Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Is It Over Now?
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< Is It Over Now? >
The general manager watched Byeok Taesan with a tense expression.
For some time now, he had found Byeok Taesan difficult to face. It felt like he was dealing with someone of a much higher station.
*‘Well, come to think of it, he is my superior…’*
Byeok Taesan was the master’s younger brother. So, strictly speaking, he was indeed a superior to the general manager of the Golden Jade Villa.
Of course, he had never thought of it that way before, which was why he had always felt at ease.
In reality, Byeok Taesan had always kept his distance from the Golden Jade Trading Company’s affairs, so the manager hadn't paid him much mind.
But at some point, that had changed.
*‘Let’s see… was it around the time he started visiting the courtesan houses?’*
He thought so. Things had started to feel a bit strange back then.
And he had felt it with absolute certainty when the Divine Doctor of the Ages had come to visit.
In any case, sitting across from this Byeok Taesan, his muscles were stiff with tension, making him incredibly uncomfortable.
"Explain in detail."
At Byeok Taesan's words, the general manager quickly replied.
"Recently, there have been some changes with our Golden Jade Trading Company's clients."
The general manager explained in detail what the Golden Moon Trading Company was doing to the Golden Jade Trading Company, who was involved, and how the Golden Jade Trading Company had defended itself.
Byeok Taesan had already heard everything from Hwaok earlier, so he simply nodded a few times and listened quietly as the general manager spoke.
When the explanation was finished, the general manager cautiously added the conclusion he and the master, Byeok Taesu, had reached.
"So… we believe the Golden Moon Trading Company wants something."
"That would make sense."
"The master said he would go and find out what it is himself."
"Where are those bastards now?"
"The Golden Moon Trading Company's headquarters is in Changsha, Hunan."
"So he's going all the way there?"
The distance from Wuhan to Changsha was neither near nor far. It was about a thousand li as the crow flies, and the waterways made for a convenient journey.
"That is the plan for now."
Byeok Taesan frowned.
"Tell them to come here."
"Pardon?"
"They're the ones who need something, aren't they? If they want something, tell them to come here and say it themselves."
"But..."
The general manager looked troubled.
The Golden Moon Trading Company was on a completely different level from the Golden Jade Trading Company.
It was regarded as the trading company closest to being the greatest under heaven.
How could they possibly send a notice to such a company, telling them to come visit if they had something to say?
"You coward. You're worse than Cheon Gyeongwan."
At Byeok Taesan's words, the general manager's eyes widened slightly. It seemed like a casual remark, yet it stung.
Byeok Taesan paid no mind to the manager's reaction and turned his head to look at Hwaok.
"You deliver the message."
Hwaok bowed respectfully.
"I will see to it at once."
The general manager was startled.
"No, Young Master. This will cause trouble."
"For whom? Me?"
"Ah, no. Won't it cause trouble for the master?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Pardon?"
The manager looked back and forth between Byeok Taesan and Hwaok in shock.
It was Byeok Taesu who would be in trouble, so why was Byeok Taesan the one deciding whether it was fine or not?
"I'm telling you, they'll be pleased."
"But..."
Byeok Taesan waved his hand, cutting the general manager off.
"Just go and report it as such. Can you do that?"
The general manager fell silent, staring at Byeok Taesan with bewildered eyes.
Of course, he could. All he had to do was go and say, 'this is what happened.'
But how could he possibly deliver such a message?
"It's already too late."
"Pardon?"
The general manager didn't understand what he meant by 'too late' and looked at Byeok Taesan.
The answer came from Hwaok.
"I have already sent someone."
"What? But when did you send them?"
"I just sent a signal outside. The messenger has likely left Wuhan by now."
He couldn't understand what on earth was happening.
The general manager was too stunned to think straight, staring blankly at Byeok Taesan and Hwaok.
A slight smile touched the corners of Byeok Taesan's lips.
"I'm looking forward to this. I wonder what it is they truly want."
