Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 50
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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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#050
-In Dogok, two types of tea are served.
Gok-eun-cha, also called mountain god tea as it’s said to be bestowed by the mountain god.
And Yosal tea , which has a heavenly fragrance but is actually extremely poisonous.
Swirl.
Before filling Yeon-hee’s teacup, Song Ja-in gently swirled the teapot. Then she placed a single tea leaf fragment only in her cup.
‘This senile poison witch.’
The reason for filling her teacup differently from the others was clear.
‘How dare she mock me?’
Yeon-hee watched Song Ja-in as she lifted the teacup and brought it to her lips without hesitation.
‘Does she think I’ll be scared?’
She wasn’t the Dan-ju of Hao-mun for nothing.
Even if she didn’t know martial arts, she took pride in being the best when it came to poisons.
“The tea is excellent. This kind of experience…”
She stopped speaking while making polite conversation.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s actually tea like this in the world.”
She was genuinely surprised.
When it came to tea, she was someone with tremendous pride. But the tea she had just drunk erased all the experiences she had considered the best until now.
‘Compared to Gok-eun-cha, other teas are nothing but rainwater.’
The taste was so stunning that it momentarily stopped her thoughts, so Yeon-hee lifted the teacup again.
While she drank two cups, no one around said a word.
“It was truly a wonderful experience. Senior.”
“It’s a reward for playing your role well.”
“You won’t be standing behind me today.”
“That too is a reward. But don’t think it will always be like this.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
When the tea ceremony ended, Yeon-hee returned to the main topic.
“The Hwangbo Clan will likely enter negotiations soon. There’s a possibility the Lord himself will come forward.”
At those words, one corner of Ja-gang-cheon’s mouth rose.
“You’re not surprised. Did you expect this?”
Bringing the Hwangbo Clan Lord to the negotiation table was entirely thanks to Yeon-hee’s skill. She thought Ja-gang-cheon would be at least a little surprised, but he wasn’t at all.
“Was calling the Lord your purpose from the beginning?”
“It’s best to negotiate with the boss, right? There won’t be any complaints afterward.”
“That’s true when negotiations go well.”
“With you here, what could go wrong?”
Seeing Ja-gang-cheon’s shameless attitude, Yeon-hee’s mind became complicated.
‘It seems like he’s thinking something dangerous?’
The Ja-gang-cheon she understood was ‘someone without boundaries.’
Usually kind and innocent, but when fighting began, he became more vicious than most Demonic Sect members.
‘He’s not planning to trap the Hwangbo Clan Lord, is he?’
If that happened, Hao-mun could never escape responsibility.
“Sister. What are you so anxious about? Are you worried I might kill the Lord or something?”
Ja-gang-cheon saying this was so infuriating that in her imagination, she slapped him several times.
***
Hwangbo Clan Lord Hwangbo Baek.
His father was called the Fist Sovereign , and he was called the Fist Saint .
Known for his bold personality, he was called Fierce Tiger Face because his thick eyebrows and square jaw reminded people of a wild beast.
“The evaluation of him is somewhat exaggerated.”
It was exactly the tenth day since capturing Merchant Guild Leader Hwangbo Jeong.
A letter bearing the Hwangbo Clan’s seal arrived at Deungmyeong Manor.
The content stated that in five days, at noon, the Lord and four others would visit the manor.
Yeon-hee, who came to deliver that letter, provided detailed information about the Hwangbo Clan.
“His reputation is exaggerated?”
“Yes. His father Hwangbo Jinseong was truly skilled enough that the title Fist Sovereign wasn’t lacking at all. Even if not among the Five Absolutes of the Martial Arts World, he was someone who could enter the Ten Great Masters. But the title Fist Saint is too much for the current Lord.”
Her evaluation was cold and frank.
“But that’s only information about Hwangbo Jeong’s individual martial arts. When the position of Hwangbo Clan Lord is added, he becomes a completely different person. Just because the Lord’s martial arts are lower doesn’t mean the Hwangbo Clan’s power disappears.”
Only one Lord had died on Gwigok Island.
“Rather, you should be more careful of the elders who aren’t known in the martial arts world than the Lord. There’s even a saying that a clan’s real power comes from the council of elders.”
