readsfreenovel Chapter 225 : Secret Cave
Chapter 225 : Secret Cave
“Seong-un, it seems you don’t think of yourself as a martial artist. Am I right?”At the gentle question from the Wudang Sword Immortal, Jin Seong-un quietly nodded.
“Yes. My dream is merely to do business peacefully.”
“Now that I think about it, that makes sense.”
The Wudang Sword Immortal nodded in agreement.
Jin Seong-un was not someone driven by grand ideals or chivalry.
He only acted when someone disrupted his business or threatened the people at his inn. It just so happened that those people were usually villains.
There were few cases where those who came to a well-run inn and made a ruckus for all sorts of reasons weren’t evil.
‘It’s the same reason why someone like Gi-ryong of the Orthodox Faction turned out that way.’
Jin Seong-un didn’t strictly divide people into Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic Factions.
That was why he liked the Wudang Sword Immortal even more.
He simply acted from the perspective of the common folk, as a mere innkeeper, and yet that inadvertently resembled chivalry.
The Wudang Sword Immortal considered that to be true chivalry.
“I can understand you, but the world may not see it that way. They’ll endlessly try to restrain you, lure you in, and some might even cross the line.”
“Is that so?”
“To the current Murim factions, you're in a very appetizing state.”
“...It’s not like I’m some Cheongtang Bamboo Stew.”
As Jin Seong-un looked at him incredulously, the Wudang Sword Immortal smiled gently.
“You’re not from any sect or clan, and you don’t even have a master. Seeing you in person helped me understand Hyeon-un’s feelings. To be honest, I’d like to bring you into Wudang myself. But I assume you’d refuse?”
“...Yes.”
Jin Seong-un had no intention of joining a Murim faction. That would be equivalent to declaring he intended to live as a martial artist rather than as an innkeeper. Besides, he already served the Martial Gods as his masters.
The Wudang Sword Immortal continued.
“I figured as much. But aside from Wudang, many others will bother you for a while. Especially Chief Strategist Sima Baek, who’s known for his greed for talent, and the Tang Clan, who are obsessed with old grudges. If you ever need help, come talk to me. I’ve got a great method to resolve it all at once.”
He looked at Jin Seong-un with a sly smile.
“There’s such a method?”
“Just lie and say you became a disciple of Wudang.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Wouldn’t it be up to the Sect Leader? But if the lie is exposed, it would be embarrassing for both sides, so drop by Mount Wudang at least once a week. Train with the disciples, eat and sleep there, and eventually, we’ll give you a Daoist title.”
“...”
“Baekcheon (白天), no, Baekjin (白眞)? Anything would be good. Then later, we could even lie about you being my disciple, and maybe even the Sect Leader someday…”
The Wudang Sword Immortal’s eyes gleamed.
Startled, Jin Seong-un took a step back.
“Ahem, just joking. Anyway…”
Since things were getting awkward, the Wudang Sword Immortal changed the subject.
“Myriad Gold Manor will definitely make a move.”
“They likely will.”
“What do you plan to do? Depending on how the Imperial Court reacts, this fight might become unwinnable.”
His tone grew serious. The collusion between Myriad Gold Manor and the Demonic Cult was a grave issue. If the Imperial Court backed Myriad Gold Manor, it would become even more severe.
Jin Seong-un, after a brief pause, spoke in his usual unconcerned tone.
“I plan to do what I’ve always done.”
The Wudang Sword Immortal recalled Jin Seong-un’s past actions and nodded.
“Good. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask. Our Wudang Sect is not the kind of sect that turns its back on its disciples’ hardships… even if it's a joke.”
Watching Jin Seong-un already halfway out the door, the Wudang Sword Immortal spoke with a baffled look.
Jin Seong-un figured if he stayed any longer, he’d be stuck listening to more of the Wudang Sword Immortal’s jokes.
As he hurried to flee, the Wudang Sword Immortal called out:
“Want to give the Taiji Wisdom Sword another try?”
Jin Seong-un stopped in his tracks.
Previously, in exchange for taking in the children, the Wudang Sect had made him face the Taiji Wisdom Sword.
