I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 91

The Hwangbo Clan didn’t back down either.

“Aren’t they the ones who betrayed the Namgung Clan? Even if those guys are destroyed by the Sado Association’s offensive, should the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance] step in to help? No, they should have been loyal to the Namgung Clan from the start. If so, why would they be afraid of the Sado Association?”

“If we had been loyal to the Namgung Clan from the beginning, we wouldn’t be alive now. And I wish you wouldn’t speak so lightly of betrayal. The Namgung Clan wasn’t thinking of sharing life and death with us, but rather using us as a simple shield. We couldn’t possibly end our lives as mere cannon fodder for someone else and head down the path to annihilation, could we?”

“What?”

The head of the Hwangbo Clan trembled, and Moryong Hwi stepped forward.

Another incident couldn’t happen here.

The desire was packed in a very weak box and tied with a very weak string. Jo Gwang-yun has a talent for scratching people’s insides and revealing hidden desires.

When the ugly side hidden by face and pretense is revealed, relationships crumble.

When relationships crumble, they realize that the strong lines connecting them are as weak as spiderwebs. The Murim Alliance is no exception.

“The past is all washed away with blood. Don’t blame anyone for the actions of the Namgung Clan’s collateral branches!”

The Hwangbo Clan closed their mouths at Moryong Hwi’s rebuke.

“If the Namgung Clan-related factions govern Anhui Province, that would also be an excellent justification. Unless there’s a better justification than this, I’m willing to accept it… What do you all think?”

No one answered readily, and no one openly opposed.

There was no justification, but they were reluctant to hand over Anhui Province to mere collateral branches.

Moryong Hwi seemed to guess their intentions and concluded the matter before any other words came out.

“Then let’s conclude this matter like that. And about the Sado Association [an evil martial arts group]… If the Sado Association covets Anhui Province, we will naturally confront them in the name of the Murim Alliance.”

This time, the aristocratic families didn’t stay still.

The first to rebel was the Sichuan Tang Clan, which had close ties with the Namgung Clan.

“Alliance Leader. I understand the Namgung Clan, but it’s too much for us to step in for collateral branches. I won’t oppose them governing Anhui Province. But they must also take responsibility for it. Isn’t it the law of the Jianghu [the martial world] that if you don’t have the power to protect it, it will be taken away?”

Starting with the Sichuan Tang Clan, several aristocratic families agreed and stepped forward.

“Strictly speaking, aren’t they not even members of the Murim Alliance? They were merely factions connected through the Namgung Clan, and now that the Namgung Clan has disappeared, the link between them and the Murim Alliance has also disappeared.”

“Is the Murim Alliance responsible for everyone, even the riff-raff? Our Baekri Clan has no blood to shed for such people.”

Jo Gwang-yun almost burst out laughing.

Their reaction clearly revealed what they thought of small and medium-sized factions.

Just like servants of a rich family.

The servants have to give their lives for the master, but the master has nothing to do for the servants.

The servants work hard to increase the master’s wealth, but the master thinks that even the servants eating a spoonful of rice is all thanks to his virtue.

The aristocratic families have no intention of shedding a single drop of blood for the servants.

Moryong Hwi was furious at the aristocratic families’ backlash, but as the Alliance Leader, he thought that reconciliation was the priority, so he tried to appease them.

But Jo Gwang-yun snatched that opportunity away.

“Then I’ll ask the esteemed heroes. Is the Changryong Clan also included in the riff-raff you mentioned?”

When no one answered immediately, he asked again.

“It seems that the Changryong Clan is indeed riff-raff compared to the great aristocratic families and Nine Sects. I’ll change the question. If the Sado Association attacks the Changryong Clan, is there anyone who will shed blood together?”

He already knew their true feelings.

Among the Murim aristocratic families in this place, only those who would watch with interest if the Changryong Clan was attacked by the Sado Association.

Jo Gwang-yun cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Moryong Hwi instead of them, who were silent.

“What answer would you give, Alliance Leader?”

Moryong Hwi didn’t hesitate at all.

“I will lead all the organizations under the Murim Alliance for the Changryong Clan. Does that answer your question?”

Unlike Moryong Hwi, who answered confidently, the expressions of the aristocratic families were not good.

This is because the members of the Murim Alliance’s subordinate organizations are ultimately the disciples of the Nine Sects and the bloodlines of the aristocratic families.

But they couldn’t say no out loud. Saying that their own bloodlines in the Murim Alliance’s subordinate organizations couldn’t do that would be rejecting the existence of the Murim Alliance.

But if such a thing actually happened, would the aristocratic families just stand by and watch?

Jo Gwang-yun put his hands together and bowed deeply to the Alliance Leader.

“I am deeply grateful for the Alliance Leader’s righteous actions.”

Jo Gwang-yun, who straightened his back, looked at the aristocratic families and said.

“Our Changryong Clan has donated quite a lot of money to the Murim Alliance. Because of that, the Nine Sects and the aristocratic families have greatly reduced their cost burden.”

When he brought up the story about money, everyone’s expression changed to stiff.

“I’m thinking this way now. Buying people’s hearts with money is a futile effort… I can only imagine how much the esteemed heroes have ridiculed our Changryong Clan.”

Those whose inner thoughts were exposed cleared their throats and avoided Jo Gwang-yun’s gaze.

“Money should be used valuably, but we spent too much money on putting up a facade of the Murim Alliance in front of the Changryong Clan’s name. From now on, the Changryong Clan will pay the same amount as other factions.”

“So, the Changryong Clan, which is useless except for paying the cost, won’t even do that?”

Jo Gwang-yun wanted to shout for joy when the words he wanted to hear the most came out. He hurriedly turned his head to look at the person who said it, and he bit his lip as if he regretted saying it.

