Chapter 170: Chapter 170

“Ugh…!”

Mak Chung-heon was at a loss for words.

The people he had brought to this place were not mere escorts. They were those who wielded considerable power even within the Hunan Merchant Guild, and he had brought them here with the intention of killing Geum Eun-hak, the guild leader of the Golden Ring Merchant Group, if worse came to worst.

He had not thought for a single moment that they would be defeated.

However, somehow, the blades of the escorts were broken in half and rolling on the ground.

He had not even seen how the opponent swung his sword. Looking at the pale faces and blank eyes of the escorts, it seemed they were also astonished.

Gulp-

Dry saliva went down his throat.

Cold sweat forming on his forehead trickled down.

“Do you intend to continue?”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s single word, the escorts hesitated and stepped back.

What on earth were they supposed to do?

Their swords were already broken and they could not even see the opponent’s movements, so the situation that would unfold if they attacked was obvious.

“Sh- Sheathe your swords.”

Although they were swords that were already broken in half, he ordered them to withdraw even those.

Since it was Mak Chung-heon’s escorts who had drawn first, it was a blow to his pride, but he could not bring himself not to listen to those words.

This was because they also realized that their lives were in a precarious situation, placed on the edge of a cliff.

One by one, looking at Namgung Cheon who had drawn his sword with tense gazes, they retrieved their weapons. Only then did the air that had been heavily pressing down seem to ease even a little.

Mak Chung-heon turned his back with a reddened face.

Even being in this place was torture to him right now.

His pride was completely trampled.

“I shall leave now. I will never forget the humiliation I received today.”

“Please go in, Guild Leader.”

“Hmph!”

Mak Chung-heon led his escorts and left the place. As many people disappeared at once like a receding tide, the room felt completely empty.

From within, Geum Eun-hak’s laughter leaked out.

“Haha… Hahaha!”

Geum Eun-hak burst into loud laughter like a person who had lost his mind. What was so funny, there was no sign of him stopping.

Dan Woo-hyun, Sa Do-hak, and Namgung Cheon, who were watching, looked at Geum Eun-hak as if they were looking at a crazy person.

Eventually, unable to just watch, Dan Woo-hyun asked.

“What is so funny?”

“Ah, I am sorry. It is just… Mak Chung-heon, who seemed like a great mountain until not long ago, now looks like an ant, so that is why.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he burst into laughter once again.

Yes, he really had seemed like a great mountain.

No matter how much he looked up, he seemed like a person whose end he could not know, and even just looking at him, it felt like he could not capture his vastness with his eyes.

That was precisely the influence and power of Mak Chung-heon that Geum Eun-hak had felt.

But now?

That figure which was like a great mountain had disappeared somewhere and could not be seen.

Seeing that he did not lose his spirit even when looking straight into his eyes, the greatness of the man named Mak Chung-heon no longer existed in Geum Eun-hak’s heart.

At that time, Namgung Cheon, who was quietly listening to the story, took off his mask, sat at the table, and poured tea into an empty teacup.

“Originally, that is how humans are. When you see a person praised by many, they really do feel high. But if you stand on the same line as them… you end up feeling that they were just a single person.”

“I believe those words are correct. The Mak Chung-heon I felt today… was neither giant nor scary.”

“It means your perspective has changed that much.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, Geum Eun-hak nodded and smiled.

The position makes the man.

The current Geum Eun-hak was made by Dan Woo-hyun. Because he was there, there was nothing to fear, and therefore he could run forward even more.

Geum Eun-hak would not forget this grace even in death.

“Now, then, the next step.”

“The next step?”

“We will continue to sell liquor as it is. But you have not forgotten our real purpose, right?”

“The Myriad Gold Merchant Group… is it?”

“Yes… to do that, the Golden Ring Merchant Group must become the number one merchant guild in Hunan.”

At those words, Geum Eun-hak clenched his fist tightly.

Swallowing the Hunan Merchant Guild.

Since he already knew that Dan Woo-hyun was aiming for the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, it was extremely natural that they had to become the number one merchant guild in Hunan to do so.

Moreover, the Hunan Merchant Guild was a place under the Myriad Gold Merchant Group.

If they swallowed that place, they could block, at least in part, the profits heading toward the Myriad Gold Merchant Group.

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“Of course.”

“Then… what should we start with?”

To Dan Woo-hyun’s successive questions, Geum Eun-hak did not hesitate for a single moment.

It was something he had envisioned in his head since he first thought about following him, and it was also a task he absolutely had to accomplish to prove his ability.

“I plan to bring over the business rights of the Hunan Merchant Guild. From inns, teahouses, and fabric shops, to the silk business which can be called their money line.”

“Regarding that part, consult with Gwon Mu-jin.”

“Understood.”

Dan Woo-hyun stood up from his seat.

He did not know well about things like business rights or merchants. Since he was a human who only had talent in holding a sword and cutting people down.

That was why he entrusted full authority to Geum Eun-hak.

He could tell by looking at his eyes.

It was because he had certainty that he could speak like that.

‘What would happen if by any chance he fails?’

Dan Woo-hyun, who was thinking such thoughts, let out a chuckle.

Anyone can fail. That was the same for Dan Woo-hyun as well.

Therefore, there was no reason to scold him even if he failed. Because there was plenty of time.

“Those guys from earlier will die soon.”

As they stepped outside, Sa Do-hak muttered those words.

