Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 42

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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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#042

 

“Gangcheon!”

 

“Brother!”

 

“Lord!”

 

Someone welcoming you back.

 

I never knew such a thing could feel this good.

 

I was grateful for their concern and moved by their relief at my safe return.

 

‘Would they have welcomed me like this even if I wasn’t the lord?’

 

There was no need to confirm it.

 

I could tell just by looking at Cheon-gu’s expression.

 

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

 

“Brother! Please tell us quickly what happened! I’m dying of curiosity!”

 

“You won’t actually die from curiosity, will you?”

 

“What? Ah…”

 

“I’m joking. I’ll tell you everything. First, the medicinal herb problem has been solved.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. I’ll tell you the whole story, so call the Merchant Guild Leader too.”

 

Pansuk ran off as if he’d been waiting for this.

 

“Don’t start without me, I’ll be right back!”

 

Leaving those words behind, he leaped over the wall, and I could see at a glance how much his lightness skill had improved.

 

“Auntie must have had a hard time.”

 

“It was fun.”

 

Considering he’d only been gone for a month, Pansuk’s progress was remarkable.

 

“His head may be slow, but his body is sharp.”

 

“He learns quickly with his body.”

 

“So I had him spar a lot. Once he grasped the principles of external martial arts, he applied them to internal energy and footwork too. It would be better for him to memorize with his head but understand with his body going forward.”

 

“I’m glad you’re here, Auntie.”

 

Her experience was a more valuable asset than anything.

 

“How is brother Pil-saeng?”

 

“I’m right here!”

 

“Huh?”

 

Pil-saeng was slowly approaching, leaning on crutches.

 

“Wow!”

 

Ja-gang-cheon quickly ran over to reduce Pil-saeng’s effort.

 

“Brother. That’s amazing?”

 

“I’m going to learn lightness skill too.”

 

“Of course you should!”

 

“I’ll learn lightness skill like crazy. I don’t think I have talent for fighting, so at least I want to be good at running away.”

 

“Have you forgotten whose son you are? There’s no way you don’t have talent for fighting.”

 

“I take after Father.”

 

As his body improved, his jokes increased too.

 

“Good. I’m amazing at lightness skill. If you can stand on both feet for just half a hour, I’ll teach you right away.”

 

“I heard it’s not a martial art you can just teach anyone.”

 

Martial artists treasured martial arts like their lives. As a result, they had to be stingy about passing on martial arts. The fewer people who learned a martial art, the higher its value.

 

But Ja-gang-cheon’s thinking was different.

 

“You’re family. For my people to be safe, they need to learn better martial arts.”

 

“You’re just built different from the start.”

 

Several reasons to object came to mind, but no one pointed them out.

 

‘The Lord can do that.’

 

They were at the manor because they liked his sincerity. They accepted Ja-gang-cheon’s goodwill as it was without distorting it.

 

Thud. Thud.

 

After a while, loud sounds came from far away in the manor, then Pansuk came over the wall carrying someone on his shoulder.

 

“Brother. Did we decide not to use doors?”

 

“Brother! I brought the Merchant Guild Leader!”

 

“Uncle Merchant Guild Leader is going to collapse.”

 

Jo Pilseong’s face was pale from how much he’d been shaken around.

 

“L-Lord. I’m gl-glad you returned sa-safely…”

 

“Breathe first. Come on. Relax.”

 

Only after Ja-gang-cheon patted his back for a while did Jo Pilseong’s breathing calm down. Pansuk scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward.

 

“I’m fine now. I’m really glad you’re safe.”

 

“I have a lot to tell you, so let’s start right away. If we’re late, brother Pansuk might throw me over the wall.”

 

“No way! Brother!”

 

“Everyone, let’s go to the rear garden.”

 

The pavilion was packed with people.

 

Even the youngest, So Cheon-i, had gathered because everyone was curious about Ja-gang-cheon’s story, regardless of whether they knew martial arts or not.

 

“First, I got information from Hao-mun and went to where Chosuhoe was gathering.”

 

Ja-gang-cheon told them in detail about what had happened to him from that point on. However, he kept his meeting with Ak-pung-jin secret. He judged that it wouldn’t be good for many people to know.

 

“Wow! So all the problems are solved?”

 

“It’s not just solved. If we receive medicinal herbs directly from Chosuhoe, it’s much better than before. There will be no shortage in quality, price, or quantity.”

