"Who is it?"

"Looking at his attire, he seems to be a merchant."

"A merchant?"

"Yes."

"My, he must be rolling in money. To think he'd give money just for finding a similar place."

"Ah, you man. He's not looking for a similar place, but a mine, isn't he? Isn't the Qilian Mountains famous for producing good minerals?"

"I know that. But are the Qilian Mountains not rugged? There have been countless people looking for gold veins and minerals, but what's the reason it all fizzled out? It's because of transportation, transportation. The belly button is much bigger than the belly."

"What does that have to do with anything? It's good for us, we've caught a sucker. Even if it's not a mineral vein, he's giving a whole nyang of gold just for finding a place similar to what he's talking about."

"Well, there's no guarantee of finding a spiritual beast or a spiritual herb. Since we have to wander around here and there anyway, finding a similar place is no big deal."

"That's why it's like this, isn't it?"

The bushy-bearded man frowned, looking at the crowd of people gathered in front of the inn.

This was all because of the fleeceflower root that had been discovered in the Qilian Mountains a while ago.

Fleeceflower root was a common herb that could be easily obtained at an apothecary.

Originally, medicinal materials have a period during which their medicinal properties last, so fleeceflower root that was three to four years old was considered high quality.

Because after more time, the medicinal properties would dissipate.

But among them, there were some that grew while retaining their medicinal properties in a peculiar way, and if the root did not wither for more than ten years and was healthy, the fate of the fleeceflower root would change and it would enter the ranks of spiritual herbs.

But a few days ago, not a ten-year-old root, but a whopping fifty-year-old root had appeared at an apothecary near the Qilian Mountains.

The selling price was twelve nyang of gold.

But the price was not what was important.

The words mumbled by the ginseng digger who had sold the fleeceflower root had heated up the area around the Qilian Mountains.

-Damn it, if I hadn't fallen from the cliff and injured my leg… that place is a fleeceflower root field.

Of course, all hell broke loose.

Rumors, which seem to blow like a gentle spring breeze, have a way of turning into a gale in the blink of an eye.

Ginseng diggers who had dug up some herbs from all over the place flocked to the Qilian Mountains in groups.

Although it was said that a heavenly connection was needed for a spiritual herb, would the heavens abandon those who try?

One had to preemptively look around to even get a chance to receive the grace of the heavens.

But on top of that, another rumor overlapped.

As so many ginseng diggers flocked and searched every valley, hidden herbs began to be discovered in heaps.

Among them, a ginseng digger who had discovered a ten-year-old fleeceflower root, though not a fifty-year-old fleeceflower root field, said that a beast with golden horns was gnawing on the fleeceflower root.

-It looked just like a rat, how detestable…

At those words, this time the hunters went crazy.

A golden-horned rat.

A rat with golden horns.

Unlike other known spiritual beasts, it was said to have no ferocity, so if one obtained heavenly luck, even hunters could catch it and change their fate.

So, following the ginseng diggers, even the hunters flocked here. No, they were in the process of flocking.

Thanks to that, all the inns near the Qilian Mountains were booming.

Then one day, in an inn that was bustling with customers day after day, a certain merchant spoke to the ginseng diggers and hunters.

"Are you, by any chance, climbing the mountain?"

"That's right."

"That's great. I came with my family to look for a mineral vein in the Qilian Mountains, but I don't know the mountain well."

"We know the mountain very well."

"Oh! That's great. There's a place I'm looking for, and if you happen to find it and let me know, I'll give you one nyang of gold as a reward."

"O-one nyang, you say?!"

"That's right. Even if it's not a mineral vein, I'll reward anyone who just finds a similar place."

The atmosphere of the flocked hunters and ginseng diggers began to boil like the water in a pot with plenty of firewood and a fire lit.

Not a spiritual beast or a spiritual herb, but a mineral vein.

No, who would refuse a job where you could get one nyang of gold just for finding a similar place and letting them know?

Since they were going to search the Qilian Mountains like they were looking for lice anyway, it was an opportunity to earn extra income, so the rumor spread from inn to inn, and a line formed.

Of course, it was all a false rumor.

The three rumors that Cheonyeong had spread to get what he wanted had shaken the entire Qilian Mountains.

The place to be found was clear.

While the rumor spread and the hunters and ginseng diggers flocked, Cheonyeong had drawn a picture of the cliff and its surrounding terrain.

It was a brief and crude drawing scribbled in a hurry due to lack of time, but to the hunters and ginseng diggers, that drawing was no different from a treasure map.

Because if they just found it, they would get one nyang of gold.

"Here! Give me one too!"

As a few who had arrived at the inn where Cheonyeong's group was staying first received the map and ran to the mountain, the hunters and ginseng diggers felt impatient and raised their hands to hurry them.

"Hey, keep in line! One person drew one each, so there aren't many!"

"Damn it! Then say it! Say it! I'll remember it and climb the mountain!"

"Then wait a moment."

Yoo Seongyeon, who was controlling the people, frowned and approached Cheonyeong.

Damn it, what was a Taoist doing this for?

It wasn't enough to transcend the world and cultivate the Tao, but this was like doing business like a secular person.

And without pay.

On the contrary, he was told to pay for his lodging and meals. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Damn Lord Tang. He had asked for it himself…

To treat him, who might become the next Sect Leader of Qingcheng, like this, I can't just let this go!

"Lord Tang!"

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"That is…"

Although Yoo Seongyeon had called him boldly, the moment he met Cheonyeong's eyes, the words he was about to say disappeared, and he beamed with a smile on his lips.

