"First of all, until we're absolutely sure they've given up, no one is to leave the main estate unattended. At the very least, Father and the key household members must take Warrior Jang with them whenever they go out."
"Then won't that affect our business operations?"
"If there's business, send letters or dispatch messengers. Also, strengthen defenses at the business sites themselves. Hire additional guards with money if you must."
In truth, this was only a temporary measure that could work because their enemies weren't that formidable.
If the enemy's strength had been overwhelming, they could simply attack the businesses one by one and crush them separately.
"Hmm… I see. Do you think that will be enough?"
"No. Up to this point, it's only buying us time. Now we need a fundamental solution."
"A fundamental solution?"
"We need to find out who's targeting us. Interrogate the ones we captured and trace it back, piece by piece."
At Cheon Myeong-hak's question, Cheon Woo-ha's eyes flashed sharply as he continued:
"Buy off the information brokers. Something is bound to turn up."
"And once you've identified who they are, then what?"
"That's obvious—"
"…"
"Well… at the very least, knowing is safer than being in the dark."
Cheon Woo-ha, realizing he had almost said too much, diverted his answer.
Cheon Myeong-hak opened his mouth to ask more, but Woo-ha quickly cut him off before he could press further.
"And even if it's difficult, we need to sign a protection contract as soon as possible—with one of the sects that has influence in Xi'an."
"I agree. But it won't be easy. The other sects hesitate, wary of the Jong-ui Gate."
"We still have to make it happen. Otherwise, this will happen again and again. Even if it's not the same group, there will always be others looking to prey on the Yongmyeong Merchant Guild."
"…I understand what you mean."
Having listened to Woo-ha's explanation, Cheon Myeong-hak nodded with a resolute expression.
"Never again will such an incident happen to the Yongmyeong Guild."
"Yes, it won't happen again."
Without fail.
And thus, another unusually noisy night at the Yongmyeong Merchant Guild slowly passed.
"Damn it…! You fools!"
KWAANG!
Hearing the report, the burly man Geoung-do Cheolpae smashed down a massive stone table with his huge saber.
Stone fragments flew everywhere, making Gal Pyeong—kneeling before him—flinch.
"You can't even handle a mere merchant guild, and you let things get to this point?!"
"M-my apologies!"
Thud.
The pale-faced Gal Pyeong slammed his forehead onto the ground, bearing the brunt of Geoung-do's fury.
"The young guild master's martial ability was far beyond expectation! And the guards too—they were nothing like ordinary merchant bodyguards—"
"Silence! Who asked you for excuses?!"
Thud. Thud.
Grab.
Geoung-do lumbered forward, seized the back of Gal Pyeong's neck, and lifted him off the ground.
Dangling in midair, Gal Pyeong found himself staring into the man's murderous eyes.
"I care nothing for the excuses of the defeated. Only results matter. You dare come back to me, with that broken body, hoping to live?"
"Kh…! P-please, just listen! I—I came back to deliver information!"
"What? Information?"
"T-the Mad Blood Sword… he was defeated completely. If we charge in for revenge head-on…"
"Heh… What? You think I'd lose too? To a brat like that?"
Geoung-do sneered, as if the idea was laughable.
Gal Pyeong frantically shook his pale head.
"N-no! But at the very least, we'd suffer heavy losses. And that is not what we want, is it?"
"…"
"Give me a chance. Even without a frontal clash, there are countless ways to squeeze money out of them! Within a few days, I'll find a way to make up for this failure. I swear it!"
"…Hmph."
Geoung-do paused, seemingly weighing his words.
Then, with a flick, he hurled Gal Pyeong to the ground.
Whip.
Crash!
"Ugh! Cough! Cough!"
"You're right."
Geoung-do nodded as he looked down at the coughing Gal Pyeong.
"If the losses outweigh the gains, it's not business. Stake your life on it, and bring me results."
"O-of course! Leave it to me!"
Relieved to still be alive, Gal Pyeong's face lit up as he repeatedly bowed.
Ignoring him, Geoung-do sank back into his stone chair and spoke lazily:
"Clear away the broken pieces and prepare something new."
"Yes!"
At once, the guards along the wall moved in perfect unison, cleaning up the shattered table.
Meanwhile, the blade of Geoung-do's saber—still sharp enough to have smashed stone to dust—glimmered menacingly.
The news that the Yongmyeong Guild's main house had been attacked by demonic cultivators spread quickly through Xi'an.
When word spread that the young guild master, Cheon Woo-ha, had personally led the defense, onlookers in the city grew restless with excitement.
There had already been rumors that Woo-ha had defeated Jong-ui Gate's So-un in a duel, but people had dismissed it at the time—assuming it was just a talented youth catching a genius off guard.
But now, hearing that he had thwarted an actual demonic raid, people began to reassess those rumors.
"Did you hear about the attack on the Yongmyeong Guild?"
"Of course. I heard the young guild master himself fought off the demonic mob!"
"Really? Do you know who was among those attackers?"
"…Huh? Was there someone notable?"
