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3. Day 2 of the
The banquet continued just as it had yesterday.
However, it did not have the same boisterous atmosphere as yesterday.
There was music, but no dancers; there were people coming in and going out, but there was no one from the Galaxy Merchant Guild welcoming guests and greeting them one by one.
It is a banquet, but the atmosphere doesn’t feel like one at all.
The hospitality is a complete mess, tsk.
“……
Are you really having such a complaint right now?
Wang So-so looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Huh? Why?”
The merchant guild leader always bragged about Jeong So-gun entering the academy and rising to the position of Grand Guild Leader.
“so?”
“So what? You completely destroyed those two things in one fell swoop.”
“It’s not my fault that my proud son was knocked out in one blow, is it? I didn’t even hit him that hard.” If he had drawn his weapon, he should have crushed me instantly.
If that had been the case, I wouldn’t have been taken advantage of so absurdly.
In fact, the shock flowing into his hand when blocking the spear was considerable. ‘A son of the Galaxy Merchant Guild must have taken elixirs or potions every quarter, right?’ The fact that Jeong So-gun was knocked out in a single blow was purely due to his own arrogance.
The arrogant thought that they could easily overpower someone like me led to their own destruction.
If it weren’t for that, we could have shared a few more moves.
Well, I probably would have won in the end, though.
“In my opinion, he doesn’t have the skills to be the Grand Clan Leader. It’s clear he got promoted through bribery.……”
That’s not the important thing.
Wang So-so was still looking at me with a bewildered expression.
On top of that, worry.
“Perhaps… we might not be able to maintain ties with the Galaxy Merchant Guild anymore.”
Then again, considering I even made him wet his pants on the day of the feast, in a way, isn’t it only natural?
It doesn’t matter anyway.
“yes?”
“Don’t we in Taeeulmun have the Wang family?”
“…….”
Wang So-so looked dazed, as if she had been suddenly struck on the back of the head.
I looked at him and smiled playfully.
“Surely you aren’t planning to abandon the Taeeul Sect, are you?”
“Th-what is that!”
“Then isn’t that enough?”
“Th-that’s true, but… from Taeeulmun’s perspective, you never know…”
Why is the Wang family’s daughter worrying like a Taeeulmun member?
“You never know what might happen. The Wang family’s power might weaken… and then the Galaxy Merchant Guild’s power would grow even stronger…”
Are you telling me to go back and forth like a bat?
That’s not it, though.
“That’s enough. In the end, if the Wang clan becomes the greatest merchant in the world, won’t all the problems be solved?”
“Then even if the Eunha Merchant Group dislikes me and Taeeulmun, it’s no problem.”
Th-that’s right.
Wang So-so blinks her eyes and cautiously asks me.
Brother, do you think the Wang family will become the best merchant guild in the world?
I shook my head firmly.
I don’t know.
Because the Wang family in the previous life gradually declined as Wang Jinshan lost his mind along with Wang Xiaosuo’s disappearance.
Wang So-so’s expression turns sullen at my answer.
I looked at her face and added.
But isn’t it enough to just make it happen that way?
“Brother?”
“I would gladly help if it were something I could, but in the end, you and Master Jang would make it happen.”
The three great merchants who had devoured the Wang family’s assets ultimately proved to be of no help in the Great War against the Demons.
Therefore, I will support the Wang family in every way possible.
After all, my job is to throw away the predetermined future and rely on new possibilities.
Wang So-so, who had been looking at my face, clenches her fist tightly.
That’s right. If that happens, there won’t be any problems.
Then, as if making a resolution, he kept nodding his head.
Even though he is still young, he is as mature as ever.
I patted the guy’s head.
Let’s head back.
“yes!”
Wang So-so replied in the brightest voice she had since arriving at the Galaxy Merchant Guild. #While the coachman was preparing the carriage after sending the message to the Galaxy Merchant Guild that she would return to the sect.
Jeong So-eul visited the annex.
What is it now?
Wang So-so, who had previously reacted like a cat bristling its fur whenever it saw Jeong So-eul, greeted her with a smile that seemed somehow relaxed.
Is there a place in my house that I cannot go?
And conversely, this time Jung So-eul reacted sharply.
“That’s impossible. But I was saying that, even if you are the host, it isn’t polite to enter a room given to a guest without permission.”
And I was the one caught in the crossfire between the two women’s power struggle.
“Soso, finish preparing to leave.”
With a huff, Wang So-so went inside to gather the rest of her luggage, leaving only Jeong So-eul and me in the living room since we hadn’t brought any luggage in the first place.
After a brief silence, a lovely voice flew into my ears.
I told you so many times, but you ended up doing it anyway.
What do you mean by work?
I tilted my head.
Jeong So-eul let out a hollow laugh at my composed expression.
“Ha, surely you aren’t so stupid as to not even realize how big of a mess you’ve made, are you?”
The subtle seductive attitude that had been displayed until now was nowhere to be seen.
I also changed my attitude toward him accordingly.
