Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Released from Prison (2)
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My conversation with the Grand Chancellor confirmed he held considerable goodwill towards me and my master.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him not to investigate, especially after the White Dragon Hall's elite White Sword Unit was completely annihilated.
From that perspective, it seems throwing me into the Dragon's Maw wasn't about punishment, but about protection.
He probably couldn't predict how the White Dragon Hall would react.
Of course, that doesn't mean my grudge against the Grand Chancellor has completely vanished.
I've merely moved his name from my kill list to my punishment list, and from there to my watch list.
'I'll let it slide this time. He is So-pyeong's father, after all.'
Leaving the Military Affairs Division, I finally arrived at my house near the East Gate for the first time in a while.
"What the fuck?"
I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe the sight before me.
"So-so! Are you in there?!"
*Clang, crash!*
The hinges of the recently replaced main gate tore off, and the entire door collapsed.
The commotion in the middle of the night drew the gazes of a few passersby, but I had no time to worry about them now.
My house was completely destroyed.
The outer wall had crumbled, and the space Cheong So-so used as a clinic was so wrecked it could no longer serve its purpose.
The same was true for the interior.
Three buildings had collapsed, leaving only their foundation stones behind, their frames gone.
*Shwaaa.*
Just in case, I spread my Seven Senses perception to scan the interior, but I only felt the structures, not a single human presence.
*Gnash.*
The devastating sight made me grind my teeth instinctively.
Who on earth could have done this?
More importantly, where was Cheong So-so?
The house can be rebuilt. It's a shame, but I have enough money and time for that.
However, if something happened to Cheong So-so, this would be no ordinary matter.
The Cheong family's own martial power isn't great, but their connections in the martial world are beyond imagination.
Just take Yuk Hak, the sworn brother of the Cheong family head who helps with the Hanzhong Merchant Guild's affairs; he's a supreme master who has reached the pinnacle of his art.
Rumor has it he has over ten such sworn brothers, showing just how far the Cheong family's network extends throughout the martial world.
Above all else.
Laying a hand on my people is something I can never forgive.
'How dare they touch my precious tenant!'
*Crack.*
My rage intensified, making each step feel as heavy as a thousand pounds.
The ground cracked beneath my feet as my internal energy erupted around me.
Just as I was about to be consumed by fury.
"Squad Leader?"
A wild Myo Hyang appeared.
***
"Seriously, you could have at least said something! I was so shocked, I thought something terrible had happened. This isn't some hidden camera show."
"Hi-hi-what? Anyway, I couldn't get a message to you since you were locked up in prison."
"Ahem, that's true..."
"Besides, it was all very sudden."
After speaking, Myo Hyang handed me a promissory note.
"Here. This is the payment for the house."
"Hehehe, thank you, my dear."
"If you know, then do better. You didn't visit once... I hate you!"
"Aww, is my little dear pouting?"
"I don't know! Why are you being so embarrassing?"
She looked especially beautiful today.
It was only natural.
Thanks to her, I sold the house for a whopping four thousand taels.
"What are you doing? Hurry up."
'Hehehe.'
With my cash reserves running low due to the construction of the Jin Martial Arts Hall, this was like rain in a drought.
On top of that, there was news that the Merchant Guild's estimated net profit for the year would exceed twenty thousand taels!
I guess this is what Warren Buffett's value investing feels like.
'Who knew that public safety and commerce were so closely related.'
According to Myo Hyang, Hanzhong has been enjoying an unprecedented boom recently.
The Merchant Guild, which collects a tenth of its members' profits, had also come to possess an enormous amount of cash.
This was all thanks to the bandit suppression operations I conducted with the Black Mountain Tigers, which secured the region's safety.
Based on these incredible profits and stable security, Myo Hyang proposed to Guild Master Mo Geuk that they expand into Nine Dragons Fortress.
In the martial world, a merchant group expanding its territory means more than just increasing sales channels.
It means being able to procure goods directly from the source, thereby reducing costs.
In other words, her plan was to reinvest the overflowing profits to increase net income in the long run.
And the first step of that plan was to purchase my house, expand it, and use it as the Merchant Guild's headquarters.
And they spent a massive sum of four thousand taels to do it.
To put it simply, the Hanzhong Merchant Guild, a corporation, purchased real estate owned by me, its majority shareholder.
In modern times, this would be a case of breach of trust and embezzlement that would land me in court, but in the martial world, it wasn't a problem at all.
