Chapter 94: Talent Show (3)

Sa Cheongmun and I faced each other across a table.

Meanwhile, the other direct descendants took their seats slightly away from us like an audience.

Just as I was about to sit down—

“Hey.”

“Lady Pa?”

For some reason, Pa Yeongyeong grabbed my shoulder tightly to stop me.

“Are you crazy? What were you thinking accepting that provocation?”

I replied with a faint smile.

“Do you also believe I have no chance of winning, Lady?”

“Of course not. That bastard Sa Cheongmun used to work for the current gold branch in Shaanxi. He’s closely connected to the Commerce Circle.”

“You know quite a bit?”

Was it because they were of similar age? I hadn’t expected Pa Yeongyeong to know so much about Sa Cheongmun.

With a sigh, Pa Yeongyeong said,  

“He and I are both from the same intake at the Demon Dragon Hall. He used to work under that scumbag Sa Bihwan, doing all sorts of dirty work. You’ve seen it too—he may look like a rat, but he’s no easy opponent.”

“I see.”

I slowly nodded.

The fact that he referenced the story of Chen Ping showed he could wield his tongue skillfully.

But—

“If he had quoted the words of an ancient sage to argue, I might understand. But picking a fight with me in the realm of commerce was a mistake.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“There’s only one thing that matters in commerce. Precise numbers. All problems and their solutions come from those numbers.”

“…?”

“Well then, just watch.”

With that, I turned away from Pa Yeongyeong.

As soon as I sat down, Sa Cheongmun smiled thinly and said,

“Hahaha, I really didn’t expect you to accept.”

“I have one question, though.”

“What is it?”

“Are you truly aiming for the title of Demonic Faction Lord?”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected that question—Sa Cheongmun’s expression briefly froze.

“Of course.”

“And why is that? Is it because you have feelings for the Young Cult Leader?”

“What? Puhuhuhu!”

He lowered his head and let out a mocking laugh as if the question amused him.

“You’re quite the funny one, aren’t you?”

“You find that funny?”

“Of course, it’s ridiculous. Talking about romantic feelings in a place where the fate of a noble clan is decided? Even if they’re not from one of the Six Great Demonic Clans, no heir of a high-ranking family would ask such a foolish question.”

“…Perhaps you’re right.”

Sa Cheongmun leaned in closer, lifting one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“She’s a female Cult Leader—something that’s barely existed in our history. Imagine how much power and profit you’d gain by being her husband. If I could obtain that, my status within the Black Gold Sa Clan would be solidified!”

Not a single word came from his mouth in consideration of Cheon Yura herself.

“Hehehe… I bet every man gathered here is thinking the same thing. You’re softer than I thought. Did I overestimate you?”

Indeed, it might be Sa Cheongmun who was clever, and I the fool.

The higher one climbs the social ladder, the more impossible love marriages become. Even a successor is no more than a cog operating solely for the interests of the family or group.

My attitude of defying this truth—my will—might be what’s truly abnormal.

But it was for that very reason that I wanted to make her someone who could live as a human being.

And in order to do that, the very first step I had to take was—

‘Eliminate every man who thinks like that.’

“If you’d like to display your mercantile prowess, would you hear my proposal?”

“A proposal? What is it?”

Feigning generosity, Sa Cheongmun straightened his shoulders and asked.

I restrained myself from grimacing at his arrogance and continued.

“A Q&A match.”

“Hm?”

“We each ask and answer questions related to commerce, competing in knowledge and insight.”

I raised three fingers.

“Each person has three chances. If the opponent can’t answer, the turn doesn’t pass, and the questioner retains the right to keep asking.”

Choosing three turns instead of just one might seem like a safeguard at first glance.

But it was actually a structure that could inflict even greater humiliation on the opponent.

“Oh ho… so that’s how you want to play it? But are you sure about this?”

Noticing the trap, Sa Cheongmun’s smile deepened.

“For the famed Young Master Noble Player of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, known as a carefree scoundrel, to challenge me like this… you must’ve read a few books on commerce, hmm?”

“Are you in or not?”

“Of course I am! It’s a completely risk-free proposal for me.”

Swish!

“In fact, let’s raise the stakes.”

Sa Cheongmun suddenly rose from his seat and turned toward Cheon Yura.

“I have a suggestion for the Young Cult Leader.”

Though she frowned slightly, Cheon Yura responded.

“What is it?”

“As you yourself acknowledged, Young Master Jin is essentially your shield.”

“And?”

“If I manage to break through that shield, wouldn’t it be reasonable for me to be rewarded in some way?”

His argument had some logic.

After all, she had publicly acknowledged giving me a command, which practically revealed our relationship to everyone.

“What is it you want?”

“I won’t ask for anything extravagant. All I wish is that, should I win, I be granted some private time with the Young Cult Leader—independent of the Exchange Ceremony.”

‘…What’s his angle?’

Private time? That’s it?

Cheon Yura asked without even blinking,

“And if you lose?”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you intend to only claim the rights of the victor? You should also be prepared to accept the consequences of defeat.”

That was essentially her agreeing to the wager.

Sa Cheongmun smiled brightly and bowed his head.

“I will accept whatever punishment is deemed fit.”

“Good. You’d best not forget those words.”

Cheon Yura’s indifferent gaze turned toward me.

‘Ah.’

I read the emotion behind her blank expression.

Though it appeared cold at first glance, the feelings she now showed me were…

Worry. And trust.

Amused by the contrast of those emotions, I let out a quiet chuckle and shook my head.

‘Don’t make that face.’

