An Advertising Genius Falls into the Joseon Era - Chapter 41

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 41
“Release them.”
(Let these men go.)
At Wei Shaogang’s command, the soldiers hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.
Though their direct superior Yeo Hyeong had given no such order, several of them were already beginning to lower their weapons.
……
Yeo Hyeong’s face darkened as he fixed Wei Shaogang with a hard stare. Tension crackled between them, eyes locked in silent contest.
Wei Shaogang opened his mouth again.
“What are you waiting for? I told you to let them go.”
(Why aren’t you moving? I said to release them.)
Tsk.
(A sharp clicking sound.)
But the standoff didn’t last long.
Yeo Hyeong was the first to yield.
“Stand down your weapons.”
(Lower your arms.)
The reluctant command fell.
Only then did the soldiers obey in unison, weapons dropping to their sides.
The blade that had been leveled at Ha Yun withdrew with a soft rasp.
“Whew. We’re alive.”
Now that the crisis had passed, Ha Yun’s legs began to shake.
He nearly collapsed where he stood but managed to hold himself upright. The situation wasn’t entirely over yet.
Footstep. Footstep.
Wei Shaogang approached the trading party.
“If I hadn’t come to meet you when I did, this could have ended badly.”
(Had I not happened to come out to receive you, things would have gone very wrong.)
Wei Shaogang smiled as he turned to Song Do Hyun.
“Security in the Border Region has been poor lately. I hope you’ll forgive the rough welcome.”
(The Border Region’s order has been troubled of late, so I trust you’ll understand.)
“Security? Has something happened here?”
(Security? Are there problems in this area?)
“I’ll explain the details later.”
(That story can wait.)
Wei Shaogang regarded Song Do Hyun with an ambiguous smile.
“I actually have a favor to ask of you.”
(As it happens, I have something I need to request from you.)
“A favor?”
(A favor?)
Song Do Hyun repeated the question, but Wei Shaogang offered no reply.
Judging the moment not yet ripe, he simply wore that cryptic smile.
Just then, Ha Yun stepped between them.
“This is the one called Wei Shaogang?”
“That’s right.”
Hmm.
Ha Yun studied him slowly, head to foot.
Wei Shaogang looked more like a street thug than a merchant. There hung about him the damp, unwholesome air of dark alleys.
The kind who wears friendliness like a mask, only to bite at your throat the moment opportunity presents itself.
That cold, unsettling presence radiated from his entire being.
He was precisely the sort of man Ha Yun distrusted most.
“And who is this?”
(Who is this person?)
Watching Ha Yun’s penetrating gaze, Wei Shaogang posed the question.
Song Do Hyun exhaled lightly before answering.
“This is the representative handling the Ginseng trade on behalf of Joseon—Haengsu Ha Sung.”
(He’s the one managing the Joseon side of the Ginseng trade as representative—a haengsu named Ha Sung.)
“The representative? Not you?”
(The representative? Not yourself?)
Wei Shaogang’s tone betrayed surprise at this revelation.
“Well… circumstances changed.”
(It… ended up this way.)
“Hmm?”

This time it was Wei Shaogang’s turn to study Ha Yun carefully.
For all his slight frame, there was an unmistakable solidity beneath—a depth that refused to be measured.
The kind of nerve that wouldn’t flinch even with a blade at his throat. Eyes alight with conviction, bound tight as iron.
He was exactly the sort of man Wei Shaogang found most dangerous.
So this is the one who’s taken Im Dae Bang’s place….

Wei Shaogang extended a hand toward Ha Yun.
A pleasure to meet you. I’m Wei Shaogang.

