Chapter 59: Darkness Under the Lamp (3)
Chapter 58 – Darkness Under the Lamp (3)
Jin So-hong widened her eyes as if they would tear.
Namgung Cheon chuckled.
“Fortunately, I didn’t guess wrong. I was actually cautious because your name was the same. Was not changing your name because you were that confident?”
Only then did Jin So-hong realize her mistake.
Alas.
She should have controlled her expression.
Even if she was caught, she should have pretended not to know.
She should have looked at him as if asking what on earth he was talking about, but…
‘But because he had pointed it out so accurately, she could not possibly hide her reaction.
Moreover, wasn’t the opponent a cadet of a similar age?
She had never expected a cadet, of all people, to notice so quickly.
‘But if it is Namgung Cheon…’
Was it only natural after all?
Of course, it would be absolutely bizarre if she recalled the Namgung Cheon of just a few months ago.
But considering the Namgung Cheon she had recently seen and experienced, it was not that surprising.
The Gold King.
The man who was said to hold the flow of all funds south of the Yangtze River in his hands.
There were many names to refer to him.
The Gold King, the Merchant King, the Immortal of Myriad Gold, and so on.
But his official title was the Lord of the Myriad Gold Merchant Association.
To the extent that it was said in the south of the Yangtze River, even if one picked up money dropped on the street, they would bow to the Gold King.
That was how much money passed through his hands.
Since it was said that the Emperor himself had once visited the Gold King because he had so much money, didn’t that say it all?
Unlike the shocked Jin So-hong, Namgung Cheon continued speaking with a calm face.
“An identity that requires you to go as far as consuming inner qi to maintain disguising techniques. If revealed, it could become quite tiresome, and it might even become dangerous. Not to mention, hiding your identity allows you to observe others more thoroughly. They say the Gold King also frequently meets people using disguises in reality, right? Well, if he didn’t, wouldn’t all kinds of swindlers flock to him? Come to think of it, the Gold King is truly amazing. I heard that to this day, no one knows the Gold King’s real face. Ah, I suddenly became curious. Do you know your father’s real face?”
“Uh…”
What was that foolish answer just now?
Jin So-hong snapped back to her senses once more, but it was already too late.
Namgung Cheon nodded indifferently and asked.
“So, can you get me a human skin mask?”
The conversation returned to the main point.
Only then did Jin So-hong, who had been dazed, calm down a bit.
It was truly hard to believe, but Namgung Cheon had accurately pierced through her identity.
In truth, the only person who knew her real identity was the Head of Dragon Heaven Academy.
Just as Namgung Cheon said, since her father was the Gold King, how could he not create a fake identity?
In the Jianghu, it was polite not to ask when someone tried to hide their sect.
However, for the Gold King, to whom creating a fake identity was easier than eating, there was no need to deliberately hide or not hide his daughter’s identity.
It was because he could just create an identity that was more real than the real thing.
So, no one knew.
Except for the Head of Dragon Heaven Academy.
Yet Namgung Cheon had found out.
Even down to the extremely elaborate human skin mask.
When she came back to her senses, she was startled to find Namgung Cheon’s face shoved right in front of hers.
“Wh-what is it?”
“Because it’s truly elaborate. I only noticed because I looked with suspicion; if I had just glanced, I would have never noticed. Ah, I’m talking about the human skin mask.”
“Ah… yeah. But why do you need a human skin mask?”
For the first time, a question came out.
Come to think of it, wasn’t it strange?
The next exam was still more than ten days away.
And the fourth trial was a public martial contest held in a tournament style.
But what on earth was he planning to use a human skin mask for?
Namgung Cheon shook his head.
“I can’t answer that.”
“Then I can’t give it to you either.”
“That’s a bit of a shame. Still, shouldn’t a merchant prioritize practical interest over satisfying curiosity?”
Jin So-hong’s eyes sparkled.
Prioritize practical interest?
Telling her, the daughter of the Gold King, to prioritize practical interest?
