The Battle for the Heavenly Sword - Chapter 61

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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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61
The Contest for Woo Geom-san
“Why?”
Nam Su-hyang’s tone turned aggressive.
Concealing his distress, Baek Wol-sang replied with a polite expression.
“We and the Man-sang Alliance have maintained a good relationship for a very long time. Although the Tianjin Escort Agency’s proposal is far better, we cannot abruptly sever a good relationship that has continued since our ancestors’ time because of that.”
“How foolish. Do you think they think like you do? A deal is just a deal. Yunjung Tea is worth ten silver taels. Receiving the proper value is what constitutes a good relationship.”
“Of course, I know the young lady’s words are correct. However, I cannot sever a relationship passed down from my ancestors with my own hands. I am sorry.”
“This is truly absurd. I don’t know how anyone can be this foolish.”
The gaze Nam Su-hyang directed at Baek Wol-sang was as cold and sharp as a blade.
Just meeting her gaze was enough to make Baek Wol-sang’s knees shake. However, Baek Wol-sang did not yield to her threatening eyes.
He also knew well that trading with the Tianjin Escort Agency would bring greater profit. However, he could not suddenly sign a contract with a counterpart he knew nothing about.
He knew absolutely nothing about the Tianjin Escort Agency.
He did not know how large the escort agency was, what kind of tendencies it had, or whether it kept its promises well. He had no knowledge at all, so he could not trade based solely on the word that they would give more money.
Above all, he did not like the manner in which they barged into the transaction.
If they were people this rude, there was no telling how much more lawlessly they would act after the deal was concluded.
Rather than taking an unnecessary risk, Baek Wol-sang and the young men believed it was better to safely continue the contract with their existing business partner.
Seo Gun-wol wore a winner’s smile as he spoke to Nam Su-hyang.
“Since you’ve heard the answer, the uninvited guests should leave around this point.”
“You watch your mouth.”
“Pardon?”
“Even So Seol-yeong, the Young Sect Master of the Man-sang Alliance, cannot speak to me in that manner. Yet, you’re not even a Branch Office Leader, but just a worthless successor, and you dare speak to me like that?”
A sticky murderous intent was embedded in the gaze Nam Su-hyang directed at Seo Gun-wol.
Seo Gun-wol wore an absurd expression.
This was because the way Nam Su-hyang was speaking now was not the rhetoric of a merchant.
A merchant does not carelessly reveal their emotions or inner thoughts just because a transaction falls through. In particular, merchants who handle large-scale transactions were more skilled at concealing their negative emotions.
Even if a transaction fell through right now, they knew that building a good relationship would bring the next opportunity. Therefore, those who grew old in negotiations never fluctuated between joy and sorrow. They certainly did not do something as stupid as pressuring someone with murderous intent.
The way Nam Su-hyang was pressuring him and her tone were by no means the language of a merchant.
Those who flaunted their power in such a manner were absolutely never welcomed in the world of merchants.
‘If that woman is in charge of the Tianjin Escort Agency’s merchant group, it won’t last long.’
The problem was evading the current crisis situation.
Seo Gun-wol cupped his fists and politely apologized.
“If I have offended you, I am sorry. Please forgive my rudeness, Nam So-hyang!”
“Sigh!”
Nam Su-hyang let out a sigh with a face full of annoyance.
She also realized that she should not cross the line any further than this.
Even if he was the grandson of a mere Branch Office Leader, the opponent belonged to the Man-sang Alliance.
If she harmed Seo Gun-wol, the retaliation of the Man-sang Alliance would return immediately.
The Man-sang Alliance was a powerhouse that gripped all commercial power Under Heaven. In terms of martial might, they might fall behind the Tianjin Escort Agency, but instead, they possessed an immense amount of wealth, enough to command even ghosts.
If they attacked using their financial power and connections, the newly launched Cheonjin Merchant Group would not find it easy to endure.
Even thinking of the future, she should not cross the line any further. However, she could not suppress her anger at all.
It was at that moment.
One of the martial artists standing behind Nam Su-hyang stepped forward and glared at Baek Wol-sang.
He already possessed a menacing appearance, and when he even radiated murderous intent, Seo Gun-wol’s complexion turned deathly pale.
The man’s name was Luo Tieying.
As a Chief Escort belonging to the Chengdu Branch of Cheonjin Express Bureau, his martial arts were high and strong, and his personality was ruthless, making many people fear him.
Nam Un-pyo, the Branch Office Leader of the Chengdu Branch, was Nam Su-hyang’s uncle.
He cherished Nam Su-hyang greatly, so he supported her by sending Chief Escort Luo Tieying, the greatest force of the Chengdu Branch, and ten escort leaders.
Luo Tieying was born with a naturally strong murderous intent. When someone like him intentionally radiated murderous intent, those who had not learned martial arts could not handle it and would often lose consciousness or wet their pants.
Luo Tieying had no intention of forgiving Baek Wol-sang, who dared to refuse Nam Su-hyang’s proposal. Since he could not openly use his hands either, he intended to pressure Baek Wol-sang by radiating murderous intent and humiliate him.
