Chapter 228: Chapter 228
Gohyang Pavilion.
The attention of the merchants, who came to the top floor of the brothel boasting the longest history in Taiyuan of Shanxi, was drawn to them.
It was understandable, because it was a place where the World Merchant Guild and the Dae-eun Merchant Guild met to form an agreement regarding a commercial rights dispute.
Chief Steward Oh of the World Merchant Guild had spoken his proposal, and the middle-aged Dae-eun Merchant Guild Leader in front of him, Hyo-gwan, opened his mouth.
“If what you just said is everything, the negotiation is broken.”
Chief Steward Oh’s eyes deepened.
‘To refuse this as well.’
From the standpoint of the World Merchant Guild, they tried to make the maximum concessions, but Hyo-gwan did not seem to have any intention of reconsidering the proposal at present.
Hyo-gwan stood up without delay.
As his huge figure rose, his belly fat, which could not be completely hidden even by his baggy clothes, swayed greatly.
Then, the moment he was about to turn around.
“Then what conditions do you intend to set to make an agreement?”
Chief Steward Oh asked in a low voice.
As if he had been waiting for that question, Hyo-gwan looked down at Chief Steward Oh and opened his mouth.
“You’re asking the obvious.”
Contrary to his round appearance, Hyo-gwan opened his eyes sharply and added words.
“The World Merchant Guild giving up the commercial rights of Shanxi.”
Chief Steward Oh’s eyes frowned.
“……That’s too much.”
“Then give it up.”
Hyo-gwan said indifferently.
“Since I will do it as it is now.”
“Do you intend to suffer a loss by continuously dropping the prices of goods like this?”
“A loss, you say?”
Hyo-gwan’s eye light flashed coldly.
“This is an investment for the future.”
“If we continue to fight like this, only other merchant guilds will gain benefits.”
“I don’t care whether they gain benefits or not. The most important thing is you guys.”
Chief Steward Oh’s frown deepened at Hyo-gwan’s indifferent words that specifically pointed out the World Merchant Guild.
“Do you hate this merchant guild that much?”
“Does that make sense? We’ve heard that we are the eternal second-in-command because of the World Merchant Guild. Moreover, can we be happy looking at the current situation?”
Hyo-gwan, who spoke coldly, smacked his lips with an expression full of dissatisfaction.
“You came to form an agreement between merchant guilds, but the Chief Steward came instead of the Merchant Guild Leader. Aren’t you the ones who hate this merchant guild, no, look down on it?”
“The Merchant Guild Leader is currently far away…….”
“There is no need for excuses.”
As if his pride was hurt, Hyo-gwan’s voice rose slightly.
Hyo-gwan trembled his cheek flesh and spat out his anger.
“Since the World Merchant Guild has always looked down on this merchant guild, it naturally seeped out like this.”
At his one-sided words, Chief Steward Oh swallowed a sigh that was about to come out.
No matter what he did, words did not get through.
Since it was an urgently arranged agreement, it was a situation where he had no choice but to come.
He was sure that he also knew the reason, but he was pointing it out.
‘No, he must be doing it on purpose.’
He came just in case, but it was ‘as expected’.
The Dae-eun Merchant Guild Leader did not want to end the ongoing commercial rights dispute with the World Merchant Guild.
Rather, he wanted to accelerate it even more.
‘He has already made up his mind to see the end.’
Chief Steward Oh straightened his slightly bent head and waist, and looked at Hyo-gwan.
“I understand.”
Chief Steward Oh, who stopped taking a low posture, said in an even lower tone.
“By the way, I heard that the Dae-eun Merchant Guild joined hands with the Four Black Alliances and the Green Forest this time.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s no use playing innocent. Everyone who needs to know already knows.”
For a moment, Hyo-gwan showed a sneer.
“Indeed, the World Merchant Guild’s information network is excellent.”
“Since you joined hands with the Four Black Alliances, it will be difficult to trade with the Martial Alliance, the Flying Heaven Society, and the Imperial Family.”
“Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”
Chief Steward Oh’s forehead frowned at the answer that came in without even giving him time to blink.
‘He made the gamble of a lifetime.’
The current Imperial Family was dominated by the World Merchant Guild, and in the case of the Flying Heaven Society, each clan operated its own merchant guild.
And the Martial Alliance was divided and taken charge of by the other World’s Four Great Merchant Guilds.
The only remaining giant organization was the Four Black Alliances.
However, merchant guilds only took on necessary tasks from time to time, and there were almost no cases of joining hands with the Four Black Alliances to push forward work.
Although it had the advantage of being able to trade with numerous Unorthodox Factions of Jianghu, the disadvantage of having to carry the notoriety together was too great.
But the Dae-eun Merchant Guild joined hands with them.
While being prepared to take the blame for the notoriety.
