The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 497

“Ahem. How is it? Does it look awkward?”

So Jeok-san, who visited Beijing after a long time, was dressed in a splendid outfit, a stark contrast to his usual attire.

His subordinates laughed and praised him, while So Jeok-san, looking somewhat embarrassed, kept adjusting his clothes.

“Wearing that, you wouldn’t be out of place being called a lord.”

“A bumpkin from Muwi [a small, rural village] has made it big, huh?”

“Oh, come on, when was that? Muwi has grown too big to be called a village. Besides, if the Captain calls himself a bumpkin, what does that make us, his subordinates?”

They were the core figures who had built the Shinma Merchant Group from back-alley thugs and now held key positions within the organization.

“But the atmosphere is terribly bleak.”

So Jeok-san’s subordinates nodded in agreement.

The marketplace was crowded with people, befitting the capital of Great Ming [the ruling dynasty of China at the time], but none of them wore bright expressions.

“It’s already been half a month since Dongchang [the Eastern Depot, a powerful secret police agency] has been stuck inside Dong’an Gate. People know that something is about to happen.”

“Sorry for bringing you to a potentially dangerous place. It wasn’t intentional, but I ended up taking on a heavy responsibility.”

The men surrounding So Jeok-san burst into hearty laughter at his apology.

“Why are you being like this, Captain? Have you already forgotten the oath we made back in the days of Sunui-bang [likely a reference to their old gang or meeting place]?”

So Jeok-san chuckled.

“How long ago was that?”

“But we can’t forget it. We shouldn’t forget it either. It’s no exaggeration to say that the motto of our Uirijeong [righteous brotherhood], which Captain swore back then, has built the current Shinma Merchant Group.”

Someone shouted loudly.

“There are only two things we must protect!”

Someone else echoed the words.

“Protect the loyalty between brothers, and protect the loyalty with merchants!”

So Jeok-san’s face flushed red at those words he hadn’t heard in a long time.

He had said those words in a drunken stupor back then, but looking back on them after so many years, he found them extremely embarrassing.

His subordinates encouraged So Jeok-san.

“Don’t doze off. It’s not the Captain who needs to be nervous. It’s the owners of the other merchant groups who have to welcome the greatest merchant lord in the Central Plains.”

“That’s right. Take this opportunity to show those arrogant bastards what’s what. After all, this industry is all about wealth, isn’t it? The one who beats with money wins. And in terms of martial arts, the Captain is the best in the world.”

So Jeok-san grinned.

What they said wasn’t wrong.

At that moment, a man approached So Jeok-san.

It was the man in charge of the Beijing branch of the Shinma Merchant Group.

“Everyone has gathered.”

So Jeok-san nodded and looked back at his subordinates.

They were the grateful people who had consistently believed in and supported him for a long time.

“Let’s go then.”

With his trusted executives, So Jeok-san arrived at the most famous inn in the area.

It was a place where even the well-known powerful and wealthy people in Beijing had difficulty securing a spot, but for some reason, it was unusually deserted today.

Initially, the Shinma Merchant Group had tried to rent the entire place for a day.

But when that didn’t work out, the Shinma Merchant Group simply bought the inn and the entire shopping district around it.

Perhaps that was why.

As So Jeok-san entered, the seven men sitting around a large octagonal table stood up awkwardly.

They all had troubled expressions.

Each of them was a wealthy man who was famous throughout the Central Plains [a general term for the central region of China], but they were intimidated by the overwhelming wealth of the Shinma Merchant Group.

Some of them had accumulated wealth over several generations.

When the Shinma Merchant Group was first established, they had engaged in all sorts of checks and interference, but now the Shinma Merchant Group had grown to such an extent that they had to be the first to curry favor.

So Jeok-san smiled and opened his mouth.

“It is an honor to have gathered all the merchant lords here.”

So Jeok-san, who was usually easygoing, exuded a different aura at this moment.

