Chapter 161: Right Up Her Alley
So-called divine weapons that have divine power latent within them each display a characteristic colored haze… that is, a unique energy current… when that power manifests.
Of course, this phenomenon only appears when the owner’s aptitude, ability and such meet certain conditions.
In the case of the Divine Martial Sword, one of the Ten Heavenly Weapons, that was a crimson-hued energy current.
The aura that had appeared in his own pupils reflected in the mirror was exactly that.
A crimson identical to the inherent divine power from his days as the Divine Martial Sword.
He was certain.
That the eye light he was seeing now was a sign connected to his original divine power…
It was incomprehensible how this had come about.
‘Hmm, so my original power didn’t disappear, but was latent in this body along with my reincarnation?’
A strange phenomenon outside the scope of the martial knowledge he had accumulated over a thousand years.
At that moment.
SSSSSSS…
The red eye light reminiscent of his Divine Martial Sword days quietly dissipated as if it had never been.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s eyes, reflected in the mirror, deepened.
He quickly tried operating his internal energy, but that crimson light no longer responded.
It had become latent in his body again.
‘Interesting.’
He quietly sorted through his thoughts.
If this mysterious body played a role similar to a divine weapon – similar to the Divine Martial Sword’s main body – then it meant he needed to fulfill some condition to manifest and use the divine power.
Suddenly, the moment he ruthlessly destroyed the Ghost Skull Divine Armor came to mind.
At that time, a blue energy current symbolizing ghost energy had flowed from the shattered pieces scattered on the floor, moved as if passing through his body, and disappeared.
‘Perhaps that stimulated something inside my body.’
Although he hadn’t felt anything particular at the time, if that series of ghost energy had resonated with the divine power sleeping deep in his body and opened a small channel… And if that had expanded further as he absorbed the celestial and demonic energies in Mount Heng Sect’s Forbidden Zone, there was a need to pursue research in that direction.
‘Let’s try everything.’
In any case, this was good news.
This body, which had evolved and developed through repeated enlightenments, could also use the unfathomable power of divine energy?
Ha, then he could get a few steps closer.
To the terrifying martial prowess of the wanderer who was the target of his revenge.
‘Just wait and see. I will definitely surpass the power you possess.’
—This is not a place for you to come!
The voice he heard was like an auditory hallucination when he unexpectedly entered the state of Feathered Ascension to Immortality.
‘I almost ascended without even making use of being reborn, but thanks for blocking it. Whoever you are, god or whatever living in that sky.’
Having smirked like that, Cheol Ryu-heun soon rose and walked out the door while muttering.
“That pig bastard should have his limbs cut off by now.”
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, as they say.
He planned to deal with Azure Hound Trading Company’s Choe Tan in the same manner.
Force for force, money for money – nothing was more effective than that.
Ignoring the essence of the problem and simply using martial force to solve it wasn’t the best approach.
For generally, someone who abuses power should be repaid with the same type of power abuse at a level exceeding theirs – only then will they truly beat the ground in regret.
Red Cat Merchant Guild was now a partner.
Inseparably so.
Therefore, in line with White Peak Sword Sect’s plans for resurgence, Red Cat Merchant Guild needed to develop rapidly too.
He had already set the goal.
The Greatest Trading Company Under Heaven.
Currently, there were roughly ten major trading companies that dominated a region or had branches across the entire continent, and his plan was to eventually elevate Red Cat Merchant Guild to that level and then seat them at the highest position.
Azure Hound Trading Company, which had been a competitor until now, was not even in his consideration.
Since White Peak Sword Sect would recreate the Mountain Martial Association – which would become the martial world’s greatest group of supreme-level swordsmen – and earn the reputation of the Greatest Martial Sect Under Heaven, Red Cat Merchant Guild, chosen as their partner on that path, should naturally become the Greatest Trading Company Under Heaven to match that status and prestige.
‘Everything connected to this martial sect where I reside – whether people or organizations – must all be made the greatest under heaven.’
