readsfreenovel Chapter 239 : Daejin Divine Cult
Chapter 239 : Daejin Divine Cult
Heo Yeong-un, the appraiser of the Hwa-un Trading Company, was mired in the greatest dilemma of his life.If he went to that place holding the treasure revered like a god by the Daejin Divine Cult, there was no telling what might happen.
And yet—
He knew all too well how the Hwa-un Trading Company regarded the innkeeper of Seong-un Inn, and Seo the Chef.
In the end, Heo Yeong-un was a merchant by nature. And a merchant never turns away from the path of success, nor does he do anything to incur the wrath of those above him.
After much deliberation, Heo Yeong-un cautiously made a suggestion.
“...I’ve heard that Seong-un Inn is on good terms with many murim factions. How about asking one of them for help and going together?”
Even a merchant valued his life. Heo Yeong-un wanted at least a minimum guarantee of safety.
But that mad innkeeper firmly shook his head.
“That’s not an option.”
“Why not!”
“Because Myriad Gold Manor will notice.”
With that, Jin Seong-un looked at Lee Seowon.
Understanding Jin Seong-un’s thoughts in an instant, Lee Seowon immediately continued the explanation.
“Emergency funds only shine when the enemy doesn’t know about them. If we move with the Sichuan Tang Clan or Wudang Sect, Myriad Gold Manor will catch on immediately. That’s why a small group is best. Moreover, just as the appraiser elder mentioned, if those Daejin people are truly aggressive, bringing a murim faction might only escalate things.”
Lee Seowon spoke fluidly, like someone who had prepared in advance.
There was a strange persuasiveness to Lee Seowon’s words. Whether it was because he was a descendant of the Merchant King, or simply due to his sharp intellect, he had a knack for making people agree with him.
Heo Yeong-un found himself nodding before he even realized it. Every point made was difficult to refute.
“...Very well.”
That was the only thing he could say.
Jin Seong-un, with nothing else to prepare, calmly rose from his seat, while Seo Yu-gyeom boasted to Han Seong-chun that he would find clues about delivery cuisine from various sources.
Suddenly, Jin Seong-un asked Lee Seowon,
“If we want to take over the hot spring commercial district and proceed with development afterward, how much are we short?”
Recently, Lee Seowon had been grasping the flow of all available funds from Seong-un Inn, the Hwa-un Trading Company, Red Cliff Escort Agency, and the Jingzhou Merchants’ Association.
Even so, it was difficult to gain an advantage in the development rights auction against Myriad Gold Manor.
Lee Seowon replied smoothly, as expected.
“There’s no fixed amount, but the minimum to attempt would be fifty thousand nyang. If we exceed one hundred thousand, our chances of winning increase significantly.”
With those words, Lee Seowon looked at Heo Yeong-un.
His gaze asked: if this Night-Glow Pearl is a sacred treasure of the Daejin Divine Cult—one of the largest religious groups in the Western Regions—how much could they offer?
After a brief moment of thought, Heo Yeong-un answered.
“One hundred thousand nyang is completely out of the question. Honestly, even fifty thousand... is no small amount. To be frank, I’d consider around thirty thousand.”
Of course, even thirty thousand nyang was an enormous sum.
The entire Yichang Trading District earned just over twenty thousand gold nyang in a year.
“Anyway, please do your best. We’ll try to draw funds from the delivery business and think of other measures too.”
Lee Seowon said so, and Jin Seong-un nodded with renewed confidence.
Thus began the merchant journey of Heo Yeong-un, Jin Seong-un, and Seo Yu-gyeom.
Following Heo Yeong-un’s lead, they headed toward Gamdeok Prefecture in Qinghai Province, where the Central Plains branch of the Daejin Divine Cult was located.
Originally, the journey of Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom had always been rather monotonous.
They’d run, and run again. When an inn appeared, they’d eat. When a beautiful view caught their eye, they’d stop and admire it for a while.
But this trip was different.
“So, delivery, huh...”
Heo Yeong-un was quite the talker.
He greatly enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. This was typical of those who dealt with fine goods—and of middle-aged men in general.
Since Heo Yeong-un handled fine goods and was a middle-aged man, his talkativeness was only natural.
Moreover, as someone who didn’t know martial arts, he had to be carried by Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom in turns.
Which meant Heo Yeong-un was in the optimal state for chattering.
He had shown great interest upon hearing that Seong-un Inn planned to start deliveries.
Sucking on candied fruit while riding on Seo Yu-gyeom’s back, Heo Yeong-un said,
“Wouldn’t it be better if you just went and cooked the dishes yourself? Instead of delivering the food, deliver the chef.”
“That wouldn’t work. There are too many places to deliver to.”
“Hmm, fair enough. No matter how fast your movement arts are, you’ve only got one body. Unless you were the legendary thief, Divine Thief, or something.”
Jin Seong-un suddenly stumbled, prompting Heo Yeong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom to glance at him in confusion.
“I tripped on a stone.”
“...What?”
Given Jin Seong-un’s level, tripping over a stone was impossible. Seo Yu-gyeom simply shot him a look that said, ‘Here he goes again,’ and let it go.
Heo Yeong-un continued.
“What about preserved or dried food?”
“That’s too common. Seong-un Inn isn’t some second-rate establishment.”
“Well, aren’t you picky.”
As Heo Yeong-un grumbled for no reason, Seo Yu-gyeom looked at him in disbelief.
That was generally how the journey went.
They ran, and ran again, ate, and admired the scenery. In between, Heo Yeong-un’s stories filled every gap.
While Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom occasionally felt the urge to cover their ears, most of the stories were entertaining enough to make the time fly by.
.
.
.
Qinghai Province, Gamdeok Prefecture.
Heo Yeong-un’s chatter diminished significantly.
His face was filled with tension.
Heo Yeong-un knew more about the Western Regions’ culture and news than anyone in the Central Plains. All his main trading partners were connected to the Western Regions.
“I say it again, but...”
“You’ve already told us to be careful a hundred times.”
Seo Yu-gyeom spoke, and Heo Yeong-un gave a frustrated look.
“Tch, no amount of warning is ever enough.”
“Anyway, this place here...”
Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Heo Yeong-un stood a short distance from a manor, watching it.
There were no flags, no symbols. On the outside, it looked like an ordinary manor owned by a moderately wealthy man.
“Should I wait here?”
Heo Yeong-un politely suggested.
But Jin Seong-un replied,
“Having an appraiser beside us makes a big difference in a deal. Please help us just this once.”
“......”
Heo Yeong-un cursed internally.
They’d shared too many stories on the way here. These two, unlike most young people, actually listened to his tales.
In short, he had grown attached.
“...Fine.”
Once again, there was nothing else to say.
With a brightened expression, Jin Seong-un boldly approached the manor and knocked on the door.
“Is this the Daejin Divine Cult’s branch?”
Heo Yeong-un, following behind, froze in horror, while Seo Yu-gyeom muttered, “Is he insane?”
After a brief silence, they sensed someone approaching from within.
Soon, the door swung open, revealing a sturdy middle-aged man with fierce eyes.
“You’ve got the wrong place. I don’t know anything about that.”
“Is that so?”
Jin Seong-un nodded and subtly glanced inside the manor. The middle-aged man stepped forward to block the view.
“Why are you peeking into someone’s home?”
His tone was extremely hostile.
Master Sangwang had said that these people were like Taoists by Central Plains standards, but from what they’d seen so far, they seemed more like butchers or bandits.
“I wasn’t trying to peek. My apologies. But no matter how I look at it, this seems like the Daejin Divine Cult.”
“Stop spouting nonsense. I said I don’t know anything.”
As the atmosphere turned tense, Heo Yeong-un immediately regretted everything. Affection or not, he should’ve run.
Regardless, Jin Seong-un calmly scanned the man up and down and said in a casual tone—
“I am Jin Seong-un, operator of Seong-un Inn in Yichang. I’ve come to resell a treasure. Please inform your superior.”
“Seong-un Inn? So you’re the Guest Dragon.”
“You know of me?”
“Who in the Central Plains these days doesn’t know of you? But even if you were not one of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, but one of the Twenty-Seven Stars of the World, we don’t know anything about a Daejin Divine Cult, so be on your way.”
Just as Heo Yeong-un had warned, Jin Seong-un sensed that their wariness was at its peak.
It made sense—these people operated in remote regions and likely kept to themselves.
So he spoke with more courtesy.
“I’ve come to return the On Gwang Pearl.”
At the same time, the air responded.
A burst of pressure surged from within the manor.
Seo Yu-gyeom raised his inner qi in response, and Jin Seong-un calmly received the pressure like a still lake.
Of course, Heo Yeong-un had already hidden behind Seo Yu-gyeom faster than anyone.
The middle-aged man glared fiercely at them and asked,
“How did you get that?”
“I picked it up.”
Beneath the Emperor’s bedchamber.
He didn’t bother to say that.
Just as Jin Seong-un and the man were locked in a silent staring contest, a quiet voice came from inside.
“Let them in.”
At that, the man, still glaring at them, stepped aside slightly.
Jin Seong-un gave a nod and casually stepped inside.
Seo Yu-gyeom followed right behind, while Heo Yeong-un hesitated. Turning around, Seo Yu-gyeom grabbed his sleeve and tugged him along.
As someone with no martial arts, Heo Yeong-un fluttered behind like a paper doll blown in the wind.
.
.
.
