Acquiring the Murim with Money - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 26. The End of Blood Night

Bang!
The moment Baek Unhwi gathered Byeok Jingang into his arms and drew up his Qi—
the Blood Ice Jade hurled toward the bed exploded in mid-air, never reaching its mark.
It was Byeok Muchang.
Crushed beneath Makya’s overwhelming force, he had drawn upon his Innate True Qi to deflect the jade at the last instant.
Thud.
The shockwave sent Byeok Muchang crashing to his knees.
“Tenacious old fool. Now it truly ends!”
Makya, thrown back by the explosion at close range, spoke through gritted teeth, his voice thick with fury.
“No. You are the one who ends here. Not another step forward.”
Drenched in blood, Byeok Muchang pushed himself upright from his knees.
Blood streamed from everywhere—from his mouth, from his right elbow where his arm had been severed moments before.
Yet he stood between Makya and the others.
Geum Ik, bloodied and gasping, materialized at his shoulder, pouring the last of his strength into supporting Byeok Muchang’s defense.
“Father!”
Byeok Taegang, stirring to consciousness, moved to rush forward.
Byeok Muchang raised his remaining hand, stopping his son with a gesture.
He fixed his gaze on Makya. His breathing was shallow, ragged—standing itself was an act of pure will.
‘It was my greed that blinded me. My foolishness that ruined this clan.’
His dimming vision suddenly sharpened. When he turned his head, he saw Baek Unhwi standing watch before his brother’s sleeping quarters.
That young merchant had thrown his coin, thrown his body—all to keep vigil at his brother’s bedside.
‘What I could not protect.’
Byeok Muchang’s eyes trembled.
‘At least in this moment, I must protect him. If I guard this merchant, I can save the clan from annihilation.’
Byeok Muchang drew up every last shred of his Innate True Qi.
Something snapped inside his body.
Blood surged back up his throat, but he did not yield.
“You shall not pass.”
Makya stopped.
He could not easily advance.
Makya’s expression shifted—displeasure, then bewilderment.
An old man determined to burn all his Innate True Qi in a last gamble for Mutual Destruction was not in any calculation he had made. Of course, if he unleashed his true martial power fully, he could sweep through this place in moments. But to do so meant leaving no witnesses—he would have to slaughter everyone on Bicheon Peak, including Byeok Hyeonggeom, or risk his identity being exposed.
And there was no time for that.
Just then, beyond the sleeping quarters—one wall of which had been blown away by the explosion—a sound pierced the air.
The clash of swords ricocheting off Byeok Hyeonggeom’s blade, and then Dang Soyou’s voice.

“Not bad. How much longer until the poison reaches your heart? Shall I count it down for you?”
Dang Soyou moved with unhurried steps, while Yeondok ground his teeth and wove frantically through his strikes.

