Chapter 10
“Since we’re on the topic, how are things at the mine?”
“…Well, it’s the same. The warriors of Yangnyeong have taken over, obstructing things… I think it might get worse.”
“Sounds like the mining at Hanryeong Okjeong is getting delayed.”
“Just being delayed is lucky. We weren’t able to mine at all. Since Yawon Sang, who used to regularly bring in Hanryeong Okjeong, has died, the damage will likely increase not just for the Cheongun faction, but also for other factions and the residents.”
The conclusion was simple.
There was a lot to do.
Without speaking, I looked at Seong Chonggwan, and he awkwardly smiled.
“…The task you gave me earlier… I’ll go carry it out.”
Seong Chonggwan turned around and walked, then stopped abruptly.
“And the items we gathered in the yard have all been moved to the warehouse.”
“You must have had a hard time.”
“It wasn’t that bad… It was no trouble.”
“Then, since you’ve worked hard, why not do one more thing?”
I took out the ledger from my pocket and lightly threw it to him.
Seong Chonggwan caught it, looking confused.
He had that look as if to say, “Why am I being given this?”
“There should be a list of people who were exploited by Seolap, both dead and alive. Please sort them out and return what you can.”
“…All of them?”
“Not all of them, just leave out the medicinal and training resources.”
“…Why…?”
“Isn’t this something that happened because I ignored it?”
“…”
“This started because of me, and if I don’t take responsibility, how am I different from Yawon Sang?”
“…Understood. I’ll separate the dead from the living and compensate them as much as possible.”
“If there’s a shortfall, I’ll cover it from my own pocket.”
“…Understood, sir.”
He nodded and once again looked up at the sky.
It was truly beautiful.
Since tomorrow would be very busy, I decided to enjoy this moment of peace for now.
Part 2
A man, Won Sam, the branch leader of the Gaebang Yangnyeong branch, shouted loudly.
“Seol Unhui! That bastard!”
The deputy branch leader, Jeong Gye San, who was beside him, flinched in surprise and quickly added, “Sir, calling him a bastard might be a bit much… It’s Seol Jung Cheon. The Seol Jung Cheon.”
If Seol Unhui is the bastard’s son, then who’s the bastard?
As Jeong Gye San said, it was Seol Jung Cheon.
Won Sam, the embarrassed branch leader, cleared his throat and quickly changed his words.
“They call him the ‘dog under the tiger,’ but it turns out he’s just a lowly dog.”
Even calling him a dog was too much. At least it was better than insulting Seol Jung Cheon.
“Is he a bastard?”
“Yes, he is a bastard.”
“Well, that explains it.”
“Yes?”
“That bastard, finding out late that he has the backing of the Manlyeongseong, thinks he can run around like a madman. He’s a total trash… I mean, he’s lower than a bug.”
“…”
“This bastard is really something. A piece of trash that doesn’t even deserve to be torn apart and killed.”
I didn’t care about the fight between Yangnyeong and Seolap.
If they wanted to fight, so be it.
But messing with Gaebang’s people was a huge issue.
The audacity.
While Won Sam was venting his anger, Jeong Gye San handed him a cloth he had with him. It had some stains on it, but it was still necessary.
Won Sam took the cloth and wiped the food remnants from his face.
“Why is that bastard Bingsul Geomhun taking out his anger on me?”
“He went too far by throwing food. Even though we’re poor, we’ve long passed the time of eating leftovers.”
“Is that what you’re saying right now?”
“…Apologies.”
“Tsk, that bastard, the leader of the Jureong Geommun, had the nerve to break into a retreat during this time…”
Currently, the leader of the Jureong Geommun was a skilled master, Ogi Jo Won. He entered his retreat about a year ago and hasn’t come out since.
He might stay there for years, but what’s important is that Bingsul Geomhun was the one exercising actual power in Jureong Geommun during this time.
Jeong Gye San cleared his throat and said, “Looking at the situation, it seems that Bingsul Geomhun will visit Seolap today. Shouldn’t we do something?”
“Yes, we should. A member of Gaebang’s Samgyeolgae died, we can’t just sit back.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What can we do? Isn’t that person near Yangnyeong right now?”
“That person…?”
“Yes, that person. The one holding the deputy position of Geomapseong.”
Geomapseong was a massive city overseeing all the smaller cities in the Yangnyeong area.
The chief of that city was a Seven Skill Master, and the deputy was a Six Skill Master, Cheon Su Kang.
I swallowed.
“…Are you really going to call that person?”
“Of course. That bastard, the son of a dog, is treating Gaebang like trash, don’t we need to remind him of his place?”
“…That’s true.”
“And while we’re at it, let’s take what we can from Manlyeongseong.”
