Chapter 145
Martial Alliance, Main Office—
"Alliance Leader. Guests have arrived from the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress."
Around the Hour of the Horse (11 AM - 1 PM).
A guest had come to see Abbess Hongryeon, who was busy with her duties.
It was a common occurrence.
In the early days of her term as Alliance Leader, it was a daily routine for many people, from merchant groups to officials, regardless of whether they were from the black or white, orthodox or unorthodox paths, to come and complain about various vested interests or political issues.
"From the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress? Did the Waterway King come in person?"
"...No."
"Then?"
"I asked several times, but they said they would tell you in person..."
"???"
"For now... I think it would be better for you to see them once."
In an instant, a look of doubt appeared on Abbess Hongryeon's face.
Why was her subordinate so bewildered?
"Hmm... let's go and see."
But as soon as she met the visitors, she could understand the reason.
'...What is this?!'
In front of Abbess Hongryeon's eyes, three bald men with their hair torn out and one man with a lump on his head reminiscent of a mountain peak appeared, tightly bound by ropes.
'Could it be that the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress attacked the Shaolin Temple? ...No! What am I thinking? That can't be.'
How bad must it have been for her to even think of such a thing upon seeing the bald men?
"Who are you?"
Forgetting her manners towards the guests in her bewilderment, Abbess Hongryeon asked a cold question.
At that, a middle-aged man with a broadsword at his waist cupped his fists and opened his mouth.
"It is an honor to meet the Martial Alliance Leader. We are the warriors of the Great Yangtze River Waterway Fortress, and these bound individuals are the remaining members of the Eastern Depot."
'Ah...!'
Only then did Abbess Hongryeon realize that the visitors were noble guests.
"Ah! You are the masters of the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress. For now, we will hold them... in our alliance, so please come inside."
"Thank you."
***
Abbess Hongryeon did not hear much from the people of the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress.
Instead, they handed her a letter...
The letter was from none other than So-ah.
「To the Alliance Leader.
Grandma Hongryeon. It's So-ah.
As you may have heard from Myo-seon, I raided the Hebei villa, the meeting place of the Eastern Depot, to secure the manual called the <Sunflower Manual> and the circumstances of the secret activities between the Eastern Depot and the White Lotus Cult.
As a result, I was able to annihilate the remaining members of the Eastern Depot, including Eunuch Han, but unfortunately, Eunuch Han has escaped using a technique called the earth-hiding art.
Since we will be able to gather a lot of testimony and evidence from the escorted remaining members of the Eastern Depot, after the interrogation, we plan to transfer them back to the government to suppress and root out the <White Lotus Cult> at a national level.
Please be well, and I will contact you again later.
P.S.: I have secured the Sunflower Manual, but since the entire book is composed of the Sanskrit of Tianzhu, I plan to have it translated and then deliver it to Myo-seon.
I cannot gauge whether the Sunflower Manual is a peerless divine art, but since they say it is excellent for the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, I hope it will be helpful for your and Myo-seon's health.
Moyong Family's Grand Disciple, Jin So-ah's official seal—」
A strange light appeared in Abbess Hongryeon's eyes as she read the letter.
She had not expected it, but to think that So-ah had really raided Eunuch Han, annihilated the Eastern Depot, and seized the <Sunflower Manual>...
It was easy to say, but this was not something an individual could accomplish.
Where was the <Eastern Depot>?
It was the second major martial force of the imperial court.
Even if they poured in the power of a decent small to medium-sized sect, it would be impossible to annihilate them...
Moreover, Eunuch Han was a supreme master who had learned the peerless divine art called the Sunflower Manual.
So-ah's driving force, decision-making ability, and amazing martial prowess, which had subdued all of them single-handedly and achieved his goal.
Abbess Hongryeon clutched her heart, which was welling up as she thought of So-ah.
'Elder God of War. Are you watching? So-ah has grown up so wonderfully! It's not just his martial arts that are strong. His insight to see several moves ahead and his beautiful heart are so moving. Elder God of War. Please look after So-ah even more from the immortal realm...'
The corners of Abbess Hongryeon's lips bloomed brightly like a flower in full bloom.
