Episode 198: The Victor Claims All

The warriors of the Sama family realized the situation too late and tried to resist, but they were no match for the monks of Shaolin. With both the renowned monk Cheongwook, a candidate for the next Six Masters, and the current Master Shinseung present, they never stood a chance.

It took less than a quarter of an hour to subdue all the Sama warriors.

“Stand up straight.”

Cheongwook, with a dismissive air, kicked the energy centers of the defeated Sama warriors, rendering them powerless. Not a single warrior of note remained among the Sama family.

After everything was settled, Cheongwook approached Dang Mujin.

“Dang benefactor, how have you been?”

Cheongwook’s voice was warm and friendly. Even setting aside the incident with the Shaolin wooden dummy, Cheongwook was one of the few close friends of the enigmatic Dang Mujin.

Dang Mujin respectfully greeted his master’s friend.

“I’ve been well, thank you. It’s been a while.”

“And Sama Jeung? I don’t see a few familiar faces. Did they manage to escape?”

“Sama Jeung, Sama Yugong, and Sama Song are dead.”

Cheongwook examined Dang Mujin’s appearance. Not a scratch on him, his clothes immaculate.

“To have achieved such a feat? Impressive.”

“I was just lucky.”

“If Sama Jeung could be subdued by mere luck, he wouldn’t have been able to control the Sama family. You’re too modest.”

A few days before the operation, Dang Mujin had sent a message to Shaolin through Namgung Myung.

The plan to create patients with blocked meridians, risking madness or death, was a method only the most unscrupulous would choose. Shaolin’s intervention was expected from the start.

Cheongwook murmured, “Seeing the bones piled up in the dungeon, it seems countless outsiders were sacrificed. Thanks to you, we could nip this evil in the bud. Though perhaps it’s too late to call it a bud…”

Dang Mujin and Cheongwook watched as the members of the Sama family, bound with ropes, were thrown into a corner of the courtyard.

One person stood out, glaring at them with fierce eyes—Sama Rin.

Knowing Sama Rin’s dark intentions, Dang Mujin merely chuckled and let it go. The price of coveting a married man was not light.

“What will you do with the Sama family?”

“The men will spend their lives in Shaolin’s repentance hall, and the women will be sent to Emei’s dungeon.”

Dang Mujin knew the Emei dungeon well, having been imprisoned there himself. A place with no sunlight, only thick bars and stone walls. Even masters with immense internal energy couldn’t escape, let alone those without any.

“Isn’t Emei too far? It’s all the way in Sichuan.”

“There’s no choice. Others dislike imprisoning non-sect criminals in their dungeons.”

“Hmm.”

Listening to Cheongwook, Dang Mujin realized he still had tasks to complete.

“Are you leaving for Songshan tonight?”

“It’s too late for that. I’ll sort things out for a day or two before departing.”

“May I treat the patients with blocked meridians?”

Cheongwook laughed at Dang Mujin’s request.

He saw in Dang Mujin the spirit of an old friend, treating patients regardless of their status or affiliations.

“They might not appreciate it. Dying at the right time might be less painful than living imprisoned for decades.”

Dang Mujin shrugged lightly.

“What can they do if they don’t appreciate it? They’re powerless. I can just knock them out and treat them.”

“You resemble your master in strange ways. Are you sure treating them won’t cause problems? Like giving them immense internal energy?”

Dang Mujin shook his head.

“Their energy centers are broken, so they can’t gather internal energy. Nothing will happen.”

“In that case, it’s fine. Stay at Shaolin with the prisoners and treat them.”

“The women can’t enter Shaolin, can they?”

“They’ll be held in the village below until someone from Emei arrives. You can continue their treatment there. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Understood.”

Cheongwook, looking pleased as if gazing at his disciple, moved on to wrap up the day’s work.

The next day, as the sun rose, the number of people coming and going from the Sama estate increased significantly. With Shaolin monks still present and onlookers and officials arriving, the place was bustling.

