Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 71

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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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#071

After arriving in Yonggu, Ja-gang-cheon naturally headed toward the port.

It was to first assess the scale of the village called Yonggu. But before he could even reach the port, someone blocked his path.

“A wall is moving.”

It was a person as massive as a wall.

“Hello, Uncle Geumgang-gae.”

“What brings you here, Lord? You came with Subordinate and Pan Seok-i too.”

His voice growled as if he might bite at any moment.

“Pan Seok-i, did you tell him? I trusted you and didn’t hide anything.”

“It seems there’s some misunderstanding.”

When Cheon-gu stepped forward, Geumgang-gae frowned. Cheon-gu had sparred with him several times so they were acquainted, but he wasn’t someone he wanted to face in this situation.

“Hyeongnim Pan Seok just heard what he heard. Even so, he thought deeply about it before rushing to the Lord.”

“So in the end, you’re saying he passed on the story.”

“It wasn’t eavesdropping – he just happened to hear it while staying quiet. Should he have kept it secret like some big mystery? Even Gaebangdo wouldn’t do that.”

Geumgang-gae felt like he was being drawn into something. He wasn’t particularly talented at verbal sparring to begin with.

Not missing the opportunity, Cheon-gu continued speaking.

“Even so, it’s true that we used Gaebang’s information without permission, so I will formally apologize for this part.”

Cheon-gu stopped speaking and slowly bowed his head. He was quickly taking the place of Ja-gang-cheon, the Lord, in making the apology. At this point, it became awkward for Geumgang-gae to press further.

But Cheon-gu spoke not only for Ja-gang-cheon but also represented Pan Seok’s position.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask. Pan Seok-i hyeongnim simply told me what he knew as a member of Deungmyeong Manor. Using that information and coming here was entirely my decision, so please don’t suspect Pan Seok-i hyeongnim. He was anxious the entire way here, worried that Daehobbeop might hate him.”

“Ahem.”

Cheon-gu didn’t end with just appealing to emotions. As always, he offered conditions that Geumgang-gae could accept.

“We came here because we want to know why North Cheon City appeared in Shandong Province. Since we learned about it thanks to Gaebang in the first place, if we discover anything, we’ll share everything. If you don’t like this either, we’ll go back.”

It was honest and the final proposal was quite reasonable. At this point, instead of getting angry, Geumgang-gae glanced at Ja-gang-cheon.

“I always share the same opinion as our Subordinate.”

Geumgang-gae looked at Cheon-gu again.

‘He’s much more impressive than what I heard.’

If he had lied, he would have gotten angry, and if he had acted shamelessly, he would have criticized him. But Cheon-gu spoke honestly and made a fair proposal.

‘It wouldn’t be bad if Deungmyeong Manor helped.’

They hadn’t discovered anything in their current situation anyway.

‘It could also show that they’re different from Hao-mun.’

Establishing a branch in Jiao-nan was because they expected Deungmyeong Manor to play a major role in the future.

“The person who came from North Cheon City is Yowol-nyeo Cheon Seolhwa. She came with four guards, and their capabilities are not to be underestimated, so be careful.”

True to his nature, Geumgang-gae shared information first.

“If it’s Cheon Seolhwa, quite a famous person has come.”

Though Ja-gang-cheon had never met her directly, he knew quite a bit about North Cheon City.

She was famous enough that he would hear about her even without trying, and he was instinctively interested.

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, he remembered most things about North Cheon City quite clearly.

“Thank you for letting us know. We’ll share immediately if we discover anything too.”

“One Bangdo member will be staying near where you are. Don’t think of it as surveillance or you’ll get beaten up.”

“Not at all. Please tell them to feel free to come say hello.”

They decided to cooperate based on trust.

“Then I’ll be going.”

When Geumgang-gae left, Ja-gang-cheon looked at Cheon-gu and gave him a thumbs up.

“As expected, it went just like you said. We ended up cooperating without any hurt feelings.”

“Cheon-gu hyeongnim! I respect you!”

“He’s not that hard to figure out.”

Cheon-gu spoke as if it was nothing special and mentioned the next plan.

“Let’s go to Yongseong Merchant Guild first. We should be able to ask about various things there.”