A Lord isn’t decided by the level of martial arts. They choose the person most helpful to the clan. So the Lord wasn’t necessarily the greatest master.
“Well. My information ends here. Now would you tell me your thoughts, Jangju?”
“My purpose is simple. To live happily with the people I care about in Jiao-nan.”
“Good. I hope you don’t forget that fact even during negotiations. By the way, Hwangbo Jeong is doing well, right?”
“Want to see for yourself?”
“Yes. I don’t want any variables. I’ll check in advance.”
Following Ja-gang-cheon’s guidance, she moved to the warehouse where Hwangbo Jeong was imprisoned.
“You kept him here?”
If it were Hao-mun, they would have confined him in a proper room.
Creak.
When the warehouse door opened, sunlight illuminated the interior.
“No way…”
Hwangbo Jeong was visible, covered in blood from severe beatings.
“Jangju. Why on earth did you do this?”
“I didn’t do it.”
Ja-gang-cheon pointed to someone leaning against the warehouse wall.
It was Gu Dong-gu, so battered that it wouldn’t be strange if he died right now.
His characteristic belly had long since disappeared, and a deep shadow had fallen over his face, which had endured all kinds of hardships.
“He beat him up in that condition?”
“Hwangbo Jeong tried to kill Gu Dong-gu first.”
“What?”
“I also stopped Gu Dong-gu from trying to kill Hwangbo Jeong. If you think about it, I saved them.”
Even experienced Yeon-hee couldn’t immediately understand this situation.
Yeon-hee went directly to Hwangbo Jeong.
“Since I’m here, you can guess what this is about, right? People from the Hwangbo Clan will come soon.”
Yeon-hee continued in a gentle voice.
“It’s better if neither of you gets greedy. When negotiations end, you can quietly leave here and return to your original position. Do you understand?”
It was a warning that if they acted unnecessarily, things would go wrong.
“Just endure for five days.”
Leaving those words, Yeon-hee exited the warehouse.
Creak.
When the warehouse door closed, Yeon-hee momentarily felt a surge of emotion. Fortunately, she calmed herself with deep breathing, but Ja-gang-cheon wasn’t one to miss that change.
“Why are you angry?”
“He’s the Hwangbo Clan Lord’s younger brother. And the leader of Shandong Province’s greatest merchant guild. There was no need to do that to him.”
“I let him live.”
Yeon-hee realized there was no point in saying more.
“You really wanted to kill him.”
“Cheon-gu told me not to answer questions like that.”
Yeon-hee sometimes found Ja-gang-cheon impossible to gauge.
“But do you trust the Hwangbo Clan, sister?”
“What do you mean?”
“If we get them to promise not to enter Jiao-nan, do you think those bastards will keep their word?”
“That’s exactly why our Hao-mun is stepping in as mediator. They’ll keep it, if only out of fear of Hao-mun.”
Hearing this, Ja-gang-cheon stared intently at Yeon-hee.
“You’re really naive, sister.”
“What did you say?”
“How do you plan to survive being so ignorant of how the world works?”
“Pardon?”
This was the most absurd and ridiculous moment in Yeon-hee’s life.
“Don’t trust people so easily.”
“Ex-excuse me, Lord?”
“Let’s go. I’m busy.”
“Wait a moment.”
Leaving behind the thoroughly irritated Yeon-hee, Ja-gang-cheon departed from the spot.
Five days later.
Five visitors entered through the door that Pansuk had opened.
Led by Hwangbo Baek, the Lord of the Hwangbo Clan with tiger emblems embroidered on his robes, came his eldest son Hwangbo Taesan, known as the heir, Hwangbo Cheonju, known as the clan’s greatest master, Hwangbo Homyeong, and finally the Vice Commander who handled operational affairs.
They were the core figures of the Hwangbo Clan, and this was more in consideration of Song Ja-in than Ja-gang-cheon.
“Welcome.”
Ja-gang-cheon greeted them wearing the robes he had received at his coming-of-age ceremony. Behind him stood Cheon-gu, Pansuk, and Song Ja-in in a row.
Though the man called the master of Shandong Province had visited, he showed not the slightest wavering.
Rather, Ja-gang-cheon watched Hwangbo Baek, who had stepped forward, with a slight smile as if finding it interesting.
‘So there are people with this kind of presence.’
