Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 53

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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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#053

 

Gu Dong-gu heard the sounds.

 

Having lived by his wits alone, he clearly knew what the irregular explosions and screams meant.

 

‘A fight on the day Hwangbo Taeseong left…’

 

He thought it was most likely a fight involving the Hwangbo Clan.

 

‘Who should I root for?’

 

Even at this moment, Gu Dong-gu was scheming to survive by taking someone’s side.

 

As his worries deepened,

 

Creak.

 

The cargo hold door opened.

 

Looking at the cargo hold entrance with a trembling heart, the figure who appeared was a man still wearing blood-soaked clothes.

 

“Damn it.”

 

A curse escaped him naturally.

 

It was Hwangbo Jeong, who had beaten him whenever he had strength left over the past few days.

 

“P-please spare me, Merchant Guild Leader.”

 

“Isn’t it too late to say that now?”

 

With those words, Gu Dong-gu sensed his fate.

 

“If you kill me, I’ll become a ghost and follow you around!”

 

“That’s not bad either. Killing you once won’t be enough.”

 

“You bastard! Please spare me! Please spare me! How did I survive this far!”

 

Gu Dong-gu had endured all kinds of humiliation to get this far.

 

“I lived like a dog, so it’s fine to die miserably! But I should have enjoyed it at least once! At least once, I should have lived high up, living it up before I go!”

 

He was still resentful.

 

To think this was the result of living desperately while playing the villain.

 

“You still only speak filthy words. Is it natural for a bug speaking human words to be disgusting?”

 

Hwangbo Jeong looked around and picked up a club.

 

It was the very club that Gu Dong-gu had swung at him.

 

“P-please spare me.”

 

“You’ll end up begging me to kill you.”

 

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

 

The beating began.

 

Gu Dong-gu’s body couldn’t withstand his enraged club.

 

“Ugh! Gah!”

 

At first he screamed with each blow, but those sounds gradually weakened.

 

“P-please spare…”

 

Even the voice begging for his life to the end gradually diminished.

 

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

 

At some point, only dull sounds like beating straw could be heard.

 

“Huff. Huff.”

 

Crack!

 

Finally the club broke. Only then did Hwangbo Jeong catch his breath that had risen to his chin and throw away the broken club.

 

“Bug-like bastard.”

 

Gu Dong-gu was already motionless.

 

He had died curled up to lessen the pain even a little.

 

“Did you think you could humiliate me and survive?”

 

Hwangbo Jeong, who had lectured the dead man, sat down on the spot.

 

His body had also weakened from long imprisonment, reaching its limit.

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

“Now this manor becomes mine too. Everything returns to how it was.”

 

“How is that returning to how it was?”

 

At the suddenly heard voice, Hwangbo Jeong quickly turned his head.

 

“Y-you, why are you here?”

 

To Hwangbo Jeong’s eyes, Ja-gang-cheon looked like a ghost that had crossed over from the afterlife. He couldn’t possibly be here alive and well like this.

 

“You found a fitting place. This must have been quite comfortable.”

 

Ja-gang-cheon kicked the surprised Hwangbo Jeong’s knee.

 

Thud!

 

The fallen Hwangbo Jeong writhed in pain while glaring at Ja-gang-cheon. Then he realized something was caught behind his back.

 

When he turned his head, there was the dead Gu Dong-gu. Only then did he realize he was lying side by side with Gu Dong-gu.

 

“Ask how it happened in the afterlife. There will be many people waiting for you in advance.”

 

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

 

Thwack!

 

Ja-gang-cheon kicked the struggling Hwangbo Jeong’s jaw.

 

“Urgh…”

 

The life gradually faded from Hwangbo Jeong’s eyes as he poured out blood from his broken jaw. And he breathed his last beside Gu Dong-gu.

 

***

 

A little past midnight.

 

Yeon-hee received an unbelievable report.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

“Pansuk and Cheon-gu captured the Hwangbo Clan Vice Commander who was outside Deungmyeong Manor.”

 

“If they captured him, does that mean they took the Vice Commander back into the manor?”

 

“Yes. That’s right. Moreover, not a single one of the Hwangbo Clan figures who entered the manor has come back out. Rather, after the Vice Commander was captured, Song Ja-in searched the surroundings. She recognized me and told me to relay this message to Dan-ju.”

 

Song Ja-in waited for the next words with a tense expression, swallowing dry saliva.

 

“Gok-eun-cha drunk on an empty stomach in the morning is good for the skin.”

 

Hearing those words, Yeon-hee stood up from her seat.