Yongseong Merchant Guild was a place that had lost its Liaoning Province trading business to the Hwangbo Clan, then got it back after the recent incident.

Though located on the outskirts of the port, it was large enough to have separate warehouses and guild buildings.

The Yongseong Merchant Guild they arrived at looked very clean, as if it had been newly renovated.

“They must have been quite upset to have lost a place like this.”

When Ja-gang-cheon approached, someone hurriedly ran over and bowed.

“Lord. You’ve come? I’ve been waiting.”

The man who grasped both hands was a thin man in his late fifties.

His face was full of wrinkles and his eyes were deep, but when he saw Ja-gang-cheon, he had a warm expression as if meeting his grandson.

“The wind is cold. Please come inside.”

Since he was the person who had helped them reclaim their guild, this level of reaction wasn’t strange.

After receiving lavish treatment inside the guild, Ja-gang-cheon only brought up North Cheon City after fruit and tea were served.

“People from North Cheon City often come to our port. Is there something special this time?”

The Merchant Guild Leader showed interest as if it were his own business.

“A major figure called Yowol-nyeo Cheon Seolhwa has come. It’s probably not simple trade.”

“Is that so? Then shall I gather some necessary information?”

“They’re dangerous people. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’m a local here. Finding things out without being noticed is nothing.”

The Merchant Guild Leader showed confidence and shouted toward the door.

“Is Sangpil there?”

“Yes! Guild Leader!”

Soon the door opened and a sturdy man in his forties entered.

“I hear Cheon Seolhwa has come from North Cheon City. Look into it.”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

He didn’t even say what should be investigated. Even so, the man bowed and went outside.

“Please rest comfortably. There will be news soon.”

His confidence wasn’t mere bravado.

In just one hour, the man returned and reported several facts.

“Currently, the North Cheon City people are staying at Haeruon.”

The Guild Leader nodded, but Ja-gang-cheon’s group didn’t know about Haeruon. Noticing this, the man stopped his explanation and spoke about Haeruon.

“It’s a manor in the upscale residential area. The owner runs the largest rice store in Yonggu, but about ten years ago he was swindled while doing big business with the North. The damage was so great we thought he’d go bankrupt, but suddenly he solved the problem and got back on his feet. Since then, whenever North Cheon City people come, they often visit there. It seems the place that helped solve the problem back then is related to North Cheon City.”

“Thank you for telling us.”

“Then I’ll continue. After they stayed at the manor, they went out for half an hour. They just looked at accessories and wooden dolls at the market, so nothing special. However, Haeruon’s Jangju is looking for people. He’s searching for local herb gatherers who are familiar with the terrain.”

Just as the Yongseong Guild Leader was handling Ja-gang-cheon’s business, Haeruon’s Jangju had received instructions from Cheon Seolhwa.

“How did you find that out?”

“I found out through a worker who works there.”

The answer was simple, but the process couldn’t have been easy. When Ja-gang-cheon expressed admiration repeatedly, the Guild Leader smiled and said.

“There are things that only locals who were born and raised here can do.”

“This was really a big help. Please continue to assist us in the future.”

Ja-gang-cheon didn’t envy Hao-mun or Gaebang at all.

***

It was early morning.

Since it was difficult to practice internal energy cultivation at the guild, Ja-gang-cheon went for a walk instead. The lively atmosphere unique to ports wasn’t much different from Jiao-nan.

But a scene unfolded that made every passing sailor stop in their tracks.

For sailors who always looked at the sea, today shouldn’t have been anything special. But when one person was added to the scenery they saw every day, it truly became a painting.

As long hair and thin clothing fluttered in the wind blowing from the sea, a white face was revealed.

Not only was she beautiful, but she also had an elegance that couldn’t be easily approached.

“Wow. There are people that pretty.”

Pan Seok let out pure admiration.

“But is that person Jangju hyeongnim’s cousin sister?”

“It seems right.”

Ja-gang-cheon felt some strange sense of kinship.

“She looks a bit like Mother.”

The Lord of the Bukcheon Clan had three daughters, the eldest being Ja-gang-cheon’s mother So-cheong-bi, and the second being So Cheong-yeon. Cheon Seolhwa was So Cheong-yeon’s daughter.

