Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 68

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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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#068

The summer of upheaval had passed.

As the cool autumn arrived, the atmosphere in Jiao-nan began to stabilize. However, not everything had returned to its original state.

“Come on! Everyone take the exercises seriously! It’s all for your own good!”

The Labor Office had become famous as the place that awakened the port’s dawn.

“Anyone who doesn’t do the exercises properly gets no food!”

The workers who came to the office looking for jobs did the short Deungmyeong exercises every day while facing the sea breeze.

The exercises consisted of about two segments, modified by Ja-gang-cheon so that any ordinary person could learn them.

-They’re exercises that make you healthy. If you consistently do the meditation too, you might even build up internal energy.

Internal energy cultivation methods that any ordinary person could learn.

If it were just exercises, no one in the world would believe it.

But among the people of Jiao-nan, there was no one who would ignore Ja-gang-cheon’s words.

-If Jangju says so, then it must be true.

-He’s not someone who would lie.

Eventually, starting with the sailors and spreading to the workers, it had now become exercises commonly seen at the port.

It looked fascinating to outsiders, so it was now being called a specialty of Jiao-nan.

Looking back at last summer, the place that faced the biggest change was undoubtedly the Donghai Merchant Guild.

Deungmyeong Divine Pills were so popular that 70% of the volume was shipped overseas by boat, and eventually people came from the imperial palace.

-Deungmyeong Divine Pills and Donghaejoo have been selected as tribute items to be offered to His Imperial Majesty.

The storm that had been blowing from the seaside became a typhoon that swept inland.

Actually, the imperial palace only wanted the Deungmyeong Divine Pills, but the Donghai Merchant Guild Leader used his skills to include Donghaejoo as well.

Eventually, the Donghai Merchant Guild decided to go with the flow and build branches in five locations nationwide and open twenty pharmacies.

-By next year, the Donghai Merchant Guild will become a nationwide merchant guild.

The Donghai Merchant Guild’s activities were remarkable enough to receive such an evaluation.

And finally, Deungmyeong Manor also harvested the seeds it had sown last summer.

It was a value that couldn’t be compared to goods or wealth.

“Big brother!”

The young girl who entered the manor raised her voice upon seeing Ja-gang-cheon waiting in the front courtyard.

“Ha-rang!”

When Ja-gang-cheon spread his arms wide, Ak Ha-rang ran over as if flying and hugged him tightly.

“Was it hard coming here?”

“No. I came here feeling good, like I was traveling.”

“That’s good. Have you eaten?”

“No. I held back because I wanted to eat with big brother.”

It was when Ak Ha-rang showed a smile mixed with aegyo.

“Ha-rang. Mind your manners.”

Ak-pung-jin approached a step late and bowed his head.

“I greet Jangju. Ha-rang, you should greet him properly too.”

At the stern reprimand, Ha-rang stuck out her lower lip. Ja-gang-cheon found that expression cute and patted Ha-rang’s head as he spoke.

“It’s fine. Ha-rang is like a little sister to me.”

“If our benefactor spoils her too much, she’ll develop bad habits.”

“Hasn’t she suffered too much for that to happen?”

At those words, Ak-pung-jin made a sad expression.

“That’s true.”

“No! I was still happy!”

This time Ha-rang comforted her father.

“See? She’s such a warm child. Even without being strict, she’ll grow up prettier than anyone.”

What father would dislike praise for his daughter?

Ak-pung-jin also smiled and allowed Ha-rang’s friendly behavior.

“Jangju! We’ve arrived too!”

Following Ak-pung-jin, Jin Hyeon-pil from Jin Extreme Martial Hall entered the manor.

She was with her daughter in her early twenties, the very woman that Pan Seok-i had said he wanted to see but lied about last time.

“Have you been well?”

“Welcome. You must have had a hard time coming from so far away.”

Ja-gang-cheon glanced back slightly, and Pansuk was smiling brightly. Seeing that made Ja-gang-cheon smile too.

“Hyeongnim Seok O-chil will probably take about three days.”

