Chapter 143: Finishing the Training
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: Finishing the Training
"My Lady, a message has arrived from the Jang Family Ironworks. They are terminating all further transactions."
Geum Jeok-hwa delivered the news in a voice heavy with gloom.
"The Jang Family Ironworks?"
Tang Seo-yoon asked back, her voice laced with disbelief.
The Jang Family Ironworks—was it not the most influential giant in Hebei and a long-standing partner of the Tang Clan? Yet even they had severed ties.
"Sigh..."
Tang Seo-yoon let out another deep sigh. She had never imagined they would turn their backs, and the sense of betrayal stung.
The Tang Clan was currently in a precarious position. One after another, the partners they had traded with for years were requesting to halt all business. At first, she thought it was a temporary phenomenon caused by the clan’s waning influence. After all, compared to the days when they were hailed as the greatest power in the Central Plains, they were now undeniably weak.
However, it didn't take long to realize this wasn't a passing phase. Even the distributors responsible for weapons and medicinal herbs had joined the boycott.
By nature, the distribution of weapons and herbs was a specialized business that was almost impossible to replace without the Tang Clan. No one could match the Tang Clan’s centuries-old weapon-manufacturing techniques, nor could anyone rival their expertise in identifying, processing, and preserving herbs for distribution.
Yet, for some reason, the ironworks that traded primarily in weapons and the pharmacies that dealt in herbs were cutting ties one by one. That wasn't all. The miners who provided a steady supply of iron and the herb gatherers who supplied the raw plants had simultaneously declared a strike.
It was clear now. There was someone behind these movements.
What ironworks would willingly refuse the Tang Clan, which provided high-quality weapons at low prices? Similarly, what pharmacy would reject the Tang Clan’s superior herbs? Someone was undoubtedly coercing them to break their contracts.
Tang Seo-yoon felt a suffocating pressure in her chest. More than half of their partners were gone, yet the cause remained a mystery, fueling her frustration.
"Yes. Furthermore, more than half of the pharmacies in Hebei have requested to stop transactions," Geum Jeok-hwa continued, answering Tang Seo-yoon’s unspoken question.
"What reason did they give?"
"They didn't give a specific reason. Only that they were sorry..."
Geum Jeok-hwa’s voice trailed off. She was just as frustrated. Since they were in the same boat, she desperately wanted the Tang Clan to prosper. Only if the Tang Clan succeeded could her maternal family’s business, the Mangeum Bank, continue to sail smoothly.
But the current atmosphere was far from ordinary. Half of the distributors for their core businesses—weapons and herbs—had vanished. The Tang Clan had liquidated all other business ventures to focus solely on these two, confident that their expertise was irreplaceable. Receiving these termination notices now left her mind in a whirlwind.
It didn't make sense. There was no workforce capable of replacing the Tang Clan in weapons or herbology. No one could match their smithing techniques or their profound knowledge of medicinal plants. Yet, these partners had requested to stop trading without a moment's hesitation.
Something was foul. Geum Jeok-hwa pondered deeply. There had to be a reason—a reason strong enough for them to request a termination even if it meant taking a loss.
She began to look for commonalities among all the partners who had cut ties. First, the ironworks.
The Jang Family Ironworks, the Yu Family Ironworks, the Jeon Family Ironworks, the Blacksmith Workshop, the Geumcheol Association.
These were all influential ironworks that dominated their respective regions. While they distributed the Tang Clan’s weapons, they were also famous for their own excellent smithing skills.
Next were the pharmacies.
The Son Family Pharmacy, Yakbangmun, the Great Medical Pavilion, the Holy Medicine Pharmacy, the Valley of Divine Water.
These were the largest medicinal distributors and clinics in their regions, renowned for their medical skills and herb processing.
"Hmm..."
Geum Jeok-hwa sank back into thought. No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn't find a common thread—other than the fact that they were the largest and most famous in their respective areas.