“Do you think the Unorthodox Faction will trust the Dae-eun Merchant Guild to the end?”
“Trust? I have never believed in trust between people since a long time ago.”
Hyo-gwan said in a confident voice.
“What I believe in is only money.”
“…….”
At his obsessive eyes and tone, Chief Steward Oh instantly got goosebumps on his spine.
As a merchant, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.
“Come to think of it, I heard you are sending an important item this time…….”
Soon, Hyo-gwan smirked and said.
“I pray for it to arrive safely.”
Hyo-gwan, who left those words like a warning, went down the stairs as he was.
Chief Steward Oh, who silently watched his back until he completely disappeared, clenched his teeth.
“He’s not a Merchant Guild Leader of the World’s Four Great Merchant Guilds for nothing.”
Although he didn’t really like him, he was a person with surprisingly bold skills.
Who would have thought that a merchant guild would join hands with the Four Black Alliances, who were trying to pull in the Green Forest.
A move that gave the Green Forest the fame they wanted so much, added wealth and power to the Four Black Alliances, and gained a massive trading partner for the merchant guild.
It was a truly mysterious stratagem.
‘He’s bold.’
Chief Steward Oh felt intimidated.
Even though he led a giant merchant guild called the Dae-eun Merchant Guild, he was not satisfied with that and placed a life-or-death gamble.
‘He has a tremendous heart of steel.’
Chief Steward Oh exhaled slowly.
“Huu. Anyway, we ended up becoming enemies with the Dae-eun Merchant Guild in the end.”
A bitter smile seeped out.
It was not only the Dae-eun Merchant Guild.
Up to the Green Forest and the Four Black Alliances behind them. The situation had become more complicated than expected.
‘To think we’d get so entangled with Jianghu.’
Chief Steward Oh shook his head left and right, and let out a low voice.
“It’s a relief that the Mount Hua Sect responded to our request for help, but…….”
His gaze turned downward.
He could see Plum Blossom Swordsmen gathered together with escort warriors and escorts near the four luxurious carriages lined up around Gohyang Pavilion.
If they were Plum Blossom Swordsmen, they were the elites of Mount Hua, but anxiety slowly filled up.
“If he had been here at this time…….”
Just when he was recalling someone.
Clop… Clop…
A carriage ran quickly.
The door of the carriage, which stopped while raising dust, opened. And the moment a person got off through the open door, Chief Steward Oh’s face bloomed brightly like a flower.
It was because the person he had been waiting for had arrived.
“Young Hero Cheon-hwi!”
* * *
“It’s been a while!”
“Martial Uncle!”
As soon as Cheon-hwi got off, he narrowed his eyes looking at the Plum Blossom Swordsmen welcoming him around.
‘It seems the Fire Spirit Squad came down.’
At that time, a light wind blew.
Cheon-hwi felt the wind brushing his ears for a moment, then tilted his head to the side.
Huuung!
Right when a strong wind made Cheon-hwi’s hair flutter in the air.
“Uh?!”
A dumbfounded voice was heard.
Just as Cheon Hyang, who approached Cheon-hwi closely by unfolding the Dark Clouds Spewing Thunder, was flustered that her extended plum blossom hand cut through the empty air with a playful expression.
Swish…
Cheon-hwi lightly flicked his middle finger.
Crack!
Cheon Hyang, whose forehead was accurately struck by the middle finger, bounced back and rolled on the ground.
“What are you doing?”
“Ugh!”
Cheon Hyang rubbed her forehead and quickly stood up.
“I thought a surprise attack would work.”
Cheon Hyang stuck out her lips significantly.
Since she had some achievements recently, she thought she could land at least one hit if she made a surprise attack, no matter how much it was Cheon-hwi.
However, as you can see, the result was far from success, and only her forehead was swollen red.
“I kept training Dark Clouds Spewing Thunder.”
When Cheon Hyang grumbled, Cheon-hwi asked.
“Did you want to hit me that much?”
At Cheon-hwi’s question, Cheon Hyang scratched the back of her head and showed an awkward smile.
“I only kept getting beaten up all this time. So I wanted to hit you just about once.”
Looking at Cheon Hyang, who honestly revealed her inner thoughts while secretly raising her index finger, Cheon-hwi went ‘Oho’, and opened his mouth.
“Then I will help you train so it can work.”
“Heup! N-No. I will do it.”
Cheon Hyang hastily waved her hands and declined, but Cheon-hwi cleanly ignored it.
“Seeing it just now, your feet were quite slow, so starting with the horse stance…….”
When Cheon-hwi recited the contents of the training fluently starting with the horse stance, Cheon Hyang’s complexion gradually turned pure white.
“That’s too harsh! Wait, e-even that?”
Then at a certain moment.
“……Climbing Falling Goose Peak, huh?”
