18 — Are You In Your Right Mind?

I slowly looked around at each hall lord and vice hall lord as I continued speaking.

“…Yellow Jade Hall. I would like to work there and learn diligently. Please grant me your permission.”

As soon as I finished, the silence and tension that had filled the hall vanished in an instant.

Some of the hall lords even patted their chests in open relief.

Of course, the only exception was Dan Un-cheol, lord of Yellow Jade Hall.

“……”

He was staring at me, mouth half open.

I could understand that reaction. He really hadn’t seen this coming.

Yellow Jade Hall, where I wished to go, functioned as a sort of general affairs office that handled the clan’s administration and household management.

Because it dealt with all sorts of miscellaneous tasks unrelated to martial arts, it had a notorious reputation among the Dan descendants as the least popular place to serve.

Still, since the clan head’s younger brother Dan Un-cheol was the one in charge, and since Yellow Jade Hall managed all of the household finances, its actual standing within the clan was anything but low.

“Wh-Why on earth would you come here. Think this over again. This place is brutally hard work.”

Dan Un-cheol was no longer just dumbfounded; he looked utterly aghast.

I kept my expression polite as I answered.

“I thought it over thoroughly before making this request.”

Just then, there was a sudden thump beside me.

When I turned my head, I saw Yellow Jade Hall’s vice lord, Jeok Chi-won, folded over with his forehead on the table.

No, he looked like he was about to cry outright.

I decided to ignore him completely.

‘So what? What are you going to do about it?’

Whatever the case, some division or other would have to accept me in the end.

Besides, I had my reasons for choosing Yellow Jade Hall.

It would benefit not only Yellow Jade Hall, but our clan as a whole.

There was no need to explain it all right now. As I had learned more than once, the best way to prove something was to show it with my actions.

‘I’ll make you beat yourselves up for letting a chance like me almost slip away.’

At that moment, the clan head’s voice rang out.

“Very well. From this day on, Dan Wol-bin will belong to Yellow Jade Hall and fulfill his duties without the slightest shortcoming.”

I sprang to my feet and answered with a proper bow.

“I will do so, Clan Head.”

Of course, the council continued afterwards.

This gathering was where they discussed the clan’s various affairs, great and small, as well as the progress and results of their enterprises in the martial world.

As each hall lord took turns giving reports, I pricked up my ears and listened to every word.

Before long, it was Dan Ja-myeong of Ink Jade Hall’s turn.

“I will now report the results of the Alliance of the Great Clans conference.”

The Alliance of the Great Clans was an organization formed by the great martial clans of the Central Plains.

Within the Martial Alliance, the confederation of orthodox forces, the Nine Great Sects naturally held overwhelming prestige.

The other great clans, except for the Namgung Clan, honestly could not match them.

So even while bickering amongst themselves, they had no choice but to form a loose coalition that could represent their interests.

In other words, the stray dogs had banded together in an attempt to face the tiger.

Dan Ja-myeong continued.

“The election for a new Alliance Lord will be held three months from now. At that time, the ‘Martial Arts Research Conference’ will be convened as well. It will be quite an important event for us.”

Though it was called a “Martial Arts Research Conference,” in truth it was closer to a martial-arts tournament.

It was an occasion where the clans belonging to the Alliance of the Great Clans crossed blades and compared their martial arts.

What was more, the tournament openly allowed spectators from outside.

So any clan that displayed outstanding martial prowess at the Martial Arts Research Conference naturally increased its standing in the wider world.

For the clans within the Alliance, it was an extremely significant event.

“……”

However, the hall lords of the Dan Clan showed little interest.

No, it would be more accurate to say they had largely lost the will to compete.

Every member of the Dan Clan knew this in their hearts, even if they could not say it aloud.

To be blunt, the Dan Clan could at best scuffle a bit over the Vice Alliance Lord’s position, but they lacked both the martial strength and prestige to seize the Alliance Lord’s seat.

On top of that, the tournament championship—and thus the position of Alliance Lord—almost invariably fell to the Namgung Clan anyway.

“Move on to the next item.”

That was the reality.

For the Dan Clan right now, the question of how to keep food on the table was more urgent.

You could tell that immediately just from listening to the report being given by Yellow Jade Hall’s lord, Dan Un-cheol.

“A carrier pigeon has arrived from Gwangryung Escort Agency. They are demanding we repay the money they lent us at once.”

Dan Myeong-cheol bellowed at once.

