Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 27

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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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#027

Deungmyeong Detox Pills, Deungmyeong Golden Warehouse Pills, Deungmyeong Energy Pills.

They began preparations to create the medicines with these names.

“It feels a bit strange doing this somewhere other than underground.”

Yang Mosu, who had always made medicines underground, felt good just from the fact that he was making them above ground.

“But we do need to have an underground area. There are things that need to be stored in shade. It would be even better if we could use ice.”

“Request anything you need.”

Under Yang Mosu’s leadership, a medicine preparation room was created within Deungmyeong Manor.

They decided to renovate an unused guest quarters, where three people including Yang Mosu would stay and create the core ingredients for the medicines.

The mass production facility had to be built outside, and Yang Mosu and So Yeon-dok consulted and decided on a location near the merchant guild.

“I’ll take care of the rest. Medicine will probably take some time to build trust. So initially, even if we take losses, we’ll focus on making the effects known.”

At Cheon-gu’s words, Ja-gang-cheon simply nodded. He thought his role was only to hand over the medicine preparation methods.

Cheon-gu would handle earning the money.

“If this medicine succeeds, will we be able to build a ship?”

This was the reason Ja-gang-cheon was going to the trouble of making medicine.

“It’s possible. And if the medicine succeeds, not only money but the manor’s reputation will rise, so it’ll help with persuasion.”

They couldn’t pay the cost of building a ship all at once. Ultimately, from Manpilwoong’s perspective as a shipbuilding expert, there needed to be faith that funds would be supplied without problems going forward.

Moreover, to move a retired craftsman who had returned to his hometown required exceptional conditions.

“I will definitely make it succeed.”

Cheon-gu’s determination was incredibly reassuring to Ja-gang-cheon.

“Don’t overdo it. I know you study without sleeping every day.”

Cheon-gu’s current knowledge wasn’t something he originally had. When Ja-gang-cheon showed interest, he would deliberately study.

“Since I started martial arts training, my stamina has improved. Even sleeping for just two hours leaves me completely refreshed.”

“Our father would like you if he saw you. He said studying should be done consistently too. I didn’t study much because I liked martial arts.”

“I can do both well.”

“Right. Take everything you want. I’ll support you.”

“While I’m taking everything, what will you take?”

“I’ll just take one world. Father gave me the world as a fifteenth birthday present.”

Cheon-gu thought Ja-gang-cheon’s final answer was truly fitting.

***

Gyeonam Market was facing major changes.

First, the black market that had been closed was revived, and the number of ships coming and going increased noticeably.

For now it was just recovery to previous levels, but the scale of wealth moving secretly was clearly different.

The black market managed by Hao-mun boasted an excellent level that made comparison with the past meaningless.

A market run by exploited back-alley black society couldn’t be the same as one run by the martial arts world’s largest force that took all the profits.

Ships entering the port increased day by day, and naturally the commercial district came alive.

Such changing commercial districts became opportunities for some and crises for others.

The Donghai Merchant Guild, which had recently achieved remarkable growth in Gyeonam Market and attracted attention, was no exception.

Donghai Merchant Guild Leader Jo Pilseong.

Though he tried to smile, he came to Deungmyeong Manor looking noticeably tired.

“Uncle Merchant Guild Leader. Welcome.”

Ja-gang-cheon first led him to the rear garden.

After Pansuk placed tea between them and withdrew, Ja-gang-cheon spoke.

“Have some tea and rest a bit. You look very tired.”

“I haven’t been able to sleep at all lately.”

“Is it because you’re too busy?”

“Actually, it’s more that I have worries.”

There was a reason he had come looking so tired. Forgetting that his tea was cooling, Jo Pilseong sighed and began to speak.

“Lord. Recently, Gyeonam Market has been changing rapidly. Our guild’s business has expanded and we’ve had opportunities to challenge unfamiliar fields.”

Recently, various cooperation requests had come in from other merchant guilds. Anyone could see it was a good situation, but not Jo Pilseong.

“I don’t think I’m the right person to handle those changes.”

This was his worry.

“I thought I managed the Donghaejoo and ice business fairly well. But recently, as our guild has attracted attention and opportunities have arisen in various businesses, making decisions has become increasingly difficult. It seems my capacity can’t contain a large merchant guild.”

Being cautious made his decisions slow, and sometimes he missed opportunities.

Previously, that personality had made the guild stable, but now it became a heavy and frustrating weakness.

As the opportunities lost due to himself became highlighted, he couldn’t trust his decisions about current problems either.

It was a vicious cycle.

“It must have been very difficult.”

“My difficulties are fine. I just feel sorry for the people who trust me.”

“No.”

Ja-gang-cheon spoke firmly.

“Uncle’s difficulties are the biggest problem.”

“Ah. Right. Because I’m lacking…”

“That’s not what I mean. I just meant it hurts my heart that uncle is struggling.”

Jo Pilseong, who had been sharing his serious worries, was moved. He hadn’t come expecting a solution in the first place. Ja-gang-cheon wasn’t suitable for receiving advice about guild matters.

Perhaps he had come wanting this kind of comfort?

But even this thought was his mistake.

“But uncle. There’s something I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

Ja-gang-cheon began speaking calmly.

“I think I’m doing well as the lord of this manor.”

“Of course you are.”

“But I don’t even know how much this manor’s operating costs are. I don’t know if the storehouse is full, how many workers we need, or where needs repairs.”

“You are the center of the manor and have entrusted that work to Subordinate and Pansuk. So you don’t need to know such things.”

“Then why don’t you do the same, uncle?”

“What?”

Ja-gang-cheon tilted his head.

“Cheon-gu and brother Pansuk do what I can’t do. So uncle should find such people too. You said there are many excellent merchants in the world.”