He had tried to break it but ended up fainting.
A rare spark of curiosity and competitive spirit flickered in his eyes.
‘I am curious, but…’
If he fainted again, he’d have to stay several more days at Wudang.
He wanted to hurry back to his inn, and more than that, escape the Sword Immortal’s heartfelt jokes.
As his inner conflict deepened, the Wudang Sword Immortal unsheathed the Songmun Ancient Sword and said:
“You tried to break the formation by targeting the flaw in the Taiji Wisdom Sword last time. But what if I told you I’ve refined it over the past few days?”
“...”
Though Jin Seong-un considered himself a mere innkeeper, he couldn’t deny his curiosity toward martial arts.
Letting out a short sigh, he drew his Straight Saber.
The Wudang Sword Immortal grinned broadly.
“Let me know when you're ready.”
“I’m ready.”
“I really like that you don’t make things complicated. You truly resemble our Wudang Taoists.”
“…”
By the time Jin Seong-un tried to ignore it—
The Wudang Sword Immortal’s presence suddenly shifted and surged forward.
His sword carried many things at once.
Push and pull, black and white, heaviness and lightness… all opposing forces were strangely balanced within a single blade.
Jin Seong-un tried, as before, to find that minute flaw and slice through it.
His eyes soon widened slightly.
‘Illusion (虛)?’
Previously, there had been just one barely visible flaw.
Now, there were countless.
In other words, except for one among dozens or even hundreds of cracks, all the rest were illusions.
The corners of the Wudang Sword Immortal’s lips curled in amusement.
How will you respond?
It was as if he was silently expecting something.
Jin Seong-un looked at the countless flaws before swinging his Straight Saber.
A dark-colored trail followed the saber’s path.
One line, two lines, three lines...
In an instant, the trails filled the air chaotically.
In less than half a breath, his saber unleashed dozens of strikes.
Black Wolf Saber Art, Thousand Wolf Flashes (千狼閃).
If he couldn't distinguish truth from illusion, then he would simply cut down everything.
The Wudang Sword Immortal's astonished eyes gradually filled with greed and certainty.
‘As expected!’
It wasn’t for nothing that he wanted to bring Jin Seong-un into the Wudang Sect. Wudang was already strong and had no shortage of masters. They didn’t need to desperately recruit talent.
But there was an area only Jin Seong-un could reach.
Just as he had previously discovered a minute flaw in the Taiji Wisdom Sword that no one else had seen, now he had found another method to break through it.
Jin Seong-un was someone who advanced martial arts just by being.
The Wudang Sword Immortal simply wanted to train and research martial arts alongside him.
Zzzzeeeeeeng—!
Taiji Wisdom Sword and Thousand Wolf Flashes.
They were legendary sword and saber arts, colliding head-on to unleash a massive shockwave.
Jin Seong-un was flung backward.
In the end, he failed to slice through every flaw.
However, unlike before, he didn’t faint.
As he corrected his stance and caught his breath, the Wudang Sword Immortal, who had been silently observing him, let out a laugh that sounded more dazed than admiring.
“Haha…”
He had grown again.
It was genuinely astonishing.
He believed Jin Seong-un was guaranteed to reach Huajing (化境)—the realm commonly referred to as the rank of absolute masters—but thought it would take a long time.
It was far more difficult and esoteric to reach Huajing from Peak Master Level than to rise from Third Rate to Peak Master.
It inevitably required years of enlightenment, experience, and deep contemplation.
That’s why he assumed it would take Jin Seong-un at least ten years to reach Huajing, even at best.
In truth, considering that most masters of Huajing had white hair, reaching it before forty would shock the heavens.
‘…I must correct myself.’
At most, five or six years.
The Wudang Sword Immortal was now certain.
That overwhelming martial talent was closing the gap of time at a terrifying pace.
While others might gain one insight from a single battle, Jin Seong-un gained three—or even dozens. What others called “years” took him mere days.
As reverence for such genius welled up within him—
Jin Seong-un noticed the Wudang Sword Immortal’s eyes getting stranger and hastily offered a clasped-hands greeting.
