Volcanic Age - Chapter 35

Mount Hua in Shaanxi.

“Don’t pardon me,”

Gu Pung bent so low that his head nearly touched the floor.

Elder brother

Yu Jong Mok’s face was worried.

Gu Pung was the best disciple of their generation, even though both of them were third-generation disciples.

Receiving this kind of apology will only cause Yu Jong Mok difficulty.

“I was unable to carry out my duties as the Lotus Peak’s keeper. You caused your disciple to be sacrificed… I sincerely apologize.”

Gu Pung spoke with a guilty tone in his voice. He was unable to adequately raise his head.

He miraculously defeated Yook Dae Rang a few weeks ago, but he was unable to save Ju Seo Cheon.

He reported it to Mount Hua and searched for a few days with the Murim Association warriors, but they were unable to locate him.

They wanted to continue looking for them, but he had to accompany the members of the Lotus Peak back to Mount Hua due to an urgent order to do so.

He hadn’t stopped looking, but he hadn’t found any answers, so he recently came back.

In truth, it wasn’t much different from believing he had passed away.

“I’m entirely to blame. It wouldn’t have happened this way if I had even the slightest faith in your disciple.”

Ju Seo Cheon’s assessment was also totally invalidated.

He was no longer referred to as the flamboyant but weak one.

Ju Seo Cheon performed to everyone’s astonishment.

They were astounded by his attitude of not caring at all about the scorn of those around him, working hard to learn more, and concealing his strength and abilities throughout the process.

Because of this, it was much more terrible.

They couldn’t stop moaning about losing someone with that level of intelligence.

****

Yu Jong Mong had been in Kang Ho for a long time since he became a pinnacle expert. But one day, he heard the news about Ju Seo Cheon and returned hurriedly to Mount Hua, and that day was today.

Gu Pung, who was staying in Mount Hua, heard notices about Yu Jong Mok returning and went to find him first to bow.

“I would like to go to the Nine Fleets of the Water Forest and get revenge but…”

He wasn’t able to move because of his situation.

Even the Murim Alliance was investigating this matter.

There was no way Yook Dae Rang would suddenly ambush the members of the Lotus Peak and the direct descendants of the Zhuge Family if he hadn’t turned insane.

On top of that, based on the information they had it was said that the ships were regulated on purpose in case the group crossed the Yangtze River in small groups.

They were doubting that there may be something behind it as it was a systematic ambush.

“Even though I don’t have a disciple, that doesn’t mean that I don’t know what sadness, rage, and pain that comes when losing a disciple means. It doesn’t matter to me, so please, resent and despise me.”

The masters were like parents to their disciples, and that meant that the disciples were like children to the masters.

Although they shared no blood at all, they were connected by love and a connection that was beyond that.

“I won’t ever….”

Yu Jong Mok wasn’t just listening silently before. He had tried to calm him down but Gu Pung only repeated similar words and continued to apologize. It seemed like he was yelling at him to kill him.

“Senior brother.”

In the end, Yu Jong Mok had to interrupt Gu Pung inevitably.

“Yes.”

Gu Pung put on a determined face.

But the words that came out from Yu Jong Mok were completely different from what he was waiting for.

“I’m fine so don’t be like that.”

“Fellow brother.”

“Acting like that is harder for me.”

Yu Jong Mok smiled bitterly and his eyes seemed somewhat complicated.

“It hasn’t been long since I returned to Mount Hua from Kang Ho. It seems like my body and mind are a bit tired so I need some time alone. I guess that’s why I could feel all those gazes on me.”

“….I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Gu Pung apologizes once again with a dark expression. Yu Jong Mok couldn’t even remember how many times he had apologized.

“So can you leave me alone for the moment?”

“Right, I understand. I’m really sorry for not having been considerate. Have some rest.”

Gu Pung left. His two shoulders were weighing with guilt.

Yu Jong Mok confirmed that Gu Pung had left and let out a sigh.

“Seo Cheon, you were much more amazing than what this master of yours thought.”

He raised his right hand and checked his bosom. A folded letter came out from it.

Yu Jong Mok received a letter when rumors about his disciple spread and it reached the branch of the Murim Association he was at.

The disciple, who was known to be dead, was the sender.

The contents written in the letter were too long. But if you were to summarize it was that he was safe but was asking his master to keep it a secret.

That he was sorry to have made him worry and that he would certainly return with Zhuge Seung Kye.

“I’m worried about you so don’t be too late.”

Yu Jong Mok raised his head and looked at the sky. It was clear weather with no clouds at all.

Weng An, the Golden Business Organization.

Lee Ui Chae ended up buying a house in Weng An as he was most active there.

The prices of the houses in Wen An were so cheap it made you doubt it but it wasn’t weird at all if you thought about the characteristics of Weng An.

People that looked like martial artists were gathered in front of the courtyard. There were ten of them and Ju Seo Cheon had checked them when he entered.

Nine were second rate and only one of them was first rate, which was close to reaching the peak.

“It’s fine if their abilities aren’t that good. The most important thing is trust. It doesn’t matter about the treasury because it will get known later but the group has to be composed of people that won’t escape with the treasures.”

“You don’t have to worry if it’s that.”

