.
“Young Lady.”
Yeon Harin turned to Yoo Seoyeon and smiled gently.
Seeing the confidence in Yeon Harin’s smile, Yoo Seoyeon returned a similar expression.
“You’ve done it.”
Yeon Harin nodded.
“Now all that’s left is to train.”
Soon, Byeok Taesan was supposed to leave for another trip. This time, she was determined to accompany him no matter what.
Yoo Seoyeon looked at Yeon Harin with a mischievous expression.
“Was it good?”
Yeon Harin’s face turned crimson, and she shyly averted her gaze.
“Well… um… I just confirmed that the rumors were true.”
Without waiting for Yoo Seoyeon’s response, Yeon Harin quickly moved to another spot, bowing her head low.
She fanned her flushed face with her hands to cool down.
Then, her eyes met Yoo Seoyeon’s, and she flinched before hurriedly looking away.
Yeon Harin began her training in a fluster.
Before long, she was immersed in her practice with intense focus, almost frighteningly so.
Seeing this, Yoo Seoyeon chuckled softly and returned to where Cheon Kyungwan was.
Cheon Kyungwan looked at Yoo Seoyeon with curiosity, but she didn’t say a word and immediately resumed her training.
Before long, the training hall was heated with the fervor of their practice.
•••••
A group was traveling toward the Golden Wall Manor.
At the forefront were two warriors exuding a sharp, blade-like aura. Behind them was a middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor.
A little to the right and behind the middle-aged man was a young man who seemed to be acting as his assistant.
Next to the young man stood a solidly built man, and behind them, ten warriors followed in an orderly formation.
They were representatives from the Golden Moon Merchants.
As they neared the Golden Wall Manor, a group from the Golden Wall Merchants came out to greet them.
Leading them was Ga Mujin, the Manager of the Golden Wall Manor.
Ga Mujin greeted them courteously.
“I am Ga Mujin, Manager of the Golden Wall Merchants. It is an honor to meet the esteemed guests from the Golden Moon Merchants.”
The person who received his greeting was a middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor.
“I am Jang Joong-san from the Golden Moon Merchants. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“This way, please. I’ll lead you to a place where you can rest.”
Ga Mujin personally guided the delegation from the Golden Moon Merchants to the Golden Wall Manor, while the people from the manor bustled about.
Everyone had one thing drilled into their minds: they had to treat the guests from the Golden Moon Merchants with utmost care.
The same was true for Ga Mujin.
In truth, when Byeok Taesan first suggested inviting them, Ga Mujin thought it was a crazy idea. He believed the Golden Moon Merchants would never accept such an absurd proposal.
But when they did, his mind became a whirlwind of concerns.
He worried that if the guests found even the slightest fault, it could lead to future problems.
For this reason, Ga Mujin led them to their accommodations with utmost respect and caution.
They had cleared the best pavilion available in the Golden Wall Manor and prepared it five days in advance.
The original owner of the pavilion was Byeok Jehyeok.
Although Byeok Taesan’s pavilion was even better, no one in the Golden Wall Manor dared to ask him to vacate it now.
Chae Miryeong had made a bit of a fuss about it, but the matter was settled by Byeok Jehyeok.
Byeok Jehyeok personally intervened to ensure Chae Miryeong didn’t cause any further commotion.
Chae Miryeong had no choice but to retreat, unable to properly express her anger due to Byeok Jehyeok's far more rampant behavior.
In any case, after guiding the Golden Moon Merchants to their accommodations, the Manager, looking utterly drained, headed to find Byeok Taesan.
Although he was supposed to report to Byeok Taesoo, Byeok Taesoo had repeatedly emphasized that all matters concerning the Golden Moon Merchants should be reported to Byeok Taesan first.
Upon arriving at Byeok Taesan's quarters, the Manager was guided by the attendants to enter Byeok Taesan's room.
Inside, not only was Byeok Taesan present, but Hwaryeong and the Owner of White Flower House were also there.
Having seen such a scene more than once, the Manager remained composed as he reported.
"The representatives of the Golden Moon Merchants have arrived."
Byeok Taesan nodded, prompting the Manager to ask cautiously.
"Should I convey when they might be able to meet you?"
"Just leave them be."
"Pardon?"
"Wait until they ask to meet first."
The Manager was stunned.
"Excuse me? But if we do that..."
It would be a great discourtesy. Moreover, weren't they dealing with people far stronger than them?
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
"So, do you think they'd actually meet us if we requested it?"
"Pardon?"
What was that supposed to mean?
"If you want to try, go ahead. It doesn’t matter to us when we meet them. Today, tomorrow, it's all the same. You can tell them that if you wish."
Finally comprehending, the Manager looked at Byeok Taesan with a sense of relief.
"Then I'll let them know you'd be available today or tomorrow."
Byeok Taesan waved his hand dismissively, urging him to leave quickly.
The Manager hastily exited, intending to handle this matter before Byeok Taesan could change his mind.
Once the Manager left the room, Byeok Taesan clicked his tongue softly.
"What a coward."
At his remark, the Owner of White Flower House smiled gracefully. Ever since the incident a few days ago, she had been casting flirtatious glances at Byeok Taesan whenever she got the chance.
"The man sent by the Golden Moon Merchants this time, named Jang Joong-san, holds quite a high position. He is responsible for a place called Moon Pavilion and has the authority to allocate funds independently."
There weren't many people within the Golden Moon Merchants who had the authority to handle funds, making him a significant figure.
