Chapter 341: v14c16 - Welcome
Volume 14 Chapter 16 – Welcome
As soon as the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect turned around.
As if refusing to permit even a single ray of light.
The pitch-black eyes of the Eldest Young Master, which were like the void of an abyss, were looking at him.
“I welcome the integration of the Kongtong Sect.”
Clearly, his own height was taller.
And in terms of age, there was more than a three-fold difference.
But why?
“Great Master.”
Why did it feel as if the Eldest Young Master was looking down on him?
Encountering the Eldest Young Master up close felt completely different from merely watching him from afar.
“…Thank you, Eldest Young Master.”
The voice of the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect trembled unconsciously as he replied to him.
“Ahem.”
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon showed a smile to him, who quickly cleared his throat with a dry cough.
“Do not worry.”
“W-what do you mean?”
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon spoke as if he already knew everything.
“You must be afraid that because Kongtong chose to join late, you might receive unfair treatment in my camp.”
“……!”
The wrinkled corners of the Kongtong Sect’s Great Master’s eyes trembled.
‘To bring up that story directly here and now?’
If he were in the Eldest Young Master’s shoes it was a story he would have never brought up in this public place.
‘If the sects that swore loyalty earlier than others and the sect that joined late are treated equally, it will eventually become a seed of discontent…’ if so, what was the reason the Eldest Young Master brought this story up with his own mouth here and now?
The brain of the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect spun explosively in an instant.
‘Ah…!’
Convinced of something, he quickly bowed his waist and replied to the Eldest Young Master.
“No, Eldest Young Master.”
He continued to speak in as humble a manner as possible.
“Kongtong only joined late after observing the trends. Yet, equality? How could our Kongtong dare harbor such greed?”
He forced a smile onto his wrinkled face.
“Our Kongtong is satisfied as long as we can be of help to our allies!”
He raised his voice.
“Securing a foothold in Luoyang is something we wouldn’t even dare to dream of! We will simply accept whatever reward is given!”
Saying so, the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect nodded inwardly.
‘The Eldest Young Master must have wanted me to decline like this first…!’
If Kongtong, joining late, bowed down like this on their own initiative the Eldest Young Master would take care of Kongtong so that they would not lack for anything, and no complaints would arise from the other sects.
‘And if our Kongtong becomes one body and does our best under the command of the Eldest Young Master for years to come—’ the opportunity to secure a foothold in Luoyang would eventually be granted to them.
“What are you talking about, Great Master?”
“…Pardon?”
But as expected, the Eldest Young Master lightly surpassed his expectations.
“Did I not tell you not to worry about anything?”
“Just as I promised to Diancang, Zhongnan, and the Northern Hengshan Sect.”
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s hand pointed at the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect.
“Likewise. To you, the Kongtong Sect, the business rights to secure a foothold in Luoyang will naturally be granted as well.”
“……!”
What on earth did he just hear?
The eyes of the Kongtong Sect’s Great Master widened, and his mouth fell open on its own.
“Pardon…?”
He blurted out to Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon without realizing it.
“No, if you do that, how do you intend to control the complaints of the other sects, Eldest Young Master?”
The opportunity that even the former Sect Leader of Diancang tried to seize by making a laughingstock of himself how could he just throw it to them, Kongtong, who joined so late?
The one who burst into laughter at those words was the designated Governor of Luoyang, Old Demon Gong Ryang.
“Hehehe.”
“If the opportunity that the Eldest Young Master could bestow were only ‘securing a foothold in Luoyang,’ then indeed, someone might harbor discontent.”
“Does that mean…”
The Great Master of Kongtong asked, feeling his mind go blank.
“Are you saying that the Eldest Young Master can provide even greater opportunities to each sect?”
That answer came from Yeon So-hyeon.
“Of course.”
His face smiled.
It was a smile so full of confidence that it felt arrogant.
“Did you think the vessel of this Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, was only of that size?”
“…….”
Turning his gaze he looked around at the leaders of each sect newly brought under his command and spoke.
“All the sects that joined today will basically be given an equal opportunity to secure a foothold in Luoyang,” and as his gaze swept past, the leaders of each sect composed themselves to be even more humble.
“and to those who perform meritorious deeds in the future, a new reward corresponding to their merits will be given, regardless of when they joined.”
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s voice echoed through the gathering.
“Is there anyone who has a complaint about this?”
To those who had made securing a foothold and laying a foundation their cherished wish since Yeon So-hyeon was promising an even greater reward naturally, they only wondered inwardly what the greater opportunity that the Eldest Young Master could provide would be, and there was no way anyone would express discontent.
“…….”
“…….”
“Good.”
Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon nodded in satisfaction and spoke to the guests in the assembly.
“I express my gratitude to the guests who have graced us with their presence today.”
It was only natural that applause burst from the guests, who had vividly felt the performance of the figure known as the Eldest Young Master right before their eyes.
“I instructed the Head Maid to prepare plenty of food and wine…”
Responding to those guests by raising his hand, Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon smiled and cracked a light joke.
“Seeing the amount being consumed in the grand banquet hall right now, it seems as if everyone has not even had a bowl of gruel in three days. If you do not wish to be treated as a pack of beggars elsewhere, it would be wise to exercise some self-restraint.”
As laughter erupted from the gathering, Yeon So-hyeon also laughed along.
“Then, I shall excuse myself as I have an internal meeting. Please enjoy the feast on my behalf as well.”
