What did you just say? (6)
Who is the wealthiest person in the world?
Some might immediately think of the emperor. After all, there couldn’t be anyone in the world wealthier than the emperor.
But the riches within the emperor’s palace have meaning only within those palace walls. There are those who believe that you can’t truly call someone ‘wealthy’ if they don’t have the freedom to use that wealth.
Others might think of Golden King [황금왕 – 黃金王], the head of the Central Plains Treasury, Sok Taerip [석대립(石大立)], or Sok Noya [석노야(石老爺)].
Within the Central Plains Treasury, the largest financial establishment of the Central Plains, an unimaginable amount of money and promissory notes change hands daily. The owner of the Central Plains Treasury, and one of the two owners of the Central Plains Tenth Division, Sok Taerip, is considered the true wealthiest figure in the Central Plains.
However, some might shake their heads at that statement.
In the world, there is more undisclosed wealth than revealed wealth. Those who truly control wealth exist in the shadows, not in the bright world.
Militias that annihilate entire three-generation families with a mere touch of their hands for meddling without authority, and everything from illegal gambling to human trafficking and all sorts of black money flows through their hands. They are considered the wealthiest in the world.
Even if there’s some exaggeration in that statement, there’s probably no one who would deny that the lord of the Black Ghost Fortress, the largest estate in the world, is a tycoon who holds more wealth in three fingers than anyone else.
The lord’s chamber in the Black Ghost Fortress Manor where the head resides was surprisingly plain. Well, it would be more fitting to say it was austere rather than plain.
An old, dusty desk, a worn and wobbly chair, and a wall filled with scrolls and ledgers were all the items in that room. In a shabby, nondescript room where not a single orchid blossom could be seen, people had gathered. Each of them wore a solemn expression.
Kkiiiiik.
The old chair on which Mangeum Daebu sat let out a squeak. Instead of speaking, Mangeum Daebu’s hand, which habitually rolled the abacus incessantly – at least as long as he was seated at this desk – expressed discomfort through the sound, rather than speech.
His hand that usually never stopped manipulating the abacus had come to a halt at this very moment.
“Where?”
Mangeum Daebu’s lips released a chilling voice.
One of those standing in front of him with a stern face opened his mouth.
“There are individuals in Hangzhou who are engaging in slaughter. According to the information we’ve confirmed so far, they seem to be… the cultists of Magyo [Magyo = Demonic Cult].”
A slight twitch crossed Mangeum Daebu’s lips.
“Magyo?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“…It’s difficult to say we’ve confirmed it perfectly. However, survivor from the Hangzhou branch have relayed this information.”
“There is a survivor?”
Mangeum Daebu narrowed his eyes.
“If they were able to confirm that they were facing Magyo, it’s unlikely they fled immediately upon encountering them, right? They must have let them go.”
“It seems they did.”
“That’s strange.”
Mangeum Daebu leaned back in his chair.
“Even if we assume the stories about the Magyo from the past are true, you wouldn’t miss such a fact. Still, do you have a reason to label them as Magyo?”
“…The survivor said so.”
“That’s not a precise…”
“Actually, it’s someone who used to be a survivor. They skinned his face, plucked out his eyes, cut off both arms, and put holes in his body, telling him that if he wanted to live, he should only run forward.”
“…”
Even the head of the Black Ghost Fortress was momentarily at a loss for words.
When the Rear Guards discovered that survivor, he had already lost his mind. Magyo. He kept repeating that Magyo had come until he fainted from exhaustion and passed away.”
“…Seems to be true.”
A sigh escaped from Mangeum Daebu’s lips.
To call them cruel would be an understatement. It might even be somewhat akin to calling them courageous. However, this had crossed a line. No matter how ruthless the Sapa might be, even they wouldn’t kill people in this manner. Only those who no longer saw others as human beings could commit such acts.
“Magyo… Magyo. In Hangzhou…”
Mangeum Daebu’s finger rose above the abacus. But despite several attempts, his trembling finger couldn’t bring itself to move.
“It’s all gone wrong. This is the worst possible time.”
At that moment, Wi Chung[尉充], with a cautious glance, discreetly spoke up.
“Lord, I’m not sure if this is going too far, but…”
“Leave out the unnecessary details. Get to the point.”
“Yes, Lord. Even though the times have changed, dealing with Magyo has always been the business of the entire Central Plains. Instead of using our forces, wouldn’t it be wiser to inform everyone and seek their support?”
“Perhaps it should have been that way.”
“What? If you say…”
“It’s just that the timing isn’t right. If it had been earlier, of course, it would have been the way to go. Actually, there’s no need for such troublesome matters. Just letting them know that Magyo has appeared should have been enough for those factions in the far north, who were frolicking around the riverbank, to come running forward and fight with them.”
After all, wasn’t it the factions in the north who ultimately blocked the Heavenly Demon in the past?
“But not now.”
“Why… Ah, the Gangnam treaty!”
Mangum Daebu nodded.
“That’s one reason, but a bigger reason is that the current center of the orthodox factions, which can be considered the heart, Shaolin, is in a standoff against Maninbang on the Yangtze River. Will those who were growling at each other suddenly change their attitudes when they see Magyo appear?”
“…?”
