Chapter 182: Chapter 182

Late at night, Mak Chung-heon was walking down a street deserted of people.

Quite a few people followed behind him, and every single one of them looked like they could handle themselves in a fight.

“The fog is thick.”

Mak Chung-heon frowned as he walked.

The fog was thick.

The cold was one thing, but a fog so thick that one could not see right in front of their nose if they did not pay attention spread in all directions, blocking their view.

In that dismal atmosphere, he fell into the illusion that he could hear the wailing of ghosts.

Mak Chung-heon chuckled at his own ridiculous thoughts.

Thus, avoiding the eyes of the people, he slipped out of Changsha and began heading somewhere, and at some point, he rode a horse out of Changsha and headed near Lake Dongting.

The surroundings were a wide plain.

Except for Lake Dongting flowing gently, nothing could be seen.

However, Mak Chung-heon rode for a long time, and passing by huge rocks and lush bushes, he arrived at a cave that seemed to have been formed naturally.

This was a place that could not be seen even if one went boating on Lake Dongting.

The bushes along the lakeshore hid the entrance, and a large boulder blocked the front, making it impossible to even properly recognize that there was a cave inside.

Mak Chung-heon stepped inside the cave.

“Fortunately, it is safe.”

The items stolen from the Golden Ring Merchant Group were piled high. It was a quantity of wine bottles, silks, and the like that would easily fetch a million taels if sold at full price.

Although it was quite a waste to dispose of this as stolen goods, it was only natural to feel at ease if such items were cleared out as quickly as possible.

“Were you in a place like this?”

At that moment, a voice was heard.

Mak Chung-heon and his sturdy guards turned their gazes.

A group of people dressed in splendid clothes stood there. Although they were a group, only the three standing at the front wore outfits that made them look like the masters, and those behind them looked like they could swing a sword reasonably well.

And familiar faces were also seen.

Gu Hwang-jung.

He was the magistrate of Changsha and a close friend of Mak Chung-heon.

“Lord Geon, it has been a very long time.”

Geon So-chun.

He was an official with considerable power who served the Prince at the royal palace, and he also had a foot in the central government, giving him quite a large amount of influence.

“Yes, it has been a while. But what is the reason you called me to a place like this?”

Geon So-chun asked with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

It seemed he did not like being summoned to such a deserted place at this late hour.

His expression showed no sign of softening.

“Of course, did I not call you for your sake, Lord Geon?”

“Hmph… Yes, what is your business?”

“We have acquired a few things recently…”

As he said this, Mak Chung-heon began to guide them inside the cave. Having naturally followed him inside, Geon So-chun could not hide his surprise at the sight that came into view after walking a short distance.

“T-This is…!”

“It is the wine and silk of the Hoyean Family.”

“How did you get these items…”

“Hahaha, somehow they ended up in my hands.”

Mak Chung-heon replied while gesturing to cover his mouth with a finger. That alone made it clear they were not obtained through normal channels.

Geon So-chun grinned.

“Lately, there have been many people looking for the Hoyean Family’s wine in the royal palace too.”

“Haha, is that so? However…”

“Ah, I know. It is fine as long as we do not release them in large quantities, is it not?”

Geon So-chun quickly assessed the situation and nodded as if he had already finished his calculations.

Since this was undoubtedly stolen goods, there was also the advantage that it could be bought much cheaper than the regular price.

Even just offering a bottle to the high officials he needed to impress would not only leave a good impression but also provide an opportunity to grasp greater power.

“Good, good. How about five hundred gold taels?”

Mak Chung-heon pretended to fall into thought.

‘Only five hundred gold taels?’

It was certain that he would receive more than that even if he sold it to someone else other than Geon So-chun. As he hesitated and did not answer, Geon So-chun, becoming anxious, raised his hands.

“I will pay eight hundred gold taels.”

“Hahaha, thank you for the good deal. Shall we move the goods right away then?”

“Mhm, that would be best.”

Geon So-chun nodded, tearing off the seal of the wine bottle in his hand.

Even without this, upon hearing that the Hoyean Family’s wine was being supplied again, he had traveled everywhere to obtain it, so to think he would get his hands on the wine and silk at such a cheap price.

A person’s life was truly unpredictable.

It seemed good to give the silks to noble ladies for next to nothing, and pour the wine to flatter the high-ranking officials.

The moment he took a sip of the wine with those thoughts.

“Pfft!”

Geon So-chun spat out all the wine he held in his mouth.

Everyone was startled by the sight.

Geon So-chun, who gagged several times, glared at Mak Chung-heon with burning eyes and threw the wine bottle at him.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Mak Chung-heon, hit on the head, staggered from the impact.

As the contents inside dripped down and covered his head, a musty, foul odor pierced his nose.

“Ugh!”

Even Mak Chung-heon gagged at the smell.

“You bastard! How dare you try to scam me?!”

“W-What on earth do you mean by that!”

“Did you not just try to sell me wine containing filth?!”

Geon So-chun panted, his face flushed crimson.

The unpleasant smell and sensation of what he had just swallowed still lingered in his mouth, driving him crazy.

He desperately wanted to strike off the head of the guy who deceived him right away, but he also wanted to wash out this filth as soon as possible.

“You bastards! I will absolutely not let this go! How dare you insult me?!”

Shouting with a flushed face, Geon So-chun turned his back. He barely held back his desire to torture them on the spot.