“You mean we still haven’t gotten rid of that debt? Tell them to take what they’ve had already and get lost!”

But Dan Un-cheol spoke on with a troubled expression.

“However… at present, we are short on funds, Clan Head. Several financial issues have erupted simultaneously.”

“What?”

Dan Un-cheol let out a long sigh before continuing.

“We have received notice from the Revered Commerce Association that they will be reducing this year’s sponsorship.”

Dan Myeong-cheol’s face twisted at once.

“That damned woman…!”

He had clearly concluded that the reduction in support from the Revered Commerce Association had a great deal to do with Na Bing-pyeong.

“That is not all. Usong Trading Company and Yungseong Money House have both demanded we repay our loans by next month as well.”

In the end, even Dan Myeong-cheol had to deflate a little.

“What are they suddenly kicking up a fuss for?”

Dan Un-cheol shook his head.

“I do not know. They have simply reversed their previous friendly stance and are now hammering us with the same crude demand over and over.”

Dan Myeong-cheol frowned as hard as he could and asked,

“How is the security business?”

This time, it was Yellow Jade Hall’s vice lord, Jeok Chi-won, who replied.

“Not good. Of the twelve inns that handle our security contracts, ten have requested to terminate their agreements.”

Dan Myeong-cheol looked stunned.

“What? Terminate their contracts?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Why on earth?”

“Well… they are not giving us any clear reason either.”

Dan Myeong-cheol narrowed his brow and pondered for a moment before speaking.

“And the inns we operate directly?”

“They have all been suffering sudden, severe drops in profit since last month.”

“What is the reason?”

Jeok Chi-won let out a deep sigh and answered.

“Our customers have suddenly fallen off a cliff.”

“That abruptly?”

“Yes. It is suspicious enough to make one wonder whether they have all been threatened together.”

Dan Myeong-cheol shut his eyes tight, as if his head were pounding.

Then Jeok Chi-won flicked a glance at me and went on.

“…In my opinion, I suspect it is connected to the Fourth Young Master’s journey a few months ago…”

“What are you talking about?”

Dan Myeong-cheol asked with a puzzled look.

I was just as curious.

‘Dan Wol-bin may have squandered some of his fortune gambling, but that shouldn’t have been enough to shake the whole clan like this.’

Bowing his head, Jeok Chi-won continued his report.

“The timing of the Fourth Young Master’s report of the Dark Gambling Hall coincides with when the problems in our tavern business began. The overlap is too uncanny. Thus, I would like to request that Green Jade Hall investigate the matter.”

Dan Myeong-cheol’s gaze naturally turned toward me.

I met his eyes as well.

All I had done was expose the Dark Gambling Hall’s fraud and report it to the authorities.

Before long, Dan Myeong-cheol looked away from me and spoke.

“Do so!”

The clan head’s decisions on various other matters, great and small, continued after that.

About two hours must have passed like that.

At last, Dan Myeong-cheol delivered his final remarks.

“You had all better get your heads on straight!”

Of course, the attendees remained frozen in place, anxiously keeping perfect posture.

“How is it that not a single thing is going right! Yellow Jade Hall lord!”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“Is your job finished once you report that we are in big trouble?”

Dan Un-cheol flinched and answered,

“N-No, of course not.”

“If you can’t come up with a single countermeasure, what is the point of you sitting in that position?”

“……”

“What is the purpose of Yellow Jade Hall?”

“To keep our clan’s household stable and secure…”

“Is it stable right now?”

“……”

“If things are still like this next month, I’ll replace the hall lord. Keep that in mind!”

“…Yes, Clan Head.”

With that, the clan head strode out of Endless Hall, and Dan Un-cheol hurled the innocent stack of documents onto the table in a fit of anger.

“Damn it all. Am I the one who told them to come get their money? Why is it always my head on the chopping block!”

Then he too stormed out.

I bent down to help Jeok Chi-won pick up the scattered papers and spoke.

“Vice Hall Lord.”

Without even looking at me, he replied,

“Yes, Young Master.”

“When should I start reporting to Yellow Jade Hall?”

At that, Jeok Chi-won answered with a look that screamed annoyance.

“There’s no need to rush. Just come whenever you feel ready, slowly, at your leisure.”

“……”

It sounded suspiciously like he was telling me not to come at all.

Then he lifted his head, and our eyes met.

