Chapter 422: The Price of Fame (2)

“Ugh…… I really can’t stand to watch this!”

Her fair brow creased sharply, her arched eyebrows rising to fierce points.

Even that expression overflowed with grace and beauty — any other men would have been bewitched, their jaws dropping open — but the Taeul Sect disciples, knowing full well that this lovely woman transformed into a cold-blooded witch when angered, carefully tried to soothe her mood.

“Senior Sister Wang, please calm down.”

Even Kang Yu-seong, who possessed the most outstanding skill among Taeul Sect’s current disciples, was cautiously reading her mood as he tried to pacify her, but.

“Junior Brother Yu-seong! You think this is acceptable?!”

“……”

A voice sharp as an icicle came stabbing at him, and he quietly shut his mouth.

The person who normally looked after him and the younger children like a mother had turned this cold in an instant.

Still young, Yu-seong had no idea how to handle it.

Just then, Gwak Sam-nam, who had been listening nearby, spoke calmly.

“I heard they’ve already sent a letter to our Eldest Senior Brother. The elders within the sect will probably reach a decision soon.”

The reason Wang So-so was seething with cold fury was none other than the people protesting in front of Taeul Sect.

As the crowd gathered at the front gate approached seventy, the atmosphere had grown increasingly grim.

Every time young disciples passed through Taeul Sect’s main entrance, the hostile stares grew sharper.

People who had previously just tossed out a curt word or two were now openly hurling obscenities at the children or picking fights.

And whenever Taeul Sect’s elders appeared, they would suddenly act as if nothing had happened, playing innocent — which was steadily grating on Taeul Sect’s nerves.

On top of that, the parents who had sent their children to Taeul Sect were growing increasingly anxious, and children skipping classes had begun to appear one by one.

In response, Taeul Sect had set up a temporary measure of using the rear gate for coming and going, but some of those camped outside had blocked the rear gate as well, doing the same thing.

“Even so, isn’t this just too despicable? They call themselves martial artists, and they pull this kind of stunt?!”

At Wang So-so’s words, Gwak Sam-nam gave a bitter smile.

When he was young, he too had held certain illusions about martial artists, but as he grew, he’d gradually become disillusioned. By now, he didn’t even hold expectations.

“For the time being, we don’t have the justification to disperse them.”

It wasn’t a single organization staging a protest — each individual was acting of their own accord.

The Murim Alliance’s Hefei Branch had given only the response that there was nothing they could do about a situation like this.

Since, technically, nothing had actually happened.

“Argh! Seriously!”

“Senior Sister, please calm down a little.”

Gwak Sam-nam and Kang Yu-seong were sweating bullets as they tried to settle Wang So-so down.

Of course, Wang So-so felt even more frustrated.

‘SERIOUSLY!!!’

Wang So-so, who had been helping with the Great Heaven Merchant Guild’s affairs, knew all too well.

The problem wasn’t limited to these protesters.

The real problem was on the Great Heaven Merchant Guild’s side.

As the flow of funds was being choked off, cries of distress had already begun erupting from every direction.

Cash was still coming in from retail shops, as well as the inns and taverns in the Mount Tianmu area, but the Great Heaven Merchant Guild’s core business was raw materials — minerals above all else.

The scale of transactions was so large that even a single trading partner delaying payment could shake the entire Great Heaven Merchant Guild.

Trying to hastily redirect business operations was impossible given the chronic shortage of manpower.

And even if a new venture got off the ground, it would take time to establish itself — a textbook case of being caught between a rock and a hard place.

Having grown up watching commerce since childhood, Wang So-so knew better than anyone that even after Taeul Sect opened its gates, the current situation would not be easily resolved.

“Still, it is rather unpleasant. Even if we can’t confront them directly, it’d be nice if we could take some indirect action.”

At Kang Yu-seong’s composed words, Wang So-so’s entire body shuddered as if struck by a sudden realization.

“That’s it! Why didn’t I think of that?!”

If they couldn’t face them directly, they’d face them indirectly.

If those people were going to be underhanded, there was no need for this side to play fair either.

“Sam-nam! Your father’s the cook at the Flower Garland Inn, right?”

“Huh? Oh…… yes.”

“And Il-nam’s father runs a forge?”

“Yes. It’s small, but he commutes out to Hefei to run it.”

“Right. Business doesn’t work in So-eum County.”

So-eum County was the village closest to Taeul Sect.

But as Hefei had grown and the main roads were better maintained, most necessities could now be found in Hefei at better quality and lower prices.

As a result, only aging merchants remained in So-eum County.

However, the people currently protesting at Taeul Sect wouldn’t bother going all the way to Hefei when it took at least half a day even at a brisk pace.

