Chapter v20c22

## Even a Nation Can Go Bankrupt with Daily Compound Interest

– The Terror of Interest

“Ryu-Yeon, you’re going yourself?”

“Of course! I can’t forgive those bastards. How dare they touch my money! Hehehe! I’ll make sure to get back my principal plus interest. Calculated at a daily compound interest rate of 20%!”

“H-hey! Even the most ruthless loan sharks don’t charge such an absurd interest rate. Even a nation would go bankrupt if they had to pay that… W-wait, are you…?”

Jang-Hong realized something. Bi Ryu-Yeon grinned.

“That’s right! It’s best to eliminate any risk factors that hinder asset growth. Of course, war is a lucrative business, but I’m not interested in making money that way!”

“What are you planning?”

“To catch a tiger, you have to enter the tiger’s den.”

“But with those idiots causing such a commotion, are you sure you can still go to Machun Pavilion?”

His request to join the envoy to Machun Pavilion was still facing fierce opposition. He couldn’t help but ask, seeing Bi Ryu-Yeon’s unwavering smile,

“Do you have a plan?”

Bi Ryu-Yeon nodded, grinning.

“You just have to do one thing for me, old man.”

* * *

## The Mysterious Woman

– Ascending Martial Arts Festival

Yoo Un-Bi’s examiner for the final round was Yoon Jun-Ho of the Hwasan Sect.

‘He looks so weak.’

Yoon Jun-Ho looked frail and delicate.

‘How did someone so weak become an examiner for such an important exam?’

He had no respect for his senior.

‘This will be easy!’

He grinned inwardly, confident of his victory before the exam even began. But his smile didn’t last long.

‘Uh oh…’

The exam consisted of blocking Yoon Jun-Ho’s ten attacks and launching five attacks of his own.

‘That’s a piece of cake!’

But Yoon Jun-Ho’s swordsmanship was surprisingly tenacious. His blade, like a willow branch swaying in the wind, flowed and twisted, making it impossible for him to predict its trajectory. It was the embodiment of “softness,” yielding yet unbreakable.

And his own attacks weren’t landing either. He tried to redeem himself by unleashing a series of powerful thrusts, but they all missed.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

“Wow! That was an amazing thrust! That’s the famous Jeomchang thrust, isn’t it?”

Yoon Jun-Ho clapped, his admiration genuine.

‘Is he making fun of me?’

But his smile was too innocent.

“Did I fail?”

He had failed to land a single attack, so it was a likely outcome.

“No, you passed.”

“Huh?”

“For some reason, most of the others couldn’t block my ten attacks. You’re only the fifth person to pass. They were so slow that I couldn’t even go easy on them. Were they sick? I hope it wasn’t food poisoning…”

He said, scratching his head, his face innocent.

Yoo Un-Bi was speechless.

* * *

Ryu-Ran’s examiner was not as carefree as Yoon Jun-Ho.

Her opponent was Na Ye-Rin.

“Just block or dodge one attack.”

Na Ye-Rin’s condition was much simpler.

The match was over in a flash. Ryu-Ran, barely able to react to the blade that appeared before her face, managed to take half a step back.

‘I failed!’

She was disappointed in herself. She had frozen like a fool.

“You passed.”

Na Ye-Rin said, her voice monotone.

“Huh? Why?”

She almost shouted.

“Do you have a complaint?”

“No, but… I want to know why.”

“You moved half a step.”

She replied, her voice still indifferent.

“Huh?”

She needed an explanation.

“You would have passed even if you had just lifted your heel. You’re the first person to move half a step. I’ll give you extra points.”

She hadn’t expected anyone to block or dodge her attack.

Ryu-Ran was speechless, her mouth agape. She couldn’t believe how casually she was saying such an absurd thing.

* * *

“This is it!”

Gongson Jeol-Hwi couldn’t hide his nervousness. The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived. The moment he had longed for and dreaded at the same time. His examiner was none other than Mo Yong-Hwi, one of the Seven Phoenixes of Cheonmu.

“We’ve met before.”

Mo Yong-Hwi had seen him before, when he had been caught up in Lee Si-Geon’s scheme.

“Yes, we have.”

He gulped. Mo Yong-Hwi, standing there with his sword, was an imposing figure.

‘He’s truly worthy of his reputation!’

He had only glimpsed him before, but facing him as an opponent was a completely different experience. He was amazed by his skill at such a young age. He couldn’t help but feel envious. But he had been secretly observing him and had come up with a plan.

‘Today, I’ll defeat Mo Yong-Hwi and restore the honor of the Gongson family!’

He vowed inwardly.

But the gap between them was wider than he had expected. As the exam began and Mo Yong-Hwi’s attacks came at him, he could only focus on dodging. If he tried to counterattack, he would be defeated instantly. He tried to use his family’s sword techniques, but Mo Yong-Hwi’s attacks were too clever, disrupting his flow.

