Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: I Have to Listen
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Byeok Taesan stood at his room's window, looking outside.
It was a pitch-black, moonless night, but to Byeok Taesan's eyes, it was as bright as day.
As Byeok Taesan looked out, his eyes glinted.
"It seems they're about to start."
He could feel furtive movements throughout the manor.
Hwaok, who had been standing quietly behind Byeok Taesan, approached, her eyes sparkling.
"It seems they really were looking for something in the Golden Wall Manor."
It was one of the possibilities they had anticipated.
Hwaok and the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had analyzed various reasons why the Golden Moon Trading Company would want to form such a relationship with the Golden Wall Trading Company.
The idea that the Golden Wall Manor held something they wanted was one of those possibilities.
And now, judging by their actions, it seemed that was indeed the case.
Hwaok asked cautiously.
"What should we do? Their skills are considerable, so it won't be easy for just anyone to trail them secretly."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion added a word.
"I have instructed those on guard to be especially careful."
Byeok Taesan looked at Hwaok and asked.
"How many of them can avoid being detected?"
"About three."
If she counted the entire Secret Heaven Group, there would be far more, but among those currently available within the Golden Wall Manor, three was the limit.
And even then, one of them was a bit of a risk.
Byeok Taesan didn't answer, simply gazing out the window.
Then, he suddenly had a strange premonition.
"How many people can move out right now?"
"Thirty."
"Send them all toward the Manor Lord's office."
"Pardon?"
"There's no need to hide. Tell them to keep an eye on the area, training and resting in suitable spots to pass the time."
Hwaok looked puzzled.
But Byeok Taesan's orders were absolute. She bowed her head and replied.
"Yes. I'll see to it at once."
As Hwaok was about to leave, Byeok Taesan added one more thing.
"We'll be using them as guards for a while, so let my brother know in advance."
* * *
Gwan Huseung frowned at his subordinates.
Today was the fourth day. Yet, they had achieved nothing.
"Are you sure you've checked thoroughly?"
At Gwan Huseung's question, one of his subordinates stepped forward and answered.
"We've searched everywhere, but we couldn't find any place with mechanisms installed."
"Have you searched the entire Golden Wall Manor?"
"There are two places we haven't been able to check."
"Two places?"
Gwan Huseung's expression twisted even more.
They had gone out every night for four long days to search the manor, and it was absurd that there were still places they hadn't checked. Not just one, but two.
But for him to say that, there must have been a reason.
"There are too many guards near the Manor Lord's office. And they're all highly skilled. It's difficult to approach carelessly."
Gwan Huseung tilted his head.
"That's strange. The Golden Wall Manor has masters of that caliber?"
"It's not just one or two. From what we've found, they don't seem to belong to the Golden Wall Trading Company. They appear to have been brought in temporarily from outside."
"Looks like the Manor Lord went to some trouble this time. So, where's the other place?"
"It's the residence of the Golden Wall Trading Company's second young master."
"The second young master? Byeok Taesan?"
"Yes, that's right. There are many masters there as well."
Gwan Huseung scowled.
"Why does this shoddy trading company have so many masters?"
"Hasn't Byeok Taesan been steadily recruiting people? Like the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric."
"Were those two that skilled?"
"It's not just them; there's someone else. Just getting near makes my skin tingle."
Gwan Huseung's expression turned grave.
He turned his head and looked at Jang Jungsan, who had been watching from nearby.
"Pavilion Master Jang, are you sure this is the place?"
"The probability is over ninety percent. But my personal intuition says it's certain."
Gwan Huseung nodded at his words.
He had experienced many times just how incredible Jang Jungsan's intuition was. So he was probably right this time as well.
"It seems doing this secretly is off the table."
Jang Jungsan nodded at Gwan Huseung's words.
"I think so too. Well... a new variable has appeared."
"A variable? What happened?"
"Those bastards from the Cheongmu Faction are here."
Gwan Huseung's face contorted.
"Those bastards broke their promise? How many of them came?"
"Quite a few. And they're not the type to sneak around looking for things like us; they're fighters."
