Chapter 362: Yorang Declares a Strike
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 362: Yorang Declares a Strike
Whoosh!
A young man was rapidly swinging a massive greatsword.
Despite the sword’s immense size, which seemed ill-suited to his frame, the man wielded it as freely as if it were a mere dagger, showcasing a magnificent display of martial prowess.
Whoosh!
The greatsword sliced through the air once more.
Perhaps because of the sheer amount of internal energy infused into the blade, the very air seemed to split, letting out a piercing whistle that stung the ears.
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After some time had passed...
"Haah... haah... haah... haah..."
The man, having finally ceased his sword dance, began to pant heavily.
He had likely been so deep in a state of self-oblivion that he had forgotten even to breathe.
Soon, a faint smile played across his lips.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of rhythmic clapping began to drift in from behind him.
Startled, the man quickly spun around.
There, he saw a beautiful, mature woman.
"Hall Master!"
The man hastily prostrated himself to show his respect.
His direct superior had made an appearance: Paeng Ga-ryeon, the Head of the Law Enforcement Hall.
"Your swordplay is extraordinary. Have you perhaps achieved a new level of enlightenment?"
"...I merely had a small realization recently."
At Paeng Ga-ryeon’s words, the man’s face flushed as he spoke. He felt a wave of bashfulness at being praised by the woman he admired.
"Splendid. You truly are the greatest talent within the Cheonmu Alliance."
"You keep singing my praises; I’m not sure how to respond."
The man continued to speak, his face still crimson.
"Singing your praises? Is there anyone in the Cheonmu Alliance who doesn't know of the Heavenly Dragon Sword, Kang Myeong?"
"N-no. It is all merely an empty reputation."
"Unit Leader Kang, I’ve told you before, you are far too humble. Such excessive modesty can make others feel inadequate."
"I... I will keep that in mind."
Kang Myeong spoke with a blush.
Paeng Ga-ryeon watched him with a deeply alluring smile. To her, this talented young hero looked incredibly adorable.
"That aside, have you thought about what I mentioned last time?"
"That... I still feel a certain reluctance about getting involved in the succession struggle."
Kang Myeong spoke with a truly troubled expression. He felt a pang of guilt for rejecting a proposal from someone like Paeng Ga-ryeon, who had gone out of her way to offer it.
"Is there no room for reconsideration?"
"Taking a specific side feels... distant from my path."
"Unit Leader Kang, think carefully. Didn't you join the Cheonmu Alliance with grand ambitions?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke persuasively.
Kang Myeong was one of the top talents in the Cheonmu Alliance. She couldn't give up on him so easily.
"I am sorry. No matter how much I think about it, I believe it's best for me to just go where the wind takes me."
Despite his awkward expression, Kang Myeong refused once more.
Getting entangled in a succession struggle was a dangerous affair—especially for someone like Kang Myeong, who had no prestigious sect or influential connections to back him up.
Grit.
Hearing Kang Myeong’s refusal, Paeng Ga-ryeon bit her lip.
This wouldn't do.
The other successors had already begun recruiting talents who were making names for themselves across the Central Plains. She, too, needed a supply of talent that could match them.
Someone exactly like the man standing before her.
She couldn't let him slip away. If she lost him, the position of successor would drift even further out of reach.
Paeng Ga-ryeon’s eyes began to gleam with a sharp, predatory light.
"Unit Leader Kang."
She called his name in a voice that was thick with a sultry, mature tone.
"Please, speak, Hall Master."
"Instead of staying out here, why don't we share a cup of tea and have a proper chat?"
Paeng Ga-ryeon spoke while subtly swaying her curvaceous, voluptuous body.
"Ahem... No matter what you say, I have no intention of changing my mind."
Embarrassed by her suggestive movements, Kang Myeong let out a dry cough before speaking.
"It’s fine. I simply wish to share some tea with you, Unit Leader Kang."
Paeng Ga-ryeon looked at him with a captivating gaze.
"............"
Entranced by her alluring presence, Kang Myeong could only stare back with a dazed expression.
