Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Starting Business (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“This is strange.”
Jinmyeong frowned as he looked over the list of trading partners Im Sagyeong had brought.
“Have you noticed it too, Young Master?”
“I’m not so foolish that I wouldn’t notice this much.”
“I see. It’s a relief that you’re not a fool, Young Master.”
“I really want to cut your head off.”
At Jinmyeong’s blunt remark, Yang Jeon quickly covered his neck and stepped back.
“Can’t you take a joke? How could you say that, given our relationship?”
“And what kind of relationship is that?”
“One where I have served you for a long time.”
“A truly unhelpful relationship, then.”
Yang Jeon pouted, but Jinmyeong ignored him and called for Im Sagyeong.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Yes?”
Sensing the tense atmosphere between Jinmyeong and Yang Jeon, Im Sagyeong wore a nervous expression.
After all, the two men before him were masters capable of slitting his throat at any moment.
“Why did you do business with companies like these?”
“Pardon?”
“There are several establishments under the main Cult that deal in alcohol.”
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had sown many seeds throughout the Central Plains.
They took various forms, such as escort agencies, gisaeng houses, gambling dens, and merchant guilds.
And the branch responsible for Hunan was not Myeonghwaru, but a place called the Namga Merchant Guild.
“Wouldn’t you have been able to get good alcohol if you received help from the Namga Merchant Guild?”
“Well, that is…”
Of course, it wasn't that Myeonghwaru—or more accurately, Gomaru, when Im Sagyeong was its owner—hadn't done business with the Namga Merchant Guild.
“On the contrary, we traded with them continuously. We even received their help.”
The Namga Merchant Guild was in charge of Hunan.
Technically, this place was one of the areas under their purview.
“But when business here soured, the Namga Merchant Guild gave up on us.”
“A branch gives up on an establishment that easily?”
“They must have thought it better to focus on other places, since they kept pouring money in with no returns.”
“If even the merchants gave up, doesn’t that mean everything you’re doing now is pointless?”
Yang Jeon, who had been listening quietly to Im Sagyeong, asked.
It was a venture that even merchants, talented in the art of buying and selling, had abandoned.
It seemed unlikely that Jinmyeong could succeed with Myeonghwaru, no matter how hard he tried.
“That might be true. But I can’t just ignore a direct order from that man, can I?”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
Although not mentioned by name, Yang Jeon knew without difficulty that ‘that man’ was the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon had given the order; Jinmyeong couldn't give up just because someone else had.
“Besides, this is more fun than I thought.”
“What? Fun, you say?”
“Isn’t it fun?”
It felt like running a business where failure didn't matter.
So he could try all the things he’d wanted to do.
“But you said he wouldn’t let you off easy.”
“You think that man would care if I fail? Ignoring an order and failing are two different things.”
“Wouldn’t most people be reprimanded for both?”
“He won’t punish me. He’ll probably just ignore me, as if I don’t exist.”
“That sounds like a bigger problem.”
Yang Jeon sighed, looking at Jinmyeong, who spoke as if it were nothing.
“It’s fine. To that man, this is just a bit of amusement. It’s something that doesn’t matter even if it fails.”
The reason the Heavenly Demon sent his disciples across the Central Plains was so they could build more power and fight bigger battles.
There was no real need to perfectly revive this business.
That was why Jinmyeong was trying out various things without any real worry.
“Anyway, where is this Namga Merchant Guild?”
“In Changsha, the provincial capital, of course. That’s where the most people are.”
“Is that so? I should pay them a visit. Send them a message that I’ll be stopping by.”
“Understood.”
A few days later, Jinmyeong headed to Changsha, where the Namga Merchant Guild was located, along with Yang Jeon and Shin Yehyang.
Gu Jahong had begged to come along, but he was left behind with instructions to train the Mak brothers, who were in charge of Myeonghwaru's security.
The Mak brothers were probably suffering through some grueling training right now, serving as an outlet for Gu Jahong’s frustration.