‘D-damn it!’

He couldn’t lose without even landing a single counterattack. He had to attack, even if it meant taking a risk. He realized that he couldn’t win at close range and quickly jumped back, creating distance between them.

‘At this distance…!’

Mo Yong-Hwi didn’t pursue him. He wanted to see what he was capable of.

“Haaa!”

He shouted, unleashing a powerful technique from his Supreme Sword Art.

* * *

*Supreme Sword Art Secret Technique.*

*Supreme Unrivaled.*

* * *

A brilliant sword energy erupted from the tip of his blade.

“Ten points for creating your own distance!”

Mo Yong-Hwi said.

“But twenty points deducted for wasting energy.”

It was a flashy and powerful technique, but it was too wasteful and inefficient. He was using too much internal energy on unnecessary movements.

“That’s not very effective in a fight between masters.”

Mo Yong-Hwi blocked his attacks effortlessly, without even using any special techniques.

“My friend once said, ‘Save your energy, and you’ll live longer.’ You should try to conserve your movements.”

He said, appearing before him in a flash.

“Uh oh…”

*Clang!*

His sword, the symbol of the Gongson family, was knocked out of his hand, spinning through the air. There was a gap between them that couldn’t be bridged by sheer willpower. His sword, soaring five meters into the air, fell to the ground with a thud.

“You’re worthy of being a Gongson. You’re quite skilled.”

Mo Yong-Hwi sheathed his sword, impressed by his skill. But his praise sounded like mockery to Gongson Jeol-Hwi’s ears.

“Don’t mock me. I lost. Did I fail?”

He asked, his voice small.

“What are you talking about? No one has made me move as much as you. Everyone else self-destructed before I even took a step. You passed. Congratulations.”

But his words fell on deaf ears.

He picked up his sword from the ground and walked out of the arena, his head downcast.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Mo Yong-Hwi tilted his head, watching him leave. He had been so focused on overcoming his own challenges that he hadn’t noticed his opponent’s competitive spirit and desire to win.

His indifference had only deepened the wound.

* * *

Gongson Jeol-Hwi, his face pale, walked aimlessly until he found a secluded spot. He sat down, buried his face in his knees, and cried like a child.

A shadow fell over him. The harsh sunlight that had been beating down on him disappeared, and he flinched, startled. He looked up and saw a handkerchief, held by a delicate hand, hovering before his face.

He looked up further and saw a black umbrella, its silk canopy blocking the sun, casting a cool shadow over him. The owner of the umbrella was a woman, dressed in black silk robes, standing gracefully like a crane.

“It’s hot, isn’t it?”

She said, smiling gently. It was as if she was saying, “Your face is a mess because you’re sweating, right? I didn’t see any tears, so don’t worry and take this.” He jumped to his feet, startled. He stood there, frozen, his voice trembling.

“I-I’m sorry you had to see me like this.”

He wished he could disappear into a hole.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone sweats sometimes, especially around the eyes. It’s not a female privilege, you know?”

He was flustered by her kindness, her understanding. She knew he was crying, but she pretended not to notice and even comforted him.

“B-but…”

He thought he saw her smile behind the silk canopy.

“Is something bothering you?”

“Y-yes.”

“Did you fail the exam?”

There was no other reason for him to be crying here.

“N-no, I passed.”

He had lost, but he had still passed.

“I see. Then what’s bothering you…?”

“I… I lost to someone I shouldn’t have lost to.”

He replied, his voice dejected. It was painful to admit it, but he couldn’t deny the truth.

“Was it an important match?”

She asked.

“It was a match I had to win. For the sake of my family’s honor.”

He said, clenching his fists.

“If you don’t mind me asking, who was this opponent you had to defeat?”

“Mo Yong-Hwi, the Seven Phoenixes of Cheonmu!”

“Ah! That clean freak…”

“Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s okay. He’s a tough opponent. Everyone loses sometimes. You’re still young. As long as you don’t give up, you’ll be fine.”

“B-but…?”

“If you let one loss defeat you, you’ll never achieve anything. And you passed the exam, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to challenge him again.”

“That’s true.”

“You have years to redeem yourself. Don’t be too discouraged. Okay?”

“Y-yes, you’re right.”

Her words made sense. No one had ever told him that it was okay to lose, that he could win next time.

“Um… if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask for your name…?”

He asked hesitantly.

“…I don’t know. It might be rude. Hehe.”

She chuckled, her laughter like the tinkling of bells. He blushed, flustered. She offered him her hand again.

“Well, I’ll be going now. Good luck with the rest of the exams.”

He found himself holding a handkerchief, without even remembering how he had taken it. He stared at her, his heart pounding, as she bowed her head and turned away.

“W-wait…”

He called out, but she was already walking away, her black parasol shielding her from the sun. He reached out, as if to grab her shadow, but his hand grasped at nothing.

