Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 11

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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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#011

“The Black Society in Jiao-nan has been almost entirely monopolized by Uirimdan for the past ten years.”

“Almost means not completely?”

“Right. There’s one more. A place called Haerongbang that manages the South Market, but it’s incredibly small compared to Uirimdan.”

Originally, various Black Society groups fought for territory as the market was large, but ten years ago Uirimdan appeared and unified everything.

The reason the small group called Haerongbang survived was simple.

“They left the South Market alone because it doesn’t make money. There’s no reason to bother managing it.”

This was exactly where the East Sea Merchant Guild was currently located.

“But why are they suddenly interfering now?”

“Because of Donghaejoo. We went on this southern trade mission because Donghaejoo became very popular. We were on our way back after closing a big contract when this happened.”

They had left it alone because it wasn’t profitable, but now that was no longer the case.

“The merchants are very worried too. Haerongbang only took a few coins as nominal protection fees. But if Uirimdan moves in, they’ll definitely squeeze us dry. The Central Market has high profits from the start so they can somehow endure it, but the South Market absolutely can’t.”

Ja-gang-cheon fell into quiet thought. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

“If it’s so unreasonable, why are you just watching?”

“Because we have no power.”

“You could report it to the authorities. Or tell martial arts forces like the Wudang Sect.”

“The first thing Black Society groups do is create backing in the government offices. And martial arts forces can’t touch Uirimdan either. They have an incredible master as their backing. It was their power that allowed Uirimdan to control Jiao-nan’s back alleys.”

This was the background of how Jiao-nan’s back alleys were unified ten years ago.

“Who is that?”

“Gwimyeon Ssangssal.”

For the first time, Ja-gang-cheon’s expression, which had only shown curiosity, changed.

Seeing his unpleasant expression, Cheon-gu asked in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you talking about the old twins called Gwimyeon Ssangssal?”

“How did you know?”

“You said there was a fight with Wudang Sect masters in the forest. The opponents then were Gwimyeon Ssangssal.”

Even the always calm Cheon-gu was so shocked that he could only gape.

He had only heard that there was a fight, but never imagined it could have been Gwimyeon Ssangssal.

These were the ones called the Shandong Demons.

Even Hwangbo Sega, called the master of Shandong Province, showed them respect. To think he had fought such figures.

“I thought the Wudang Sect masters had defeated them.”

Cheon-gu, with an even more serious expression than Ja-gang-cheon, closed his eyes and fell into thought. Then he reached a conclusion.

“You should leave Jiao-nan. Nothing good will come from encountering Gwimyeon Ssangssal.”

“If I leave here, how will I build a boat? The only people I can trust are you and the Merchant Guild Leader here. You want me to start over somewhere else?”

Cheon-gu couldn’t bring himself to tell him to go alone either.

“I’ll go with you again this time.”

“You really are my friend.”

Ja-gang-cheon patted Cheon-gu’s shoulder. It was a gesture he had learned from Cheon-gu a few days ago.

“Is this right?”

“No. That’s for comforting or encouraging someone.”

“Then what do you do when you’re moved?”

“You already did it with your expression. You don’t need to do more.”

It was a problem difficult for Ja-gang-cheon to fully understand.

“But if things continue like this, won’t those guys bother the Merchant Guild Leader?”

“They probably will.”

“Then that’s not acceptable.”

“The Merchant Guild Leader needs to come up with a plan too. Having you here won’t help. If Gwimyeon Ssangssal gets involved, your life could really be in danger.”

“Is there a plan?”

“They’ll probably negotiate. Since Uirimdan has made their move, they’ll have to accept some losses.”

Ja-gang-cheon thought for a moment, then said to Cheon-gu.

“Could you tell me more details? About Gwimyeon Ssangssal and the Black Society guys.”

Cheon-gu told him everything he knew.

***

It was evening with the sunset glowing.

Ja-gang-cheon sat on the roof of the 3-story inn where all of Zhen-hai Port could be seen at a glance.

“So I’ve come to this place.”

He had been moving so busily that he hadn’t properly taken in this scenery.

So today he wanted to leisurely observe the sea, the port, and the people living within it.

“It’s beautiful.”

The sea breaking with white foam.