“Thank you for your guidance.”
Then he immediately ran off.
A wise decision.
For in the Wudang Sword Immortal’s mind, thoughts like “If I took that child as my direct disciple, how much backlash would there be from my first-generation disciples?” were beginning to form.
“W-Wait! Seong-un, I have something important to tell you. This time I’m not joking…”
But Jin Seong-un was already gone. The Wudang Sword Immortal smacked his lips in regret.
“I look forward to next time.”
Though Jin Seong-un hadn’t yet broken the Taiji Wisdom Sword completely, it had been a remarkable attempt. His saber art was astonishing, though it had not fully landed.
Before long, that child would refine his saber arts further and break through the Taiji Wisdom Sword.
And the Wudang Sword Immortal would once again refine it to evolve the Taiji Wisdom Sword.
Thus, the two of them became like teachers giving one another homework.
Jin Seong-un left Mount Wudang with Seo Yu-gyeom, who had been teaching Wudang's chefs how to cook, and Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak, who had been training day and night.
Though the Wudang Sword Immortal, Hyeon-un, and the Taoists of Wudang all expressed deep regret, they couldn’t remain at Mount Wudang forever.
The group headed straight to Yichang.
Perhaps because they had traveled across Gansu, Sichuan, and Hunan provinces recently, moving within Hubei Province felt very brief.
As usual, by the time Seomun Ak and Seo Yu-gyeom had grabbed each other by the collar twice over some petty quarrel, they had safely arrived at Yichang.
“We’re back.”
Jin Seong-un said, taking in the sight of Seong-un Inn.
His body and mind were somewhat fatigued, as if he had returned from a very long journey.
Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak didn’t look much different. To them as well, Seong-un Inn already felt like home.
Only Moyong Hyeon showed a complicated, subtle expression. Watching him, Seomun Ak grinned.
“Shall we start training the junior inn waiter?”
Jin Seong-un gave a small nod.
At that, Moyong Hyeon snapped,
“I’m not a waiter! I’m in charge of accounting!”
“At an inn, the waiter handles the accounting too. That’s just common sense.”
“What are you even saying!”
Moyong Hyeon jumped like someone scammed, while Seomun Ak dragged him off behind the inn.
Jin Seong-un was overcome with a sense of nostalgia.
Since when had the scoundrel Seomun Ak become such a respectable senior inn waiter?
While Jin Seong-un smiled warmly, Han Seong-chun, Lee Seowon, and Jang Gwang rushed out from the inn.
Upon spotting Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom, the three brightened up immediately. After all, the Seong-un Inn felt most stable when both Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom were present.
Lee Seowon asked cautiously,
“By the way, who was that being dragged off by Seomun?”
“Oh, that’s Moyong Hyeon. He’ll be working at our inn from now on.”
“Moyong Hyeon… the eldest son of the Moyong Clan? You mean the Sword Dragon?”
Jin Seong-un nodded. As expected, this General Manager knew just about everything—it was fascinating.
Lee Seowon continued speaking.
“Phew, this inn is getting stranger by the day. Well, it’s fine. It wasn’t exactly a normal place to begin with. And... I’ve heard the news.”
Lee Seowon spoke with a somewhat serious expression.
Jin Seong-un nodded.
Since he had come from the Wudang Sect, it seemed the rumors had reached Yichang ahead of him.
Lee Seowon recalled the face of Ha Cheong-a he had seen before and said,
“To see the innkeeper calmly accomplish the things I once considered the lifelong wish of my life—it leaves me feeling strangely conflicted.”
“This is only the beginning. And I will be needing the help of our General Manager more than ever from now on.”
He had killed third-born Ha Joo-yeon and second-born Ha Cheong-a.
It was as if he had pruned away all the minor branches.
Now, only the pillars—Myriad Gold Manor and Ha Joo-myeong—remained.
Jin Seong-un believed Lee Seowon, who knew the current Myriad Gold Manor better than anyone and had the sharpest mind, would be of great help.