"Come... this way."
Paeng Ga-ryeon took hold of his sleeve and pulled him along.
"A-alright."
Kang Myeong answered shyly and began to follow her lead. His face was flushed bright red.
Paeng Ga-ryeon flashed a subtle smile as she led him toward her office—her very private, very soundproof office.
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A few days later, a shocking piece of news reached the ears of the public.
The Heavenly Dragon Sword, Kang Myeong, who had declared his neutrality, had changed his stance and announced that he would serve under the Third Young Lady, Lee Gi-yeon.
His acquaintances were stunned. A man of such upright and unbending character had swallowed his pride and jumped into the succession struggle.
The news put the other successors on edge, and they began to work even harder to recruit talents to secure their claim to the succession.
*
"Sixth Lady, could you look into the profit margins for the spirit herb trade with the Samjin Merchant Group?"
A man held out a document as he spoke.
"Come back in fifteen minutes."
The woman, who was busily clacking away at her desk, replied with a look of utter boredom.
"Sixth Lady, the Yuhwa Merchant Group sent a letter asking if the tax rate is included in the current weapon factory price."
Another person approached and read out a letter.
"Of course it’s not included! What kind of nerve do they have, trying to rip us off like that?"
The woman snapped irritably. Hearing such nonsense over and over was starting to grate on her nerves.
"Sixth Lady!"
"Sixth Lady!"
"Sixth Lady!"
After that, countless others began calling out to her, requesting her help.
"Everyone, just leave your papers on the desk and get out!"
Her irritation boiling over, the woman scowled and shouted at the top of her lungs.
The people delivering the documents immediately piled them on her desk and scrambled out of the room. They could tell she was on the verge of exploding.
Once the room was empty, the woman glared at the mountain of paperwork with a look of pure annoyance.
"Dammit."
She spat out a curse. Even she was exhausted by the endless onslaught of work.
"I’m done!"
She shouted as if making a grand declaration.
Sure, she had been bored before, but this was too much. They were dumping almost every single accounting task on her. It was absurd.
Click, clack.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
Creeeak.
The door opened, and a noblewoman dressed in high-quality silk appeared.
"Is something the matter, Yorang?"
"Geum Jeok-hwa!"
Yorang raised her voice as she glared at Geum Jeok-hwa, the culprit behind this entire situation. It was all because of this woman. If she hadn't fallen for her schemes, she wouldn't be suffering like this.
"Yes, go ahead."
"I’m declaring a strike. I’m not working anymore."
Yorang spoke with a firm, resolute expression.
"Oh, come now, why are you like this again? Would you like some sweets brought over from India?"
"Don't try to bribe me with those! That's not going to cut it anymore!"
Yorang shook her head vigorously.
Through her work in accounting and taxes, Yorang had learned quite a bit about how the world worked. One day, while working as usual, she had a realization.
She was being exploited.
And it was a massive case of labor exploitation at that.
She was someone who focused entirely on work, only sleeping once every three days. She handled all the accounting perfectly, without a single error. And they were using such high-level talent for the price of a few sweets.
Now that she knew better, Yorang realized that if her salary were converted into actual money, those sweets would be worth less than a fraction of what she deserved.
Naturally, she felt a sense of rebellion against the wicked Geum Jeok-hwa, who was exploiting her by relying on their personal relationship.
"Whew... What is it that's bothering you this time?"
"Don't you think this is going too far? How long has it been since you promised to hire more people? I’m still the only one overseeing all the accounting!"
"Isn't that because you're the Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, Yorang?"
"Then give me a proper salary!"
"Don't I give you sweets and crackers every day?"
"That’s welfare! I’m talking about money! Money!"
Yorang was now fully aware of the difference between welfare and wages.
"My goodness, why is someone aspiring to be an immortal so greedy for wealth?"
"I am demanding fair compensation for my labor! Give me money!" Yorang growled.
"How much do you want?"
"Three hundred silver taels a month."
"That’s ridiculous!"
Geum Jeok-hwa’s voice rose in disbelief. Three hundred silver taels? What on earth was she saying?