Various boats slowly coming in for rest.

People moving energetically in the port.

The port scene viewed from afar looked like a well-composed painting.

Seeing this reminded him of what his parents had said.

-As a gift for your fifteenth birthday, I’ll give you the world.

-Son. There are many interesting things in the wider world.

Why had they been so determined to leave the island?

Ja-gang-cheon realized the reason.

“I think I understand what it means to live.”

On the uninhabited island, his parents had said this.

-We’re trapped.

They said it wasn’t really living.

They said life was having land you couldn’t walk across in a lifetime, food you couldn’t eat all of even in a lifetime, meeting new people every day, and sometimes visiting your oldest friends.

“But do my parents have somewhere to go?”

This was why Ja-gang-cheon couldn’t be completely happy.

“The Wudang Sect and North Cheon City will abandon mother and father. Then they’ll hurt much more than me, won’t they?”

At the Wudang Sect, Ja-gang-cheon had learned one emotion.

“Sadness.”

He had known sadness on the uninhabited island too. Sometimes his parents would fight, and sadness was embedded in the sighs they let out while looking at the monster-like sea.

‘So this is real sadness.’

The emotion he felt at the Wudang Sect was intense enough to make his chest ache. Even now, thinking of his father made him feel like crying.

“Our parents did nothing wrong.”

He wondered what he should do.

Ja-gang-cheon didn’t move from that spot until the sunset faded and night fell.

Even as people’s footsteps became sparse, the sea remained lit by the lights from fishing boats.

Lights illuminating the dark night.

And in the distance, he could see a lighthouse shining on the sea.

“Someday I’ll bring my parents and follow that light.”

Imagining that moment warmed his heart briefly. But there was an unresolved problem.

“They won’t have a place to stay.”

Wasn’t there a way to comfort his parents’ sense of loss when they lost their hometown?

Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Since they can’t return to their old hometown, let’s create a new one.”

Ja-gang-cheon looked once more at the sea under the starlight.

“This place would be good. It’s where they’ll arrive first, and there’s a beautiful sea too.”

He hoped the first land his parents would step on would be a warm place.

***

Bang!

The old wooden door broke apart pathetically.

The man who tumbled down among the fragments glared resentfully at the man approaching him.

“What is the meaning of this! Even back-alley thugs have honor they must uphold!”

The one barely managing to get up while clutching his broken ribs was Haeryongbang’s leader So Yeon-dok.

He was a man in his early forties with shortly cropped hair and piercing eyes that left a strong impression. Wearing a light long robe and comfortable pants, if you met him at the port, he would have looked like a strong-willed sea man.

“To stab a merchant guild in the back when we’re collecting protection fees! Then who would trust us and pay protection money?

Before So Yeon-dok could finish speaking, a man appeared and swung his hand.

Smack!

Blood spurted from So Yeon-dok’s mouth and nose as he was slapped.

Falling down again, he gritted his teeth and spat out a curse.

“You damn bastard who deserves to die by the blade…”

It was a phrase that Black Society people particularly hated. Because many of them actually did die by the blade.

“Whether you die by blade or get chopped by an axe, that’s decided by those with power. Like me right now.”

The man with a long face and slit eyes spoke while twirling his goatee.

Uirimdan leader Cha Seok-chu.

So Yeon-dok glared at him while grinding his teeth.

“Haven’t you ever thought that you guys have been living in luxury all this time because our Uirimdan let you be?”

“You’ve already extorted plenty of money.”

“That’s exactly the point. After all that, you should know who’s on top. Yet you dare try to meet us at eye level.”

“I merely refused an unreasonable order.”

“Unreasonable order? Does such a thing exist in the back alleys? You must have lived quite righteously.”

At those words, the goateed man and his subordinates burst into laughter simultaneously.

“Now. This is your last chance. Bring the potter who makes Donghaejoo before me by tomorrow. Whether you cook and boil him, or threaten him, figure it out yourself.”

“You crazy…”

Thud!

So Yeon-dok fell backward after being kicked once again.

“Until tomorrow. If it’s not resolved by then, Haeryongbang will be thrown to the fish as food.”

Cha Seok-chu left behind a mocking sneer until the very end as he turned away.

‘Damn it.’