“What on earth have I done? You told me to show off my skills as you wanted, so I did, and even though you picked a fight, I showed you some leniency.”
“Hah…! Good heavens…!”
“Hmm, I’m starting to get annoyed by you acting this rudely… Why don’t you either talk to me properly or get out of my sight?”
“Get, get lost?”
Jeong So-eul, unable to hide her bewildered expression at my harsh words.
Eventually, he started trembling uncontrollably.
Are you really planning to keep mimicking the stupid Black card until the very end?
I don’t know if I’m acting stupid, but one thing is certain: seeing Eun-beom’s true self was quite enjoyable.
Besides, this woman seems to have been less scared because she wasn’t in the inner chambers at the time.
This isn’t going to work.
I took a deep breath and shouted.
“What? You call me stupid? Are you insulting me right now!”
As he sprang to his feet radiating murderous intent, Jeong So-eul recoiled in surprise.
“W-what are you doing! S-surely not here…!”
Srrrr.
As he approached drawing his sword, Jeong So-eul trembled like a rabbit subdued by a tiger’s eyes.
“Ugh…”
He looked down at her intently for a long time, then withdrew his murderous intent.
“Haa, haa, haa, haa.”
I glanced at the floor where she was standing and said.
“At least you are better than your brother or father.”
Jeong So-eul was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me, as if she were furious about something.
I waved my hand in annoyance and ordered them to leave.
Did you come all the way here just to say that?
She, trembling uncontrollably, finally opens her mouth.
My father said he wanted to see me before he left.
Hmm… now? The merchant guild leader’s office was different from that of the Daecheon Merchant Guild.
Unlike my father’s office, which was right next to the administration, the head of the Galaxy Merchant Guild’s office was located in the deepest part of the guild, past a long corridor.
Did you sleep well last night?
The merchant lord, sitting alone in a grand and ornate office, was staring at me with a stiff expression.
Tsk tsk, you look like you’ve aged a fortune overnight… It’s quite pitiful.
The banquet is in full swing; is it really appropriate for the guest of honor to be standing out here?
Far from responding to my words, the merchant guild leader, who hadn’t even shown a reaction, finally spoke heavily after quite some time had passed.
I was debating whether or not to stamp the contract sent from the Wang family.
“Isn’t that something that was all settled yesterday?”
Do you think I can’t nullify the deal just because I spoke about it in front of people?
That might be possible, but I suppose you wouldn’t.
“A warrior talking about credit. Interesting.”
He covers his mouth with his hands.
His gaze became incredibly sharp.
“But you know what? This deal could be the last one for both the Daecheon Merchant Guild and the Taeeul Sect.”
“Is that your intention?”
If you can’t get over your anger.
“Back to the state where Taeeulmun originally possessed nothing… No, I could tear Daecheon Merchant Guild and Taeeulmun to shreds using a method even more severe than that.”
Unlike the small tiger, the seasoned tiger’s eyes gleam.
“If you are thinking of relying on the Wang family, forget it. The Wang family are merchants after all. Loyalty and kindness are merely cumbersome and expensive to buy with money, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be bought with money.”
As expected, the intimidation technique is an art.
But wouldn’t that only count as blackmail if it actually works?
After listening carefully, I nodded and answered cheerfully.
Then let’s do that.
“what?”
In an instant, the merchant’s expression, which had been filled with hostility, changes to a complex one.
“I don’t think I did anything wrong, and the Master’s displeasure hasn’t gone away. Isn’t it true that there is no solution that satisfies everyone? Then we should each solve the problem in the way we want.”
Are you out of your mind? Or are you that confident?
I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders lightly.
It is simply that I am not afraid of the future that has not yet arrived. If a problem arises, I can just resolve it when the time comes.
An even more complex expression.
The merchant stared at me blankly for a long time without saying a word, then spat it out.
“You haven’t had the wedding yet, have you?”
What kind of random question is that all of a sudden?
At that time when I didn’t even feel it was worth answering.
“What about So-eul? Her eyes are full of ambition, but she will be just as supportive of her husband. She is a wise child.”
What is this guy suddenly saying?
Or maybe you just don’t like Soeul? Her face is just as good as anyone I’ve ever seen.
While I was stunned by the completely unexpected question, the merchant continued speaking.
“Chaos will come to the world in the future. Do you know?”… …
Huh, what is this?
“And when that chaos strikes, countless orders will be destroyed. To avoid being swept away by the massive storm, you must put down firm roots. Do you think the Wang clan will put down firm roots in the Taeeul Sect?”
Although he wasn’t saying it precisely, the head of the guild seemed to have some idea about the future.
“Then… did Eun-beom taking over the Eunha Merchant Group also go according to his plan to some extent? After all, when I met Eun-beom in person, he revealed his true colors immediately. He wasn’t the type to swallow the Eunha Merchant Group by his own power.” “Jeong So-eul is superior to Jeong So-gun.”
However, as the head of a merchant guild, one cannot pass the guild down to the second daughter while leaving the eldest son behind.