'Well, at worst, it would probably be a suspended sentence...'
Anyway, I quickened my pace, thinking about what gift to get for Myo Hyang, the MVP of this whole affair.
And after finally arriving at the Jin Martial Arts Hall—my own golden castle, a world I had created.
*Chatter, chatter.*
"..."
I was left speechless at the sight of the packed crowd.
That's right. She had invited not only the nearly seven hundred students but also everyone I knew to a feast.
The number of people was over a thousand.
I knew she was generous, but wasn't this beyond imagination?
"Ha... ha..."
In the martial world, alcohol is never cheap. The same goes for meat.
To feed a thousand people their fill of alcohol and meat would surely cost at least a hundred silver taels.
As I let out a hollow laugh at the sheer scale of it, Myo Hyang nudged me in the ribs.
"Don't laugh like that. Try to smile with as much composure as you can."
"All of a sudden?"
"There are a lot more eyes on you now, Squad Leader. And there will certainly be more in the future."
"...So?"
"Is your position the same as it used to be? You're a supreme master who carries the expectations of Nine Dragons Fortress. Plus, you're the disciple of the Outer Hall Master, one of the Ten Great Masters."
"W-well, that's true."
I am, after all, part of the martial world's upper class.
As I quietly nodded at her valid point, she lowered her voice and continued.
"Most importantly, the people sitting here today will be your strength in the long run. You need to take every opportunity to arrange gatherings like this and strengthen your relationships."
"Even the students?"
"They'll become warriors of Nine Dragons Fortress in the future, won't they?"
"That's true too."
The higher you climb, the less you can ignore public sentiment at the grassroots level.
'Is this why people send their kids to study abroad?'
Just from working in Hanzhong for a few months, it seemed Myo Hyang's intelligence stat had risen by at least twenty points.
*Pat, pat.*
Feeling proud, I patted her on the head.
She looked up at me, her face flushed red.
"Ah... People are watching."
"What does it matter, between us..."
"Ugh..."
I entered the training grounds with the embarrassed girl.
"It's Squad Leader Jin!"
"Fighting Dragon!"
"Fighting Dragon! Fighting Dragon! Fighting Dragon!"
The people at the feast chanted my title.
"..."
While I stood there dumbfounded, not knowing the reason, Myo Hyang, still blushing, explained.
"The rumor that you rescued the children who were sold has spread all over the Outer Fortress."
"Ah..."
I guess this is what they call chivalry in the martial world.
***
The banquet was incredibly busy.
Naturally.
As the guest of honor, I had to go around and greet everyone.
"Hahaha! You haven't forgotten the teachings of your old squad leader! This big brother believed in you."
"Come here and have a drink!"
"Big brother! You're so cool!"
"Aw, I just did what anyone would do..."
Starting with Wi Ji-pung and the other members of the Black Dragon Hall.
"What were you thinking, doing something so dangerous?!"
"Kekeke, leave him be, brother. From the looks of it, he handled it our way. Very satisfyingly."
"Yes, thanks to him, the White Dragon Sword's pride was shattered, wasn't it? I heard he'll have to live with a twisted face for the rest of his life. Puhahaha!"
"Honestly! Is that the problem right now?! Our Ga-ga could have gotten hurt!"
The Jeok brothers—Il, Yi, and Sam—who were showing a strange liking for me, and Jeok Hwa-ran, who was spouting strange words.
"Can we talk later?"
"Come see me tomorrow. Today, let's just drink."
Yong Ma-san, who looked somewhat lonely, and the members of the Beggars' Union, who were eating and drinking without a care in the world.
"We respect you, Master!"
"We respect you—!"
And then the seven hundred students.
After making the rounds for a long time, I was finally able to sit at the table where Bukgung Baek, the former members of the Seventeenth Squad, and Cheong So-so were gathered.
And I soon witnessed an amusing sight.
"Here, try some of this kung pao chicken. I made it myself."
"Mm... Thank you, but you don't need to look after me like this..."
"Oh? What do you mean? You're Squad Leader Jin's master, so of course I should. We're not strangers, after all."
"I-I see."
"If you have some food, I will pour you a drink."
"I-I can do that myself..."
It was the sight of Master Bukgung, the very picture of awkwardness.
"Pfft."
