Almighty God of War - Chapter 140
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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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140
The eastern sky began to turn red.
On the coastline, where traces of the bloody battle that had continued through the night remained, there were over a thousand people including the Jagang Corps, escorts, and workers.
Their half-dazed gazes were fixed on a single place—the back of a man standing while looking out at the sea.
The man who had single-handedly annihilated a pirate fleet of over fifty ships.
To them, ‘Instructor Jang Woomyeong’ was no longer human, but a calamity itself that should be revered.
And on the coastline, five ships—spoils of war from the battle—were anchored.
After the battle ended, Guyang Cheongang had ordered them to secure those ships that hadn’t sunk.
For the three hundred warriors of the Guyang Family who had grown up by Poyang Lake and were familiar with ships, bringing five pirate ships to the coastline was not a particularly difficult task.
“Elder Master.”
Guyang Cheongang called out to Jupyo.
His voice was calm, but it had the power to make even the surrounding air tense.
“Yes, Instructor Jang.”
Jupyo bowed slightly.
He was the person in charge of Dongryeong Salt Field, but at this moment, he seemed like a subordinate.
And there was no one in this place who found that strange.
Guyang Cheongang asked.
“Do you happen to have connections with the Four Seas Trading Company?”
“The Four Seas Trading Company?”
Jupyo made a flustered expression and continued speaking.
“As you well know, Instructor, this is the first time this old man has come to the seaside. So how could I have formed any connections with them? But why do you ask about that?”
Guyang Cheongang smiled slightly.
“Didn’t I tell you that the ones I annihilated were called Baekgyeong Bang?”
“You did.”
Guyang Cheongang had completely massacred the leadership of Baekgyeong Bang.
However, he had spared the fifty or so pirates who were aboard the command ship, and obtained various information from them.
Jupyo widened his eyes and asked further.
“It seems you learned something from those bastards.”
“Baekgyeong Bang’s stronghold is Dongban Island. And I also learned that the force they’re most wary of is the Four Seas Trading Company.”
Guyang Cheongang continued speaking.
“I’m thinking it might be good to take this opportunity to completely uproot Baekgyeong Bang and join hands with the Four Seas Trading Company to secure a stable salt transportation route through the waterways.”
“Hmm….”
Jupyo let out a groan.
Not even a few hours had passed since the battle ended, and he was already thinking about the next stage.
‘Just how far ahead is the Grand Young Master looking….’
That’s when it happened.
“Instructor Jang!”
A booming voice burst out from behind.
Guyang Cheongang turned his head.
The person who had spoken was a middle-aged man in his forties standing three or four steps behind, with thick sideburns and a Nine Ring Blade at his waist.
Guyang Cheongang’s eyes sparkled.
The middle-aged man was Jin Muryang of the Iron Ship Blade, one of the three chief escorts of Iljo Escort Agency.
Iljo was a coastal city, and befitting someone who worked at an escort agency there, he had extensive connections in both Jianghu and maritime circles.
The three chief escorts of Iljo Escort Agency had been working shifts at Dongryeong Salt Field at monthly intervals, so Guyang Cheongang was not unfamiliar with him.
“Do you have something to say, Chief Escort Jin?”
Jin Muryang nodded and replied.
“If it’s the Four Seas Trading Company, this Jin has connections.”
He thumped his chest and continued.
“I am sworn brothers with Do Namjong, the Iljo branch chief of Four Seas Trading Company. If Instructor Jang wishes, I can contact him immediately!”
A smile spread across Guyang Cheongang’s eyes.
“Then I shall entrust that matter to Chief Escort Jin.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll arrange a meeting as soon as possible.”
The expression in Jin Muryang’s eyes as he looked at Guyang Cheongang was no different from that of the others.
What had happened last night was a shocking event unlike anything he had experienced in his lifetime, even though he had been through countless trials and risen to the position of chief escort.
Watching Jin Muryang’s back as he quickly walked away, Jupyo asked Guyang Cheongang.
“Instructor Jang, if you’re planning to join hands with Four Seas Trading Company, I’m curious why you seized those five ships. Are you planning to sell them? You’d probably make quite a lot of money if you sold them, but…”
“I have no intention of selling them.”
Jupyo tilted his head.
“We won’t have any need to personally sail ships and transport salt… Perhaps you intend to use them when conquering Baekgyeong Bang?”
Guyang Cheongang replied with a smile.