The monthly salary of an ordinary martial artist was about fourteen silver taels. Even the previous Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, after working until the brink of retirement, only made about eighty silver taels.
And she wanted three hundred? It was an astronomical sum.
"Do you realize how absurd that amount is?"
"I’m willing to negotiate."
Yorang spoke in a calm tone.
"How about fifty silver taels?"
"Two hundred and ninety-nine silver taels."
Yorang replied with a deadpan expression.
"An ordinary martial artist makes fourteen silver taels a month. But three hundred? That’s more than twenty martial artists combined!"
"I’m more useful than twenty ordinary martial artists, aren't I? It’s only logical."
Yorang spoke with absolute confidence.
".......You can't put defense duties and accounting duties on the same level."
"Fine, then I’ll do the defense work. And since I’m a hundred times stronger than them, will you give me fourteen hundred silver taels a month?"
"You can't calculate it like that!"
"Why not! Why not!"
Yorang pressed her point. A heated argument ensued between the two.
After quite some time...
"Fine, let’s do this. How about a hundred silver taels?"
"You're persistent. Two hundred and fifty."
Yorang remained stubborn.
"Yorang, even the previous Head only made eighty silver taels. Two hundred and fifty is just too much," Geum Jeok-hwa said hesitantly.
"I do twice the work of the previous Head, don't I? And I do it without a single mistake. I believe I deserve at least this much."
Yorang’s tone was final.
"............"
Geum Jeok-hwa fell silent. She knew Yorang wasn't wrong.
She knew better than anyone that Yorang only slept once every three days. Thanks to her infinite stamina as a spiritual being, she didn't require much sleep. Furthermore, her genius intellect allowed for zero errors. Thanks to her, the burden of accounting had been significantly reduced.
"Think carefully, Geum Jeok-hwa. I’m a spiritual being with nothing to lose. The Tang Clan is the one that needs me. You should be grateful you can keep a resource like me for only two hundred and fifty silver taels."
Yorang spoke with a faint, knowing smile.
".......Could we... could we do two hundred?"
"Hmm... that’s a very unsatisfying number..."
"In exchange, I’ll reduce your workload."
"By how much?"
"By about a third?"
"Deal."
Yorang smiled brightly, seemingly pleased with the offer.
"Phew."
On the other hand, Geum Jeok-hwa let out a long sigh after agreeing to the massive salary. She knew Yorang was a genius, but she hadn't expected her to master the art of salary negotiation on her own. It seemed she would have to give up on the idea of using her for what was essentially free labor.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, a frantic knocking sounded at the door.
"Who is it?"
Annoyed by the sudden disturbance, Yorang looked toward the door with a grumpy expression.
"Sixth Lady! It’s me, Tang Sam."
"What is it?"
"I have a message from the Acting Clan Head."
"He has ordered me to bring the Sixth Lady and the Third Lady to him immediately, as he has something urgent to discuss."
"I’m busy right now," Yorang said, frowning.
She already had a mountain of work to do. Why was he calling for her all of a sudden? If it was important, he should have come himself.
"He said it is extremely urgent."
"What’s it about?"
"He didn't give me the details. I was only told to bring you both."
"Sigh... fine."
Yorang nodded reluctantly. She slowly stood up from her seat. Though it was a hassle, she felt she couldn't refuse a request from Tang Seo-yoon.
"We’ll finish up the rest of the welfare talk when I get back."
Yorang looked at Geum Jeok-hwa.
"Wasn't it already finished?"
Geum Jeok-hwa asked, looking bewildered. Hadn't they already settled the matter?
"I learned something while doing all this paperwork. It’s important to put every promise in writing."
Yorang gave a sly grin.
"When I get back, we’re signing a contract, so be ready."
"Ha... ha... ha..."
Geum Jeok-hwa let out an awkward laugh. At this point, she was starting to wonder if Yorang was a spiritual being or a human.
Having finished her piece, Yorang stepped out of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, with Geum Jeok-hwa following close behind.