Almighty God of War - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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111

The Yeom Estate was in a festive mood, welcoming Guyang Cheongang who had returned from the Imperial Palace after a month.

“Young Master!”

The sight of Shangguan Wana running toward the main gate clearly revealed how much she had worried about him.

Her usual calm and elegant demeanor was nowhere to be seen, and teardrops glistened at the corners of her eyes as she ran while holding up her skirt hem.

“Miss Shangguan, I have returned.”

Joy was evident in Guyang Cheongang’s voice as well.

Shangguan Wana smiled brightly as she responded.

“I’m truly glad you’ve returned safely. I could only hear various rumors about you, Young Master, but couldn’t see you in person… How anxious I was…”

Yeom Pung also approached with a bright smile.

“Young Master, do you know how much this old man worried? Not knowing what was happening in the Imperial Palace, I went to visit several times just in case, but the Imperial Palace wouldn’t allow me to meet you…”

Guyang Cheongang felt a corner of his heart warm as he received the welcome from both of them.

This kind of warmth was exactly what he had longed for during those tense days in the Imperial Palace.

“I apologize for causing you both to worry. But I’ve brought good news.”

At Guyang Cheongang’s words, Shangguan Wana’s eyes sparkled.

“Could it be… about the salt license?”

“That’s right. The Imperial Palace’s permission has finally been granted.”

“Really!”

“Yes. His Majesty spoke of it directly, so the permit should be issued by today.”

“Ah… it’s all thanks to you, Young Master.”

Shangguan Wana clasped her hands together in joy as she spoke.

It was the moment when her dream salt business was finally becoming reality.

Yeom Pung also clenched his fists, unable to hide his excitement.

“The young lady’s wish is finally coming true.”

Shangguan Wana smiled brightly as she spoke to Guyang Cheongang.

“I also have something to tell you, Young Master.”

Pride was evident in her voice as she continued.

“While you were at the Imperial Palace, Young Master, we weren’t just resting either. The maintenance plates with completed imprinting work have already been transported to the Shandong Province coast, and local workers are constructing the production facilities.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened.

“You’ve already progressed to that stage?”

“Yes. Everything is proceeding smoothly according to your plan, Young Master. We should be able to start full-scale salt production in three days.”

At Shangguan Wana’s words, Guyang Cheongang spoke in amazement.

“Young Lady, you’re truly remarkable. To handle all of this by yourself while I was away…”

“I wasn’t alone. Uncle Yeom Pung helped me greatly, and above all, it was possible because you had prepared everything in advance, Young Master.”

Yeom Pung added with a proud expression.

“The young lady really worked day and night. She said she would prepare everything perfectly by the time you returned, Young Master.”

“Still, to think production will be possible in three days… I didn’t expect it to progress this quickly.”

Admiration was clearly evident in Guyang Cheongang’s voice.

While he had been preoccupied with the complex affairs at the Imperial Palace, Shangguan Wana had been turning their dream into reality.

“Miss Shangguan’s abilities are truly remarkable. To accomplish this so perfectly even without me.”

Shangguan Wana shook her head.

“We haven’t even started yet. The real difficulties begin now.”

They moved to the main hall.

After taking a sip of tea, Guyang Cheongang asked with a curious expression.

“Young Lady, what is the current situation in the Imperial Capital’s political and commercial circles? There must have been many changes while I was away. It was actually difficult to hear such news from within the Imperial Palace.”

Shangguan Wana nodded as she answered.

“Yes, there have been major changes. Geumsan-ru, which had sided with the Second Prince, has completely withdrawn from them. They seem to want to temporarily suspend all political activities and focus only on commerce. They must want to avoid the storm.”

“A wise decision.”

“But the problem is Golden Tower Manor.”

Shangguan Wana’s expression darkened.

“You know how they view us, don’t you? They can’t interfere directly because of His Majesty’s favor toward you, Young Master, but they continue to watch us closely.”

Yeom Pung added with a worried voice.

“Those Golden Tower Manor bastards won’t stay quiet. They’re definitely plotting something even now.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded as he spoke.

“They won’t remain silent until the end. Given their nature, there’s a high possibility they’ll attack the coastal salt production facilities or the people transporting goods.”

Shangguan Wana continued.

“I thought the same, so I’m preparing countermeasures. For now, I’m trying to hire warriors on a large scale…”

“May I recommend those warriors?”

At Guyang Cheongang’s sudden proposal, Shangguan Wana’s eyes widened as she asked.

“You’ll personally recommend them, Young Master?”

“That’s right. We should be able to get warriors supplied from the Du Family Estate in Payang.”

Shangguan Wana tilted her head as she asked.

“The Du Family Estate… what kind of place is that?”

Guyang Cheongang lowered his voice as he answered.

“It’s a vassal family of the Guyang Family. A household that has served our family for generations. Our relationship became distant after the Righteous-Demonic War, but they recently returned to serve the main family again.”

“Ah, then…”

“Yes, they’re trustworthy people. And before coming to the Imperial Capital, I assigned them a special mission.”

Yeom Pung asked with a curious expression.

“A special mission? What kind of work?”

A smile appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s lips.

“Quietly training warriors while avoiding Golden Tower Manor’s eyes.”

Shangguan Wana’s eyes widened.

“Then you mean you’ve been preparing for this since long ago?”

