Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Wang Ji-kyeong's Shocking Proposal
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Piiik! Piiik!
A horn blared from beyond the woods. At the sound, the masked assailants abandoned their attack and fled into the forest.
Thud!
“Argh!”
Cheol Mu-ok gave chase.
Moments later, one of the masked men’s upper body separated from his lower half and fell to the ground.
“Enough. That’s far enough.”
At Yi Hwan’s command, Cheol Mu-ok returned.
The site of the fierce battle resembled nothing less than hell itself. Not a single corpse remained intact. Even the hardened guards, who had lived by the blade, averted their eyes.
Yi Hwan gave a quiet order.
“Tend to the wounded first.”
Two guards lay dead, and two more gravely injured.
Wang Ji-kyeong’s eyes trembled at the gruesome scene. This was the second such incident in just a few days. Though his life had been spared both times, the bone-deep terror would linger for a while.
Shoooo!
The rain poured relentlessly.
Yi Hwan turned to Wang Ji-kyeong.
“What say you? Shall we wait out the rain at that manor, or head back to the city?”
“Back to the city.”
Wang Ji-kyeong finally stepped out into the storm.
* * *
Wang Ji-kyeong eventually returned to the city.
Unexpectedly, the inn he entered was operated by the Song family.
Wang Ji-kyeong rented out the entire top floor.
It cost a fortune, but that posed no issue for him.
Wang Ji-kyeong shared a table with Yi Hwan, drinking.
Still shaken by the fear, he asked Yi Hwan not to stray far from his side.
Meanwhile, the guards’ gazes toward Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok had changed dramatically.
They regarded Cheol Mu-ok, who had displayed such terrifying prowess, with outright awe.
Thud!
Wang Ji-kyeong slammed the table in frustration.
“Yellow Dragon Merchant Group! What the hell am I supposed to do about those damn dogs!”
Pour.
Yi Hwan silently refilled his empty cup.
“Why me of all people?! Why?!”
Wang Ji-kyeong couldn’t quell his rage.
“Aren’t there just two choices? Fight or submit.”
Yi Hwan drained his cup and continued.
“To fight, you’d need the Crown Prince’s Palace backing you. Submission’s easy enough—just hand over everything you’ve built to the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group and grovel.”
“Hmph! Submit? In your dreams!”
Gulp, gulp!
Wang Ji-kyeong downed the bottle straight.
Yi Hwan spoke casually.
“Then perhaps you should go beg the Song family right now? From what I see, that’s the only way to get a connection to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Of course. I’ll make a connection to the Crown Prince’s Palace, come hell or high water.”
“There’s something more pressing to handle first.”
“What’s that?”
Yi Hwan drained another cup and spoke calmly.
“You’ll need to bolster your guard. We’ve had two ambushes in just a few days. The next one could be on a whole different level. If Mount Sang Blood Blade himself shows up, your current protection won’t guarantee your safety.”
“……!”
Wang Ji-kyeong’s face, flushed with anger, hardened.
“Why didn’t you capture Mount Sang Blood Blade?”
“I tried, but the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group got to him first. They threw massive sums of silver and even threw in some women. If I’d known he loved women more than food, I’d have nabbed him myself.”
Regretful?
A faint twitch crossed Wang Ji-kyeong’s face. He drank like water and continued.
“Understood. I’ll hire stronger guards, even if it costs me a fortune.”
‘Of course you will.’
Smirking inwardly, Yi Hwan sent a transmission to Cheol Mu-ok.
[Select three from your lineage.]
[Understood.]
Yi Hwan turned to Wang Ji-kyeong.
“You should rest today.”
“Stay in the room next to mine, without fail.”
“Very well.”
* * *
Wang Ji-kyeong and Yi Hwan headed upstairs to their rooms.
Cheol Mu-ok and the guards stayed below, drinking. One guard spoke up.
“Thanks. We survived because of you.”
“Truly grateful.”
The men who had eyed Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok with disdain just that morning now bowed their heads.
Cheol Mu-ok set down his cup and scanned them all.
“Do you want to keep this job?”
“What choice do we have? We need the pay to eat, and nowhere else pays this well. Most places don’t even like hiring martial artists.”
“Exactly! I feel the same.”
“Me too.”
The mood grew heavier.
Seeing these brash men deflated in an instant stirred pity in Cheol Mu-ok.
“You’re all from the unorthodox sects, right?”
“Honestly, what’s the difference between orthodox and unorthodox? We call ourselves martial artists, but the jianghu’s as good as gone.”
“Who in the world has the right to define orthodox or unorthodox? We all live by the blade, spilling blood the same as anyone.”
“Those who side with the powers-that-be are orthodox; the rest are unorthodox. Big deal, damn it.”
Their words carried the weight of hard-lived experience.
Cheol Mu-ok silently drained his cup.
Thud!
“Want the best way to survive this job without dying?”
“Tell us!”
“How?”
Cheol Mu-ok pointed upstairs.
“Listen to my brother. That’s all it takes.”
“We thought you were the stronger one.”
Pfft.
“Not even close.”
“Really?”
“Whoa!”
Cheol Mu-ok lifted his cup, wondering to himself.
‘Is my lord truly stronger than me?’
* * *
The downpour lasted into the night.
Floods erupted across the city from the freak storm before the monsoon season.
Shoooo!
Yi Hwan stood by the window, watching the rain. How much time passed?
He quietly opened the window. A figure slipped inside.
It was Go Mi.
[I’ve investigated as instructed.]
“Speak normally.”
Go Mi continued aloud.