"There are too many people. They're asking me to say it, so what should I do?"

"Then explain it. As I taught you yesterday."

"Yes, Lord Tang."

Yoo Seongyeon, who bowed his head and answered vigorously, rushed towards the people.

He couldn't bring himself to resist.

Because he remembered the divine power he had shown the previous day.

Hadn't the inn almost collapsed from the energy he had unleashed against the two who were called senior brothers?

He had never heard of or seen such a thing.

If it were just a little, he could have tried to compete. But this was on a different level…

Ah, is there no spiritual beast like the Ten Thousand Gong Baek anywhere?

Yoo Seongyeon, who sighed, shouted vigorously at the people with an annoyed voice.

"Listen carefully! A cliff in a deep valley where the bottom cannot be seen! On the open space on top of the cliff, there is a grove of red pines!"

He had only conveyed the key points, but among the flocked people, the back row, who had a low chance of receiving a drawing, began to run towards the mountain in a hurry.

"Hah, rumors are really amazing."

"I know, right? To think so many people would gather in just a few days…"

"The Lord seems truly amazing. To think he planned all of this in his head."

Three men.

The descendants of the Eight Immortals, who were standing around Cheonyeong with Byeon Gil-tae at the center, were amazed, clicking their tongues.

"That's what greed is."

"Hmm."

"When they flocked to the Qilian Mountains, they were already in a state of being possessed by greed. In the midst of that, one nyang of gold further stimulated their greed, so it's only natural."

"I see. Using people's emotions. But will it be alright? They are people who have no relationship with us."

"Why is that?"

"Pardon?"

At Cheonyeong's words, the senior brothers' expressions turned puzzled.

Why is that?

"I am not such a kind person."

"That's not what I meant."

"It's alright, Senior Brother. I wasn't trying to blame you."

When Byeon Gil-tae laughed awkwardly and made an excuse, Cheonyeong slowly shook his head.

"I don't know how you senior brothers think of me, but my actual self will be different from what you think."

"…"

"I am not some hero who helps others without reason. I don't try to appear righteous to anyone."

"Lord, that's not what I meant."

"I know. But I'm saying this to point it out in advance."

Cheonyeong said calmly to the three senior brothers.

"For the sake of my family and clan, I am a person who can commit murder without hesitation if necessary. I am a person who is ready to use anyone to achieve my goal."

"Hmm."

"I spread a false rumor. Yes, I know. But because of that, I was able to gather people."

"…"

"But when they came here, drawn by the rumor, they had already come with a resolution. It doesn't matter whether they find it or not. Because they left it to luck. Also, they are just doing what they have always done. Hunting, gathering herbs, things they would have done even if it weren't for this place."

At Cheonyeong's words, the three couldn't answer.

"And they will work harder than ever, dreaming of a windfall. Do you think they will search carelessly? They will hunt harder than usual, and search the mountains for herbs more diligently. Then, of course, their income will also increase."

"Is that so?"

"This is not an excuse or a sugarcoating of my actions. I am just stating the objective facts. About what will happen from now on."

"…"

"Although they came, drawn by the rumor, while doing what they always do, someone will earn an extra income of one nyang of gold. It's mutual help. Our interests have coincided."

"But if they find out that the spiritual beast and spiritual herb are a false rumor, people will not think that their interests have coincided. They will point their fingers at you, Lord."

"Let them."

"Pardon?"

"Do you think I, who have planned such a thing, am a person who cares about the finger-pointing of the people of the world?"

It didn't matter what.

Cursing?

Let them if they want.

Finger-pointing?

A person doesn't become something just because they receive some of that.

"What about you, Senior Brothers?"

"Pardon?"

"They are aiming for the Samyang. They will probably not hesitate to do anything to get it. In that situation, would you just leave it alone?"

"…"

"I am not. I will erase the Jingagu from the world. Not just the Jingagu, but I will surely take revenge on those who have harmed me. Even if I get pointed at by people for it. That is the Tang Family that I lead."

As Cheonyeong smiled faintly, the senior brothers shut their mouths and just frowned.

"By the way, don't think of leaving the Tang Family recklessly just because you don't like me, or because our wills are different."

"Pardon?"

"People often say that if you don't like the temple, the monk should leave."

"…"

"But there is no such saying in my Tang Family. If you wish to leave, leave your neck behind. Or I can cut it for you."

He meant he would kill them.

To say such a murderous thing with a smile made their hearts shrink even more.

"Keep that in mind and get ready. When this side is sorted out, we will have to climb the Qilian Mountains too."

Cheonyeong walked into the inn, and Gwi-su followed behind him.

Byeon Gil-tae, who was looking at the stiff-faced Yeon Wihyeon and Jeon Yang, let out a bitter smile.

The descendants of the Eight Immortals who had learned the Samyang Divine Art.

He had lived for a long time as a target of the assassin organization called the Jingagu.

The reason Tang Cheonyeong had said he couldn't leave the Tang Family must have been for that reason.

How could he not know his intention?

Byeon Gil-tae, who had spent time with him from the Namgung Family until now, had grasped his personality to some extent.

A direct personality.

And a persistence that made him see things through once he had something to do, without looking back.

But…

"It would be nice if he just spoke a little more nicely."

What could he do?

Since Cheonyeong had called him senior brother, and he seemed to be older than the others, he had no choice but to take care of his younger brothers as the eldest senior brother.

"Now, you two should go in too. We don't know when we'll be back once we climb the mountain, so there will be many things to pack."

Byeon Gil-tae pats the two junior brothers on the back and leads them.

A Tang Family member has set out.