‘Don’t you dare get all fired up about working hard. Take your time. As slowly as humanly possible.’

“……”

It really did feel like he had mastered some legendary art of transmitting words through eye contact alone.

Just then—

“Wol-bin.”

When I turned my head, Dan Sa-bin had somehow ended up right at my side.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

---

I had spent half my life in the Dan Clan, but now that I looked around, there were still plenty of places I had never been.

The residence of First Young Master Dan Sa-bin was one of them.

‘You can really tell he’s Na Bing-pyeong’s son—the place is outrageously fancy.’

He now sat across from me, pouring tea into his own cup.

He did not so much as glance at mine before lifting his cup to his lips.

After savoring a sip, Dan Sa-bin fixed his gaze on me and finally spoke.

“So you really do let my words go in one ear and out the other.”

“……”

I calmly picked up the ornate, flower-patterned teapot and poured tea into my own cup.

Drip, drip.

I took a leisurely sip and then looked back at Dan Sa-bin.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m talking about Gyeong-ryong from Green Jade Hall.”

“You mean that bodyguard punk I smashed a few days ago?”

Dan Sa-bin pressed his thumb hard against his own forehead as he spoke.

“Smashed? You’ve really got some imagination. Do you honestly think he would lose to the likes of you in a proper fight?”

“Yes.”

“…Do you have no conscience at all?”

“Of course I do. He mocked me right to my face. How could I sit there quietly while some mere Green Jade Hall disciple insulted a blood descendant of the clan?”

“Anyone listening would think he’d committed some heinous crime against his own ancestors.”

Honestly, I couldn’t understand why this man was taking such an interest in a mere low-ranked warrior.

‘He’s not the type to fuss over every little thing like this.’

Then Dan Sa-bin suddenly exploded.

“Have you already forgotten what Mother asked you?”

If he was talking about “Mother,” he meant Na Bing-pyeong—but there was no way I could know what Dan Wol-bin had experienced on his deathbed.

‘And she’s not even my real mother, so what…’

I scratched my head and said,

“Well, after I got sick, my memory hasn’t been the best… Does that guy have something to do with Mother somehow?”

Dan Sa-bin raised his voice even louder.

“Does he ever, you idiot! Gong Gyeong-ryong is my mother’s nanny’s only grandson!”

‘Wait, why is this so complicated?’

I narrowed my eyes and tried to sort out the situation.

If she was Na Bing-pyeong’s nanny, then she must have been a maid of common birth.

Which meant that nanny was, strictly speaking, Gong Gyeong-ryong’s maternal grandmother.

Then Dan Sa-bin went on.

“His father is the vice leader of the Muryeong Gang, you know.”

“Oh-ho, Muryeong Gang—that mid-tier Sichuan sect? That’s quite the rise for a commoner, isn’t it?”

Dan Sa-bin gave me a pitying look and clicked his tongue.

“Just a commoner? You call her a ‘nanny,’ but Mother lost her birth mother so early she doesn’t even remember her face. That nanny is practically her parent in all but name.”

“Ah, I see.”

Now it made sense.

Why Gong Gyeong-ryong strutted around with his nose in the air, and why everyone kept their mouths shut about his true background.

‘So that’s why he was such an arrogant jerk.’

“Before Gyeong-ryong joined the clan, Mother gathered us all together and asked us to look after him, didn’t she? You have the nerve to say you don’t remember?”

“So she did.”

“You really are a hopeless fool.”

“From the way you’re talking, I take it he was hurt pretty badly.”

Well, that much was only natural. I had swung with full strength, merely holding back my inner energy.

He was the one who showed killing intent first. He deserved the beating he got.

But Dan Sa-bin’s voice only rose further.

“According to Physician Tae, some of his organs ruptured. They say he’ll need at least three months to recover! What on earth did you do to him?”

“We had a duel.”

“Damn it! Who asked you that?”

Listening this far, I had a rough grasp of the situation.

That didn’t mean I accepted it.

I looked straight at Dan Sa-bin, who was glaring at me like he wanted to kill me, and asked,

“So what exactly do you expect me to do?”

“Apologize.”

“To whom?”

“Go to the clinic and apologize to Gyeong-ryong. Then go to Mother and tell her you are sorry as well. Right now, that’s the only way.”

I couldn’t help but give a small, dry laugh at that.

“You’re laughing? Are you in your right mind?”

My expression hardened.

“Big brother, are you the one who’s not in his right mind?”