Chapter 151: Demanding Compensation - Part 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: Demanding Compensation - Part 1
Jining, Shandong Province.
"Sun-woo, where exactly are we going?"
Yorang asked, clutching onto Sun-woo’s sleeve. Her face was filled with curiosity.
"What’s it to you?" Sun-woo replied bluntly.
"Come on, just tell meeee!"
Despite his curt response, Yorang persisted, tugging at his sleeve and pestering him for an answer.
Slap.
Sun-woo brushed her hand away.
"Ouch!"
Perhaps his touch had been too forceful, as Yorang let out a sharp cry of pain.
"Just follow me!" Sun-woo snapped, his irritation flaring.
Why couldn't she just follow along without questioning every little thing? In a normal, relaxed situation, he would have explained everything from start to finish, but not now. Right now, even the time spent answering her questions felt like a waste.
Seeing Sun-woo’s prickly attitude, Yorang’s spirit wilted. She had only been trying to lighten his mood because he looked so grim, but it seemed she had only succeeded in getting on his nerves.
"Sun-woo."
It was then that Ok-ryeong’s soft voice reached his ears. Sun-woo turned his head to look at her. Her expression was cold and stiff.
"Even though we are following you, we are still your companions. I believe your blunt attitude shows a lack of consideration for Lady Yorang."
She continued, her face remaining icy. It was a stark contrast to her usual gentle impression.
"I know you are in a hurry. But as companions traveling together, isn't it natural to ask about our destination? She only asked a question; was there any need to be so sharp and hurt her feelings?"
".........."
"I know you have a lot of pent-up anger. But you shouldn't take that anger out on others."
Hearing Ok-ryeong’s words, Sun-woo fell into thought. He had indeed treated Yorang with an edge that was unlike his usual self. She had merely asked a question, yet he had treated her as if she were a nuisance.
"I’m sorry, Ok-ryeong. I suppose I’ve been a bit sensitive."
Realizing his mistake, Sun-woo apologized. He realized that the sharp thorns he had grown were wounding those closest to him.
"You should be apologizing to Lady Yorang, not me," Ok-ryeong reminded him, pointing out the proper recipient of his apology.
"Yorang, I’m sorry."
Sun-woo turned toward Yorang and bowed his head in apology.
"I forgive you!"
Yorang accepted his apology readily, seemingly pleased by his change in attitude. Sun-woo let out a silent sigh of relief. He knew he shouldn't vent his internal rage on others, yet he had unconsciously been taking it out on Yorang because she was an easy target.
"So, where are we going?" Yorang asked again, now that she had accepted his apology.
Sun-woo let out a small chuckle at her persistence. He felt foolish for having snapped at her in the first place.
"We’re going to the Geumcheol Sect."
"The Geumcheol Sect?" Yorang asked, looking puzzled. Why were they suddenly going there?
"Why are we going there?" Ok-ryeong asked as well.
Sun-woo had clearly stated that he intended to kill Hwangbo Gang to make an example of him. So why were they heading to the Geumcheol Sect instead of the Hwangbo Clan?
At her question, Sun-woo’s eyes gleamed.
"I need to create a pretext."
"A pretext?"
"A reason why the Heavenly King Divine Fist and the Poison King have no choice but to fight."
The light in Sun-woo’s eyes intensified. Yorang and Ok-ryeong could only stare at him, unable to grasp his true intentions.
*
The Geumcheol Sect.
Shandong Province was famous for its large population, thanks to its temperate climate and vast plains. With so many people, there were naturally many Murim clans, and Shandong was particularly renowned for its many righteous heroes who upheld the Chivalric Code.
Furthermore, after the Great War of Righteousness and Demons, a massive martial arts organization called the Cheonmu Alliance was established in Jinan, Shandong. This drew even more martial artists to the province, until their numbers became virtually uncountable.
So, what business thrived the most in a province teeming with martial artists?
Some might say it was the inns, as martial artists were often wanderers without homes. Others might suggest the taverns, claiming that boisterous martial artists loved wine and beautiful women.
But both were wrong.
The business that truly flourished because of the martial artists was the ironworks.
With so many martial artists in Shandong, small and large skirmishes broke out dozens, if not hundreds, of times a day. In the heat of these battles, weapons were frequently broken or lost. Consequently, countless martial artists sought out ironworks to purchase new weapons.
