LIGHTNOVELWORLD Ch 50
Chapter 49
Jo Ga Merchant Union Main Office.
Vice-Chairman Jegal Un’s room.
He was huddled under his blanket, relying on a single candle for light.
Jegal Un’s face, shadowed with deep, dark circles, was truly a pitiful sight.
“Ugh…”
It was already past the hour of the tiger (3 a.m.), but he couldn’t sleep at all.
Sob, sob… sob, sob…
It had been over three months since that bone-chilling wailing started echoing every dawn.
Even covering his face with a blanket or stuffing his ears with cotton couldn’t block out that infernal ghostly sound, which forced its way into his ears and chilled him to the bone.
The first few days, Jo Hwi’s comrades had searched every roof of the main office to find Jin Ga-hee. They did so because they wanted to sleep, to survive, and were left with no other choice but collective action.
But Jin Ga-hee, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts by drinking the blood of countless masters, was a true master of stealth. Her extraordinary lightness technique was well-practiced, so even though Jo Hwi’s comrades tried to chase her down, they couldn’t keep up.
Just then, Yeom Sang-rok, with a greenish face, entered Jegal Un’s room.
He, too, looked emaciated, his face almost unrecognizable.
Sob, sob…
As the wailing resumed, Yeom Sang-rok shivered, his whole body convulsing.
Yeom Sang-rok gritted his teeth.
“Tonight, let’s finish her off for good! Otherwise, we’ll all die!”
Then, Jang Il-ryong, half-awake, entered behind Yeom Sang-rok.
“Ugh… Today, I’m definitely going to wring her neck. This is no way to live.”
Who didn’t understand that? Jegal Un, with his hazy eyes, looked over at them.
“Bring So Geom-ju here. Otherwise, we don’t stand a chance.”
If Namgoong Jang-ho, who had recently reached the highest level of martial arts, didn’t join, the “Capture Jin Ga-hee Operation” would surely fail.
Yeom Sang-rok’s eyes gleamed with malice.
“That bastard fled to the Namgoong headquarters in Yeilpo to save his own skin!”
“Ah, then what are we supposed to do?!”
Jegal Un grabbed his head, burying it in his blanket, but then his eyes sparkled with a sudden thought.
“Should we offer her blood to appease her?”
Yeom Sang-rok glared at him, horrified.
“You idiot! Are you suggesting we willingly turn into something like those Peng Clan freaks?”
“But we have no other choice.”
Jang Il-ryong looked at Jegal Un with pity.
“Hah. So this is the best plan the great strategist Jegal can come up with? Your ancestor, Lord Jegal Wu, would weep in his grave.”
Jegal Un, stung, scowled at Jang Il-ryong.
“Hah! Then why don’t you flex those muscles of yours and come up with a brilliant plan yourself?”
Jang Il-ryong’s chest muscles twitched as his eyes grew dark and sinister.
“Catching her or offering blood won’t solve the problem at its root.”
“The root of the problem?”
Yeom Sang-rok looked intrigued, so Jang Il-ryong continued, licking his dry lips.
“The best way to forget a man is with another man. So why don’t we spread out and bring back the most handsome man in Jiangsu?”
“You’re talking nonsense. How do you still not understand her after all this?”
Yeom Sang-rok looked at Jang Il-ryong with disgust.
“Even if she acts crazy, her devotion and obsession with martial arts are sky-high. Do you really think she likes Brother Jo Hwi just for his looks?”
“Hmm…”
“She wouldn’t have even glanced his way if he wasn’t the Little Sword God!”
Yeom Sang-rok sneered at Jang Il-ryong and Jegal Un.
“Go ahead and find one. A handsome young martial artist on par with Brother Jo Hwi.”
At Yeom Sang-rok’s outrageous demand, Jang Il-ryong and Jegal Un fell speechless.
A martial artist on Jo Hwi’s level would be one of the Seven Martial Seats.
Among them, the youngest would be around fifty.
Naturally, Jin Ga-hee wouldn’t be interested in any of them.
“Damn it…”
Jang Il-ryong glanced out the window, defeated.
He saw countless people in white pajamas wandering around the main office grounds.
They looked desperate to go for a walk, or they’d lose their minds.
What was this, a zombie horde? It was utterly absurd.
And at that moment, the source of their torment appeared before them.
“Something’s wrong.”
