Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: If That Puts You at Ease
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The air grew heavy.
A faint wave of energy spread from Ja Deukcheol, then began to roil violently.
At this, Jang Jungsan, who was beside him, quickly intervened.
Jang Jungsan placed a hand on Ja Deukcheol's shoulder and squeezed hard.
The roiling energy subsided at once.
"Do not act rashly. If you were going to do this, why did you even attend?"
At Jang Jungsan's low, subdued words, Ja Deukcheol scowled and glared at him.
However, not wanting to fight Jang Jungsan here, he eventually just whipped his head away.
"You still insist on forsaking the immediate path for a long and winding one."
"But you know that, in the end, the path I choose has always been the fastest."
With those words, Jang Jungsan turned his gaze to Byeok Taesu.
"I apologize for needlessly souring the mood. I will repay you handsomely for this later, so I hope we can continue our discussion."
Byeok Taesu shook his head.
"It's quite alright. I also wish to conclude this conversation quickly. I trust you understand that this is not exactly a pleasant situation for me."
"Of course, I understand. I would have felt the same. From what I hear, it seems you truly know nothing... I just want to be a bit more certain of that."
As he spoke, Jang Jungsan quietly observed Byeok Taesu and Byeok Taesan.
He was actually quite surprised.
What Ja Deukcheol had just done was incredibly dangerous.
He had unleashed his energy and instantly brought it to a boil.
An ordinary person's heart might have stopped from that one move.
And yet, neither Byeok Taesu nor Byeok Taesan seemed affected at all.
'This means their martial arts are quite formidable...'
However, from Jang Jungsan's perspective, neither Byeok Taesan nor Byeok Taesu seemed particularly impressive.
Jang Jungsan considered himself a formidable master.
He fell far short of the Master of the High Heavens Gate, Gwan Huseung, who had accompanied him, but he was still stronger than most disciples of the High Heavens Gate.
He was especially confident that his eye for talent was second to none.
Yet, these men, whom he deemed unremarkable, had withstood Ja Deukcheol's technique without batting an eye. He couldn't help but be curious.
Byeok Taesu silently endured the focused gazes of Jang Jungsan and Ja Deukcheol before speaking.
"Are you perhaps aware that this situation is exceedingly rude?"
It was Ja Deukcheol who answered the question.
"Rudeness is when the weak defy the strong. This situation isn't rudeness; it's the exercise of a right."
Byeok Taesu looked at Ja Deukcheol steadily and asked.
"Are you saying the strong can treat the weak however they please?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Jang Jungsan once again gripped Ja Deukcheol's shoulder tightly.
This time, however, Ja Deukcheol shrugged, shaking off Jang Jungsan's hand.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Jang Jungsan glared at Ja Deukcheol.
Ja Deukcheol smirked and said.
"It's over now. My men have taken control of the Golden Jade Villa. It took a little longer than expected, so the guards here must have been quite skilled."
Jang Jungsan's expression hardened.
Seeing this, Ja Deukcheol smiled faintly.
"You should have prepared for this. I'll just take what I need and be on my way."
Ja Deukcheol rose from his seat and looked down at Byeok Taesu and Byeok Taesan.
"The two of you can just wait here for a moment. It won't take long."
Byeok Taesu spoke with a calm expression.
"Do you really think you can get away with this? Is this the will of the Golden Moon Trading Company?"
Ja Deukcheol looked puzzled.
"What's the problem? The ones who should fear the consequences aren't me, but the two of you. Wouldn't you agree?"
Ja Deukcheol opened the door to leave, adding one last comment.
"You'd better think carefully."
Once the door closed again, Byeok Taesu looked at Jang Jungsan.
Jang Jungsan was inwardly impressed to see Byeok Taesu's expression remain as placid as still water.
To remain unshaken in a situation like this, he was clearly a man of talent.
Just as Jang Jungsan was organizing his thoughts on what to say, Byeok Taesu spoke first.
"The current situation in Wuhan is rather complex."
Jang Jungsan stopped thinking and looked at Byeok Taesu.
"The Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, the Namgung Family, the Jegal Family, and even the Hubei Martial Alliance are all intricately entangled."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that they all have very deep ties with our Golden Jade Trading Company."