In the case of the ironworks, while their own skills weren't bad, they weren't enough to replace the Tang Clan’s manufacturing. For the clinics and pharmacies, the Tang Clan’s ability to accurately categorize and preserve high-quality herbs was indispensable. This meant the problem wasn't internal to those businesses.
'External pressure?'
But Geum Jeok-hwa immediately shook her head. Who could pressure the most influential ironworks in a region? Blacksmiths were notoriously hot-tempered and fierce, men who lived by fire and iron. They were the kind of people who would pick up hammers and weapons to fight back even if local unorthodox gangs raided them.
Who could possibly force them? Unless it was a power with as much regional influence as the Five Great Clans, they would never succumb to external pressure.
'Wait...'
It was then.
'Wait... just a moment!'
Something flashed in Geum Jeok-hwa’s mind.
Thump!
She slammed her hand down on the desk. Startled by the sound, Tang Seo-yoon looked at her with wide eyes. What was this sudden outburst?
"I found it!"
"Pardon?"
"I found it!"
"Found what?"
"The reason why the major partners are terminating their contracts!"
Tang Seo-yoon’s eyes widened. The requests had come at different times from different regions, spanning various fields like ironworks, clinics, and pharmacies. To find a commonality among them was nothing short of shocking.
"What is it?" Tang Seo-yoon asked urgently.
Instead of answering immediately, Geum Jeok-hwa rushed to the back and brought out a large map. It was a complete map showing every region of the Central Plains. She quickly grabbed a brush and began marking the map with ink.
"Here are the Jang Family Ironworks and the Son Family Pharmacy. And here are the Jeon Family Ironworks and the Valley of Divine Water..."
Her brush moved without hesitation as she spoke, eventually coming to a slow stop.
"Now, do you see?"
Tang Seo-yoon carefully examined the inked areas. The Jang Family Ironworks and the Son Family Pharmacy were in Hebei, while the Jeon Family Ironworks and the Valley of Divine Water were in Liaoning.
"Oh?"
Before long, she realized it. The clinics and ironworks that had stopped trading were located in the same regions. And those locations happened to be exactly where certain clans were situated.
"The Five Great Clans!" Tang Seo-yoon whispered.
"Exactly. They are all within the spheres of influence of the Five Great Clans," Geum Jeok-hwa agreed. "The Five Great Clans pressured them to cut ties with the Tang Clan!"
"But why would they...?"
Tang Seo-yoon asked, unable to comprehend. Even if the Tang Clan had weakened and been ousted, they were once part of the Six Great Clans and had shared deep bonds of camaraderie. How could it have come to this?
Her expression turned grave. If Geum Jeok-hwa was right, this was no small matter. No matter how great the Tang Clan was, they could not withstand the deliberate, coordinated pressure of the Five Great Clans. She didn't know what had caused this, but she had to mend the relationship somehow.
"First, I must send them letters. I don't know the reason, but we must appease them," Tang Seo-yoon said hurriedly.
"Yes, I understand."
Geum Jeok-hwa replied quickly, fully aware of the severity of the situation.
*
"Kwahahahaha!"
Hwangbo Gang burst into a fit of boisterous laughter. In his hand was a single letter. His mirth showed no signs of fading; it had been a long time since he felt this vindicated.
That arrogant Tang Clan.
That Tang Clan, so full of pride.
They were now prostrating themselves before the Hwangbo Clan, begging for forgiveness. How could he not be delighted?
To Hwangbo Gang, the Tang Clan had always been an object of deep-seated inferiority. He hated them. He hated them more than anything. And he especially hated the Poison King, the head of the Tang Clan.
In the past, during the Great War of Righteousness and Demons, Hwangbo Gang had made a name for himself. He had crushed countless members of the Demonic Cult with his bare fists. He smashed skulls, pierced hearts, exploded limbs, and shattered dantians. He struck and struck until the blood on his fists never had a chance to dry.