Hearing the wailing voice behind them, everyone whipped their heads around.
“Jin Ga-hee!”
“Ah!”
“A ghost!”
Jegal Un felt his heart stop.
In the dim early morning light, Jin Ga-hee, with her long hair flowing, stood before them.
No matter how many times he saw her, she never seemed human.
Jegal Un barely managed to catch his breath as he looked at her swollen, tear-stained face.
“What’s wrong?”
Jin Ga-hee’s eerie voice spoke again.
“Several officials and staff have disappeared.”
Jegal Un smirked dismissively.
“After the alliance wars, everyone’s busy. All the branch unions are so overloaded, they barely have time to breathe.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? That’s not it.”
Jin Ga-hee’s expression was unusually serious.
“I’m the one who monitors the main office and the Black Heaven Brigade more than anyone.”
Indeed, that was true.
Even when she spent her days watching Lake Po-yang from the rooftops, she always kept a close eye on the main office and the Black Heaven Brigade.
“People’s movements have patterns. Habits don’t change easily.”
Jin Ga-hee’s fondness for the rooftops stemmed from her love for “observing.” After years of observing people and things, her intuition was far sharper than that of ordinary people.
“There were several people whose patterns were strange for a few days. Then they suddenly disappeared.”
Unusual routines.
Then, a disappearance.
Realizing the implications, Jegal Un grew serious.
“Manager Jang! Summon all the officials immediately! Right now!”
“Yes, sir!”
Vice Chairman Je Gal-un had never called the executives together outside of working hours, no matter how urgent the matter was.
Zhe Ge Wun looked around the empty spaces near the meeting table and soon filled them all.
“Lord Tongun, why hasn’t the head of Yeongso (Yeong Small) come?”
Sopengsim of Jogatongunju was the most intimate associate of Yeoyoungso, the owner of Jogayangjojangju.
“Um… that is…”
Because of the unprecedented urgency reflected in Vice Chairman Jegal Un’s expression, Sopengsim was breaking out in a cold sweat repeatedly.
“Go ahead and speak!” Hurry up!
“Actually, he hasn’t been seen for a few days.” At first, I thought he was just spending the night at the brewery with the other brewers, so I didn’t think much of it…
“Don’t hesitate, just keep talking!”
“Ah, I understand!” It’s already been three days since he disappeared! I thought he might be ill, so I went to his cottage, but he wasn’t there either!
Jae-gal-un bit down hard on his teeth.
“Housewives!” Did the housewives disappear too?
“How do you…?”
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Sopangsim’s eyes were wide open.
When he visited the Joga Brewery, several housewives who could be considered the brewers had also disappeared.
Moreover, they are the key housewives who know the brewing methods of Hanbingju and Seolhwashinju.
I was planning to report everything at the upcoming general meeting anyway.
Zhegalun’s terrifying gaze was directed at Jo Gagakju Lee Wook this time.
“Did the master of Seongshim-dang, Byeokho-sang, go missing along with the seasoned workers?”
Lee Wook nods absentmindedly.
“Y-yes.” He hasn’t been seen for three days, along with the other servants.
“The list of the missing servants!” Are you aware of it?
Lee Wook, too, had been planning to report at the general meeting, so he took out the report he had prepared in advance from his pocket.
“Here, here it is!”
Jae-gal-un quickly opened the report and checked the list.
His eyes were as wide as saucers.
“Ha…!”
Those whose names were on the list were all key chefs who knew the core recipes of Seongsimdang.
What was particularly serious was that Seilgwan Suksu and Jinkayu Suksu, who manage the secrets of Heocheongsu, were included in that list.
Next, Jegalun checked all the empty seats at the meeting table.
Most of the missing people were executives responsible for the core secrets of their respective factions.
The executives, who can be considered the pillars of the Jo Ga Dae Sang meeting, have all gone missing.
“Someone is shaking the very foundation of our organization!”
It was certain that someone had been preparing all of this for a long time.
Because the organization was momentarily thrown into disarray due to Jin Ga-hee, they finally seized the opportunity to carry out their plan.
“Betrayal?”
It is true that human greed is terrifying and formidable, but anyone who knows how Zhou Hui has dealt with traitors in Hefei would never easily betray him.
Moreover, their leader is now being referred to as the “Little Sword God” and is mentioned as the new Eight Martial Seats of the martial arts world.
