Chapter 92: Who Is the Culprit?
I immediately woke Jin Gwangung and Hyeongwon.
I told them that Myeong Chiwon had regained consciousness.
The three of us headed straight for the detached residence where the Merchant Group Head was staying.
“It's strange.”
Hyeongwon spoke with a puzzled expression as we walked.
“How did he suddenly wake up after just one day?”
Jin Gwangung answered indifferently.
“We don't know whether he's fully recovered yet.”
“Let's see him with our own eyes first.”
It didn't take long to reach the residence.
We went straight into Myeong Chiwon's room.
The first thing I saw was the Merchant Group Head himself.
He was sitting half-upright on the bed.
Myeongjeon stood beside him, along with the elderly physician we'd seen yesterday.
Qin Yueshu and Myeong Munhyeok were nowhere to be seen yet.
We approached the bed.
Myeong Chiwon saw us and forced the corners of his lips upward.
“You must be the guests from Kunlun.”
His complexion had improved a little compared to yesterday...
but he was still in poor condition.
His voice was hoarse.
Even his breathing was uneven.
But his eyes were clear.
At the very least...
his consciousness had completely returned.
The Ice Snow Grass solution removed some of the poison, but he'll need more time to recover.
The influence of the Soul-Dissolving Pill still remained inside his body.
Jin Gwangung addressed him.
“Merchant Group Head, I'm glad to hear you've awakened.”
“I'm Jin Gwangung of the Kunlun Sect.”
He gestured toward us.
“These brats are disciples of the sect.”
Hyeongwon gave a martial salute.
“Hyeongwon.”
I followed.
“Han Mujin.”
Myeong Chiwon's eyes widened slightly.
“...I've heard a great deal about you.”
He paused to catch his breath.
“It is an honor to meet First Elder Jin Gwangung...”
Then his gaze moved toward me.
“and Kunlun's Young Hero, whose name is already famous throughout the martial world.”
He tried to sit up properly and offer a formal greeting.
Jin Gwangung quickly waved him down.
“Forget the pointless formalities.”
“Take care of your body first.”
Myeong Chiwon gave a weak laugh.
“Distinguished guests from Kunlun have come all this way...”
“yet I can't even greet you properly.”
Then...
hurried footsteps came from outside the room.
“Merchant Group Head!”
“Father!”
Qin Yueshu and Myeong Munhyeok rushed inside.
Qin Yueshu hurried to the bed and embraced Myeong Chiwon.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
There was no trace of the icy expression she'd worn yesterday.
Myeong Munhyeok also stood beside the bed with wet eyes.
Both of them looked only at Myeong Chiwon.
Myeong Chiwon awkwardly raised a hand.
“Enough.”
He smiled faintly.
“Anyone watching would think I'd really died and come back to life.”
Qin Yueshu's voice trembled.
“Merchant Group Head...”
“I was truly worried.”
She's completely different from yesterday.
I remembered the cold expression she'd worn while looking at Myeongjeon.
Right now...
she looked like an entirely different person.
Myeong Chiwon smiled at her.
“I heard you handled the merchant group's affairs while I was gone.”
“You worked hard.”
Qin Yueshu lowered her head.
“Fortunately, nothing serious happened.”
“I only waited for you to wake up.”
Myeong Chiwon gave a small nod.
“Of course.”
“I'm sure you handled everything without issue.”
He smiled.
“There is no one I trust more than you.”
At those words...
Qin Yueshu's shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
Myeong Munhyeok and Myeongjeon both smiled as well.
Myeong Chiwon patted the shoulders of his wife and two sons.
For a brief moment...
warm relief filled the room.
Then Myeong Chiwon turned toward Qin Yueshu.
“...By the way.”
“I heard the medicinal supply to Kunlun has been stopped.”
For the briefest instant...
Qin Yueshu's eyes flicked toward Myeongjeon.
Myeongjeon couldn't meet her gaze and lowered his head slightly.
She answered calmly.
“...Yes.”
“I couldn't find the agreement documents related to the medicinal supply.”
“Since it was a transaction I knew nothing about, I temporarily suspended it.”
Myeong Chiwon's brows furrowed slightly.
“Hmm...”
“You couldn't find the documents?”
He looked puzzled.
“They should definitely still exist somewhere....”
Qin Yueshu said nothing.
Her silence said enough.
Myeong Chiwon sighed lightly.
“Well, it was an agreement made a long time ago.”
“Perhaps the records were simply difficult to locate.”
Then he made his decision.
“In any case, the medicinal supply to Kunlun will resume.”
“I personally approved that arrangement.”
Qin Yueshu's lips stiffened slightly.
Then she answered as though she had no choice.
“...Understood.”
Myeong Chiwon looked toward Jin Gwangung.
“I assume that matter is why you came all this way.”
“Please don't worry.”
“I'll order the supply to resume today.”
Jin Gwangung gave a martial salute.
“Thank you, Merchant Group Head Myeong Chiwon.”
At the same time...
the tension left the rest of us from Kunlun.
This was the one answer we'd traveled all the way to Guanzhong to obtain.
There had been a chance the matter wouldn't be resolved easily.
Fortunately...
it had ended in a single conversation.
At least Kunlun's medicinal storehouse won't run dry anytime soon.
Everyone in the room seemed relieved.
Everyone except one person.
Qin Yueshu's expression didn't look good.
Then I spoke.
“Merchant Group Head.”
Myeong Chiwon turned toward me.
“I heard you suddenly collapsed while working.”
“May I ask what happened?”
Myeong Chiwon closed his eyes for a moment as though searching his memory.
Then he slowly answered.
“Nothing particularly unusual happened.”
“I was checking the ledgers as always...”
