CLS-Chapter 152

Chapter 152

“Oh, Master Gong. It’s been a while.”

“Master? That’s too generous. Please just call me Gong Mo.”

Gong Mu-jin bowed his head respectfully. Whether considering his seniority or his reputation in the martial world, Master Gongling was not someone to be treated carelessly.

“Meeting such a hard-to-find benefactor is indeed a joyous occasion, but it seems we’re not in a situation where we can leisurely exchange pleasantries. Could you tell me what exactly is happening here?”

“It’s exactly as you see.”

Gong Mu-jin pointed to the carriage.

“As you see… What happened to the Sword Emperor’s legacy?”

“It’s being copied right now.”

“Copied?”

“Yes. Right now.”

At Gong Mu-jin’s words, Gongling looked at the scene again. People had books beside them and were rapidly transcribing at great speed.

“Su-surely… that’s not…?”

“Yes.”

Gong Mu-jin smiled awkwardly as he answered.

“It’s the Sword Emperor’s Secret Manual.”

“The-the Sword Emperor’s Secret Manual?”

Gongling couldn’t understand this situation at all. The Sword Emperor’s Secret Manual should be a secret technique left by the Sword Emperor, but why were all these people simultaneously transcribing that secret manual?

Seeing Gongling’s questioning look, Gong Mu-jin gazed at the distant sky.

How on earth was he supposed to explain this?

“So, in other words…”

After hearing the full explanation, Gongling spoke in shock.

“You’re saying he sold the Sword Emperor’s legacy for money?”

“According to him, since he keeps the original, it’s not accurate to say he sold it – he just let them copy it.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“Exactly.”

“Who is this benefactor?”

“Master.”

Gong Mu-jin offered the advice he absolutely had to give, with respect and concern for Master Gongling.

“For the sake of Buddhist law and your remaining years, I recommend you avoid associating with that reckless fool.”

“Re-reckless fool?”

“He’s a demon-like fellow who bewitches people’s hearts.”

Master Gongling looked at Gong Mu-jin with a bewildered expression. Just from the words alone, it sounded like cursing, but Master Gongling could see the undeniable affection showing on Gong Mu-jin’s face.

‘What kind of child is this?’

Plum Blossom Sword Ghost Gong Mu-jin was famous for his eccentric and blade-sharp temperament. There were widespread rumors that even his fellow disciples feared him.

Therefore, while he should naturally become the next sect leader based on skill and reputation, there were whispers that the current sect leader was troubled by his lack of interpersonal skills.

For such a person to show this kind of fondness toward someone who wasn’t even his disciple was extremely curious to Gongling.

“Could I meet that child once?”

“…Master, I definitely warned you.”

“Hehehe.”

Gongling smiled broadly and said.

“There are countless people in this world, and isn’t it the duty of a Buddhist to lead all those people to a peaceful world? He doesn’t seem like a bad child, so it should be fine.”

Gong Mu-jin shook his head back and forth.

Since he wanted to meet him, there was no way to stop him. What could he do?

You have to experience it to know.

Gong Mu-jin led Gongling to Wei Yan-ho.

“Hey! Don’t push me! Do you want to die?”

Someone who had been transcribing in the cramped space was getting angry because he couldn’t write properly due to the person next to him.

“What? What did I do?”

“Come outside! Before I finish writing this, I’ll finish your life for you.”

“Fine!”

Gong Mu-jin cleared his throat.

“Ahem!”

The two people who spotted Gong Mu-jin bowed their heads slightly.

“Did you forget Young Master Wei’s words that anyone causing a disturbance would be expelled?”

“…We’re sorry.”

“We’ll write quietly and leave.”

“Hmm.”

Sweat began to form on Gongling’s forehead.

‘Those people… they seem familiar…’

If even his eyes, which weren’t very worldly due to guarding the mountain gate, found them familiar, it meant they were people with considerable reputation. It was absurd that such people were sitting on the street holding books and transcribing, but it was also incomprehensible that they would lower their tails at a single word from this Young Master Wei.

‘Does this mean he suppressed all these people so they wouldn’t dare act recklessly through his personal martial prowess?’

But was such a thing even possible?

From what he heard, this child named Wei Yan-ho seemed to be a young boy who hadn’t even reached adulthood yet, but didn’t this mean he had accomplished something that would be difficult even for the head of a major sect?

Gongling became even more curious about the child called Wei Yan-ho.

‘He must be inside this carriage.’

Gongling looked at the carriage with slightly nervous eyes.

“Young Hero Wei, please come out. Shaolin’s Master Gongling has come to meet Young Hero Wei.”

“…”

Despite Gong Mu-jin’s polite call, there was no response from inside the carriage.

Gongling waited patiently without rushing. But Gong Mu-jin, displeased that Wei Yan-ho was being lazy even in front of Gongling, shouted loudly.

“When an elder has come, you should at least show your face!”

“Ugh!”

Then a person’s head popped out from on top of the carriage.

‘On-on top?’

Why would someone come out from on top of the carriage instead of using the perfectly good carriage?

Gongling had to be surprised once again seeing the head that popped out from on top of the carriage. He had heard the boy was young, but a real child who still hadn’t lost his youthful appearance had emerged.

‘He seems about the same age as Musan…’

“Didn’t I say that Shaolin’s Master Gongling had come! Even your father wouldn’t just stick his head out like that in front of Master Gongling! Won’t you come down immediately!”