“We tracked the men at the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group branch today. They headed to the site of the fight. Mount Sang Blood Blade did not join them.”
‘Just as I thought, their doing.’
Go Mi asked.
“Are you alright?”
“As you see, fine. How’s the Crown Prince?”
“He seems much recovered. He was very curious about your whereabouts, Great Prince.”
“We’ll meet soon enough.”
Yi Hwan issued the next order.
“Go to my sister. Tell her Lord Wang is here, and to drop by tomorrow pretending it’s a coincidence. Relay that I’ll handle the rest.”
“Understood.”
“And about that earlier request—no need for separate lodgings.”
He meant housing for the Blade King’s lineage.
“Have you found a suitable place?”
“A few will stay here with me; the rest at my sister’s. It’ll ease my mind having them near her.”
“We were worried about lodging, so this is fortunate. Any further orders?”
“From now on, investigate the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group’s control over tea trade routes and markets. How they stole the Song family’s routes, trade volumes, how funds flow to the Fourth Imperial Prince—gather everything you can.”
“Understood.”
Go Mi bowed and turned.
“Dry off before you go?”
“I’m fine.”
Go Mi vanished into the darkness through the window. Yi Hwan watched her go, chuckling softly.
‘Good to see she hasn’t changed.’
* * *
Yellow Dragon Merchant Group branch.
Mount Sang Blood Blade’s face grew icy as he received the report from his subordinate.
“We couldn’t handle them. Their power was one thing, but their brutality broke our men’s will in the first exchange—most lost the fight before it began.”
“And the other one?”
“He never left Wang Ji-kyeong’s side. One of ours tried exploiting a gap to attack Wang, only to die horribly by his hand. As you said, he seems to be their leader.”
Mount Sang Blood Blade sank deep into his chair, eyes flashing.
“At least as strong as the Black-and-White Twin Swords. No wonder they acted so cocky.”
“Even more brutal than them.”
“Enough about their brutality. Dead is dead, whether clean or gruesome.”
“……Yes.”
“Where’d Wang Ji-kyeong find such men? I thought we’d scooped up all the good ones beforehand.”
“Shall we interrogate the Spring Guest Inn’s owner?”
“What? Don’t touch them. If anything happens to the Spring Guest Inn, our manpower dries up.”
“Ah! I hadn’t considered that.”
“Get out.”
“Rest well, then.”
Once the subordinate left, Mount Sang Blood Blade thought of Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok, his gaze darkening further.
‘Felt off about them, and sure enough, they’re no small fry.’
Crack!
His interlocked fingers popped.
He bared his teeth in a white grin.
‘The Yellow Dragon Merchant Group’s been running too smoothly—getting boring. This’ll be fun from now on. Heh heh heh.’
* * *
The next day.
Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho visited the inn, escorted by Song Cheon-mu and a few from the Blade King’s lineage.
Word reached Wang Ji-kyeong immediately.
Having just finished breakfast and sipping tea, he hurried downstairs.
Yi Yeong, who had been helping in the kitchen, stepped out upon hearing he was wanted.
Wang Ji-kyeong bowed his head.
“Fancy meeting you here again, Your Highness.”
“What brings you here, my lord?”
“Oh, the rain last night was too fierce, so I stayed over. But why is Your Highness personally working in the kitchen?”
“Can the owner just play? I have to pitch in. I hope your room was comfortable.”
“The rooms were top-notch. Thanks to that, I slept soundly for once. The liquor and food are excellent too—I’ll be back often.”
“Glad you approve. Well then.”
As Yi Yeong turned to leave, Wang Ji-kyeong called out.
“Could you spare a moment? I’d like to finish our discussion from yesterday.”
“I’m a bit busy now…….”
“Just a moment, Your Highness.”
Yi Yeong, who had furrowed her brow delicately, nodded.
“Alright, then.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. Let’s go to the quiet top floor.”
* * *
Yi Yeong and Wang Ji-kyeong sat across a table. Yi Hwan sat at a nearby one; Song Cheon-mu and the Blade King’s men behind Yi Yeong.
Yi Yeong struck first.
“I’ll say it again: if it’s about the Crown Prince’s Palace, I won’t hear it.”
Wang Ji-kyeong wasn’t one to back down. No, he had to sway her somehow.
Yi Hwan watched Wang Ji-kyeong, smirking inwardly.
‘Time to go big.’
Wang Ji-kyeong bit his lip and spoke.
“I’ll waive not just the interest, but the principal too. Plus, one million taels of silver for whatever venture Your Highness chooses—no strings attached. Repayment terms as you see fit.”
“……!”
Even the resolute Yi Yeong’s eyes wavered slightly. One million taels unconditionally, repayment on her terms, and forgiveness of the principal and interest on prior debts.
A staggering offer no one could ignore. Even Yi Hwan hadn’t anticipated this much.
‘Yesterday’s ambush hit hard. Heh heh heh.’
Yi Hwan watched Yi Yeong.
She asked.
“Why should I accept your terms, my lord?”
Refuse three times, accept on the fourth.
Yi Yeong was following Yi Hwan’s letter to the letter.
Wang Ji-kyeong said.
“I know well the hardships the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group has inflicted on you. Thus, I dare to propose.”
Wang Ji-kyeong took a breath and spoke with resolute tone.
“Make this lowly one your sword and shield, Your Highness. If we join forces, we can surely repel the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group’s tyranny!”
With firm resolve, fitting words and tone, and such generous terms, even Yi Yeong couldn’t refuse.
At least, that’s what Wang Ji-kyeong believed.
“I’ll need to think it over.”
“……!”