The Seok O-chil that Jin Hyeon-pil mentioned was the blacksmith who had operated the iron foundry.

“You all have a lot of luggage.”

“Since we’re settling down, we need many things. This is what we have after reducing it as much as possible.”

In front of the manor were two carts. They were the belongings from organizing Jangpung Pyohyeon and Jin Extreme Martial Hall.

“Please take care of us from now on, Jangju.”

“I’ll also rely only on Jangju.”

Jangpung Pyohyeon planned to establish their headquarters in Jiao-nan and use their existing headquarters as a branch. Since Jiao-nan’s market scale was by no means small and there was a lot of transportation logistics, it wasn’t a bad choice business-wise either.

And Jin Extreme Martial Hall made an even bolder choice.

“Jin Extreme Martial Hall will now serve Jangju as our sect leader.”

Sect leader meant the head who governed multiple sects or branches. In other words, Jin Extreme Martial Hall was volunteering to become a branch of Deungmyeong Manor.

Deungmyeong Manor’s declaration that they couldn’t provide protection through horizontal relationships also influenced this decision.

“Are you really sure about this?”

“Actually, even before being crushed by the Hwangbo Clan, I was feeling limitations. In the end, we completely collapsed and lost our sect. If it weren’t for you, Sect Leader, we wouldn’t have been able to revive at all. Moreover, I thought of this as an opportunity to develop our Jin Extreme Martial Hall. Based on your teachings, Sect Leader, I hope to develop greatly so that someday Hwajin can carry on the will.”

The Hwajin he mentioned was his daughter beside him.

Ja-gang-cheon briefly looked at Jin Hwajin’s expression. Seeing her nod slightly in agreement, it seemed they had decided after sufficient consideration.

“Good. I’ll do what I can for you, so please freely pursue your dreams. We’ll also research martial arts together later.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

The places for them to settle had already been prepared.

Jangpung Pyohyeon would establish their headquarters where the Shandong Patrol Bureau used to be, and Jin Extreme Martial Hall had secured land on the wide road leading to the trading market. It was about a walking distance of one segment from the patrol bureau.

“Then rest comfortably today.”

The patrol bureau would open immediately, while Jin Extreme Martial Hall planned for next spring.

-I want to supplement what I felt was lacking before.

So they decided to give them enough time and stay at Deungmyeong Manor until spring.

‘Since I’m the sect leader, I have to take responsibility.’

The new title gave Ja-gang-cheon a great sense of responsibility.

“Pan Seok-i, show them around.”

“Yes, Hyeongnim Jangju.”

Pansuk immediately went in front of Jin Hwajin and said.

“Miss Hwajin. I’ll guide you.”

His cheekbones had risen so much that the area under his eyes looked swollen. But as if he couldn’t see anyone else, he took only her and went somewhere.

“Hyeong…”

“Gangcheon. I’ll guide the other people.”

“Yeah. That would be good.”

Cheon-gu greeted the new family members.

Three days later,

As scheduled, blacksmith Seok O-chil joined them.

-If you allow me to use the name Deungmyeong, I’d like to open Eungmyeong Chulbang.

This was why a smithy was being built next to Deungmyeong Manor.

In addition, the person who ran the Jinan Fabric Shop decided to join the Donghai Merchant Guild. For the Donghai Merchant Guild, which had no experience with silk yet, it was like gaining a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.

Furthermore, a stonemason skilled enough to be counted among the best in Shandong Province joined them – he was the very person who had built the Hwangbo Clan’s secluded training hall. Though he was a stone specialist, he was also famous as an architect. After building the Hwangbo Clan’s secret guest quarters, he had been monitored under the pretext of protection, which is why he came to Deungmyeong Manor.

-From now on, I’ll build all the buildings that the manor needs.

He didn’t want to set up a separate shop but wanted to become a member of Deungmyeong Manor’s family.

Additionally, the person who operated the rice store and the person who operated the herbal medicine shop were to have their entire shops purchased by the Donghai Merchant Guild.

