One punishment, a hundred warnings.
Murong Sang-a showcased her rightful authority and the martial power to enforce it as an example.
Since the Murong Family is of the righteous sect, they would avoid bloodshed. The basis for their resistance disappeared in a single incident.
Meanwhile, the Kang Family Business, which had been resisting Murong Sang-a, all stopped their resistance and began to surrender unconditionally.
The acquisition of the remaining Kang Family businesses was wrapped up swiftly without further bloodshed, thanks to a single example.
“Head of Guards! Pay special attention to the budget allocated to that girl, Sang-a.”
“Yes, Deputy Head of Family. I will make sure it gradually withers away, keeping a close eye on it.”
The problem Murong Sang-a faced was ultimately due to a lack of financial power.
Deputy Head Murong Bi had seized control of the family and placed a member of the Demonic Cult as the Head of Guards.
All the flow of money within the Murong Family centered around Murong Bi, while Sang-a was given only a nominal budget.
The budget contained a plea for her to slowly wither away rather than maintain her power. But now, the situation had changed.
“I will be expanding my influence based on the funds from the business.”
Murong Sang-a began actively taking care of those who had not abandoned her during her tough times.
She started offering new positions, raising salaries, feeding them elixirs, and even taking care of the families that her subordinates were responsible for.
“I will dedicate my loyalty!”
It was only natural that the existing loyalty would strengthen as their treatment improved.
“They say there are two suns in the Murong Family. I will make sure everyone knows.”
While existing facilities were sufficient for operating Spear Peak, they were far too insufficient to serve the new sun.
Just as Deputy Head Bi resided in the Head of Family’s Hall, she began expanding her own living space and the area for Spear Peak and her growing influence.
“What a wretched girl. Money is just rotting away.”
Although Murong Bi came to her, throwing a comment, she did not respond.
It was an enormous expense for expansion, but ultimately it was for the sake of the Murong Family.
The people of the Murong Family murmured behind the scenes as Murong Sang-a went in earnest to confront Bi, but they couldn’t openly intervene.
“Miss, the reinforcements for Spear Peak have been completed.”
“Good job.”
The money Murong Sang-a spent wasn’t just for buildings.
She lavishly threw money to invite numerous martial artists as retainers, and some were even integrated into her Spear Peak.
This included martial masters she had secretly asked for help.
In reality, the reason one cannot purchase something is simply that they cannot pay adequately.
By the morals of the martial world and under their banners, even the most earnest requests would not suffice for the martial masters to come over. However, in front of gold coins, they arrived with greedy eyes shining.
Murong Sang-a bitterly chuckled at this fact.
‘Thanks to the generous help, I’ve come this far.’
Murong Sang-a recalled the face of her husband, engraved in her heart.
Now, she could finally take the first steps on the path to seek forgiveness from him.
She was preparing for a counterattack against the vile minions of the Demonic Cult.
That’s how Murong Sang-a thought.
“Miss, I have something to tell you.”
The Great Lord of Spear Peak wore an expression that suggested a dreadful story awaited even before he spoke.
“What is it?”
“It seems the barbarians from the Northeast are causing trouble, and the royal family has requested support from the Murong Family for suppression.”
“And?”
“Well… the Elders’ Council has decided to pull most of the personnel from Spear Peak.”
“What did you say?”
——————
It is often said in the martial world that matters of the martial world should not be interfered with by the government.
This means that the government does not involve itself in martial affairs. But this only permits sects and clans to cough a little in their settled places; it does not mean they can defy the emperor’s commands.
To suppress the rebellion of the Northeastern barbarians, troop deployments are made.
No martial family would dare to defy the royal family’s words. Furthermore, due to the nature of the royal family that handles martial artists recklessly, the troops dispatched are unlikely to return entirely.
After much deliberation, the Elders’ Council of the Murong Family reached a conclusion.
If it’s hard for them to return fully, then why not send out troops that don’t need to come back at all?
Moreover, seasoned troops that would not allow for any complaints.
“We have come to requisition the Spear Peak.”
The Elders’ Council of the Murong Family.
Upon hearing the news, Murong Sang-a hurried alongside the Great Lord of Spear Peak to find the Elders’ Council.
“It’s already decided by the Elders’ Council. It cannot be undone.”
“It must be your elder brother’s decision, not the Elders’ Council’s.”
To decide the large and small affairs of the family, the Deputy Head must obtain the Elders’ Council’s approval. However, the current Elders’ Council was of one mind with the Deputy Head.
“Ha! How unseemly!”
“What kind of manners are you showing to the elders of the family?”
“Do you think we quietly overlooked the expansion of Spear Peak?”
“Was that a quiet overlook? I thought I was filling the treasury of the Elders’ Council with what came from my own pocket.”
Murong Sang-a raised one corner of her mouth in a smirk, mocking the Elders’ Council.
“……”
The Elders were taken aback, and they exchanged glances that said, “Did you all receive it too?” at her bold declaration.
‘Disgusting, incompetent snakes.’
Murong Sang-a looked at the Elders with a cold glare that made those who had taken money from her flinch.
She couldn’t believe that her father had led such people and laid the foundation for the family’s revival.
“Ahem. Regardless, a decision is a decision. It cannot be changed.”
“I didn’t come here to change it.”
No matter what she said, she could not refuse the royal’s demands. Murong Sang-a knew that fact too.
“So then?”
Murong Sang-a looked at the Elders’ Council, waiting for an answer.