"Hohoho! Anyway, you heroes of the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress. You have suffered a lot. Our alliance will not spare any hospitality, so please relieve your travel fatigue and rest comfortably before you return."
"Thank you, Alliance Leader."
"But... when I looked earlier, three of the remaining members had all their hair pulled out... did you perhaps perform some kind of torture to extract information?"
In fact, Abbess Hongryeon had been curious about this point for a while.
But she soon had to reproach herself for her curiosity.
Because an unpleasant truth that she did not want to hear, that she should not have heard, poured out from the mouths of the people of the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress.
"Th-That is, Alliance Leader."
"Yes?"
"Young Hero Jin... said he just pulled it out because he was bored."
"???"
"We are also pirates who are second to none in the world in terms of roughness... but Young Hero Jin... ahem! I think I have said something unnecessary. Then, if you'll excuse me!"
Even after the people of the Yangtze River Waterway Fortress had left the room, Abbess Hongryeon stared at the ceiling with a dazed expression for a while.
'Elder God of War... I take back what I said earlier. Ugh...'
***
—We've hit the jackpot!
'...'
So-ah's one sentence.
At first, Yuk Jeong-ran just took it as it was.
Because she was now used to So-ah bringing back a jackpot event every time he went out to a foreign land.
But.
"Gasp...!"
"Ugh, no...?!"
"...!"
Every time So-ah took out the spoils one by one from the Divine Skill Wooden Box, Yuk Jeong-ran's eyes were turned upside down in astonishment.
"...So-ah. What is all this?!"
It wasn't just Yuk Jeong-ran who was surprised.
Myo-seon's face turned pale before the various rare jewels and gold ingots that she had never even seen in her life.
Above all, she seemed to be astonished by the mysterious use of the 'Divine Skill Wooden Box'.
"Well, you see..."
So-ah explained the circumstances of the past in detail.
Yuk Jeong-ran trembled with rage at the fact that Eunuch Han, a high-ranking official who lived off the country's money, had accumulated such an illegal fortune, and Myo-seon was astonished to hear that he had escaped So-ah's clutches using a technique called the 'earth-hiding art'.
A little later...
After hearing all of So-ah's words, Yuk Jeong-ran suddenly opened her mouth, her eyes shining.
"Young Master Jin. Then shall we really expand the board?"
***
As the day grew dark, Myo-seon returned to the branch, and Moyong Baek and Teacher Bao also left for the family's schedule.
Now, only So-ah, the chief steward, and Yuk Jeong-ran were left in the Cheong-a-ru, and it was the moment when a proper meeting between the 'pros' began.
"Young Master Jin. This is not a small amount of money. The reason we have been seeking a gradual direction in the ice spirit stone distribution and the expansion construction of the Moyong family estate so far is because of the limitation of capital. But with this money, we can not only add more annexes to the Moyong family estate, but also hire the most skilled miners and technicians in the Central Plains and accelerate the progress of the business."
At a glance, it was Yuk Jeong-ran's opinion, which was reasonable and had a solid argument.
So-ah also fully agreed and nodded his head.
But on the other hand, he was also inwardly worried, so So-ah asked in a low voice.
"That's a good idea. But if that happens, we'll have to recruit a lot more manpower, and we'll have to put in a lot of effort. Right now, the only person in the family who can lead the business is the chief steward, so I don't know if it will go smoothly."
"Hohohot! Young Master Jin. I'm here, aren't I?"
"Relying on Lady Yuk is one thing for a day or two. The board is getting this big, how long can I be indebted to you?"
"Oh my, oh my? What, what?! Are you subtly drawing a line? I thought that from the moment I got involved in the ice spirit stone distribution business, I was on the same boat as the Moyong family. Is this the 'killing the dog after the hunt' that I've only heard about?"
Yuk Jeong-ran said playfully with an exaggerated expression and gesture.
So-ah smiled.
"Haha. As expected, I can't beat our Lady Yuk's eloquence! Do you really think so?"
"It's a given. Don't even think about backing out now. Kehkehkeh."
"Thank you, Lady Yuk. I mean it."
"What are you thanking me for? I'm also helping the Moyong family's affairs because I have my own thoughts. In the future, when the Moyong family becomes the most prosperous family among the martial families, you know then, right?"
"Am I not the Jin So-ah who is famous for repaying favors?"
