Chapter 336: Chapter 336

“You are saying they are nowhere to be seen?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Hmm…”

Yun Gong half-opened his eyes and swallowed a groan.

The members of the Hunan Dan Family were nowhere to be seen. He had thought they would naturally go to Hong Won-chang’s house if kicked out, but they could not be found, as if their traces had vanished.

This was a very bad thing.

“One must never take one’s eyes off a wild beast…”

A wild beast, whose time, place, and manner of attack were unknown, was something whose every move had to be watched. Was that not why he had tried to capture the Hao Sect Clan Leader, who was the most troublesome obstacle, first?

Yun Gong glanced at Ja Hak-sang.

He was seen standing blankly, acting as if nothing were wrong.

Yun Gong frowned and let out a sigh.

“Whew, it will not cause any immediate trouble, so it will be fine. More importantly, what happened to your subordinates?”

“They arrived near Yueyang a few days ago.”

“I see.”

Those who secretly protected the Myriad Gold Merchant Group.

They were skilled in horsemanship and could handle any weapon naturally. Moreover, because their nature was savage, they had no qualms about killing people, regardless of gender or age.

They were notorious within the guild for being secretive and terrifying, to the extent that they were always mobilized whenever clean-up was needed for the guild’s affairs.

The one at the center of them was Ja Hak-sang.

Although he usually wore an indifferent expression, he was a man of a more cruel and rough personality than anyone else.

Yun Gong smiled.

“What about the Green Forest bandits?”

“We cut down every last one of them.”

He nodded with a satisfied expression.

It was Yun Gong who had utilized the Green Forest bandits.

But as always, Yun Gong did not leave any loose ends.

Since the purpose from the beginning was to draw out the man named Dan Woo-hyun from here, and they had achieved it, the Green Forest bandits were no longer needed.

They could be discarded at any time, and he felt no guilt over it.

“But are you not paying too much attention to that man named Dan Woo-hyun?”

Ja Hak-sang asked with a puzzled expression.

In fact, this Yueyang affair was an order received from the current family head. It was a place where the Myriad Gold Merchant Group had lost its influence, and it was still causing many losses.

Thus, it was merely part of the effort to reclaim it, so Yun Gong’s cautiousness was truly beyond comprehension.

“He is a man who has led a family all by himself. Furthermore, considering everything that has occurred in Yueyang, he can by no means be called ordinary. The best way is to proceed with the work while excluding such unstable factors.”

“Then would it not be better to just kill him…?”

In Ja Hak-sang’s expression, a question arose as to why they did not do so. Indeed, in an event like this, it would have been enough to sweep away the Hunan Dan Family using Ja Hak-sang and his subordinates.

Since the matter would be resolved cleanly without leaving any loose ends, there seemed to be no faster way to recover influence in Hunan than that.

“The fact that their strength is formidable is what bothers me.”

“Is it to that extent?”

“Haha, you have a tendency to look down on people too much.”

Ja Hak-sang always looked down on his opponents as being one or two steps below him. While this was due to the confidence he possessed, it was also because he had never failed a mission, except for a single time.

“Demon Heaven Lord… or Gunjageom, I know well of their strength through rumors. That they are comparable to the Seven Stars or Five Emperors. But rumors are…”

“It is good to be confident, but restrain yourself. I do not think it is good to lose you and your subordinates.”

flinch!

Ja Hak-sang looked at Yun Gong with trembling eyes.

This meant, in other words, that there was no chance of winning in a head-on clash with the Hunan Dan Family. Perhaps because it wounded his pride as a martial artist, his eyes flared fiercely.

However, Yun Gong, who had already turned his head, muttered without being able to look at his face.

“Well, then, shall we wrap this up?”

Countless thoughts rose in his mind.

* * *

Prince Geum, Ju Do-gyeom, sat welcoming Prince Yeong. Unlike their usual meeting places, they gathered at the Hunan Dan Family estate, but strangely, the atmosphere was not very good.

Although wine cups were exchanged and they chatted about amicable things, searching and watching each other and applying force even when clinking cups seemed as if they were trying to clarify who was superior.

From Prince Geum’s Estate’s perspective, they would not be very pleased with Prince Yeong, who enjoyed the current Emperor’s favor, and Prince Yeong would also not be pleased with Prince Geum’s Estate, which possessed great military force.

A subtle tension rose between the two facing each other.

“Hahaha, I do not know how long it has been since the two of us shared a drink like this.”

“Is that so? I believe we met last time as well. Was it during the Martial Arts Grand Tournament…?”

“…”

Prince Geum’s complexion stiffened in an instant.

It was because he was made to recall something he did not want to think about. Although Prince Yeong’s face was smiling, he clearly irritated and provoked Prince Geum.

Prince Geum frowned slightly as he gulped down his drink.

‘Why is this fellow here?’

Prince Yeong was of a personality that extremely disliked bothersome matters. He was also famous for not backing any family or sect, which was because he feared there might be those who would run wild like monkeys using the name of Prince Yeong’s Estate.

Such a Prince Yeong came to find Prince Geum?

Even though they had not informed anyone that the people of Prince Geum’s Estate were here, he had appeared before them as if he had grasped everything, which was highly perplexing from Prince Geum’s perspective.

Even worse, Zhuge Un was by Prince Yeong’s side.

That alone made Prince Geum feel considerably anxious. In the end, Prince Geum resolved to test Prince Yeong’s intentions.

“Haha, I suppose there are times like this and times like that. But what brings you here at such a late hour? I heard that you are busy as you have to go up to Beijing soon.”

“Of course. Because His Majesty the Emperor called for me personally. Hahaha.”