“Urgh!”
Sure enough.
As he faced Luo Tieying’s murderous intent, the blood drained from Baek Wol-sang’s face, turning it pale.
It felt as if his mind was growing distant as if facing a ghost, and his body trembled violently.
The strength left his legs, making it feel as if he would wet his pants at any moment.
He tried hard to hold onto his consciousness, but the more he did, the more his mind faded.
“Stop this.”
Seo Gun-wol, who noticed the trick, spoke urgently, but Luo Tieying radiated even stronger murderous intent with a fishy smile hovering on his lips.
Just before Baek Wol-sang lost his grip on consciousness due to the intense murderous intent, someone blocked the space in front of him.
It was a young man who looked to be only in his early twenties.
The young man, who still had a childish look on his face, took Luo Tieying’s murderous intent entirely as he opened his mouth.
“You’re not a child, so how can you play such pranks?”
The young man who spoke bluntly while glaring at Luo Tieying was none other than Nam Mu-rin.
When Nam Mu-rin took the murderous intent on behalf of Baek Wol-sang, Luo Tieying furrowed his brows.
This was because he could not believe the fact that a mere mountain bumpkin was taking his intense murderous intent.
“How did a mountain bumpkin learn martial arts?”
“Is there a law stating that people living in the mountains shouldn’t learn martial arts?”
“How dare you speak in that manner when you know who I am?”
“Aren’t you ashamed? Shooting murderous intent like that at someone who hasn’t even learned martial arts.”
“A young fellow relies on his mouse-tail amount of martial arts and says whatever he wants.”
Luo Tieying, who could not find a proper excuse, raised his voice instead to hide his shame.
Even at his voice filled with murderous intent, Nam Mu-rin did not shrink back at all.
Luo Tieying’s appearance and murderous intent were burdensome, but he did not feel that it was greatly terrifying.
For the past ten years, Nam Mu-rin had steadily learned Suyuchilseongong.
Although it was not the mountain-guarding ultimate technique of the Quanzhen Sect, the essence of Taoism was contained within Suyuchilseongong, to which Baek Ho-yang’s insights had been added.
To Nam Mu-rin, who had learned the peace of mind of Taoism, things like murderous intent or threats did not work.
“I’m not curious about who you are, nor am I curious about how great the martial arts you’ve learned are. The Taoist grandfather said that one without Dao, though having human form, is unworthy of being human.”
The complexion of Luo Tieying, who understood the meaning of Nam Mu-rin’s words, completely changed.
A person who lacks human morality cannot be called a human, even if they have the form of a human.
Right now, Nam Mu-rin was speaking indirectly, saying that he was nothing more than a beast wearing human skin.
Luo Tieying shouted as his murderous intent erupted violently.
“A young fellow says whatever he wants. I will discipline you and the Taoist who taught a young child incorrectly.”
Before anyone could stop him, he drew his sword just like that and swung it at Nam Mu-rin.
Whoosh!
“Ah, no!”
“Get out of the way quickly!”
Seo Gun-wol and Baek Wol-sang, who understood the situation late, shouted, but Nam Mu-rin, the party facing the blade himself, was completely calm.
‘Slow!’
The reason he did not panic even in front of a sudden threat was because the people he had sparred with during that time were too incredible.
Baek Ho-yang and Woo Geom-san.
Both of them were people who had ascended to a realm that Nam Mu-rin could not dare to approach.
Needless to say for Baek Ho-yang, and Woo Geom-san’s realm was also immense, so he could not dare to guess how high it was.
When facing Baek Ho-yang, it felt like looking at a giant cloud, and when Woo Geom-san occasionally guided him, it felt like dealing with wind and water.
They were right in front of him, but they gave a sense of awe that made him feel he could not dare to reach them.
Since he frequently faced those two, Luo Tieying’s attack felt relatively insignificant.
Swish!
Nam Mu-rin avoided Luo Tieying’s sword just by lightly moving one step to the side.
The murderous intent contained in Luo Tieying’s sword, which passed in front of his nose by a hair’s breadth, was felt vividly.
Luo Tieying had truly intended to kill Nam Mu-rin with this attack.
They were strangers who had never met.
Luo Tieying was so lawless that he would try to kill someone just because he was rebuked, without any grudge.
Nam Mu-rin tightly clenched his fist without realizing it. Then, he thrust it toward Luo Tieying’s empty flank.
Bang!
“Urgh!”
An explosive sound and a scream erupted simultaneously.
Luo Tieying vomited blood and retreated three or four steps backward.
An unbelievable look floated upon his face.
It was Chungcheon Choseong, the first stance of Suyuchilseongong.
It was an intense strike, like a spring of water bursting forth.
The stance he had repeated tens of thousands of times and mastered over the past ten years dealt a heavy blow to Luo Tieying’s flank.
It was fortunate that he had shown mercy with his hand; if he had used his full strength, Luo Tieying’s flank bones would have been completely crushed.