Having left the Mountain Patriarch Hall, he strode toward a building visible in the distance.
‘Shall I finish the remaining work before the day ends?’
The time had come now.
Time for the flower that had desperately been seeking the butterfly to hold sweet nectar.
* * *
“Simply delicious. Ha.”
Hui Bu-yong took a sip of the tea placed before her and let out a quiet laugh.
Chief No Gong, seated in the opposite chair, chimed in with a chuckle.
“Haha. Yes, truly delicious.”
It wasn’t that they had put honey in the teacups.
It was because the negotiations with the distinguished guest who had visited Red Cat Merchant Guild today had been successfully concluded.
Because of the sweet feeling.
No Gong took another slurp of tea and casually asked.
“So the Beggar Sect has also become a major client of our company?”
The Beggar Sect was the beggars’ organization of the martial world and, along with the Nine Great Sects’ Shaolin Temple, boasted one of the longest histories, with the largest total membership of any single faction.
Because their total membership – including Kaifeng Main Hall in the major Henan city and over one hundred branch halls across various regions – approached a staggering ten thousand.
Hui Bu-yong nodded while stroking her teacup.
“Of course. If we form connections with the great merchant of Xuchang, Kaifeng Main Hall will naturally follow…”
The distinguished guest had promised.
To commemorate this successful negotiation, he would introduce Bak Bong, the wealthy magnate who dominated the major city of Xuchang.
Often called Master Bak of Henan, he was one of the leading great merchants across all of northern China.
With over twenty escort agencies, shops, and money exchanges under his control throughout the continent, he was a self-made figure in the commercial world.
Most importantly, he was famous as a longtime patron of the Beggar Sect, so if Red Cat Merchant Guild formed connections with him, the possibility of linking up with the Sect also grew.
If things went well going forward, they could establish a foothold for advancing into Xuchang and even Kaifeng.
Going further, the moment they used the Beggar Sect’s vast membership to spread word of mouth, Red Cat Merchant Guild would enjoy truly tremendous promotional effects.
‘Ha… Since forming a connection with Sect Leader Cheol, it feels like great fortune has opened up. Honestly, I didn’t expect Master Bak of Henan to even come up today.’
Having murmured inwardly, Hui Bu-yong took another sip of tea while recalling Cheol Ryu-heun’s words in her mind.
-Dreams should be held big.
-Pardon?
-The Greatest Trading Company Under Heaven.
-…!
-With my help, you can obtain that position. I guarantee it. So don’t harbor useless doubts about what our Sect, which I lead, is doing.
-Yes, Master! Oh, I mean, Sect Leader!
In an instant.
“Honey!”
At the sudden cry shattering her reverie, Hui Bu-yong frowned deeply and looked toward the door.
“Goodness, what now?”
Immediately after, the lattice door burst open and the source of the cry appeared.
A decent-looking man in his forties.
It was her husband So Ja-ryong, for whom getting cursed at had become routine ever since he spectacularly failed two shops in the past.
“Honey! I heard the deal was finished well earlier!”
When So Ja-ryong spoke with a pleased expression, Hui Bu-yong’s eyes immediately narrowed.
“So…?”
“Haha! To celebrate that, I bought some good things. Look at this!”
So Ja-ryong promptly unwrapped a bundle on the square table.
CLATTER, CLATTER-
No Gong tilted his head when he saw it.
‘Hm? A blindfold? And handcuffs, ankle cuffs… A gag and whip too…? They’re even high-quality leather products?’
He found it incomprehensible what those were meant to be used for.
“Honey! Let’s hurry to the bedchamber! On such a good day, we can’t leave out the bedroom! Tie me up, beat me, torment me with these! To your heart’s content!”
Simultaneously, No Gong was flabbergasted.
URGH!
They were all bedroom tools?
Why the hell would anyone need such things!
No, what’s so great about being tied up, beaten and tormented!
But then.
Hui Bu-yong’s eyes sparkled as if pleased.
“My goodness! Darling… How did you know my tastes lately…!”
