Chapter 61
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Interference (1)
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Myeonghwaru, the rising entertainment pavilion on Dongting Lake, was surrounded by several rumors.
Some said it was connected not to the Underworld Sect, but to the Heretical Alliance or the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Others claimed that, unlike other pavilions, one could not hold the entertainers.
Despite this, the prices were exorbitant, to the point that those who only heard about it swore they would never go.
‘It’s expensive, but I want to go again.’
However, there was a saying: some may have never been, but no one has been only once.
Those who experienced Myeonghwaru were said to be so satisfied that they would promise to return.
‘The five flowers, Myeonghwaru’s pride, are incredibly beautiful and talented, delighting both the eyes and ears.’
‘The entertainer called Myeonghwa, in particular, is exceptional enough to bear the pavilion’s name, but meeting her is no easy feat.’
Then, another rumor spread.
To meet her, one had to spend one hundred silver nyang in a single night.
The problem was that even after spending a hundred nyang, one could only be with her for two hours at most. If you were unlucky, you might spend the money and not see her at all.
But if that were the only reason, so many people would not have sought out Myeonghwaru.
The real reason people flocked to Myeonghwaru.
‘It’s a pavilion with a master strong enough to drive out the Fifteen Rising Dragons and the Heretical Young Master.’
That was it.
Although not all of the Fifteen Rising Dragons were present, Namgung Jin, considered the foremost among the rising stars of the Orthodox Faction, had been with them.
And who was Sama Geuk, the Heretical Young Master?
He was the grandson of the Leader of the Heretical Alliance, a master who had long since surpassed the Fifteen Rising Dragons and was considered too skilled to be called a mere rising star.
Yet, they were said to have been thrown out of Myeonghwaru without putting up any resistance.
Naturally, any martial artist would be intrigued by Myeonghwaru.
‘To think it would actually succeed.’
Even Jinmyeong was surprised by the ever-increasing number of customers.
In truth, what he had done was simple.
He just made it absurdly expensive, allowing the wealthy to feel a greater sense of superiority.
‘Though it’s thanks to the Underworld Sect and that guy.’
Of course, if it had only been expensive, customers would not have come.
The entertainers were exceptional, and the drinks and food were superb, but it was the Underworld Sect that had skillfully spread rumors of the entertainers' talents.
And he also had Sama Geuk and Namgung Jin's group to thank.
After all, it was after he had driven those two out that the number of martial artists began to increase.
"Tsk. Sir, you can't do this here."
"What? I just want to see the man who drove out the Heretical Young Master."
Of course, an increase in martial artists wasn't entirely a good thing.
On the contrary, a lot of riffraff came looking for Jinmyeong and caused trouble.
‘It’s not like that bunch of freeloaders has much money.’
Not all martial artists were wealthy.
Unless they belonged to the Five Great Clans or families of similar stature, wealthy martial artists were extremely rare.
Even the Nine Sects One Union weren't particularly affluent, so it was unlikely that martial artists without a formal profession would have much money.
To Jinmyeong, martial artists were nothing more than jobless thugs who were good at killing people.
"With your skills, you'll only get your head lopped off if you meet him. Just leave as you are."
And such riffraff couldn't even get past the Mak brothers, who had grown stronger while training under Shin Yehyang and Gu Jahong, and were unceremoniously thrown out of Myeonghwaru.
‘I suppose it’s about time to start Gu Jahong’s mental re-education.’
He hadn't been able to properly look after Gu Jahong due to the preparations for Myeonghwaru.
Gu Jahong, too, had been neglecting his training under the excuse of having to watch over the Mak brothers.
‘And it seems he’s been secretly drinking the pavilion’s liquor.’
In any case, since he was one of Jinmyeong's people, he had no intention of getting angry about him drinking Myeonghwaru's liquor.
However, that was only if Gu Jahong changed his mindset and trained diligently.
If he just drank without training, how was he any different from when he was under the Great Elder, the Sword Demon?
‘If that happens, I won’t be able to face the Great Elder.’
He needed to borrow the Great Elder's power, and he also needed to mold Gu Jahong to his liking.
Now that Myeonghwaru was starting to get on track,
"Young Master."
Just as Jinmyeong was contemplating how to mentally re-educate Gu Jahong, Yang Jeon approached with a serious expression.
"What is it?"
"Well, the merchants are saying they'll cut off their dealings with us."
"Merchants? The Namga Merchants?"
The Namga Merchants was a branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Even though their transactions were conducted as a relationship between a pavilion and a merchant company, they couldn't just cut ties as they pleased.
They couldn't ignore the fact that Jinmyeong was the Cult Leader's disciple.
"It's not the Namga Merchants."
"Not the Namga Merchants? Then the only thing left is food ingredients."
While it was possible to bring in liquor from the Namga Merchants even if it was a bit far, food ingredients were a different story.
Insisting that dishes must be made with the freshest ingredients, Jinmyeong had made it a rule to deal with local merchants.
"Can you find other suppliers?"
"I've tried, but…"
All the nearby merchants who handled food ingredients shook their heads and refused to do business with them.
"Someone's pulled some strings, then?"
"Yes. It seems the Honam Merchant Association has made a move."
"The Honam Merchant Association?"
"You can think of it as a merchant alliance. Most of the merchant companies and individual merchants in Honam are part of it."
"What about the Namga Merchants?"
At Jinmyeong's question, Yang Jeon shook his head.
"They are not affiliated with the Namga Merchants. However, the number of merchant companies and individual merchants belonging to it is substantial."
"And all the merchants we were dealing with are members of the Honam Merchant Association."