 

Just looking at the Merchant Guild Leader’s face, you could tell what an excellent result this was. Moreover, developing a deep relationship with the Chosuhoe leader was also a great benefit.

 

“But how did the distribution business expansion go?”

 

“We’re aggressively moving in. We’re intensively targeting the Gangwon, Henan, and Hebei markets, and merchants who couldn’t get goods before are flocking to us, so the response is good. Some merchants from Shandong Inland are even hiding their identities to buy from us.”

 

Cheon-gu picked up from there.

 

“Shandong Trading Guild overreached. That’s showing up as a problem.”

 

“That’s right. Already complaints about Shandong Trading Guild are coming out in Gyeonam Market. They must be very angry since we’re about to take away all their distribution network.”

 

Trust is the lifeblood of merchant guilds.

 

Especially ice-based distribution was a high-margin business, so unilaterally stopping it was a very big discourtesy. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say trust had completely collapsed.

 

Thanks to this, the East Sea Merchant Guild, which directly produced ice, was able to absorb the existing distribution network in large numbers.

 

“Good. This time, don’t show mercy and push forward decisively.”

 

“I will do so.”

 

Jo Pilseong, his face full of smiles, seemed eager to quickly inform the merchant guild of the news.

 

“You can go now.”

 

“Yes. Thank you, Lord.”

 

It was when people had eaten the remaining refreshments and dispersed.

 

“Lord. When you’ve recovered from your travel fatigue, please give me some time.”

 

It was Song Ja-in.

 

“I’m fine even now. Coming home makes even the fatigue disappear, you know?”

 

“Then I’ll serve you tea. Subordinate and Pansuk come in too. You’ll find out anyway.”

 

Song Ja-in later personally brewed tea with a tea set filled with hot water.

 

But even the three people who weren’t skilled in tea ceremony were surprised by the tea fragrance that spread.

 

“It has a refreshing floral scent.”

 

“It’s a mixture of chrysanthemum and mint fragrances. It’s a secret technique of Dogok.”

 

“Wow! Then do we have to take Dogok antidote pills after drinking this?”

 

“You’ll know if you try it.”

 

Song Ja-in smiled briefly and began her story.

 

“I first entered Dogok when I was six years old. For me, an orphan with no one in the world, Dogok was my only refuge. But Dogok had been separated from the world for too long. Things that would anger heaven and man were being done as if they were completely natural.”

 

Making healthy people sick and experimenting on living people was considered normal. People brought through kidnapping and human trafficking were regarded as nothing more than test subjects.

 

Masters would poison their disciples and then research antidotes, and they would even spread poison in small mountain villages.

 

Research achievements accumulated rapidly, but that twisted competition led to internal division.

 

“Dogok was no longer a place worth existing. I had to end that fighting. After many twists and turns, I killed those who were my mentors and rose to the position of valley master. Then I declared the dissolution of Dogok to the survivors.”

 

There were barely thirty survivors left.

 

“I erased all records of them. Originally, I planned to take everything upon myself and go to the afterlife. I was already severely poisoned at that time.”

 

That was when she was thirty-five years old.

 

“That’s when I met my husband and he saved me. After that, it’s as you all know.”

 

The explanation was very brief compared to her tragic fate.

 

“Sob!”

 

The one who suddenly burst into tears was Pansuk.

 

Unable to control himself at Pansuk’s honest emotion, Ja-gang-cheon also hugged Song Ja-in tightly. Cheon-gu didn’t express it directly, but he secretly wiped his eyes while pretending not to cry.

 

Their reaction left Song Ja-in bewildered.

 

‘Such young people are comforting me.’

 

It felt unfamiliar.

 

No one except her husband had ever embraced her like this.

 

“How much pain she must have endured. I can’t even imagine.”

 

Despite having his own tragic past, Ja-gang-cheon first empathized with others’ pain.

 

That pure heart touched Song Ja-in’s heart once again.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Song Ja-in felt emotional. But she had enough experience to control her tears.

 

“Thank you all. I’m receiving all the compensation for my difficult life here.”

 

Having composed her emotions, she spoke while changing the atmosphere.

 

“Now I want to earn my keep a little.”

 

“Earn your keep?”

 

“I can’t just play and eat. I was wondering how to earn my keep, but Lord solved my dilemma.”

