Chapter 234: Shedding the Golden Cicada’s Shell (1)

When the useless chatter dragged on, Hoi Jongbaek got straight to the point.

And Yong Hwarin briefly explained the current state of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

“The old men of the Golden Court Council are going to nominate Hoi Soyu as the Union Head tomorrow?”

Repeating the words back with closed eyes, Hoi Jongbaek wore an expression tinged with regret.

“That child has no innate talent. She must be being used by someone. Or perhaps… it’s out of resentment toward me.”

Hoi Jongbaek knew the situation precisely.

When the words he had been waiting for finally came, Yong Hwarin opened his mouth.

“Union Head, I’ve unintentionally come to learn one of your family’s secrets. Because of that, Do Pyo-du was killed.”

“What are you saying? Do Pyo-du was a loyal man.”

When Yong Hwarin said that Do Gye-gong had been assassinated while bringing a letter containing Hoi Soyu’s secret, Hoi Jongbaek let out a gasp.

“Ah, so such a thing happened. Ah, Do Pyo-du… I am sorry. So sorry. An innocent man like you was sacrificed because of my children.”

Hoi Jongbaek shed tears.

Yong Hwarin waited until Hoi Jongbaek calmed down.

“So, have you found out who Soyu’s father is?”

“I have the letter with me.”

When Yong Hwarin showed the letter Jin Pyeong had sent to Hoi Soyu, Hoi Jongbaek’s hands trembled as he read it.

Yong Hwarin worried whether it might be too much of a shock for someone who hadn’t fully recovered yet, but there was no time to care for that now.

“To reveal the disgrace of my family to Young Master Yong… I am deeply ashamed. I vaguely suspected it might be him. I just had no proof. Is there… anything else besides this?”

Hoi Jongbaek gave Yong Hwarin a glance as he subtly mentioned the secret of Hoi Unkyung.

Yong Hwarin pretended not to know anything about Hoi Unkyung.

“No, at this point, I’ve obtained no other information.”

At that, Yong Hwarin saw a look of relief cross Hoi Jongbaek’s face.

Surely, even he wouldn’t want the fact that Hoi Unkyung wasn’t his child to be known to others.

“From what you’ve said, Young Master Yong, it seems the matter is urgent.”

Hoi Jongbaek closed his eyes and sank into thought.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and spoke.

“I have one last move left.”

Indeed, Hoi Jongbaek was a veteran who had grown hardened in the Upper World.

“Can you secretly summon Chief Administrator Wang for me?”

“He is one of Hoi Soyu’s closest aides. He won’t be swayed.”

Yong Hwarin immediately objected to Hoi Jongbaek’s idea of trying to win over Wang Mu, the Chief Administrator.

“This old man has a way to change his mind. Summon him for me.”

When Hoi Jongbaek said this with confidence, Yong Hwarin nodded.

“Understood. I’ll do as you say. But please don’t trust Chief Administrator Wang too much. He’s one of the worst tormentors of Lady Hoi Unkyung.”

“If he meets me, he’ll change.”

Since he spoke with such certainty, Yong Hwarin couldn’t refuse any longer.

“Understood. I’ll bring him shortly.”

Yong Hwarin was prepared to abduct him if necessary.

As he headed toward the place where Chief Administrator Wang Mu was staying, Yong Hwarin fell into thought.

‘Why does he trust Chief Administrator Wang so much? Does he have something up his sleeve? Otherwise, there’s no way he’d be that confident…’

Then something pricked his mind.

‘Don’t tell me…?’

Yong Hwarin turned his head toward the direction where Hoi Jongbaek was.

‘Could that man be…?’

Yong Hwarin soon shook his head.

‘Don’t dwell on it. Let it be. If it were my past life, it might have been a matter of grave importance… but now, it’s just someone else’s family affair.’

Erasing the perplexed expression from his face, Yong Hwarin hastened his steps once again.

Yong Hwarin stealthily infiltrated the residence of Chief Administrator Wang Mu.

Just as in his past life, Wang Mu didn’t engage much with others.

Since Hoi Jongbaek had appointed him as Chief Administrator of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union out of trust, he hadn’t interfered with Wang Mu’s affairs since.

But now, he had become one of Hoi Soyu’s closest allies and was leading the charge to make her the Union Head.

Wang Mu was sitting alone in his quarters, deep in thought over some documents.

After confirming that there was no one else in Wang Mu’s residence, Yong Hwarin revealed himself.

When Yong Hwarin dropped down from the beam above, Wang Mu flinched in surprise, but didn’t cry out.

Instead, he looked at Yong Hwarin and asked calmly,

“Have you come for a cup of tea? Visiting without notice—should a man known as the Heavenly Sword Hero of the Heavenly Central Sect behave in such a manner?”

Hoi Jongbaek might trust Chief Administrator Wang Mu, but Yong Hwarin did not.

He considered Wang Mu, being the core of Hoi Soyu’s faction, someone who would never be persuaded by Hoi Jongbaek’s plea.

So he decided to feel him out.

“I’m merely an uninvited guest here to hear what Chief Administrator Wang thinks, so don’t take it too harshly.”

“My thoughts? What thoughts are you talking about?”

“People in the union say that Chief Administrator Wang is deeply loyal to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union. If so, then how is it that you became Lady Hoi Soyu’s man instead of Lady Hoi Unkyung’s? If you were truly loyal, wouldn’t it be impossible to go against the Union Head’s intentions? The Union Head appointed Lady Hoi Unkyung as Vice Union Head and entrusted the union to her. For you to oppose the Union Head’s will—can a loyal person do such a thing?”

“Hahaha!”

Wang Mu suddenly burst into loud laughter and closed the documents before him.

“That very loyalty is the reason I became Lady Hoi Soyu’s man.”