"Hah. They're determined. Those crazy bastards. Even though they know full well how many organizations are involved in Wuhan right now."
"Aren't they getting impatient? If we claim this one, we'll have found two, while the Cheongmu Faction still has none."
"Well... then isn't it better to hurry? If we finish this quickly, they'll be left with nothing."
Jang Jungsan nodded.
"That's why I plan to meet them tomorrow. Well... now that we're here, we have no choice but to pay a suitable price."
"It won't be cheap..."
"We'll have to bear it. But won't the reward be much greater?"
Jang Jungsan said, his eyes gleaming.
"But now that I'm here, I'm a bit surprised. The Golden Wall Trading Company is no ordinary group. That man, Byeok Taesu, is quite capable."
"So, are you planning to recruit him?"
"It's not impossible. If we play our cards right, we could have a very useful blade hidden away, couldn't we?"
Gwan Huseung shook his head as if it were a headache.
"You handle that yourself. I'll just do what I'm told."
Jang Jungsan smiled faintly.
"Then get some rest. You might need your strength tomorrow. If they don't listen, we'll have to show them just how formidable we are, won't we?"
Gwan Huseung stood up and chuckled.
"Let's do that. Well, I just do as I'm told."
* * *
The next day, visitors came to the Golden Wall Manor.
The general manager couldn't hide his bewilderment as he greeted the unexpected guests.
"Where did you say you were from?"
A young man stepped forward in response to the general manager's question.
"We're from the Golden Moon Trading Company."
While the general manager was trying to figure out what to say, the young man spoke first.
"We're the real ones. I'm the one who provided the Golden Wall Trading Company with its new business partners."
The general manager, clueless as to what was happening, couldn't hide his troubled expression.
The man spoke again.
"I heard some people from our company arrived a few days ago. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
The man smiled faintly. But there was something chilling about his smile.
"They are impostors trying to steal my credit."
"What? But..."
"Ah, of course you wouldn't know. This is an internal matter of the Golden Moon Trading Company. In any case... don't I have the right to say a word or two to the Manor Lord here?"
"P-please, come inside. And please wait a moment in the reception room. I will deliver the message and bring back a reply."
The general manager first led them into the Golden Wall Manor, then rushed to Byeok Taesan.
He had been told to report any issues related to the Golden Moon Trading Company to Byeok Taesan and let him handle it.
'We were supposed to arrange a meeting today, but I have no idea what's going on.'
The general manager quickened his pace.
* * *
Jang Jungsan glared at the young man sitting before him with a deeply unpleasant expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Did you really think I would just stand by and watch?"
The young man, Ja Deukcheol's, lips twisted.
"Surely you didn't think I would try to start something by force?"
Jang Jungsan let out a dry laugh and composed his expression. Then, as if he had never frowned, he smiled brightly and said.
"How could I? Who would dare think that of the Young Master of the Cheongmu Faction? A man renowned for his brilliance."
"Haha. No matter how hard I try, I could never match the Pavilion Master of Bowol. A man whose fame preceded my birth."
Jang Jungsan smiled faintly and nodded.
"But didn't you bring too many warriors this time?"
"Do you think I wanted to? I know bringing too many warriors could lead to misunderstandings. But what can I do? They insisted on coming, saying they were worried about me."
"It seems you don't have a firm grip on your subordinates. While it's good to be informal, it can be dangerous if you don't establish a clear chain of command."
Ja Deukcheol chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
"Hey, that's going too far. I'm decisive when I need to be. If I told them to die, they'd all at least pretend to. Ah, maybe a few would actually die?"
As the two were exchanging such sharp words, the door opened and the Golden Wall Manor's general manager entered.
The general manager bowed respectfully to them.
"Thank you for waiting. The Manor Lord and the Second Young Master have arrived."
The two men watched with sharp, glinting eyes as two figures entered the room.
Byeok Taesu and Byeok Taesan were slowly walking into the room.
And behind them, Hwaok followed.
Seeing Hwaok, both men's eyes widened.
Jang Jungsan looked at Hwaok and said.