Jo Pilseong felt like the fog in his mind was clearing. But Ja-gang-cheon’s story wasn’t over yet.

“Though Cheon-gu and brother Pansuk handle all the practical operations, I still think I’m doing well as the lord.”

“Of course. Everyone here gathered around you as the center, so you’re playing the most important role.”

“What about you, uncle?”

“I can’t be an outstanding person like you, Lord.”

“That’s not true…”

Ja-gang-cheon asked a question.

“There’s a kid who used to sell dried fish at the port and joined the guild, right? The one with a mole under his left eye. Was he 14?”

“That’s Yang Cheol-i. And he’s not 14, he’s 13. He’s still too young so we only use him as an assistant.”

“See? How many guild leaders would memorize the name and circumstances of a child who joined just three days ago? And he’s not even an official guild member.”

“Well, he’s my family so naturally…”

“Moreover, you brought back guild members who had been sold into human trafficking, even taking big losses. That’s why you should be the guild leader.”

Jo Pilseong’s heart warmed.

“Thank you, Lord.”

“I’m also among the people who trust you, uncle. Please know that this isn’t an easy thing either.”

Jo Pilseong stood up with a relieved expression. Then, Ja-gang-cheon asked one question.

“What kind of tea do you like, Uncle Merchant Guild Leader?”

“What? Why suddenly…”

“So I can serve it next time you come. It would be nice if you could rest for a while drinking warm tea.”

The emotion he had been holding back swept through Jo Pilseong’s entire body.

“Thank you, Lord.”

“Don’t lose heart.”

Jo Pilseong bowed and left the manor.

***

Thud!

Two large men threw a man like a sack of goods.

The man in his late twenties, who rolled on the ground with a dull sound, clutched his chest. His heart hurt more than his back that had hit the floor.

“How could you do this to me?”

A person appeared at the large gate he was looking at.

The fat man with a goatee showed a clear sneer.

“Why blame me when your own capacity is small?”

He was the owner of Haeshin Guild, which distributed the most seafood in Jiao-nan. Three years ago, he had given the man a share of the dried fish business.

The man had greatly expanded the business, saying he would regard him as a lifelong benefactor, and had grown into a Merchant Guild Leader with three fishing boats.

Now he was catching fish directly and had even built a dried fish warehouse, but the Subordinate who had started the guild with him said something strange.

-We must return the business to the Haeshin Guild Leader.

What he saw was a contract with that content written on it. But he swore he had never written such a contract.

“Was giving me a Subordinate from the beginning for this purpose?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The Subordinate who betrayed him was originally from Haeshin Guild. When he received the dried fish business share, the Haeshin Guild Leader had personally assigned him, saying he would be helpful.

Not knowing this, he had shared everything for three years, but in the end, even the business he had built up was completely handed over.

“You bastard!”

Finally unable to contain his anger, the man rushed toward the Merchant Guild Leader. But with his already injured body, he couldn’t get past the two sturdy gatekeepers.

“Break both his legs so he can never come near here again.”

The Haeshin Guild Leader gave the order while stroking his goatee.

‘He would have devoured me someday.’

He was born for business. So he eliminated a competitor in advance. Of course, it was a waste to have raised him, so he took some profit.

He had deliberately given him business rights, then stolen what he had built up.

“Hehe. This is how you run a merchant guild.”

“Argh!”

At the final greeting from the person he had once respected, the man screamed.

“Why are you screaming already? You’ll have plenty to cry about from now on.”

Thud!

The gatekeepers who had thrown the man to the ground raised their clubs.

“Stop. That’s enough.”

“What bastard is interfering…”

The gatekeepers were shocked and backed away when they saw who had appeared.

So Yeon-dok, the Labor Office manager of Donghai Merchant Guild.

Though he was still looked down upon by orthodox Merchant Guild Leaders because of his Black Society origins, for the same reason, he was someone they were reluctant to confront directly.

The gatekeepers who met his cold gaze didn’t dare swing their clubs.

“Can you stand up?”

“Th-thank you.”

The man gritted his teeth and stood up.

So Yeon-dok took a step closer to him.

“If you want to hang yourself or drown in a liquor vat, come find Donghai Merchant Guild. If you’re going to hell, you should at least take one person with you. Don’t you think?”

So Yeon-dok casually pointed at Haeshin Guild’s signboard.

***

Yonggu, one of the three major ports in Shandong Province.

A man walked out trudging from the government office there.

He was limping from long imprisonment, and covered in all kinds of filth, so no one wanted to come near him.

But one man approached him without even frowning and extended his hand.

“I’m Jo Pilseong, leader of Donghai Merchant Guild.”

“You’re the person who got me out?”

“You seem displeased? After about three years of imprisonment on false charges, it seemed time to come out, right? Was prison that comfortable?”

It couldn’t have been comfortable.

After three years in prison, it was fortunate that his body, covered in filth, hadn’t rotted to death.

“You were held without official documents. They probably intended to keep you locked up until you died.”

“But you managed to get me out well.”

“It cost a lot of money. And I also made a promise to leave this town.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I need your talent and temperament. I’ll pay a sufficient price, so sell yourself to me.”

“Better than someone who just locks people up arbitrarily. Still, being a slave is better than being a prisoner.”

At the self-deprecating laugh, Jo Pilseong recalled his rumors.

-There was a young Merchant Guild Leader who inherited his father’s business and greatly expanded it. But it seems a competing guild mobilized the government office. They framed him to absorb and divide up his guild. He only conducted business honestly and made no preparations for such things.

If he had even minimal backing, this wouldn’t have happened.

It was the result of the naive belief that doing business well was enough.

“Whether you’ll be a slave or colleague depends on what you do.”

The man had no choice. He turned and followed behind Jo Pilseong as he walked away.

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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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