Would this be how it feels to meet the eyes of a wild beast?
He couldn’t be certain because Ja-gang-cheon had never seen a wild beast before.
But rather than fear, competitive spirit arose.
‘Could I win against him?’
Though the pure desire of a martial artist raised its head, Ja-gang-cheon suppressed it and played his role as Lord.
“I’ve prepared a place, so please come this way.”
Ja-gang-cheon stepped aside and guided them.
However, Young Lord Hwangbo Taesan stepped forward to walk alongside Ja-gang-cheon.
“There are those who don’t know their place.”
When Song Ja-in, who had been following silently, pointed out the Hwangbo Clan’s first son’s behavior, the atmosphere froze.
Hwangbo Baek recognized the situation and with a glance made his eldest son step back.
“Show proper manners. Do you intend to embarrass me?”
At his thick, low-voiced command, Hwangbo Taesan silently bowed his head.
After the brief confrontation ended, they moved to the reception room in the central hall.
With a large table that could seat ten people placed in the center, they faced each other.
Only two people sat in chairs – Ja-gang-cheon and Hwangbo Baek – while Yeon-hee, the mediator for this matter, stood between the two sides.
“There’s something I’d like to ask.”
Hwangbo Baek spoke bluntly in his rough voice.
“Do you happen to know anything about my son’s whereabouts?”
“I know he left Jiao-nan.”
“You know nothing after that?”
“No.”
Ja-gang-cheon’s answer was so natural it allowed not an ounce of suspicion.
“Is that so?”
“Could you tell me exactly what happened?”
“No. Never mind. Let’s quickly wrap up our business.”
Hwangbo Baek immediately began negotiations.
“Release my brother and don’t mention what happened in Jiao-nan anymore. That’s what I want.”
“Then withdraw your businesses from Jiao-nan, and never let anyone related to the Hwangbo Clan come to Jiao-nan again.”
“Are you trying to create a prohibition preventing us from coming?”
“That’s right.”
“Our clan can go anywhere in the world. That will never change.”
“Then let’s consider the negotiations never happened.”
Their conversation had no room for compromise. They revealed their true intentions precisely, and responses were immediate and concise.
For those listening, it felt like watching a precarious tightrope walk.
“If I abandon my brother in this place, what do you think will happen to you and your manor?”
“It would become dangerous.”
“Then it would be good to learn how to compromise.”
“That goes both ways. There’s no guarantee you’ll return alive either, Lord.”
“What?”
Not only Hwangbo Baek but even the clan members standing behind him showed their anger.
“I guess it’s fine to threaten but you don’t like being threatened. Is this the Hwangbo Clan’s way?”
“It depends on who the opponent is.”
“I’m curious. What will you do against me?”
As their momentum became menacing, a tension like a blade-sharp wind swept through the reception room.
In an atmosphere where the slightest misstep from either side could immediately lead to a life-or-death battle, Yeon-hee hurriedly intervened.
“Both of you. Could you please listen to me for a moment?”
Though she intervened, the two continued glaring at each other. Hwangbo Baek in particular showed his displeasure openly and asked.
“Where exactly did you come from? I’ve heard nothing about your background.”
This was a question Hwangbo Baek hadn’t been able to resolve from the beginning until now.
If the rumors about Ja-gang-cheon were true, he was undoubtedly the greatest master among the late-stage experts.
But his origins were unknown.
“You couldn’t have just dropped from the sky.”
“Not the sky, I came across the distant seas.”
Hwangbo Baek thought Ja-gang-cheon was joking.
“I acknowledge your guts. But it would be good to show proper manners.”
“You’re quite talkative.”
At Ja-gang-cheon’s provocation, Hwangbo Baek finally shot up from his seat.
Just as even those standing began drawing up their internal energy.
“Stop!”
Yeon-hee raised her voice.
“Both of you chose Hao-mun’s Cheon-o Dan-ju as mediator. It’s fine to ignore me, but please don’t look down on Hao-mun.”
Though her words were a request, they were actually a blatant warning.
Finally, Hwangbo Baek sat back down with a displeased expression, and Yeon-hee deliberately let out a long breath to ease the atmosphere.
But perhaps she had eased it too much?
‘This bastard.’
A thin smile hung on Ja-gang-cheon’s lips.
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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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