Chapter 4: An Unusual Clan Head

A little while ago.

Yeon had returned to his quarters, and outside, the subordinates of the Moyong Clan had gathered.

“…”

Their faces were uniformly grim.
They had noticed that the Clan Head’s condition was unusual.
The reason they gathered was also to discuss the Clan Head’s state.
But there was one more person who hadn’t been there earlier.

“Huh.”

It was the steward.
He had already heard that the Clan Head had fainted.
However, he judged it to be a common occurrence and did not prioritize it.

‘I thought the Clan Head was faking illness today.’

But, his actions after waking up again were out of the ordinary.
The steward listened to Il-Woo’s explanation with a bewildered face.

“…That’s what happened.”

“The Clan Head said that…?”

The steward subtly checked Muyoung’s reaction.
Muyoung was also silently assenting to Il-Woo’s words.

‘Unbelievable.’

In the branch family, there was a well-known story that anyone who walked through the marketplace would know.
That Moyong Yeon was weak.
He was a dependent individual who did nothing on his own.
Even giving him a hundred concessions, he was not fit to be a Clan Head.
But he, who was like that, asked strange questions, then suddenly burst into anger and ran outside?
An irreverent thought involuntarily crossed his mind.

‘Has the Clan Head been possessed?’

It was an absurd thought.
They didn’t know that another soul had entered Moyong Yeon’s body.
They merely surmised that the young Clan Head might have developed mental problems because he couldn’t cope with his anxiety.

“…”

The steward’s face was pale.
The bear-like man, with his impressive physique, bit his nails, a gesture unsuited to his appearance.

‘Of all days for something to happen, it had to be today.’

This young Clan Head was of no help to the Moyong Clan whatsoever.
It was regrettable that there was no other person to succeed the clan besides Moyong Yeon.

“Haaah.”

The steward sighed and thought.
What day was today?

‘It’s the day we promised to repay the money borrowed from the Black Wolf Sect.’

The Black Wolf Sect.
The Black Wolf Sect was an organization that had rapidly expanded its influence in Liaoning after the Moyong Clan’s downfall.
They had dozens of businesses in Liaoning, including taverns and gambling dens.
But among them, the most profitable business was ultimately usury.

The steward regretted it immensely.
Borrowing money from them.
But the Moyong Clan was about to collapse, and there was nowhere else to borrow money from.
He had only borrowed a small amount to put out the immediate fire, but the interest had accumulated and swelled like a snowball.
Originally, he was supposed to repay the full amount today.
20,000 nyang of silver.
Typically, a family of four needed 6 nyang to live for a month, so this was an amount that ordinary people would never even see in their lifetime.
But it was said that there was always a way out, even if the sky fell.
The steward recalled the condition the Black Wolf Sect had generously offered: that they would only need to repay half.

– Instead! The Clan Head must bring the money himself and come to Tiger Moon Tower ‘alone’.

“…”

It was a humiliating condition.
A young Clan Head and a disreputable tavern.
It was clearly their intention to treat the Moyong Clan as a mouse in a trap and humiliate them.
Who were they to order the Clan Head around?
It was a separate matter from the steward not respecting the current incompetent Clan Head.
Therefore, the Black Wolf Sect probably didn’t think they would accept this offer.

‘But…’

Clench—

The steward clenched his fist.

‘Keuk!’

He had no choice but to accept, even if it meant becoming a laughingstock.
Repaying the full amount was impossible at present.

– I can’t not go, can I…?

…It was the steward’s responsibility to persuade the Clan Head, who had been afraid and hesitant until the end.
Furthermore, he had a difficult time persuading Muyoung, the bodyguard.
But now, the Clan Head had gone mad?

‘There isn’t much time left until the appointed hour.’

The steward suddenly lifted his bowed head.
He looked like someone who had made a decision, to anyone observing.
The moment Muyoung saw the steward’s face, he guessed what his decision was.
So, he blocked his way as he tried to enter the quarters.

Clack.

“What do you want?”

Despite his emotionless eyes, a sharpness was contained in the gaze directed at the steward.

“Huh.”

The action seemed laughable to the steward.
He also knew that Muyoung was not fond of the Clan Head.
At other times, Muyoung would neglect and ignore the Clan Head, only to step in and interfere like this at moments when he seemed to be in danger, driving the steward crazy.

‘As the Clan Head of the Moyong Clan, isn’t it natural to take risks for the family?’

The steward snorted and replied.

“What do I want? Can’t you see it’s almost the time we promised with the Black Wolf Sect?”

“…”

“You said you understood, and now you’re blocking my way? Get out of the way, you fool!”

“The situation is different.”

“What’s different? Just because the Clan Head got a little strange, has the Moyong Clan’s imminent collapse changed?”