To think that man, the Fiery Demon King of Nine Dragons Fortress and ranked number one on the list of most dangerous individuals, would be so flustered.
I covered my mouth to laugh, but then I felt a sudden killing intent and quickly clamped my mouth shut.
"Hup."
Bukgung Baek asked in an intrigued voice.
"It seems you've improved a lot. To notice my presence so quickly."
"Yes, well... I've improved a bit."
"So it seems."
It was a simple exchange, but those sitting nearby stared at us with surprised eyes.
It was only natural.
Bukgung Baek was a warrior who never spoke empty words.
If he said I'd improved, it meant I had truly gotten stronger.
I did gain something from the fights in prison.
"Hehehe, when you see, you'll be so surprised you'll be shouting about the new waves of the Yangtze River pushing the old."
It was a saying about the new waves of the Yangtze pushing the old, a statement filled with my determination to surely push Bukgung Baek into retirement.
"We'll see about that later."
"..."
I felt like I had just invited trouble, but I wasn't too worried.
'I should probably avoid him for a while.'
I can just not go.
The holidays are coming up, but what can you do?
I'll just write a letter with the excuse that I'm busy making a living. And send some allowance money.
As I was nodding to myself, I noticed Cheong-a sitting on Cheong So-so's shoulder.
When our eyes met, Cheong-a chirped clearly.
*Chirp, chirp. Chrrr-!*
At first, I didn't understand why she kept it, but seeing it often, I now found it quite cute.
It's not just because it brings in money.
Really.
"Oh my? It's been a month, but Cheong-a still recognizes your face, Squad Leader."
"I guess it liked me that much..."
"That's not it. It's because our Cheong-a is a genius! Aww, so pretty."
*Mwah, mwah.*
*Chirp, chirp.*
Still, kissing a cricket is crossing the line.
"Here."
After finishing her kisses, Cheong So-so held out a small pill.
"What's this?"
"It's a pill to restore your energy. I made it with pretty good medicinal herbs, so it should be effective. You haven't been able to eat properly for a while, right?"
"You're the best, So-so. I'll take it."
"...W-whatever. Take it or leave it."
So shy.
"By the way, how was it inside?"
"That's right. How was it? If we'd known you were going to the Dragon's Maw, we could have given you some advice."
"It was... fine..."
Yang Gang and Ha Jin-hyeong suddenly asked about my time in prison.
They probably wanted to show off their seniority as ex-convicts.
"Where? You mean the Shadow Cavern?"
"Gasp! H-how did you know...?"
"I heard everything. I met everyone from the First Lord to the Fifth Lord. Heard all about you guys, too. Hey, for former members of the Green Dragon Hall, what's with that ranking? Even without your internal energy, come on."
"Hah!"
The three of them were startled when I mentioned the hierarchy of the Shadow Cavern.
Finding their reaction amusing, everyone focused their attention on us.
"Phuhu. You'll all be shocked when you hear what happened inside. I mean, I brought peace to that hellhole, the Dragon's Maw, didn't I?"
"Wow."
"That's amazing."
As everyone was expressing their admiration, Bukgung Baek asked in an interested tone.
"I'd like to hear it. Go on, tell us."
"Since my master wishes to hear it, it is only proper that I explain."
I began to explain what had happened inside.
Of course, I excluded the part about the legacy of the Flying Heavenly Tiger.
That was an issue I needed to discuss separately with Master Bukgung.
"...and so, after sending seventy men to the next world and crippling eighty others, I restored peace to the Dragon's Maw. Phew, thinking back on it now, it was quite an eventful time."
And so I told the whole story, from beginning to end, of how I brought peace to the underground prison.
"..."
I witnessed a silence descend upon the table.
"Huh? What's wrong, everyone?"
When I asked, confused by the situation, everyone started to leave, beginning with Cheong So-so.
"Oh my! I forgot to turn off the fire under the medicine pot!"
"Damn! I was supposed to grab the training materials for tomorrow!"
"I have some documents..."
"H-hey! Where are you going?!"
Thanks to them, the only people left at the table were Master Bukgung and Myo Hyang.
She struggled to speak.
"I-I believe that you won't fall into the path of evil, Squad Leader. I-I really do."
Meanwhile, in contrast to Myo Hyang's reaction, Bukgung Baek nodded with a satisfied smile.
"It's true that you must deal with things decisively to prevent future trouble. I'm proud of you."
"No."
That makes me feel even worse.