At the word “personally,” Prince Geum’s face wrinkled.

The Emperor had not summoned anyone from any other prince’s estate. Hearing that the Emperor summoned only Prince Yeong personally made him feel a sense of exclusion for no reason, and he felt anxious as if more power were being shifted to Prince Yeong’s Estate.

Furthermore, he was curious about the reason.

Prince Geum leaned forward slightly and asked.

“So, do you know what the reason is?”

“Haha.”

Prince Yeong smiled.

It was a laugh that escaped him without his realizing it the moment he saw the other’s expression. Only then did Prince Geum also recall his situation, blushing as he straightened his posture.

But since he had already shown a pathetic sight, there was no turning back.

A mocking smile formed at the corner of Prince Yeong’s mouth.

“I do not know in detail, but… would it not be because of that matter?”

“That… matter?”

Because he spoke in an evasive manner with an unclear meaning, perplexity settled on Prince Geum’s face. It was because no matter how much he thought, nothing in particular came to mind.

“There are rumors recently that several officials have gathered in small groups to embezzle money. I suppose he wishes to discuss that… would that not be the case?”

Prince Yeong’s gaze turned toward Prince Geum.

The steady gaze made it look as if he knew everything.

Who would not know? That countless officials following Prince Geum’s Estate embezzled that money to offer it to the estate.

Prince Geum invested that money into the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, and the guild in turn accumulated immense wealth for Prince Geum.

Since this was not something that had occurred just a year or two ago, and he had been at ease because they had not been caught, Prince Geum’s face turned pale.

However, to avoid showing it as much as possible, he leaned back in his chair and exhaled, “Whew, “

“Is… is that so? Were there such wicked fellows?”

“Yes, because I was conducting an investigation under orders, I have obtained most of the list. With just that… no matter who it is, their head will roll.”

tremble.

Prince Geum’s hands began to tremble.

If this matter was exposed, it would not affect him alone. Not to mention those involved in this affair, even the Myriad Gold Merchant Group would not escape the blame.

Moreover, their families could also lose their heads, so it was by no means a situation to laugh about.

Prince Geum looked at Prince Yeong’s face.

His expression, wearing a sneer, seemed to know all the inside story.

‘Should I kill him?’

Prince Geum’s mind ran through such thoughts. If only it could be done secretly, sending even Prince Yeong to his grave was an easy matter.

That was, if they utilized the power possessed by Prince Geum’s Estate and the Myriad Gold Merchant Group.

Thud!

At that moment, Zhuge Un quietly set something down on the table.

At that sound, Prince Geum snapped out of his thoughts and jerked his head up. What Zhuge Un set down was tea that seemed to have been reheated just a moment ago.

“Please drink. They say it clears the mind.”

“Th, thank you.”

Zhuge Un’s gaze pierced right through Prince Geum. As if he knew better than anyone else what the prince was thinking, Prince Geum shrank back involuntarily under his gaze.

His expression looked as if even if Prince Geum sent an assassin, that entire process was already in his head.

Soon, Prince Yeong spoke.

“By the way… in the process of investigating that list, there was an interesting name…”

Prince Yeong looked at Prince Geum with a crooked expression.

The moment he received that gaze, Prince Geum realized that he could no longer escape.

“Sp, spare me! Please! Of… of course I received it, but I did… did not use it for anything bad.”

“Haha, you also received a large sum of money from Yun Gong of the Myriad Gold Merchant Group recently, did you not?”

These words came from Zhuge Un. Prince Yeong also widened his eyes in surprise, as if he did not know that.

Soon, he clicked his tongue.

“Oh dear… was taking this manor also because of that, Prince? This is not something to simply laugh about…”

“N, no… this is…”

Prince Geum swallowed hard.

He had indeed received a large sum of money recently. Since it was an affair that troubled the Hunan Dan Family, which was already an eyesore, he had aimed to kill two birds with one stone by receiving money and taking revenge.

But to think that it would return to him in this manner.

In a situation where there was already a list of him receiving bribes, if it was discovered that he had processed affairs after receiving money again, the heads of his three generations might be cut off.

The cold sweat trickling down Prince Geum did not seem to stop.

“N, no, that is not it. I, I just thought this manor looked so good that I paid money to lease it for a while. Is that not so?”

Prince Geum hurriedly searched his robes.

A thick stack of banknotes popped out. At the amount that was hard to even guess, Prince Yeong and Zhuge Un shook their heads.

However, as if he had no intention of refusing, Zhuge Un accepted it.

For a moment, a look of regret flashed in Prince Geum’s eyes, but he quickly hid his expression, perhaps conscious of Prince Yeong.

‘With this, the gift to give to Family Head Dan is complete…’

Zhuge Un approached Prince Geum with a dumbfounded smile. Since he had begun, he had to see it through. Even if the man was a prince ruling a province, he could not escape Zhuge Un’s grasp.

He quietly whispered into Prince Geum’s ear.

“It is still a bit insufficient.”

“Wh, what?”

Prince Geum was flustered by the words he heard.

Even though he had given this much money, they said it was insufficient? The money Zhuge Un took was a fortune that ordinary people would find hard to touch in their entire lives.

But Zhuge Un did not care in the least.

He simply pressed Prince Geum with a smile.

“You must tell me. Where did you meet them… what did you hear from them… Think of that as the lifeline that will keep your neck attached.”

Prince Geum trembled at the subsequent words.

It was a resentment toward himself having to make an unavoidable choice to survive, and his situation of being threatened by a mere trash-like martial artist.

Prince Geum glared fiercely at Zhuge Un.

But Zhuge Un only smiled more deeply and said nothing further.

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