I had a thought that perhaps they had created an environment that allowed Eun-beom to take over the merchant guild on his own.
He made a suggestion to me with a determined look in his eyes.
“Take root in the Eunha Merchant Guild. Then the Taeeul Sect will not be swept away by storms.”
That is truly an enticing statement.
If I had heard a story like this in a past life, wouldn’t I have buried my head almost to the ground, saying, “Oh my goodness, thank you”?
And I even got to have the wedding I couldn’t have in my previous life.
however…….
“Thank you for the offer, but…”
I mean, I’ve done this act of leaning on someone and putting down roots even in a past life. On the giant tree called the ‘Moorim Alliance’.
And I realized it painfully.
“The roots of the Taeeulmun will take hold on their own.”
You cannot survive a storm by parasitizing the roots of others.
I must firmly plant my roots in the ground solely by my own strength.
I looked straight into the upper guard’s eyes.
“Without anyone else’s help, that is.”
It seems the world looks easy to you.
Well, I suppose you might feel that way.
The merchant guild leader, who had been staring intently at me for quite some time, soon stood up.
Perhaps the roots of the Galaxy Merchant Group are too strong for Sogun.
The merchant lord, having uttered words of incomprehensible meaning, soon opened the wooden box.
And then a large golden seal
He took it up and stamped the contract.
“Give this to Lord Wang. Also, tell the Lord of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild that I look forward to working with him.”
For the first time, the guild leader showed me respect.
“thank you.”
I also bowed my head slightly in response. Leng Yuhuan entered the dark cave. ‘What a truly idiotic taste.’ I absolutely could not understand the mindset of someone who would go out of their way to build a laboratory in a cave like this, leaving a perfectly good building behind.
Instead of torches, expensive luminous pearls were embedded in the ceiling of the passageway.
They say torches change the quality of the air or something.
The reason was so pathetic that I couldn’t even properly understand it.
As he reached the end of the passageway, a large cavity appeared, and Leng Yuhuan entered, making his presence known.
I’m here.
When I went inside, the owner of the cave was standing there with a frown on his face.
“What? Why?”
I told you to wear the harm-free suit.
Leng Yuhuan looked around at the corpses hanging nearby and said.
“Fuck, do you think I’d get contaminated by things like that?”
“I’m not worried about you; I’m worried that the corpse might catch the disease of stupidity.”
“This bastard.”
Seeing Leng Yuhuan lean forward as if to lunge, the owner of the cave placed the knife and tongs he was holding on the floor.
“Why is a guy who failed his mission hanging around all the way here?”
At that, as if something had occurred to her, Leng Yuhuan’s attitude changed completely.
Ah! That’s right, that’s right. I saw that guy.
“That guy?”
The guy who destroyed the steel city you built.
The man’s expression contorted in an instant.
“I didn’t make that kind of trash. The lower-ups made it…”
“Ah, anyway, it’s true that you made it in your cave.”
“This damn bastard…….”
Leng Yuhuan smiled broadly.
I was severely punished for failing the mission, but seeing that rotten expression makes me feel a little better.
It was worth the effort to come all the way to this filthy cave just to see this.
Anyway, it’s so much fun seeing how they react immediately at the slightest provocation.
Leng Yuhuan slumped into the chair and spat out.
“Anyway, he was an interesting guy.”
“fun?”
“Yeah, should I say he’s a bit like you, Jang O-geuk?”
The man named Jang O-geuk bared his fangs, then tilted his head.
“What’s that sound?”
“What do you mean? I just mean it was a face I wanted to kill.”
Leng Yuhuan. Do you truly wish to die?
“Ugh, never mind. Anyway, I think I understand a little bit why Soma is interested.”
Zhang Wuji fell into thought for a moment at Leng Yuhuan’s words.
Then, he soon reveals his doubts.
“Did he perhaps use the Absorption Technique?”
“Absorption Technique?”
“The Heaven-Gon-Geuk-Ma-Gi of Jegeumhak has become completely mixed up. That is why the healing is slow.”
“Oh, really… was that so?”
Did you find out something?
Leng Yuhuan shrugged at Zhang Wuji’s expectant gaze.
“I don’t know. I didn’t fight.”
You’re just a useless piece of trash.
“Kehehe, did you think I was going to bring something helpful?”
“If you’re done, get lost. I’m busy.”
As Jang O-geuk turned his back, Leng Yuhuan’s serious voice flew in.
The teacher informed me that it was time to start the ‘fourth stage’.
At Leng Yuhuan’s words, Zhang Wuji’s eyes calmed down.
Has it already become that way?
“Right. The Blood Demon Sect’s illegitimate children were even more of a bunch of idiots than I thought.”
“‘Gaecheon Day’ isn’t far off either.”
“When that day comes…….”
Leng Yuhuan, who was about to continue speaking, swallowed his words.
Because no matter how rash he is, he shouldn’t easily blurt that out.
“Yes, when that day comes…….”
Jang O-geuk also kept his words to himself and exchanged meaningful glances with Leng Yuhuan.