"And accompanying him is a man named Gwan Hooseung, the sect leader of a martial sect called the Supreme Heavenly Sect."
"Supreme Heavenly Sect?"
Byeok Taesan's eyes briefly gleamed. The Supreme Heavenly Sect was a sect he had heard of before, indicating that it was a powerful group.
"It is one of the three martial sects under the Golden Moon Merchants."
"Hoho, they’re more formidable than I thought. To have the Supreme Heavenly Sect under their wing."
"The other two are even more impressive, Azure Martial Hall and Nine Dragon Gate."
These names, too, were familiar to Byeok Taesan.
"This is getting interesting. Continue."
As a smile spread across Byeok Taesan’s lips, the Owner of White Flower House quickly continued her explanation.
"The men Gwan Hooseung brought along are also warriors from the Supreme Heavenly Sect. They were carefully selected, so their strength should be considerable."
After pausing for a moment, she added.
"Separate from them, the Golden Moon Merchants have sent a significant number of warriors to Wuhan."
"Separate, you say?"
"Yes. They are not from the Supreme Heavenly Sect but from Azure Martial Hall. The warriors are stationed in Wuhan, awaiting further instructions."
Looking at Hwaryeong, Byeok Taesan asked.
"What do you think their intentions are?"
Hwaryeong, after a brief moment of thought, responded with a gleam in her eyes.
"Perhaps the Golden Moon Merchants are divided into multiple factions, much like the Nameless Sect."
Currently, even the Nameless Sect was known to consist of three distinct factions. Perhaps the Golden Moon Merchants were similarly structured. With three martial sects under their command, it was plausible they were divided into three groups.
"Keep a close watch on them. It seems something interesting might happen."
"Understood. I've assigned particularly capable individuals to monitor them."
The capable individuals she mentioned were members of the Heaven Guard Corps. Having joined Byeok Taesan, they had received new martial techniques and undergone grueling training, significantly improving their skills.
In fact, the intensity of their training under Byeok Taesan was far greater than what they experienced under the Demonic Cult. The Heaven Guard Corps members, accustomed to extreme training, were now surpassing their previous limits.
With such skilled individuals keeping an eye on them, there was no chance of missing any movements.
"Also, keep a close watch on the ones who entered Golden Wall Manor."
"I’ve already deployed eyes and ears everywhere without any gaps."
Byeok Taesan looked satisfied.
Everything was prepared. Now all that was left was to train and wait.
The Manager still couldn’t shake off his unease.
Even as he reported the situation to Leader Byeok Taesoo, his nervousness lingered.
After listening to the full report, Byeok Taesoo merely smiled faintly.
The Manager had approached the Golden Moon Merchants, proposing to arrange a meeting either today or tomorrow, but they refused.
They cited exhaustion from their long journey, essentially issuing a subtle order for the Manager to leave.
They didn’t specify how long they intended to rest or when they would be available to talk again.
In short, they meant for them to wait indefinitely until the merchants were ready.
“Master, what should we do? Should I approach them again tomorrow and—”
Byeok Taesoo raised his hand, interrupting the Manager, and shook his head.
“There’s no need for that.”
“But, Master!”
Byeok Taesoo shook his head once more.
“It’ll be the same even if you go. Manager, regain your composure. It seems you’ve lost your calm simply because they are from the Golden Moon Merchants.”
The Manager closed his mouth. After some deliberation, he let out a deep sigh.
“It seems I was indeed too impatient.”
He had made a mistake he normally wouldn’t have. Showing impatience to the other side was a significant misstep.
He should have heeded Byeok Taesan’s words.
If he had thought things through calmly at the time, he wouldn’t have made such a blunder.
“Just wait. Until they’re ready.”
“Yes, that’s what we should do.”
The Manager felt an odd sensation hearing Byeok Taesoo repeat the same words as Byeok Taesan.
“Both of you are incredible. I understand it in my head, but my heart keeps racing, and I can’t calm down.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Manager then recounted the conversation he had with Byeok Taesan earlier.
After listening to everything, a satisfied smile appeared on Byeok Taesoo’s face.
“From now on, don’t just report to Taesan. Make sure to seek his opinion directly as well.”
The Manager gave Byeok Taesoo a slightly conflicted look before bowing his head.
“Yes, I will do so.”
Byeok Taesoo spoke quietly to the Manager.
“I know what you’re worried about. But rest assured, the kind of situation you’re afraid of won’t happen. I guarantee it.”
The Manager bowed once more, indicating his trust, and stepped back.
•••••••
The warriors of the Supreme Heavenly Sect were lined up in an orderly manner.
They stood watching their leader, Gwan Hooseung.
The scene was set inside the pavilion they were using as their accommodation within the Golden Wall Manor.
Gwan Hooseung thoroughly inspected the area around the pavilion, ensuring there were no spies or observers.
The task they were about to undertake required utmost caution; it would not benefit them if they were discovered.
“Do not get caught. Move slowly if needed, but under no circumstances should you be detected.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s likely the area is protected by mechanisms. Assume the target is stored in a highly secure location. Keep that in mind while investigating.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If anything even slightly suspicious arises, retreat immediately and report later.”
“Yes, sir.”
After finishing his instructions, Gwan Hooseung gave a firm nod.
The ten warriors immediately departed the pavilion.
Their movements were swift and discreet, resembling individuals who had trained extensively for such tasks.
Gwan Hooseung watched his subordinates scatter into the night before retreating into the pavilion.