Chapter 268: Borrowing the Tiger’s Might Through the Dragon
A young man barely past twenty had destroyed Myriad Gold Manor—the greatest trading company in history and a pillar of the Central Plains.
Everyone present was overwheld by the aftermath, unable to speak for a long ti.
anwhile, Jin Seong-un calmly shook the blood off his blade and simply walked forward.
Even the renowned masters could only stare blankly, while the mbers of Seong-un Inn approached him one by one.
“At last, it’s over. Those damned bastards.”
Seo Yu-gyeom spoke first.
“So… can we finally get back to business?”
“The food we stocked up has all gone bad. That Chief Steward was crying alone at night.”
Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon started talking about the inn.
Their words abruptly dragged everyone back to reality.
The scene they had just witnessed was so unreal that they had all been lost in thought—but this conversation was far too mundane.
Snapping back to his senses, the Murim Alliance Leader Lee Ha-seong stared at Jin Seong-un with a dangerous gaze.
He was a man burdened with the heaviest responsibility in the world—yet dreaming of the freest future.
And right before him stood his savior.
The future leaders of the Orthodox Faction—the Nine Sects and the great clans—were approaching that young man, praising his efforts, inviting him to visit, showing boundless goodwill.
Even the proud White Cloud Sword and the Poison Lord were smiling in satisfaction just by looking at him.
To the Alliance Leader, Jin Seong-un looked like a rope dropped from heaven—
No, like the perfect candidate for the next Alliance Leader.
So he approached him.
“You.”
His serious voice caused the surrounding martial artists to step back slightly.
To them, the Alliance Leader was as distant as the heavens.
Jin Seong-un looked up at him.
Though tall himself, he still had to tilt his head slightly.
“Yes.”
“What is your goal?”
The Alliance Leader was not one to speak indirectly.
To others, the question might seem vague—
But he didn’t care.
It was a position—and a man—who didn’t need to.
The sudden question stirred a quiet ripple among those present.
These were people who led—or would lead—the martial world.
Whenever major powers made plans, they always considered key figures who could influence the world.
Now, Jin Seong-un was one of them.
Everyone waited tensely for his answer.
Jin Seong-un considered briefly, then replied honestly.
“I plan to open a Second Branch. In Eonsa Prefecture.”
“Hmm.”
The Alliance Leader paused, trying to process it.
After a mont—
Ah. He was talking about the inn.
He had asked about grand ambitions—and received an answer about an inn.
The Alliance Leader looked baffled.
“…That’s not what I ant. Don’t you have a greater dream?”
Like ruling the world alone.
Or building a golden empire after toppling Myriad Gold Manor.
Or conquering the Demon Cult, or reaching the ultimate peak of martial arts.
Jin Seong-un’s expression turned slightly displeased.
“Running an inn is no easy task. It’s not a trivial goal.”
He rarely showed irritation—but this ti, he did.
What did it matter if one was the Alliance Leader—how could self-employnt be called trivial?
Caught off guard, the Alliance Leader panicked.
“No, that’s not what I ant…”
“Everyone carries the burden of their livelihood on their shoulders, struggling day by day. It seems that’s not how you see it, Alliance Leader.”
“I said that’s not it…”
Subtle looks of criticism began to fall upon him.
The Alliance Leader suddenly found himself appearing like a man who looked down on ordinary people.
Jin Seong-un continued,
“Think about it. I only wanted to peacefully run a small inn in Yichang. But sohow I ended up fighting the Unorthodox Path, the Demon Cult, the Saber King, and even Myriad Gold Manor. That’s how difficult self-employnt is.”
The Saber King, who had just been lumped together with the Demon Cult, coughed awkwardly.
In the end, the Alliance Leader had no choice but to concede.
“You really are a strange one.”
Several who knew Jin Seong-un nodded in agreent.
The Alliance Leader liked that.
There was not a trace of greed in this man—no desire for money, fa, or power.
He resembled himself.
He belonged nowhere. He ford no corrupt ties.
He was strong—and free.
His only goal was to live freely, taking care of himself.
The perfect qualities of a leader.
“Very well. I apologize. Earning a living is indeed the hardest thing. I was short-sighted.”
“Good.”
“…Anyway. Since you have such a goal, may I offer so advice as an elder?”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
The Alliance Leader glanced briefly at Hyeon-un and Tang Tae-san before speaking.
“To be honest, I would like to bring you into the Murim Alliance—but you would never accept. Even the Chief Strategist, who is better at persuasion than I, has already failed several tis.”