"I thought only the two of you would come. I didn't expect such a beautiful young lady to accompany you."
Ja Deukcheol quickly interjected.
"I approve. Wouldn't the atmosphere be too drab with only us grubby men talking?"
Jang Jungsan looked at Ja Deukcheol with an expression of disbelief.
Ja Deukcheol didn't even glance at Jang Jungsan, his eyes fixed on Hwaok.
Seeing the lust filling his eyes, Jang Jungsan curled his lip into a sneer.
Then he looked at Byeok Taesu with renewed interest.
'He certainly is... a formidable talent.'
After Byeok Taesu and Byeok Taesan took their seats, a brief silence hung in the air.
Ja Deukcheol was the first to speak.
"I'm a martial artist. I don't like to bother with things other than training. So let's make this quick."
Byeok Taesu stared at Ja Deukcheol and asked.
"My thoughts exactly. So, what do you want?"
Just as Ja Deukcheol grinned and was about to speak, Jang Jungsan cut in.
"We are looking for a wall made of gold."
Ja Deukcheol scowled fiercely at Jang Jungsan. But only for a moment, before he quickly turned to Byeok Taesu and said what he needed to.
"The name Golden Wall Trading Company, doesn't it originate from that?"
Inwardly, Byeok Taesu was extremely flustered. But he managed his expression perfectly, not letting it change in the slightest.
Byeok Taesan, however, was different. He looked back and forth between Jang Jungsan and Ja Deukcheol with intrigued eyes.
Knowing about the Golden Wall meant these guys were connected to the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
But if a group like the Golden Moon Trading Company belonged to the Heavenly Demonic Cult, there was no way Byeok Taesan, the Heavenly Demon, wouldn't know.
'But this is something I know nothing about. Come to think of it, I didn't know about the Golden Wall either.'
That point piqued Byeok Taesan's curiosity. He became genuinely curious about their identities.
"Oho. It seems I'll have an easier time talking with the second young master here than the Manor Lord. Judging by your expression, you seem to know something, don't you?"
Ja Deukcheol grinned and looked at Byeok Taesan.
As Byeok Taesan stared silently at Ja Deukcheol, Byeok Taesu quickly stepped in.
"Why are you looking for it?"
"It's extremely important to us."
Jang Jungsan looked at Byeok Taesu with a deepened gaze.
"I want to make a good deal. Sell the Golden Wall to me. Not only will I give you a good price, but I'll also give you the opportunity to work with the Golden Moon Trading Company on various matters in the future."
Then Ja Deukcheol stepped forward.
"Sell it to me. That will be far more profitable for you."
Byeok Taesu looked troubled by their words.
"Unfortunately, the Golden Wall no longer exists."
Both men's expressions hardened. Ja Deukcheol's in particular.
"I don't have much time or patience. So you'd better think carefully."
Despite hearing what was essentially a threat, Byeok Taesu's gaze didn't waver.
"The power of the Golden Moon Trading Company is fearsome, but I can't say something exists when it doesn't. It's truly gone. Well... it seems to have existed a very long time ago."
The two men looked at Byeok Taesu in disbelief.
"Our Golden Wall Trading Company has a rather long history, and it hasn't always been prosperous. There were difficult times, and I heard we survived by breaking apart the Golden Wall and selling it off."
"That can't be. Surely... there were people who would have helped prevent that from happening?"
At Ja Deukcheol's words, Byeok Taesu looked puzzled.
"This is the first I'm hearing of it."
He had truly never heard such a story. He had only heard about the Golden Wall and the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
Of course, he had no intention of mentioning that here.
Ja Deukcheol gritted his teeth.
"Do you think I'd believe that? And if you really did destroy the Golden Wall, you will pay the price."
Byeok Taesan, who had been listening quietly until then, spoke up.
"I have a question. Do you happen to know who these helpers are, the ones who show up when things get difficult?"
Ja Deukcheol stared at Byeok Taesan with incredulous eyes.
"And what would you do if I did?"
Hearing this, Byeok Taesan grinned.
"I have to listen."