“…”

“We barely managed to scrape this together now, so if we miss this chance, will a better opportunity arise? If so, don’t keep it to yourself, let me know, I want to know too!”

Muyoung did not answer.
But he met the steward’s demanding gaze with a stubborn look, conveying that he had no intention of backing down.
In this situation, only Il-Woo was going crazy with frustration.

“What are you two doing?!”

In truth, Il-Woo was used to their bickering.
The steward and Muyoung remained as members of the Moyong Clan, but their objectives were completely different.
Unlike the steward, who was loyal to the Moyong Clan and sought to continue the family’s lineage, Muyoung was only interested in protecting Moyong Yeon’s safety as a bodyguard.
Therefore, differences in opinion on big and small matters were common.

‘Wouldn’t it be better if everyone just got along?’

Il-Woo thought to himself.
But as the youngest and lowest-ranking servant among the three, he couldn’t actively stop them and could only stomp his feet anxiously.

“…?”

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Muyoung’s head turned towards the direction of the main gate.

‘Hm?’

The steward, wondering what was happening, followed Muyoung’s gaze.
But the steward saw nothing.

“You fool, you’re using all sorts of tricks!”

Just as he was about to scold him, thinking he had been tricked.

Click, clack.

“Ahem!”

Someone cleared his throat, announcing his arrival.
A slender man with an impressive goatee like a goat.
The steward’s face turned pale.

“Good heavens, who has come now?”

“It’s the Black Wolf Sect’s Vice Leader, isn’t it…?”

The people still remaining in the manor began to whisper at the man’s appearance.
The Vice Leader of the Black Wolf Sect, Pil-Gu.
His martial arts weren’t particularly great, but he had a good knack for business and social skills, which allowed him to rise to the position of Vice Leader.
Pil-Gu, with an arrogant posture, stood proudly before the steward, his expensive clothes fluttering.

“Know that you should be grateful, as this venerable one has come to this humble place!”

Moreover, Pil-Gu did not come alone.
About a dozen Black Wolf Sect members stood behind Pil-Gu.
The steward tried to act normal, stepping forward and asking his business.

“For what reason have you come here without prior notice…?”

“What reason?”

Pil-Gu revealed his displeasure.

Boom!

Then, he suddenly kicked the nearby wreckage of a building with a kick infused with internal energy.

Thwack!!

The debris landed on the roof of the quarters.
It didn’t completely collapse, but it was precarious.
Dust scattered into the air from the impact.
The sudden situation terrified the steward and Il-Woo, and Muyoung quickly changed his stance to ensure the Clan Head’s safety.

“You haven’t forgotten that today is the day to repay the Great Black Wolf Sect, have you?!”

Pil-Gu roared in anger.
The steward was about to answer quickly when.

Bang!!

“You f*cking son of a bich—!! What is this!!!”

Suddenly, Yeon, covered in dust, burst out from inside the quarters.
But for a moment, the steward couldn’t recognize Yeon.
Because he saw a demon-like appearance in the young Clan Head that he had never seen before.

Dusting.

More dusting.

Dust fell with every step.
An enraged Yeon, his eyes blazing, swept his gaze across the outside.
The terrified steward and Il-Woo, Muyoung who was rushing towards him.
And lastly, the thuggish-looking men stared at him in a daze.
Yeon narrowed his eyes.
The culprit who had put him in this state was clearly visible.

“Did you guys do this?”

“…”

Yeon asked in a voice suppressing his anger, but there was no reply from the Black Wolf Sect.

“…”

Pil-Gu’s dumbfounded face and stiff body.
He was momentarily startled by Yeon’s sudden appearance with such tremendous force.
Yeon questioned him once more.

“Why are you just staring like an idiot? Don’t you have a mouth?”

“…”

Only then did Pil-Gu regain his senses.
However, Pil-Gu did not answer Yeon’s question, shifting his gaze instead to the steward.
The steward was just as bewildered by Yeon’s appearance.

“Steward…”

“?”

The steward, who had been looking at Yeon, turned his gaze to Pil-Gu at the call.

“Has the Clan Head gone mad?”

Yeon frowned at the provocative remark.
Unfortunately, the steward was not a good liar.
His answer was delayed due to momentary confusion.
Thanks to that, Pil-Gu’s doubt turned into conviction, and a deep smirk spread across his lips.

“Puhaha, is it true?”

A laugh surfaced on Pil-Gu’s lips.
He looked like he was dying of amusement.
Yeon became even more furious at his expression.

“This son of a bich isn’t answering my question…”

The moment Yeon, forgetting his current condition, was about to step forward, someone behind him urgently grabbed him.
It was the steward, with a horrified expression.
Yeon’s face twisted in displeasure.

