Chapter 184: The Gentlemen of the Night
Dang Mujin responded immediately.
“Have you finally lost your mind?”
If Namgung Myung had any sense of shame, he should have felt embarrassed. Instead, he squared his shoulders, seemingly unbothered by his own words.
“Why? What’s the problem?”
“How could you possibly steal from there…?”
“To ease their suffering.”
“What nonsense… Anyway, how did you come to that conclusion?”
Namgung Myung sighed deeply, as if exasperated by Dang Mujin’s lack of understanding, and began to explain patiently.
“Listen carefully. Master Yu has to repay that money. But the owner of Mangumjang doesn’t want to accept it.”
“So?”
“If the money stays in Mangumjang, the owner will have to deal with it eventually. But remember his expression? Just knowing the money is there is killing him. At his age, he should be enjoying his grandchildren, not suffering over money!”
Namgung Myung conveniently ignored the fact that the owner of Mangumjang was blind, but Dang Mujin chose not to point it out.
“Namgung Myung, you know how Master Yu and the Flash Sword earned that money, right? And you still want to take it?”
“Of course I know. That’s why I can’t just leave it be.”
Namgung Myung continued with a determined voice.
“Remember when the owner said he’d rather throw the money into the sea than use it? Did that sound like a joke to you?”
Dang Mujin hesitated.
“Well… no, it didn’t.”
“Think about it. How would you feel if I threw away the money you worked your whole life to earn?”
“Obviously, I’d… hmm.”
“Imagine the Flash Sword watching as the owner throws his life’s earnings into the sea. He wouldn’t be able to rest in peace.”
It was a convincing argument, but Dang Mujin couldn’t agree so easily. The problem wasn’t the story itself, but Namgung Myung’s appearance.
A man in a dark mask on a moonless night couldn’t persuade even a three-year-old.
Dang Mujin glanced around, expecting Hyun Gong and Hong Geolgae to share his skepticism.
Surprisingly, Hyun Gong nodded in agreement with Namgung Myung’s reasoning.
”…It’s a persuasive argument.”
“What?”
“We need to act, for the owner’s sake.”
In truth, Hyun Gong had already made up his mind. Of everyone present, he was the one who needed money the most.
Though not as destitute as the Jeomchang Sect, the Wudang Sect was also struggling financially. In terms of hierarchy, Jeomchang was at the bottom, followed by the Beggars’ Sect, and then the Wudang Sect.
While large factions often ran businesses or escort agencies, sects like Wudang couldn’t openly engage in profit-making ventures.
They relied on donations, which required establishing branches and recruiting disciples across the land. The problem was, Wudang only had one branch in Luoyang.
To earn money, they needed more branches, but to establish branches, they needed money. It was a frustrating situation.
‘If I can secure a large sum here, my influence will increase significantly. Even a quarter of the money Master Yu gave to the owner would be enough to establish a couple of branches.’
Having branches as a base would be a great asset in his journey to become the sect leader.
Even if he didn’t become the leader, controlling a few major branches would make him a key figure in the Wudang Sect.
While Hyun Gong was calculating the situation, Dang Mujin asked a sensible question.
“But wouldn’t losing the money the Flash Sword worked so hard for cause the owner even more pain?”
“Not at all. Just having the money disappear from sight would bring him peace. Out of sight, out of mind. If he can’t see it, the pain might vanish too.”
Hyun Gong seemed equally unconcerned about the owner’s blindness.
However, if you interpret it as the presence of the money affecting the owner’s peace of mind, it makes some sense.
“Let’s assume we go to Mangumjang. How do you plan to find the money? Are you going to search the place for the money pouch?”
“The owner said he wouldn’t touch the money pouch. It should still be in his office.”
Dang Mujin scoffed at Namgung Myung’s words.
“That’s easy to say, but would he really leave such a large sum untouched? It’s a significant amount, even for the owner.”
Namgung Myung clapped his hands as if pleased.
“Then let’s do this. If the money has been moved, we leave everything as it is and walk away. But if it’s still on the owner’s desk, we take it. How about that?”
Dang Mujin pondered. If the owner’s words were empty or if he was greedy, he would have moved the money by now.
Conversely, if the money was still untouched, it might mean he genuinely didn’t want it.
‘In that case, maybe we really could take it…’
Dang Mujin was being swayed by Namgung Myung and Hyun Gong’s arguments, though he didn’t realize it himself.
“If we take the money, what will we do with it?”
“We’ll split it four ways.”
Hong Geolgae realized he was naturally included but didn’t object. The momentum was clearly moving towards all of them entering Mangumjang together.
Dang Mujin asked, “Why four ways? What about Master Yu?”
“Master Yu doesn’t want the money back, so we exclude him. After we take our share, we can discreetly support the Jeomchang Sect. So, in reality, it’s five ways.”
“Hmm.”
“Think about it. The Flash Sword would prefer this outcome. The debt is repaid, the Jeomchang Sect and Master Yu benefit, the owner is relieved of his burden, and we get a little commission. What do you think?”
Hong Geolgae, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.
“That’s all well and good, but I don’t need the money. I’m from the Beggars’ Sect.”
“Really? Then Dang Mujin, you take Hong Geolgae’s share. We’ve been indebted to your family clinic for a while, and with Young growing up, you’ll need the money.”
Raising a child doesn’t require that much money, but just the mention of his child was enough to sway Dang Mujin. It’s a man’s instinct to want to be a capable husband and father.
In the end, Dang Mujin nodded.
“Alright. If there’s nothing on the desk, we leave immediately. Even if the money is just under the desk, we leave. Got it?”