Blind to the decay of the family, these greedy incompetent old men.
Even now, she wished to tear them apart immediately. But doing so would only lead to her own demise while failing to take revenge against the vile Demonic Cult.
To challenge Murong Bi, she needed to feed these abhorrent, greedy snakes and turn them into her allies.
‘Just as the esteemed one did.’
The esteemed one had come to the mouth of a tiger, risking his life for her.
Although he had no martial skills and no power, he deceived the Demonic Cult minion Murong Bi and obtained what he wanted.
What kind of heart did he come here with? She still couldn’t fathom that intent.
On the other hand, she had the power to obtain what she desired from those disgusting beings.
The overwhelming power he left behind.
After a brief pause, Murong Sang-a finally spoke.
“Please return the right to participate in the decision-making of family management.”
What Murong Sang-a aimed for was the right to participate in family decision-making when the Head of Family was absent.
“Ha! Are you implying that you want to take the Deputy Head position again?”
“I’m not asking for the Deputy Head position. I’m simply asking to return what was taken from the Elders’ Council without my father’s decision.”
“Ha! To give that back, we’d have to consult with the Deputy Head.”
Why should we go through that trouble? Murong Sang-a could read those thoughts from the faces of the Elders.
Now was the time to wield the power she had received from him.
“This month, I will double the treasury of the Elders.”
“It seems that’s worth discussing with the Deputy Head…”
“Cough. It could be a bit…”
At her bombshell declaration, the Elders began to murmur.
“It seems the greed increases with age.”
She quietly criticized the greedy old men of the family.
“What is this all about!”
“That’s rude!”
“Your disgrace!”
“What?”
“I’ll make sure you get enough to eat so you can get sick. If that’s not to your liking, I suggest you start managing your weight from the next day.”
Will you eat four times as much, or will you stop receiving it altogether?
They were not so foolish as to miss her intentions, even if they were greedy.
No one dared to point out her arrogant behavior upon hearing “four times.”
She was no longer the pitiful girl begging them like before; she had become the one feeding them.
In the end, the Elders’ Council accepted not only Murong Sang-a’s proposal but also additional suggestions.
———
“Miss, you’ve worked hard.”
In Murong Sang-a’s office. The Great Lord of Spear Peak looked at her with a face filled with admiration.
“Form the expedition with the sub-leader and the elite.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to recruit new people from outside?”
The Great Lord of Spear Peak found it odd that Murong Sang-a’s words focused on recruiting new members attracted by money, as the men would become expendable.
“We’re going alongside the Azure Dragon Terrace’s Five Squads, so loyalty is required.”
“Isn’t the Azure Dragon Terrace’s Five Squads made up of Demonic Cult members secretly introduced by the Deputy Head? Could you explain why you wanted them recruited as an additional proposal to the Elders’ Council?”
The Azure Dragon Terrace’s Five Squads was nominally a new troop formed by the Deputy Head, but in reality, it was mostly comprised of Demonic Cult members.
While no skilled masters trained to significantly stand out to infiltrate the Murong Family, they were a force that could greatly help Murong Bi when needed.
However, since they were considered expendable troops within the Murong Family, the Elders who did not know their true identity approved their recruitment.
“Once we head out, ensure that they are all sent to their deaths at the right moment.”
In battle, there would be plenty of opportunities to kill.
For instance, by ignoring their request for help when surrounded by the barbarians or ambushing the Azure Dragon Terrace upon their return after suffering injuries.
If Murong Bi tried to diminish her forces, she would erase the secret force he had prepared.
“Miss, I agree we need to deal with the Five Squads. But if we kill them all, people will point fingers at you.”
The weaker of the two factions that set out together has perished. Especially when the two factions are in opposition, rumors would certainly arise about whatever conspiracy was at play.
“Finger-pointing? I’m not afraid of that at all.”
As long as she could achieve her singular goal, she didn’t care what people said. Murong Sang-a brushed it off lightly.
“Miss, regaining the family requires public trust. You now have more than enough financial power. You can take your time to build your influence. You need to think about the future.”
There will come a time when opportunities arise without shedding blood.
“Public trust? Great ambitions? The future? Were those things able to restore this family? I’ve been laying down a foundation for resurgence through conspiracies, tricks, and murder.”
With the loved one. With the family of the loved one.
Murong Sang-a unconsciously fiddled with the ring on her left hand, feeling a stabbing sense of guilt.
“Miss…”
Why do you proceed as if regaining the family will end everything? The Great Lord of Spear Peak couldn’t vocalize the words that rose in his throat.
“I will rely on you, Great Lord of Spear Peak.”
“I’ll now go out to arrange the troops.”
The Great Lord of Spear Peak had no choice but to answer based on his trust in his lord.
Murong Sang-a watched until the Great Lord of Spear Peak, who bowed and left, was out of sight.
It was essential to have someone who would speak the truth to her.
Not to walk the right path, but to look towards the right path before being criticized in hopes of finding a better way.
—————
After half of Spear Peak was dispatched alongside the Azure Dragon Terrace’s Five Squads, the Great Lord of Spear Peak returned to Murong Sang-a.
“Miss, I have news to share.”
“What is it?”
“……”
Is it really okay to say this?
The Great Lord of Spear Peak hesitated, looking at Murong Sang-a, who was now no longer just a mere martial artist but was taking on the appearance of a candidate for the Head of Family.
“There’s much to do. Speak quickly if you have something to say.”
“Regarding… Kang Yoon-ho.”
