Silence fell upon the meeting hall at Cheonyeong's question.

Everyone had a hardened expression, full of displeasure.

"Heh heh, it seems Family Head Tang has misunderstood something."

Go Hyeon, who had been staring intently at Cheonyeong, broke the silence with a hearty laugh.

"Ha ha! That's right. The Tang Family's estate as a subordinate organization of the merchant association... what an absurd thing to say."

"You've jumped to conclusions. As if we would ever think of the Tang Family's estate that way."

Jumped to conclusions?

Is that really it?

Then why were you all like mutes who had eaten honey at my words at first?

And the way you all suddenly started laughing awkwardly as if Go Hyeon's words were a signal.

Cheonyeong, with one corner of his mouth raised in a smile, looked at Go Hyeon and said.

"Was it a misunderstanding?"

"It was."

"Is that so?"

"Of course, it is. You're still young..."

As Go Hyeon tried to continue in a lecturing tone, Cheonyeong let out a small laugh and cut in again.

"Since you say it's a misunderstanding, I'll take it as such. But, Association Head?"

"...What is it?"

"First of all, how about you change your tone?"

"What?"

"It's grating."

"...Gr-grating?"

"Isn't it? Regardless of age, you, Lord Go, are here in the capacity of the merchant association head representing Ganyang, and I am here in the capacity of the representative of the Ganyang martial world."

Cheonyeong said, as if to remind him of their equal standing.

"What does it matter if the seat you've prepared is at the end of the table or on a straw mat? But you should fix your tone, shouldn't you?"

"..."

The smile vanished from Go Hyeon's face at Cheonyeong's words.

Why are you glaring?

"Why? Can't you? Because I'm young? Or... because you think the power of the Tang Family's estate is too small?"

"Family Head Tang! Watch your words."

"Hah, there you go again. Shouldn't you, Lord Go, be the one to watch your words?"

"What did you say?"

"It is said, Wear brocade clothes, and add a patched garment over them.”

"..."

Go Hyeon's eyebrows twitched slightly at Cheonyeong's calm words.

Wear brocade clothes, and add a patched garment over them.

It meant that even if one had outstanding ability or high status, one should not show it off on the outside but lower oneself.

"Also, it is said that if you wish to be treated with respect, you should first treat others with respect."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Why did you ask for me?"

"Why did I ask for you? You don't know?"

As Go Hyeon's voice grew closer to a shout, Cheonyeong sighed and scratched his head.

"My, my, even though I've pointed it out, you keep speaking informally. I can't use foul language to an elderly person... Hey, I'm asking because I don't know."

"Wh-what?"

As his tone and expression suddenly changed, the corners of Go Hyeon's eyes shot up.

"What? Why? Are you offended because I'm speaking informally?"

"...You punk!"

"Who are you calling a punk?"

Cheonyeong glanced over with narrowed eyes.

And the moment that gaze landed on him, Go Hyeon couldn't help but swallow his breath.

He was a seasoned merchant.

Since his family had been in commerce for generations, he had dealt with people since birth, and he was confident he wouldn't be intimidated even in front of warriors who had made a name for themselves.

But he was at a loss for words at the gaze of a young punk who was only seventeen, and his chest felt tight.

The punk's gaze was like that of an Asura who had crossed over life and death, and then some.

Cheonyeong sneered at the sight of Go Hyeon, who seemed to be at a loss for words.

This is what glaring is.

With a lot of spirit, to make the opponent feel intimidated.

"F-Family Head Tang. What is this rudeness to the Association Head! Immediately withdraw your presence..."

"Shut up."

"...Heup!"

Im Saeng, who was trying to intervene, swallowed a gasp and shut his mouth at the calm, single word.

Before he knew it, a sinister killing intent was blooming from Cheonyeong's body and spreading stickily.

It was an energy that was difficult for merchants to handle.

"I was trying to listen quietly, but it seems you saw me as quite a joke."

"..."

Now even his smile was chilling.