"Don't be shocked. According to an information broker, the Mad Blood Sword—the same one who shook Xi'an three years ago—was captured alive."
"What?! That murderous lunatic, the one obsessed with blood?!"
"That's what they say. I even had to buy drinks for my source just to hear it."
"Good heavens…"
Once it was confirmed that the man defeated and captured by Cheon Woo-ha had once been the infamous Mad Blood Sword, public opinion of both him and the Yongmyeong Guild skyrocketed.
So much so that Woo-ha was now being named as one of the most promising talents of his generation in Xi'an.
Merchants who had hesitated to deal with the guild—fearful of Jong-ui Gate's influence—now began to reconsider, seeking to restore ties.
Contrary to Jong-ui Gate's intentions, everything was turning into an unexpected blessing for the Yongmyeong Guild.
Swoosh.
Dawn's first light.
Cheon Woo-ha's wooden practice sword cut smoothly through the air.
At first glance it was the same downward stroke as always—but he could tell something was different.
'The tremor is smaller.'
There was no such thing as a perfect sword path.
One could only strive endlessly to get closer to perfection.
Since beginning to temper his body, Woo-ha's swordsmanship had advanced rapidly.
The results had shown clearly in his recent battle with the intruders.
'If it had been before, it wouldn't have been that easy.'
Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't have won.
The leader, the so-called Mad Blood Sword, was about on par with that So-un brat, while the others were no stronger than Jang Uibo or Cho Mudo.
But before, it would have been far more difficult to fend off all three at once and still land precise counterattacks.
In the end, no matter how differently one saw the world, it was still the body that carried it out.
'Getting accustomed to the sword has helped as well.'
In his past life, his martial arts had centered on body techniques and qi cultivation.
Specifically, the Seven Destructive Arts of Breaking the Soul, the most fearsome of demonic martial arts.
So when he first took up the sword in this life, it had felt awkward—like fighting with his hands and feet bound.
To rely only on a blade felt like a huge restriction.
But ever since his duel with So-un, he had practiced the sword steadily.
Now, the initial discomfort was gone, and he was finally getting the hang of it.
'That should be enough for today.'
While he was lost in thought, the sweat dripping from his brow had already cooled in the dawn breeze.
Though it was earlier than usual, perhaps resting a little more now and then wouldn't hurt.
Just as Woo-ha turned to leave, feeling satisfied with his progress—
Tadat!
"…Chief Steward?"
"Ah, Young Guild Master!"
Woo-ha, stepping off the training grounds, spotted the Chief Steward rushing toward him.
"You seem busy so early in the morning?"
"Haha, yes. I have some business farther out today, so I was hurrying."
"Farther out, again?"
"Yes, but this time it's for good news."
The steward's face brightened as he continued excitedly:
"A while ago, the Spear Sword Sect rejected our request for a protection contract. But yesterday, they sent a letter saying they wanted to reconsider the terms."
"Is that so?"
"And not only them. Two sects on Xi'an's outskirts have sent similar requests. If we compare all three sets of terms, we should be able to secure a protection contract under favorable conditions."
"That's fortunate."
A faint smile touched Woo-ha's lips.
"If this works out, it will be a great relief."
"Yes, I think so too."
The steward nodded with a smile.
But then his expression shifted, and he bowed respectfully.
"Thank you. It's all thanks to you, Young Master."
"Suddenly?"
"By repelling this attack, you showed everyone that the Yongmyeong Guild has its own defensive power. That drew the interest of the sects on the outskirts, free from Jong-ui Gate's influence. They judged that protecting the Yongmyeong Guild would be possible without committing excessive resources."
"…"
"You've accomplished something truly great. As the Chief Steward, I must express my gratitude."
"…There's no need for thanks."
Woo-ha shook his head.
"As you said, I am the Young Master of the Yongmyeong Guild."
"Haha, that's true."
The steward chuckled warmly, then gave a final bow.
"Then I'll be off. Please, don't overexert yourself with training."
"I'll keep that in mind. Oh, and if you're going far, take a few guards with you. It might be dangerous."
"Yes, the Guild Master already arranged for that."
"Good. Then travel safely."
"Yes, Young Master."
The steward hurried away, leaving Woo-ha deep in thought.
'…Gratitude.'
It felt strange.
In his past life, surely he must have heard words of thanks at some point—
'Thank you for sparing me, Young Leader!'
'Thank you for forgiving me, Young Leader!'
'Thank you for trusting me, Young Lea—'
…No. Those hadn't been the same.
A wry smile touched Woo-ha's lips at the memories.
'How strange.'
He, once hailed as the Black Heaven Gang's hope and the future of the demonic path, had never truly received genuine thanks.
The people who thanked him then had all done so out of fear.
He might act on his own whims just as he had before, but this time the results were different.
'Is it I who changed, or the world around me?'
Either way, he did not find the change unpleasant.
Woo-ha shook his head to clear his thoughts and raised his wooden sword once more.
Swoosh.
His training resumed, the same simple movements repeated again and again.
The idea of resting early was already forgotten.
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