“If that’s possible, then they’re not people, but truly Buddhas or divine beings. It will take at least a considerable amount of time.”
Mangum Daebu casually glanced at his own reflection.
‘The timing is just terrible.’
The strategy that Jang Ilso had intended, deploying everyone in confrontation on the Yangtze River, had resulted in the worst possible outcome. But who could blame him?
Would there have been anyone in the world who predicted that Magyo’s remnants, who had not revealed their presence for a hundred years, would choose this exact moment, this city, to reappear?
‘If the deadlock on that river isn’t broken, and they don’t move their forces, it’s the worst.’
But at the same time, it’s possible. Since both Maninbang and Shaolin are in a situation where they can’t pull out first. If no one bends, they’ll have to hold their ground until the knives come flying from behind. That means only Black Ghost will have to deal with them. That Magyo.
Mangeum Daebu’s hand quickly bounced the abacus ball.
“Magyo can’t possibly have preserved its power as it did in the past. At most, they wouldn’t exceed the level of thirty percent. So, you should consider that they can’t reach the practical power they had.”
The reason for this judgment is simple. In the past, the power that drenched the Central Plains was mainly derived from the existence known as ‘The Heavenly Demon.’
Mangeum Daebu naturally thought that the existence of Cheonma was exaggerated. If all the legendary stories were true, then they were something beyond human.
But the human ‘Cheonma’, once you removed all those absurd legends, was equally formidable. Since such an entity no longer existed, the current Magyo they were seeing wouldn’t be the Magyo they knew. They couldn’t be.
The movement of Mangeum Daebu’s hand as he bounced the abacus ball quickened.
“…Lord.”
Tak!
And finally, Mangeum Daebu’s hand, which had opened wide, pressed firmly on the abacus. His face, now displaying a resolute determination, was as icy as frozen water.
“…Wi Chung.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Gather any useful individuals.”
Drrr…
The sound of the abacus beads grinding against each other rang eerily.
Mangeum Daebu, with his coldly settled face, inquired,
“They mentioned that they specifically let the survivor go, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“That implies they wanted to reveal the fact that they are Magyo.”
“Certainly… It can be seen that way.”
Mangeum Daebu lightly pressed his temples.
“Revealing oneself implies having a separate goal in mind. If they intended to achieve it through force, they wouldn’t have resorted to such a convoluted method. They have the intent to negotiate.”
Wi Chung nodded.
Mangeum Daebu was right. They must have a separate goal and an intent to obtain it. It wasn’t a simple act of killing – otherwise, they wouldn’t go through the trouble of revealing their identity.
“In that case, what do you plan to do?”
“First…”
Mangeum Daebu nodded with firm determination.
“We need to confirm what they want first. You can’t gamble without knowing the cards you’re holding.”
Wi Chung looked at Mangeum Daebu with renewed admiration. While the conclusion might seem obvious, it’s not easy to assess the situation calmly, especially when hearing that Magyo is conducting a massacre in Hangzhou.
“I will go.”
“No.”
Mangeum Daebu responded firmly to Wi Chung’s words.
“I’m going.”
“Lord! It’s too dangerous.”
Mangeum Daebu replied coldly, without changing his expression.
“No matter how lowly they may be, if they are truly Magyo, then someone of their caliber should deal with them.”
“But…”
“There’s no need to be afraid.”
Mangeum Daebu’s dark eyes fixed on Wi Chung.
“Magyo are just humans made of flesh and blood. They’re not mute beasts; they’re humans who can engage in dialogue. If we’re humans, there’s always room for negotiation.”
After finishing his statement, Mangeum Daebu fell into thought for a moment.
Whether Magyo is stronger than he expected or has now lost its past glory, dealing with them alone would be nothing but a loss.
‘What if, for once, Black Ghost Fortress suffers significant losses when facing Magyo?’
‘The blades of Jang Ilso will be aimed at us.’
What a wounded leopard fears most is not another leopard appearing somewhere, but the pack it had been hunting with until just a little while ago. And Jang Ilso is a leopard that never misses the scent of blood.
So, the conclusion is set.
“Prepare.”
“Yes, Lord. I will proceed.”
Everyone exited swiftly, like a wind. Their timing was in line with the Black Ghost’s style, which regarded time as precious as gold.
Mangeum Daebu didn’t even give them a second glance.
Ddak! Ddak. Ddak.
The sound of the abacus beads moving gradually decreased. Simultaneously, Mangeum Daebu’s breathing became thinner.
‘They can’t be a monstrous being like Samduyukbi [삼면육비(三面六臂) an Asura with 6 arms], and they might as well be human.’
Humans cannot escape their desires. In fact, there are no groups free from seeking profit, even if there might be humans who can suppress their desires.
So, at any time, negotiations can be raised to the table. Isn’t that the way of the Black Ghost Fortress?
But Mangeum Daebu didn’t know.
He didn’t know of existence of those who don’t follow common sense. He didn’t know how big of a mistake it is to interpret such individuals within his own logic.
The world had forgotten about Magyo.
However… they would soon be etched into their minds once again.
________
If you want to support my translations you can subscribe to my Patreon. 50+ more chapters translated there! I try my best to provide accurate and easy to read translation. Your support will help me to keep posting!
Return of the Mount Hua 
Leave a comment