While the inns and taverns of Shandong earned staggering profits, they paled in comparison to the ironworks. In Shandong, it was no exaggeration to say that the ironworks raked in money by the wagonload.
The organization formed by the union of these numerous ironworks was known to the world as the Geumcheol Sect.
Initially, it was just a small group of blacksmiths who had gathered to protect their interests after being oppressed and underpaid by martial artists. However, as every ironworks in Shandong joined the Geumcheol Sect, they gained power rivaling that of the great Murim clans.
As a collective of the wealthiest ironworks in Shandong, there was virtually no one who dared to treat them lightly. If a blacksmith belonging to the Geumcheol Sect was oppressed by a martial artist, the Sect would use its vast wealth to punish that individual. They did not hesitate to stand together against external pressure from Murim clans.
Moreover, they controlled the distribution of armaments in Shandong, manipulating prices through price-fixing and supply management. A small group formed for self-protection had evolved into a massive political organization. If someone fell out of their favor, they might as well give up on operating within Shandong Province.
And the leader of this formidable organization, Sect Leader Cheol Mu-deuk, was currently in a very foul mood—all because of some unexpected guests.
"So, you’re saying you’ve come from the Tang Clan?"
He looked at them with a look of utter boredom. His visitors were a man and two women. The man was a middle-aged man with a cold expression, and the two women wore veils, making it impossible to identify them.
"That is correct. We have traveled a long way to speak with you, Sect Leader," the cold-faced middle-aged man replied.
"I have nothing to say regarding the suspension of our trade. It was a decision made after careful consideration, and we are prepared to pay the penalty fee accordingly," Cheol Mu-deuk continued in a dismissive tone.
He found the entire situation bothersome and unpleasant. Why bother coming all this way for a matter that was already settled? The Geumcheol Sect had already decided to cut ties with the Tang Clan, and they had no intention of reversing that decision, regardless of what he had to say.
"May I ask the reason?" the middle-aged man asked politely, despite Cheol Mu-deuk’s rude behavior.
"Is there a need for a reason? From the Geumcheol Sect's perspective, we simply no longer require the Tang Clan's armaments."
"Hmm."
Seeing his attitude, the cold-faced middle-aged man—Sun-woo—fell into deep thought.
Sun-woo had visited the Geumcheol Sect in the guise of Tang Jin-cheol, intending to intimidate the Sect Leader. Fortunately, upon hearing that someone from the Tang Clan had arrived, he was granted an immediate audience.
However, the Sect Leader of the Geumcheol Sect didn't seem to recognize the face of the Tang Clan Head. Far from being intimidated, he was maintaining an incredibly arrogant posture. Even if the Tang Clan’s influence had waned, his attitude was excessively haughty for a mere leader of an ironworks guild.
Sun-woo frowned. Judging by the Sect Leader's attitude, it didn't seem like the Geumcheol Sect had suspended trade due to external pressure.
"Could you reconsider? If you are facing external pressure, the Tang Clan will act as your shield," Sun-woo proposed one last time, just in case. He thought that despite his arrogant front, the man might actually be acting out of fear of the Hwangbo Clan.
"Pfft."
But Cheol Mu-deuk merely scoffed at Sun-woo’s words.
"Look here, you seem to be under some sort of delusion. Listen well."
Cheol Mu-deuk dropped his formal tone and began speaking casually, a clear sign that he looked down on the Tang Clan martial artist before him. His eyes gleamed; he felt the need to teach this ignorant martial artist exactly what kind of place the Geumcheol Sect was.
"The Geumcheol Sect is entirely different from your average ironworks. We are the union of every ironworks in Shandong. Who exactly do you think could pressure us? Not the Cheonmu Alliance! Not the Hwangbo Clan! No one can pressure us. We have the wealth and the technology to stand on our own."
Cheol Mu-deuk boasted loudly, his face filled with pride. His expression was one of self-satisfaction for standing tall before a martial artist of the supposedly great Tang Clan.
"Suspending trade with the Tang Clan was our own decision. Of course, the Hwangbo Clan made a proposal, but the choice was ours."
"And why did you make such a choice?" Sun-woo asked, sounding genuinely confused.
