[Chapter 26]
Geum Asu led the way through the secret passage beneath the Golden Manor.
The path was as complex as a labyrinth. One could sense the deadly traps and mechanisms hidden within the walls, ceiling, and floor. The tension of Geum Sayeon, who was following along, was palpable.
After navigating the intricate path known only to those familiar with it, we arrived at the secret vault where the treasures of the Golden Manor were stored.
"You saved our lives, so it would be right to give you our entire fortune, but that is practically impossible."
"I don't expect that much."
"It would be good to repay you with a fixed amount, but how about this instead? Take as much as you can carry from here at once. However, you cannot use a cart or receive help from others."
"You acknowledge whatever I manage to bring out?"
"Yes."
"Can I use my internal energy?"
"Of course."
"Then I might carry quite a bit."
"If it weren't for you, we would all be dead. We need to reward you at least this much."
"Thank you."
"I'll give you two hours from now. Is that alright?"
"That's enough time."
I slowly walked into the treasure vault.
* * *
As Geom Mugeuk entered the treasure vault, Geum Sayeon asked Geum Asu.
"Are you sure about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Considering his martial arts skills, he might take more than you expect. Aren't you worried about that?"
Geum Sayeon spoke with a laugh, but inwardly, she worried that her father might later fall ill from anger. Her father had dedicated his life to amassing wealth, and much of that wealth could disappear into someone else's hands.
But her father's reaction was unexpected.
"Is there anything in there more valuable than what we protected today?"
Geum Asu patted his daughter's shoulder.
"It's enough that you and Yang are alive. If I had lost you both…"
Geum Asu couldn't continue speaking. Although he had always been told he was stingy, at least when it came to his children, he was a man who would bleed and cry rivers. He just never had the opportunity to express it.
In fact, Geum Asu realized something very important this time.
Even if he gave away all his wealth, it wouldn't be regrettable, for his family was far more precious. He deeply regretted neglecting his family in pursuit of wealth.
And there was one more reason why he wouldn't regret giving away all his wealth.
There are many kinds of death. If one dies while striving for a purpose, there would be no regrets. In this case, however, it was the betrayal of a trusted retainer. He probably wouldn't have been able to close his eyes even in death.
"That young man is not an ordinary person."
"Yes. Despite his young age, his skills were extraordinary."
"It's not just his skills that I noticed."
"Then what else did you see?"
"I've been thinking about how to express it since earlier, but I can't come up with the right words. That young man has an aura that is indescribable."
He had met countless people in his lifetime. This was the first time he had encountered someone so young with such a composed yet unique atmosphere.
"You can always earn more money, but a connection with a person like that may come only once in a lifetime."
Moreover, the other party was young. Geum Asu hoped that his daughter and grandson would continue this connection into the next generation of the Golden Manor.
"That's why it doesn't matter if he takes everything. The more he takes, the deeper our bond will become."
* * *
I could say with certainty.
I would never enter a treasure vault like this again in my lifetime.
Gold was piled up like a mountain on one side, so much that it hurt to look at. Buddha statues, warrior statues, tableware and ornaments, tigers, toads, turtles, pigs, and every kind of animal imaginable. All made of gold, they were piled up. Initially, they must have been well-organized, but eventually, their number grew so large that they were just stacked like a mountain.
Next to it, a display case held precious jewels. Jewelry such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, and even jade ornaments for women were displayed.
On the opposite side, there were displays of ceramics, and behind them, paintings by famous artists were hung. It was truly filled with all sorts of precious items.
Then, next to that, were things that excited me.
Night Pearls that illuminated the darkness and detoxifying pearls that prevented poisoning if held in the mouth. The detoxifying pearls were especially the highest quality, Blood Poison Pearls, very small in size.
There were five of each. These were more valuable than any jewels here, as they were not easily obtainable even with money.
With joy, I started by collecting the Night Pearls and Blood Poison Pearls. I gathered all of them and put them in my pouch.
Although I had pocketed items of immense value, this was just the beginning.
Next, I put on rings that could be sold at a high price, and stacked bracelets and necklaces on top of each other. I wore so many that they felt heavy.
I looked for something to hold the gold. A large leather pouch would have been ideal, but unfortunately, there was nothing suitable.
Should I take off my clothes and use them to carry it?
While thinking this, I discovered a bolt of fabric standing in the corner. Upon inspection, I realized it was a bolt of silkworm silk fabric imported from foreign lands.
Using my sword, I tore it as large as possible, creating a large cloth bundle, and then swept the gold into it.
Since I could use my internal energy to carry it, I arranged and packed as much as I could in various ways. I left the paintings and ceramics behind due to the risk of them getting crumpled or broken, and also because I wasn't sure of their exact value.
I didn't take the time to consider the circumstances of the Golden Manor's lord. At least when it came to wealth, he was not someone I needed to worry about.
Thus, I filled the entire hour given to me, packing the cloth bundle tightly with treasures.
When I staggeringly emerged from the secret vault, Geum Asu and Geum Sayeon's jaws dropped.
I was carrying a bundle much larger than my own body. It was so large that one couldn't even imagine how much was inside.