While the presence of onlookers was expected, the arrival of officials was surprising. The authorities usually preferred to stay out of martial affairs.

“Why are those officials here?”

Dang Mujin asked, and Namgung Myung replied.

“Martial artists don’t just live by the sword. The Sama family ran businesses and escort services, and they owned quite a few shops. The officials are here to handle the property issues.”

“Is that how it usually works?”

Namgung Myung shook his head.

“Normally, when sects fight, the victorious sect takes over the defeated one’s assets. But this time, Shaolin subdued the Sama family.”

Unlike other sects or families, Shaolin monks shun material greed. They can’t actively take over and manage the Sama family’s businesses.

If Shaolin doesn’t claim the rights, the Sama family’s businesses, like their trading and escort services, would be left ownerless and fall apart. The officials are here to prevent that.

Hong Geolgae commented dryly, “Having so much complicates the aftermath.”

Beside Hong Geolgae was Wang Jincheong, a child who had suffered from blocked meridians.

Though Wang Jincheong had been imprisoned for over three months, his health was surprisingly good. Considering the deteriorated condition of the woman imprisoned with him, Wang Jincheong seemed to be naturally robust.

Dang Mujin patted Wang Jincheong’s head and asked, “What will you do with him?”

“Not sure. There’s nowhere to leave him.”

“You said he was originally a beggar, right? Kaifeng isn’t far from Luoyang. Why not take him to the Beggars’ Sect in Kaifeng?”

Dang Mujin thought it was a reasonable suggestion, but Hong Geolgae wasn’t convinced.

“Taking a beggar to a beggars’ den to leave him with beggars? Something feels off.”

This time, Hyun Gong chimed in.

“Why not leave him with the monks? There are plenty around.”

Again, Hong Geolgae shook his head.

“If he becomes a Shaolin monk, he can’t leave Songshan freely. Wang Jincheong is still young. He should be able to choose his own path.”

Wang Jincheong, seemingly not keen on joining Shaolin, clung closer to Hong Geolgae and nodded.

“So what will you do?”

“I think taking him to Chongqing and leaving him with Hongmyeon Nogae or Hwayeon Shinni would be best. The Beggars’ Sect there is doing quite well.”

Hong Geolgae seemed to have made a reasonable choice, but everyone except him could vaguely foresee Wang Jincheong’s future.

The kind-hearted Hong Geolgae would end up raising Wang Jincheong himself, just as Ma Jeon Gae had once cared for a young Hong Geolgae.

As the group chatted, a new group entered the Sama estate.

There were about thirty of them, and they didn’t seem to be martial artists, judging by their nervous expressions.

“More officials?”

“They seem higher-ranking than the ones before.”

Several high-ranking officials were present, surrounded by over twenty soldiers. But the focus of the group wasn’t an official.

The high-ranking officials seemed to be escorting an elderly man and a middle-aged man. The elderly man, unable to see, used a cane to feel his way—Man Geum Jangju, and his right-hand man, Seo Chonggwan.

The moment they recognized the two, Dang Mujin’s group was taken aback.

‘Why bring a blind old man all the way here?’

They quickly hid their presence and retreated to the guest house.

While the five, including Wang Jincheong, were lounging in the guest house, the door quietly opened. All eyes turned to the entrance.

It was a familiar face, but not one they wanted to see here. Man Geum Jangju and Seo Chonggwan were entering the guest house. Dang Mujin regretted his decision.

‘We should’ve hidden in the storage room instead.’

The group quietly stood, intending to slip out of the guest house.

But Seo Chonggwan stopped them.

“Please wait. The master came here knowing you were in the guest house.”

The group looked like children caught sneaking snacks with their father’s money.

Dang Mujin hesitantly spoke.

“Hello, Master Man Geum Jangju. What brings you to the Sama estate?”

“Officials came knocking at dawn, causing a fuss. With the Sama family’s businesses gone, many would be in trouble, so they asked for my help.”

