Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 81

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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 81. Self-Control is in My Heart (1)

“There are many.”

“That’s right.”

Seok Woong’s face was full of vigor. Even though he must not be resting well due to all the work, he looked overflowing with energy instead.

“Most of them are businesses that were under Ten Swords Gate’s management. They’re not particularly large in scale though.”

“Large-scale businesses would be burdensome for us.”

“That’s right.”

More than ten businesses had cut ties with Ten Swords Gate and extended their hands to the Moyong Family.

The conditions were even favorable. Since they hadn’t fulfilled their contract terms, they should have to pay hefty penalties, yet they were pushing forward to join hands with the Moyong Family even at great cost.

“By any chance, won’t Ten Swords Gate harm them?”

Even in this situation, she was worried about them instead.

Seok Woong smiled and shook his head.

“I was concerned about that aspect too, but it probably won’t happen.”

“Why is that?”

“Public opinion toward Ten Swords Gate is at its worst. In this situation, if they harm merchants who are paying penalties to break their deals, would anyone want to contract with Ten Swords Gate in the future?”

“That’s true.”

“Large-scale businesses might be different. But these are small merchants. Since they’re in relatively weak positions, it’s even harder to touch them.”

“Furthermore, considering Ten Swords Gate’s wealth, it might not be such a big blow.”

“That’s right.”

Moyong Su Jeong, who had been examining the letters and documents once more, tilted her head.

“Still, the conditions are too good.”

Meaning they might have some ulterior motive.

She was considerate but made sure to be suspicious when necessary. She was someone who clearly distinguished between public and private matters.

“We’ll have to meet them directly and talk to know for sure, but I personally investigated the past and current situations of three of these places.”

There was a reason why Seok Woong had been running around with his feet on fire lately.

“These are businesses that made almost forced contracts with Ten Swords Gate. And they contracted under quite unfavorable conditions. It was fine since no one dared touch them because they were associated with Ten Swords Gate, but now the situation has changed.”

“I see.”

“This is all thanks to Young Master.”

There were many merchants who were already exhausted by Ten Swords Gate’s tyranny that wasn’t quite tyranny.

In the midst of this, Moyong Bi had directly defeated Hwang Gyu, and in that process, Ten Swords Gate’s disgraceful behavior was exposed in broad daylight.

The seeds of distrust that had been hidden began to properly sprout.

“But why us instead of the Hong Clan Sword Family? Even though the family head and his two sons died, they should still possess tremendous power.”

“They probably had many concerns. After all, there are rumors that they’re caught up in internal strife, and the Hong Clan Sword Family itself is a martial family that doesn’t engage much in external activities.”

“We’ll need to consider that aspect when we have conversations.”

“That’s right.”

There were more things to worry about, but it was also a good thing. It meant the Moyong Family’s influence had grown.

“I’ve been monitoring the marketplace atmosphere daily lately. That’s how I found out that the merchants’ favorability toward our main family is much higher than we thought.”

“Much higher?”

“Young Master accomplished such a great feat, didn’t he? The merchants and residents were practically living while constantly dealing with Black Tiger Gang or Ten Swords Gate swordsmen.”

It was Moyong Bi who solved that problem. They must truly feel like a painful tooth had been pulled out.

“Still, merchants are people who seek profit. They wouldn’t unconditionally try to make deals just because their favorability is high. They probably assessed our main family’s potential.”

“Potential?”

“Young Master, I mean. At that age, he overwhelmed Hwang Gyu, who was considered the best in Wuhan, didn’t he? They might have predicted that our main family’s power will grow exponentially in the future.”

There are merchants who want to minimize risk and gain stable profits, and there are merchants who are willing to take risks to generate high profits.

In other words, those currently trying to curry favor with the Moyong Family were likely the latter type.

Moyong Su Jeong smiled.

It was a smile that looked both pleased and somewhat bitter.

“It’s burdensome. If we’re talking about our main family’s military strength, it’s practically just Bi Ah alone.”

Of course, she and Su Hyang were also earnestly learning martial arts. The Fire Sword Group was the same.

However, their martial arts weren’t yet at a level that could be recognized by others.

Especially herself, wasn’t she mainly practicing mental cultivation methods because of her blocked meridians? It might be better than before, but it was hard to consider it immediately available military strength.

“Family Head.”

“Yes, Chief Administrator.”

“I’m just a person whose head is full of book learning, and after the former family head passed away, I was an incompetent person who was desperately trying to maintain the family’s livelihood, so there’s much I don’t know.”

Moyong Su Jeong was greatly flustered by his sudden words.

“What are you saying? If Chief Administrator hadn’t been here, our main family would have collapsed long ago.”

“But even someone like me knows something.”

Seok Woong’s face, which had been full of joy, immediately became serious.

“Moyong’s martial arts are the best.”

“…!”

“Of course, I know nothing about martial arts. But I know that Moyong is the best. Do you know why?”

“….”

“Because I witnessed firsthand how magnificently our main family’s warriors, who were like dragons and tigers in those days, rampaged against the entire world.”

It was something she had heard occasionally. Indeed, except for Guo Lao, Seok Woong was the only one who had experienced those times.

But the words she heard then and the words she was hearing now had a completely different atmosphere.

Back then, it was closer to words meant to give pride to the Moyong bloodline who were struggling with reality. It was like encouragement that the descendants of such a great family would overcome difficulties well.

Now it was different.