Ha Yun regarded it with obvious displeasure.
“It’s not like you’ll understand anyway—just tell him whatever. I’m not in the mood for handshakes right now.”
Ha Yun muttered to himself, grumbling.
“Died and came back to life, and he wants to shake hands? My heart’s still hammering like it’s about to burst….”
At those words, Wei Shaogang suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha ha!”
Wei Shaogang opened his mouth to Ha Yun.
“My apologies for making your heart race like that.”
“Wha—?”
Ha Yun cried out in shock at the sudden Joseon tongue.
“You—you could speak our language the whole time?”
“Of course. I’m a merchant, after all. And one duly licensed for trade, at that.”
To be licensed for trade meant
to be versed in that nation’s culture.
And Wei Shaogang was no ordinary man—he was talented enough to serve as the representative of Qing’s most prominent merchants.
For him to speak Joseon was perhaps inevitable.
Ha Yun’s face flushed crimson as he turned to Song Do Hyun.
“Why didn’t you tell me Wei Shaogang could speak our language?”
“I didn’t realize you were that dense.”
Song Do Hyun shook his head in dismay.
“Any merchant conducting trade should know the language of the land. It’s basic.”
“Ugh.”
Ha Yun clamped his mouth shut, having gained nothing but a reproof for his trouble.
Wei Shaogang, who had been listening to the two men’s exchange, continued.
“As I said, I had no choice in the matter myself.”
Wei Shaogang glanced at the soldiers still lingering nearby and gave a slight shrug.
“I never imagined the Border Guard Unit would threaten you like that… I beg your pardon once more.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure you do.”
Ha Yun cut him off, as if he’d heard enough.
Wei Shaogang regarded him with an enigmatic smile.
“By way of apology—though calling it that seems insufficient—I’ve arranged quarters for you to stay in. Rest well there, and let today’s events fade from memory.”
Having said so, Wei Shaogang turned and departed.
As he did, the soldiers parted left and right as if a river were being divided.
……
The members of the trading party stood slack-jawed at the sight.
“Follow me, if you will.”
Ha Yun, Song Do Hyun, and Yun the Jeophang exchanged a brief glance.
No words were necessary between them.
They had understood—they had no choice.
“Let’s go.”
At Ha Yun’s command, the trading party fell in behind Wei Shaogang.
***
The Golden Guest Inn, said to be the largest in Fenghuang City, was a two-story structure that would normally be packed to bursting with guests.
But today, not a single visitor was to be seen.
This was because Wei Shaogang had rented out the entire establishment.
“There will be no separate charge for your lodging—make yourselves comfortable.”
After showing the trading party to their rooms, he departed without hesitation, as if he had no further business there.
“Let’s have a word upstairs on the second floor.”
Once Ha Yun confirmed that Wei Shaogang had gone, he summoned Song Do Hyun and Yun the Jeophang.
“Understood.”
The two men climbed the stairs first, and Ha Yun followed. Then he stopped and turned back to look at the porters remaining on the first floor.
“Make sure no one steals the Ginseng. Take turns keeping watch through the night. Clear?”
“Yes, Haengsu Ha!”
Only after laying down the law to the porters did Ha Yun climb back up to the second floor.
“What was that bastard doing here, anyway?”
Ha Yun strode into the guest room, still bristling with indignation.
“It was all that Wei Shaogang’s doing. Trying to steal our Ginseng.”
“What?”
Jeophang Yun’s eyes went wide.
“I’m certain of it. Otherwise, how would he appear at that exact moment? As if he’d been waiting for us.”
Ha Yun could barely contain his agitation.
“He must have known we were coming and set this trap in advance. And he’s the only one who knows our schedule.”
“Hmm…….”
Jeophang Yun stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“But how could Wei Shaogang possibly command soldiers? He’s nothing but a merchant.”
“Bribes, blackmail—whatever it takes. He’s bought them off somehow.”
Ha Yun spoke with conviction.
“Didn’t you see? A single word from him and those soldiers froze in place.”
“Ah……!”
“The war’s already begun.”
Trade had never run smoothly. Not once.
Flattery was standard practice. So were cartels, threats, even forged documents.
But never before had Ha Yun felt his life hanging in the balance like this.
The ominous movements from the Qing side made Jeophang Yun uneasy.
“So what do we do now?”
“We wait. We don’t know what kind of trap they’ve laid.”
Ha Yun touched his neck gingerly.
Fortunately nothing had happened, but one wrong move and his head could have rolled clean off.
Even now, thinking back made his legs quiver.
‘I’ve lost my mind. What was I even thinking?’
Ordinarily he wouldn’t ride a roller coaster—it frightened him.
He’d scream at the sight of pigeons or tiny insects.
Yet somehow he’d found the courage to do what he’d just done. It amazed even himself.
‘Well, I had help, though…….’
There had been moments when he’d wanted to give up.
But at that crucial instant, someone had stepped in front of him, shielding him, and that’s how he’d gotten through.
……
Ha Yun gazed quietly at Song Do Hyun.
The man sat with his chin resting on his hand, lost in thought.
Just then.
Tap-tap-tap.
Someone knocked suddenly on the guest room door.
“Who is it?”
“Might I come in? Wei Shaogang has sent me with a message for you.”
“Wei Shaogang?”
Ha Yun, understanding that “Wei Shaogang” was what they called the man, nodded.
“Come in.”
Moments later.
The door opened and an inn servant poked his head through cautiously. He delivered Wei Shaogang’s words.
“It is my master’s wish to host a banquet for you this evening.”
“A banquet?”
“Yes. He hopes you will grace the occasion with your presence.”
The servant withdrew after delivering his message.
Jeophang Yun looked at Ha Yun and asked, “What do you think?”
“We have to attend. We can’t afford to look weak here.”
Ha Yun spoke with confidence.
“After what happened today, are you sure about this?”
Ha Yun showed no hesitation.
“Would he really kill us? If he wanted us dead, he’d have done it already.”
“Well…….”
The other man would have understood by now.
Threats held no sway over Ha Yun.
Which meant only one tool remained: persuasion.
That banquet, no doubt, had been arranged for precisely that purpose.
“I’ll go with you.”
At this, Song Do Hyun indicated his intention to attend the banquet as well.
Ha Yun nodded.
“Then the two of us shall go and return.”
With that, the decision was made—Ha Yun and Song Do Hyun would attend the banquet together, and the meeting concluded.

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