“Yes. And there are other uses for them as well.”
“Hmm…”
Guyang Cheongang continued.
“If things go well with Four Seas Trading Company, we’ll end up fighting Baekgyeong Bang. So please prepare the Jagang Corps warriors so they can deploy at any time.”
“Understood. I’ll do so.”
Guyang Cheongang turned his head to the side.
There stood Baek Muok, holding the Supreme Sword that was as tall as himself, looking at him with blazing eyes.
The Supreme Sword was quite heavy, but the boy showed no signs of strain.
Baek Muok had completed his cultivation of the Transcendent Heart Method and was now cultivating the Infinite Return to Origin Mind Method, one of the Five Supreme Techniques of the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Diagram.
And thanks to continuing his training with the Jagang Corps, he had gained the physical strength to handle the weight of the sword.
Guyang Cheongang chuckled and ruffled Baek Muok’s hair with his hand.
“Relax those eyes. What kind of disciple stares at his master so intensely?”
“It’s a gaze filled with respect.”
“It looks more like glaring to me?”
“Absolutely not!”
“If you say so. Hahahaha.”
Guyang Cheongang laughed lightly and turned around.
Just as Jin Muryang had boldly promised, the meeting with the Four Seas Trading Company was arranged the very next day.
The location was Jupyo’s office within the Dongryeong Salt Field.
The person who came from the Four Seas Trading Company was Do Namjong, the Iljo branch manager.
From the Dongryeong Salt Field, Guyang Cheongang attended, with Jupyo and Jin Muryang sitting alongside him.
Do Namjong was a man in his mid-forties with a gentle appearance.
Looking at him, Guyang Cheongang recalled what Jin Muryang had said.
[Instructor Jang, don’t be fooled by appearances. Branch Manager Do is indeed a person with a gentle nature, but he’s not someone without backbone. The Four Seas Trading Company also started as pirates, so their hidden nature has many rough and ruthless aspects.]
Do Namjong politely performed a cupped fist salute and spoke.
“It is an honor to meet the Sea Heaven Death God, Hero Jang Woomyeong. This humble one is called Do Namjong, in charge of the Iljo branch of the Four Seas Trading Company.”
Guyang Cheongang, who was returning the cupped fist salute, blinked his eyes.
“Sea Heaven Death God? Who is that?”
“It’s the alias that fellow members of Jianghu call Hero Jang, though it seems you haven’t heard it yet.”
“You’re saying an alias was already created when it hasn’t even been two days since the fight ended?”
“Isn’t that reasonable? The great achievement Hero Jang accomplished must have been extraordinary. How could fighting alone against over three thousand people including Im Bang and Jo Yang and achieving victory be an ordinary matter?”
Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue and took his seat.
“Branch Manager Do, let’s get straight to the point.”
“Let’s do that.”
Do Namjong nodded and picked up his tea cup. However, his eyes did not leave Guyang Cheongang.
“We would like to entrust the Four Seas Trading Company with transporting the salt produced at Dongryeong Salt Field by sea.”
“An interesting proposal.”
Do Namjong set down his tea cup and continued to ask.
“But with the White Whale Gang still intact, that task won’t be easy, will it?”
“That’s why I’d like to make one more proposal.”
“What would that be?”
Guyang Cheongang’s gaze intensified.
“The Four Seas Trading Company joining us when we subjugate Dongban Island.”
Suddenly, the room fell silent.
Jupyo and Jin Muryang looked at Guyang Cheongang with surprised expressions.
Do Namjong narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Are you saying you’ll subjugate the White Whale Gang’s stronghold?”
“That’s right. With Deputy Sect Leader Im Bang dead and half their forces gone, there won’t be a better opportunity to attack them than now.”
“White Whale Sect Leader Hyeok Seung is still alive.”
“Whatever his abilities, he won’t be able to face both the Four Seas Trading Company and us simultaneously.”
Guyang Cheongang smiled slightly and continued.
“The Four Seas Trading Company can provide warriors and ship passage to Dongban Island. I and the Self-Strengthening Corps will join as well.”
Do Namjong fell into thought for a moment before speaking.
“Hero Jang, with those conditions, wouldn’t the Four Seas Trading Company gain too little? Not only would the costs of mobilizing warriors and ships be considerable, but the risks would also be significant…”
Guyang Cheongang chuckled and responded.
“Nothing to gain? Are you being serious?”
