Chapter 316

In my subjective opinion, the lady Nam Moon-hae of Zhangxing Company is downright despicable.

Everyone in Nakeun thinks the same way, and if the folks from the Central Plain knew the truth, they wouldn’t hesitate to spit.

Because the ancient, primitive, and uncivilized Central Plain isn’t exactly an easy place to survive, there aren’t any fools spouting nonsense about how life is precious and morals are everything.

But despite being a hundred times deserving of death, and honestly needing to die at least three thousand times over, she was still the precious daughter of Nam Moon-seong.

No matter how guilty she was, you can’t imagine what a father feels when he has to watch his child being taken away.

Especially knowing that she might end up tossed to his enemies, the horrifying conclusion is too dreadful to even imagine.

However, Nam Moon-seong was a giant who built the finest company in the city.

An ordinary old man would’ve just wallowed in despair, lamenting his fate, but instead, he sought a solution.

So he called his three sons and said.

“We need to get Hae-a back. Who among you will go?”

“Father? Please calm down. Can you explain what you’re talking about? Where are we supposed to go?”

“Where else! We’re going to Nakeun!”

Nam Moon-seong shouted.

“You need to bow your heads and plead for forgiveness. And throw around some gold coins. Aren’t they just poverty-stricken beggars swept away by the flood anyway? Yes, go and toss thirty coins at Nakeun Jihyeon and don’t forget to take care of Hyeonseung too.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve said it many times, public sentiment can be bought with money. If you claim your family has died, throw ten coins each. After all, those guys, even if they lived, would never earn more than ten coins in their entire lives, and the survivors will probably chuckle and say they’re glad they died while their families were safe. They’ll lament that their family should’ve been totally fine instead of regretting not living.”

If Qing heard this, he’d be baffled.

If only he had thought of this sooner, back when Qing was sweating it out as a carpenter and healer, if only floods of comforting gold had poured in.

Then Qing wouldn’t have needed to set fire to the hearts of the Central Plain folks.

But since he never thought of it, it’s quite inevitable.

Still, even if it was a late response, Nam Moon-seong’s gold would surely have some effect.

So the problem is time.

Before the despicable beggars ruin his precious daughter, he needs to smooth things over.

“Spend as much gold as you’d like. Go scatter money right now. And that girl.”

A thick hatred flickered in Nam Moon-seong’s eyes.

“Oh yes, she’s the treasured daughter of that Great Hero of Zhengpai, so no one dares to lay a finger on her.”

Originally, the Zhangxing Company was fortified by strong warriors who served as retainers.

Didn’t they even take in one of the legendary Three Heroes of the Martial World?

But that hero has left them, slapping them in the back as he goes, saying he’ll leave with his cherished daughter in case a new upstart or the Best Female Martial Artist shows up.

How could they dare confront someone that even he wouldn’t face?

Thus, the other warriors started to sneak away one by one, saying it was time to leave.

Moreover, with no time to ask the government for help, there was even less time to ask the sect that constantly bled them dry for protection, leaving a cacophony of chaos at home.

“I swear, even if I have to spend all my wealth, I won’t let that girl slip away. If I can’t touch her in Zhengpai, I can always ask those heterodox sects for help. So who’s going?”

“Father? Where are you wanting us to go this time…”

“Sado Sect! Tell them we’ll give a thousand coins if they kill Cheonhwa-geom!”

Previously, the bounty on Unyeonjeong (Seomun Qing) was ten thousand coins, so a thousand seems rather paltry.

But comparing that bounty to the astronomical sums the Blackspots rake in from dealing with various illegal items across the Central Plain is a tad harsh against the once mighty Zhangxing Company.

“This isn’t the time to be standing around. Who knows when Hae-a will reach Nakeun. How much money do we have on hand? We need to prepare right away!”

And with that, Nam Moon-seong burst up and dashed out the door.

His remaining three sons exchanged glances.

Suddenly, the youngest, who’s now the third son, spoke up.

“Hey, brothers? We need to talk. What money are we flinging around? Has the old man lost it? What’s so special about that girl she’s worth uprooting everything?”

The company’s wealth is mostly tied to credit transactions, and the little cash they have wouldn’t even suffice to sprinkle in Nakeun.

Ten coins per person means, even excluding the cases of the entire family being wiped out, they’re looking at spending over a thousand coins.

And questioning the local officials about mishandling funds because of unfortunate weather is one thing, but they need to show goodwill to the older folks in Henan Province too.

Plus, the bounty is another thousand coins?

“If we keep this up, we’ll all be broke. Besides, if that girl returns safe and sound, all that’ll happen is she’ll sit pretty atop her heir status again. Isn’t that old man just throwing money out for a single daughter? I can’t take it anymore!”

Hearing that, the other two looked at the third son.

They’ve never been close brothers, always regarded each other as rivals.

But right now, at this moment, there was a mutual understanding, a deep connection in their eyes.

—-

If you want to talk about the talk of the town in today’s Jang An, of course, it’s about the greatest victory achieved together by the Best Female Martial Artist, the great Seomun Qing, and ten thousand crowds.

Though, after adding it all up, the crowd barely hit one thousand.

But that’s how legends work; they grow bigger than life to boost your own pride.