Though moved for a moment at the feeling of drawing meaningfully closer to his goal, Lee Seowon quickly composed himself like the strategist he was and said,
“We’ll need to monitor how the Demonic Cult, the Heavenly Poison Alliance, and Ha Joo-myeong respond. I’ll prepare in advance.”
“Thank you.”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
Facing Lee Seowon, who always looked ahead, and Han Seong-chun and Jang Gwang, who steadfastly held their posts, he felt once more that he was truly home.
Jin Seong-un immediately went to see the Martial Gods.
After explaining everything in detail, the Merchant King appeared pleased with his disciple’s achievements, though he could not fully hide his bitterness.
“So Myriad Gold Manor has truly fallen that far. Even if the eldest son had no direct ties to the Demonic Cult, claiming ignorance would be unreasonable.”
“I think so as well.”
“At this point, it’s shameful to even call them Myriad Gold Manor.”
The Merchant King, the first Master of Myriad Gold Manor, had a sorrowful expression.
There was a trace of guilt for having handed the manor over to such people due to his own inadequacies—and shame for leaving its restoration to his young disciple.
“I’m sorry to have burdened you with such a heavy load.”
Jin Seong-un looked squarely at the Merchant King and responded in his characteristic calm tone.
“I too have received what is due from my masters. This is merely a fair transaction.”
As a merchant, the Merchant King understood that his disciple said this to ease his burden.
The Merchant King nodded.
“We are merchants, yes, but also master and disciple. ‘Transaction’ is no longer the right word. If ever things feel overwhelming, stop and ask for help. Our regrets are old and stale. And we are not bound by the rush of days and hours. There’s no need to hurry.”
Every word carried the Merchant King’s guilt and concern for Jin Seong-un.
Feeling this, Jin Seong-un responded,
“Isn’t it also a disciple’s duty to fulfill the wishes of his master? As both merchant and disciple, I’m simply doing what I must. Please don’t worry too much. And I’m not fighting alone.”
He had Seo Yu-gyeom and the Peak-Level Seomun Ak.
He had Jang Gwang, Han Seong-chun, and Moyong Hyeon.
Outside the inn, there was the Wudang Sect, the Tang Clan, the Hwa-un Trading Company—all standing beside Jin Seong-un and facing the same direction.
The Merchant King looked at his disciple and smiled faintly.
At that moment, the Martial Gods felt that what bound them to Jin Seong-un was no longer a simple transaction, but the true bond of master and disciple.
From the side, Divine Thief spoke to the Merchant King.
“Hey, don’t just talk—give the kid something while you're at it. I even handed over Dragon Armor, didn’t I? What, you stingy or something? You begrudging your disciple a gift?”
The Merchant King fell into brief contemplation.
It was true—teaching him one saber art and then asking him to destroy Myriad Gold Manor was hardly fair.
The Merchant King was the greatest merchant of ancient and modern times. He knew how to weigh what he gave and received objectively.
After thinking, he finally spoke.
“There’s a Secret Cave (秘洞). I prepared it during my lifetime to secure funds in case of a crisis for Myriad Gold Manor. All of it is stored in that cave.”
Jin Seong-un’s curiosity was piqued.
Already, Seong-un Inn, the Jingzhou Merchants’ Association, the alliance between Hwa-un Trading Company and the Tang Clan, and the broader Hunan trading district under the Anchaesa—these all poured in vast wealth by the day.
In truth, there was no lack of money for any endeavor.
It was simply pure curiosity.
As a merchant, he was curious about what form and scale the secret fund of the man once called the greatest merchant in history had taken.
“It’s been a long time. Will it still be intact?”
“There are things in this world that even time cannot touch.”
Jin Seong-un nodded. If the Merchant King spoke so confidently, then it must be so.
Divine Thief chimed in.
“And only now you mention it? What, were you hoarding it even in death because you couldn’t bear to part with the money?”
“That’s not it.”
The Merchant King frowned.
But Divine Thief, basking in his rare moment of triumph, wasn’t going to let go so easily.
“Then what?”
Regardless of the teasing, the Merchant King looked long and hard at Jin Seong-un before finally saying,
“Only seek out that secret cave when you truly have no other choice. Just approaching it means staking your life.”