“Of course. Let’s go.”
Namgung Myung pulled out three more masks from his robe.
The four of them arrived at Mangumjang under the cover of darkness, only to be met with an unexpected scene.
“Why are there so many people?”
Contrary to Dang Mujin’s assumption that everyone would be asleep, there were plenty of people still awake despite the late hour.
The main gate of Mangumjang was still open, and occasionally, carts would come and go.
“Large trading companies or the residences of high-ranking officials are often like this. It’s not the first time, so don’t worry.”
Namgung Myung spoke with confidence, befitting someone experienced.
However, his confidence soon waned.
Unlike during the day, there were martial artists scattered around Mangumjang, and they didn’t seem like pushovers.
“That person over there, how skilled do you think they are?”
“I’m not sure. But they don’t seem like someone we can ignore.”
Mangumjang often sent first-rate martial artists with their trade caravans, so it was possible that first-rate martial artists were guarding the place.
The problem was that some of them seemed more skilled than just first-rate. In the dark night, with little movement, it was hard to gauge their abilities.
As they hid in the shadows, trying to assess the martial artists’ skills, Namgung Myung pointed to someone.
“That person over there is a top-tier master.”
“How do you know?”
“I know him. It’s Sama Hong from the Sama family.”
“What? Why is someone from the Sama family here at Mangumjang?”
The Sama family was quite renowned, known for their powerful martial arts.
Before parting ways with the eccentric master, he had once suggested that Dang Mujin and Dan Seol-young consider becoming guests of the Sama family.
“Mangumjang has a lot of money, and those people need money. And that person standing in the corner looks familiar too. I think it’s Heo Baek from the Huashan Sect. It seems they’ve sent people to earn some operating funds for their Luoyang branch.”
The situation was more complicated than expected. Tension crept onto Dang Mujin’s face.
“If we’re not careful, we might get caught too. Let’s just go back.”
But Namgung Myung spoke with renewed determination.
“If I intended to retreat easily, I wouldn’t have put on this mask. The moment we crossed the wall, the game began.”
“What game… Anyway. Do you have a plan?”
“I do. Hong Geolgae, I need your help.”
Hong Geolgae, who had been idly standing by, widened his eyes.
“Me? What do you need me to do?”
“I’ll explain now, so listen carefully. It won’t be difficult.”
Heo Baek, the deputy head of the Huashan Sect’s Luoyang branch, was gazing at the dark night sky.
For two months, he had been spending his days at the Huashan Sect’s Luoyang branch and his nights guarding the owner of Mangumjang. His days and nights had become reversed.
‘What a life.’
When I first got assigned to the Luoyang branch, I was over the moon.
Living a life of training and meditation on Mount Hua wasn’t all that bad. But even a Taoist, after decades of the same routine, can feel their spirit twist with boredom.
To give these Taoists a change of pace and to expand the influence of the Mount Hua Sect, those who reach a certain level are occasionally sent to branch outposts for a couple of years before returning.
During their time away, they enjoy a fair amount of freedom. It’s an unspoken rule that no one interferes if they indulge in food rich with energy or wander through the alleys of taverns.
Among the cities with Mount Hua branches, Chang’an and Luoyang are the most popular. They’re the largest cities with the most to offer.
The problem this year was that the recruitment for secular disciples didn’t go as well as hoped. The Wudang, Kunlun, Qingcheng, and Mount Hua sects all recruited around the same time in Luoyang, which didn’t help.
Of course, when the main Mount Hua Sect recruits, people flock in droves, but the branch’s recruitment doesn’t spark the same frenzy.
In the end, the Luoyang branch of Mount Hua couldn’t meet its recruitment goals, and I, Heo Baek, found myself working at the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion to earn operating funds for the branch, even as a sub-branch leader.
“If only I could catch a petty thief or two.”
The security pay at the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion is split into a base salary and performance bonuses.
If you’re lucky enough to catch an intruder, the bonus is hefty. Some have made a small fortune by capturing thieves. After all, the owner of the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion is the wealthiest merchant in the land, and many thieves covet his riches.
“But there’s no way a petty thief would sneak in here… Huh?”
I spotted something dark moving in the shadows.
It was a movement that stood out, subtly secretive, unlike the staff at the pavilion. My heart raced.
“A thief? Could it be? Judging by the way they move, they seem to know some martial arts.”
Catching a thief skilled in martial arts would mean an even bigger bonus. My fingers itched with anticipation.
“Though it’s unlikely, it would be great if the thief were a top-tier master.”
Capturing a top-tier thief alone would earn an enormous bonus, enough to significantly support the Luoyang branch’s operations and allow me to relax and enjoy life.
“Even if they’re not top-tier, a first-rate thief would be more than enough.”
A first-rate thief would mean a slightly smaller bonus, but catching them solo would still be worthwhile. I discreetly hid myself, keeping an eye on where the shadow had disappeared.
After some time, a figure emerged from where the shadow had vanished. Despite the dark night, my skills, honed to near perfection, allowed me to easily gauge their martial prowess. First-rate.
“Perfect.”
I quietly surveyed my surroundings. Sima Hong, who was standing nearby, seemed oblivious to the intruder’s presence.
I employed the Qingyun Body Technique, moving towards the building where the shadow had disappeared, taking care not to alert Sima Hong more than the intruder.
I rounded the corner of a small building and peeked out, locking eyes with the intruder.
Strange attire, masked face. Definitely a thief. I grinned broadly and drew my sword.
“Hey there, gentleman thief. If you don’t want to get hurt, stay put.”
In the very next moment, I sensed three more presences surrounding me.