Given the Sama family’s influence, their businesses were vast. In the wide expanse of Luoyang, only Man Geum Jangju could absorb the Sama family’s numerous shops, trading, and escort services without issue. It was only natural for the officials to seek him out.

But this was also a highly favorable offer for Man Geum Jangju. The Sama family wouldn’t have been running unprofitable businesses.

The officials bundled up the prime businesses of the Sama family and handed them over to the Golden Pavilion, reaping the benefits. Meanwhile, the owner of the Golden Pavilion easily acquired the Sama family’s prized enterprises.

The only ones losing out were the Sama family. But since they were in no position to protest, no one cared.

Tang Mujin responded with a still uneasy expression.

“You’ve been through a lot…”

“Your voice lacks confidence. What’s the matter?”

No one answered. As Tang Mujin and his companions exchanged awkward glances, the perceptive Chief Seo ushered Wang Jincheng out of the guest room.

The owner of the Golden Pavilion broke the silence.

“Why so tense?”

”…Pardon?”

“You all brought down the Sama family, and I swallowed them up with ease. In a couple of years, I’ll have recouped that money and more.”

The phrase “that money” carried a weighty implication.

In context, it should refer to the investment made to take over the Sama family’s business or the money distributed to the officials. Yet, it seemed to mean something else entirely.

Tang Mujin, Hong Geolge, and Hyun Gong turned their gazes to Namgung Myung. In such situations, the instigator should step up.

But Namgung Myung avoided their eyes, feigning ignorance.

Finally, Tang Mujin shot Namgung Myung a glare and spoke up.

“When did you find out?”

“Find out what?”

“The money on the table…”

The owner of the Golden Pavilion burst into laughter.

“Of course, I knew from the start. Think about it logically. The only people who knew that money was in my office were me, Yoo Jin-gwang, Chief Seo, and you. If it disappeared without a trace, who else could it be?”

Tang Mujin and Hong Geolge flinched, realizing they’d been caught.

However, Hyun Gong reacted differently. Among those mentioned by the owner, one person was absent.

“Oh dear, Yoo Jin-gwang…!”

Hyun Gong shamelessly tried to implicate Yoo Jin-gwang, but Hong Geolge and Tang Mujin quickly clamped their hands over his mouth.

Unlike Hyun Gong, Tang Mujin and Hong Geolge still had a sense of decency.

The owner of the Golden Pavilion spoke again.

“Don’t feel indebted. You deserve that money.”

“What?”

Tang Mujin’s eyes widened as if he’d heard something strange, and the owner chuckled, amused.

“Tell me, what do you think a merchant is?”

“Someone who trades goods, right?”

“Correct. But more fundamentally, a merchant is someone who assigns value to work and goods and pays for them.”

The owner spoke calmly.

“You traveled to the far north, risking your lives, and saved the son of my old friend. I’m a merchant, and I intend to pay for what you’ve done.”

Then, the owner posed an unexpected question.

“What I want to know is, why did you take the money secretly instead of accepting it openly?”

“What?”

“What’s the matter? Chief Seo, didn’t you inform them?”

Chief Seo, who had been listening quietly, shook his head.

“No, I did. I told Namgung Myung outside the tavern to come to the Golden Pavilion tomorrow to collect the money.”

A memory flashed through Tang Mujin and his companions’ minds.

The day they snuck into the Golden Pavilion, Namgung Myung had insisted they not harm anyone, even in a dire situation.

That made sense.

Namgung Myung had declared he would take responsibility if anything went wrong.

But this was odd. Namgung Myung wasn’t one to accept responsibility so easily.

And crucially, Namgung Myung was the type to steal something only to sneak back and return it later. He found satisfaction in the act of stealing, not in the stolen goods themselves.

Would someone like Namgung Myung really run off with a fortune?

Everyone in the guest room awaited Namgung Myung’s response.

Finally, Namgung Myung spoke.

“Because what you earn is more valuable than what you are given.”

As always, Namgung Myung spouted nonsense.