After all, a bright smile suits you much more than a blank expression.

Someday, I hope to see that sincere smile you once showed me again…

“Well then, shall we begin?”

Sa Cheongmun’s provocative smile snapped me out of my thoughts.

I let out a sigh and took my seat.

“Let’s.”

“Who goes first? You choose.”

“You go first.”

“Oh? Confident, are we?”

Sa Cheongmun nodded without objection to my suggestion.

“Then, let’s start off lightly, shall we?”

Thus began the duel between Sa Cheongmun and me—without swords.

He asked,

“Do you know the total tax revenue of the Empire last year? Round off the thousands and just give the number starting from ten-thousands.”

A question that could get one accused of treason right from the start.

Without hesitation, I answered,

“Thirty-eight million, six hundred forty thousand nyang in silver.”

“Oh?”

His eyes widened in disbelief, as if he hadn’t expected me to know.

The empire’s tax revenue was a top-level secret, but with the intelligence network of the Heavenly Demon Cult, it wasn’t something beyond reach.

“H-How did you know that?”

“The Black Gold Sa Clan isn’t the only one with connections in the Ministry of Revenue.”

Though I said that, it was something I’d learned while studying during my time as Chief Administrator.

“Judging by your reaction, I got it right. Now it’s my turn.”

I calmly opened my mouth.

“Since our Cult’s expansion toward the southwest was blocked, we’ve been looking for other ways to extend our influence. One of those ways was pioneering trade routes. However, after a failed attempt to push south of Yangyang in Hubei Province thirty years ago, there have been no more such efforts. What do you think the cause was?”

“W-What?”

“Can’t answer?”

“W-Wait a moment!”

Flustered, Sa Cheongmun waved his hands and furrowed his brow, digging through his memory.

“Right! It was because the Waterway Pirates around the Hanshui River, a tributary of the Yangtze, joined forces with the Orthodox Factions and indiscriminately raided our trade convoys and goods.”

“Was that really the true cause?”

I tilted my head slightly.

It was a top-level secret, but the real reason was something else.

“…Damn it. The real cause was that the Cheon and Sa Clans, attempting to form another top-tier merchant guild, were exposed by the Orthodox Faction.”

“Correct.”

“How the hell do you know a secret from thirty years ago?”

Unless one had read the original records or heard directly from someone involved, there was no way to know.

Sa Cheongmun let out a quiet sigh.

“Phew… fine. I admit I let my guard down a bit. My turn now.”

Apparently surprised by how strong I came out from the start, he raised the level of his questions.

“Under Minister Jang of the Empire’s Ministry, the Single Whip Law has been implemented for twenty years. It only saw moderate success near the central plains, and had little effect on the borders. Paradoxically, however, our Cult benefited from it. Why do you think that is?”

Of course, the Heavenly Demon Cult doesn’t pay taxes to the imperial family.

But for farmlands secretly operated outside of the Ten Thousand Mountains, taxes had to be paid, and the Single Whip Law was a system governing that.

I took a few seconds to organize my answer and began.

“The Jang family’s policy emphasized a silver-based tax system centered on land. However, silver currency wasn’t smoothly circulated in the border regions, making tax payments difficult for commoners.”

“That’s all?”

Just as Sa Cheongmun’s lips began to curve in a smirk—

“But our Cult had long accumulated wealth through the development of vast silver and gold mines north of the Ten Thousand Mountains. Thanks to that, a stable economy centered around the Eight Demon Seals was established even in the border regions. Because we held massive amounts of silver, we benefited from the new tax system—we could offer silver to those who didn’t have it.”

“……”

Sa Cheongmun’s expression twisted. Which meant—I had answered correctly again.

“My turn.”

The murmurs around us grew louder.

“How can the Jin Clan’s Young Lord know all that…?”

“Maybe he really did prepare this hard to become the Demonic Faction Lord.”

Regardless of the match, Sa Cheongmun’s claims about the responsibilities of a Demonic Faction Lord had left quite an impression on the surrounding warriors.

Because of that, the fact that I was spewing out knowledge usually ignored by martial artists began to change how they viewed me.

“Tch!”

And so the questioning continued for nearly half an hour.

By now, most people would be tired of it, but the surrounding martial artists were still keenly observing, eager to see how it would all end.

‘It’s about time.’

I sensed weariness in Sa Cheongmun’s expression.

Time to go for the decisive blow.

As Pa Yeongyeong warned, Sa Cheongmun truly had vast knowledge.

At this rate, we could keep going for hours without a winner…

“Two years ago, at the request of Minister Wang Pil of the Ministry of Revenue, a massive hunt took place in the Ten Thousand Mountains to obtain the hide of the silver tiger for delivery to the royal family. Though the hides were acquired, deep wounds on the forehead and back significantly lowered their value. This caused five types of damage to our Cult. Name three of them.”

At my question, Sa Cheongmun leapt from his seat in shock.

“W-Wait! How do you know that?!”

“You can’t answer?”

Foaming at the mouth, Sa Cheongmun began to rage.

“That was a mission led by none other than the Patriarch himself! Only a handful in the family even know about it! This has nothing to do with the Exchange Ceremony anymore—this could cause major conflict between the Jin and Sa Clans!”

“Is that so?”

I turned my head slightly.

At the end of my gaze was Sa Biyeon.

“……?”

Though she tilted her head in slight confusion, Sa Cheongmun, interpreting my action however he pleased, shouted at her with venom.

“Y-You damned wench! Did you dare sell out the family’s secret to another clan?!”

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