An Advertising Genius Falls into the Joseon Era - Chapter 61

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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 61
“Have you looked into who that bastard’s connected to?”
Hwang Jang-eok asked.
His hand moved ceaselessly across his chin, stroking his whiskers with the restless fidgeting of a man waiting for something important. Impatience was written in every gesture.
“Don’t even get me started. I followed that one around for days, and what I found was…”
Gyuchul, who had been tailing Song Do-hyeon for several days now, deliberately let the silence stretch.
“Was what?”
Hwang Jang-eok’s eyebrows rose.
Normally he would have demanded the truth straight away.
Gyuchul had no patience for games.
When a man like that drew out his words, it meant only one thing.
He’d stumbled onto something unexpectedly large.
Gyuchul gauged Hwang Jang-eok’s expression for a moment before continuing.
“That bastard is the illegitimate child of Jeong Ik-hyeon, the magistrate of Yeonhwa District.”
“What!”
Hwang Jang-eok lurched to his feet.
“That man is Jeong Ik-hyeon’s child!”
“Yes, sir. I confirmed it with my own eyes.
Jeong Ik-hyeon.
There wasn’t a soul in this region who hadn’t heard that name.
He was known throughout the common people for his scrupulous handling of affairs.
Hwang Jang-eok himself had heard the name spoken many times.
Neither bribes nor threats could touch him.
In this line of work, Jeong Ik-hyeon was precisely the sort of person you most wanted to avoid entanglement with.
“But Jeong Ik-hyeon’s son ought to be…”
Hwang Jang-eok’s brow creased in bewilderment.
“So why in heaven’s name would the magistrate’s son involve himself in something so dangerous?”
“That puzzled me too, so I inquired further.”
Gyuchul lowered his voice slightly, then spoke as though confiding a secret.
“The truth is, that one is Jeong Ik-hyeon’s illegitimate child.”
“An illegitimate child…”
Something flickered across Hwang Jang-eok’s eyes in that instant — a strange, knowing light.
There was no need to explain what fate befell an illegitimate child in a yangban household.
Blood ran true, yet acknowledgment did not.
Naturally, such a person received no proper treatment within the household, nor without.
Sometimes they were treated worse than servants.
To live forever in shadow — that was the destiny of the illegitimate.
Hwang Jang-eok nodded as understanding dawned.
“So it seems he left home in his childhood and took work at Manshang early on.”
“Manshang?”
At the mention of Manshang, a different light kindled in Hwang Jang-eok’s eyes.
Manshang.
Unquestionably the largest merchant house wielding wealth in all of Joseon today.
Everyone knew the rumors that Manshang had reaped enormous profits from recent trade with Qing. Everyone.
And everyone knew the stories of the two young head merchants who had brokered that trade.
Hwang Jang-eok’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“Don’t tell me he’s the one…?”
Gyuchul pressed forward as if he’d been waiting for exactly this moment.
“Yes, sir. That one is Song Do-hyeon — the very name on everyone’s lips these days.”
“Ah, so the pieces finally fit together.”
“I suspect the contact with Huksabang originated from the Qing side.”
“Hmm…”
Silence settled over them as this new revelation sank in.
The true identity of Song Do-hyeon, which had always carried an air of contradiction.
A head merchant of Manshang, yet with one foot planted in shadow;
Carrying the blood of yangban nobility, yet yangban no longer.
He was a man welcomed nowhere.
“You’ve earned your keep.”
Hwang Jang-eok tossed a heavy pouch of money across.
Thud.
Gyuchul quickly took it from his hands.
The weight alone told him it was far more than usual.
He checked the pouch of money carefully, then looked up in surprise.
“This much? Really?”
It was far larger a share than he’d expected.
Hwang Jang-eok waved a hand dismissively.
“Go on—use it to have some fun and clear your head.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Gyuchul bowed deeply, nearly folding at the waist.
With this money, he could pay off the gambling debt he’d run up with Song Do-hyeon and still have plenty left over.
Gyuchul hurried out.
Left alone, Hwang Jang-eok muttered quietly to himself.
“A head merchant of Manshang, is he…”
They existed from time to time.
Head merchants who dipped their toes into the shadows like this.
Those who dealt in money and goods were always easy prey to temptation.
But there was one thing they all overlooked.
This place was a swamp.
Once you waded in, there was no getting out clean.
Just this once.
Only this one time.
Finish this deal and slip away.
Most came with that thought, only to find themselves neck-deep before they knew it.
And then they’d struggle, finally caught up to their chin.
“Heh.”
A thin smile played at the corner of Hwang Jang-eok’s mouth.
The gambling den Gyuchul had just rushed off to was also one of the establishments in his grasp.
The money he’d given Gyuchul was merely coins destined to flow back into his own pocket.
There was no escaping this place by any means.
Hwang Jang-eok closed his eyes slowly, then opened them again.
In the depths of his gaze lingered a damp, murky gleam.
“He might prove useful, if things go well.”