"Hey, Im Saeng. You seem to be mistaken about something... I am the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate. I'm here in the capacity of the representative of the Ganyang martial world, I'm telling you."

"..."

"It's not a matter of being young or having a small force... I'm on equal footing with your Association Head. So shut up. Before I rip your mouth open."

Although his manner of speaking was enough to put a good-for-nothing to shame, Im Saeng couldn't retort.

"Family Head Tang. You are truly arrogant. Just because you brought down that measly Yin Hand Chamber, do you think the world is yours!"

"..."

"Tsk tsk, you should have just taken the allowance I was giving you and done what you were told..."

Instead of getting angry at Go Hyeon's words, Cheonyeong let out a small laugh.

"Keuk, I get it now. Why you called me."

"What?"

"Hey. Mr. Go."

"Wh-what? Mr. Go?"

"Then are you Mr. Kang?"

"...You punk!"

"Hah, there you go again with 'this punk, that punk'."

Cheonyeong shook his head and stood up.

It wasn't because he was being treated condescendingly.

Nor was it because his pride was hurt.

What he had expected was a conversation, but the merchant association, it seemed what they wanted from him was a well-behaved dog.

One that would eat the feed they gave and wag its tail when needed...

"So what are you going to order me to do?"

"What?"

"Scratch your itchy spots, occasionally do some illegal things for you, and use my strength when you need it, right?"

"..."

"That's right, that's right. That's what you wanted. My goodness, I don't know what kind of treatment the Yin Hand Chamber received, but to think they put up with this."

"What did you say?"

"If the Tang Family's estate were the Namgung family, would you have done this? If it were one of the Nine Sects, could you have done this to me?"

"What are you talking about!"

Cheonyeong smirked at Go Hyeon's shout.

"What do you mean, what am I talking about? A guy who's been through the mill in the commercial world, and you don't even know that?"

"..."

"It means you're wrong. The way you're handling me."

"..."

"Why didn't you just start by putting a pile of gold bars on the table?"

The smile on Cheonyeong's lips gradually turned into a cold sneer.

"If you had, I would have been staring at the gold bars, nodding my head vigorously and wagging my tail like a dog, no matter what bullshit you spouted."

"Is this... a breakdown in negotiations?"

"Negotiations? Who? When?"

"..."

"Don't joke. You weren't trying to negotiate with me right now, were you? Don't tell me you don't even have that much sense."

He said, pressing down on the table with both hands and staring intently at Go Hyeon and the members of the merchant association.

A long silence.

Go Hyeon, who had been meeting his gaze, burst into the sneer he had been holding back.

"Keuhat-hat-hat! My, my... indeed, he's worthy of being called a new martial artist who brought down the Yin Hand Chamber at the age of seventeen."

"..."

"You have to have that much backbone. Of course."

Go Hyeon, who had slowly risen from his seat, straightened his back and took a posture as if looking down on Cheonyeong.

"But, so what? As you said, is your family anything like the Namgung family? Or is it one of the Nine Sects?"

"..."

"It's not me who's mistaken, but you, Family Head Tang. We are merchants. It is our nature to get back what we have invested. But what can you give? A precarious Tang Family's estate that could collapse at any moment."

"A precarious Tang Family's estate?"

"Is it not?"

"..."

"Why? Do you feel like you're something special because people are praising you for bringing down the Yin Hand Chamber and restoring peace to Ganyang? You're wrong. Whether it's Orthodox or Unorthodox, the standards you divide by have nothing to do with us. What's important is who is more profitable."

"..."

"To us, your value is only this much."

Go Hyeon showed a very small gap between his thumb and index finger.

Not even an inch...

"We follow interests. Whether it's the Yin Hand Chamber or the Tang Family's estate, it doesn't matter to us. In a way, the Yin Hand Chamber was much better. At least they were profitable for us."

Well, he wasn't wrong.

His value, the value of the Tang Family's estate, was probably only that much for now.

He understood, but... he was angry.

Because they turned a blind eye to the people's difficulties?