“By the way, how has Gu Jahong been lately?”
“Exactly as you see him, Young Master Jin.”
“His skills are improving, but he’s still lacking, isn’t he?”
Perhaps because he trained whenever Jinmyeong or Shin Yehyang were watching, his skills had indeed improved.
The problem was that he wasn't at the level Jinmyeong had expected.
“It seems he doesn’t train unless you or I are watching him.”
Gu Jahong was certainly talented.
But because he relied solely on that talent and made no effort, his progress was incredibly slow.
‘I’ll have to set them against each other again.’
After a moment of thought, Jinmyeong glanced at Yang Jeon walking beside him.
“Do you think this guy would lose if they fought?”
“No matter what, Young Master Gu is the Great Elder’s grandson. He wouldn’t lose to Chief Steward Yang.”
Yang Jeon pouted but didn’t voice his complaints as he would have with Jinmyeong.
“Is he that good?”
Jinmyeong stared intently at Yang Jeon.
“Wh-why are you looking at me like that?”
“I have a feeling you’d win.”
“Then it would be good for the two of them to have a match. It will be a good fight.”
While Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang had different predictions about the winner, they both agreed that the fight would be a close one.
“That sounds good.”
“What? You want me to fight Young Master Gu? The Great Elder’s grandson?”
“Why? You were just bristling at what Miss Shin said.”
“I was?”
Startled by Jinmyeong’s words, Yang Jeon glanced at Shin Yehyang.
But she seemed to be paying him no mind at all.
“It’ll be fine. You’ve learned a swift sword style, after all.”
“W-well, that’s true, but… Isn’t Young Master Gu’s martial art the Great Elder’s art?”
Yang Jeon seemed to lack faith in the martial art Jinmyeong had given him, the Lightning Flash Sword Arts.
To be precise, he likely didn't believe for a second that the Lightning Flash Sword Arts were superior to the One Flash Sword of the Sword Demon, the Great Elder.
“The person who created it would weep.”
“Pardon?”
“If you knew who created the martial art you’re learning, you would regret what you just said for the rest of your life.”
The creator of the Lightning Flash Sword Arts was none other than the first Heavenly Demon.
The man considered the greatest martial artist of all time, who created everything from the Divine Arts of Heavenly Flame that Jinmyeong learned, to the Heaven-Embroidering Sword Control Arts, the Earth-Shaking Palm of the Heavenly Demon, and even the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, hailed as the greatest martial art under heaven.
But Yang Jeon, unaware of this fact, simply felt intimidated by the Sword Demon’s One Flash Sword.
“It seems Chief Steward Yang has learned quite a formidable martial art.”
“He has. If you knew who created it, you would be surprised too, Miss Shin.”
“I take it you don’t plan on telling me now.”
“No.”
Of course, he had no intention of telling her.
It was a martial art created by the first Heavenly Demon.
Even if the first Heavenly Demon had deemed it a failure, if this fact became known, many people would come seeking the Lightning Flash Sword.
“You wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“…And you taught such a martial art to me?”
“That’s why you need to train it well.”
Hearing this, Yang Jeon once again realized that the martial art he was learning was no ordinary one.
“Show me sometime.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m curious.”
Though Shin Yehyang’s face was expressionless, Jinmyeong noticed her interest.
As if her emotionless facade was not for show, she displayed no interest in anything else, but when it came to martial arts, she was a completely different person.
“Is that alright?”
“Yes. It’s fine.”
Jinmyeong nodded without any hesitation at Shin Yehyang’s question.
“Why are you asking the Young Master about my business? And why are you accepting on my behalf! What about my opinion?”
Yang Jeon clung to Jinmyeong in a panic, but Jinmyeong coldly pushed him away.
“Miss Shin isn’t saying she’s going to kill you, just that she wants to see your martial art. Why are you acting like this?”