Glancing to check Dan Woo-hyun’s face, he was also wearing a small smile, as if he was thinking the same thing.

The three people in this place knew that category of humans all too well.

They were those who looked down on others because they only believed in their meager power, and those who tried to trample by any means necessary when someone they thought was below them tried to encroach on their position.

“The skills of the escorts went back and forth from first-rate. They will surely start something.”

“Even if they do, it is work done by a pig. How much could his brain roll?”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s question, Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak burst into loud laughter. Come to think of it, Mak Chung-heon’s appearance, looking too fat to even control his own body properly, was indeed like a pig.

Just what kind of trick would he play?

They became very curious about that.

* * *

Mak Chung-heon, huffing and puffing, could not easily calm his anger. How dare someone like Geum Eun-hak look at him as an equal?

Since he was Mak Chung-heon, who had held and shaken the business rights of Hunan in one hand for a long time, his pride was hurt even more greatly.

Moreover, the ones he had brought as escorts suffered humiliation without even being able to use their hands. What great swordsmanship they must have possessed, it would have been a big trouble if they had tried to kill recklessly.

“He is definitely a master possessing great skill. The one wearing the mask, I mean.”

The escort captain still rubbed his trembling hands.

From that single strike, he received a shock so great that he could not even swing his sword.

It was a lofty technique that he could not dare to even imitate.

“The Hunan Dan Family, it is a place that must never be looked down on easily.”

“You fool! The Chu Gate Family told us to finish off the Golden Ring Merchant Group! It means we have to clash with those guys whether we like it or not!”

The one who shielded Geum Eun-hak was none other than a person of the Hunan Dan Family.

Moreover, looking at Geum Eun-hak’s behavior, he was serving him politely as if he were his lord, so they had no choice but to clash with them in one way or another.

Mak Chung-heon held his head.

“Could it be… that the Chu Gate Family is trying to discard us after we outlive our usefulness…?”

“No way! How much money do we bring and offer to them every year? Also, we have traded for a long time, and it is a relationship of mutual trust. How could they discard us in such a manner?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes! Do not doubt Chu Mun-won! He told us to start the work because he thought it would be beneficial to us.”

The escort captain let out a groan.

He had known from before, but Mak Chung-heon’s trust in the Chu Gate Family was great. It was like the appearance of a loyal subject offering allegiance.

Eyes that looked as if they would offer not only their lives but everything if the Chu Gate Family wanted it.

It was absolutely not an attitude of treating a mere trading partner.

While he was thinking such thoughts for a moment, Mak Chung-heon, whose brain finally seemed to work a little, opened his mouth with shining eyes.

“Who are the ones trading with those guys?”

“Not to mention inns, all those who have some money living in Yueyang drink their liquor. Of course, the quantity is limited, but…”

Mak Chung-heon lit the long pipe he was holding in his mouth and let out a long breath. White smoke billowed out thickly and filled the room.

“Send the kids and pressure them all. Remind them that if they do not trade with the Hunan Merchant Guild instead of the Golden Ring Merchant Group, they will ruin themselves.”

He intended to cut off all financial lines.

There was no better means to ruin a merchant guild.

No matter how good the liquor they sold, it was no different from trash if there was no one to buy it.

Especially since most of the merchants of Yueyang owed debts to Mak Chung-heon, there would be no one who would not listen.

Mak Chung-heon, who blew out white smoke once again, caught his breath.

“It was a small merchant guild anyway, so they wouldn’t have that much spare funds… How long could a fellow like him last?”

A thick smile formed on the corner of Mak Chung-heon’s mouth.

Vowing to surely return the humiliation he received today.

* * *

Since they received the order, they must carry it out.

That was precisely the iron rule of the wanderers who received money from the merchant guild and solved backroom matters.

Whether they should be called wanderers or thugs, they headed toward the marketplace of Yueyang with swaggering steps.

Even just the number of them gathered, it seemed like it would be about twenty or thirty.

Their sturdy builds, the ominous-looking weapons held in their hands, their threatening faces, and the sharp eyes looking around naturally put pressure on people.

Sure enough, as soon as they entered the marketplace, people buzzed.

Because there was no one who did not know by whom these wanderers were hired.

Since they were the wanderers who looked after the backroom matters of the Hunan Merchant Guild, they thought that perhaps some merchant had crossed the Hunan Merchant Guild again without knowing any better.

However.

“Ahem…”

“Humph!”

The humans who were supposed to cause a riot were just wandering around the vicinity and letting out dry coughs.

Some did various other things, and some looked at the ground as if they themselves felt awkward.

Although the merchants were also surprised at first, they soon focused on their own businesses and did not care about those thug-like wanderers at all.

“You there! Do not do anything strange!”

“These thug bastards! If you keep loitering around the marketplace, you might get flogged!”

It was precisely because of the constables.

Constables were spread out all over the marketplace.

Whether all the constables of Yueyang were gathered here, a considerable number of them were walking around and cracking down.

Whether it was to maintain public order or for another reason, the constables seemed to have no intention of leaving this marketplace.

‘What on earth is going on!’

‘Why are those bastards not leaving? Do they have that little to do?’

No matter how reckless the wanderers were, there were those they must not touch.

It was precisely the government officials. Also, since the merchants were strictly civilians, if they threatened them in front of the constables, a wanted poster might be issued.

Although they received Mak Chung-heon’s solemn command, they had no choice but to waste time in the marketplace while walking on eggshells around the constables.

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