"There's no need to wrap it up with emotional words like favors or anything."
"Pardon?"
"When you do well later, just repay me with money. Hohoho!"
"Ah! Hahaha."
"Kehkehkeh! Even our great Young Master is no match for Lady Yuk!"
At Yuk Jeong-ran's one sentence, the atmosphere in the room became cheerful.
But what she had said a little while ago was not a joke, but her true feelings.
The Moyong family that Yuk Jeong-ran saw had endless potential.
To be precise, it would be So-ah's potential.
'Young Master Jin is a master who is considered the best of his age in the world, and he is also cunning and clever. Besides, he is also greedy for money. As long as Young Master Jin exists, the Moyong family will soon be reborn as a great family that stands shoulder to shoulder with the Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge families.'
Of course, it was still a long way off.
Weren't the Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge families families with a history of thousands of years, with thousands of members, a huge scale, and assets that could slap the cheek of any ordinary business family?
In contrast, although it had grown rapidly recently, it was still a long way for the Moyong family, which had not yet been fully prepare, to catch up with them at once.
But.
"I will prove that Lady Yuk's judgment was right. Definitely!"
Every time she saw So-ah's confident appearance again, Yuk Jeong-ran could not help but feel a vague sense of trust.
And...
As a rule, a great ambition is always achieved vaguely.
"I wish you good luck, Young Master Jin!"
***
The next day.
Daewon Bank—
The Daewon Bank was the largest in Liaoning.
In particular, it managed the deposits of numerous night industry workers and construction workers, and the owner had also served in a government post in his youth, and the seven branch heads in charge of each department had solid connections and networks by utilizing their experience in business, from civil engineering, tourism, food and beverage, gambling, to transportation.
Today, a big shot had come to such a Daewon Bank.
The 'big shot' referred to in the bank usually meant a customer who had deposited a lot of assets.
But the 'big shot' who was currently picking his nose in front of the owner's eyes was a human who, far from depositing money, had on the contrary seized money.
Of course, in many ways, this human was also a big shot, so the owner of the Daewon Bank had no choice but to put special effort into his reception.
"Haha. Young Master Jin. This is tea brought from Shenyang. How is the taste?"
The owner began cautiously, maintaining a good-natured smile.
To interpret,
—What on earth brings you here today? Surely, you're not going to demand money with a sophistry like 'interest-free' like last time, are you?!
But he had completely erased such inner thoughts.
"What reason would a businessman like me have to come to a bank? It's because of money."
The big shot was none other than So-ah, and So-ah, shamelessly introducing himself as a 'businessman', opened his mouth.
'...!'
In an instant, cold sweat flowed down the owner's forehead and back.
"Ha... haha... aren't you a martial artist of the martial world, Young Master? You are a just and righteous person who is fundamentally different from money-grubbers and merchants like me who are obsessed with mere wealth and pursue vain things, so how can you call yourself a businessman?"
"Yes, that's right. That money-grubber is me. I like money. I don't need to be a martial artist to you, Chairman."
'F*ck!'
At So-ah's absurd one sentence, the owner's brow furrowed on its own.
But.
"Hahaha!"
So-ah suddenly burst into a loud laugh.
"Kekekek. Chairman! Be honest. You were surprised because you thought I was going to ask for money again, right?"
"Ah... Young Master Jin."
"It's a joke, a joke. I'm a person too, you know. You're the one who is in charge of the economy of Liaoning. I just threw a joke because I wanted to get to know you."
You punk, do you drive a nail into a person's heart because you want to get to know them?
The owner, who had barely swallowed the words that were about to come out of his throat, put on a forced smile on his face.
"Ha... haha... I see... I also want to get to know... Young Master Jin..."
"Chairman."
"Yes?!"
Clink—
In an instant, gold ingots were spread out on the table.
The owner's two eyes widened.
"I'll be on my way after using it well, Chairman! I'll see you again next time!!"
And then, So-ah, who was getting up from his seat in a hurry.
The owner stuttered and asked.
"Y-Young Master Jin! Where are you going? Since you're here, you should at least have a meal before you go!!"
In that moment.
So-ah, who had turned his body, grinned and uttered clearly, one by one.
"I'm going to spend money!”
(End of Chapter)