Cheon-hwi, who was speaking, suddenly turned his head.
It was because a sharp killing intent suddenly touched his senses.
“What is it?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Who are those people?”
Cheon-hwi pointed at the carriage where the killing intent was felt.
There sat a fat middle-aged man and a handsome young man with fine features.
‘Is it a man or a woman?’
While looking at the figure he couldn’t tell whether it was a him or a her, Cheon Hyang answered.
“They are people from the Dae-eun Merchant Guild.”
“Dae-eun Merchant Guild?”
The moment Cheon-hwi narrowed his eyes.
Smirk…
The handsome young man smiled a thin smile and very slowly smacked his extremely red lips.
‘See you later?’
When Cheon-hwi, who read the shape of the lips he smacked, frowned, the carriage they were riding left and the killing intent also moved away.
‘I felt a terrible evil energy, are they guys from the Four Black Alliances?’
While he was looking at those following the carriage, a powerful voice was heard from behind.
“Young Hero Cheon-hwi!”
Chief Steward Oh came running breathlessly.
With a smile full on his face, he stood in front of Cheon-hwi and tightly held both of his hands.
“Thank you for coming.”
“You said you needed help?”
“That’s right.”
Chief Steward Oh, who nodded his head forcefully, quickly smacked his lips.
“This time, the Green Forest…….”
“Ah, if it’s about that, I heard everything.”
Cheon-hwi smirked and said.
“So I just have to take care of all the Green Forest, right?”
“Yes, the Green Forest…… Heup!”
Chief Steward Oh, who was answering reflexively, covered his mouth and shed cold sweat.
Although the Green Forest had become an enemy, they were a difficult opponent to handle all of them.
But to say it so calmly.
“I-Is that possible?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Cheon-hwi, who spoke insignificantly, tilted his head and smacked his lips.
“Where is the closest Green Forest stronghold from here?”
“That’s…….”
“W-Wait a moment.”
At that time, Heavenly Ear Beggar intervened.
“There’s no need to rush so much. Isn’t that right? Judging from the carriages and luggages here, it seems there’s something more important than going to the stronghold…….”
Heavenly Ear Beggar spoke while giving a look to Chief Steward Oh, and Chief Steward Oh quickly nodded his head.
“That’s correct. Right now, what’s more urgent is moving these goods to Datong.”
“In other words, you want me to help with the escort journey, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm.”
Cheon-hwi secretly turned his head.
Cheon-hwi, who checked the four luxurious carriages following Chief Steward Oh’s gaze, stroked his chin and smacked his lips.
“Well, it’s the same anyway. The Green Forest will attack if we bring the goods to Datong.”
“Right.”
Beside him, Heavenly Ear Beggar swept his chest.
If Cheon-hwi stepped up, it was certain that the Green Forest stronghold would not only be devastated, but it would be filled with blood.
‘We still lack information, so it would be dangerous if it became like that.’
There was no need to mess with the Green Forest in a situation where they only had suspicions and were not sure what the situation was.
“Hmm, alright.”
Cheon-hwi immediately nodded his head.
“Then when do we depart?”
At Cheon-hwi’s question, Chief Steward Oh turned his eyes to the Chief Escort.
“When will you depart?”
The Chief Escort opened his mouth in a situation where he had not properly recognized the current situation.
“If the preparations are done, we can even depart right now.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes shone.
“Then let’s go right now.”
“R-Right away, you mean?”
Everyone was terrified at those words.
Although it was true that they could depart immediately, if an outsider who didn’t belong to the merchant guild intervened, it was common to depart after finishing the preparations with leeway.
However, regardless of their reactions, Cheon-hwi spoke insignificantly.
“It’s better to be as quick as possible.”
“That’s correct.”
Chief Steward Oh, who agreed with Cheon-hwi’s words, immediately told the escort warriors and escorts.
“Let us depart right away.”
“U-Understood!”
When the escort warriors and escorts moved busily, quickly preparing for the journey.
“Senior Brother, that person is…….”
Danmok Rin, who came after exchanging greetings with the Fire Spirit Squad including Cheon Hyang, smacked her lips.
Her gaze was directed at Go Sam.
“Ah right.”
Cheon-hwi immediately approached him and said.
“You may leave now.”
“Understood.”
Normally, he would have refused in order to complete his given mission, but he nodded his head after looking at the Plum Blossom Swordsmen around.
“I will take my leave now.”
Go Sam left after offering greetings to Cheon-hwi, Danmok Rin, and Heavenly Ear Beggar one by one.
Cheon-hwi, who watched the carriage moving away, muttered while looking at those who were busy preparing for a long time.
“The Green Forest, huh…….”
Cheon-hwi, who recalled the Green Forest bandits he had met in his past life, scratched his chin with his index finger.
“Even though three hundred years have passed, I wonder if those bastards have changed.”