A glint appeared in Jang Jungsan's eyes.
"Don't tell me...!"
Byeok Taesu stated calmly.
"Your guess is likely correct. Did you think I wouldn't anticipate something like this? By now, the warriors they sent have likely arrived at the Golden Jade Villa."
Jang Jungsan shook his head slowly.
"They alone will probably not be enough to stop the Cheongmu Gang."
As he said this, Jang Jungsan looked at Byeok Taesu.
Staring at Byeok Taesu's still-unreadable expression, he felt a strange sense of frustration.
With things turning out this way, he was truly a difficult opponent to deal with.
Jang Jungsan's gaze shifted to Byeok Taesan, who was sitting quietly beside Byeok Taesu.
Then, as if he had been waiting, Byeok Taesan rose from his seat.
"Isn't this conversation about done?"
Jang Jungsan's eyebrow twitched.
'Insolent brat.'
Standing, Byeok Taesan looked down at Jang Jungsan.
Feeling an inexplicable pressure, Jang Jungsan let out a low groan and got to his feet.
"Hmph."
As Jang Jungsan stood, Byeok Taesu followed suit.
It was time to conclude the meeting.
"Safe travels. You should hurry if you wish to avoid getting entangled with the warriors from the Martial Alliance or the Black Alliance."
At Byeok Taesu's words, Jang Jungsan shook his head and left the room.
Once the two were alone, Byeok Taesu looked at Byeok Taesan and asked.
"I did as that young lady, Hwaok, instructed. Will this be enough?"
Byeok Taesan nodded.
"Well, it wasn't strictly necessary, but if that puts her at ease, I should play along."
Leaving those words behind, Byeok Taesan exited the room.
It was time for the real fun to begin.
* * *
Ja Deukcheol hurried toward the office of the Master of the Golden Jade Villa.
The situation was more difficult than he had anticipated.
He had come too recklessly. The urgency of the High Heavens Gate potentially acquiring the Golden Jade had played a large part in his haste.
But the water was already spilled. He could clean it up later. For now, he had to find the Golden Jade.
The office of the Villa Master was empty.
The master's personal guards were, after all, with the master himself right now.
Two members of the Cheongmu Gang stood guard outside the office, while a few more were inside.
"Have you found it?"
At Ja Deukcheol's urgent question, a guard quickly answered.
"There are mechanisms and traps installed."
"As expected. This was the right place. Have you dealt with them?"
"We've destroyed the core mechanism and are in the process of tearing up the floor."
He hadn't brought just anyone. Among them were two men with exceptional knowledge of mechanisms and traps.
Their purpose wasn't to disarm them, but to break them without damaging what was inside.
"Hurry up. They say the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance are on the move."
"Won't that cause problems for us later?"
"We can just deny it. You think this is the first time we've dealt with a problem like this?"
Neither the Martial Alliance nor the Black Alliance would waste significant resources on such a minor issue.
This could be resolved with a bit of appropriate greasing of palms.
Of course, a few people might have to be sacrificed, but such sacrifices could easily be bought with money.
Ja Deukcheol quickly entered.
He then jumped down into the gaping hole in the floor.
A moment later, upon reaching the place where the Golden Jade was supposed to be, Ja Deukcheol let out a roar.
"Aaaargh! You crazy bastards! You really tore out the Golden Jade and sold it!"
* * *
Warriors from the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance arrived at the Golden Jade Villa.
They were followed by warriors from the Jegal and Namgung families.
The Hubei Martial Alliance arrived last, but they had the most men.
They formed a perimeter around the outside of the Golden Jade Villa.
It wasn't a tight cordon, but it was enough to spot and pursue anyone who tried to leap over the wall.
A short while later, members of the Cheongmu Gang began to flee over the walls.
"There they are! After them!"
The Hubei Martial Alliance warriors rushed after them in a horde.
The warriors inside the Golden Jade Villa also began to give chase.
For a while, Wuhan was in an uproar over the incident.
* * *
Byeok Taesu offered a formal cupped fist salute to the five people before him.
"Thanks to you great heroes, we were able to remain safe. I am sincerely grateful."