Fortunately, the warehouse door was large enough for me to simply walk out; otherwise, I would have had to break through the walls.
"I'll take just this much."
Thud.
As I set down the bundle, the floor vibrated with a thud.
Geum Asu laughed heartily as he saw that every one of my fingers was adorned with rings, and that I had multiple earrings, necklaces and bracelets hung all over my neck, arms, and legs. Heck, I even put rings on my toes and made myself a turbana with the remaining silk to carry more treasures.
"Hahaha!"
"Aren't you supposed to be crying?"
"Indeed, it's sad to see my wealth diminish, but at least I'm glad to know you are not a hypocrite. The hypocrites I know would have taken only a few items to maintain an unnecessary and trivial facade. But how much would they be hurting inside? I absolutely despise those kinds of hypocrites. Greed is one of the most precious and significant emotions that govern humans."
He was a proponent of greed. It was probably due to this greed that he had risen to the position of the greatest wealthy merchant in Fujian Province.
"Tearing the silkworm silk to make a bundle was indeed a wise decision."
"Thank you."
"It's a shame to part. How about a drink before you go?"
"I'm not the type to drink with treasures by my side. Let's meet again."
"If I need help, may I seek you out again?"
"Of course. Until then, make sure to earn a lot."
At my words, Geum Asu laughed heartily. It became evident once again that the more candid I was about wealth, the more he liked me.
"Where should I go if I want to meet you?"
"If you leave a message in the Swallow Tail Inn under the name of the manor lord, I will come to see you."
The Swallow Tail Inn was a secret communication hub run by our cult. It received necessary messages and relayed them to important figures within our organization.
"Indeed, you are no ordinary person."
Geum Asu knew. Only extraordinary people operated such contact points.
"Take care until we meet again."
"I wish you luck in your endeavors."
Having established a deep connection with the Golden Manor Lord, I left the place. Forming a bond with the Golden Manor Lord was by no means a disadvantage for me, so I could leave in good spirits.
* * *
I procured a carriage in the village, loaded it with all the treasures, and headed back to the sect.
On the way back, I sold off gold and treasures. Since it was too much to handle in one place, I visited several locations in various cities to sell the jewels.
Having roamed the Central Plains my entire life, I knew well where to find what and where to sell it. Except for the luminous pearls and the detoxifying pills, I sold all the gold and jewels.
The money I made was entrusted to the most reliable money exchanges in the Central Plains, 'Continental', and 'Wind and Cloud'. The amount I gathered reached a staggering three million eight hundred thousand nyang. It was much more than I had expected.
'Thank you, Golden Manor Lord. Although you may not know it, this money will become the cornerstone of a legendary organization in the martial world.'
I left three million five hundred thousand nyang in the exchanges and took only thirty thousand nyang in promissory notes.
Upon returning to the sect, I went straight to Heavenly Demon Pavilion to meet my father. As always, my father guarded Heavenly Demon Pavilion like an immovable mountain.
Walking along the Path of Blood, as my feet threaded the red carpet, I suddenly had a question.
My father received several reports from Sima Myung daily and made critical decisions. Some would live, and others would die based on those decisions.
Was my father content with this life?
Just as I and Lee Ahn were, wasn't my father also pushed into the position of Heavenly Demon? Could his true desires be hidden deep within his heart?
"I heard you left the cult."
"I went out to make some money."
"Why do you need money?"
"I can't live off your money forever, can I? I think I'll need a lot in the future."
"What do you plan to use it for?"
"I want to have a private organization."
"A private organization?"
My father's expression became slightly stern.
"Even the Demon Lords have their own subordinates, don't they? To deal with them, I need an organization too."
"That's not possible. If you have one, your brother will want one too. Then, the blood relatives or disciples of the Demon Lords will want one as well. Absolutely not!"
I didn't expect to get permission right away in the first place. It wasn't something urgent.
If good subordinates gathered one by one, and eventually the water overflowed, then no one would be able to stop the dam from breaking.
I didn't persist, and my father didn't mention it further.
"Did you make a lot of money?"
"Yes, I made a lot."
I pulled a thick envelope from my chest and handed it forward.
"This is for you, Father."
When my father reached out his hand, the envelope in my hand flew through the air to him. It was an extraordinary display of the Void Telekinesis skill, capable of grabbing objects from a distance with utmost softness and speed.
My father checked the contents of the envelope. Inside was a ten thousand nyang promissory note.
"What kind of money is this?"
"It's your allowance."
"What?"
My father was surprised. The reason he was so startled wasn't because the amount was too large to be considered an allowance, but because of the term "allowance" itself.
"I have plenty of money."
"I know. You're the richest person in the world. The money I just gave you is my first allowance, given out of gratitude for raising me."
After staring at the promissory note for a long moment with an indecipherable gaze, my father suddenly asked.
"Are you trying to flatter me?"
"I'll flatter you a lot in the future, to the point it might be cringeworthy, but this allowance isn't for that. I just wanted to give it to you once. Please rest well, Father."
I bowed respectfully and walked out along the Path of Blood.
His gaze heated the back of my head until I was out of sight. He must have been very surprised.
He had just become the first Heavenly Demon in history to receive an allowance from his son.