It was the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“Indeed. This is the Changryong Clan’s cold evaluation. Useless except for money…”

Jo Gwang-yun bowed his head again to Moryong Hwi.

“It’s not easy to keep this place after hearing such insulting words. I’ll leave now. I’ll think deeply and visit you again.”

Even though he committed the rudeness of leaving the seat first in front of the high-ranking seniors of Murim, no one blamed him. It was because they couldn’t bring themselves to hold onto Jo Gwang-yun, who had slumped shoulders.

As he moved his steps and turned his body at the door, Jo Gwang-yun suddenly turned around.

“Oh, I almost forgot to say this.”

Everyone’s gaze was directed at Jo Gwang-yun.

“Most of the small and medium-sized factions belonging to the Murim Alliance said that they would follow whatever decision I made. They said they could no longer trust the Murim Alliance leadership. Even if they and the Changryong Clan leave the Murim Alliance, I don’t think you’ll hold them back. Because they’re just riff-raff anyway.”

After confirming that everyone was startled by the unexpected declaration, Jo Gwang-yun quickly escaped from the Murim Alliance.

* * *

Jo Gwang-yun emptied the inn and waited.

With that kind of declaration, it was easy enough to guess that Moryong Hwi, who was anxious, would come running himself. Isn’t he a diligent old man?

As the sun set and the dinner time passed, the diligent Moryong Hwi entered the inn.

Moryong Hwi scanned the empty inn and smiled.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes, but I always rent the entire inn. I hate crowds.”

“So you came alone. Shall we have a drink?”

“Wouldn’t other aristocratic families think it’s uncomfortable to meet like this separately?”

“Why? Do you think you and I will play tricks?”

“You’re the Alliance Leader, but aren’t you also the head of the Moryong family? They’re very suspicious.”

“When you get old, you don’t want to worry about this and that. You just have to live as you please.”

As the table was set, Jo Gwang-yun filled Moryong Hwi’s glass.

Moryong Hwi, who took a cool drink, opened his mouth.

“Isn’t it hard? Living like that? Throwing bait here and there, persuading this guy, threatening that guy. This is Murim [the martial arts world]. It’s a simple place to live.”

He already noticed that the move to withdraw from the Murim Alliance was bait.

“Alliance Leader, you are an absolute powerhouse, so you can live simply and freely, but we have to live with caution.”

“You’re being cautious? Heh heh. Look at this situation. Aren’t you seeing me, the head of the orthodox Murim, coming to see you and being cautious of you?”

Suddenly, is he trying to imitate a pitiful old man?

Jo Gwang-yun silently filled the glass for the Alliance Leader, who seemed to have a lot to say.

“Actually, I was close to the deceased Im Bon-jae. His nephew called me ‘hyung’ [older brother] in private. But that friend never mentioned you once. He must have received a lot of help from you in many ways.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“He was uncomfortable with you. He had to bow his head to you, who wasn’t even a Jianghu [martial world] person, and receive instructions. The Sect Leader was Im Bon-jae, but the Changryong Clan was yours. That friend was just a nominal Sect Leader.”

Moryong Hwi lifted his glass and moistened his throat again.

“I had this thought. Why didn’t I get along with you, who has outstanding abilities, like a close friend? If I had made you my friend, I would have felt less guilty about holding a nominal position, and we could have worked together for the prosperity of the Changryong Clan.”

“We worked hard in our respective fields.”

“No. You don’t trust people well. You only judge by ability rather than sincerity.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

Moryong Hwi shook his head.

“It’s not bad to trust people. Living in the Jianghu without someone to open your heart to is an unhappy life. You should have friends as much as you have enemies.”

It seems that the old man has changed his strategy. Rather than questioning and scolding, he’s trying to appease.

“Now, tell me openly. What do you want?”

Jo Gwang-yun put down the glass he was drinking from and said briefly.

“Safety.”

“Can Murim be safe? The provocations of the Evil and the Underworld are always…”

Jo Gwang-yun shook his head.

“No. The threat is the Orthodox.”

“The Orthodox? What does that mean?”

“Currently, the Orthodox is overwhelmingly stronger than the Evil or the Underworld. I thought it was because of martial arts, but it wasn’t. The ambitions and desires of the Murim aristocratic families are enough to overwhelm others. So, of course, they’ll be strong.”

“Is it a threat to have great ambition?”

“War is started by ambitious people. Now that the Namgung family, who were like friends, have disappeared, aren’t they the people who are so eager to take their place that their eyes are bloodshot? The first force to threaten the Namgung Clan’s collateral factions in Anhui Province is neither the Evil nor the Underworld. It will be one of them.”

Moryong Hwi couldn’t refute.

When the Changryong Clan advanced to various places in the Central Plains, wasn’t the first place to threaten them the Orthodox Namgung?

“If I block that threat, will you follow my will?”

“Would you tell me your will, Alliance Leader?”

Moryong Hwi took a sip of alcohol and answered briefly.

“Peace. And friend.”

Jo Gwang-yun understood peace, but he couldn’t understand why the word friend came out of nowhere.

“Friend?”

“It’s a false name, but they call me Sword Saint. You’re the only one who’s not afraid of this name. So how can I not want to make you my friend?”

If he’s sincere, he’s a very romantic old man.

He was born into a powerful family, the Moryong family, and thanks to his parents’ genes, he even gained tremendous martial talent. He lived with a golden spoon, so he easily talks about friends and friendship.

Does this naive old man even know that the easiest thing to break in the world is friendship in the face of temptation?

Jo Gwang-yun didn’t want to pour ashes on the Alliance Leader’s romance.

“I am grateful that you think so highly of me.”

Jo Gwang-yun jumped up and bowed to Moryong Hwi.

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