Return of the God of War - Chapter 21

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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 21: The night of the adventurers is never long.
Glug, glug, glug.
Only the sound of a white-haired, middle-aged man filling his cup broke the silence of the space.
Though he wore a robe cut generously, his taut frame was unmistakably visible beneath the fabric.
What was striking was that he adorned himself with gold ornaments from head to toe—rings on his fingers, bracelets on his wrists, a pendant at his throat, and even a gold crown atop his topknot.
Such excessive adornment might have risked vulgarity, yet in concert with his sharp, noble bearing, it only deepened an air of timeless elegance.
This middle-aged man was none other than Yeon Shin-chu, who held one of the Twelve Seats of Cheonmu’s Twelve Seats.
Yeon Shin-chu drained his cup and savored the burning warmth sliding down his throat.
“Hmm… not bad at all.”
A voice so perfectly measured, with the refined taste of a connoisseur of wine.
One would never imagine this was the same man who, mere moments before, had been orchestrating a massacre.
The place where he now sat was the first floor of Chosong Pavilion.
The largest establishment for leagues around was completely packed.
With corpses.
Among them lay not only Geo Han-su and his gang who ran the underground gambling den,
but also the sect master of Gwangcheon Sect, his disciples, and the grain brokers—hundreds upon hundreds of bodies stacked like mountains.
Just then, a swordsman clad in black approached Yeon Shin-chu.
“We’ve recovered all of it—the hundred-thousand-liang Promissory Note issued by Tongcheon Store, as well as all valuables held by Chosong Pavilion and Gwangcheon Sect.”
“And that man who was supposed to reveal my True Name and collect payment?”
“He concealed his identity so thoroughly that no one appears to have seen his face. Moreover, while he certainly left Zhejiang, at some point his carriage tracks began moving in suspiciously circular patterns in the same area. It seems he deliberately falsified his trail to throw us off.”
Yeon Shin-chu’s brow furrowed.
His subordinates’ mastery of the Pursuit Technique was second to none among any organization under heaven.
If someone could evade even their eyes to this degree, the man had to be a consummate specialist.
And yet.
‘Those who know my True Name are scarce as phoenix feathers. I doubt such men would toy with petty coins like these.’
No matter how much he turned it over in his mind, the man’s identity remained beyond prediction.
But one thing was certain.
‘From the way things unfolded, he meant to use me from the start—to have me slaughter these vermin for him.’
A hollow laugh escaped his lips of its own accord.
To dare use Yeon Shin-chu as a tool for such work…
“A madman, without question.”
“Shall I send more men to pursue him?”
“Hmm…”
Glug, glug, glug.
Yeon Shin-chu refilled his cup once more and spoke.
“Who in blazes is this brazen lunatic bold enough to make a fool of Jang Chung…”
Whoosh.
As he emptied the cup, it crumbled to dust and scattered into the air—and both men vanished with it.
* * *
In the meantime.
Muk Yeo-jin returned to Mak-ho after escorting the women who had been put up for auction to safety with Bu Young-seol.
Those without family or nowhere to go would be found shelter by Bu Yeon.
Muk Yeo-jin and Bu Yeon were visiting the compound of Cheonou Sangdan to discuss future business prospects with Yi Hwa-myeong.
“Master of Cheonou Sangdan, thirty percent of painting sales revenue—that’s simply impossible.”
“Ah… but surely the benefactor…”
Yi Hwa-myeong’s expression grew troubled.
When Muk Yeo-jin had first brought up the business proposal, he had offered thirty percent of profits in exchange for managing the middleman distribution of paintings.
But now Bu Yeon had objected to this arrangement.
Bu Yeon glanced back at Muk Yeo-jin with a faint smile.
“You said complete authority over the merchant guild belongs to me, did you not, Muk?”
Muk Yeo-jin chuckled softly and nodded.
Looking at Bu Yeon, he felt an inexplicable warmth bloom in his chest.