Wei Yan-ho flinched at the mention of his father.

‘You brat, I’m above you now.’

Gongling was a person with tremendous influence even within Shaolin. Gong Mu-jin didn’t want Wei Yan-ho to make a bad impression on Gongling. Looking at his behavior, he wanted to kick Wei Yan-ho’s rear end, but if anyone was going to kick Wei Yan-ho’s rear end, it should be him, not Shaolin.

Therefore, he even mentioned Wei Jeong-han’s name, hoping Wei Yan-ho would be a little more respectful.

“Hmm.”

Wei Yan-ho jumped down from the carriage roof and made a formal bow toward Master Gongling.

“I am Wei Yan-ho, second son of the Guangdong Wei Family.”

“Oh, the Guangdong Wei Family! Then you must be the son of Righteous Hero Sword Wei Jeong-han.”

In times like this, you could see that Wei Jeong-han was truly a person of great reputation. Those who considered themselves part of the orthodox faction would invariably show respect and goodwill when they heard Wei Jeong-han’s name.

‘This is strange.’

At home, he was a pathetic father who lived under his mother’s thumb, but once he went outside, his evaluation shot straight up. It was truly an interesting phenomenon.

“I heard you obtained the Sword Emperor’s legacy. Is this true?”

“Yes. It’s true.”

“…And is it also true that you’re letting others transcribe that Sword Emperor’s legacy?”

“Yes. It’s true.”

Wei Yan-ho was respectful.

‘What’s the problem?’

He could see that Wei Yan-ho wasn’t very familiar with etiquette. But that didn’t mean it was problematic enough to be a major issue. Wasn’t he trying quite hard to be respectful at this level?

“Benefactor.”

Gongling spoke solemnly.

“The benefactor’s spirit of not being attached to material things closely resembles that of Buddhism. To so readily give away a treasure that came into one’s hands at such a young age is something not everyone can do. In this regard, this Gongling greatly admires the benefactor. Amitabha.”

“Amitabha.”

When Gongling clasped his hands together first, the Shaolin disciples following behind all clasped their hands in unison and showed respect to Wei Yan-ho.

“Huh?”

What were these monks talking about right now?

“But if this object begins to spread into the world, great trouble will occur.”

“Pardon?”

Wei Yan-ho tilted his head as if he completely didn’t understand.

“Won’t you hand this object over to us even now? We absolutely will not use it to satisfy our private desires. We promise to use it for the development and peace of the martial world.”

“No, Master, you don’t quite understand what I’m saying…”

At that moment, Gong Mu-jin rushed over like lightning and covered Wei Yan-ho’s mouth. Wei Su-ryeon also screamed and flew over to cling to Wei Yan-ho’s waist, and Lee Seol-hwa coughed loudly to block Wei Yan-ho’s voice.

Gong Mu-jin whispered quietly.

“Young Hero Wei, respectfully! Respectfully! Elder! Elder! Wei Jeong-han!”

Though it seemed somewhat disorganized, the message to speak respectfully while thinking of his father was clearly conveyed.

“I understand.”

Wei Yan-ho nodded and said.

“Master, I understand what you’re saying, but this is mine. However I choose to handle it is my decision.”

“…”

Was this respectful?

The posture of putting his hands together and quietly bowing his head while speaking was very respectful, but the tone was somehow subtle.

“And I’m not selling the secret manual right now. I’m letting them make copies. Since I have the original, I’m not selling it. I’m providing it at a reasonable price and treating it appropriately.”

Gongling’s expression became subtle.

“How much?”

“It’s two nyang of gold.”

“Two-two nyang.”

Gongling’s face contorted further.

To sell off the Sword Emperor’s secret manual for two nyang!

No, since he wasn’t giving the original but making copies, two nyang seemed reasonable for selling it, but since there wasn’t really any difference between a copy and the original, two nyang seemed like too dramatically cheap a price…

“But-but if you carelessly hand over secret manuals like this, couldn’t the secret manual spread throughout the entire martial world?”

“That won’t happen. Look.”

Wei Yan-ho pointed to one side.

At the desk where Seomun Da-yeon sat with a soul-drained expression, people who had been standing in line were earnestly writing something.

“Wh-what is that?”

“It’s a contract.”

“A contract?”

Wei Yan-ho grinned.

“Even if I do copy business here, if the people who took copies let others transcribe the books for money again, there would soon be no demand. So they’re making a pledge not to make copies of the books they transcribe today. I’m only giving books to people with clear identities.”

“I-is that so?”

Gongling looked at Wei Yan-ho with the expression of seeing something incomprehensible.

‘Should this be called having no possessive desire, or should it be called being excessively greedy?’

In terms of sharing an ancient secret manual with others, you could say he had no greed as a martial artist, but receiving two nyang of gold each to sell it – wasn’t that tremendous business acumen?

“Um…”

Just as Gongling was pondering how to accept this situation, someone quietly approached Wei Yan-ho and said.

“Excuse me, but I arrived a bit late… What should someone do if they don’t have cash right now?”

“Over there.”

The man flinched and trembled when he saw where Wei Yan-ho was pointing.

Silver River Money Exchange Luoyang Branch Office.

Under a large banner, a man with a greedy expression was waving at him while holding a money pouch.

“You can get a loan over there.”

“…Yes.”

The man trudged away.

It was a tragic scene of increasing consumer economics and household debt.