Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 34
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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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Chapter 34
Time passed quickly.
-The Yeomsan Merchant Leader died again?
-How long has it been since he was replaced.
-Oh my. Things happen every day. How can we live with such anxiety.
-They say a new Merchant Leader was announced?
Shortly after. Rumors that the Yeomsan Merchant Leader’s head had been taken spread to every corner of the Market.
Those who heard it trembled with anxiety.
And a few days later.
-What did the Guild Leader do after hearing such news?
-Well… I found out late too. As you know, wasn’t the guild in chaos.
-In chaos? Hmph. Didn’t this Soemyeol-gun take care of all those causing chaos?
-Well, that’s true, but…
-So who did it?
-They say it was Gyeom Gwang-ja from Black Point.
-Ha. That Madman again?
-It’s just a rumor for now, but…
-It must be certain. Ha. That bastard is ruining things again. He did it before too.
-What happened before?
-It’s something you don’t need to know.
-I see. Ahem… But we happened to catch Gyeom Gwang-ja moving.
-What? How so?
-Well, someone from Black Point who we’ve been keeping in contact with carefully sent a Communication Tube. It seems I’ve set up all the bait.
-It’s not a trap?
-That’s what I thought. I’ve already confirmed it several times.
-Oho. Then I’ll go take a look.
Soemyeol-ma, who had stepped forward to achieve merit, went missing.
Soemyeol-ma’s Disciples stepped forward saying they would investigate the truth, but they were all found as men who never returned.
-Guild Leader. What should we do about this? Isn’t this repeating again?
-I’ll step forward myself.
-You mean personally, Guild Leader?
-Why? Is there some problem?
-No, no there isn’t.
-Wait and see.
The Guild Leader stepped forward to handle this situation.
I thought he too would become a man who never returned.
But he didn’t.
Shortly after, the Donghwa Guild Leader appeared with Gyeom Gwang-ja from Black Point. Openly.
Before rumors could spread that the two had joined hands after seeing this.
-Gu, Guild Leader…
-It’s been a while.
-The, the person next to you… how on earth…!
-He’s my new friend? After clearing up the misunderstanding, there’s no one quite like him.
-What?!
The Guild Leader personally seated Gyeom Gwang-ja in Donghwa Guild and then.
-However, it seems you’ve earned my new misunderstanding.
-What do you… Kuk…! Be, betrayal…
-You’re the one who betrayed first. Did you covet this position so much.
-You… you… Golden Tiger… the guild’s revenge…
-Heh. Farewell.
While he was away.
He personally took the head of the one who had been acting as Guild Leader. With his own hands.
The changes didn’t end there.
The Salt Merchants’ people were largely replaced and the entire flow of Hangzhou began to change.
* * *
There were changes at the Medical Clinic too.
“Thank you for everything.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. Even after three months passed, to stay a few more days…”
Jung Myeong’s Medical Clinic. The time had come for Song In, who had been guarding that place, to leave.
It was a departure later than scheduled.
Because Song In had extended the time by 3 more days beyond the promised 90 days.
“That much was naturally something I should do. Haha. Though that was the limit of my authority.”
“Naturally, you say. I’ll remember this debt.”
“Hey, it’s not even worth calling a debt.”
“If you say that, I’ll be disappointed.”
“Well now. I didn’t say it hoping for anything.”
This was kindness.
And Jung Myeong accepted that kindness.
He made it into a debt.
‘Those past three days were of great help to me.’
More than the past ninety days.
Those three days were more helpful.
It was just a few days ago that he began installing Formation in earnest.
Didn’t he gain confidence starting with the Alchemy Room.
He went around adding Formation here and there together with Gal Tae-gyeong.
These past few days.
If Song In hadn’t stayed with the Escort Agency people, it would have been quite a difficult installation.
‘It wouldn’t have been easy to operate so comfortably. The turmoil in Hangzhou is gradually subsiding as well.’