This was because he knew that although the skills of the guards he brought were decent, they were insufficient to deal with Mak Chung-heon’s skills and the people by his side.

“W-What on earth is going on?!”

As Geon So-chun, who was furious to the limit, withdrew with his subordinates, the magistrate of Changsha, Gu Hwang-jung, who had brought Mak Chung-heon and Geon So-chun together, was greatly flustered.

Gu Hwang-jung looked at Mak Chung-heon with a helpless gaze, then soon tore open a sealed wine bottle and smelled it.

At the foul odor that pierced his nose, he gagged and stepped back.

“My friend! Is this not truly urine?”

It was urine.

If it were a human’s, it would not be this terrible, so it seemed to be an animal’s.

The foul odor piercing his nose showed no sign of fading.

“W-What on earth is this…”

Mak Chung-heon slumped onto the floor.

What on earth was the reason? No matter how much he thought, no answer came.

Could all of this be Ga Jung-pyeong’s conspiracy?

To screw him over and take over the merchant group, that was.

Having thought that far, Mak Chung-heon sprang up from his seat and, mounting the horse he had brought, galloped with all his might toward Changsha.

“Where are you going!”

Gu Hwang-jung’s sharp voice was heard from behind, but he did not even have the leisure to reply.

Already filled with rage, nothing could be seen in his eyes.

Thus, he rode for a long time again and arrived in front of the Hunan Merchant Group.

Having come so quickly, the horse seemed right on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, and it was no exaggeration to say that Mak Chung-heon’s body was bathed in sweat.

He kicked open the gates of the Hunan Merchant Group and stepped inside.

The inside of the merchant group was quiet.

It was only natural since Ga Jung-pyeong had gone out leading most of the warriors.

“Ga Jung-pyeong!”

Entering the merchant group, Mak Chung-heon shouted loudly.

Judging by the time, Ga Jung-pyeong should have already returned.

Therefore, he called his name several times, but no answer was heard.

Oh overwhelmed by anxiety that he might have run away with the money, Mak Chung-heon’s pace quickened.

Mak Chung-heon, who was running toward the main pavilion, came to a sudden halt.

This was because he saw people gathered on one side.

Since he was already in an annoyed state, Mak Chung-heon frowned and approached the place.

“Get out of the way!”

At his single word, not to mention the porters, the few guards quickly cleared the way.

Soon, the merchant group’s warehouse was wide open, and Ga Jung-pyeong was seen slumped in front of it with a dazed expression.

Mak Chung-heon, who had intended to run over immediately and grab Ga Jung-pyeong by the collar, also froze like a stone statue and could not move.

“T-There is nothing…?”

Inside the wide-open warehouse, nothing existed.

Not to mention the wine of the Chyuwen Family, the silks imported from the Western Regions, and all kinds of goods he traded had completely vanished.

It was just completely empty.

“What on earth is going on here?!”

Mak Chung-heon’s scream-like roar swallowed the Hunan Merchant Group late at night.

* * *

“Hahaha.”

From a place not too far away, Dan Woo-hyun was watching the scene. The dazed expressions of the two men who had lost everything they possessed brought him great satisfaction.

Zhuge Un’s thoughts were spot on.

Although he had struggled to find the cave, he obtained a clue from the words of the captured traitor of the Golden Ring Merchant Group and searched the vicinity thoroughly to find it.

From then on, it was very easy.

Although there were a few guys guarding the inside, he struck their pressure points so that they could not notice no matter what he did.

And he filled the empty wine bottles with dog and pig urine, swapping them all.

Attaching the seals meticulously was quite a troublesome task.

Because the smell of urine was stronger than he had expected.

In addition, confirming that the manpower of the Golden Ring Merchant Group was leaving, he quickly looted the Hunan Merchant Group with the help of Hong Won-chang’s officers and Sa Do-hak’s strength.

Leaving not even a trace was a matter of course.

He returned what they suffered in kind.

He recovered the lost items and even gained double.

The damage suffered by the Hunan Merchant Group would be several times greater than the damage suffered by the Golden Ring Merchant Group.

“Since we swept up all the money, they will have to sell almost all of their assets to maintain the merchant group.”

Zhuge Un, who was beside him, also smiled.

They had not just taken the items, but also swept up all the bank notes and gold.

Since they were not bearer bank notes, the notes could not be used and would be burned, but the gold could be used without any problems.

As a result, the Hunan Merchant Group had no choice but to go bankrupt unless they secured money immediately.

“Having suffered so harshly, their next move is obvious.”

“Indeed. They will try to crush us with brute force. Come to think of it, they said Go Chwi-san is there, so I think he will step forward.”

“Go Chwi-san…? Is he that great?”

“He is a figure whose martial arts alone can be recognized. Of course…”

Even so, in front of Dan Woo-hyun, Sa Do-hak, or Namgung Cheon, he was like a candle in front of the sun.

“Can you dispose of the stolen goods?”

At those words, Zhuge Un nodded with a smile.

“Do not worry. Once the Hunan Merchant Group collapses, buyers will overflow.”

Once you touch them, you must pull them out by the roots.

That was the same thought held by both Dan Woo-hyun and Zhuge Un.

They would never wrap this up so easily.

Zhuge Un laughed like a child, feeling his heart race for the first time in a while.

When was the last time he had fully enjoyed this kind of feeling?

It was a truly fulfilling feeling.

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