Even considering the fear of future repercussions, it was safe to say that the likelihood of a traitor emerging was almost nonexistent.
Moreover, anyone who knows about Jo Hwi’s infinite trust and care for his subordinates shown during the battle with Heukcheonryeon would find it utterly impossible to betray him on a moral level.
‘Then who?’
No matter how much I think about it, I can’t come up with a suitable enemy.
It is the Joga Daesanghoe, which completely took over the land ruled by Heukcheonryeon and became the new victor of Gangseo.
In this situation where the status of the Jo Ga Daesang Meeting shakes the world, who dares to do such a thing?
Jae-gal Woon bit his lip hard and stared at Lee Yeosong, who had now become the Grand Commander.
“Grand Chancellor.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
Lee Yeosong also had a determined expression, as if he felt the seriousness of the situation.
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“Is there anyone within our ranks who would betray us?”
Lee Yeosong’s voice was resolutely firm.
“I can assure you, there isn’t.” If there had been any signs of that, I would have reported it to you long ago.
Lee Yeosong is a person whose exceptional skills encompass the entire influence of the organization.
Chairman Jo Hwi’s trust in him was almost limitless.
“What about the movements of the remnants of the Black Heaven Alliance who are banding together to act recklessly or seek revenge?”
Some remnants of the Black Heaven Alliance who returned without ever kneeling, despite the strong pressure and persuasion from the Sword God.
Heukcheonryeon had fallen, but not all of them had bowed to the Jo family.
But this time too, Lee Yeosong shook his head.
“We are currently mobilizing all the resources of the Jo family to monitor their movements.” There were no such signs.
“Um…….”
It feels like being trapped in an endless maze.
With such a complicated expression, Jeong Geul-un, who had been folding and unfolding the unfortunate phoenix golden line, once again stared at Lee Yeosong.
“With our current capabilities, it is still far from possible to overcome the present situation.” Please send a message to the Night Butterfly.
At Jeongalun’s command, Lee Yeosong’s heart became heavy in an instant.
Of course, while Yajeop’s information-gathering and work efficiency are certain, it was obvious that they would demand astronomical costs.
At that time.
“Looks like something interesting happened?”
A humorous voice heard at the entrance of the conference room.
All the executives, upon discovering Jo Hwi and Han Seol-hyun, stood up in respect.
“Chairman, we meet!”
“Is the chairman here?”
Jo Hwi was laughing continuously, wondering what was so funny.
Jiegalun couldn’t understand the completely relaxed Zhou Hui.
The current situation is one where there are concerns about traitors within or the machinations of the remnants of the Black Heaven Alliance.
Moreover, the most serious issue could be the machinations of a third party whose true nature we cannot grasp.
The current situation, with the disappearance of key executives and core engineers from each division, was undoubtedly an unprecedented crisis for the JoGaDae Corporation, which had been smoothly on the path to success.
Right now, the problem is meeting the delivery deadlines contracted with the various sects and numerous merchant groups in the martial arts world.
With all the key executives responsible for the core technology having disappeared, it was obvious that the production of goods by each subsidiary would be disrupted.
A merchant who has lost trust can no longer be called a merchant.
Even though the life of the merchant association is hanging by a thread, such a carefree attitude!
Jae-gal Woon’s face, filled with such doubt, turned once again towards Jo Hwi.
“Chairman, there’s no time to be idle like that.” Right now, the shipments scheduled for this week to Jinchensangdan and Gunlunpa are about to be disrupted. We need to come up with a solution as soon as possible.
“Of course, that’s how it should be.”
Jo Hwi, who keeps smiling while making eye contact with Han Seolhyun without even looking at him.
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At this, Jeongalun’s forehead furrows deeply.
Is this the right time to enjoy some leisure with a woman?
Since I had always watched him being so meticulous, I couldn’t understand at all why he was acting like a slacker now.
“Chairman Cho!”
Jo Hwi was looking at Je Gal Un, who was shouting at him, with a satisfied expression.
The representative of the late period of the Odaese family, Jeongal Un, was now a respectable vice president of the Joga Daesang Meeting.
His dedication was extremely satisfying.
Jowei, who had been wearing such a deeply moved smile, suddenly turned around.
“Please come in.” “Little Swordmaster.”
The man who entered the meeting room at Jo Hwi’s low voice was surprisingly Namgung Jangho.
