Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 3. Moyong Noble Family (2)

“Cough, cough!”

Moyong Su Jeong, who had been coughing violently for a while, brought a neatly folded handkerchief to her mouth.

“Cough! Hack!”

After catching her breath a few times, she looked down at the handkerchief.

The blood stains on the handkerchief looked like red ink spilled on snow.

Quietly looking down at the handkerchief, she folded it neatly, wiped the corners of her mouth several times, and placed it back where it had been.

Moyong Su Jeong took a sip of the completely cooled medicinal tea and turned her gaze back to the documents.

How much time had passed like that?

“Family Head, it’s Chief Manager Seok.”

“Come in.”

The door to the Family Head’s Office opened and Seok Woong entered.

“I apologize for interrupting your work. There’s something to report…”

“Before that, there’s something to correct.”

“Pardon? Ah!”

Seok Woong bowed his head once more.

“I apologize, Acting Family Head.”

Moyong Su Jeong nodded with an expressionless face.

“I’ve told you several times, but I am the acting head of the Main Family House. Please don’t forget that.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Though he said that, Moyong Su Jeong knew how smart and wise Seok Woong was.

He was deliberately calling her Family Head. As a way of saying it would be fine for her to take on the position of family head now.

Of course, she had no intention of doing so.

“What’s the matter?”

A small shadow crossed Seok Woong’s face.

“Great Dragon Iron Workshop has contacted us saying they want to cut off trade with the Main Family House.”

“I see.”

Despite it being quite shocking news, Moyong Su Jeong remained unshaken.

Her pale face clearly showed signs of illness, and her slender body was like a willow branch that would sway in even a gentle breeze. Yet the reason one could feel an inviolable authority from her was probably due to this coldness and composure.

“According to the contract termination clause, Great Dragon Iron Workshop has agreed to send five hundred taels of silver.”

“By when did they say they’d send it?”

“They didn’t mention that, but since the contract specifies within forty-five days after termination, it will come within the deadline.”

Even as he spoke, Seok Woong recalled the face of the former owner of Great Dragon Iron Workshop.

He was someone who had said ingratiatingly that there would never be a reason to break off trade, so how about just writing down roughly a month or so.

Seok Woong didn’t even smile at that moment and immediately set it at forty-five days. Because such carelessly handled clauses always lead to regret later.

Whether it should be called fortunate or not, in any case, they would send the compensation for contract termination within forty-five days.

“Forty-five days…”

“Is there something that concerns you?”

“Cutting off trade with us without any particular reason means they have somewhere else to make deals. They would need solid backing too.”

“Do you have any places in mind?”

“It would be either Ten Sword Gate or Hong Clan Sword Family.”

Ten Sword Gate and Hong Clan Sword Family were among the top martial forces near Wuhan in Hubei.

Hong Clan Sword Family was a martial family like the Moyong Noble Family, and Ten Sword Gate, though it took the form of a sect, was closer to a family business.

“Both places have established dealings with various iron workshops, so I wonder if there’s any need to include Great Dragon Iron Workshop.”

Even as he spoke, Seok Woong gazed intently at Moyong Su Jeong. He seemed to be anticipating what kind of response would come from her.

Moyong Su Jeong satisfied Seok Woong’s expectations.

“Aren’t most affairs of the Martial World conducted beneath the surface? Though it was a relationship that would have ended eventually, the timing being right now bothers me.”

“I see.”

“They would at least join hands with an organization more valuable than five hundred taels of silver.”

Seok Woong smiled slightly.

He held Moyong Su Jeong’s insight in high regard. Though she lacked some experience in Jianghu, her natural intelligence and intuition were excellent, making her more than capable of leading a family clan.

“Then we should also look for another iron workshop for now.”

“That’s true, but.”

“There’s no suitable place?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Since there aren’t many warriors at the Main Family House anyway, we should be able to hold out for a while. Let’s start looking from now.”

Though it could have been quite self-deprecating content, there was no wavering in Moyong Su Jeong’s voice.

Seok Woong felt pity in his heart.

‘If the previous family head were still alive.’

Moyong Su Jeong was an outstanding talent.

If the previous family head hadn’t passed away so quickly, perhaps Moyong Su Jeong could have lived freely displaying her talents to the fullest.

‘Though there’s no meaning in lamenting the past that’s already gone…’

A bitter smile appeared on Seok Woong’s face.

‘I really have gotten old.’

In his youth, when the Moyong Noble Family was soaring again in Liaoning Province, he didn’t dwell on the past. Because the present and future were more important than the past.

But whether it was because he had aged, or because of the current situation… he kept thinking of what-ifs.

“What about the other report?”

“Ah, that is…”

Seeing the bewilderment that appeared on Seok Woong’s face, Moyong Su Jeong could tell. This was the real reason the chief steward had come to see her.

“They say the Hubei Rising Generation martial arts tournament has been moved up by more than three months from the originally scheduled date.”

For the first time, Moyong Su Jeong’s expression changed. Though it was only her eyes narrowing slightly.

“What’s the reason?”

“The reason given is that this summer’s floods caused particularly severe damage to civilian homes. The orthodox Martial World poured a lot of manpower and money into relief efforts, didn’t they?”

“What does that have to do with the martial arts tournament being moved up?”