“No, it’s just…”
As Yang Jeon stammered and glanced nervously at Shin Yehyang, Jinmyeong turned his head toward her.
“This guy has business to attend to at the merchant guild right now, so please schedule the match for after we return.”
“Yes. Of course.”
Yang Jeon tried desperately to refuse the match with Shin Yehyang, which had been arranged without his consent, but the other two weren't listening to him at all.
And so, the three of them arrived without any trouble at the Namga Merchant Guild, the Hunan branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in Changsha.
“Welcome. I am Nam Jungyeol, the branch manager.”
“A pleasure to meet you. This is Young Master Jinmyeong, the Cult Leader’s youngest disciple, and this is Miss Shin Yehyang, the Vice Cult Leader’s only daughter.”
Yang Jeon stepped forward to greet the branch manager, Nam Jungyeol, who had come out to meet them.
“And I am Yang Jeon, in service to Young Master Jinmyeong.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
After a brief greeting with Yang Jeon, Nam Jungyeol turned his attention to Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit to the Hunan branch?”
“Still trying to act like a branch manager?”
Nam Jungyeol flinched at Jinmyeong’s words.
“I came to visit a merchant guild belonging to the main Cult, so why do you insist on acting like a branch?”
Jinmyeong narrowed his eyes.
“Is it because you’ve heard what I’ve been up to lately?”
“…It is not.”
He denied Jinmyeong’s words, but in truth, he was right.
Nam Jungyeol was afraid Jinmyeong would ask him to help revive Gomaru—no, the gisaeng house now called Myeonghwaru—which he himself had given up on.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to help Myeonghwaru.”
“Haha. That’s not it at all.”
Nam Jungyeol’s back grew damp with sweat, feeling as though his thoughts had been completely seen through.
“Right now, I’m just the owner of a gisaeng house visiting a merchant guild.”
“Yes.”
Nam Jungyeol didn't readily believe him.
“It’s true. I’ve come to trade for alcohol.”
“Alcohol, you say?”
“High-quality alcohol, at that. The finest spirits from Hunan would be good, as would spirits from other regions.”
“High-quality spirits are very expensive. If we were to simply give them to you, the Namga Merchant Guild would also face difficulties.”
It wouldn't just be difficult; they might have to close their doors.
The Hunan branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, disappearing due to lack of funds.
It was a truly ridiculous notion.
“It would be best to discuss the details with me.”
Yang Jeon began to speak with Nam Jungyeol privately.
As they talked, Nam Jungyeol realized that Jinmyeong genuinely wanted to make a trade.
“Do you really have that kind of money?”
He understood Jinmyeong’s intentions.
But he didn't know if he had the money to buy such high-quality spirits.
“It’s the Young Master’s personal funds.”
“…Why is he going to such lengths?”
At Nam Jungyeol’s question, Yang Jeon sighed and fell silent.
“Isn’t it fun?”
The answer came from Jinmyeong, who had been listening quietly.
Though they had spoken in hushed tones, it seemed even that was audible to a master of Jinmyeong’s caliber.
“M-my apologies.”
“No need to apologize. In any case, discuss the financial matters with Yang Jeon.”
“Understood.”
Before being the branch manager of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Hunan branch, he was the head of the Namga Merchant Guild.
He had no intention of refusing a profitable deal.
“This is pretty much the last step. Once this is done and the building is rebuilt, we’ll be ready to start.”
In other words, he was telling him to prepare everything properly.
“Yes. I will prepare the finest spirits.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
The matter of the alcohol was resolved more easily than expected.
It was possible because Jinmyeong’s status was higher than that of Nam Jungyeol, the guild master.
‘So, is all that’s left really just building the new structure?’
All of Myeonghwaru’s problems had been solved. All that remained was to construct the building and start the business.
‘For the grand opening, a half-price discount is a must, of course.’
Jinmyeong began to think about his strategy for making Myeonghwaru a success.
Jinmyeong believed that attracting customers with good quality and low prices was the first step.