He, who had been holed up in Yeilpo for several months, suddenly reappeared in the gang.
Namgoong Jangho scanned the crowd with an indifferent expression, his eyes gleaming with intensity.
“In fact, strange signs have been present for several months.”
Zhegalun’s face momentarily goes blank before he looks at Zhou Hui again.
“Oh, you knew?”
Jo Hwi smirked and stared at Je Gal Un.
“With your own mouth, you revered the state of absolute emptiness like a god.”
Only then did Jeongal-un suddenly realize something.
Jo Hwi was truly a martial artist capable of turning hundreds of sheets into the sea of thoughts.
If one sets their mind to it, they can envelop the entire sect with their will and even sense the movement of a tiny mouse. This is the absolute limit of the sense realm.
That despicable person is the chairman of the Joga Daesang Meeting, So Geom-shin.
The Murim Alliance could be called an alliance (盟) solely because of the existence of Mu-hwang, and the Black Heaven Alliance could never have claimed the status of an alliance (聯) if the Black Heaven Great Kill had not existed.
The terrifying thing about the Seven Martial Masters and the Four Great Kings is that they are all masters of the Absolute Technique.
The value and destructive power of an absolute master were as unparalleled as this.
“So, if you foresaw all of this, does that mean you also succeeded in tracking them down?”
Namgoong Jangho silently shook his head.
“Not yet.” However, the Changcheon Milwi swords of the main family have moved, so news will soon arrive.
“……Cang Tian Mi Wei Jian (苍天密卫剑)?”
The reason the Namgung family has ruled Anhui Province for hundreds of years is not simply due to their high prestige and military power.
It was possible because their family’s secret organization, the Changcheon Milwi Sword, had been protecting the royal family in the shadows for hundreds of years.
However, the Changcheon Milwi Sword of the Namgung family was truly a mysterious and secretive organization, one that would never reveal itself unless an immense calamity befell the family or the martial world was engulfed in chaos.
Zhegalun also knew the legendary reputation of the Changcheon Milwi Sword through history, so it was only natural for him to be greatly surprised.
If the Namgung family moved the Cheongcheon Milwi Sword, it means they regard the Jo family as their equal.
The solo operation of the Changcheon Milwi Sword was absolutely impossible without the approval of Namgung Se-ga-ju, Namgung Su.
At last, Jegal Un could truly feel the strong bond between the Jo family and the Namgung family.
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Zhegalun was amazed not only by how Zhou Hui had foreseen all of this, but even more so by how he skillfully utilized his position as the Minister of Finance whenever a crisis struck the merchant association.
Suddenly, he revealed his doubts.
“However, it’s strange.” “If you had discovered the insubordinate signs of the executives in advance, you would have taken immediate action. Why did you let it go on until it reached this point?”
The character of Zhou Hui, as observed by Zhuge Wun until now, was meticulous yet spontaneous and magnanimous.
It was puzzling that someone with such a fiery temperament had foreseen the suspicious movements but had not taken preemptive action to block them.
Jo Hwi smirks slyly.
“It was bound to happen eventually.”
Human desire is like the vast ocean, infinite and as changeable as floating clouds.
Intense headhunting and core technology theft between companies, aggressive marketing where they cannibalize each other, etc.
Even among modern companies, there is a fierce behind-the-scenes battle.
The world of Jungwon is also a place where ‘people’ live, with only differences in the level of civilization.
If no one were to emerge with greed towards the immense wealth achieved by the Jo family, it would be even more unusual.
“Ha, could it be that they caught them all in one fell swoop?”
It was a decision that could never be made easily as the leader of a faction.
Of course, waiting for all the subversive elements to surface and then suppressing them all at once would theoretically be the most ideal strategy.
But what about the damage done so far?
If this were brought to light, everyone would inevitably start suspecting each other, and the situation would be nothing short of chaotic until the traitor’s position was filled.
However, he was also within Jo Hwi’s strategy and scheme.
“Brother?”
“I got it.”
Finally, Jo Hwi’s arrangement was revealed like that.
The swordsmen of Namgung did not just spend their time idly at Poyang Lake.
When Namgoong Jangho gestured, the Cheongcheon Swordmaster who had been standing by his side immediately disappeared and soon brought a group of people into the conference room.
They are all people living in the side village outside the walls of the Namgoong family.
Not all members of the Namgoong family were martial artists.
To operate a massive household reminiscent of a village, a large number of workers were needed for various tasks, and Namgoong was solving this through the Banggye.
However, Jo Hwi selected an extraordinary individual among them and lured them in by offering an enormous monthly salary.
Of course, along with the sweet words that it could become Sega’s mainstream.
“I have passed on all the top-secret information from the last time to these people.” They can be immediately deployed to the field without any handover, so there probably won’t be any disruptions in production.
“Yes?”
“The basic recipes of our shop, such as Heukcheongsu and Hanbingju… no, the manufacturing secrets all came from my mind.” “Of course, I can’t match the skilled craftsmanship of the master, but the manufacturing secrets are not lost.”
Zhege Wun did not know the details of his growth process because he only joined after the Zhuge Clan had taken over Habei.
Therefore, I never even considered the possibility that Jo Hwi was involved in the product development of the affiliates.
“Wait, is that even possible?”
How much of a genius must a human be for such a thing to be possible?
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Of course, there can be a genius idea from a single person.
However, turning such a ‘concept’ into a ‘product’ was an entirely different matter.
Does one person’s capabilities encompass such incredible products, including all those intricate inventions and techniques?
No way, are you serious?
It was something that was utterly incomprehensible to him by his own standards.
No matter how great the leader of the martial arts world is, it is impossible for them to know the recipes of all the cooks, the refining methods of the blacksmiths, or the medical skills of the physicians.
Right now, Jo Hwi is saying that such a thing is possible.
“Sigh…….”
In conclusion, it means that as long as Jo Hwi is intact, the Jo Ka Dae Sang Hoi can rise again no matter what kind of blow it receives.
Once again feeling like a monster, Jo Hwi made Je Gal Un’s mind go blank once more.
At that moment, the news everyone had been waiting for arrived.
Ssssssssh-
The dark-clad swordsman, appearing in the meeting room like a ghostly figure, with a new law.
He was wearing a mask with the mark of the Blue Dragon engraved on his face, making him look even more mysterious.
Inspection of the Blue Dragon Mask.
The legendary Changcheon Milwi Sword Master of the Namgung clan has finally made his appearance in the martial world.
Changcheon Milwi Geomsu was constantly flicking his lips towards Namgoong Jangho.
Through his secretive communication, Namgoong Jangho, who had been briefed on all the circumstances, looked at Jo Hwi.
“Is it okay to disclose everything here?”
Jo Hwi scanned the crowd and grinned.
“Of course.”
The executives of the Jo Family Council were all equally taken aback by Jo Hwi’s sharp gaze.
It’s as if it’s a gaze that dissects a person.
“The place they ran to was the tavern located on the edge of the lakeside of Poyang Lake.”
“Yeo Family Village?”
Jo Hwi tilted his head with a puzzled look.
Most of the examiners in the vicinity of Poyang Lake were already familiar with the names, but the lady had never heard of them before.
“Originally, Yeogajang was a deserted estate because it would frequently be submerged when the water level of Poyang Lake rose.” “However, not long ago, a young man in his twenties bought the place and named the estate Yeogajang.”
“The boy of the terms?”
“Okay.”
No matter how young he is, can he really be that clueless about the world?
Buying a manor that frequently gets flooded during the rainy season was not an easy decision, unless one was a complete fool.
“First of all, the Skyblade Guards are surrounding the place.” Do you have any specific instructions to convey to them?
Jo Hwi quietly shook his head.
“No, Namgoong-hyung.” Just encircle them.
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Jo Hwi wanted to move directly and check on them.
Even after receiving that enormous monthly salary and despite the care I had shown, I absolutely wanted to know the reason why I had no choice but to betray.
“I’ll go myself.”
“……Directly?”
Now, Jo Hwi is officially the leader of the faction, the Sword God.
I don’t doubt his strength, but having the chairman step in every time something happens isn’t really a good thing.
The schemes of the martial world are sometimes truly insidious and cruel, so no matter how skilled he is in the absolute realm, he could not guarantee absolute safety.
Who could have predicted that Dansong, the former leader of the Eight Martial Seats, would meet such a tragic end?
Jae-gal-un bit his lip.
“Please at least take the So Geomju and Chief Jang.”
Jo Hwi shook his head while looking at Namgoong Jangho.