So Yeon-dok, sprawled in his own courtyard, stared blankly at the sky.

The frustration from his current situation was far greater than the physical pain he felt.

Creak!

After some time had passed, someone entered through the door that barely had its hinges left.

“Boss! What is this state you’re in?”

It was Bu Bangju, who had been with him since the founding of Haeryongbang. He had rushed over after hearing the news late.

“Don’t make a fuss and go get me a bottle of liquor.”

“What liquor when you’re beaten up like you’re about to die?”

“That’s exactly why I need to drink. I’ll have a refreshing drink and then distribute whatever’s left to the boys.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I need to give you guys money to move away, don’t I? If we stay here any longer, we’ll all die. If I listen to that bastard, we’ll spend our lives wiping his ass, and if I refuse, he’ll really kill us.”

Bu Bangju finally couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Boss! Let’s just have it out with them!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. If someone has to die, it should be me alone. What did the younger brothers do wrong? Just bring the liquor.”

“Sigh. Let’s drink together then. Since we might die tomorrow, I’ll bring good liquor today.”

As Bu Bangju was about to turn around, someone else came looking for him.

A young boy with an innocent expression looked at the fallen So Yeon-dok and asked.

“Is this Haeryongbang?”

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m Ja-gang-cheon. And this is my friend Cheon-gu.”

“I wasn’t asking for your name?”

“Then what were you asking?”

Bu Bangju wondered what kind of crazy person had come and turned his gaze to the lying boss.

Boss So Yeon-dok raised his upper body slightly with an annoyed expression to look at the young uninvited guest.

“What do you want?”

“Ah! That’s what you were asking? You guys got beaten by Uirimdan, right?”

“These bastards!”

Before those words finished, Ja-gang-cheon moved.

Whoosh!

So Yeon-dok couldn’t even comprehend what had happened to him.

He had been lying in the courtyard with his body slightly raised, but when he came to his senses, he was up on a rooftop.

The problem was that this rooftop was quite far from where he originally was. In an instant, he had moved at least 10 jang. And that was while dragging along his full-grown adult body.

‘With this level of lightness skill, he’s a master!’

It was truly tremendous lightness skill.

“Mister. I have something I’m curious about.”

“Yes? Ugh! P-please speak.”

Even amid the pain from his broken ribs, his manner of speech became polite.

“What’s the reason those Uirimdan guys suddenly started targeting Donghaejoo? They were quiet until now.”

“It’s simple. Its value has risen a lot compared to before. There were even rumors that it was popular on the southern trade routes. And with the Merchant Guild Leader missing, anyone would have wanted to devour it. Unfortunately, Uirimdan was one of them.”

“But he came back.”

“He came back in perfect condition to be devoured, all beaten up.”

“Then were you also targeting Donghaejoo?”

“If I had been targeting that, I wouldn’t have been beaten by those Uirimdan Members today. I ended up like this because I refused.”

Actually, Ja-gang-cheon had been watching that scene from a while ago. He just wanted to hear the reason directly.

“Then Boss. Let’s do this.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’ll take care of Uirimdan for you. In return, help me while I’m dealing with them.”

“What?”

“It won’t take long.”

So Yeon-dok’s instincts rang alarm bells fiercely.

‘Crazy people are bound to do crazy things.’

Getting involved in those crazy acts brings consequences.

‘But do I have a choice?’

So Yeon-dok glanced at Ja-gang-cheon.

Their eyes met, and Ja-gang-cheon had unbelievably innocent and clear eyes.

‘If a crazy person doesn’t know they’re crazy, then they’re truly completely insane.’

Clueless Black Society members have short lifespans.

The fact that he had survived Uirimdan’s tyranny until now was because he was quick to read situations.

But when he didn’t hear the answer he wanted, Ja-gang-cheon’s smile began to disappear.

‘What the…’

Like darkness that comes after the sun falls, his innocent emotions and expression were erased.

What remained was complete expressionlessness and indifferent eyes.

Facing this, So Yeon-dok unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

‘He’s someone capable of anything.’

Feeling an intense survival instinct, he immediately bowed his head.

“I’ll do it.”

“Thank you.”

From the perspective of one who had been subjugated, it was a frustratingly kind expression.

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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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