Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect - Chapter 228

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 228
Goxiang Tower.
The top floor of the oldest establishment in Taiyuan, Shanxi, drew the attention of every merchant present.
And for good reason—the Cheonha Trading Company and the Daeeun Trading Company had come together to negotiate an agreement over commercial territories.
After O Chief Manager had laid out his proposal in full, Hyo Gwan, the middle-aged proprietor of Daeeun Trading Company before him, opened his mouth.
“If that’s all you have to offer, then these negotiations are finished.”
O Chief Manager’s gaze deepened.
‘He’s rejecting it again.’
Though the Cheonha Trading Company had tried to make every concession they could manage, Hyo Gwan showed no inclination whatsoever to reconsider the proposal.
Without hesitation, Hyo Gwan rose to his feet.
As the broad-shouldered man stood, his substantial belly rippled visibly even beneath the loose folds of his clothing.
In that very instant, as he turned to leave—
“Then what conditions would you require for an agreement?”
O Chief Manager asked this as a parting shot.
As if he had been waiting for precisely that question, Hyo Gwan looked down at O Chief Manager and spoke.
“A natural question indeed.”
In stark contrast to his portly frame, Hyo Gwan’s eyes narrowed to sharp points as he continued.
“The Cheonha Trading Company must relinquish its commercial territory in Shanxi.”
O Chief Manager’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s… unreasonable.”
“Then forget it.”
Hyo Gwan spoke with perfect indifference.
“We’ll continue as we are now.”
“You intend to keep slashing prices and suffer losses?”
“Losses?”
Hyo Gwan’s eyes flashed with icy coldness.
“This is an investment in the future.”
“If we keep at each other’s throats like this, the other trading companies will be the only ones to profit.”
“Whether they profit or not is of no concern to me. What matters most is you.”
At Hyo Gwan’s blunt words, singling out the Cheonha Trading Company so pointedly, O Chief Manager’s frown deepened considerably.
“So you truly dislike our company?”
“Is that even worth calling words? Because of the Cheonha Trading Company, I’ve been branded a perpetual second-place competitor all these years. How could I be pleased with the current state of affairs?”
Speaking with cutting coldness, Hyo Gwan’s lips twisted with unmistakable bitterness.
“You came to negotiate an agreement between trading companies, yet it was not the proprietor himself who came, but a mere chief manager. Is that not your way of showing contempt for our company?”
“The proprietor is currently occupied elsewhere…”
“Excuses are unnecessary.”
Hyo Gwan’s voice rose slightly, as if his pride had been wounded.
His cheeks trembled with indignation as he vented his anger.
“The Cheonha Trading Company has long looked down upon us, so such disdain would naturally seep through in every gesture.”
At his one-sided barrage of words, O Chief Manager swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.
No matter what he said, it simply would not get through.
The agreement had been arranged in haste, which meant he had no choice but to come himself.
Hyo Gwan surely understood the reason, yet he was pressing the point anyway.
‘No—he’s doing this deliberately.’
He had come on the chance, but it was precisely as he’d suspected.
The proprietor of Daeeun Trading Company had no wish to end the current dispute with the Cheonha Trading Company.
On the contrary, he wanted to escalate it further.
‘He’s already resolved to see this through to the bitter end.’
O Chief Manager straightened his spine and waist, which had been slightly bent, and met Hyo Gwan’s gaze.
“I understand.”
With his submissive posture abandoned, O Chief Manager spoke in a tone that had dropped considerably.
“But I understand that the Daeeun Trading Company has recently joined forces with Sa Hyuk Ryeon and Nok Lim.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s no point playing dumb. Those who need to know already do.”
In that instant, Hyo Gwan let out a derisive laugh.
“The Cheonha Trading Company’s intelligence network is truly remarkable.”
“Once you’ve joined hands with Sa Hyuk Ryeon, you’ll find it difficult to do business with the Murim Alliance, the Bi Cheon Society, or the Imperial Court.”
“Do you think I’m not aware of that?”
O Chief Manager’s brow furrowed at the swift, cutting response that left him no room to breathe.
‘He’s wagered everything on a single throw of the dice.’
The imperial court was now under the thumb of the Cheonha Trading Company, while the Bi Cheon Society operated their own trading houses through each of their respective families.
The Murim Alliance, meanwhile, was divided among the other great trading houses of All Under Heaven.
That left only Sa Hyuk Ryeon as the remaining major faction.
But the trading houses merely took on whatever work they needed at any given moment; they rarely worked hand in hand with Sa Hyuk Ryeon.
There was the advantage of being able to do business with countless sects throughout Kangho, but the disadvantage of carrying their dark reputation along with it was simply too great.
Yet the Daeeun Trading Company had joined hands with them.
Willing to bear the stain of that infamy.