This isn’t so much lying as it is an instinct of humanity across all times and cultures in East and West.

Thus, Cheonhwa-geom must be a Great Hero.

The one leading such a glorious victory must surely be great, elevating his status even higher in this historic moment.

And so, the Great Hero Seomun Qing is the most brilliant martial artist of all time.

Also, she’s the beauty that would make even Seossi blush and look down, not just the Best Beauty of the World, but the unparalleled beauty through ages.

And she’s a heavenly maiden descended to earth to watch over the common folks.

Truly, among the common people, she is the greatest, being a woman, a singular gem, the prettiest flower.

She has immediately bloomed as a spectacular red flower among the masses.

Maybe ‘red flower’ is a bit too delicate. She’s more like a fierce, regal flower.

Wait, how about ‘Scarlet Flame’?

A sudden shiver raced through everyone!

What is this feeling!

No one knows, but this is just the beginning of a new nickname spreading through the fervent support of the common folks.

Scarlet Flame Seomun Qing!

And there were those who teared up dramatically.

The great supreme deity moves, and even the proud folks of Jang An bow down and follow obediently like loyal hounds!

My shining light!

The most precious sun in the world!

The ‘Scarlet Flame’ is not a flower, but a fire.

A red flame, that divine flame will blaze in the human realm, truly becoming the flame of rebellion.

When that time comes, the whole world will finally realize who their true master is.

With her rightful authority, she will unite the world, like the flame and the flower!

The loyalty of the cult members swells.

They were already almost brainwashed since childhood, but now, it’s fair to call it outright madness.

If your life is worth less than a single command from her, calling you crazy is the least you should expect.

Thus, Qing’s name was soaring, preparing to pierce the sky.

And with the strength of the common people, our guests’ power feeds us, we must reclaim the authority of the merchants!

This resolve spreads like wildfire, and as if to stoke the flames further, news surfaced the very next day.

The leader of Zhangxing Company has collapsed!

Apparently suffering a horrific blow, limbs twisted, face contorted, unable to speak a proper word—the man has become a mere shell.

Truly, it is divine punishment.

Otherwise, how could such a vigorous old man become a fool overnight?

Of course, only three people saw things differently.

“Father, your life is astonishingly long. How is it that you haven’t died from such strong poison? Hmm. Was it the medicine that made a difference? What was it again? Supposedly a hundred-year ginseng from Goryeo; I see it’s quite effective.”

“Well, dear brother, the poison has to have a strong enough smell to slip into the medicine. You know, he gulped it down thinking it was a health tonic.”

“Isn’t this a better picture? If you last longer like this, we might finally earn the title of dutiful sons. Don’t you think?”

Hearing that, Nam Moon-seong’s insides twisted in agony.

Though he lay down unable to do anything but blink his eyes and tremble the tip of his pinky, his consciousness remained, locked inside his poisoned body.

This is why the ginseng from Goryeo is considered among the strongest, revered as the king of ginseng.

“Father, you probably can’t hear this, but please don’t get too upset. Do you remember when I was young and tossed a coin to a beggar? You slapped my face. Saying I didn’t value money, that a merchant’s son shouldn’t be so soft; you wanted me to be tough. I still vividly remember that. So I’ve become a tough guy. Now, it’s hard to pour out precious money just to save Hae-a.”

“Exactly. You always say to be a taker, not a giver, and if you’re being taken, you’re a fool. But what about us? Do we have to uproot everything in the family just to save one girl? Are only daughters children? I’m genuinely upset about this.”

“Anyway, it’s his own doing, so don’t be too upset. You know, I never once felt brotherly love in my life. I bet he betrayed his own brothers to get here, right? Did we ever consider that sly girl like a sister?”

And then the second brother laughed.

“Oh. But now, I kind of understand what brotherly love is. Since Zhangxing Company is finished, we should split up and help each other out like brothers.”

“To be honest, it was always about the oldest or the youngest. What about second brothers like me? It’s like I’m not even a kid anymore. The second brother at least got a decent match. What about me?”

“Decent? You think you’ll end up with some rotten potato? Damn, the daughter of the Prefectural Governor? I won’t be allowed to take a concubine at this rate.”

“Then the second brother can take on the liquor business. Isn’t that a good hustle?”

“Hey, third brother, wow, when did you get so smart? Okay, I’ll take on the liquor business. Since we’ve got a new owner now, maybe we should share a drink for the first time as brothers? After all, it’s out of respect for our father’s collapse, right? Older brother, you coming?”

“Cough! You think I had it easy just because I’m the oldest? Starting now, let’s give up on the competition and become partners instead. Let’s put all our grievances behind us.”

That was the moment the bond of brotherhood, something they had never experienced before, began to take root.

After all, until now, they had never been brothers, merely rivals competing to inherit Nam Moon-seong’s estate.

Yet now, there was no need for that.

Witnessing his children bond so well broke Nam Moon-seong’s heart.

He had utterly failed at raising his kids, and it was pitch-black ahead.

Three parricidal brats blinded by greed, and a notorious witch that killed three thousand lives in her wake.

Bloody bastards, do you think you’ll escape unscathed?

You’ll get divine punishment!

You will be punished!

Now, Nam Moon-seong is left seeking the heavens.

A fool who can’t even wiggle a finger.