Jeong Gye San didn’t really try to stop him. After all, the person he was talking about wasn’t someone who would listen to such advice. Above all, he cared about authority. If someone like Cheon Su Kang came and told him to lick the food scraps off his face, Won Sam wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
He was a greedy man, and he saw this as an opportunity.
Internally, I clicked my tongue.
I don’t know how this will end.
Part 3
Seolap was a small town.
It was almost more of a village, sitting somewhere between being a town and a village.
In contrast, Yangnyeong next door was a city.
Administrative divisions were divided into three levels: state (州), county (郡), and district (縣).
All the countries in the current martial world followed this system.
Governors were sent to the district, and under them were towns and villages.
In neighboring Yangyeong Kingdom and the faraway Wolgye Kingdom, they had cities before the states, but there were only four such cities in total, a feature unique to these two countries.
Seolap didn’t belong to any country.
It was simply the land of Manlyeongseong, hence the name ‘Seolap.’
But if you had to categorize it, it could be considered a village.
Seolap-ri.
And next door, Yangnyeong was Yangnyeong-hyun.
The difference in the size of the areas was obvious, but the key wasn’t the size; it was the quality.
The strongest martial artist in Seolap was barely Samhwa Cheongjeong.
But Yangnyeong-hyun had a master from Ogi Jo Won and more than five masters from Samhwa Cheongjeong.
Yet, there was a clear reason Yangnyeong hadn’t consumed Seolap.
It was because I, the heir of Manlyeongseong, was in Seolap.
To touch Seolap was to touch Manlyeongseong. No madman would dare to do that.
No one had the guts to touch the northern giant.
But keeping it in check was another matter.
They wouldn’t mind the competition. It was a legitimate fight, with a just cause.
The situation was simple.
Seolap and Yangnyeong both had mines.
Cheongnyeong Mine and Seolhan Mine.
Cheongnyeong Mine was Seolap’s mine. It was clearly within its territory, and Seolap was the owner.
But Seolhan Mine was different.
It was located on the border between Seolap and Yangnyeong. Officially, it was supposed to be “jointly managed,” but that wasn’t happening.
By now, it was clear what had happened.
Seolap’s mines, Cheongnyeong and Seolhan, were essentially under Yangnyeong’s control.
They had been taken without a fight, and it was time to take action.
I arrived at Cheongnyeong Mine with my assistant.
The mine was still in operation, but the ones overseeing it were unfamiliar.
They weren’t Seolap’s warriors.
I walked towards them, and when they saw me, they frowned.
I spoke briefly.
“Explain.”
The man behind me, Cheonpung, quickly stepped forward and opened his mouth.
“They are warriors from Yangnyeong. Judging by their attire, they are from the Janggeommun faction.”
“And they are in charge?”
“Yes. They’ve been overseeing it, claiming they need to manage the quality after impurities mixed in with the Hanryeong Okjeong.”
“Quality control, huh…”
“And the reasons keep changing. One time, they claimed there was smuggling going on, and they were investigating it. Another time, it was to ensure smooth material exchange between the regions… it’s always different.”
“I don’t remember it being like this when I was a figurehead. Was it always like this?”
“Yes. It always has been.”
I paused and asked, “They’re still mining, so who gets the Hanryeong Okjeong that comes out?”
“…It goes to Yangnyeong.”
“The mine is Seolap’s, but Yangnyeong controls it, mines it, sells it, and gets all the profits.”
Cheonpung gave me a hesitant look, and then closed his mouth.
Honestly, I didn’t need him to say anything further.
The ledger told me everything I needed to know.
This situation was all orchestrated by Yawon Sang and the factions of Yangnyeong.
Bribes, sharing profits.
If Yawon Sang had been a merchant instead of a warrior, he would’ve become very successful.
I raised my head and looked at the men in front of me, who were confused.
“Are you from Janggeommun?”
“…Yes.”
“Are you in charge here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Well, that’s always how it’s been.”
“Always? Does this look like Yangnyeong-hyun to you?”
“…What are you talking about? We are warriors from Janggeommun, and we’re investigating the Hanryeong Okjeong contamination. Come back tomorrow.”
“This is Seolap’s mine, and you’re telling the owner to come back tomorrow?”
“Heh… What are you talking about? This mine belongs to Yangnyeong.”
“…According to the map, this mine belongs to Seolap. The first discoverers, the ones who planted the flag, all of them were Seolap people. You’re talking nonsense.”
“…”
“Yangnyeong’s mine? Can you take responsibility for that claim?”
One of the Janggeommun warriors, deep in thought, smiled slyly.
“…Ah, now I get it.”
“Get what?”
“It looks like you want some of the ore, just like Yawon Sang… We’ll arrange a new negotiation meeting with the higher-ups soon.”
I was speechless.