Hwaok lowered her head slightly.
She, too, was looking forward to it.
Only the general manager, unable to comprehend the two of them, clutched his head in his hands.
***
"Is that what he said?"
"Yes. Master, shouldn't you go and stop him yourself?"
At the general manager's worried words, Byeok Taesu smiled brightly.
"It's fine. My brother will take care of everything. I can finally rest easy."
"Master..."
The general manager simply could not understand Byeok Taesu's reaction.
It was true that Byeok Taesan had changed a great deal recently. It was also true that an unbelievable number of extraordinary people had flocked to his side.
But no matter how much he had changed, every person has their limits.
Their opponent was the Golden Moon Trading Company.
The very same Golden Moon Trading Company that had three martial arts sects under its command.
Moreover, the sects they controlled were no mere riffraff.
Using the power of those sects, the Golden Moon Trading Company had trained a large number of its own warriors, and their skill level was immense.
The general manager looked at Byeok Taesu with renewed eyes.
To show such composure when facing the Golden Moon Trading Company was truly remarkable.
*'Then again… this is the true nature of our master.'*
Never losing his composure or getting agitated, no matter the situation—that was Byeok Taesu's greatest strength, and his most fearsome quality.
Having collected his thoughts, the general manager asked calmly.
"Then, what preparations should we make?"
"Just carry on as usual. I will meet with the guests from the Golden Moon Trading Company, so I will make the necessary preparations. I should at least try to guess what they might want."
"I will offer my thoughts as well."
Byeok Taesu shook his head.
"You should focus on managing the villa and the company as you always do. That is the best way to help me."
The general manager bowed respectfully.
"You are right, Master. I will do as you say."
After discussing a few company matters, the general manager bowed politely and departed.
Once the general manager had left, Byeok Taesu pressed his eyes and fell deep in thought.
The image of Byeok Taesan shattering the golden wall and declaring himself the Heavenly Demon was still vivid in his mind.
Lately, it was the first thing that came to mind whenever he closed his eyes to sleep.
Byeok Jehyeok was likely the same.
It had been that shocking of a moment.
*'With the great Heavenly Demon on our side, what is there to fear?'*
The state of the martial world had been uneasy lately.
Signs of conflict were appearing everywhere, and every sect and alliance was moving actively.
Furthermore, though it had not yet come to light, there was a strange undercurrent flowing.
It was very clear when all these things had begun.
It was from the very moment the Heavenly Demonic Cult was sealed away by the formation.
When the Heavenly Demonic Cult was intact, the world could not help but be quiet.
If conflict arose and the world was shaken, no one could stand against the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
The Heavenly Demonic Cult was everyone's enemy, but it was also a presence that maintained peace.
And at the pinnacle of that cult was the Heavenly Demon.
The legendary tales about the Heavenly Demon were too numerous to count, needing no mention.
In a word, he was a heaven beyond heavens.
With such a being by their side, what could possibly be frightening?
"Still… I am curious."
About what happened to the Heavenly Demonic Cult, and what happened to the Heavenly Demon himself.
How did Byeok Taesan and the Heavenly Demon become one?
Byeok Taesu spent a long time pondering these questions as night fell.
Of course, it was a night where both his expression and his heart were remarkably at ease.
***
Night fell.
Hwaok and the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had remained with Byeok Taesan until then.
They had discussed all that needed to be discussed and reported all that needed to be reported.
In truth, from this point on, they needed to see how the Golden Moon Trading Company would react before deciding on their future course of action.
Therefore, it was a time when training was far more important than discussion.
Both the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and Hwaok knew this well.
Yet, even though their business was concluded, the two women lingered, reluctant to leave.
Byeok Taesan looked at them with an impassive gaze.
"What are you doing?"
His meaning was clear: if they were done talking, they should leave.
At this clear dismissal, Hwaok glanced at the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. She would leave after the Master did.
The only reason Hwaok had stayed behind was because of the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
But the Master showed no intention of getting up.