“Do you truly believe the sects will trust the Daeeun Trading Company to the end?”
“Trust? I’ve never believed in such things as trust between people.”
Hyo Gwan spoke with utter conviction.
“The only thing I trust is money.”
……
O Chief Manager felt a sudden chill run down his spine at the obsessive glint in Hyo Gwan’s eyes and the tone of his voice.
As a merchant, he could do nothing but feel overwhelmed.
“Speaking of which, I heard you’re sending something of great importance this time…….”
Hyo Gwan smiled darkly and continued.
“I trust it will arrive safely.”
Having left that warning in his wake, Hyo Gwan descended the stairs without a backward glance.
O Chief Manager watched his retreating figure in silence until he vanished completely, then clenched his teeth.
“It’s no wonder he’s the master of one of the great trading houses.”
The man was not to his liking, yet possessed an audacity that was remarkable.
Who would have imagined the trading company would join hands with Sa Hyuk Ryeon—the very faction trying to draw Nok Lim into their orbit?
Give Nok Lim the recognition they so desperately craved, add wealth and strength to Sa Hyuk Ryeon, and the trading house gained an enormous network of clients—a move of brilliant subtlety.
It was a masterstroke, truly.
‘Bold.’
O Chief Manager felt himself shrinking.
Even though he led a vast trading empire like the Daeeun Trading Company, he was not content with that; instead, he had staked his very life on a desperate gamble.
‘An iron nerve like no other.’
O Chief Manager exhaled slowly.
“Well then. In the end, I’ve made an enemy of the Daeeun Trading Company.”
A bitter smile crossed his lips.
It wasn’t only the Daeeun Trading Company.
Behind them stood Nok Lim and Sa Hyuk Ryeon as well. The situation had become far more complex than he’d anticipated.
‘To think I’d become entangled with Kangho to this degree.’
O Chief Manager shook his head slowly back and forth, his voice falling to a murmur.
“At least the Huashan Sect agreed to lend their support. That much is a mercy…….”
His gaze turned downward.
Below, near the four ornate carriages arrayed around Goxiang Tower, he could see the Maehwa Sword Masters gathered alongside the escort agents and sword-bearers.
Though the Maehwa Sword Masters were the elite of Huashan, a creeping unease began to settle in his chest.
“If only he were here…….”
It was then that he recalled someone.
Clatter—clatter—
A carriage came racing toward them at speed.
It stopped in a cloud of dust, the door swung open, and the moment a figure emerged, O Chief Manager’s face bloomed like a flower.
The one he had been waiting for had arrived.
“Cheon Hui!”
* * *
“It’s been far too long!”
“Cheon Hui!”
The moment Cheon Hui stepped down, he caught sight of the Maehwa Sword Masters welcoming him from all around, and his eyes narrowed.
‘So the Hwa Ryeong Dan came down.’
Just then, a faint breeze stirred.
Cheon Hui felt the wind brush his ear briefly, then tilted his head to the side.
Whoosh!
A fierce gust set his hair fluttering in the air.
“Huh?!”
A dumbfounded voice rang out.
Cheon Hyang, who had closed in on Cheon Hui using the Ink Cloud Spitting Thunder technique, let out a playful laugh as her Maehwa palm strike carved through empty space.
A soft whisper—
Cheon Hui flicked his middle finger lightly.
Crack!
Cheon Hyang snapped backward as Cheon Hui’s middle finger struck precisely against her forehead, tumbling to the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“Ugh!”
Cheon Hyang rubbed her forehead and scrambled to her feet.
“I thought a surprise attack would work.”
Cheon Hyang pouted, her lower lip protruding.
With her recent progress, she’d been certain that even against Cheon Hui, a sneak attack would land at least one solid blow.
But as it turned out, the result was anything but success—her forehead was already swelling red.
“I’ve been training the Ink Cloud Spitting Thunder continuously.”
As Cheon Hyang grumbled, Cheon Hui asked her a question.
“So you really wanted to hit me?”
At his inquiry, Cheon Hyang scratched the back of her head and offered an awkward smile.
“I’ve just been taking hits all this time. So I just wanted to land one decent blow.”
Cheon Hui watched her lift one finger, honestly baring her feelings, and let out an amused sound.
“Then I’ll help you train so that it does land.”
“Whoa! No, no, I’ll do it myself.”
Cheon Hyang waved her hands in protest, but Cheon Hui cleanly ignored her.
“From what I just saw, your footwork is quite slow, so we should start with the horse stance first, and then—”
As Cheon Hui rattled off the training regimen starting with the horse stance, Cheon Hyang’s face grew increasingly pale.
“That’s too harsh! Wait, really? That too?”
Then, at some point—
“…Climb Nagan Peak, you say?”
Cheon Hui turned his head sharply mid-sentence.
A sudden, razor-edged Killing Intent had brushed against his senses.