It was because he was representing the entire Shinma Merchant Group.

The first to speak among the guests at the octagonal table, who were all looking at each other, was a middle-aged man with a generous demeanor.

“Rather, it is our honor. Who would refuse an invitation from you?”

As he started, they all began to speak in a rush.

“It is only now that we meet the lord of the Shinma Merchant Group, who can be said to hold the purse strings of the entire Central Plains.”

“The merchant world, which had been stagnant due to the Suro Alliance, has regained its vitality thanks to the Shinma Merchant Group, so I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.”

The Shinma Merchant Group was the first to seize the transportation rights in the area when the waterway of the Yangtze River, which had been blocked, was reopened, so they had no choice but to be mindful of them now.

The Hainan Sword Sect was in charge of the security of the waterway in place of the disbanded Yangtze River Pirates, and their bond with the Shinma Merchant Group was as strong as the trust they had built over many years.

“Since we don’t have much time, let’s get straight to the point.”

The gathered people fell silent at So Jeok-san’s words.

So Jeok-san nodded, and one of his entourage, who was lined up behind him, brought a bundle of documents and placed them on the octagonal table.

“These are the irregularities and crimes of Dongchang that have been revealed so far. Even with only the clear evidence and witnesses, it’s this much.”

The moment the word Dongchang was mentioned, some people flinched.

But So Jeok-san pretended not to notice and continued.

“Among those involved with them are your names. We may be in a position to compete for interests, but we are all people involved in the same merchant world. As you all know, we may have to join forces again someday, right? So I am going to give you a chance.”

So Jeok-san’s eyes and attitude were more confident and dignified than ever before.

“Decide whether to share your fate with the soon-to-sink Dongchang, or to overcome this difficulty and turn the crisis into an opportunity.”

These people were not the kind of people who would be intimidated by money alone.

But in this industry, wealth is power.

Above all, they were also paying close attention to the unusual atmosphere in Beijing.

In the first place, if they did not have the ability to read the trends, they would not be qualified to be called wealthy.

Heavy sighs came from all around.

Almost everyone who handles a large amount of money in Beijing has connections with Dongchang and the Jinyiwei [the Embroidered Uniform Guard, another powerful secret police agency].

No matter how much money they had, it was impossible to fully preserve their wealth without strong political backing.

At that time, one of the invited guests carefully opened his mouth.

“Can you explain in detail what you mentioned earlier as that opportunity?”

So Jeok-san assessed the face of the person who had just spoken.

It was Geum Dae-ryong, the owner of the Geumryong Merchant Group, who had been silent until now.

Once upon a time, the Geumryong Merchant Group was the undisputed number one merchant group in the Central Plains.

He was known to have held the most enormous financial power since the legendary wealthy man Seok Chung, but now he was repeatedly declining and barely managed to put his name on the tail end of the Central Plains’ Eight Great Merchant Groups.

It was because he had overdone it trying to undermine the Shinma Merchant Group.

“If you actively cooperate, I have promised to guarantee at least your personal safety. It will be concluded by recovering the illegally accumulated profits.”

Geum Dae-ryong, who was slightly relieved, nodded slowly.

The amount to be collected was not a large amount compared to the total assets.

More than anything, it was fortunate that it ended with just this much.

In a situation that could have led to the worst, So Jeok-san’s proposal was like a lifeline in front of him.

However, his face hardened at So Jeok-san’s subsequent words.

“However, this negotiation is based on the condition that you testify without hiding anything about the Dongchang-related matters and submit all hidden confidential ledgers and evidence.”

In order to overthrow the eunuch Jang In-tae of Dongchang, a sure shot was needed.

“If we carelessly strike him down and he makes a comeback, there will be political retaliation.”

The faces of some people turned pale at the mere thought of it.

But only for a moment.

At So Jeok-san’s words, a determined will began to take hold in their eyes.