As Byeok Taesan turned his questioning gaze to the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, she looked back at him, cautiously, but with all the allure she could muster.
"Young Master, by any chance… are you sleeping alone tonight?"
Hwaok looked back and forth between the Master and Byeok Taesan, her eyes filled with tension.
If it were up to her, she would have roared for the woman to get out immediately. But the decision was Byeok Taesan's alone to make.
She could not interfere and try to sway his decision.
Hwaok watched Byeok Taesan with a wavering gaze.
Before Byeok Taesan could answer, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion quickly added.
"I wish to attend to you tonight, Young Master. Would you grant me permission?"
Hwaok's eyes went wide as saucers. She looked back and forth between Byeok Taesan and the Master, her expression one of utter distress.
If Byeok Taesan were to agree, she knew she would truly regret it.
She would regret not having said something first.
The Master's gaze grew even more seductive. She looked at Byeok Taesan, her allure now laced with desperation.
She was confident that no man could refuse such a gaze.
Hwaok, watching from the side, thought so too.
Ever since her soul had been drawn out by Byeok Taesan, the Master's beauty had blossomed.
And she knew all too well how to make her beauty stand out even more.
She poured all of that into her bid to win a night with Byeok Taesan.
The last time, her memories were too faint. It had been good, that much was certain, but the lack of clear memory was frustrating.
So this time, she was determined to commit everything to memory.
Byeok Taesan stared at her for a long moment before slowly opening his mouth.
Just as he was about to speak, the door burst open.
"The Young Master is not sleeping alone tonight, you know!"
The person who opened the door was Yeon Harin.
Her face was flushed red, and she was panting heavily.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and Hwaok looked at Yeon Harin calmly.
Their expressions did not falter in the slightest. The two of them had been through far too much to be flustered by such a minor interruption.
Feeling their gazes upon her, Yeon Harin timidly looked away.
She had burst in because of the strange turn of events, but now that she had done it, she felt incredibly embarrassed.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion spoke serenely.
"It seems you have a prior engagement with the Young Master tonight."
At those words, Yeon Harin's head snapped around to look at the Master. Then, she slowly shifted her gaze to Byeok Taesan.
Yeon Harin's eyes were also filled with longing.
Seeing this, Byeok Taesan nodded.
"Yes, I did ask you to come see me at night."
Though it had been a few days ago, not tonight.
Yeon Harin's face lit up.
And seeing her, gentle smiles formed on the lips of the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and Hwaok.
"It seems we have taken up too much of your time so late into the night. We will take our leave now. Please, have a good night."
As the two women departed in an instant, it was Yeon Harin who was left bewildered.
Byeok Taesan chuckled at her expression.
"Are you going to keep standing there?"
"No. I'm coming in."
Yeon Harin quickly entered the room and hesitantly approached Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan gestured with his chin toward the adjacent bedroom.
"Follow me."
Yeon Harin swallowed dryly and followed Byeok Taesan into the bedroom.
*'I have to stay sharp today. I'm definitely not falling asleep.'*
With a determined expression, Yeon Harin cautiously climbed onto the bed.
Seeing this, Byeok Taesan grinned.
The night deepened.
***
Yeon Harin, her face flushed, peeked out from under the covers, her eyes fixed on Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan was sitting on the edge of the bed, his shirt off.
A passionate storm had just passed.
"Young Master, is it over now?"
Yeon Harin asked cautiously.
Byeok Taesan slowly turned his head to look at her.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well… it's just a little different from what I heard."
Byeok Taesan's expression hardened slightly.
It was obvious who she had heard it from and what she had heard. After all, he had been making his rounds at the courtesan houses.
"I heard that it's so ecstatic you lose your mind all night long… Ah! Is it because this is my first time?"
Byeok Taesan cracked his neck, tilting his head from side to side.
"Hah… well then."
Then, he pushed himself up, glaring down at Yeon Harin.
"Prepare yourself."
< Is It Over Now? > End