It had been a good time and a precious debt.
So he could only be truly grateful.
After such gratitude.
Song In asked.
“By the way, have you made up your mind?”
“What decision do you mean?”
It was a question about the alliance that had been postponed three months ago.
Song In seemed reluctant.
But he asked in detail as if he had received orders.
“You haven’t been making additional requests to the Escort Agency, have you?”
“That’s right.”
“I’m asking if you’ve ultimately decided to stand on your own.”
“Well.”
“Hmm… I personally respect the Physician’s wishes. But practically speaking… you know, don’t you?”
“It would be quite dangerous, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
That question about the alliance was a polite refusal.
Since the connection remained.
They could always reconnect at any time.
‘It would be different from three months ago.’
Unlike three months ago.
To form an alliance, he would have to pay a great price.
From what he heard, Namgung Yeon of Baekyang Escort Agency had achieved great merit in the meantime.
In contrast, on the surface, his Medical Clinic had only installed a few formations.
Everyone was unaware of his remarkable growth.
Therefore, to anyone’s eyes, the balance of power remained the same as three months ago. It was tilted toward the Escort Agency.
The reason Song In was worried was obvious.
“I heard that the Donghwa Guild Leader joined hands with Black Point.”
“Huh. How did that come to be?”
“That far… Ahem. I’m sorry.”
“I understand. I know you were trying to give me at least a clue.”
“Hahaha.”
Donghwa Guild. That place must have been bothering him.
From the beginning, Song In taking charge of security here wouldn’t have happened if not for their intrusion.
He understood.
He also felt sufficient consideration.
Nevertheless, Jung Myeong’s answer was always the same.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Your answer hasn’t changed?”
“Yes. Even in this situation, I have no intention of reaching out to the Escort Agency.”
“You’re resolute. I hope things go according to your wishes, Physician.”
“Thank you.”
It was a polite refusal.
Song In left, seemingly regretful about his choice.
Conversely, Jung Myeong knew better than anyone that he had earned the past three months very well.
“Let’s meet again next time!”
His face was brighter than anyone’s as he saw off Song In and the Escort Agency people.
* * *
The short return route from Jung Myeong’s Medical Clinic to the Escort Agency.
Song In, who had returned directly to the Escort Agency.
He felt that the atmosphere of the Escort Agency was different from usual.
‘This is strange.’
Should he say it was quieter than usual?
The number of Escorts and Escort Leaders who should have been filling the Escort Agency also seemed fewer than usual.
“Go Pyo-du.”
“Oh? Song Pyo-du. You’re back! I thought you were living there permanently.”
He happened to see someone good to call.
Go Pyo-du. He was a colleague of Song In, both being Escort Leaders.
“Living there, what nonsense. How could I live there when they’re nagging from above?”
“Hehe. There were rumors that you made all sorts of excuses because you didn’t want to come back. You must have liked it there?”
“How could I not like it?”
“Well, I heard it was one of the few proper physicians around.”
“That’s right. Isn’t that enough?”
“It’s enough.”
The small talk was brief.
However, that was sufficient.
During their short conversation, they looked at each other and only needed to check that their limbs were intact.
They were Escorts who lived by the sword.
There was no need for long words.
What mattered was business.
“Right. But why is the Escort Agency so empty?”
“You don’t know.”
“Hmm?”
“Ah… You wouldn’t have received separate orders.”
“What orders do you mean?”
“I heard we need to strengthen our defenses thoroughly.”
“Defenses all of a sudden? Is there someone who would attack the Escort Agency?”
“Huh. Don’t you know?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s about Donghwa Guild these days. Ever since the Guild Leader made connections with Black Point, they’ve been running wild as they please.”
“To that extent?”
“Don’t even get me started. Now they’re acting up so much that we should call them Black Point Guild instead of Donghwa Guild.”
“Really? Are they trying to make up for their past losses?”