No way.

He had long since abandoned the path of a saint.

What was important was that he was devaluing the future value of the Tang Family's estate.

As if he had set a limit.

"...You're not cut out to be a great merchant. With such a poor eye for people. Well, with that kind of attitude, you'd probably just be swaggering around in Ganyang. Using the title of merchant association head and acting all high and mighty."

"Watch your words! What is this rude manner of speaking to the Association Head!"

"..."

At the sharp words, Im Saeng, who was next to him, shouted, and Cheonyeong slowly turned his head.

Teok!

"Kkeuk!"

Im Saeng, whose chin was caught in the outstretched hand, was at a loss for words.

He struggled to escape the grasp, but how could a merchant handle the strength of a warrior?

Kkuu-uuk.

Cheonyeong, still gripping him, pressed Im Saeng's head down on the table.

"My, my, I definitely warned you... didn't I say I would rip your mouth open if you spouted off one more time?"

"Uu-uup!"

"Listen carefully, merchant uncle. I'm not the Namgung family or one of the Nine Sects, but I am the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate. A martial artist with enough power to rip you apart. My words... do you understand?"

Im Saeng blinked his eyes rapidly at Cheonyeong's threat, which was full of laughter.

"Be careful. As you said, because I'm young... I don't think deeply before I act."

Blink, blink-blink-blink-blink.

That punk...

He's blinking so hard.

Cheonyeong, who had let go of Im Saeng, straightened his back and looked straight at Go Hyeon, saying.

"Don't call me in the future. I have no intention of wagging my tail for the likes of you. Got it?"

"You punk, are you... determined to drink the penalty cup now?"

"Penalty cup? You're talking about a penalty cup. You've heard it somewhere... isn't the expression too cliché?"

"..."

"Penalty cup, medicine cup, I don't know. You guys handle the commercial world on your own. The martial world will handle the martial world. Then, I'll be on my way..."

"Family Head Tang!"

"What! We're not even that far apart, why are you shouting?"

"Do you really think you can raise your family without our help?"

"Yep."

"What?"

"You, you seem to be underestimating me... I'm Tang Cheonyeong. I've been called a prodigy quite often, I'm telling you. It means I'm sufficient without the help of the likes of you. Got it?"

"Hmph! A prodigy? You seem to think the principles of scholarship and commerce are the same."

"Is there a difference?"

"You thunder-like brat. Fine, then go ahead and try. But, on the day you collapse like the Mandeok Estate! No matter how much you beg, there will be no helping you."

Cheonyeong's brow furrowed slightly at Go Hyeon's words.

Even if he says so...

Is this a curse?

An elder who is the head of the merchant association looks so pathetic. So pathetic.

"Alright, since you put it that way... I'll say one thing before I go too."

"..."

"Don't touch the Tang Family's estate. Next time, it won't end with words. And today's meeting, you will regret it greatly."

Cheonyeong, who had patted Im Saeng's shoulder, left with a sneer at Go Hyeon and the merchants. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Th-that ill-mannered punk!"

"He's a brat. A brat. He seems to think the world is his just because he brought down one Yin Hand Chamber."

"Tsk tsk... the Mandeok Estate Master raised his child wrong."

The criticism towards Cheonyeong continued.

"Association Head, don't mind him too much. What can a punk like him do?"

"That's right. I hear he doesn't even have enough money for the materials to build his house."

"I looked into it, and it seems the Mandeok Estate's assets, which were taken by the Yin Hand Chamber, are tied up in the government... shall I use my connections in the government to pull some strings?"

Then, it seemed he was trying to lighten Go Hyeon's mood.

"No, leave it be."

"Pardon?"

"Isn't the public sentiment towards the Tang Family's estate for now?"

"Well... that's true, but."

"But we have to let them know. How stingy public sentiment becomes in front of money."

The merchants followed Go Hyeon's cold smile with sneers of their own.

"That's right. There's no sentiment like money. Hehehe."

(End of Chapter)