Seok Woong’s eyes and voice contained a belief that went beyond sincerity, almost like faith.

“The previous clan master and the elder who served as the former Martial Alliance Leader were also remarkable. Without those two, the Moyong Family Estate wouldn’t have been able to spread its wings.”

“….”

“Under the teachings and efforts of those two, every warrior of our main family was elite without exception. Having learned Moyong’s martial arts, they raced through Jianghu of that time and shook the world.”

Even hearing the same words again made her heart race.

“A legendary martial monk from Shaolin once called our main family the ‘Ascending Martial God Family.’ It means a family of martial gods who can soar at any time, even if they’re knocked down and stuck in mud.”

Seok Woong smiled again.

That confident smile was enough to put Moyong Su Jeong’s heart at ease.

“Please believe. Family Head and Young Miss will surely become masters.”

“I can only hope that will be the case.”

“And don’t we have treasures that could serve as another opportunity for advancement?”

“Ah.”

Moyong Su Jeong turned her head to one side.

The brilliant treasures that were neatly stacked because she still didn’t know how to handle them, treasures that were still burdensome to even unfold and look at.

That’s when it happened.

“Elder Sister! Elder Sister!”

A booming voice could be heard from beyond the door.

“It’s Bi Ah. Come in….”

Clang!

Moyong Bi, who had flung open the door as if to break it, snorted like a wild boar.

“Elder Sister! The prize money for the junior tournament is incredible, isn’t it?!”

Moyong Su Jeong blinked.

“Prize money?”

“Prize money! One hundred thousand nyang!”

“What is that….”

Seok Woong, who had been flustered by Moyong Bi’s merciless charge, came to his senses faster than Moyong Su Jeong, befitting an experienced chief administrator.

“He seems to be talking about the prize money for winning the Hubei Junior Tournament.”

“Ah!”

Moyong Bi, who had been snorting and breathing heavily, soon took a deep breath.

Seok Woong’s calm tone had cooled down his burning fervor somewhat.

“That’s right. I’m talking about the tournament’s prize money.”

“Young Master, are you perhaps thinking of participating?”

“The prize money was one hundred thousand nyang, wasn’t it? If it was one hundred thousand nyang back then, they’ll give even more now!”

Seok Woong flinched.

In the eyes of the Young Master who was smiling at him, a madness more intense than the sun was blazing.

People called that madness greed.

“Th-there is that possibility.”

“We can get one hundred thousand nyang without robbing or stealing! There’s no reason not to participate!”

“…That’s true, isn’t it? If only we can win.”

“Of course we’ll win! One hundred thousand nyang would be like rain in a drought for our poor household!”

Seok Woong became a little dejected. Though it was all due to his own incompetence, as someone who had managed that poor household, it was a statement that couldn’t help but sting.

But true to his nature as an experienced Chief Administrator, he was quick to manage his expression.

“Certainly, if such a large sum as one hundred thousand nyang comes in, it would be a great help. The money Young Master robbed… no, legitimately obtained from the Black Tiger Gang… anyway, that 170,000 nyang is tied up in business matters.”

“Exactly!”

Moyong Bi whipped his head around.

He was so enthusiastic that his neck made a crack! sound, but he didn’t seem to feel even a fingernail’s worth of pain.

“Martial arts are good, but money is important too. Especially money – the more the better! We absolutely cannot miss this golden opportunity! Got it, Elder Sister?!”

“Of course that’s true, but.”

Moyong Su Jeong unconsciously let out a cough.

This was the first time she’d seen her younger brother so overheated, so she didn’t know how to react.

“But why are you suddenly so obsessed with money?”

“What did you say?!”

“I, I mean… of course it’s good to have money, but I thought maybe you could calm down a bit.”

That wasn’t what she wanted to say, but her younger brother’s aura was so intense she could only tell him to be calm.

Moyong Bi slammed both hands down on the table.

With a bang! the documents on the table jumped up.

“Elder Sister.”

His suddenly lowered voice was reminiscent of a bear’s roar echoing from some cave.

“Martial arts can be solved with time. Right, isn’t that so?”

“Right?”

“How do we solve money?”

“…Business?”

“Business is important. But have you ever heard this saying?”

“What?”

“Money calls money!”

Moyong Su Jeong glanced at Seok Woong.

Seok Woong nodded with a reluctant expression.

“Of course there is such a saying… but as far as I know, it has a slightly different meaning…”

“Whatever the case, we need lots of money!”

“Young Master’s words are correct. So please calm down…”

“Chief Administrator, and Elder Sister. No, Family Head!”

He was excited, but not thoughtless.

Moyong Bi’s face was serious. If only his face wasn’t flushed bright red, the two of them might have been able to take him a bit more seriously.

“Being calm is good. We should test even a stone bridge before crossing it, right? But if you have the skill to leap across in one bound without stepping on the stone bridge? There’s no need to even be calm.”

It was a strange analogy, but it wasn’t wrong either, so the two nodded as if entranced.

“Can you stay calm when a murderer is chasing you with a sword from far away? No. But what if there’s a cannon in front of me? Even if murderers come charging by the cartload, there’s nothing to fear. Why? Because I can blow them all away!”

“…?”

“Only people with plenty of time and money can afford to be calm. Time and money are power! The faster the better, the more the better. Right, isn’t that so?”

If they said no, he looked ready to really charge at them.

“Right.”

“Elder Sister.”

Moyong Bi grinned.

“Let’s take this tournament.”

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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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