 

“Does this mean Deungmyeong Manor won?”

 

What Song Ja-in said meant to come to the manor in the morning. For that to happen, they first had to repel the Hwangbo Clan’s attack.

 

While she had hoped for this in her heart, she hadn’t thought it would actually happen.

 

It was the Hwangbo Clan Lord together with two top masters from the Jangno-hoe.

 

It was a force that even Song Ja-in’s power could never stop.

 

‘Even if Song Ja-in pushed herself to face the two elders, it means Deungmyeong Jangju handled the rest…’

 

Pansuk and Cheon-gu weren’t yet at a level to help in such fights.

 

“Was there no one else who entered the manor?”

 

“There wasn’t.”

 

Then she had to completely overturn her assessment of Ja-gang-cheon.

 

‘What kind of person is he exactly?’

 

Yeon-hee paced around the same spot with an excited expression.

 

It was a habit that showed when she fell into deep thought.

 

Moving her steps quickly, she organized her complex thoughts one by one.

 

‘The fight doesn’t end just because Deungmyeong Manor won.’

 

Though it was a shocking result, the Hwangbo Clan’s power wasn’t completely broken.

 

Because they possessed overwhelming numbers and wealth to the point where all of Shandong Province could be considered the Hwangbo Clan.

 

‘It will definitely become more difficult.’

 

Today’s fight must have involved the Hwangbo Clan’s carelessness. Ja-gang-cheon had actually said so himself.

 

But now it would definitely become an all-out war. Rather, the fights that would unfold from now on were more dangerous.

 

‘They need a force like our Hao-mun.’

 

The invitation to come in tomorrow morning was probably because of this.

 

“Things are getting interesting.”

 

She finally stopped walking.

 

Early dawn.

 

Though it was still a long time before sunrise, Yeon-hee couldn’t wait and went to the manor.

 

After confirming that torches illuminating the darkness were hung in various places, she knocked on the main gate.

 

At first, there was no response.

 

But when she knocked once more, the door finally opened.

 

“Is it morning already?”

 

The one who opened the door was Song Ja-in.

 

She seemed to have been standing guard.

 

“This young girl tends to start her day early.”

 

“How shameless.”

 

“I was just worried, so I came a little early.”

 

“I didn’t call you shameless for that reason. Aren’t you embarrassed to call yourself a young girl?”

 

“Ah. If that’s what you mean, I’m not ashamed at all.”

 

“Right. That’s also a skill.”

 

Song Ja-in stepped aside to allow her to enter.

 

“I allowed your visit today because of your friendship with the Lord.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

It meant not to cross the line as the Dan-ju of Hao-mun.

 

As she entered the manor grounds, the first thing that stimulated her nose was the smell of blood carried by the wind.

 

Following that scent with her gaze, she saw corpses neatly arranged in the front courtyard.

 

Since Song Ja-in didn’t bother to hide them, Yeon-hee could see the faces of the corpses.

 

“So it was real.”

 

It was the moment her expectations became reality.

 

Starting with Hwangbo Baek, two elders and members of the Meng Hao Guard were laid out.

 

“Hwangbo Taesan’s corpse isn’t here.”

 

Even in her shock, she noticed Hwangbo Taesan’s absence.

 

“We kept him as bait.”

 

It meant they not only won the fight but had the leisure to capture a hostage as well.

 

“Next time, I’d like to watch the fight directly, even if it costs me my head.”

 

“Even if your head really flies off?”

 

Yeon-hee looked at Song Ja-in with an expression that said ‘that won’t happen,’ then quickly turned her gaze away.

 

She realized Song Ja-in wasn’t the type to joke about such matters.

 

Fortunately, before things became more awkward, the voice she’d been waiting for was heard.

 

“Sister. You came?”

 

“Lord. You’re safe.”

 

The bright smile she showed now was quite different from before.

 

“Today it’s a safe smile.”

 

“I was genuinely worried.”

 

“I know. That’s why I invited you first like this.”

 

“From what I can see, there seems to be much I can help you with.”

 

“No. Just play the mediator role like before.”

 

It wasn’t what Yeon-hee had expected to hear.

 

“The Hwangbo Clan ignored the mediation proposal and attacked our manor. And it was only three hours after we finished negotiations. Spread this news to the world. We’ll handle the rest ourselves.”

 

That rumor would probably also include the content that Deungmyeong Manor had dealt with key figures of the Hwangbo Clan.

 

‘Will people really believe this rumor?’

 

When a full-scale fight broke out over the position of Shandong Province’s ruler, they would believe it even if they didn’t want to.