Even so, she was someone who had grown up hearing the attitude of a merchant engraved into her very bones since childhood.
If they were to prioritize practical interest, it would only make things harder for Namgung Cheon.
Because he would have to pay a proper price enough to sway her heart.
Jin So-hong slightly curled the corners of her mouth and asked.
“Fine, then what do I get if I obtain it for you?”
“Keeping your secret.”
“What?”
“Your identity won’t be revealed.”
Jin So-hong wore a blank expression for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.
“That is not a gain for me.”
“It is not a loss either.”
“I want a gain.”
“Discard your greed. A merchant’s basics should begin with not suffering a loss.”
“You are threatening me, aren’t you?”
“I never said I would kill or harm you. I would merely make known who you are. If that felt like a threat, I can’t help it.”
“You would go as far as to do something so despicable?”
“If you cooperate, I won’t have to be despicable.”
“But you could be?”
“Well? What do you think?”
Namgung Cheon smirked as he looked at her.
Jin So-hong felt her heart tremble.
‘This guy… he can do it!’
How could a person show such a completely different side?
It felt as though yesterday’s ally had become today’s enemy.
He was clearly someone who had come to ask for cooperation, but it had turned into a threat before she knew it, and now he seemed like someone fully capable of carrying out that threat.
Jin So-hong took a deep breath and spoke.
“There is a flaw in your words. If I obtain a human skin mask for you, the loss will be that much greater. A top-grade human skin mask is worth the price of a pavilion. Yet you say there is no loss?”
“That is certainly true.”
Because Namgung Cheon agreed so readily, Jin So-hong felt even more dizzy.
She calmly composed her breathing and continued speaking.
“If a loss of that magnitude occurs, I might even bear you revealing my identity.”
“Indeed. Then the threat won’t work.”
So it really was a threat!
Jin So-hong felt inwardly indignant but suppressed her anger.
Namgung Cheon seemed lost in thought, then stared intently at Jin So-hong.
Because his gaze looked rather deep, Jin So-hong did not know where to put her eyes for no reason.
‘It is as if he is looking right through me.’
In fact, if Namgung Cheon had heard Jin So-hong’s thoughts, he would have agreed without hesitation. After all, Namgung Cheon was currently examining Jin So-hong’s inner qi.
Soon, Namgung Cheon opened his mouth.
“Then I will also touch up your martial arts.”
“My martial arts? How?”
“I can develop it further. Stronger than now.”
“Is that possible…”
“You saw it yourself, so you should know. Yun Jong-seung and Paeng Su-hyeok.”
Jin So-hong flinched and looked at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon smiled faintly.
“Haven’t you already decided to invest in me? I think this is a decent deal.”
“What do you mean, I decided to invest?”
“When I was called to the Alliance Leader’s Hall, you backed me up. There is no way the daughter of the Gold King would help me without any thought, right?”
‘How much does this guy know from the start?’
At this point, she wondered if he wasn’t just extremely quick-witted, but actually using mind-reading.
In truth, Jin So-hong had already made up her mind.
She would help Namgung Cheon.
Just as Namgung Cheon said, she had already resolved to invest in him at the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
Her father had always said:
“The most important thing in life is not money, but people. If you ever connect with a hidden dragon even once in your lifetime, you must not hesitate to make a large investment. Just like Lu Buwei, who established the Emperor of Qin. Do you understand? An eye to recognize a hidden dragon. That is the greatest virtue a merchant must possess.”
Just as Lu Buwei recognized Ying Yiren, the son of Lord Anguo, during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, she was currently seeing the aura of a Sword Emperor in Namgung Cheon, the son of the Great Killing Star.
A hidden dragon.
Namgung Cheon was definitely a hidden dragon.
He possessed all the virtues a hidden dragon should have.
And now, after going through this process of threatening and coaxing her…
‘He is an even greater hidden dragon than I thought!’
Yes, personal connections over gold veins.
Jin So-hong calmed her pounding chest and raised her head.
“I will cooperate.”
“Thank you.”