Which meant they’d have to find food and lodging in nearby So-eum County.

“Let’s go!”

“Huh? Where?”

Wang So-so shook a jingling pouch and tilted her head.

“To build a village.”

“What?”

Unable to make sense of Wang So-so’s words, Kang Yu-seong and Gwak Sam-nam trailed along behind her with bewildered expressions.

They’d never lost out by following Wang So-so.

Upon arriving in So-eum County, Wang So-so began seeking out the area’s only inn and tavern.

“Thank you.”

She then met with the owners and bought the buildings outright.

Business had admittedly been good recently thanks to the increased foot traffic around Taeul Sect, but there was no telling how long that would last.

So the owners couldn’t refuse Wang So-so’s offer at double the price.

Moreover, Wang So-so’s proposal that they could continue working for a monthly stipend was nothing short of being struck by a windfall in their sleep.

They had no reason to decline.

Just like that, Wang So-so snapped up the inn and tavern as casually as buying candied fruit, then proceeded to purchase every small eatery and street stall as well.

In half a day, the entire small village of So-eum County had fallen into Wang So-so’s hands.

“I’ll let you know what needs to be done today.”

Gathering all the shopkeepers — who were now under her ownership — Wang So-so spoke boldly.

“Starting today, food prices, drink prices, and room rates will all be tripled.”

“What?”

“How can…… All the customers will leave!”

“Well. We’ll see about that.”

The situation was baffling, but no one could refuse the orders of their new owner, Wang So-so.

After all, they had nothing to lose personally.

And when prices tripled overnight, the ones who were outraged were the martial artists who had been staying and eating in So-eum County.

“There are limits to decency! Tripling prices overnight!”

“This is the most outrageous price-gouging I’ve ever seen!”

“Who’s the owner?! Get out here!”

And before them stood Wang So-so, Kang Yu-seong, and Gwak Sam-nam.

Behind them, of course, were the Wang Estate’s warriors.

“The owner is Wang So-so.”

Her stunning figure momentarily dazed them, but they quickly recovered and unleashed their complaints.

“Wang Estate or not, this kind of profiteering cannot be tolerated!”

“And what will you do about it?”

“Uh, huh?”

A pale, icy smile overwhelmed the crowd.

“Come to the Wang Estate and protest? Like you’ve been doing at Taeul Sect?”

“……”

Wang So-so didn’t back down an inch against the rough martial artists.

“If you don’t like the prices here, you’re free to go to Hefei. The Wang Estate isn’t forcing anyone to buy.”

“……”

Naturally, faced with prices that had tripled overnight, the martial artists hurled obscenities and either headed for Hefei or stubbornly planted themselves where they stood in a battle of endurance.

As the inn, tavern, and other commercial establishments gradually emptied out, the former owners began worrying about Wang So-so instead.

“Miss, how about lowering the prices now?”

“It’s fine. Let’s just think of it as a period of interior renovations.”

The carpenters who had renovated Taeul Sect and the Wang Estate were brought in to repair the crumbling shops.

Meanwhile, those protesting at Taeul Sect gradually came to a realization over two, three days.

That making the trip to Hefei for every meal was impossible, and that endlessly subsisting on Fasting Pills and jerky wasn’t easy.

Those who had been watching for an opening began slipping toward So-eum County, one by one.

And.

“That’ll cost you more.”

At that point, Wang So-so doubled the prices yet again.

“What kind of bullshit is this?!”

“The prices from three days ago were already triple the original!”

“Oh, you didn’t know? The number of people wanting to stay in So-eum County has doubled compared to a few days ago. With demand increasing, prices naturally doubled too.”

As the number of martial artists flocking to the area near Taeul Sect surpassed one hundred, some among them began showing up who didn’t care whether prices were doubled or tripled.

And once they realized how few inns and taverns So-eum County had, a scramble to reserve spots broke out.

In a situation like this, prices were meaningless.

“If you don’t like it, leave. I won’t hold you back.”

At Wang So-so’s firm declaration, people erupted in outrage but no one actually left.

Because the moment they left, someone else would take their spot.

And the two junior brothers who had been watching this entire process with bated breath.

“Terrifying……”

Kang Yu-seong nodded in response to Gwak Sam-nam, who had barely managed to get the word out.

“The old innkeeper used to say something. That there’s someone scarier than a person who swings martial arts around recklessly.”

“Scarier…… than that?”

Sam-nam’s head tilted quizzically.

“Yeah. He said the scariest person of all is one who swings money around recklessly.”

Sam-nam’s gaze turned back to So-so.

Wang So-so, covering her mouth with one hand, laughing “Oh ho ho” as she mocked the martial artists.

“……”

He then looked back at Yu-seong and nodded firmly.