“I am not a martial artist.”
The Alliance Leader looked at the ruins of the hall Jin Seong-un had destroyed.
“…Then keep that resolve. No matter who tries to tempt you—don’t give in. Once you do, your life will be bound. Look at . I can’t even return to my hotown easily. I’ve tried to quit countless tis, but it’s not up to . Villains run rampant, and people like the Saber King eye my position.”
The Saber King turned his head away.
Beside him, Sima Baek pressed his forehead.
He understood the burden—but why did the Alliance Leader keep saying he wanted to quit in front of everyone?
Jin Seong-un understood.
This was a tactic.
To prevent others from recruiting him—while lowering his guard.
The Alliance Leader placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I hear your actions align with the chivalry of the Orthodox Faction. As long as that remains true, you are soone I will protect. If you need advice or help, co to the Alliance anyti.”
Then he turned away—
Acting as if he had no regrets.
Winning soone over was like courting.
If you begged, you lost appeal.
You had to appear relaxed—indifferent.
Of course, that only worked if you were already admirable.
“Disperse before dawn. Imagine how uneasy the common people would feel seeing hundreds of martial artists roaming about at daybreak. Life is already hard—let’s not make it harder.”
With that, he walked away.
In the most stylish exit possible.
Jin Seong-un watched his back, thinking—
Murim was full of strange people.
Sima Baek sighed.
“The Murim Alliance will continue investigating Myriad Gold Manor. If their ties with the Demon Cult are confird…”
His gaze turned sharp toward the Saber King and the Hwangbo Clan Leader.
“Then those who sheltered them will not escape consequence.”
Then, with a gentle smile toward Jin Seong-un, he followed the Alliance Leader.
Soon, the elite White Battle Unit and White Wall Unit vanished like the wind.
---
Jiangsu Province, Nanjing.
Until recently, the greatest city in the Central Plains—ruled by Myriad Gold Manor.
Now, it was gone.
After the martial artists left, powerful forces, trading companies, and officials from across the land flocked to Nanjing.
Their goal was obvious.
A whale had died.
Now, everyone ca to feed.
Jin Seong-un remained for a ti.
Destroying Myriad Gold Manor had been easier than dealing with what ca after.
It had been the very backbone of comrce.
Inside a surviving hall, powerful figures gathered.
Only those of the highest standing.
“We of Daepyeong Trading Company will take responsibility for the grain warehouses—”
“Our Wuhanzhuang Bank will naturally assu the banking operations—”
“The ports would be troubleso for you alone, so our Byeokcheon Comrce will—”
Jin Seong-un sat at the head, dazed.
Listening to them was exhausting.
There were endless businesses—
Banking, ports, shipbuilding, trade, transport, land, auctions…
Over a hundred.
Myriad Gold Manor had truly been the pillar of the Central Plains.
Then—
“Innkeeper, Chief Steward Lee Seowon has arrived.”
“Oh!”
Jin Seong-un jumped up.
Lee Seowon entered.
The rchants relaxed upon seeing his young appearance.
Lee Seowon looked around calmly.
“Ah, what a relief. I was wondering how to resolve this chaos.”
The rchants smirked inwardly.
Even with Hwa-un Trading Company behind him—
This burden was too great.
He must have been trembling for days.
Lee Seowon walked over and sat beside Jin Seong-un.
Then discreetly handed him a letter.
* If you eat everything, you’ll burst. We can’t handle it all. Even if we could, it would attract too many enemies. It would beco chains. So we take only the sweetest fruit—and throw the rest to the wolves.
Only soone who knew everything about Myriad Gold Manor could write that.
Lee Seowon looked at the crowd.
Familiar faces.
All powerful figures.
All thinking the sa thing—
How to manipulate this young Chief Steward.
Then—
He spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to et you all. Those who stayed hidden during the war—and only ca now to pick at the scraps.”
“….”
Silence.
A man stood angrily.
“What did you say?! You dare—!”
“You’re the External Chief Steward of Byeokchang Trading Company.”
The man froze.
How did he know?
Because Lee Seowon knew everything.
“Good. Since you’re standing—leave.”
“What?!”
“Wait outside. Take whatever scraps remain.”
This was not borrowing a tiger’s might—
But borrowing a dragon’s might.
Lee Seowon stared lazily.
The man hesitated—
Then sat down.
“…I apologize.”
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Lee Seowon looked around.
“Now you all look ready to talk.”
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