Once, Bu Yeon had lived like a hollow shell after confirming Bu Young-seol’s death, and to escape that grief, he had stumbled almost by chance into the world of Merchant Trade.
With the brilliant talent he discovered there, he had raised his guild to the finest position under heaven—yet always, there had been an emptiness in his heart.
A man who possessed more than anyone else in the world, yet owned nothing at all.
That was Bu Yeon.
But now, the light in his eyes burned with life renewed.
With a smile gracing his entire face, Bu Yeon displayed the bearing of what he had once been—the greatest merchant lord in all the world.
“Distribution fees shall not exceed ten percent. In exchange, I propose to grant you first refusal rights on all paintings we sell to Cheonou Sangdan.”
Yi Hwa-myeong smacked his lips in disappointment.
But there was no choice.
If the numbers didn’t work out, Bu Yeon could simply find another merchant guild instead, and even on these terms alone, Cheonou Sangdan would reap enormous profits.
Yi Hwa-myeong had no choice but to accept Bu Yeon’s proposal, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
But it was only the beginning.
Bu Yeon laid out a detailed plan to extract every last drop of value from Cheonou Sangdan—every concession, every advantage they could possibly yield.
After more than an hour of negotiation, Yi Hwa-myeong’s face had gone ashen, drained of all vitality.
“Eun-kong… wherever did you find such a money demon……”
Muk Yeo-jin chuckled softly.
“Keep him close, and you’ll have no cause for regret. Befriend him.”
Yi Hwa-myeong could not help but acknowledge it inwardly.
Irksome as Bu Yeon was, even from their brief exchange, Yi Hwa-myeong could see that Bu Yeon possessed sharper insight and more driving force than any merchant he had ever encountered.
He was half-tempted to try poaching him for his own guild.
After concluding their business, Bu Yeon and Muk Yeo-jin left the courtyard of Cheonou Sangdan.
By then, the sun had begun its descent, and dusk gathered softly over the earth.
Bu Yeon walked on without much to say, a step ahead, and Muk Yeo-jin followed silently in his wake.
They walked for some time thus.
Entering a quiet side street, Bu Yeon suddenly stopped before a guest house.
“Might you join me for a drink? Muk, or should I call you the guild master now?”
Muk Yeo-jin smiled.
“Excellent. Deputy Chief Bu.”
Bu Yeon gestured toward the guest house before them.
A placard hung above the entrance read “Hwakmok Guest House.”
“It may not look like much on the surface, but the proprietor’s touch is truly exceptional. Would you mind?”
Muk Yeo-jin noticed that Bu Yeon had deliberately led him to this place.
“I prefer quiet, charming places like this to grand establishments crowded with people.”
The guest house was small and worn, run by an elderly woman, yet it carried a charm steeped in the patina of years—a place rich with quiet grace.
The old woman sweeping the floor caught sight of Bu Yeon and brightened at once.
“My goodness, who is this? Yeon! It’s been how many years!”
“It has been too long, Grandmother. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Ah, us old folks are well enough if we haven’t kicked the bucket. So, how is Young-seol doing?”
“Yes, all is well with him. He and his sister will visit you soon.”
“That’s good, that’s good. Just make the usual for him, then?”
“Thank you. I would be grateful.”
“Of course, of course—whose favor wouldn’t I do? Wait a moment, both of you. I’ll make it so delicious you could die laughing and never notice.”
The old woman disappeared into the kitchen, and Bu Yeon deftly retrieved a bottle of grain alcohol and two cups from the cupboard.
“Let us have a drink while we wait for the food.”
Muk Yeo-jin did not refuse.
The two men drank and shared light conversation.
Bu Yeon did most of the talking; Muk Yeo-jin listened.
Bu Yeon spoke of how he had taken on the role of household head since childhood, after his father—a traveling merchant—was killed by bandits.
“In those days, when my sister and I had not a coin between us and tried to quiet our hunger with the scent of food drifting from alleys, it was this grandmother who gave us meal without hesitation. She is our benefactor, our true savior.”