"Don't mention it. We only did what was necessary."
It was indeed what was necessary. The Golden Jade Trading Company was closely intertwined with them.
The Martial Alliance and the Hubei Martial Alliance, in particular, had direct contracts with the company and were engaged in joint ventures.
The others were also connected to the Golden Jade Trading Company in various ways and were preparing to form deeper ties with Byeok Taesan once he established himself independently.
Thus, lending a hand to support the Golden Jade Villa with military force was a matter of course.
"By the way, I don't see your younger brother."
Jeok Gyeolmyeong, the representative from the Black Alliance, asked as he looked around.
"It seemed dangerous, so I sent him out of the estate for now."
At Byeok Taesu's words, everyone nodded.
Of course, they didn't truly believe him. They knew that Byeok Taesan was by no means an ordinary person.
Therefore, they couldn't take the claim that he had simply left the estate at face value.
"Well then, since things are mostly wrapped up here, I shall be on my way. I'll leave about ten men behind, just in case."
As Jin Sahong was the first to say so, the others quickly followed suit, saying they would also depart.
Since each group agreed to leave ten warriors, a total of fifty men would now be guarding the Golden Jade Villa.
Byeok Taesu watched the backs of the five busy figures as they left, then turned and walked toward his office.
Because his office had been destroyed, they had seen the aftermath.
Although there was nothing of note left, they had all guessed that it was a place where something important had been stored.
And they believed that the young master of the Cheongmu Gang had absconded with it.
How valuable must an item be to be kept in a place studded with so many luminous pearls?
What's more, the men from the Cheongmu Gang hadn't taken a single pearl.
This meant that the object inside was more valuable than all those luminous pearls combined.
Byeok Taesu hadn't even asked them to find the stolen item.
Didn't that mean whoever found it first got to keep it?
Right now, people searching for the young master of the Cheongmu Gang were turning Wuhan upside down.
* * *
Jang Jungsan left the Golden Jade Villa before the Martial Alliance warriors descended upon it.
He could have stayed and proclaimed his innocence, but he chose not to.
That would be too complicated.
If he were detained at the Golden Jade Villa, future negotiations would become more difficult. It would mean a lot more money would be involved.
Jang Jungsan, along with Gwan Huseung, left the villa and decided to get out of Wuhan for the time being.
"By the way... I wonder if the young master of the Cheongmu Gang managed to secure the Golden Jade properly."
Gwan Huseung, who was beside him, commented.
"I had two men follow him. If they haven't been discovered, they should confirm it and report back soon."
"Well done."
Jang Jungsan replied absently. He had a few things on his mind.
Ever since leaving the Golden Jade Villa, one person kept lingering in his thoughts.
It was none other than Byeok Taesan.
'Why did I just stand there and take it from that insolent brat?'
At the time, Byeok Taesan had spoken down to him so casually. Yet, even after hearing it, he hadn't reacted much. He had simply accepted it as if it were natural.
It wasn't just him; Ja Deukcheol had been the same.
Ja Deukcheol had probably accepted it just as naturally.
'Unless I was overwhelmed by his presence...'
But if he had been overwhelmed by someone's presence, he would have felt it immediately. It would have been a very uncomfortable pressure. He would have broken out in a cold sweat, and his chest might have felt tight.
But earlier, there had been none of that.
Everything had just felt so natural.
"Chief Jang. I think we need to hurry."
Gwan Huseung's words snapped Jang Jungsan back to his senses.
"Is something wrong?"
"The atmosphere doesn't feel right. It seems the experts in Wuhan have included us among their targets."
Jang Jungsan scoffed.
"They're all mediocre at best. Do you really think they can catch us?"
"There's no harm in being cautious."
"Fine, let's do that."
Before coming to Wuhan, they had thoroughly investigated the organizations that had established a presence here.
If Jang Jungsan's party put their minds to it, there was no way such paltry opponents could ever catch them.
They picked up their pace.
The plan was to leave Wuhan and take a boat from a nearby location.
'Ja Deukcheol is probably making a similar move, right?'
A sinister glint flashed in Jang Jungsan's eyes.
< If That Puts You at Ease > End