Wudang Sacred Scriptures

Kwak Yeon stepped to the center of the banquet hall and spoke.
“This junior martial student also believes that the Merchant Lord’s proposal isn’t entirely unreasonable. However, every contract comes with a premise, doesn’t it? Namely, the process of verifying the facts.”
“Wise words indeed.”
Danmok Seong, the Grand Elder of the Danmok Family, nodded pleasantly and added,
“So, Daoist Kwak, you were asking whether Cheongwu Merchant House truly spent fifty thousand silver nyang?”
“That’s correct. None of the elders here addressed that particular point, so I took the liberty to raise the question.”
Danmok Seong let out a hearty laugh.
“Daoist Kwak, it seems you’ve lived only in the mountains, lacking proper experience of the martial world.”
“I shall humbly accept the Grand Elder’s teaching.”
“Descendants of distinguished families never lie when it comes to contracts of this nature. Therefore, your questioning of the Merchant Lord insults the Sang Gwan Family itself. You ought to apologize to the Family Head immediately.”
At those words, Kwak Yeon politely bowed to Sang Gwan Eung and spoke,
“Family Head Sang Gwan, I am inexperienced, as I have only recently entered the martial world. I apologize for my rudeness.”
Though Sang Gwan Eung was extremely displeased, he thought to himself that small mishaps always occurred even during auspicious occasions, so he simply nodded.
“Hmph, for the sake of Wudang’s reputation, I’ll overlook it.”
Danmok Seong now turned to Cheongwu Merchant Lord Sang Gwan Jin-ho.
“In any case, now that the topic is raised, I’m curious. Merchant Lord, you wouldn’t casually mention a sum as large as fifty thousand silver nyang, would you?”
“That’s correct.”
“Then, please present the records for us to see.”
“Grand Elder?”
Sang Gwan Jin-ho looked at him with surprise, but Danmok Seong continued lightly.
“Sangjeon Farmland is the foundation Grand Scholar Seol cultivated over many years, isn’t it? It’s not that I doubt you, but for clarity’s sake, this seems proper.”
Sang Gwan Jin-ho glanced at his father-in-law, Family Head Sang Gwan Eung, but seeing the Family Head’s expressionless silence, he had no choice but to respond.
“I didn’t anticipate such a situation, so I didn’t bring the documents. They are safely stored at Cheongwu Merchant House, so there’s no need to worry.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Kwak Yeon interjected.
“If the documents aren’t prepared, then surely there’s no need to finalize the contract right now.”
Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s face contorted with irritation.
‘This damn Cave Daoist...’
He had been openly glaring at him from the start, and now, interfering just as everything was wrapping up—it was infuriating.
Suppressing his anger, Sang Gwan Jin-ho turned to Danmok Seong and spoke,
“Grand Elder, I will bring the documents from our merchant house by tomorrow.”
Kwak Yeon once again cut in.
“Merchant Lord, is there a particular reason you can’t bring them today?”
“That...”
“How strange. With your esteemed movement skills as a direct descendant of the Sang Gwan Family, it shouldn’t take even half a shichen.”
Danmok Seong nodded.
“True enough. You must strike while the iron is hot. Merchant Lord, go retrieve them at once.”
Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s expression darkened.
“The thing is... I cannot bring them today.”
“Ah, how unfortunate.”
Kwak Yeon’s sudden lament drew everyone’s eyes to him.
“Daoist Kwak, what do you mean by ‘unfortunate’?”
At Danmok Seong’s question, Kwak Yeon replied,
“Grand Elder, before I explain, may I ask the Branch Administrator ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) a few questions? That will naturally clarify the circumstances.”
“If that’s the case, I see no reason to refuse.”
Danmok Seong turned to the Branch Administrator.
“Branch Administrator, would that be acceptable?”
“Of course.”
The Branch Administrator replied readily, then turned to Kwak Yeon.
“Daoist Kwak, please proceed.”
There was a subtle nervousness in the Branch Administrator’s gaze as he looked at Kwak Yeon.
It was because he knew of the Cave Daoist’s rampage at Xinya Port through the official gazette of Honam Province.
‘What is this Cave Daoist planning to ask me? I don’t recall offending Wudang...’
Sensing the Branch Administrator’s apprehension with his Primordial Harmonious Art, Kwak Yeon nonetheless kept his composure and asked,
“Branch Administrator, what punishment does an official face if they accept bribes and handle lawsuits with bias?”
Relieved by the straightforward nature of the question, the Branch Administrator immediately answered,
“Dismissal from office and confiscation of assets equivalent to the bribe.”
“What about conspiring with villains to falsify the census of displaced villagers and using that to coerce them into unfair contracts?”
The Magistrate of Deokseon County, seated beside the Branch Administrator, turned pale upon hearing that. Both offenses directly implicated him.
“An official who should be aiding and protecting displaced civilians, yet does the opposite, commits a grave crime—punishable by one hundred lashes and total asset seizure.”
“In that case, please review these documents.”
Kwak Yeon produced several letters from his robes and handed them over.
“What are these, Daoist Kwak?”
“Testimonies, including a confession from Gong Yeom-gak, the regional leader of the King of Flames Sect.”
As the Branch Administrator read the letters, his face hardened.