Jin Seong-un sat across a dining table from an old man. Unlike the brawny man from earlier, the old man had the air of a lofty Confucian scholar.
Behind Jin Seong-un stood Heo Yeong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom. Behind the old man stood the earlier man and other martial artists, lined up like pillars.
The old man gazed deeply at Jin Seong-un before speaking.
“Few today know of the Daejin Divine Cult. How did a young man like yourself come seeking us?”
“I heard about it from the appraiser behind me.”
Jin Seong-un deliberately refrained from excessive honorifics. A negotiation must take place on equal footing.
The old man didn’t seem to mind and gave a small nod before continuing.
“I see. So you have the On Gwang Pearl? And you intend to sell it back to us?”
“Precisely.”
With that, Jin Seong-un placed the Night-Glow Pearl, said to be the treasure of the Daejin Divine Cult, on the table.
A flicker of emotion crossed the old man’s eyes, which had been as serene as a white crane’s.
He didn’t need to inspect it—he knew at a glance it was their sacred treasure.
‘Is it because of that aura?’
Jin Seong-un felt a faint warmth from the Night-Glow Pearl. He could sense the same aura from these people—a foreign energy, distinct from the inner qi of the Central Plains.
The martial artists behind the old man began emanating pressure. Their gazes were fixed solely on the Night-Glow Pearl.
They looked like people who had finally found a stolen heirloom.
‘So this is what the appraiser meant.’
Jin Seong-un understood Heo Yeong-un’s warning.
Their pressure was dark and oppressive—enough to unnerve even seasoned masters.
Negotiations must occur between equals. If one side began by suppressing the other with force, even the most skilled merchant would struggle to get a fair price.
Indeed, if not for Seo Yu-gyeom shielding him, Heo Yeong-un would have fainted already.
The old man made no attempt to stop his subordinates’ display of force. Their greed for the treasure was palpable, and Jin Seong-un’s gaze turned cold.
“Well now. I can’t tell whether you’re cultivators or raiders. Let me be clear—I came here as a merchant. But if you’re intent on a show of force, then I suppose I must play the martial artist.”
With those words, Jin Seong-un unleashed his own presence.
There was no reason to let them think they had the upper hand.
RUMMMMBBLE—!
The two forces collided head-on, shaking not just the table and chairs but the entire building.
Faint surprise appeared in their eyes.
Even though they had heard of the Guest Dragon, none had expected a young martial artist barely in his twenties to unleash such power.
Most people reacted the same way upon meeting Jin Seong-un for the first time.
“Judging by your reactions, it seems this truly is your treasure. Which makes me your benefactor, doesn’t it?”
Jin Seong-un stared calmly at the old man. Even as the opposing pressures remained, the old man’s gaze stayed tranquil.
The old man asked,
“Where did you find it?”
“In the Secret Cave of the Merchant King.”
“Our ancestor sold it to the first Master of Myriad Gold Manor, and you stole it back, is that it?”
The old man subtly implied it had been stolen. He was trying to argue that Jin Seong-un had no rightful claim to the treasure.
If the Merchant King had personally purchased it, he’d have the right to resell it. But if someone had stolen it in transit, the Daejin Divine Cult could simply reclaim it.
Jin Seong-un replied calmly.
“I inherited it from the Merchant King. So it wasn’t stolen—it was passed down.”
“Hah. And why should we believe that? The Merchant King’s bloodline is said to be extinct—even the current Myriad Gold Manor has no trace of it. That’s why we never recovered our relic.”
Jin Seong-un realized they knew more than he expected.
So he offered,
“Shall I prove it?”
In a flash, Jin Seong-un’s Straight Saber was drawn, gleaming faintly. At some point, Seo Yu-gyeom was already holding the Heaven-Slaying Dagger.
The men behind the old man drew their own unusually shaped swords.
While Heo Yeong-un chanted repeatedly, “I’m just an appraiser, just an appraiser, just…,” the old man stared at the trio before finally speaking.
“I’ll offer you one thousand nyang.”
At that moment, Heo Yeong-un’s eyes shot open. Sometimes, merchants forgot their fear—usually when money and injustice were involved.
“Are you insane? One thousand? At the very least…”
He was about to shout ten thousand.
He’d initially estimated thirty thousand, but if they were offering something as absurd as one thousand, some compromise was needed.
But Jin Seong-un spoke faster.
“Two hundred thousand.”
“…….”
Everyone turned to Jin Seong-un with stunned expressions.
Even the composed old man frowned, while the warriors behind him looked dazed.
They were too dumbfounded to even maintain their pressure. Their expressions simply darkened.
Even Heo Yeong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom on either side of Jin Seong-un wore similar looks.
Unbothered, Jin Seong-un repeated,
“Two hundred thousand.”
After all, negotiation was all about momentum.