“What a sophistry.”

Yong Hwarin frowned, disappointed his suspicion had been correct.

“Lady Hoi Unkyung’s support base is nearly gone. If I had backed the Vice Union Head in that state, what do you think would have happened to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union? I lent my weight to the side with power to prevent internal conflict. That’s the only way to avoid bloodshed within the union. And besides, the Vice Union Head is poisoned and could die at any time. I merely did what I could under the circumstances.”

Yong Hwarin sneered and said,

“An impressive speaker, indeed. Dressing up betrayal in such words. Then what will you do if the Union Head regains consciousness? Will you still side with Hoi Soyu? I suppose you’d betray the Union Head too, since her side is weaker.”

“That’s an entirely different matter. The Union Head is not only my benefactor, but I also owe him my life. If he regains consciousness, even the Golden Court Council won’t dare oppose him. But the Union Head is already beyond recovery. Your words, Young Master Yong, have no meaning.”

“What if the Union Head has regained consciousness?”

As Yong Hwarin continued to bring up the Union Head without being asked, Wang Mu started to suspect something.

“The Union Head has regained consciousness?”

Every famed physician had already been summoned to check his pulse and attempt treatment, but all had concluded he was beyond saving, and they had given up.

However, if the rumors about Yong Hwarin’s extraordinary abilities were true, he could indeed have neutralized the poison in the Union Head.

‘And if the one called Demonic Master helped, it’s even more possible.’

Seeing the faint glimmer of hope appear on Wang Mu’s face, Yong Hwarin pressed forward.

“The Union Head asked for you. He said you’re the only one he can trust.”

‘Could it be… the Union Head really regained consciousness?’

But Wang Mu soon shook his head.

“I need to verify if what Young Master Yong says is true.”

As Wang Mu calmly agreed to follow, Yong Hwarin spoke.

“It could be a trap, no? Are you fine with just following me like this?”

Wang Mu smirked and replied,

“You underestimate me, Young Master Yong. I’ve met countless people throughout my life. At the very least, I can tell the difference between a petty man and a noble one.”

“Are you saying I belong to the noble kind?”

“I’m saying you’re not a petty man.”

“Hahaha, so you still won’t call me noble. Follow me.”

When Yong Hwarin climbed onto the roof, Wang Mu followed behind him toward Hoi Jongbaek’s residence.

As he followed Yong Hwarin, Wang Mu thought to himself.

‘You’re someone closer to a hero than a noble man.’

Seeing how Yong Hwarin protected Hoi Unkyung even in such dire circumstances, Wang Mu quietly admired the young man.

Anyone else would have sided with the likely victor and abandoned Hoi Unkyung.

Though they stood as enemies now, Wang Mu found himself drawn to Yong Hwarin.

‘Had you come to the union earlier, none of this would have happened.’

As he watched Yong Hwarin leading the way, Wang Mu wore a bitter expression.

Half a si-jin later, Wang Mu came out of Hoi Jongbaek’s room, his face drained of color.

His chest still pounded, overwhelmed by many reasons.

The Union Head’s revival was shocking enough—but his words were even more so.

“This can’t be…”

Wang Mu sat in a daze outside the room, his face still full of confusion.

But he soon pulled himself together and hurried back to his own residence.

Yong Hwarin watched him leave, his back turned, with a bitter expression.

A short while ago, Yong Hwarin had released his qi and synchronized with nature’s energy, eavesdropping on their conversation unnoticed.

Even after hearing it all, Yong Hwarin was still in shock.

‘So there was a reason the Union Head trusted Wang Mu so deeply.’

He recalled their conversation.

When Hoi Jongbaek regained consciousness, Wang Mu had been so shocked he wept.

The one he had truly been loyal to was Hoi Jongbaek.

‘To think… Wang Mu is Hoi Unkyung’s biological father. And Wang Mu himself didn’t even know until now.’

Hoi Jongbaek had known for a long time that he could not father children, but he kept it secret.

So when his wife became pregnant, it was an utter shock.

However, he remained silent because he needed an heir.

At the time, his wife had been close with Wang Mu, and he knew they had shared affection.

Perhaps that was why Wang Mu had remained in the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, working as Chief Administrator until now.

It must have been his way of atoning to Hoi Jongbaek.

Now that he thought about it, Yong Hwarin realized Hoi Unkyung did resemble Wang Mu.

“Chief Administrator Wang was the one in charge of the Golden Court Council’s finances, so he should know all its secrets. And he would’ve recorded them too. The Wang Mu I know is that kind of person. If there’s a ledger of their misdeeds, bring it to me. If we’re to save the union, the Golden Court Council must be disbanded and everything started anew.”

At first, when Hoi Jongbaek tried to persuade Wang Mu this way, he refused.

“Union Head, if we do that, the Golden Court Council will push back fiercely. Even you may not be able to stop them.”

“Which is why I need your strength, Chief Administrator Wang.”

“Looking at the big picture, for the union’s sake, I’d have to side with the Golden Court Council over you. That’s the way to save the union.”

Even after hearing that, Hoi Jongbaek didn’t get angry.

“I figured you’d say that. The Wang Mu I’ve known all this time is exactly like that. You’re worried that the weak within the union will be harmed by the chaos.”

“Why not officially pass the Union Head position to the second young lady?”

To that, the Union Head shook his head.

“That is impossible. Soyu is Jin Pyeong’s child.”

“What are you saying?”

When Wang Mu asked in shock, Hoi Jongbaek handed over the letter he had received from Yong Hwarin.

“You’ll understand once you read this.”

Wang Mu read the letter, hands trembling.

“Chief Administrator Wang, I was born unable to father children. Do you understand what that means?”

With a blank expression, Wang Mu looked at Hoi Jongbaek.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep