Chapter 144
So-ah's request had a high probability of being seen as unreasonable.
To ask for the privilege of passing through the mountain and water paths of the Central Plains without inspection?
And not just for a short period, but for several years?
This was something that was impossible in the common sense of the martial world.
The Green Forest Fortress and the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress were groups that lived by setting up many areas throughout the Central Plains and collecting tolls.
One might think that since it was a power outside the national law, it was no different from robbery, but it couldn't be seen that way, as their positive functions were being applied in many ways.
For example, they had the function of preventing the transport of items prohibited by national law, such as thunderbolt bombs and drugs, and suppressing the appearance of various bandits and pirates, so even if they had to pay a toll, the people of the martial world, the business world, and even the government recognized the Green Forest and the Waterway Fortresses. (Besides, since they sometimes provided a resting place for the weary, they also served as inns and restaurants.)
To ask for the privilege of passing through such Green Forest and Waterway Fortresses without inspection for a long period was no different from going to someone else's business and eating and drinking for free.
"..."
"..."
Was it really too much?
The sworn brothers were silent.
'They gave me many privileges for the mining team's journey to the North Sea. I was rash. Or should I offer my brothers a large sum of money?'
But So-ah had no intention of bending his will.
Because if he could pass through the Green Forest and Waterway Fortresses, which were spread all over the world, without inspection, he could secure excellent efficiency and mobility.
"Brothers. Then how about a proposal instead of a request? Don't we pay a toll to pass through the Green Forest and Waterway Fortresses and use the facilities anyway? I'll pay that in advance. I'll pay whatever amount you brothers set."
Yes.
Let's go big.
Isn't it their brothers' livelihood anyway?
So-ah was planning to readily pay whatever amount his sworn brothers suggested.
In that moment.
"Kehahahahahat!"
"Kehkehkehkehkehkeh!"
"Brother...s?"
"Little Brother! You seem clever, but sometimes you seem naive!"
"Little Brother! Haven't you underestimated me and that mountain chief brat too much?"
So-ah, bewildered, nodded his head.
"No inspection? That's a matter of course!"
"I will issue a strict order so that all the martial artists, merchant groups, and transport companies related to the Moyong family can stay and maintain themselves indefinitely at the Green Forest and Waterway Fortresses."
"Brothers!!!"
In an instant, a bright color spread across So-ah's face.
"Little Brother. We are already old. We have accumulated so much wealth that we can't spend it all even if we live extravagantly until we die."
"We're not that stingy, little brother. Kehkehkeh!"
So-ah was sincerely impressed by the ready decision of his sworn brothers.
'Aww! So-ah, So-ah. Since my brothers are such people! Let's reflect. Huh?'
At the same time, he reproached himself for his selfishness in thinking only in a calculating way.
"Brothers. Thank you! But isn't this too one-sided? At least let me show my sincerity. I'm not a robber or anything..."
So-ah also had a conscience.
Although he was endlessly bad to bad people, wasn't So-ah warmer than anyone to his own people?
Leaving profit and loss aside, he felt that he owed his sworn brothers a debt of trust and heart, and he wanted to repay them accordingly.
But.
"Kekeke. Since you're a bandit's brother, you're no different from a robber."
"What's a pirate's brother talking about conscience for! And! The brothers can do this much, what's the big deal? If you keep saying such things, I'll be disappointed."
The sworn brothers did not want any benefit from So-ah.
And if it was something that the King of the Green Forest and the King of the Waterways had decided.
'Hah...'
Even the great So-ah could not bend his will.
"I understand, brothers! Instead, please promise me one thing."
"Speak."
"What is it?"
"Within three years, I will make the Moyong family the richest family among the martial families. When we are on par with the Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge, then please accept my gift."
So-ah's two eyes were filled with a hot conviction and determination.
'To accumulate the capital power of the Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge in three years...? As expected, his dream is great.'
'If it's the Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge families, they are richer than the current Nine Great Sects. As expected of our little brother!'
The Jang brothers grinned and shouted at the same time.
"We will!"
"If it's you, you could become not just the Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge, but a chaebol of the Central Plains!"
***
"Hey, tie them up tight! Because those rat-like bastards might escape!"
"Look at these things! If you guys use your useless little heads in the middle of this, I'll dismember you and throw you as food for the fish of the Yangtze River. Got it?"
The remaining members of the Eastern Depot trembled at the stern warning of the Jang brothers.
Just looking at their faces was enough to make them piss their pants in fear, but were their builds also a bit big?
He couldn't tell if they were human or bear, and their voices, as if they had boiled a cannon, were a lion's roar even when they just let out their natural voice.
"Wh-What do you mean, little heads?"
"We will be thoroughly investigated as per Young Hero Jin's orders."
This could be said to be a very good re-education.
Although the Eastern Depot agents had stood firm even before the beatings, as the beatings continued endlessly, they had become like docile mutts, whimpering.
'As expected, violence is the best, it's thrilling, it's always new!'
As So-ah looked at those remaining members.
Grin—
...and gave a broad smile, their legs trembled.
'It was nice meeting you, let's never see each other again.'
'Ah... now I can die like a human, right?'
'I wish my neck would be sliced by the guillotine soon...'
At this moment, they just wanted to die quickly without any thoughts.
***
The remaining members of the Eastern Depot were escorted to the Martial Alliance headquarters under the guard of 10 of the top masters of the Waterway Fortress.
Since they could pass through the mountain fortresses and rivers in the middle without restraint, they would soon arrive at the main office and be interrogated by the alliance leader.
So-ah sent a carrier pigeon to the Martial Alliance in advance to settle the matter, and after greeting his sworn brothers, he set out for Liaoning.
But that journey was a bit...
...noisy.
"Of the sand grains of the Yangtze River! The chivalrous heroes of the martial world~ and among them! The moooost, shining one is me! Let's go! Let's go! To the martial world! Revering chivalry~!"
As always, So-ah insisted on hiking.
Because in a crowded place, obstacles would be a hindrance, and it was difficult to perform his lightness skill in many ways.
But the reason So-ah insisted on hiking today was not because of that.
It seemed he was so excited that he wanted to sing a song.
"The number one in the world! The number one in the world! The chivalrous heeeero is coming! If you don't want your head to be broken! Will you get out of the way?!"
A popular song composed by the musician, the Luoyang Nightingale.
The song that he had sung at the top of his lungs after obtaining two inner cores of the Sun Fire Li at the Qinghai Manju-jang before, once again flowed from So-ah's mouth.
Of course, the lyrics of this bizarre song had been arranged by So-ah.
Like a heroic whale swimming in the sky, scattering afterimages.
So-ah's body rose against the empty air.
***
A few days later, Moyong Family Estate—
"I hit the jackpot again."
"...?"
"...?"
"But this jackpot is a bit big."
"...?"
"...?"
"Now our hardship is over, and happiness begins."
When a person is too happy, they are often at a loss for words.
Currently, the hearts of the Moyong family members were like that.
"So-ah... what kind of fateful opportunity have you created this time?"
"Young Master Jin... I'm scared now. They say that a crisis comes when things are going too well. What kind of crisis is coming that things keep going so well for you? Huh?"
From the moment the word 'jackpot' came out, Moyong Baek and the chief steward had sensed that So-ah had brought a huge fortune.
"First, the appearance of a rare dharma treasure that contains a mysterious power!"
So-ah, on the large, round table of the family head's office, spread out the 'Divine Skill Wooden Box' with a thud.
"First, a large amount of gold ingots!"
...he took out a total of 27 gold ingots from the wooden box and spread them out.
"Next, three bank notes worth 200,000 silver coins, and three bank notes worth 500,000 silver coins!"
This time, the bank notes of the 'Beijing Bank', which had the largest scale, financial status, and deposit customers in the Central Plains, poured out.
"This is a pearl!"
"This is a gold nugget!"
"Let's see, let's see... this is, huh? An ice spirit stone? Why are you coming out of there?! Kekeke."
"Don't be surprised. This is the long-awaited!"
...diamond, this is it!
"...Chief Steward."
"...Yes, Chairman."
"Am I trembling right now?"
"You're... trembling quite a lot."
"Come to think of it, you seem to be trembling too."
"It would be strange if I weren't."
"Right? I'm not the only one who's strange, right?"
"Of course, of course. At this rate, even Chairman Yi Kun-hee would be astonished."
"Yes... yes... I'm not the strange one."
"The strange one is Young Master Jin. In all my life, I've never seen anyone like Young Master Jin."
The gazes of Moyong Baek and the chief steward, who were muttering to themselves with dazed expressions, slyly turned to So-ah's two eyes.
Since he knew well enough how the two of them felt, So-ah winked and curled the corners of his lips.
"This won't do, it just won't do. I have to give So-ah a big bow!"
As if he was really going to give a big bow, Moyong Baek got up from his seat.
At that, the chief steward also got up and restrained him.
"Chairman! Please maintain your dignity! Aren't you the venerable head of this family?"
"But! If I don't do at least this! I feel so uncomfortable that I can't stand it."
"Then I will give the big bow! Am I not the chief steward who is in charge of the administration and finance of this family? It is only right that I should give the big bow!"
"No! I will give it!"
"I said I'll give it!"
Watching the two bickering, So-ah could not hold back his laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
At that.
"Kehkehkehkehkehkeh!"
"Hohohohohohohot!"
The laughter spread like a plague, and in the end, all three of them burst into a mad laugh.
***
In the evening—
So-ah sent a message to the Liaoning branch to invite Myo-seon, and at the same time, he rented the entire VIP section of the Cheong-a-ru and prepared a seat.
Soon, Myo-seon arrived, and a total of six people, So-ah, Moyong Baek, the chief steward, Yuk Jeong-ran, Teacher Bao, and Myo-seon, were seated side by side, and the finest snacks and Geumjoncheong were placed on the round table.
"Everyone. The reason I have prepared this seat is because I have obtained a few things from my trip to Hebei this time. But that income... is a bit strong. So, to gauge the important direction of our family and the Liaoning business world in the future, I have gathered you busy people."
And then, with a thud, wasn't he taking out the <Sunflower Manual> manual?
"What is this, So-ah?"
The one who asked the question was Myo-seon.
She had been secretly wondering if So-ah would really bring the Sunflower Manual, and as expected, her curiosity was aroused when a book was spread out.
"The Sunflower Manual. But, as you can see, it's written in the Sanskrit of Tianzhu... so it's difficult to translate. That's why I have specially invited Teacher Bao."
With his words, So-ah lifted the Sunflower Manual and suddenly held it out to Teacher Bao.
"Teacher Bao. You can translate it, right?"
"Hoho. So-ah. I don't know what it is, but translation is my specialty. Since it's a small book, if you give me a day, I will translate it in detail."
"Thank you, Teacher! Then, Myo-seon-ah. As soon as the translation work is finished, I will give this to you. I don't know if the <Sunflower Manual> is really a peerless divine art, but considering Eunuch Han's martial prowess, it is clear that it is a great manual."
At So-ah's words, Myo-seon's eyes widened.
"A-Are you really just giving me something like this?"
At the same time, Myo-seon glanced at Moyong Baek.
Although So-ah was like a sibling and they had grown up together, so it was possible, from Moyong Baek's perspective, it was a case of a peerless divine art going to another sect, so it was only natural that he would be displeased.
But Moyong Baek, as if he had noticed Myo-seon's intentions, showed an extremely warm smile and said.
"Lady Myo-seon. Didn't you promise to treat me comfortably? If my father were alive, he would have naturally given the Sunflower Manual to you. Since they say it can also treat the symptoms of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, I don't know if the Sunflower Manual is really a peerless divine art, but I hope you will study it with the Alliance Leader and get help in your health."
"Chairman..."
It's easy to say, but such generosity could only be shown by Moyong Baek in the whole world...
'As expected of my uncle. He's the best, the best. This is why I respect him.'
So-ah also smiled with satisfaction as he looked at his uncle and Myo-seon.
But then, soon.
So-ah's gaze changed.
"Now, shall we have a little talk with Lady Yuk?"
"Hoho! Young Master Jin. What have you brought this time? Let's hear the story!"
"Lady Yuk. I think we need to dispose of some assets. And expand our investments."
"Huh?"
"We've hit the jackpot.”
(End of Chapter)