“But what could she have really come here for?”

“I don’t know yet. We need to gather more information.”

Cheon-gu didn’t make hasty judgments.

At that moment, Cheon Seolhwa, who had been looking at the sea, turned her gaze. Several men who had been watching her made various reactions when their eyes met.

Cheon Seolhwa herself seemed accustomed to it and smiled sweetly, which shook the men’s hearts once again.

“Hmm. She definitely resembles Mother in some way.”

“In what way?”

“When Mother did something wrong to Father, she would act like that. She would smile a lot and speak very kindly.”

Cheon Seolhwa put on the face veil she had briefly removed and left the spot.

When they returned to the Yongseong Merchant Guild, another piece of information was added.

“They say they found the herb gatherer they were looking for at Haeruon. But after staying briefly, he just returned. And Jangju is looking for another herb gatherer.”

“Don’t you know why they called for a herb gatherer?”

“I asked casually, but they say he absolutely won’t tell. Moreover, it seems he received substantial compensation.”

If it was North Cheon City, both rewards and threats would have been possible.

“Looking for another herb gatherer means they didn’t achieve what they wanted.”

“It seems so.”

Cheon-gu, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, asked the merchant guild member named Sangpil.

“Are there many herb gatherers in this village?”

“Not really.”

“Then are there many mountains?”

“That’s not the case either.”

Cheon-gu found this point most strange.

“But they still come here specifically to look for mountains? Then there must be something in the mountains…”

When Cheon-gu fell into thought, Ja-gang-cheon and Pansuk kept their mouths shut. They knew they should give him time at moments like this.

“The purpose is to find something in the mountains near here. There aren’t even many mountains, yet they’re going so far as to look for herb gatherers?”

Cheon-gu suddenly threw a question at Ja-gang-cheon who was beside him.

“If you had something you absolutely had to find and it was in the nearby mountains. But if the mountains weren’t very big, what would you do?”

“I think I’d search directly. If necessary, I could hire people too.”

“Right? Then not searching directly but mobilizing herb gatherers means they’ve already done that process, doesn’t it?”

“Oh? That’s right.”

Cheon-gu turned his gaze back to Sangpil.

“You said people from North Cheon City often came here, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Did they ever come directly with large numbers of people, or hire them? And please find out if they looked for other people before seeking herb gatherers.”

“I’ll check right away.”

As Sangpil left the guest quarters, Cheon-gu added a comment.

“If Cheon Seolhwa suddenly came in person, it means whatever it is has a high possibility of producing results.”

“Oh. As expected of Cheon-gu hyeongnim.”

But Pansuk, who had given the praise, suddenly had a question.

“But hyeongnim. If we find out what North Cheon City is trying to do, what will you do?”

“That’s for Gangcheon to decide. We just do our job from the side.”

“Ah! I understand.”

Then Pansuk asked Gangcheon.

“Hyeongnim. What do we do after we find out?”

“It depends on what they’re doing. Still, I hope they’re not bad people.”

“North Cheon City does have a high notoriety though…”

Pansuk trailed off his words while watching Ja-gang-cheon’s reaction.

“Rumors can’t be trusted. The Wudang Sect, which cried out for justice and fairness, rejected me, while my aunt called Dok-ja-mo was a warmer person than anyone.”

“That’s right. Rumors are all fake. How could they attach such an ominous nickname to hyeongnim?”

At those words, Ja-gang-cheon tilted his head. Meanwhile, Cheon-gu sighed.

“I have a nickname? What is it?”

Cheon-gu had no choice but to tell him the reality.

“Recently, gossipmongers have been calling you Sa-hyeol-hae-ju.”

Sa-hyeol-hae-ju.

It means the master of the sea who calls forth death and blood.

Subduing Gwimyeon Ssangssal and Shandong Oeak, and then the Hwangbo Clan was decisive.

Gossipmongers attached a strong nickname to the young guild master who led the Shandong Province hegemon to Bongmun.

“See, rumors can’t be trusted. Right?”

Ja-gang-cheon hoped Cheon-gu would agree with him, but for some reason, no answer came back.

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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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