“By when do you need the human skin mask?”
“The sooner, the better.”
“I will get it for you by three days from now.”
“That should be fine.”
“Does the appearance not matter?”
“As long as it’s a man.”
“Understood.”
“Since we’re on the subject, I am also curious about your real face.”
Jin So-hong paused, then smiled and nodded.
“Alright, I will show you as a token of trust.”
Hadn’t she decided to back Namgung Cheon anyway? If so, they were firmly holding hands.
Jin So-hong raised her slender, jade-like hands and tore at the skin near her neck.
Because it looked as though she was roughly ripping away her own flesh, it appeared somewhat grotesque at a glance.
‘Make sure you don’t get startled.’
Riiip!
As the skin covered with freckles was torn away, surprisingly, fair and clear skin like white jade was revealed.
From the long eyelashes, clear and deep eyes, sharp nose, cherry-red lips, to the neck line extending smoothly below her slender jaw.
Was the term ‘unparalleled beauty’ meant for times like this?
She was indeed beautiful to the point of having no rival in the world, and pretty enough to make even the gentle moonlight jealous.
Jin So-hong, who had removed the human skin mask, lightly shook her hair and looked at Namgung Cheon.
However…
‘What is this? This reaction…’
It was baffling.
Until now, not a single person had behaved like a wooden block after seeing her real face.
There were men who drooled, dropped the cup they were holding, or even collapsed on the spot.
Yet this guy had absolutely no reaction.
No, he did say one thing.
“It is a pretty face, as expected.”
Was that it…?
Hey. I am Jin So-hong.
The only daughter of the Gold King!
But that really was it.
What was this feeling? Was it stubbornness? Pride? Or was she simply flustered by the unfamiliar situation?
Her mind wavered in complexity, but Namgung Cheon stood up smoothly from his seat.
“Where are you going…?”
“Do you have more to say?”
Namgung Cheon asked back instead.
She… had nothing more to say.
She felt somewhat deflated. Soon, Jin So-hong chuckled and shook her head.
“Nothing. I will get it for you by three days from now.”
“Then, please do.”
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No. Ah! By any chance, could you find some people?”
“What kind of people?”
“Someone to teach how to do the job of a server.”
“A server…?”
“Please do that as well.”
Since that was also not a very difficult request, Jin So-hong nodded.
After Namgung Cheon left like that, Jin So-hong leaned her back against the door and closed her eyes tightly.
The act of removing the human skin mask with such confidence rushed back as embarrassment belatedly.
‘Ugh…! Namgung Cheon…! You are really…!’
You are a truly strange guy!
* * *
Three days later, Jin So-hong obtained the human skin mask as promised. She also sent along a server who seemed quite amiable.
After bringing the server to the Ghost King Eatery, he had them thoroughly train the Ghost King and the Ghost Servers.
Then, he immediately wrapped the Emerald Silk Sword in black cloth, wore the human skin mask, and headed to the market street.
Since the Ghost King had already brought back information, he knew the location to make contact with the Obscurity Society.
It was a tavern located on the outskirts of the market street.
When Namgung Cheon opened the door and entered, he saw a few people drinking alcohol since broad daylight.
They glanced at Namgung Cheon once, but soon turned their heads as if they had little interest.
As Namgung Cheon sat down, a server ran over and greeted him.
“Welcome! Sir, what can I get you…”
“Shut up and bring him.”
When Namgung Cheon put down a bright yellow gold coin, the server quickly wiped the table with a rag and bent his body.
The gold coin had already vanished without a trace.
“Please wait a moment.”
Quite a long time passed after the server withdrew, but no one came.
Just as annoyance was gradually rising and he was about to overturn the place, a large man opened the door, appeared, and walked over to Namgung Cheon with long strides.
“Young master, were you here? I have been looking for you for a long time. Let us go quickly.”
The large man, whom he had never met before, bowed politely and greeted him.
However, because Namgung Cheon realized that it was a code word of the Obscurity Society, he stood up without a word.
“Lead the way.”