***
On a night when the new moon rose.
As clouds obscured the moonlight, Yongdang Port sank into pitch darkness.
Neither faces nor expressions were visible.
It was perfect weather for shadowy work.
At one corner of Yongdang Port.
Members of the Yongdang Faction had gathered in great numbers.
Some checked their cargo; others quietly fingered the weapons they’d brought.
Though they tried to hide it, their faces betrayed their tension clearly.
That was when it happened.
“……!”
Crunch. Crunch.
Suddenly the sound of footsteps reached their ears. Startled, several of them seized their weapons.
“Damn, you scared us.”
But the moment the figure emerged from the darkness, they recognized it as Song Do-hyeon and lowered their weapons.
Hwang Jang-eok spoke as he looked at Song Do-hyeon.
“Like a ghost—arriving at exactly the appointed hour.”
Song Do-hyeon glanced around instead of answering, then asked:
“Ready?”
“As you can see.”
Silver coins and stolen goods were laid out neatly nearby.
Song Do-hyeon gave them a quick inspection, then turned away.
“We move out.”
An order more than a request.
At that curt command, the faces of the Yongdang Faction darkened.
“Tch.”
“Arrogant bastard.”
“You’d think he was the leader, to hear him talk.”
“That bastard. The way he talks just rubs me the wrong way.”
“God, if it weren’t for Huksabang….”
It was muttering meant to be overheard.
“…….”
Yet despite the veiled jabs aimed at him, Song Do-hyeon walked on without a word.
They’d been trudging along the coastline for some time now.
“Halt.”
As they reached the designated meeting point, Song Do-hyeon raised his hand.
This small harbor, set apart from Yongdang Port, was eerily quiet.
Not a soul in sight.
Not even the sound of insects breaking the silence.
Splash. Splash.
Only the lonely rhythm of the waves echoed across the stillness.
“This is the right place?”
“I don’t see a single shadow.”
There was no sign of Huksabang anywhere.
Smuggling lived and died by timing and location.
Let even one detail slip, and everything crumbled to dust.
If word leaked to the government soldiers, it barely needed saying.
At minimum, exile. At worst, execution.
That’s why the dates and places of smuggling runs were shared only with those worthy of absolute trust.
Song Do-hyeon was that man.
In other words, he was the one person who could plunge every last smuggler into ruin.
Gyuchul fixed Song Do-hyeon with a furrowed brow.
“Hey, you’re not trying to pull one over on us, are you?”
Instead of answering, Song Do-hyeon kept his gaze on the water.
Thick fog lay heavy across the surface.
“…….”
Gyuchul drew his blade with menacing slowness.
“If Huksabang doesn’t show up by the agreed time, you’d better hope you live to regret it.”
Song Do-hyeon paid the threat no mind, eyes fixed on the sea.
Then it came.
“There! Look, there’s something!”
Someone from the Yongdang Faction cried out.
In an instant, all eyes snapped toward the water.
Thump-thump.
A faint shadow emerged from beyond the fog.
What had been no larger than a dot grew clearer as it drew nearer.
The unmistakable silhouette of a boat.
“Is that really it?”
“Huksabang’s actually coming?”
“Everyone, get ready!”
The Yongdang Faction sprang into action at the sight of the approaching vessel.
With dealings like these—conducted in shadow—no one could predict what might unfold.
You had to be prepared for the worst.
The Yongdang Faction watched the mysterious boat with taut faces.
But as it drew toward the harbor, the boat suddenly stopped midway.
“What? It stopped?”
“Why’s it stopping all of a sudden?”
“Did something go wrong?”
As murmurs rippled through the group, Song Do-hyeon extended his hand to the side.
“Torch.”
Again, just a curt word.
Normally, someone would’ve complained.
But one of the men handed over the torch without hesitation. At this moment, they had no choice but to trust Song Do-hyeon.
Whoosh.
The torch flared to life, flames dancing.
Song Do-hyeon walked toward the water, torch in hand.
Then he raised it high above his head.
Gulp.
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the figure.
A moment passed.
A small light began to flicker from the boat suspended in the middle of the river.
A torch.
Left.
Right.
Left again.
The promised signal.
Recognizing the signal, Song Do-hyeon moved his torch in answer.
Right.
Left.
Then left once more.
As the agreed signal was completed, the boat waiting in the middle of the river began to move again.
Splash.
At last, the mysterious vessel drew into the Small Harbor and dropped anchor.
Soon a small skiff descended from the ship on a rope.
The skiff cut through the water, drawing toward the Small Harbor where the Yongdang Faction had gathered.
“He’s coming!”
Everyone watched the approaching skiff with tense eyes.
After a moment.
As the skiff touched the sandy shore, a man aboard descended slowly from the vessel.
Hair falling over one eye and a confident smile.
“Long time no see, old friend.”
(It’s been a while, hasn’t it?)
Wi So-gang looked at Song Do-hyeon with a radiant face.

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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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