I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 43

“Am I late? Grand Master.”

Jo Gwang-yun, who had rushed over, cautiously asked. Gwon Jung-won sighed softly and replied,

“Didn’t I tell you? Any time is fine.”

But he sniffed the air and frowned.

“Did you drink? On the very first day?”

“I couldn’t avoid it due to work commitments. And as I mentioned before…”

“Alright. You’re a busy man, I understand. But surely you can still manage after a few drinks, right?”

“Ah, yes. I have a high tolerance, so I’m fine.”

Grand Master Gwon Jung-won tossed him a sword.

“Then show me.”

“Pardon?”

“You said you were learning the Danhon Sword Technique, or whatever it’s called? Perform it.”

“Ah, yes.”

Jo Gwang-yun picked up the sword from the ground and began to execute the stances of the Danhon Sword Technique.

The Grand Master watched for a while, then approached with a puzzled expression.

“You learned this alone?”

“Yes.”

“No way. You couldn’t possibly move like that unless someone taught you.”

“Ah… Yes. My sworn brother [a close, platonic friend, often sharing a deep bond] did offer some pointers.”

“Is that so? That guy has a good eye.”

The Grand Master placed his palm on Jo Gwang-yun’s back.

“Your breathing is off. I need to cleanse the alcohol from your system first, then you can do it again. Stay still.”

The Grand Master channeled his inner energy into Jo Gwang-yun’s back.

But after a very short time, he was startled and quickly removed his palm.

“You… You… How can this be…”

“What’s wrong, Grand Master?”

The Grand Master grabbed Jo Gwang-yun’s wrist without a word.

This time, he didn’t let go for a long time. Jo Gwang-yun, stiffened like a stone statue by the Grand Master’s tense attitude, couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Even when the Grand Master released his wrist, Jo Gwang-yun only watched, unable to ask what was wrong.

“Follow me.”

The Grand Master went inside the house with Jo Gwang-yun.

“From now on, you must speak without a single lie!”

“Yes.”

He answered in confusion, not knowing what was going on, but worry was his primary feeling.

Weren’t martial arts masters said to be able to detect deep illnesses just by taking a pulse? What if he had an incurable disease?

“I don’t think you deliberately hid it. You probably don’t even know. If you did, you wouldn’t be walking the path of such a money-grubbing merchant.”

What on earth is he talking about…

“Have you ever experienced anything very strange in your life?”

“Yes? What do you mean by strange?”

“Exactly as it sounds. Something strange that could never happen in broad daylight.”

There’s no need to think further. But how can I tell the truth about that?

Reincarnation, future knowledge, a time slip… And I’d even have to explain about airplanes.

If I tell the truth without a single lie, he might draw his sword and accuse me of making things up.

“Years ago, I got lost deep in the mountains.”

It’s better to skip the unbelievable facts.

“I went into an old shrine to avoid the night dew… When I woke up, I had this.”

Jo Gwang-yun unbuttoned his clothes.

Gwon Jung-won’s eyes widened as he saw the strange pattern, like a tattoo, on his chest.

“Do you have any idea what this is, Grand Master? Or what happened?”

“You rascal. I’ve never seen anything like this either. Shut your mouth and stay still!”

After examining it for a long time, Gwon Jung-won hurriedly brought paper and brush and began to draw.

“Why are you drawing this?”

“Stay still. It seems unusual, so I need to find out more.”

After waiting for him to finish copying the pattern, Jo Gwang-yun asked.

“But Grand Master, didn’t you take my pulse earlier? Is there something wrong with my body?”

“What isn’t strange about you?”

“Do I have some terrible disease?”

“Stop talking nonsense and sit up straight.”

Gwon Jung-won said with a very stern expression.

“From now on, you will stop practicing swordsmanship and focus on internal energy cultivation as I instruct you for more than an hour every day.”

Internal energy cultivation is just sitting and breathing, isn’t it?

Swordsmanship at least improves physical strength, but internal energy cultivation doesn’t seem very useful.

Internal energy is said to combine essence, energy, and spirit to create an extremely strong body, but I heard that it takes decades of training to see results.

Why internal energy that I can’t even use…?

But I couldn’t go against the Grand Master’s stern order, given his fierce glare.

The Grand Master, who taught him the method of internal energy cultivation, did not forget to threaten him.

“If you experience any strange feelings or signs while training, you must tell me immediately. And if you neglect your training, I will cut short not only the Changryong Gate’s prospects but also your life, so keep that in mind!”

From that day on, Jo Gwang-yun abandoned his sword and devoted himself to internal energy cultivation as the Grand Master had instructed him.

There were good points too.

Instead of moving his body every day and sweating profusely, he just sat still and meditated, which cleared his head and calmed his mind.