Just then, the old woman brought out a steaming bowl of meat dumplings and chicken noodles.
“There! Yeon, eat well, and tell me if you need more! Young man, please, eat plenty!”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“Thank you, honored one.”
Bu Yeon gazed at the chicken noodles set before him for a long moment.
At last, as he pushed a handful of noodles into his mouth, tears began to stream down his face.
Slurp.
He finished the bowl without drawing a breath, draining every drop of broth, and only then wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“Forgive my unseemly conduct, Guild Master.”
“It is nothing.”
“Since my sister went missing, I have not returned to this place once……”
After a moment, regaining control of his surging emotions, Bu Yeon rose from his seat.
He straightened.
Then he bowed deeply and respectfully to Muk Yeo-jin.
The back of his head trembled faintly as he bent so low it nearly touched the ground.
“If not for you, Guild Master, I might never have tasted this noodle soup again in all my life. I am truly grateful.”
Muk Yeo-jin is himself a man who, before his return, encountered countless bonds and lost many of them.
Now, having nearly lost someone precious and barely managed to save them—
How could he not understand Bu Yeon’s heart?
At this moment, he would likely hand over Muk Yeo-jin’s head without hesitation if asked.
So Muk Yeo-jin had no reason to refuse Bu Yeon’s gratitude.
Yet he didn’t want to leave him burdened by too great a debt.
In truth, the kindness Bu Yeon had shown him before his return far outweighed anything Muk Yeo-jin had given him now.
Muk Yeo-jin spoke in a deliberately playful tone.
“Ha! You think a mere word of thanks will wipe the slate clean? Impossible! I’ll take your gratitude in coin instead, Chief Administrator. Please help my merchant guild grow!”
The perceptive Bu Yeon caught the true intent behind Muk Yeo-jin’s jest.
Bu Yeon answered with a bright smile.
“I’ll do my very best, Guild Master.”
Muk Yeo-jin waved him down to his seat with a flourish.
“Come now, have another drink. When men like us speak of a long night, such talk holds no meaning. We must drink steadily if we’re to drain this guest house dry before sunrise.”
But that wish would not come to pass.
Past the Zi Hour, the elderly innkeeper finally issued her eviction notice.
“You rascals! How much longer will you plague me? I have to sleep if I’m to do business tomorrow—out with you!”
The two men drained their cups and crammed the appetizers into their mouths before being driven from the guest house.
“We’ll be back, madam!”
“You’d better!”
Bang!
Watching the guest house door slam shut with force, Muk Yeo-jin burst out laughing.
“I think I’m going to become a regular at this place.”
“You’re welcome. Another victim has fallen under the enchantment of Old Mistress Chang.”
The night had grown deep, even the livestock long asleep, yet Bu Yeon casually offered another suggestion.
“Perhaps you’d honor us with another drink at my home?”
Contrary to his appearance, Bu Yeon was a true master of spirits.
He’d already drained six bottles of grain alcohol in succession and yet seemed untouched by it.
Muk Yeo-jin too would have preferred to linger for days, but he could delay no longer.
“I’m afraid I must return to Sa-do-cheon.”
Bu Yeon smacked his lips and answered.
“What a shame. But I understand.”
“If anything urgent arises, simply send word to the place I mentioned.”
“Understood.”
Just as Muk Yeo-jin was about to leap skyward, Bu Yeon called him back.
“Wait! Guild Master. You never told us the most important thing—the name of your merchant guild.”
That was true.
He’d been so preoccupied he hadn’t even chosen a name.
But the name for his guild…
Wouldn’t it be far too obvious?
In this life too, it would be the name of the merchant guild destined to become supreme under heaven.
As soon as he spoke the answer, Muk Yeo-jin deployed his Lightness Kung Fu and moved toward Sa-do-cheon.
Bu Yeon, watching his figure shrink to a dot and vanish, murmured softly to himself.
The Hongryeon Merchant Guild.
It was a name that struck something oddly perfect in his heart.

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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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