“I had a basic plan from when the Guyang Family first proposed the salt business to you, Young Lady. Anyone could see that if we successfully entered the salt business, Golden Tower Manor would begin earnest interference. I thought we might need them when that time came.”

Yeom Pung nodded in admiration.

“As expected, Young Master’s thinking is so deep that this old Yeom can hardly follow.”

Guyang Cheongang smiled slightly as he spoke.

“I can’t call it perfect preparation, but we should at least be able to have enough strength to protect the salt business.”

Shangguan Wana nodded without hesitation.

“If they’re people you recommend, Young Master, no verification is needed. Rather, I’m in a position to ask for favors. To have such reliable reinforcements… it’s truly fortunate.”

Guyang Cheongang smiled with satisfaction.

“If they escort the production facilities and transport personnel, they can gain martial arts training and practical experience simultaneously. So it will benefit both sides.”

Shangguan Wana added with a bright expression.

“Then how about we support the funds needed for their warrior training? It’s something we should naturally do as the ones receiving escort services.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes sparkled.

“If you could do that, it would be a great help to the Du Family Estate’s finances. Actually, warrior training requires considerable expenses. From purchasing weapons to training facilities, and even the warriors’ living expenses…”

“We’ll bear all those costs.”

Shangguan Wana spoke firmly.

“If the salt business succeeds, it will generate enough profit to handle that, and what better investment could there be than using that money to raise people who will protect us.”

Yeom Pung spoke in admiration.

“As expected, Young Master’s thinking is extraordinary. Three birds with one stone! Getting escort services, raising warriors, and helping the Du Family Estate’s finances!”

Guyang Cheongang nodded.

“I’m impressed by Miss Shangguan’s insight. This way, a perfect cooperative relationship that benefits everyone will be created.”

Shangguan Wana also smiled brightly.

“Just hearing about it makes me feel truly reassured.”

Then Guyang Cheongang’s expression became serious again.

“But we must not let our guard down. Golden Tower Manor is a much more cunning and dangerous opponent than we think. Since we don’t know when or what moves they’ll make, we must never relax our vigilance.”

The three looked at each other and nodded.

Dangerous enemies were still targeting them.

The fight was not yet over.

Another fortnight passed after that.

A bloody storm continued to rage through the Imperial Palace.

Dozens of powerful figures who had supported the Second Prince, including the Minister of War and the Left and Right Military Governors, were executed, and their entire families were sentenced to exile.

No one dared raise their heads before the Emperor’s razor-sharp purge.

During this time, Guyang Cheongang devoted himself to imprinting work in the warehouse every day.

While the Imperial Palace’s bloody storm completely subsided and the Empire regained stability, he quietly focused on his work.

On the fifteenth day, all imprinting work was completed, and the salt production supplies stacked in the warehouse were all transported to the business site on the Shandong Province coast.

Meanwhile, salt was already being produced in the coastal greenhouses that had been installed.

The salt field business had gotten on the right track.

Around that time, the Emperor summoned Guyang Cheongang.

As he headed to the Emperor’s bedchamber, Guyang Cheongang reflected on the past month.

‘Much blood was shed because of me alone.’

He felt bitter, but had no regrets.

The Emperor sat at eye level with Guyang Cheongang rather than on the Dragon Throne, with a tea table before him.

Instead of a monarch’s dignity, his face showed the deep fatigue of a man who had weathered all manner of storms.

“Your merit is too great, so I intend to bestow a reward.”

The Emperor’s voice carried genuine sincerity.

Indeed, the merit of saving Princess Myeonghwa and the Crown Prince’s lives and uprooting the massive conspiracy that had been eating away at the Imperial Court for decades was something that would be difficult to repay with any reward.

Guyang Cheongang respectfully bowed his head.

“I merely did what I should do as a subject. And you have already granted me the salt license. I believe I have already received more than sufficient reward.”

“That is merely a business permit for Mangeum Mountain Villa, not a reward bestowed upon you personally.”

The Emperor spoke firmly.

Deep trust dwelled in his eyes as he looked at Guyang Cheongang.

“Without you, Myeonghwa would still be lying in a sickbed, and the Crown Prince’s life would not have lasted through this year. And that’s not all. I would have remained completely ignorant about the Dark Current.”

It was a moment when his emotions as a father who had nearly lost his son and daughter showed through.

He continued speaking as if he had already made up his mind.

“You shall enter the Imperial Treasury. As you know, that is a place where even past Emperors permitted only one entry to subjects who had rendered the greatest merit. I have arranged for you to take out any one item from there.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened greatly.

The Imperial Treasury was the Empire’s greatest treasure vault where precious treasures from All Under Heaven, collected by successive Emperors over hundreds of years, were stored.

Opening that place was the highest level of courtesy that showed how importantly the Emperor regarded him.

“Your Majesty, how could I dare set foot in such a precious place…”

“Think about what you have done for the Imperial Court.”

The Emperor spoke in a gentle but firm voice.

“Is opening the doors of the Imperial Treasury once for you, who protected the Imperial Court’s safety, excessive? I do not think so.”

Guyang Cheongang was momentarily speechless.

Further refusal might be ignoring the Emperor’s heartfelt gratitude and trust.

There was also the saying that excessive courtesy violates propriety.

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

He answered while bowing his head deeply.

A satisfied smile appeared on the Emperor’s face.

“Go to the Imperial Treasury tomorrow at noon.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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