 

“I did?”

 

“Chosuhoe. If I can receive medicinal materials from them, I can properly earn my keep.”

 

Come to think of it, she was the first one to mention Chosuhoe.

 

“I want to try making new Deungmyeong pills.”

 

Everyone’s thinking stopped for a moment at this unexpected statement, but Cheon-gu realized first.

 

“Ah! Dogok!”

 

“Subordinate hyung. Why Dogok?”

 

“Throughout the Central Plains, where would be the best place at making medicine?”

 

At that question, everyone’s minds became clear.

 

“Ah. No wonder that’s why pill research was possible…”

 

When they first met Song Ja-in, she said she would research Deungmyeong pills.

 

Where did all that knowledge come from?

 

At the time, she said it was knowledge from her husband who was a physician, but in reality, it was knowledge from Dogok.

 

“I learned a lot from Chosaneuiseo. I think excellent results will come from combining it with Dogok’s knowledge.”

 

Then Song Ja-in spoke with wistful eyes as if making a wish.

 

“Now I want to make medicine that saves people.”

 

Who could refuse her sincerity?

 

“Please do as much as you want. I’ll gratefully accept your contribution.”

 

“Thank you, Lord.”

 

It was the moment when the Central Plains’ greatest pharmaceutical knowledge came together as one.

 

***

 

April, as the days grew warmer.

 

Clang!

 

A loud noise came from the secret brothel operated by Gu Dong-gu.

 

Delicacies rolled around under the overturned table, and the courtesans trembled, unable to even flee.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

Gu Dong-gu, half-bent at the waist, kept his mouth shut while sweating profusely.

 

“I told you to say it again!”

 

Clang!

 

A flying plate hit Gu Dong-gu’s head and shattered.

 

“The Jiaonan Merchant Guild Leaders are visiting the East Sea Merchant Guild requesting ice. But since the East Sea Merchant Guild is refusing this, the guild leaders are holding a meeting…”

 

The fact that they visited the East Sea Merchant Guild itself meant they would ignore Hwangbo Guild’s orders.

 

“So what can those worthless bastards do by gathering together?”

 

“They will probably demand compensation from Shandong Trading Company.”

 

“Crazy bastards!”

 

Hwangbo Taeseong was irritated.

 

“This bastard and that bastard, not one of them does their job properly!”

 

Since he threw everything he could get his hands on, Gu Dong-gu’s body was covered with stains of alcohol and food.

 

‘Stupid bastard. What have you done then?’

 

Originally, while Shandong Trading Company blocked the supply of medicinal materials, Hwangbo Taeseong was supposed to shake Deungmyeong Manor.

 

The purpose was to make Ja-gang-cheon, unable to overcome his anger, cross the line first, but far from achieving his purpose, he had never even seen his face.

 

No matter how much he harassed them, the East Sea Merchant Guild Leader didn’t report to Deungmyeong Manor, and after being forced to inform them, the Lord left the manor.

 

So he deliberately picked fights with several people including Inryeok Sojangnin at the port.

 

The result?

 

‘Song Ja-in stepped forward.’

 

At that sight, Hwangbo Taeseong immediately tucked his tail and hid.

 

Since he received daily curses and nagging from Shandong Trading Company leader Hwangbo Jeong, only Gu Dong-gu and the courtesans became targets for venting his anger.

 

‘Except for being Hwangbo Clan bloodline, he has nothing.’

 

There was a reason why Hwangbo Taeseong was the first to drop out of the Hwangbo Clan succession competition.

 

Nevertheless, the status of being Hwangbo Clan bloodline was too necessary for Gu Dong-gu.

 

“Young Master. A large amount of medicinal materials was supplied to Deungmyeong Manor today.”

 

“What!”

 

As Hwangbo Taeseong was about to throw another cup, Gu Dong-gu quickly continued his next words.

 

“Now the East Sea Merchant Guild has found a way to help themselves. So we need to block people, not goods.”

 

“What other dog-like nonsense are you trying to say!”

 

“There’s an East Sea Merchant Guild labor office at the port. The labor office manager there is someone called So Yeon-dok, who’s from the Black Society.”

 

“So?”

 

“How many people would hold grudges against the Black Society?”

 

Hwangbo Taeseong, who had been raging, paused.

 

“Continue speaking.”

 

He showed interest in Gu Dong-gu’s words.

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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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