 

“Justification alone won’t be enough. The Hwangbo Clan, having already lost their legitimacy, won’t care about appearances anymore.”

 

Yeon-hee knew that direct speech worked best in conversations with Ja-gang-cheon.

 

“You’ll face harder battles from now on. Before you’re pushed into a defensive position, join hands with Hao-mun. I’ll do my best to help you maintain your beliefs, Lord.”

 

She showed strong determination. But Ja-gang-cheon shook his head.

 

“Is that a refusal?”

 

“I’m not refusing because it’s Hao-mun. There were already people meant to join this matter from the beginning.”

 

“Who would that be?”

 

Yeon-hee asked even though she knew Ja-gang-cheon wouldn’t answer. But surprisingly, Ja-gang-cheon answered readily.

 

“The real owners of Shandong Province.”

 

“Owners, you mean…”

 

“The people the Hwangbo Clan forcibly disbanded.”

 

Yeon-hee first thought of Jangpung Pyohyeon.

 

Among the organizations that disappeared from Shandong Province, Jangpung Pyohyeon was the most regrettable loss.

 

As a caravan that had gained nationwide fame, Yeon-hee personally regretted their destruction.

 

‘It’s annoying that they refused our cooperation to the end.’

 

Anyway, hearing Ja-gang-cheon’s plan, she thought it was quite meticulous.

 

“From Hwangbo Baek’s attack to your current response, you had it all in mind from the beginning.”

 

“Of course. I’m not someone who acts without thinking.”

 

When Yeon-hee smiled bitterly, Ja-gang-cheon confessed the truth.

 

“Cheon-gu thought of about eighty percent? No, ninety percent, but I thought of ten percent.”

 

Actually, Jangpung Pyohyeon was Ja-gang-cheon’s will.

 

Of course, the plan to ‘gather not just Jangpung Pyohyeon but all those destroyed by the Hwangbo Clan’ was devised by Cheon-gu.

 

“Subordinate Cheon-gu’s plan is excellent. That way, the Hwangbo Clan will be surrounded by enemies, making it hard for them to move easily. Plus, Deungmyeong Manor can fill its lacking forces, take the initiative in the battle structure, and have a just cause. Everything that was lacking will be filled at once.”

 

Yeon-hee was internally amazed throughout her analysis.

 

“I’m glad the Lord has many good people around him.”

 

“What about you, sister? Are you a good person to me?”

 

“I may not be naturally good, but I think I’m a good person to the Lord. I’ve been generously putting up with you, haven’t I?”

 

“Putting up with me? Whatever. That’s why I prepared a gift.”

 

“A gift?”

 

Ja-gang-cheon handed Yeon-hee a document. This was why he had called her at dawn.

 

“I was going to give this to you after this fight ended.”

 

What Yeon-hee received was a sales contract.

 

“This is…”

 

“Gu Dong-gu’s giru. You know the one in Jisanpo, right?”

 

“Did Subordinate Cheon-gu prepare this too?”

 

“Yeah. He said you’d like it if I gave it to you.”

 

Yeon-hee got chills again at Cheon-gu’s insight. Indeed, when conducting big deals in the black market, she found the places for entertaining unsatisfactory.

 

Giru was too casual, and the inside of the black market didn’t feel like proper hospitality.

 

But going elsewhere had many restrictions due to the contract made with Deungmyeong Manor.

 

Noticing this, Cheon-gu handed over the secret brothel in Jisanpo.

 

She would probably use it not as a brothel but as a special reception room.

 

“I’ll gratefully accept it.”

 

Unlike her surprise at Cheon-gu, the reception room in Jisanpo was a very good gift for her.

 

It wasn’t just receiving one brothel, but she could also use the small port of Jisanpo.

 

It was a perfect place for conducting large secret deals.

 

“Since I’ve received something, I should help diligently too. I need to let the world know that Shandong Province’s owner is changing.”

 

“Do that later, and have a cup of tea before you go.”

 

“If it’s Gok-eun-cha, I can’t refuse.”

 

Yeon-hee smiled and followed Ja-gang-cheon toward the rear garden. Then she suddenly turned around at a chilling realization.

 

‘Did we just have that conversation next to Hwangbo Baek’s corpse?’

 

Being with Ja-gang-cheon, she had forgotten the significance and focused only on the conversation.

 

This meant the aura Ja-gang-cheon emanated was that comfortable.

 

‘He’s like an awl in a bag. The world will come to know him through this incident.’

 

She was certain that a great storm would begin in Jiao-nan.

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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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