"Yes."
Why would the Honam Merchant Association suddenly make a move?
"Find out the reason, and get in touch with the Namga Merchants."
He had intended to make food with the freshest ingredients possible, but it seemed he would have to borrow the Namga Merchants' power for now.
"Oh, and."
"Is there more?"
"Yes. It seems someone has been threatening the entertainers lately."
"Threatening?"
It was the first he'd heard of it, and Jinmyeong looked puzzled.
"Yes. Apparently, someone has been approaching the entertainers when they run errands or step out for a moment and threatening them to quit the pavilion."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It hasn't been long. And I thought we could catch them before having to bother you, Young Master."
But the people they caught were merely hired thugs who had been paid to threaten the entertainers.
"So you haven't been able to find out who's behind it."
"No."
Jinmyeong was lost in thought.
It wasn't just the merchants making moves; they were also threatening the entertainers.
It seemed he couldn't let this go on.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I'm thinking. I was going to find out the reason first."
"I thought you were going to go to the Honam Merchant Association right away and threaten the chairman."
"I'm considering whether that would be a good idea."
He wanted to accurately assess the reason first.
The reason why the Honam Merchant Association made the first move.
"I can't figure out why the Honam Merchant Association would suddenly attack us. There must be something else to it."
"Something else, you say?"
"Yes. Something else."
There must be someone who made the Honam Merchant Association move.
"I was going to look for that, but I don't think I can."
If it had ended with just the merchants' dealings, Jinmyeong wouldn't have acted immediately.
But since they had touched the entertainers, it was a different story.
"Find the location of the Honam Merchant Association."
"Pardon?"
"I need to meet with that chairman first."
The chairman might not have orchestrated it himself, but someone must have asked him to.
Jinmyeong planned to go to the chairman and ask about who was behind it.
Very kindly, of course.
"Find me the location of the Honam Merchant Association."
"I've already prepared it, just in case."
Yang Jeon handed Jinmyeong a prepared dossier on the Honam Merchant Association.
Jinmyeong took it and began to read through it slowly.
"What? They're in Changsha too?"
"Well, it is the provincial capital of Honam, so it's only natural they'd be there, isn't it?"
"Hmm. Then it wouldn't be a bad idea to stop by the Namga Merchants on the way. I'll be back."
"Are you leaving right now?"
"There's no need to delay."
Yang Jeon looked at Jinmyeong, who was about to leave immediately, with a puzzled expression.
"Why?"
"Are you going alone?"
"Is there someone to go with? It's not like I'm going out for fun."
At Jinmyeong's words, Yang Jeon gave a sly smile.
"Why not go with Miss Shin?"
"What kind of strange idea is that?"
Jinmyeong let out a small sigh.
"I'm not in that kind of relationship with Miss Shin."
"That may be so, but haven't you been going around together for a while now?"
"She probably just gets stiff from being inside all the time, so she tags along when I go out."
Even with Jinmyeong's words, Yang Jeon's meaningful smile did not fade.
"Is that so? But it seems the Vice Cult Leader doesn't think that way. That's why he sent Miss Shin here, after all."
"Nonsense. He's just having her watch me so I don't get any funny ideas."
"If you say so, Young Master. Though your constant denial only makes it more suspicious."
Yang Jeon seemed to accept Jinmyeong's words but showed no sign of backing down completely.
"Mind your own business and worry about yourself. I'm off."
"Yes. Please be careful."
Just as Jinmyeong finished his conversation with Yang Jeon and was heading out of the pavilion.
"I'm coming with you."
"...I'm not going out for fun, you know?"
"I know. But I feel like my body is stiffening up from not moving much lately."
Shin Yehyang was waiting for him.
"How do you know where I'm going?"
"Aren't you going to the Namga Merchants? I happened to overhear."
"...It won't be fun, even if you come along."
"I'm not going for fun."
In the end, Jinmyeong had no choice but to travel with Shin Yehyang.
The two left Myeonghwaru and immediately headed for Changsha.
"W-Welcome."
Nam Jungyeol, the head of the Namga Merchants and its branch manager, couldn't help but tense up once again at the arrival of Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang.
"You know why I'm here, right?"
"Yes. I-I know."
Although the Namga Merchants were not part of the Honam Merchant Association, as a major merchant company in Honam, they were bound to know what was going on.
"Do you know the reason?"
"......"
The branch manager couldn't easily answer Jinmyeong's question.
"So you do know."
"Yes."
"What's the reason? Why are they suddenly attacking us? Is it really just because we're suddenly doing well?"
"That seems to be the case."
To put it simply, it was because Gomaru, which they had never paid any mind to, changed its name to Myeonghwaru and suddenly started attracting a flood of customers.
An increase in customers for Myeonghwaru meant a decrease in customers for other places.
"So those other pavilions made a move?"
"Yes."
"The Underworld Sect wouldn't have moved, would they?"
"......"
"Interesting."
Most of the entertainment pavilions on Dongting Lake were owned by the Underworld Sect, but there were many that were not.
And Jinmyeong had naturally assumed that the pavilions or taverns not affiliated with the Underworld Sect were the ones who had made a move.
"I'll pay a visit to the branch manager later."
The branch manager Jinmyeong spoke of was clearly the Underworld Sect's branch manager, yet for some reason, Nam Jungyeol felt a chill run down his spine.
He had never been so grateful that the branch manager Jinmyeong mentioned was not him.
Nam Jungyeol could only watch Jinmyeong warily, wishing for time to pass quickly.
That night, only after the surroundings were completely dark, did Jinmyeong and Shin Yehyang leave the Namga Merchants.