“Haha! When you know, you know! Come, come! Let’s go lie on the bed in that room over there and try for a third child!”
“KYAH, I love you!”
With those words, Hui Bu-yong fell into So Ja-ryong’s arms, gathered up the various bedroom tools, and quickly disappeared.
Left alone, No Gong stared blankly at the wide-open doorway and murmured quietly.
“Ah, through bedroom activities… He extends his life again.”
It was probably a kind of survival skill that the henpecked So Ja-ryong had acquired on his own.
He had no aptitude for trading company work, but seeing as he knew what he was good at… His head wasn’t entirely bad after all.
* * *
The reception room inside Azure Hound Merchant Guild.
Choe Tan wore an expression of great shock after reading the document handed to him by the unexpected visitor.
“Wh-why so suddenly…”
Immediately after, the person seated across the table spoke in a dignified voice.
“As you can see… That’s how things have turned out.”
A man in his mid-fifties who gave off a rather stern impression.
He was Qidiao Hwang, the Family Head of the Qidiao Sword Family… a famous orthodox martial family in the Hunan region and a local power in Yiyang, a mid-sized city near Baizhou. His alias was Brilliant Sword Hero.
The document currently in Choe Tan’s hands was a certificate stating the mutual dissolution of their contract.
Due to Azure Hound Trading Company’s liability, Qidiao Escort Agency under the Qidiao Sword Family could no longer fulfill the existing contract…
Chil Jo-hwang continued speaking in a dignified manner.
“Though it’s a past matter, Azure Hound Trading Company’s improper conduct could affect our family’s reputation and prestige going forward. I won’t explain separately about the liability relating to White Peak Sword Sect. Why did you do such things? Not helping someone in trouble is one thing, but…”
“F-Family Head, please reconsider just once! I’ll reflect on my actions!”
Choe Tan appealed with desperate eyes, but Qidiao hwang’s attitude was firm.
“Ahem, enough. I don’t wish to hear more. Then consider our discussion concluded… I’ll be taking my leave.”
At that moment, a man standing to one side quickly approached.
“Woo-Uncle!”
A swordsman in his early thirties in brown martial attire, boasting an impressive height.
He was Qidiao Gon, a blood relative of the Qidiao Sword Family who had come here as the representative of Qidiao Escort Agency and was protecting Choe Tan.
Qidiao hwang glanced at him and asked.
“What, do you have something to say?”
“Um… Uncle, the truth is, capable places like Azure Hound Trading Company are rare, so to terminate the contract like this is too much of a waste…”
A SLAP rang out.
“Shut your mouth!”
Qidiao hwang, having risen, shouted.
The expression of Qidiao Gon, who had been slapped, hardened like stone.
“Do you think this is a situation where you, who have already tarnished our family’s reputation, should be carelessly butting in! I told you not to judge people solely by money and background! Impudent! After what you’ve done, what face do I have as the Family Head to go see Sect Leader Cheol!”
At Qidiao hwang’s furious voice with his eyes wide, Qidiao Gon bowed his head deeply with an embarrassed expression.
“I’m… I’m sorry. Uncle.”
“GAL! Can’t you even speak that address properly!”
“I’m sorry Family Head!”
“You will be disciplined according to our family’s laws and regulations, so pack your things immediately and return to the escort agency.”
“Yes.”
When Qidiao Gon disappeared with his face bright red, Qidiao hwang turned his head and gazed quietly at Choe Tan.
“Hall Master Choe.”
“Y-yes.”
“The saying ‘you reap what you sow’ doesn’t exist for nothing.”
“…!”
“It is of your own making.”
Qidiao hwang closed the door and disappeared with those brief words.
* * *
Suddenly the door opened.
BANG-
The moment Cheol Ryu-heun stepped inside, Hae Su-yeon and Namgung Sang-rin, who had been seated at a table in the inner room, quickly stood up.
At that moment.
Cheol Ryu-heun fixed his gaze on Hae Su-yeon’s beautiful face and casually tossed out an indifferent voice.
“Take it off.”