“…They say it’s to boost the morale of the Hubei people.”

It was truly an absurd reason.

At first glance, it might seem like the Martial World dominates the realm, but the Imperial Palace and government officials clearly exist in this land.

Moreover, the actual number of martial artists among the continent’s people doesn’t even reach one percent. Though they make a fuss about Internal Energy and being superhuman, the real owners of this vast land are ordinary common people.

Boosting morale? In the end, it was nothing more than a justification arbitrarily attached by the organizers, and not even a plausible one at that.

“The hosting sect was the Wudang Sect, wasn’t it?”

“That’s correct.”

“It seems something happened on their end.”

“I can’t be certain.”

After pondering for a moment, Moyong Su Jeong nodded her head.

“I understand. Then the martial arts tournament will be in a month.”

“Yes, in Wuhan.”

“Understood.”

Seok Woong asked cautiously.

“By any chance, the Family Head…”

“Shall we discuss that matter separately later?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“You’ve worked hard on external affairs.”

Seok Woong showed his usual reliable smile.

“You’re too kind.”

Moyong Su Jeong looked at him for a moment.

Despite being past his mid-forties and approaching fifty, Seok Woong’s eyes were clear and deep. His hair was graying and his wrinkles were quite deep, but he had such a refined appearance that he could be mistaken for a scholar from a prestigious family anywhere he went.

If it weren’t for Seok Woong, the Family Clan might have closed its doors long ago.

She wanted to bow her head in gratitude every day… but it wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Please do. Ah, wait a moment.”

Moyong Su Jeong asked casually.

“What about Bi?”

“The young master hasn’t returned yet.”

“I see.”

A look of worry crossed her previously cold expression.

But it was only momentary.

“You’ve worked hard. If you have time, shall we have dinner together later?”

“That sounds good.”

With that, Seok Woong left the Family Head’s Office.

Left alone to organize documents, Moyong Su Jeong soon let out a sigh.

“This isn’t easy.”

* * *

“So…”

Moyong Cheon’s voice, stunned by the shock, was even gloomy.

“So it was revealed that Moyong Cheon is actually from the Ho Yeon Clan… and I was forced to change my name to Ho Yeon Cheon?”

He was so confused that he could barely speak.

Jang Gu, who had been sneakily watching his reaction, spoke in a crawling voice.

“Rather than having our name changed, wouldn’t you say we reclaimed our rightful name?”

Moyong Cheon couldn’t even get angry at this nonsensical misinformation.

‘Who the hell are the Ho Yeon Clan?!’

During his time as Alliance Leader, he had received all kinds of information from across the realm, but he had never once heard of a family called the Ho Yeon Family.

‘Are they newly established? But how could a newly established martial family change the surname of the Martial Alliance Leader?’

Nothing about this made sense.

Moyong Cheon, who had been staring blankly into space, suddenly snapped his fingers at a thought that occurred to him.

‘Could it be that I’ve fallen into a Formation Technique? Or perhaps an entirely different world?’

He had heard that among the legendary Formation Techniques of ancient times, there were studies that could trap people in illusions so realistic they seemed genuine. Such techniques were said to be so convincing that even masters of the highest caliber couldn’t detect them.

Thinking it might really be the case, he soon frowned.

‘…That can’t be right.’

Common sense said it was impossible. To fall into such a Formation Technique, you’d have to be alive in the first place, right?

I died spectacularly, didn’t I?

‘Most importantly, I wasn’t soft enough to fall for such Formation Techniques.’

Though this frail body lacked them, back then, having learned my family’s Secret Arts, I was practically invincible against most Formation Techniques and Evil Arts in the world.

To put it bluntly, the reason I could win against Demon Immortal Neung Hyeong was also due to my Secret Arts. Even with Secret Arts I hadn’t fully mastered due to lack of time, I could shatter all of Neung Hyeong’s various Demonic Arts and Strange Learning, so mere Formation Techniques couldn’t affect this body.

Moyong Cheon calmed his mind.

‘That’s right, Elder Brother might still be there.’

During his childhood when he suffered all kinds of abuse for being an illegitimate son, this was the only person who treated him like family—his benefactor.

He was such a kind and good person that despite being the legitimate heir, he nearly lost his chance to become the family head because of him.

‘Twenty-some years… he could very well still be alive.’

Though he felt anxious, he decided to think positively for now.

“Guide me there immediately.”

“Yes! Ah… but what about that bastard Jang Sam?”

“What do I care, you crazy bastard! Why? Want me to knock you out again too?”

“Gasp! No sir! Please follow me!”

And so the two men left the street and headed toward the Moyong Family Estate.

Passersby were shocked at the sight of their disheveled appearance, but the two were in no condition to care about the stares around them.

After following behind Jang Gu for quite a while, Moyong Cheon suddenly asked a question that came to mind, panting heavily.

“By the way, you said your name was Jang Gu?”

“That’s correct.”

“Right, Jang Gu. How much did I borrow from you guys?”

“One hundred silver.”

“…?”

“…”

“One hundred silver?”

“Yes.”

Moyong Cheon dragged Jang Gu back into a nearby alley and beat him mercilessly.

Their journey to the Moyong Family Estate was somewhat delayed.

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