Lee Ui Chae put on a reliable smile.

“You aren’t going to say something like they are reliable because they are your blood relatives, right? If that is the case, then I will have to decline. This is a world where even siblings kill each other for treasures.”

“I’m not such a naive person, great master.”

Lee Ui Chae spoke, telling him not to worry.

“The people that are outside are all people that treasure their own families. Also, there’s a person in each family that they have to support.”

“You didn’t take their families as hostages, right?”

Zhuge Seung Kye frowned and 

asked.

“Oh my, young noble Zhuge. I’m not such an evil person.”

Lee Ui Chae shook his hands.

“I made a deal with them. That if they were loyal to me, I would treat and heal their families for free.”

There are times when people did anything for their treasured people and Lee Ui Chae used that love.

“I only searched for people that won’t be able to hold a few days without my assistance. And, I also investigated their character beforehand. Shouldn’t we also consider a situation where they escape with their families after they obtain some treasures? 

Hohoho!”

‘What should I call this?’

Ju Seo Cheon got astounded.

It wasn’t a threat but if you thought about it well, it was no different from a threat.

It was a situation where you could think of it as ‘I may kill your family if you betray me.’

But it was also vague to say that he was evil

In the first place, they were unrelated to each other. Lee Ui Chae had no sense of duty to take care of their family by spending a lot of money on it.

Lee Ui Chae had only offered a deal, not a threat and the ones that accepted were themselves.

“His ability on dealing with people is ghostlike, just like the rumors said.”

Being outstanding in business meant that he was also good at negotiating.

The Merchant King noticed the intentions of the people like a ghost and knew exactly what they wanted.

And he utilized that to get the most profit.

The subjects for that didn’t differentiate between forces such as the Righteous Faction, Demonic Faction, Death Sect, or the Blood Sect.

It wasn’t for the show that he stayed alive until the age of war ended.

“That’s why he is also a scary person.”

Lee Ui Chae understood the emotions of the people better than anyone else. He had to understand them to use that as a means to earn money.

There was no empathy or sympathy behind his understanding. There was no disdain, scorn, rage, or sympathy at all.

He was simply using them as a means to earn money.

“I already told the warriors that they would be raiding a tomb.”

“How did you introduce me to them?”

“I said that you were an expert whose words had to be followed with no complaints. They are people that don’t know your face or young noble’s Zhuge so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Well done. The treasury is in Chongqing. The exact location is here, so send people to a nearby village. We need to contact you quickly when we return.”

Ju Seo Cheon handed out a coded map.

“And this is a decodification method. Memorize it all and burn it down.”

“Ohh, as expected of the great master! The knowledge that can even slap on the honor of Zhuge Liang! You are really omniscient!”

Lee Ui Chae got impressed exaggeratedly and hit his forehead with his palm.

“Kya! This small merchant got so impressed that tears are about to fall.”

“Cry then.”

“Men shouldn’t shed tears easily.”

Lee Ui Chae handed out a pocket that contained travel expenses.

“I will be assisting your trip from the side and from somewhere they can’t see me. Raid up to the heart of the treasury. But of course, you know that treasures are more important than bones right?”

“Head merchant, wipe your drool first.”

“Hut! I made a mistake. Let’s meet again later, then. I hope you have a safe trip.”

Ju Seo Cheon took Zhuge Seung Kye and the ten warriors Lee Ui Chae gave him and left for Chongqing.

Chongqing was filled with martial artists of the Righteous Faction to search for Ju Seo Cheon and Zhuge Seung Kye but that wasn’t the case now.

They couldn’t even see any pirates. It was because the Eighteen Strongholds of the Monsoon Rain had given out an order to be prudent on plundering for the moment.

“They want us to believe in that kid that has just started to grow pubic hair?”

The warriors got dumbfounded when they first saw Ju Seo Cheon before their expedition began.

It was because the expert the head merchant had introduced was a youth that had just come of age.

In the Midlands, one became an adult at fifteen years old. That meant that he wasn’t even a youth.

If they had known that Ju Seo Cheon was actually only twelve, they may have convulsed.

“Sh, shout your mouths. It seems like he really is an expert.”

The only first-rate warrior among the ten of them raised his index finger and placed it on his lips. He was telling them to shut up.

Experts recognized low ranks but contrary to that, low ranks couldn’t recognize an expert.

“Is that true brother Wang?”

Brother Wang was a first-rate warrior, Wang il.

Even though he went by the archaic moniker Wang Il, he was nonetheless a superb warrior who came close to reaching the pinnacle. He was a person who had emerged from the pit to that line, therefore he was revered and had a large following.

“Is he actually skilled in martial arts?”

Because martial arts were not taught to the general public, there was no rank.

It was clear that they were unaware of it.

“You must have seen Captain Ju’s steps and his stiff posture clearly, too.”

“Mm.”

“Don’t turn your head out of pride. We must follow his instructions even though he lacks expertise. Not before he left Weng An, didn’t the chief merchant say that?”

“I apologize, Brother Wang.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. apologize to Captain Ju when we’ve had a chance to recuperate. If we make a mistake, the top merchant might think less favorably of us.”

* * *

Translated by novel miutimmmltiverse

Edited by beetlesme