And finally, on the day the war ended, Hwangbo Gang earned the glorious title of the Heavenly King Divine Fist.
But he couldn't truly rejoice. Before the crowds could chant his name, they were always whispering about another man.
The Poison King!
Yes. The name of the Poison King, Tang Jin-cheol, was always mentioned before his. The feat of Tang Jin-cheol single-handedly annihilating the Black Armored Cavalry—the nightmare of the Murim—was burned into the memories of the people.
Hwangbo Gang was always bitter. He resented Tang Jin-cheol for swooping in during the middle of the war and hogging all the glory for himself and his family. He hated the man, and he hated the Tang Clan he belonged to.
The Tang Clan had used their fame as heroes of the war to expand their businesses successfully. As a fellow hero whose own clan, the Hwangbo Clan, had failed in numerous business ventures despite his fame, he couldn't help but feel jealous.
But today, a letter of reconciliation had arrived from that haughty, aloof Tang Clan. Though they had tried their best to be diplomatic, the summary was simple: they didn't know what they had done wrong, but they begged him to let go of his anger.
He was overjoyed. It felt as if a long-standing blockage in his chest had been cleared in an instant. The Poison King had finally knelt before the Heavenly King Divine Fist.
"Kwahahahaha!"
His laughter echoed through the great hall for a long time.
"Someone, come here!"
Hwangbo Gang roared. His voice was so thunderous that the hall began to vibrate.
Creak.
"At your command!"
A middle-aged man appeared, having heard the call. It was the Chief Steward, Hwangbo Gap.
"Write a letter to the Tang Clan immediately."
"What shall I write, My Lord?"
"There is no need for a long explanation. Two characters will suffice."
Hwangbo Gang paused for effect before continuing.
"Impossible (不可)."
A thick smile spread across Hwangbo Gang’s lips. While the sight of the Tang Clan groveling for forgiveness was amusing, he had no intention of ending it here. The inferiority complex he had harbored for over twenty years could not be resolved so easily.
He would take everything they had built, more thoroughly and more cruelly. They would have to surrender everything—if they didn't want to see the Tang Clan ruined entirely.
"Kwahahahaha!"
The great hall was once again filled with Hwangbo Gang’s laughter.
*
Ok-ryeong spread her palm and concentrated her internal energy. Soon, a white aura began to shimmer over her hand.
Swoosh!
Ok-ryeong thrust her glowing palm directly toward Sun-woo. With the sound of rending air, her palm force flew toward his chest.
And then...
Pang!
The moment the force touched Sun-woo’s chest, it was deflected away.
"Ugh."
Ok-ryeong let out a groan of pain from the shock felt in her palm.
"Are you okay?"
Startled by her groan, Sun-woo looked at her with worried eyes.
"I'm fine," Ok-ryeong replied with a bright smile.
It was then.
"Hmph, you're finally using it like a human being."
A grumpy voice struck their ears. Sun-woo and Ok-ryeong turned toward the source. There stood a cranky-looking old man. It was the Yin-Yang Demon.
"With that level, you can easily defeat someone like Hwangbo Gang," the Yin-Yang Demon said with conviction.
Two weeks had passed since Sun-woo awakened his Six Senses. During that time, he had sparred countless times with Ok-ryeong and Yorang, striving to make the Six Senses his own. Finally, he had succeeded in engraving the sensation into his instincts. Now, he could perform the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth without even thinking about it.
"Thank you, Master. This is all thanks to you."
Sun-woo bowed deeply toward the Yin-Yang Demon. He knew that although his life had been in danger several times, he would never have become this strong without the old man.
"Tsk, no need for thanks."
The Yin-Yang Demon replied with a smirk. It was true. From his perspective, Sun-woo was the only possibility for killing Lee Jae-won. If Sun-woo grew stronger, it was only beneficial for him. The smile on the Yin-Yang Demon’s face deepened at the thought of his trump card against Lee Jae-won becoming even more formidable.