“What is it?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Who are those people?”
Cheon Hui pointed toward a carriage from which he felt the Killing Intent radiating.
Inside sat a portly middle-aged man and a delicate-featured beautiful youth.
‘Male or female?’
As Cheon Hui regarded this ambiguous figure, Cheon Hyang answered.
“They’re people from the Daeeun Trading Company.”
“The Daeeun Trading Company?”
The instant Cheon Hui narrowed his eyes—
Hiss—
The beautiful youth smiled thinly and moved their scarlet lips ever so slowly.
‘See you later?’
Reading the lip movement, Cheon Hui frowned as the carriage carrying the two departed, the Killing Intent receding with them.
‘Such a vicious Demonic Aura… are they from Sa Hyuk Ryeon?’
As he watched those following the carriage, a powerful voice rang out from behind.
“Young Hero Cheon Hui!”
O Chief Manager came rushing over frantically.
With a beaming smile spread across his face, he stood before Cheon Hui and grasped both his hands firmly.
“Thank you for coming.”
“You said you needed help?”
“Yes, we do.”
O Chief Manager nodded vigorously and quickly opened his mouth to speak.
“This time, Nok Lim has—”
“Ah, I’ve already heard all about that.”
Cheon Hui chuckled and spoke.
“So all I need to do is wipe out Nok Lim, right?”
“Yes, eliminate Nok Lim—gasp!”
O Chief Manager reflexively began to agree, then caught himself, his face breaking into a cold sweat.
Though Nok Lim had become an enemy, they were a formidable opponent, difficult to eliminate entirely.
Yet he spoke of it so casually.
“Is… is that possible?”
“It’s nothing particularly difficult.”
Cheon Hui spoke without concern, tilted his head, and moved his lips.
“Which of the Nok Lim bandit hideouts is closest to here?”
“That’s…….”
“Wait, hold on a moment.”
Cheon Yi Gae cut in at that point.
“There’s no need to rush like that. Don’t you think? Looking at the carriages and cargo here, it seems there’s something even more pressing than heading to a bandit hideout…….”
Cheon Yi Gae gave O Chief Manager a meaningful look as he spoke, and O Chief Manager quickly nodded his head.
“Quite right. What’s most urgent now is transporting these goods to Datong.”
“So you’re asking us to help with the convoy escort?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hmm.”
Cheon Hui tilted his head slightly.
Following O Chief Manager’s gaze to the four ornate carriages, Cheon Hui stroked his chin and opened his mouth.
“Well, it amounts to the same thing anyway. If we transport the goods to Datong, Nok Lim will attack us.”
“True enough.”
Cheon Yi Gae patted his chest beside him.
If Cheon Hui stepped forward, the bandit hideout would not merely be razed to the ground—it would be soaked in blood.
‘But we still lack information. If it comes to that, it could be dangerous.’
With only suspicion and no clear grasp of the current situation, there was no need to provoke Nok Lim just yet.
“Well, fine.”
Cheon Hui nodded at once.
“When do we depart?”
At Cheon Hui’s question, O Chief Manager’s gaze shifted to the Chief Escort Leader.
“When will you be ready to depart?”
The Chief Escort Leader, not fully grasping the current situation, opened his mouth.
“We can leave at once, if preparations are complete.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Cheon Hui’s eyes gleamed.
“Then let’s leave right now.”
“R-right now, sir?”
Everyone jumped at those words.
While immediate departure was technically possible, when outside parties joined an escort, it was customary to take time and prepare thoroughly before setting out.
But Cheon Hui, unbothered by their reaction, spoke casually.
“The sooner the better.”
“You’re right about that.”
O Chief Manager, agreeing with Cheon Hui, turned at once to the escort agents and carriage hands.
“Prepare to depart immediately.”
“Yes, understood!”
As the escort agents and carriage hands hurried about, preparing for the journey with haste.
“Senior, that person…….”
Dan Mok Lin, having exchanged greetings with Cheon Hyang and the Hwa Ryeong Dan members, came over and opened her mouth.
Her gaze was fixed on Go Sam.
“Ah, right.”
Cheon Hui approached him directly and spoke.
“You’re free to go now.”
“Understood.”
Normally he would have refused to abandon his mission, but seeing the Maehwa Sword Masters gathered nearby, he lowered his head in assent.
“I’ll take my leave then.”
Go Sam bowed in turn to Cheon Hui, Dan Mok Lin, and Cheon Yi Gae before departing.
Watching the carriage recede into the distance, Cheon Hui gazed at those bustling with preparations and murmured.
“Nok Lim, is it…….”
Cheon Hui recalled the Nok Lim bandits he had encountered in his previous life, and scratched his chin with his index finger.
“Even though three hundred years have passed, I wonder if those bastards have changed at all.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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