“…”
“Branch Manager Do, if Baekgyeong Bang disappears, maritime supremacy over the Yellow Sea will fall into the hands of Sahae Trading Company. That alone should be more than sufficient compensation, don’t you think?”
“Hmm….”
Do Namjong stroked his chin.
“But there’s no guarantee that Baekgyeong Bang will be completely annihilated, is there? Master Jang speaks so casually about our trading company only needing to provide ships and warriors, but on our side, we cannot exclude the losses from losing those assets.”
Jin Muryang interjected.
“Branch Manager Do says that because he hasn’t personally witnessed Instructor Jang’s martial arts that annihilated Baekgyeong Bang’s fleet. If you had seen it, you would never say such things.”
“Representative Jin, that was a battle that took place on the sea.”
Do Namjong raised his hand to restrain Jin Muryang and continued speaking.
“Naval warfare and siege warfare on land are different matters. Moreover, Dongban Island is a place that Baekgyeong Bang has fortified for decades. It’s absolutely not a place that can be easily conquered.”
A meaningful smile crossed Guyang Cheongang’s lips.
“Then, let me pay one more price. I’m sure you’ll find it quite appealing.”
Do Namjong’s eyes narrowed.
“Another price… what exactly would that be?”
“If you participate in annihilating Baekgyeong Bang, I’ll give Dongban Island to Sahae Trading Company.”
In that instant, Jupyo’s eyes, who had been quietly listening, widened with surprise.
He had never expected Guyang Cheongang to propose such compensation.
But Do Namjong was not surprised.
Instead, his mind cooled like ice and began spinning at a terrifying speed.
‘Dongban Island… If we subjugate Baekgyeong Bang and seize control of this place, we’ll gain control of the smuggling port leading overseas. The profits would be astronomical, but…’
His mind became complicated.
‘But why would this man try to hand over a golden goose to our trading company?’
Guyang Cheongang could see through Do Namjong’s suspicions.
His proposal was the most rational choice based on realistic assessment.
The Guyang Family Estate, which had just begun reconstruction, had neither the capability nor the connections to manage Dongban Island.
Shangguan Wana and Ten Thousand Gold Mountain Villa might excel at inland commercial management, but they were outsiders when it came to maritime trade.
So if they clumsily seized and occupied the island, there was a high possibility they would waste time without being able to operate it properly.
In that case, it was a hundred times better to hand it over entirely to Sahae Trading Company, the maritime experts, and establish themselves as their most important ally and trading partner.
Do Namjong asked.
“Hmm… I hear that Dongryeong Salt Field belongs to Miss Shangguan of the Yeom Estate. And she is the precious daughter of the master of Ten Thousand Gold Mountain Villa, the greatest trading house under heaven. Would Shangguan Family Head really readily permit our Sahae Trading Company to swallow up Dongban Island entirely?”
Guyang Cheongang smiled broadly and responded.
“Miss Shangguan has full authority over this subjugation. Naturally, that includes the right to decide what to do with Dongban Island. The mountain villa will not interfere, nor do they have the right to.”
“Gulp…”
The sound of swallowing came from Do Namjong’s throat.
Calculations were rapidly spinning in his mind.
If Sahae Trading Company could possess Dongban Island, the profits would certainly be beyond imagination.
The trading company’s business territory was on an incomparable scale to Baekgyeong Bang.
Do Namjong slightly stuck out his tongue to moisten his dry lips and spoke.
“Master Jang’s proposal is not something I can handle on my own authority. I need approval from Sahae Trading Company headquarters.”
“How long will it take?”
“I should be able to give you an answer in about ten days.”
Guyang Cheongang wore a satisfied expression.
“Then I’ll wait until then.”
Do Namjong stood up and gave a cupped fist salute.
“Thank you for the good proposal. I’m sure headquarters will review it positively as well.”
“Just one more thing.”
Guyang Cheongang called Do Namjong to a halt.
“This conversation is just between us….”
“Of course I’ll keep it confidential.”
Do Namjong smiled meaningfully and left the office.
As the door closed, Jupyo spoke in a worried voice.
“Instructor Jang, do you truly intend to attack Baekgyeong Bang with only the Jagang Corps?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t take Branch Leader Do’s words about that place being a fortress lightly.”
Guyang Cheongang grinned as he responded.
“If they’re cowering inside a fortress, that would actually be fortunate for me.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“It means they’ll have nowhere to run.”
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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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