Finishing the documents, he handed them to the Magistrate, whose hands visibly trembled as he read.
Once done, the Branch Administrator’s voice turned cold.
“Magistrate, attached to these are signed confessions from your subordinate officials. They claim everything was done under your orders. Do you deny it?”
The Magistrate collapsed to the floor, bowing his head.
“Please... spare me, Branch Administrator...”
“Guards! Arrest this criminal and escort him to the bureau immediately.”
The guards moved swiftly, seizing and dragging the Magistrate away as the room looked on in stunned silence.
Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s face was nearly ashen.
As the commotion settled, Kwak Yeon spoke again.
“Branch Administrator, the Family Head may also be curious. Please show him the letters.”
The Branch Administrator handed them to Family Head Sang Gwan Eung.
After skimming through them, Sang Gwan Eung furrowed his brow and tossed the papers toward Sang Gwan Jin-ho.
“Merchant Lord, why does the Sang Gwan Family’s name appear in these filthy records?”
Despite his pallor, Sang Gwan Jin-ho responded shamelessly.
“Father... I sincerely have no idea what this is about.”
Family Head Sang Gwan Eung turned to the Branch Administrator.
“Branch Administrator, it seems these criminals used our name to lessen their punishment—or perhaps they simply made a mistake.”
“I had reached the same conclusion.”
Demonstrating the seasoned skill of a family patriarch, Sang Gwan Eung swiftly smoothed over the situation and addressed Kwak Yeon.
“Daoist Kwak, you know well that the Sang Gwan Family and Wudang Sect both uphold the righteous path. Surely you wouldn’t believe the words of wicked men over that?”
“Of course not.”
Sang Gwan Eung nodded.
“I will personally inform the Wudang elders of your impressive deeds today.”
Sensing Sang Gwan Eung’s attempt to amicably conclude matters, Kwak Yeon cut in firmly.
“There’s no need for that trouble. If the Family Head wishes to instruct me, I will receive it separately another time. At present, I still have questions for the Branch Administrator.”
In martial society, invoking ‘instruction’ in such a context was a formal provocation. Naturally, Sang Gwan Eung’s gaze turned icy.
Ignoring the tension, Kwak Yeon turned to Cheongwu Merchant Lord Sang Gwan Jin-ho.
“Before that, I’d like to confirm something.”
“...?”
Sang Gwan Jin-ho glared at him with venomous eyes.
“Merchant Lord, are you certain that Cheongwu Merchant House holds the collateral documents?”
“Of course.”
“I see.”
Kwak Yeon nodded and addressed the Branch Administrator.
“Branch Administrator, as the Family Head said, the Sang Gwan Family has no ties to the King of Flames Sect. Direct descendants of prestigious families never speak falsely.”
At that, the icy expression on Family Head Sang Gwan Eung’s face softened slightly.
He had suspected this Cave Daoist might be scheming further, but it seemed he was finally wrapping things up.
‘As expected. If that brat challenged the Sang Gwan Family directly, the elders of Wudang would surely reprimand him.’
Just as Sang Gwan Eung leaned back in satisfaction—
“Then it seems, Merchant Lord, that you’ve been deceived by Gong Yeom-gak, the King of Flames Sect leader.”
At Kwak Yeon’s words, Sang Gwan Eung straightened abruptly and shouted,
“Deceived? What nonsense is this?!”
Ignoring him, Kwak Yeon returned to his seat and retrieved a sack, placing it before the Branch Administrator.
“Branch Administrator, these are the original land deeds of the Sangjeon Village civilians. Please confirm their authenticity.”
“...Understood.”
The Branch Administrator summoned an official to examine the documents.
Rustle, rustle...
The inspector swiftly reviewed each deed and reported,
“Branch Administrator, they bear the official seal and the signature of the Magistrate of Deokseon County. They are genuine.”
The room erupted in murmurs.
The faces of the Sang Gwan Family members, including Family Head Sang Gwan Eung, turned to ash. Merchant Lord Sang Gwan Jin-ho’s complexion drained entirely.
Kwak Yeon asked the Branch Administrator,
“Is it possible for there to be duplicates of these deeds?”
“Absolutely impossible.”
With the Branch Administrator’s resolute reply, Kwak Yeon turned to Sang Gwan Jin-ho.
“Merchant Lord, have you verified your stored documents with the authorities?”
“That...”
Lost for words, Sang Gwan Jin-ho could not answer. Especially with the inspector having just confirmed the originals were present.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Then, you must immediately order the arrest of Gong Yeom-gak, the leader of the King of Flames Sect. Those scoundrels used fake documents to deceive your esteemed merchant house.”
In that moment, Sang Gwan Jin-ho realized something.
‘I never mentioned the vault. So how...’
He recalled the strange warmth lingering in his office earlier.
‘That damn Cave Daoist pulled some trick...’
There was no other explanation for the deeds being present.
“You... you...”
He could only repeat “you” over and over.
If he accused Kwak Yeon of theft, everything he had done would be exposed.
“Daoist Kwak.”
Seeing his son-in-law’s pale, speechless face, Family Head Sang Gwan Eung cut in.
“Where did you obtain those genuine land deeds?”
“Family Head, if you reflect calmly, you’ll know the answer.”
“It would be better if you said it plainly yourself.”
Their gazes locked in midair.