“That must be it. The losses accumulated from months of conflict wouldn’t be ordinary.”
“Tsk. Thanks to that, it’ll be chaotic for a month.”
“Probably?”
“Anyway, this damn Hangzhou never has a quiet moment.”
“That’s how it is.”
Donghwa Guild’s movements.
Strengthening defenses accordingly.
Since it wasn’t strange, he easily understood the situation.
The problem was what followed.
“I hate the noise too. But the problem is, while doing that, they seem to be taking this opportunity to strike at those they don’t like.”
“What? What are they doing?”
“Why are you surprised?”
“What are they doing with this opportunity?”
“Cleaning up the surroundings. Isn’t that what Evil Sects usually do?”
“…Damn it!”
“Hey! Escort Leader Song! Where are you going all of a sudden?!”
“There’s a place I need to go talk to.”
“What? So you’re going this way?”
“Sorry!”
Cleaning up the surroundings. These words bothered him greatly.
Because he could well predict how far the Donghwa Guild Leader’s reach would extend.
So Song In hurriedly quickened his steps.
* * *
Song In sought out the Deputy Head’s Office.
Namgung Yeon, who had recently become Deputy Agency Head. He came to see her.
Inside the room he entered, there were two new Escort Leaders he hadn’t seen at the Escort Agency.
‘New Escort Leaders? And… everyone was here.’
The Escort Leaders seated beside them were those who couldn’t be found when he first entered the Escort Agency.
There were more people than expected.
The past three months. It was a scene that showed how much influence she had gained within the family clan.
“Escort Leader Song In. You’ve come quite late?”
“I didn’t know such a gathering was taking place.”
“That’s understandable. You haven’t paid any attention to this side at all.”
“That’s…”
Before Song In could answer, Namgung Yeon waved her hand first.
Then, as if it had been arranged beforehand, those who had been occupying seats withdrew.
They didn’t say a single word of complaint.
A glimpse of Namgung Yeon’s dominance.
‘It seems the scales for the next succession have already tilted.’
While Song In was collecting his thoughts for a moment,
Namgung Yeon asked.
“What’s the reason for coming here, even if late?”
A question about why he had come. Song In answered without reservation.
“I heard the Medical Clinic is in danger.”
“The Medical Clinic. Coming after so long and immediately talking about the Medical Clinic. Hmm…”
Was there some expectation?
Namgung Yeon’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed.
However, Song In couldn’t back down either.
It was that Medical Clinic. Besides Jung Myeong, his close friends Gal Tae-gyeong and Eun Gyeol were there.
How could such a place be said to be in crisis?
“I’m sorry. But the situation…”
“It’s about Donghwa Guild, isn’t it?”
“…Did you know?”
“How could I not know? I was the first to deliver that news to the Escort Agency.”
“Ah…!”
Fortunately, Namgung Yeon knew the information.
That the Medical Clinic was in danger.
Song In was going to suggest helping him. Still, he knew well that justification was necessary.
He added words he didn’t mean.
“This is an opportunity.”
“An opportunity, you say?”
“Yes. Isn’t this a chance for our Escort Agency to put the Medical Clinic in our debt?”
“That’s right. Fortunately, our intentions align on that point.”
He had provided Namgung Yeon with justification to act.
She was someone who moved according to profit rather than being a Martial Artist.
To such a person, a chance to put the Medical Clinic in debt.
It was an uncommon opportunity.
Fortunately, she agreed.
Song In thought things would go well and added more words.
“Yes. So shouldn’t we hurry and go help them?”
“Help?”
“Yes. Now that I’m at the Escort Agency, I can see the situation seems to be moving urgently. Since time appears to be pressing, wouldn’t it be better to move quickly?”
“Come here.”
“Hmm…? Is there some problem…?”
“Unfortunately, I’m afraid I can’t agree with that.”
“What?”
However.
The response that followed was unexpected.
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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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