Sometimes, he even felt lighter, and if he skipped it for even a day, his body felt sluggish all day the next day.

As a result, the meditation time gradually increased.

* * *

“Hanam Jeonjang [a type of traditional Korean bank]?”

“That’s right. They’re living it up; it’s quite a sight.”

“Hey, isn’t that just a rumor? Isn’t the head of Hanam Jeonjang known to be a notorious miser?”

“People change in an instant. I heard that his wife spends more money in a day than the magistrate’s wife spends in a month.”

Two men who had taken a seat in the most crowded brothel in Gaebong were talking loudly.

“Even his grown children are spending money, so the family is doomed.”

“But tell me. Does Jeonjang really make that much money?”

“That’s why it’s suspicious.”

A man who suddenly lowered his voice looked around for a moment, and his eyes changed.

“Then… Could it be?”

“Isn’t it obvious? What else could it be?”

Rolling his eyes, which had grown as large as lanterns, he looked around again.

“Are you saying they’re using the money that customers have entrusted to Jeonjang?”

“Isn’t that the only way to explain it? And this isn’t a rumor; it’s a fact…”

“What is it? Tell me quickly.”

“The merchants in the market, you know? Those guys who are making a fortune at Jo Ga Department Store.”

“Yes, what about them?”

“I heard they’ve already withdrawn all their money from Hanam Jeonjang. What does that mean? Aren’t merchants the ones who are second to none in being quick with money? They saw the woman of Hanam Jeonjang spending money directly, so they caught on.”

That was it. A crashing sound was heard from the side, and several men seemed to be hurriedly leaving the brothel.

The two men who had been talking until now also suppressed their laughter and left the brothel, running to Jo Gwang-yun.

* * *

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Oh, what hard work… Thanks to you, Master, I tasted precious food in a good place.”

“I’m glad… Where are you heading for the escort job tomorrow?”

“I’m going to Naksan, and this friend is going to Jeongju.”

Jo Gwang-yun handed each of them a silver coin.

“Do the same there. Spread the word in as many places as possible.”

“Oh my. This is so much. Thank you, Master.”

The two escorts bowed repeatedly and retreated.

The same thing is happening in brothels all over Hanam Province.

The escorts are spreading rumors that Hanam Jeonjang is embezzling money while drinking and eating.

If all the Jeonjangs in Hanam lose their credibility, it’s only a matter of time before they close down.

While Jo Gwang-yun was thinking about when he should meet the head of Hanam Jeonjang, he heard a sound from outside.

“Master. A guest has come to see you. A scholar named Jang Cheon-yang.”

Finally—no, eventually—the person who was coming has arrived.

“Bring him in.”

As soon as Jang Cheon-yang came in, Jo Gwang-yun bowed his head.

“It seems you’ve finished thinking and you’ve made a decision.”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Oh dear, you’ve come all the way here and you still haven’t decided?”

The smile disappeared from Jo Gwang-yun’s face.

“I’m a busy man. Go home and worry alone, and come back when you’ve made a decision.”

“I came to make a decision. There’s one thing I need to confirm.”

“What could that be? You’re not greedy for money… No. You’re not greedy for small money, but you’re greedy for big money?”

“The rumor that’s spreading all over Gaebong these days, that Hanam Jeonjang is using the money entrusted by customers at will—it’s not true, is it?”

“What do you think? Is it a false rumor?”

Jang Cheon-yang shook his head.

“I think Jo Master’s next move is the Jeonjang business.”

“Why? Why do you think so?”

“To take control of the Gaebong market, you ruined the silk merchants, the largest merchant group in the market, and then offered a helping hand. That’s how they recognized Jo Master’s power and bowed their heads.”

“And then?”

“They bowed their heads, but you didn’t rule over them and opened a way for them to survive. It doesn’t seem like compassion or pity… Anyway, you need people to do business, so it’s better to employ them for a long time, even if you earn a little less.”

“Aren’t you just looking back at the results? Like replaying a game of Go [a strategy board game]?”

Jo Gwang-yun said with a smile. Jang Cheon-yang found it difficult to guess what the smile on his lips meant.

“That’s right. There’s no one under the sky of the Central Plains who does business so viciously, so how could I have predicted it? It was hard to believe even after analyzing the results…”

Jang Cheon-yang did not hide his true feelings.

“So you’re saying that Hanam Jeonjang is using the same method?”

“Yes. But there’s one thing that’s bothering me.”

“What’s bothering you so much?”

“I don’t think you’re simple enough to expand your business with just the same method. I think there’s a deeper meaning, but my dull head can’t figure it out.”

Jo Gwang-yun’s smile turned into a big laugh.

End