“……Let’s make absolutely sure we never cross Senior Sister Wang.”

“Yeah!”

The two looked at each other and nodded resolutely.

***

Despite all the chaos at the manor, I ultimately did not go to the Inspection Office for questioning.

Really, it was the most natural thing.

I hadn’t done anything wrong, so why would I go to the Inspection Office or Execution Pavilion to be questioned?

I was simply enjoying tea in comfort at my quarters, passing the time.

“That’s called house arrest, you know.”

“Hmm, can’t hear you.”

“……”

I was just sitting quietly in my quarters enjoying tea. How is this house arrest? This is a honey-sweet rest, the first I’ve had in a while.

“Haah……”

Eun-ho pressed his fingertips into his temples, kneading hard.

Poor thing…… And I told him over and over not to go to the Mantongbu, tsk.

“I clearly warned you. Go to the Mantongbu and you’ll go gray early……”

“And whose fault is all of this?!”

TRICKLE—

What was that sound just now?

“Right now, the entire Wudang Sect contingent is boiling over. Their main mountain will definitely raise an issue about this incident.”

I wiped the tea that had dribbled down my chin.

Well, I understood what Eun-ho was feeling. But.

“So what am I supposed to do about it? Should I have just stood there and gotten beaten to death?”

“That’s not what I’m……”

‘You should’ve at least held back a little,’ Eun-ho muttered.

I knew. I knew what the appropriate level of force was to keep things from escalating.

But how could I let a golden opportunity like this slip by? An official chance to beat Wudang to a pulp and get away with it?

Unless I defected to the Black Path, a moment this sweet would never come again.

“Listen up, Eun-ho. Letting an opportunity like this pass is something only a fool would do.”

“But even so…… the aftermath keeps getting worse.”

“Hm?”

Eun-ho pulled a letter from his robes.

“This came from Taeul Sect.”

“What’s it about……”

The moment I read through the letter, I felt my entire body going rigid.

“The number of people demanding Taeul Sect open its gates has passed one hundred. And because of this latest incident, Wudang Sect’s people will start flooding in too. When that happens…… Taeul Sect will be stuck with nowhere to turn.”

Eun-ho was saying something beside me, but none of it registered.

Because the contents of the letter had set a fury boiling from the deepest depths of my chest.

“Th…… This……”

“Senior Brother, are you starting to grasp the situ—……”

“How dare they try to stiff me on my money!!!”

The Great Heaven Merchant Guild’s payments were being delayed!

“……Ah, so that’s what set you off?”

Looking at Eun-ho, the kid had somehow taken on the expression of a stone Buddha.

“Lifting the seal on the gates can’t be avoided, it seems. But if Eldest Senior Brother isn’t present at the gate-opening ceremony, won’t that cause problems?”

“Why wouldn’t I be there?”

“Because you beat the hell out of the Wudang people.”

“That was their fault.”

“You think Wudang will just let this slide? At minimum, they’ll need to see you punished — even if it’s just for show — before there’s any pretext for disciplining Wudang.”

Aren’t you supposed to just take my side at times like these? When did you get so cold?

Does the Mantongbu only have ice water on tap?

“Fine. Thank you so very much for your cold, objective assessment of the situation.”

I raised a tiger cub, all right. A damn tiger cub.

The timing of Taeul Sect’s gate opening was roughly in line with what I’d anticipated.

The seal on the gates would have had to be lifted anyway once Taeul Sect’s junior brothers began their mandatory service.

“I’m not joking. The situation is really bad.”

The problem, however, was that the circumstances were unfavorable.

After a moment’s thought, I patted Eun-ho on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.”

“A plan?”

Eun-ho’s teary eyes narrowed.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning a prison break?”

“……”

“No? Then…… if you’re thinking of mobilizing Black Dragon Stronghold, absolutely not!”

What?

“Same goes for the Black Thought Alliance! If you summon them in a situation like this—!”

What exactly am I in Eun-ho’s head?

“Eun-ho.”

“Absolutely! Absolutely not!”

“Eun-ho?”

“Whatever it is, don’t do it!”

“Eun—”

“Just stay locked up quietly—!”

“Your body’s gotten awfully comfortable while I was away, hasn’t it? Talking back to your Eldest Senior Brother this brazenly.”

“No, that’s not what I…… HURK!”

Just as I was about to lovingly bestow upon Eun-ho my newly enlightened Asura Gold-Shackling Jade-Shattering Formula—

“We’ve come from the Alliance Leader’s Hall. Please come with us.”

Someone from the Murim Alliance had arrived.

I looked back and forth between Eun-ho and the doorway, then grinned.

“Here it is. The chance to flip the board.”