“We are merchants. So let’s do business, not gamble. If we put down our greed and recklessness and approach it with a thorough business calculation, the decision will not be difficult.”

So Jeok-san, having said what he had to say, finally smiled and gestured somewhere.

As his signal was given, all sorts of delicacies poured out of the kitchen and filled the octagonal table.

“It is an honor to meet the seniors of the merchant world like this, and I hope you will not refuse the hospitality of this junior. And I hope there will be such opportunities often in the future.”

Leaving those words, So Jeok-san paid his respects and turned around.

The remaining people could not easily reach out to the delicious food in front of them.

It was because So Jeok-san’s last words felt very meaningful.

* * *

Neng So-mil, who had arranged a dinner with Dan Ak-seon after a long time, glanced at Beom Gye-wi with anxious eyes.

‘Should Senior Beom really be here?’

He tried not to show it, but there wasn’t a day that he wasn’t anxious.

If it were Cho Ak-ryang or Han Seol-hwa, they were at least reasonable people, so he would be less worried, but Beom Gye-wi, who didn’t know where he would bounce, was like a short-tempered bomb.

He had heard that he had changed since he started a family, but that was only in front of his wife and daughter.

He was still a frightening and unpredictable disaster to him.

‘Why Senior Beom of all people?’

He heard that Dan Ak-seon had requested it himself, but Neng So-mil still didn’t know the reason.

But then.

“Why are you staring like that?”

Neng So-mil flinched at Beom Gye-wi’s sudden voice.

He belatedly realized that he had been staring intently at Beom Gye-wi.

“Do you have a problem with me?”

“N, no way.”

“Have you been in the imperial palace for too long? You seem to have become a bit arrogant?”

Neng So-mil was startled by the ominous atmosphere in his voice and waved his hands wildly.

“No! Senior! How dare I…….”

The one who saved Neng So-mil from the crisis was Dan Ak-seon.

“I’m glad I came with Uncle Beom. I thought life in the imperial palace would be boring. Thanks to you, it’s not boring.”

“Hehe. Right?”

Seeing Beom Gye-wi smiling brightly at once, Neng So-mil belatedly gained an understanding.

‘Ah! That’s why!’

In fact, Dan Ak-seon now knew it too.

That he was the only one who could control Beom Gye-wi.

Beom Gye-wi threw a word at Neng So-mil.

“Do well?”

“Yes! Senior!”

It was then that Dan Ak-seon asked a question to Neng So-mil, who was answering politely.

“But isn’t it time to end it now? It seems like you’ve gathered enough evidence.”

“Even now, words are starting to come out here and there. The Dochalwon [Censorate, an agency that supervises government officials] officials are so exhausted from the heavy workload that they are about to collapse.”

Even the emperor was starting to give hints to wrap up the situation.

“But we still haven’t found Sa Jong-ak.”

“What if Dongchang remains silent until the end?”

“Then there’s no choice.”

Neng So-mil’s eyes turned cold.

“We have no choice but to completely *chamchojegeun* [慘草除根 – pull out the weeds and eliminate the roots, meaning to completely eradicate] this opportunity so that they can’t even dream of retaliation.”

Dan Ak-seon sighed softly at Neng So-mil’s voice, which was full of the smell of blood.

As he felt again, the struggle for power was much more cruel and brutal than the battles of the Murim [martial arts world].

If Dongchang somehow overcame this crisis, the one who would have to bear the brunt of the aftermath would be none other than Neng So-mil.

But at that moment, unexpected news came.

A man rushing into the room.

Sweat was pouring down his face as if it were raining, as he had rushed so hastily.

Among the hundred or so inspecting officials dispatched to each province (省), he was especially talented, and Neng So-mil had entrusted him with communication with external intelligence organizations.

“What’s going on?”

At Neng So-mil’s question, he, whose surname was Hwang, hurriedly replied.

“I found traces of Beon Gang-ryong!”