“Will I ever see her again…?”

He stared after her, mesmerized.

* * *

“Your footwork is terrible. I can’t believe you made it to the final round without even knowing how to hold a sword properly.”

Namgung-Sang said, looking down at the examinee who was sprawled on the ground.

“S-so…?”

The outcome had been decided the moment he had launched his attack.

“You failed.”

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

The examinee ran out of the arena, crying.

“Another crybaby! He’s a man, for crying out loud…”

How many times had this happened? There was a limit to how timid someone could be. He couldn’t believe he had even dared to enter the Ascending Martial Arts Festival with such a weak mentality.

“Next!”

He shouted, his voice slightly irritated.

A woman, carrying a black umbrella on her shoulder, entered the arena, her movements graceful and fluid.

‘Why is she carrying an umbrella?’

The umbrella, made of an unknown material, was black and glossy, like a black pearl, its surface embroidered with a plum blossom tree in silver and gold thread. The golden branches were slender and elegant, yet exuding a sense of strength and dignity, while the silver blossoms were breathtakingly beautiful. His gaze naturally drifted towards the woman’s face, but it was mostly hidden behind a silk veil that hung from the rim of the umbrella. He could only see her delicate nose, her beautiful lips, and her slender jawline, suggesting that she was a great beauty. She was dressed in simple yet elegant black silk robes that accentuated her slender figure and fair skin.

“Pleased to meet you.”

She said, smiling gently.

“Ah, the pleasure is all mine.”

He stammered, mesmerized by her beauty.

“I’m curious about the exam.”

She asked, her voice calm and composed, tilting her black umbrella.

‘What is this pressure?’

He felt a surge of nervousness, despite being the examiner. This woman was different from the other weaklings he had tested so far.

‘Is she overwhelming me?’

It was impossible. But her aura, emanating from her calm demeanor, was incredible.

“Do I pass if I just stand here?”

She asked again. It was a subtle taunt.

“Ah, my apologies. The exam is simple. Block or dodge all ten of my attacks, and you pass. You’ll get extra points if you touch my clothes.”

“Oh, is that all? That sounds easy.”

She said, smiling faintly.

‘Is it really that easy?’

Only a handful of examinees had ever met his requirements. And that was because he had gone easy on them.

“Oh, may I ask one more question?”

“Go ahead.”

He agreed readily.

“How many people have touched your clothes so far?”

He grinned, proud of his record.

“No one.”

She didn’t seem surprised.

“Then I’ll be the first.”

He was amused by her confidence. He had never felt this way about an examinee before.

“Be my guest.”

He replied, his voice full of spirit.

“Hmm, can I use any means necessary to touch your clothes?”

“Of course!”

“…You’re a straightforward person.”

She smiled again, covering her mouth with her sleeve. He suddenly felt a chill.

‘What’s this coldness?’

He felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

‘Is it my imagination?’

He must be tired. He had been pushing himself too hard lately. He wanted to finish this quickly and rest.

“Then come at me.”

She said.

* * *

She moved gracefully, gliding across the ground like a dancer on ice, her umbrella held aloft. What was even more impressive was that her posture remained perfect, despite the added weight of the umbrella. His sword attacks were powerful, but she dodged them all with ease, as if she were taking a stroll in the garden.

‘She’s amazing!’

He was surprised by her skill. Her calm aura had not been a deception.

‘Who is she?’

He prided himself on his knowledge of the martial arts world, but he couldn’t identify her style. He still had much to learn.

Even in a friendly duel, distractions could lead to fatal mistakes.

She wasn’t foolish enough to miss such a big opening.

She seemed determined to make a grand statement, if any means were allowed.

*Whoosh!*

His gaze was momentarily drawn to the black umbrella as it soared into the air.

‘Damn it!’

It was a moment of carelessness, a lapse in concentration. But it was too late for regrets.

She seized the opportunity, her movements swift and decisive.

*Thud!*

She stomped her foot, using the rebound to deliver a sharp elbow strike to his side.

“Ugh!”

He felt a sharp pain, as if his ribs were shattering. It was a miracle he didn’t vomit blood.

“You let your guard down.”

She said, catching her falling umbrella with a graceful gesture, as if nothing had happened.

She turned around and smiled at him, still hunched over in pain.

“I guess even examiners have a lot on their minds sometimes.”

He couldn’t answer, his mouth full of foam.

“So, do I pass?”

“G-bu…”

*Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!*

“Bu…? Did I fail?”

He managed to squeeze out an answer, using all his strength.

“Y-yes, you passed.”

He was still seeing stars.

“Oh, I see. Thank you. I hope to see you again…”

She bowed her head and left. He was left alone in the middle of the arena, dazed and foaming at the mouth.

It was a bitter defeat for the man who had defeated even the Emei Goddess.

(TLN: its 100% the mc)