The back door was opened by the waiting maids and the guests in the assembly applauded generously toward the exiting Eldest Young Master.
Next was the Governor of Luoyang, Gong Ryang.
“Just as the Eldest Young Master said, seeing everyone eating and drinking like this, the meager finances of Luoyang will not be able to handle it.”
He spoke to the guests with a mischievous expression.
“On the day I officially hold my inauguration ceremony, everyone must bring their own food and wine to eat and drink.”
Once again, a burst of laughter erupted and the wheeled chair of the designated Governor of Luoyang, Gong Ryang, exited behind the Eldest Young Master.
“Ahem.”
Behind him, the former Sect Leader of the Diancang Sect, who unnecessarily squared his shoulders, walked.
Behind him, the Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect, who wore a bitter smile at the former Diancang Sect Leader, and the atonement-seekers of the Northern Hengshan Sect moved their steps side by side.
“…….”
How imposing their appearances were.
The shoulder of the Kongtong Sect’s Great Master, who was staring at that sight with a gaze as if looking at something far away was tapped by one of the guests.
“Is the Great Master of Kongtong not also a close aide of the Eldest Young Master now? You should go together.”
Indeed.
Now, the Kongtong Sect was also a force under the command of that Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.
“…Thank you.”
Nodding to express his gratitude, the Great Master of the Kongtong Sect, receiving applause finally exited the grand banquet hall.
* * *
Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.
The street in front of the main gate.
“The Eldest Young Master accepted our Kongtong?!”
“That is right!”
The second-generation disciple of the Kongtong Sect, who had returned after checking the situation inside, nodded heavily with a bright face.
“Besides, they say the Eldest Young Master even gave us permission to establish a foothold in Luoyang!”
The disciples of Kongtong, who had been sitting in a corner of the street stall with dark expressions, jumped up from their seats.
“We did it! We really did it!”
“With this, the path is open for our Kongtong once again!”
The first-generation disciple, who had been emptying several bottles of alcohol alone to soothe his burning chest, sprang to his feet, and shouted toward the sky.
“Woooah!”
“This unworthy disciple believed in you! Great Master!”
The eldest disciple, letting out a sigh of relief, let out a hollow laugh at his behavior.
“Wait, when were you not badmouthing the Great Master—” the first-generation disciple, whose face flushed red with embarrassment and alcohol, hastily shouted to the people around him.
“A-ahem!”
“A great blessing has entered our Kongtong today! Everyone of the Sword Family, please congratulate us!”
Although they did not know what it was since it was said to be something to celebrate, those who were heavily drunk raised their cups and offered congratulations amidst noisy chatter and laughter.
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations indeed!”
The first-generation disciple laughed heartily and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“The Kongtong Sect will pay for all the alcohol today! Let us all drink and die until morning!”
Amidst the cheers of the people sitting at the same street stall, the eldest disciple shook his head from side to side, laughing in disbelief.
“Wait, you foolish fellow.”
“In the first place, is not all the alcohol and food today being provided by the Eldest Young Master?”
“A-ah?!”
The first-generation disciple’s face turned even redder, and a burst of roaring laughter erupted all around.
* * *
Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, Restricted Area.
Great Conference Hall.
The Great Master of Kongtong was in a daze.
“Haha! Welcome to the integration, Great Master of Kongtong!”
The one who welcomed him so warmly first was a young woman, and she was none other than the Young Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family, Tang Eun-rang.
“I hear the Eldest Young Master promised to let Kongtong secure a base in Luoyang?”
“Perhaps in the future, our Tang Family and Kongtong might become rivals in Luoyang!”
At her words, the Great Master of Kongtong could only laugh embarrassedly.
“How could our Kongtong dare speak of competing with the hegemon of Sichuan?”
“Kongtong only asks for much guidance and instruction from the Tang Family.”
“Guidance and instruction, that sounds good!”
She spoke, laughing heartily as was her habit.
“Since our Tang Family succeeded in entering Luoyang first, a step ahead of Kongtong, thanks to the grace of the Eldest Young Master!”
The Sichuan Tang Family had successfully constructed a branch in the Sacred Valley and was reaping record profits every single day.
“I can share that secret with you as much as you like.”
She winked at him.
“Since we are like family now, let us do well together in the future!”
“No, no…!”
The Great Master of Kongtong hurriedly waved his hands.
“It is our Kongtong that is in your care.”
As she turned away with a laugh, before he even had time to see off the Tang Family’s Young Patriarch, the next person stood in front of the Great Master.
“In the future, if any legal disputes arise in Luoyang, send someone to contact us anytime.”
“C-could it be, of the Am-cheong…?”
“Yes.”
The middle-aged man nodded and introduced himself.
“I am Am-cheong Hyo, the leader of Am-cheong.”
“Master Cheong!”
The Am-cheong had been renowned as a prestigious legal family from the past but now they even had Gong Ryang, who became the Governor of Luoyang, with them, so they could be said to hold a dominant position in the legal world of Luoyang.
“Good to meet you!”
“Welcome!”
Even after that one by one everyone who offered greetings to the Great Master of Kongtong was someone whom the current Kongtong could hardly dare to face, so the waist of the Great Master of Kongtong, who only possessed the name of an old orthodox sect, could not straighten up.
‘This is the power of the Eldest Young Master…!’
Although he even felt lower back pain from bowing his waist continuously even that pain was nothing but joy to the Great Master of Kongtong now.