Makya’s eyes swept the room swiftly, taking in the full measure of the situation.
Both Blood Ice Jades were spent, yet the Clan Head still lived. Baek Unhwi remained unscathed. Heukdo was locked with Byeok Hyeonggeom, one arm already slashed and hanging useless. Yeondok appeared to be succumbing to poison.
But the most crucial point—
his identity could not be revealed.
Makya stepped backward.
“This ends here, for now.”
His voice was utterly flat.
He hurled himself through the opposite window.
Heukdo’s presence vanished rapidly into the distance. Yeondok, unable to dislodge Dang Soyou’s hidden blade, abandoned the attempt and retreated, scattering poison mist in his wake.
Byeok Hyeonggeom lunged to give chase.
“Wait.”
Dang Soyou’s call was brief and sharp.
“Do not pursue them.”
“Elder!”
“The wounded are everywhere. And—”
Dang Soyou glanced after the three figures as they faded into the darkness.
“There may be more of them still out there.”
Byeok Hyeonggeom’s feet went rigid.
Yeonmu Hall fell silent.
Inside the sleeping quarters.
Dang Soyou entered and looked down at Byeok Muchang, who lay crumpled on the floor.
“Detonated all his Innate True Qi.”
His voice was blunt, but his hands moved swiftly as he pressed his fingers to check the man’s pulse.
“There’s still a thread of Qi left in him. Lucky bastard. If I handle this myself, he’ll lose his martial arts, but he might just keep his life.”
As Dang Soyou withdrew a silver needle, Byeok Taegang approached with blood streaming down his forehead and knelt beside his father, clutching at him. He tried to speak but only lowered his face in silence.
Then Byeok Muchang spoke in a strangled whisper.
“My… brother…”
“I’m fine.”
Byeok Jingang’s voice came from the bed.
Byeok Muchang lost consciousness.
Baek Unhwi pushed himself up using the wall as support. His whole body throbbed. His ribs hurt worst of all.
So Ryang rushed over and grabbed his arm.
“Hey, you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie. Your face is the color of ash.”
Baek Unhwi let out a soft laugh.
“It’s just dust.”
So Ryang shook his head in exasperation and steadied him with a hand at his back.
Then Byeok Soyeon approached, cradling Cheonpung in her arms. The boy’s eyes were narrowed to slits, but he was alive.
Byeok Soyeon stood beside Baek Unhwi and hesitated, studying his face.
Then she withdrew from her arms a sky-blue silk handkerchief embroidered with an exquisite falcon design and carefully offered it to him.
“You’re bleeding on your face…”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
Baek Unhwi stood holding the expensive-looking handkerchief, uncertain whether to use it to wipe his face, when Byeok Soyeon bowed her head and spoke.
“Thank you for protecting my father and our clan. This debt of gratitude is something I will repay, however I must…”
Her voice cracked.
Baek Unhwi smiled gently and replied.
“Clan Head Byeok. It’s all over now. First, let’s tend to the injured.”
Then So Ryang gathered fragments of silver coins from the corner and muttered.
“Baek Unhwi? This is our merchant group’s funds, right?”
“That’s right.”
“You threw all of it?”
“I’m bleeding tears over it now. But we had to live.”
“No… jeez. Okay, fine. Life comes first. At least everyone’s alive—that’s what matters. We can earn money again. Next time danger comes knocking, throw it. Tear up the roots of the whole merchant group and scatter them if you have to.”
* * *

About an hour later.
The torches in Yeonmu Hall burned again. One by one, the fallen martial artists regained consciousness. Fortunately, no one had taken the direct force of the Blood Ice Jade explosion, and few suffered serious internal injuries.
Baek Unhwi sat leaning against the wall inside the sleeping quarters. Dang Soyou had worked on the vital points along his ribs and left. His bones weren’t broken—only a hairline fracture along the ribs, it seemed.
So Ryang sat beside him, working an abacus.
“Between today’s treatment costs, building repairs, and recovery care for the injured martial artists…”
So Ryang set down the abacus and looked at Baek Unhwi.
“We’re covering all of this ourselves?”
“We have to.”
So Ryang let out a long sigh once more.
Baek Unhwi gazed into the darkness beyond Yeonmu Hall.
“Those three—did the Pungcheon Merchant Group send them?”
So Ryang fell silent.
Their martial arts had no clear origin. They hadn’t revealed their full strength. Their techniques didn’t match any school he could identify. And the synthetic Blood Ice Jade.
Baek Unhwi continued quietly.
“There’s something behind the Pungcheon.”
Just then, Byeok Soyeon tapped on the sleeping quarters door.
“My father wishes to speak with you. Please, come with me.”
Inside the sleeping quarters.
Byeok Jingang sat on the bed waiting for Baek Unhwi.
As Baek Unhwi entered, Byeok Jingang spoke.
“Sit.”
Baek Unhwi settled into his seat.
Byeok Jingang regarded him for a moment, then slowly extended his hand.
“I didn’t catch it earlier.”
It was a weathered, callused hand—one that had wielded falcons and gripped swords, that had steered a clan through decades.
Baek Unhwi clasped it. It was warm.
“The Baek Unhwi Merchant Group and the Bicho Byeok Clan.”
Byeok Jingang pressed the signet of the Bicho Byeok Clan into his palm—the symbol carved with a great roc—and spoke in low, measured tones.
“We walk together now.”

[Notification: Bicho Byeok Clan acquisition and merger agreement concluded.]
[Messenger Falcon network and Brilliant Falcon operational rights integrated into portfolio.]
[Jungyeon logistics information network expansion foundation secured.]
[Subsidiary integration above a certain threshold satisfies the conditions for opening Daecheon Capital Corp’s 3-Star tier.]
[2-Star: Senior Merchant → 3-Star: Great Senior Merchant]
[Privilege: Consolidated Internal Portfolio. Subsidiary characteristics (subordinate sects) are now integrated into your internal power portfolio.]