“You, you?”
“If you treat it quickly, there won’t be a problem with moving.”
“Eek! Urgh!”
Luo Tieying, who was trying to get angry, clutched his flank and sat down.
“Chief Escort!”
“Damn it!”
The escort leaders, who understood the situation late, urgently made Luo Tieying swallow a Qingling Pill.
The Qingling Pill was a medicine distributed only to those at or above the rank of escort leader in the Tianjin Escort Agency, and it showed excellent effects on internal and external injuries.
Fortunately, the Qingling Pill seemed to take effect, as Luo Tieying’s complexion visibly improved.
“A young fellow…”
“How dare you inflict an injury on a Chief Escort of the Tianjin Escort Agency? This cannot be forgiven.”
The escort leaders drew their swords all at once to take revenge for Luo Tieying.
At that moment, Seo Gun-wol stepped forward and spoke.
“Aren’t you ashamed that the escort leaders of the Tianjin Escort Agency are stepping forward to oppress a single young child? It is vivid how greatly the fellow comrades of the Jianghu will laugh if they learn of this fact. Do not blow this matter up any further, and back off around this point. Otherwise, I will make the atrocities of the Tianjin Escort Agency public in the Jianghu. Of course, the Tianjin Escort Agency won’t take a blow to that extent, but your prestige will fall to the ground. I wonder if the Great Hero Nam Tae-ha, the Leader of the Tianjin Escort Agency, will like that.”
In an instant, the escort leaders stopped their actions and looked at Nam Su-hyang.
Nam Su-hyang was biting her lip so hard that blood was about to catch.
If it were any other time, she would have lightly ignored words like Seo Gun-wol’s. However, the timing and situation were not good.
The reason she intentionally took such an unreasonable risk was precisely to establish a merit and catch the eye of her father, Nam Tae-ha.
The Tianjin Escort Agency had not yet finalized its successor.
Nam Tae-ha, the Leader of the Tianjin Escort Agency, was weighing his son Nam Seung-pyo against his daughter Nam Su-hyang.
Normally, it was correct to pass the Tianjin Escort Agency down to his son Nam Seung-pyo, but for some reason, Nam Tae-ha kept delaying the decision.
Accordingly, Nam Su-hyang believed that there was still an opportunity for her to become the agency leader as well.
She thought that if she only established a great merit, her father would give her an opportunity. That was why she planned this matter.
The Yunjung Tea handled by the Man-sang Alliance had steadily risen in recognition over the past ten years, and now it received treatment no less than Longjing Tea.
Rather, it was harder to obtain than Longjing Tea, so it had more scarcity value.
Nam Tae-ha also enjoyed drinking Yunjung Tea, and he greatly regretted that the Tianjin Escort Agency could not handle it.
The thought that she might be able to turn her father’s mind if she could only bring the exclusive rights to Yunjung Tea occurred to her, and Nam Su-hyang immediately moved into action.
By intensively monitoring the distribution network of the Man-sang Alliance, she learned the fact that Yunjung Tea mainly entered through the Western Branch Office.
Afterward, with the help of Nam Un-pyo, the Leader of the Chengdu Branch, she found out that Master Seo, who operated a tiny branch under the Western Branch Office, was the contracting party.
That was the route through which she came all the way to this distant Guangu County.
She had come all this way to this distant place by expending such an immense amount of effort, so she could not let all that effort go down the drain now.
Nam Su-hyang spoke to Seo Gun-wol.
“The moment what happened today leaks outside, a great war will break out between the Tianjin Escort Agency and the Man-sang Alliance, and you will have to bear that responsibility entirely.”
“I will keep my mouth strictly shut so that such a thing does not happen.”
“Hmph! Let’s try trusting you once.”
Nam Su-hyang snorted and turned around.
The escort leaders supported Chief Escort Luo Tieying and left the Zhuyang Inn.
As Nam Su-hyang and the escort leaders left, Seo Gun-wol, Baek Wol-sang, and the others let out sighs of relief.
“Phew!”
“Sigh!”
In particular, Baek Wol-sang and the young men who had not learned martial arts felt as if they would collapse at any moment.
Seo Gun-wol looked at the entrance where Nam Su-hyang and the others had left with a heavy expression.
‘We managed to pass it over somehow today, but the future is a big problem.’
If Nam Su-hyang continued to interfere like this, the Yunjung Tea transaction could become endangered, and Seo Gun-wol’s burden was bound to grow heavier.
Seo Gun-wol shook his head to push away the troublesome thoughts.
Deciding to think about future matters later, he looked at Nam Mu-rin.
This was because Nam Mu-rin’s extraordinary martial prowess had entered his eyes.
‘Who is in Yunjung Village that they taught that child to that level of proficiency?’
Doubts bloomed like clouds and filled his mind.
He knew because he had also learned martial arts.
That Nam Mu-rin’s skill was truly immense. And that in order to make a young boy master martial arts of that level, the master’s skill must also be incredible.

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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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