The Tang Clan’s armaments were in such high demand that they sold out the moment they were put on the shelves. He couldn't understand why they would cut ties with the Tang Clan even at the cost of such a loss.
"To prevent the Tang Clan's monopoly, of course. Isn't that obvious?" the Sect Leader replied, as if Sun-woo were asking something incredibly stupid.
Ordinary ironworks lacked the technology to mass-produce high-quality armaments like the Tang Clan. Because the Tang Clan’s goods were both high-quality and affordable, martial artists’ standards had risen so high that they wouldn't even look at products from ordinary ironworks. Eventually, those products would disappear from the market.
This meant that the ironworks would eventually have no choice but to sell Tang Clan products. In other words, if the Tang Clan raised prices or stopped supply, the ironworks would be forced to accept it. Master craftsmen who had honed their skills for decades would be reduced to mere subcontractors for the Tang Clan.
The Geumcheol Sect had tried everything to prevent this, but they had no solution. The Tang Clan was the "Number One Clan in the Central Plains," possessing everything from wealth to martial prowess. When such a clan also possessed superior technology, there was no way to compete. Their only option was to limit the purchase of Tang Clan armaments as much as possible and try to push their own products.
Then, the Tang Clan was attacked by the Demonic Cult.
Cheol Mu-deuk had rejoiced. Although they had maintained a long-standing trade relationship, he had always viewed them as a thorn in his side. He couldn't be happier that they had lost their reputation as the greatest clan.
The Geumcheol Sect waited for an opportunity—an opportunity to cut ties with the Tang Clan.
And before long, that opportunity arrived. The Hwangbo Clan made them an offer they couldn't refuse: if they suspended trade with the Tang Clan, the Hwangbo Clan would steal the Tang Clan’s technology and share it with them.
Cheol Mu-deuk had readily accepted. It was a chance to cut ties with the troublesome Tang Clan and gain their technology at the same time. He wasn't about to let such a golden opportunity slip through his fingers.
In the end, the Geumcheol Sect betrayed their long-standing loyalty to the Tang Clan and turned their backs—not because of pressure, but of their own free will. To him, being asked if there was external pressure was laughable.
"For too long, the Tang Clan has ignored business ethics. You only cared about lining your own pockets, without a single thought for the situation of other merchants," Cheol Mu-deuk said, shaking his head.
"What are you talking about? The Tang Clan provided high-quality armaments at low prices, did they not?"
"That’s the problem! Because you provided high-quality goods so cheaply, the products from other ironworks couldn't compete!"
"That’s absurd! If your competitiveness is low, shouldn't the ironworks conduct research to improve their technology or lower their prices?"
"Tsk, tsk. You really don't know anything, do you? How can we develop anything when the Tang Clan monopolizes the manufacturing technology?"
"Isn't that something the ironworks should research themselves? Why should the Tang Clan share new technology they spent hundreds of years developing?"
Sun-woo argued, finding the logic ridiculous. The Tang Clan’s manufacturing techniques were their own essence, perfected over centuries of research. Why on earth would they share that with others?
"That’s exactly what I mean by a lack of business ethics. How can you monopolize technology just to survive on your own? And you call yourselves members of the Orthodox Faction," the Sect Leader clicked his tongue and continued. "Anyway, we have absolutely no intention of trading with you again. We’ll pay the penalty fee, so just leave."
Cheol Mu-deuk abruptly ended the conversation with extreme rudeness. He clearly didn't want to hear another word.
"Whew."
Sun-woo let out a deep sigh. He realized that restoring the relationship was out of the question.
"Fine," Sun-woo said, looking at Cheol Mu-deuk. "I’ll take the penalty fee instead."
"Hmph. Name your price. Whatever the amount, I’ll gladly pay it."
Cheol Mu-deuk rejoiced at Sun-woo’s seemingly defeated attitude. He thought he had finally gotten rid of this persistent Tang Clan pest.
"Four hundred thousand Nyang."
Sun-woo shouted the amount in a firm, uncompromising voice.
"Wh-what!?"
Cheol Mu-deuk asked, stunned by the figure. He thought he must have misheard.
"Four hundred thousand Nyang!"
Sun-woo glared at him and shouted again. His tone was resolute, showing absolutely no room for negotiation.
A look of sheer bewilderment began to wash over Cheol Mu-deuk’s face.