Chapter 90: A Strange Family
Early in the morning...
we gathered in front of the Sect Leader's Palace and offered a brief farewell.
Sect Leader Cheon Gwangcheon spoke gently.
“Since Elder Gwangung is with you, I doubt anything serious will happen...”
“but all of you should still be careful.”
“We will obey, Sect Leader.”
Hyeongwon, Myeongjeon, and I gave martial salutes in turn.
Jin Gwangung simply stood with his arms crossed and gave a small nod.
“Stop worrying about pointless things.”
He snorted.
“You think I can't even keep a few brats alive?”
Cheon Gwangcheon laughed warmly.
“Haha. Very well.”
“I'll trust you.”
With the Sect Leader's familiar laughter behind us...
we left the gates of Kunlun.
“It's a long journey.”
Jin Gwangung moved first.
“Let's go.”
Before reaching Mount Hua...
there was somewhere we needed to stop.
Our first destination was the Myeong Family Merchant Group in Guanzhong.
The medicinal supply had been cut off for nearly a month.
We needed to solve that problem first.
For a little over ten days...
we traveled almost without rest.
We moved fast enough to cross two mountains every other day.
And throughout that journey...
Myeongjeon remained unusually quiet.
Normally, he'd throw out jokes and chatter without being asked.
But ever since we'd left Kunlun...
he had barely spoken.
And the closer we came to Guanzhong...
the darker his expression became.
What's wrong with him?
Still...
I didn't ask.
I figured I'd find out naturally once we reached the Myeong Family Merchant Group.
After several more days of travel...
we finally entered Guanzhong.
Even late at night...
the roads were packed with people and carriages.
Merchants and escorts filled every inn.
The sound of horses never seemed to stop.
We continued forward.
And finally...
a massive gate appeared before us, towering over the surrounding buildings.
A signboard hung above it.
Myeong Family Merchant Group
The martial artists guarding the gate looked us over.
“Who are you?”
One of them asked warily.
Then Myeongjeon stepped forward.
The guard stared at his face for a moment.
His eyes widened.
“Y-Young Master Myeongjeon?”
Myeongjeon gave a faint nod.
“It's been a while....”
“You've returned!”
The guard immediately became respectful.
“Please, allow me to escort you inside.”
The main gate opened.
We followed him into the Myeong Family Merchant Group.
Seen from the inside...
it truly lived up to its reputation as a massive merchant organization.
Countless laborers moved goods out of nearby warehouses and continuously loaded them onto carts.
People carrying swords at their waists could be seen everywhere.
They were probably escorts responsible for transporting merchandise.
We passed them and continued deeper inside.
Before long...
a large detached residence came into view.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
The martial artist left us there and entered the residence alone.
A short while later...
someone emerged.
A middle-aged woman approached us.
She wore expensive-looking silk clothes and a jade hairpin.
Her expression was proud and severe.
She stopped before us.
Cold eyes swept across the group.
Then settled on Myeongjeon.
“You've come.”
Her voice was cold and emotionless.
Myeongjeon, whose face had already stiffened, barely managed to answer.
“...Mother.”
There wasn't even the slightest warmth in his voice.
The woman's eyes were just as cold.
Then another person appeared behind her.
A large man who looked to be just over thirty.
“So you came all the way here.”
He looked at Myeongjeon indifferently.
Myeongjeon lowered his head slightly.
“Yes... Elder Brother.”
Again...
there was no strength in his voice.
What the hell is with this family?
Why are they so cold after seeing each other for the first time in so long?
Judging by the atmosphere...
they looked less like family and more like enemies.
A moment later...
the middle-aged woman turned her gaze toward us.
“Since you've come with Myeongjeon...”
“I assume you are from the Kunlun Sect.”
She gave a slight bow.
“My name is Qin Yueshu.”
“I am the lady of the Myeong Family Merchant Group.”
The man behind her then introduced himself.
“I am Myeong Munhyeok.”
Jin Gwangung responded with a slight nod.
“Jin Gwangung.”
“I serve as a First Elder of Kunlun.”
He gestured toward us.
“These brats are disciples of the sect.”
Qin Yueshu replied in a voice that sounded anything but pleased.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, First Elder Jin Gwangung.”
Jin Gwangung went straight to the point.
“I assume you already know why we're here.”
His expression hardened.
“We heard the medicinal supplies promised to Kunlun have been cut off for nearly a month.”
"..."
Qin Yueshu's eyes turned colder.
Jin Gwangung continued without caring.
“Why did the deliveries stop?”
“From what I saw on the way in, the merchant group doesn't seem to be facing any obvious problems.”
Qin Yueshu answered flatly.
“For the time being...”
“it will be difficult for us to continue supplying medicinal herbs to Kunlun.”
Jin Gwangung blinked.
“What?”
“What do you mean it's suddenly difficult?”
“That decision has already been made.”
Qin Yueshu rejected the matter immediately.
For the first time...
Jin Gwangung looked genuinely taken aback.
“Decision?”
He frowned.
“Who made that decision?”
“The Merchant Group Head?”
Come to think of it...
something was strange.
His son had returned after a long absence.
And members of Kunlun, one of the merchant group's long-standing business partners, had arrived as well.
So why hadn't the Merchant Group Head appeared yet?
It made no sense.
"..."
At Jin Gwangung's question...
both Qin Yueshu and Myeong Munhyeok's expressions darkened sharply.
Qin Yueshu let out a long sigh.
“The Merchant Group Head...”
She paused.
“cannot come here.”
Jin Gwangung frowned.