“Namgoong-hyung is a bit of a problem.” “Rather, let’s take Yeom Sang-rok with us.”
“……this bastard?”
Jo Hwi’s eyes narrow slightly.
“Why should I, when it’s obvious that you’ll be running around everywhere like a stray cat, spreading the scent of Jeongpain?” And anyway, isn’t there something else for you to do, Namgoong-hyung?
At such a command from Jo Hwi, Namgung Jangho’s face quickly hardened.
“……You do it.”
“Me?” When did I ever ask you to take full responsibility for this matter?
“…….”
When Namgoong Jang-ho silently turned his head and walked out of the meeting room, Jo Hwi let out a deep sigh, as if there was nothing more to be done.
“Ha…….”
Jo Hwi’s grim eyes once again turned towards the audience.
Vroom.
Drawing his iron sword and angling the blade, Jo Hwi opened his mouth in his usual grim tone.
“There is no mercy for betrayal.”
The sword began to tremble faintly.
Tsu tsu tsu tsu tsu-
At that moment, a dull black spot near the right arm of the guest, Iwook, slowly began to reveal its presence.
“Oh, no!”
Jo Hwi’s cold voice continued once again.
You were acting as an intermediary, right? You also tried to persuade them. Then you should have left together. How dare you stay here? How much do you get for colluding like that?
Dot completely wrapped around Iwook’s right arm, turning it into a handful of blood, and only then did it erase its traces.
Thud.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Jowoo’s indifferent eyes turned towards Iwook, the owner of the tavern, who was holding his right shoulder, soaked in saliva and tears.
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“What’s that boy from the tavern like?”
Jo Gagakjanjoo Lee Wook (李旭) was the person with the widest range of activities within the Jo Gadaesanghoe, along with Jo Gatongunju So Paengsim.
Due to the nature of the guesthouse and transportation businesses, the scope of activities was wide and inevitably far-reaching.
In that regard, Iuk would be the best candidate to recruit as a spy.
Hmm…
But Jo Hwi could never understand it in the end.
Jo Gagakjanjoo Iwook was someone Jo Hwi devoted a significant amount of effort to, ranking among the top five individuals he cared about the most.
He was the owner of the Moha Inn in Hefei, a man who had grown seasoned through years of managing the inn, and his skills and experience were truly remarkable.
Therefore, Jo Hwi highly valued his experience and offered him a monthly salary equivalent to ten gold nyang, along with an independent business license and a promise of additional dividends upon achieving a certain level of profit.
The most infuriating thing was that during the previous battle with Heecheonnyeon, his daughter had suffered severe burns, and in response, Jo Hwi had urgently dispatched the physician from Saengsaemoon who had treated Namgung Jangho to treat his daughter.
At that time, there were also many other seriously injured people.
Especially considering the severity of Han Seol-hyun’s injuries, Jo Hwi, who had dispatched a doctor to him, couldn’t help but grit his teeth.
“I’m really curious.” To a merchant, betrayal means being guaranteed even higher profits, with a high monthly salary, independent business rights, and even additional dividends… Is there really something that could make someone give up such benefits?
As Jo Hwi’s piercing gaze, sharp as an awl, seemed to dissect him, Lee Wook trembled all over and collapsed right there.
“Chairman…!”
Lee Wook was in a state of confusion, as if his mind was being set ablaze by the continuous pain from where his arm had been severed.
However, even such extreme pain was incomparable to the immense prayer and pressure emanating from his chairman.
No wonder, right now, Jo Hwi was spreading his intentions.
As an ordinary person who has not mastered martial arts, receiving the mental guidance of someone who has attained the Absolute through one’s entire being is a level of suffering that cannot possibly be described in words.
It felt as if his brain was about to burst from the intense pressure that was overwhelming Iwook.
If Jo Hwi’s mental map lasts just a little longer, a complete mental breakdown will occur.
“Ugh… please… save me…”
Jowoo, who had been glaring at Iwook as if to kill him, instead expanded his ambition even further.
“Screeeeam!”
The bloodshot eyes of Lee Wook swelled as if they were about to burst.
As Jo Hwi pushed Lee Wook to his limit, his head eventually hit the ground with a thud.
The cold voice of Jo Hwi flew towards Iuk, who was twitching intermittently.
“Do you still have no intention of speaking?”