“Our family has grown quite a bit.”

Ja-gang-cheon was as proud as if he had received an award. But the happiest person was someone else.

“Jangju Hyeongnim!”

Pansuk entered the manor holding candied fruit skewers in both hands.

“Thank you, hyeong.”

It was a snack made by skewering Ja-gang-cheon’s three favorite fruits and hardening them with sugar water.

It was something he often bought when going to the market, and he had just been thinking about it since he had eaten a rather bland breakfast.

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, Pansuk pulled his hands back.

He seemed surprised by his own action and opened and closed his mouth.

“Hyeong, didn’t you buy this to give to me?”

“I bought it to give to Miss Hwajin.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Although Jin Hwajin was older, in terms of generational hierarchy, she was like a disciple or niece. In fact, they used the title sajil.

Though Ja-gang-cheon was the sect leader, this arrangement came about because he refused to take a higher generational rank than Jin Hyeon-pil, who was the school head.

From Jin Hyeon-pil’s perspective, Ja-gang-cheon became a senior martial brother who was younger but held a higher position.

When Ja-gang-cheon smacked his lips, unable to take his disciple’s snack, Pansuk extended both hands.

“Please have it, Jangju Hyeongnim.”

“What about Sajil Hwajin?”

“Jangju Hyeongnim comes first in everything!”

That’s when it happened.

“Stop. I told you two not to talk about women.”

Cheon-gu appeared and snatched the candied fruit skewer that had passed to Ja-gang-cheon’s hand.

“Hyeong Pansuk should take this to Miss Hwajin, and Gangcheon, let’s go to the market together and buy some to eat.”

“Oh? That would work.”

“Thank you, Subordinate Hyeongnim.”

As Pansuk quickly ran off, Cheon-gu smiled.

Various merchants greeted them as they came out to the market. Though this was something they experienced often before, now the bows were much deeper.

After buying candied fruit skewers as planned, they leisurely looked around the market while having various conversations.

“We need to prepare well this winter. There will be many new beginnings next spring. Their success will prove how wide the roof of Deungmyeong Manor is.”

“That’s right. If there’s anything I need to do, just tell me.”

“You’re already doing well. For now, please focus on martial arts research. The success of Jinjuk Martial Arts School is most important. I secretly hope all our martial arts will merge into one sect.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There are many excellent martial arts related to Deungmyeong Manor now. You, of course, and aunt uses Dogok’s martial arts. Now Jinjuk Martial Arts School, which was formerly Jin Geuk-il-in School, has joined, and Jangpung Pyohyeon has the Evil Song Technique too. But since each sect is divided separately, we can’t directly research them together.”

“That’s true.”

“That’s why it’s an opportunity that Jinjuk Martial Arts School accepted you as their sect leader. At least you can research the martial arts of the Jin Geuk School together. I hope this develops further so that Dogok and the Evil Song Technique all become martial arts of Deungmyeong Manor.”

Ja-gang-cheon briefly imagined that scenario.

“That would really be interesting.”

Ja-gang-cheon recalled when he was learning Bicheon Shinbo. He researched with his parents every day, advancing step by step until reaching where he was now. Knowing that exhilaration, researching new martial arts was something that made his heart race with anticipation.

“That’s why the martial arts research at Jinjuk Martial Arts School is important.”

“Alright. Leave that to me.”

When Ja-gang-cheon showed strong confidence, Cheon-gu no longer worried about that aspect.

“And let’s also visit Hwangdo once. Word came that the foundation construction is almost finished.”

“Really?”

It was news Ja-gang-cheon had been waiting for a long time.

Shipwright Manpilwoong was building large-scale facilities in the south of Hwangdo to construct ships going to Gwigokdo.

“But it seems there are headaches due to permit issues. I think I need to go and resolve it.”

“Then let’s go together.”

Cheon-gu thought for a moment before answering.

“Come to think of it, since they’re government office people, it would be good for you as the jangju to show your face.”

They departed for Hwangdo five days later.

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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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