“What?”

“Clan Head, do you perhaps not remember who those guys are?”

The steward whispered quickly.
Yeon nodded.
‘Moyong Yeon’s’ memories were fragmented.

“You know me, right?”

“Well, roughly.”

It was a strange conversation, but it wasn’t a situation to pry.
The steward sighed faintly and quickly explained the relationship between the Moyong Clan and the Black Wolf Sect.
And also the condition to reduce the previous debt.

“…Do you understand?”

The steward looked at Yeon nervously.
Yeon remained silent but understood.
The gist was that they were heavily in debt and it was not good to make enemies.

“Are you done talking yet? How much longer are you going to make me wait?”

Pil-Gu interjected.
His enjoyment of the unexpected situation was short-lived.
He seemed to be getting annoyed.

“…”

Yeon stood with a sullen face throughout the steward’s explanation.
Thanks to the conversation with the steward, he had come to terms with reality and his mind had cooled, but there were more than one or two things he disliked.

‘How annoying.’

How could this household accrue so much debt?
Why did he have to humor someone who wouldn’t have been worth a punch before?
Yeon’s gaze went to Pil-Gu.
And that guy.
His cowardly appearance strangely brought back old memories.

– Are you the beggar b*stard the Clan Head picked up?

Namgung Chungwoo.
Now he was just one of those nobodies whose name wasn’t even worth mentioning.
But there was a guy who used to really get under his skin when he first entered the Namgung Clan as a child.

– Huh, a low-born beggar acting like he’s working hard!

The reason he trained so diligently, clenching his teeth, was because of guys like him who ignored him.
It was always the insignificant ones who stepped forward to torment the weak.
It didn’t take him more than three months to teach those guys a lesson.

– I-I’m sorry. I-I won’t mess with you again!

The memory of those guys kneeling and begging for forgiveness was still vivid in his mind.
Ha, a weakling…
Had he returned to such a position again?
Because of those memories, he particularly disliked being ignored by others.
Thanks to that, people around him often called him crazy.
Pil-Gu, you say? What to do about this.

“C-Clan Head… Please.”

The steward called Yeon, his heart filled with anxiety.
Yeon’s still unruly expression seemed to make him very uneasy.
In the tense atmosphere, where no one knew what he would do…

“Hahaha!”

Suddenly, Yeon smiled brightly and politely clasped his hands together.
His face was cheerful, as if he had never been angry.

“Oh, our esteemed teacher has personally come to this humble abode!”

“…?”

“If you had waited a little longer, I would have visited you myself. What brings you here?”

He felt the murmuring around him as his attitude changed so abruptly.
Pil-Gu frowned, doubting his ears.
The steward also looked at Yeon, his eyes wide with surprise.

‘Why are they so surprised? He said I had to make a good impression.’

Il-Woo also blinked several times in confusion, and Muyoung also furrowed his brow, indicating his bewilderment.
It might have been awkward, but Yeon was confident.

‘What else can a powerless pauper do to survive?’

Yeon displayed remarkable adaptability.
The very fact that someone who started with nothing became the leader of the Namgung Clan meant he possessed timely social skills.
While he had indeed trampled on those who ignored him after he gained power, that was only because he judged he could take responsibility for the consequences of his actions.
In a situation like the present, pushing with force would be foolish.
But Pil-Gu, confused by the sudden change in attitude, tilted his head, wondering if Yeon was mocking him.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Oh, of course not! I just tend to be a bit erratic.”

Yeon said slyly.

“Then, are you saying you will fulfill the condition we discussed before?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Huh.”

Pil-Gu let out a hollow laugh.
Yeon sneered inwardly.

‘He has every right to be bewildered.’

Pil-Gu seemed not to have expected ‘the Moyong Clan’ to accept such a humiliating condition.

‘There’s also the uncertain factor of the frail Clan Head having to go alone.’

Yeon glanced at the steward.
Guilt seemed to be creeping onto the steward’s face, so he knew.
Seeing him, Yeon thought.

‘…You mean, if it’s to save the family, it’s an unavoidable choice, right? I’d prefer this to being treated like an old backroom geezer, too.’

Yeon looked at Pil-Gu again.
Having apparently finished his deliberations, Pil-Gu was surveying the Moyong Clan with one corner of his mouth sharply turned up.
Soon, he nodded.

“Alright then. Heh heh… If you wish it, that offer still stands. …I will prepare a grand welcome. Let’s go, boys!”

Unlike their boisterous entrance, the Black Wolf Sect, having achieved their objective, exited swiftly and cleanly.
And Yeon immediately called out to the steward.

“What are you doing, Steward?”

The steward looked at Yeon with a bewildered expression.

“Yes…?”

“Aren’t you bringing the money?”