Soon, as Jo Hwi’s sword wavered faintly, another dark spot appeared near Iwook’s left arm.
“All!” I will tell you everything!
Only then did Jo Hwi let go of his mental assault.
However, his cold expression showed not a hint of wavering.
“Speak.”
Lee Wook, with a pale complexion, barely managed to compose himself and opened his mouth.
“Ugh… I have received a promise for the marriage of my daughter to Jang Murin, the eldest son of the Ho-young family…”
“The House of Yeongjang? Jang Mu-rin?”
The House of Yeongjang was a famous scholarly family from Shaanxi, a distinguished clan of great influence.
A prestigious family that had produced numerous government officials.
Zho Hui’s brow furrowed.
“The House of Yeongjang is a traditional, eminent family that holds immense authority in Shaanxi, producing countless high-ranking officials. And yet they would marry their eldest son to an innkeeper’s daughter? What kind of fool would believe that?”
Li Uk’s trembling hand searched his inner pocket.
Finally, he pulled out a letter.
When he unfolded it, Zho Hui could immediately see the refined calligraphy filling his view.
“Hm?”
Upon reading it, he realized it was indeed a letter regarding marriage.
Moreover, it bore the family seal of the House of Yeongjang, unmistakably clear.
“Could it… really be genuine?”
Zho Hui, having often seen the distinguished handwriting of Elder Man Sangjo, could recognize it well.
The sophisticated scholarship, virtue, and gracious character in the penmanship were unmistakable.
Such handwriting was not something just anyone could replicate.
In other words, this letter was undeniably authentic.
It made no sense.
This world was thoroughly governed by power, prestige, reputation, and hierarchy.
Zho Hui had witnessed countless scholars and warriors sneering at merchants, dismissing them as mere profit-seekers.
And now, a family of the highest scholarly repute was betrothing their eldest son to an innkeeper’s daughter?
This was simply not something that would happen in the society of the Central Plains.
“This is the work of that ‘boy from Yeo Family’?”
“I… I’ve never seen his face myself…”
“Hm.”
The power wielded by high-ranking officials was something that couldn’t simply be measured by wealth.
For someone who was merely an innkeeper to secure a marriage arrangement with such a prestigious family? It was indeed tempting.
But if they offered this much to Li Uk, what about the others?
Only now did Zho Hui sense the exceptional skill of their opponent.
Zho Hui’s narrowed eyes turned toward Jegal Un.
“Detain this man at the guesthouse. I’ll leave all the trading association’s events under your charge. If you make good use of the senior executives, running things shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Though many were displeased with the chairman acting personally, Zho Hui was not one to be swayed by objections.
“Please be careful.”
Zho Hui finally allowed himself a relaxed smile.
“Thank you for your concern.”
* * *
At the edge of Lake Poyang.
As the long stretch of Yangcheon Port came to an end and the road was about to break off, there stood a shabby manor.
Every rainy season, it would be submerged and then reappear, leaving it in a dilapidated state.
Yum Sangrok looked excitedly at this Yeo Family manor.
It had been a long time since he’d been out in the field.
“There don’t seem to be any guards, huh?”
Jang Il-ryong agreed with him.
“As this kid says. Other than a clean look, as if it’s been freshly scrubbed, there’s nothing particularly noteworthy.”
For a manor that had managed to poach executives from the mighty Zho Family Conference, it didn’t even have a single guard?
The absurdity of it nearly left Zho Hui speechless.
His curiosity, however, only grew stronger.
“Let’s go.”
Zho Hui started walking ahead, followed closely by Jang Il-ryong and Yum Sangrok.
Arriving at the Yeo Family manor, Zho Hui reached out, grabbed the door handle, and gave it a knock.
Soon, the door creaked open, looking as if it might break from just a few more openings and closings.
“The heroes of the Zho Family Conference, I presume!”
They were greeted by a small boy with chubby cheeks that looked like they might burst.
However, his clear, sharp eyes suggested intelligence beyond his years.
The boy bowed with courteous manners.
“Hehe, my name is Yeo So-gang. You must have come to meet our Lord.”
Yeo So-gang’s demeanor, as though he had been expecting them, left Zho Hui even more puzzled.
“Hm… Yes.”
“Hehe, please come inside. The Lord has been waiting for you!”
“Waiting?”
Despite having turned the Zho Family Conference upside down, he was receiving such a calm welcome!