Within Baek Unhwi’s dantian, a cool azure radiance began seeping into his golden internal power.
Baek Unhwi clenched and unclenched his fist, feeling the energy—crisp as a mountain breeze.
‘My body feels lighter somehow. I almost feel like I could take flight.’
Byeok Jingang, who had been watching him quietly, asked a question.
“Those who attacked today—were they from the Pungcheon Merchant Group?”
“Pungcheon was certainly involved.”
Baek Unhwi paused briefly.
“But those three from earlier—as you yourself saw—they didn’t display any distinctive technique forms, and it seemed they didn’t reveal everything they possessed. Yet despite that, they were masters of considerable skill······.”
“Right. They didn’t seem like the sort of people a mere merchant group would hire. It suggests there’s a far more powerful force standing behind Pungcheon.”
“Yes.”
Byeok Jingang’s gaze darkened.
Baek Unhwi added quietly.
“And the artificial Blood Ice Jade.”
He continued slowly.
“To my knowledge, there are scarcely any places in all of Jungyeon capable of crafting such a thing. And truthfully, I’ve seen one before.”
Byeok Jingang started in surprise and pressed him.
“Where did you see it?”
Baek Unhwi was about to speak.
Tap-tap-tap—!
The urgent scratching of talons sounded at the window.
Byeok Soyeon hurried to open it. A priority Messenger Falcon flew in with a note fastened to its foot.
She unfolded the message.
“Senior Merchant.”
Baek Unhwi turned his head.
“It’s from the Geumshin Pawnshop.”
Byeok Soyeon extended the note.
Only two lines were written on it.

[There is important information concerning the artificial Blood Ice Jade that we need to discuss. Come to the Geumshin Pawnshop as soon as possible. -Seo Harin-]

The handwriting was unmistakably Seo Harin’s.
“How fortunate, Clan Head—contact has come from precisely where I last saw an artificial Blood Ice Jade. We should head down immediately. So Ryang, inform Dang Soyou and prepare to leave at once.”
“What? I thought we’d finally get a moment’s rest, but this is getting relentless.”
Leaving Byeok Jingang and Byeok Soyeon watching with concern in their eyes, Baek Unhwi and So Ryang left the room.

* * *

The mountain path descending to Nakyang was silent.
It was still early dawn, the darkness unbroken by torches. Baek Unhwi’s party moved through it—his steps lighter now despite his injuries, a gift of the Bicho Byeok Clan’s internal power characteristics. Behind him, So Ryang clutched at tree branches, breathing heavily, while Dang Soyou strolled along at his usual leisurely pace, following from a distance as though taking a walk.
Baek Unhwi was silent. The letter from Seo Harin, folded in his breast pocket, seemed to brush against his fingertips.

Concerning the Blood Ice Jade.

That phrase would not leave his mind.
‘Seo Harin knows.’
He remembered the first time he’d seen that blood-red pearl at the Geumshin Pawnshop. The collateral she’d presented. Baek Unhwi had graded it as defective, and the inspection counter had been replaced on the spot. Had she been sniffing out something suspicious even then, tracking it all this way?
Just then, So Ryang leaned in beside him, speaking low.
“I can’t tell if hearing from Seo Harin is good news or bad.”
“Probably both.”
“What do you mean?”
“The information itself is good. But the reason we’re getting it doesn’t sit right. Let’s stop by the Baek Unhwi Merchant Group first, then head straight to the Geumshin Pawnshop.”
“Me too? I can’t go any further. My legs are giving out—I can barely walk! You slave driver.”
“Hmm? Sounds like your lower body needs more conditioning. Pungcheon would be hurt to hear that. And ‘slave driver’? What are you talking about? You hold shares in this partnership too, partner.”
So Ryang shot Baek Unhwi a glare and pressed his lips shut.

Acquiring the Martial World Through Gold Episode 26

Author
Song Jjoun-bol
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Yoon Tae-ri
Cover
Sik

UCI
G720:N+A036-20260907057.0026

ⓒ2026, Song Jjoun-bol

※ This e-book is a work protected by the copyright law of the Republic of Korea.
Without the permission of the author and publisher, no part or all of this work may be reprocessed in any form.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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