The situation was indeed strange, but Zho Hui’s curiosity only grew.
“Yes! He’s been waiting quite a while! Our Lord has been brewing tea for the last two hours!”
“…”
Calmly brewing tea while waiting.
In the end, Zho Hui couldn’t suppress his mounting curiosity any longer and took another step forward.
As he followed the boy, Yeo So-gang, the interior of the shabby manor came into view.
Had someone not cleared away the layers of grime, it would have been hard to call it a manor at all.
Led by Yeo So-gang, Zho Hui arrived at the back garden of the manor.
“Hm?”
What he found was, surprisingly, a woman.
A graceful woman with a noble face, her slender, delicate hands fanned the brazier repeatedly.
Soon, she wiped the sweat from her brow and beamed at Zho Hui.
“They say the name of the Little Sword Saint shakes the entire world, yet I was hesitant to believe it. But I must admit my judgment was wrong.”
The sudden praise might have been enough to make anyone blush, but Zho Hui kept his face icy and impassive.
“I’ll ask,” he said.
Zho Hui’s naturally commanding tone was not just as the chairman of a trading association but as a powerful leader of the martial world.
Yet she simply smiled with a faint curl of her lips.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Why?”
“Why, what do you mean?”
Zho Hui’s gaze was sharp, as if dissecting her.
“If you were after our association’s secrets, this was a foolish move. You should have waited longer. If you had secured an agent, you could have covertly siphoned off our techniques, gradually undermining the association from within. But to poach people outright? Knowing I’d act immediately?”
“…”
“Such a reckless move seems far below the usual skill of people capable of recruiting our loyal executives. What’s the reason?”
She continued to smile calmly.
“You’ve got the basic premise wrong.”
“Basic premise?”
“Yes, that’s right. We never once sought the secrets of your association. It’s bewildering that you’d suggest we did.”
Unbelievable.
She hadn’t secured their core personnel to steal secrets?
“Are you taking me for a fool?” Zho Hui asked.
“It’s true. We never had any such intentions.”
At this, Zho Hui scowled with irritation.
“Then why? Why poach only the key personnel?”
Her face lit up even more radiantly at his question.
Had he not met Han Seol-hyeon before, he might have found her beauty almost dizzying.
“If I hadn’t done so, how could I have even dreamed of this private meeting with the Little Sword Saint?”
Her answer was so absurd that Zho Hui could only laugh in disbelief.
“You caused all this just to meet me?”
“It’s not the only reason, but yes, it’s fundamentally why.”
To cause such upheaval just to have a meeting with the chairman of the trading association? The scale of it seemed too grand.
Zho Hui sat down in front of Yeonhwa.
“Fine, then. Let’s hear it. But you’ve underestimated the consequences. If you fail to convince me, the Yeo Family will be erased from Poyang Lake.”
“Please, have some tea. This is the finest we’ve prepared, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”
However, Zho Hui didn’t even glance at the tea she offered.
“Forget the idle talk. Get to the point. If you weren’t after our secrets, is this a hostage situation? A negotiation?”
Yeonhwa’s gaze shifted to the young boy, Yeo Sogang.
“In that case, please, continue the conversation with Sogang.”
“Sogang?”
Zho Hui’s brows knitted together tightly.
Following her gaze, he looked over to Yeo Sogang, who stepped forward and sat across from him.
“Hehe, sister, really? Rushing things like this?” said Yeo Sogang, clearly amused by something.
As Zho Hui’s confusion deepened, Yeo Sogang broke into a wide grin, finding something highly entertaining.
“In truth, I am the head of the manor.”
It was just a single line, but Zho Hui felt a chill run through him.
But wasn’t the head of the Yeo Family supposed to be a young adult?
This boy looked no older than twelve or thirteen.
“For now, please have some tea.”
As rage surged within Zho Hui, he was about to reject the tea Yeo Sogang offered him when—
“Are these kids playing games, toying with me, the Little Sword Saint… huh?”
The aroma.
That familiar, nostalgic scent made Zho Hui’s whole body tremble as if struck by lightning.
“C-c-coffee?”
It couldn’t be mistaken.
It was undoubtedly the scent of coffee.
“Now, are you ready to talk?”
With a sly grin, Yeo Sogang’s eyes held a gaze like that of one who had the world in his grasp.