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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: How to Handle a Merchant Guild, Part 6
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"Elder Taoist, it has been a long time."
A middle-aged man in his forties bowed respectfully and offered a fist-and-palm salute. A Taoist in a black robe returned the gesture.
"Vice Guildmaster Cheong. It has been a while."
"On behalf of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild, I thank you for coming in person."
The man bowing repeatedly was Cheong Ho-yeon, the Vice Guildmaster of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild and the Guildmaster's younger brother.
While the Guildmaster had focused on strengthening the guild internally, he had aggressively expanded their external operations, making him a famous figure in the world of commerce.
Taoist Jayul glanced at the four warriors accompanying Vice Guildmaster Cheong Ho-yeon as his guards. Feeling their auras, he had a premonition that this matter would not be easy.
"Let me be clear to avoid any misunderstanding. We did not descend from the mountain to become the swords of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild."
Taoist Jayul stated flatly.
At the elderly Taoist's words, Cheong Ho-yeon's expression remained unchanged, a smile fixed on his face as he looked at him.
"It would be unthinkable for the great Gongtong Sect to mobilize its forces at the request of mere merchants like us."
Seeing his calm acceptance, Taoist Jayul spoke.
"We of the Gongtong Sect find it deeply regrettable that a martial family and a merchant family, both walking the path of righteousness, are in conflict. Therefore, we wish to mediate. What do you say? Will you accept?"
"Of course, we must accept your offer to step in during such a difficult time."
Taoist Jayul watched Cheong Ho-yeon for a moment, who answered with that same inscrutable smile.
"Very well. Then let us go."
And so, the three Taoists from the Gongtong Sect and the members of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild made their way toward the Pungyang Merchant Guild.
At the Pungyang Merchant Guild, the three men, having just finished their morning training and now chewing on beef, tilted their heads at the sight of the guild's general manager rushing toward them.
"Gasp... Wheeze..."
Seeing him panting too hard to speak from having run so frantically, Mujin spoke up.
"Did something urgent happen?"
He pointed a finger toward the guild's main building, catching his breath.
"There... over there... Gasp... Wheeze... The Gongtong Sect and... the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild..."
Hearing that much, Mujin ran toward the main building the general manager was pointing to.
Cheol-muk and No-sak followed behind him, using their lightness techniques.
Mujin slowed his pace as he approached the main building, walking deliberately.
As he entered, two Taoists and four unfamiliar warriors were already standing near the entrance to the main building's front yard.
Mujin strode unhesitatingly toward them, all of whom exuded an extraordinary aura.
The four warriors stood in the path leading up to the main hall's wooden floor, giving Mujin a dry look.
They showed no intention of moving aside even as Mujin approached.
The two young Taoists watched the scene quietly.
Hwa Mujin, the Hidden Dragon of Seochang, currently the most talked-about figure in Sichuan.
They were curious whether the fame of the young Mujin, who was much younger than even the first-generation disciples of the Gongtong Sect, was empty or real. A good spectacle was unfolding before their eyes, so they decided to watch.
The warriors remained motionless even as Mujin came right up to them.
Just then, two warriors appeared behind Mujin, revealing a rough, undeniable aura.
The moment they felt the intense aura from the two warriors they hadn't properly noticed while focusing on Mujin, the gazes of the four warriors and the two Taoists shifted from Mujin to Cheol-muk and No-sak behind him.
!
Their appearances were as rough as their auras, their eyes murderous.
The four warriors flinched at their savage gazes, which were hard to associate with members of the Orthodox Faction.
*'They're experts.'*
They couldn't feel any particular aura from the great young master of the Yeomhwa Family, the so-called Hidden Dragon of Seochang, but the two warriors following him were different.
"Hey, why are you blocking the entrance? It's inconvenient for people coming and going."
*Clang!*
"Move it! Our Young Master is trying to get through!"
As No-sak urged them on by slamming his iron staff on the ground, the four warriors hastily stepped aside.
Once the warriors blocking his path had completely moved, Mujin took off his shoes and entered the main building.
"Wait here."
"Yes, sir!"
With a disciplined reply, Cheol-muk and No-sak stepped up to the spot the four warriors had been blocking and crossed their arms.
Watching the two men and the four warriors with their flustered expressions, the two Taoists inwardly shook their heads.
*'Such a lack of spirit.'*
*'They're just embarrassing themselves for no reason.'*
Seeing the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild's warriors invite an embarrassment they could have avoided by simply stepping aside from the start, the two Taoists mentally rated the level of the guild's retainers as mediocre.
The Cheonghwa Merchant Guild was said to have hired warriors who had made a name for themselves in Hubei.
But from the looks of it, warriors of their caliber were nothing to worry about.
In the end, the two Taoists, unable to witness Hwa Mujin's own abilities, cast a disappointed glance toward the inner quarters of the main building.
*Screech! Thud!*
Mujin opened the door, entered, and slammed it shut behind him before striding toward the table where three people were seated.
The sight of the already gaunt Pung Gwan-o, sweating nervously and fidgeting, made Mujin's brow furrow slightly.
"You've arrived."
Mujin briefly glanced at Cheong Ho-yeon, who bowed his head slightly from his seat, before shifting his gaze to the old man in the black Taoist robe beside him.
"I've heard much about you, even in Gansu. I heard you recently restored the spirit of the Orthodox Faction. I am Jayul, the head of the Gongtong Sect's Hall of Law."
Mujin stared silently at Jayul, who offered a fist-and-palm salute from his seat.
Then, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
!
At this sight, the corners of the eyes of both Jayul and the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild's Vice Guildmaster Cheong Ho-yeon twitched.
Ignoring them, Mujin only clasped his hands together toward Jayul after he was seated.
"Hwa Mujin, leader of the Yeomhwa Family."
A curt nod and a brief introduction.
Mujin looked straight at the Gongtong Taoist, whose expression had hardened.
*'This greenhorn has some nerve.'*
From Mujin's small actions and words, Jayul could clearly grasp the disposition of the young warrior named Hwa Mujin.
The Hidden Dragon of Seochang was clearly conveying his intention to speak as an equal, as the head of his family, regardless of age.
*'A hidden dragon is still a dragon?'*
Mujin had simply not wanted to offer a salute while standing to a Taoist who remained seated, but Jayul seemed to be greatly over-interpreting this simple act.
After Mujin sat down, the room felt as if a cold wind were sweeping through it.
In the chilled atmosphere, it was Cheong Ho-yeon of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild who spoke first.
"I heard you wished to see the person in charge of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild. Please, speak."
Mujin met the confident-looking Cheong Ho-yeon's eyes directly.
"Shouldn't you have something to say to me?"
"I have plenty to say, but weren't you the one who asked to see me first, Young Master Hwa?"
At Cheong Ho-yeon's words, one corner of Mujin's mouth curled up.
"To pick a fight with a martial family and not even offer a single word of apology. The prestige of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild is truly impressive. I knew you had abandoned business ethics, but I didn't realize your wealth was so great that you don't even see a small martial family."
At Mujin's words, Jayul interjected.
"Young Master Hwa. I fully understand that your feelings are troubled, but I believe that is quite a leap in logic."
"A leap in logic, you say? Would you still call it that if a disciple of the Gongtong Sect were attacked with killing intent?"
At the mention of killing intent, Jayul was at a loss for words.
All Jayul had heard was that it was a fight caused by a misunderstanding.
He had also heard that the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild's warriors were seriously injured, while the Yeomhwa Family's warriors hadn't suffered so much as a scratch.
But now, suddenly, killing intent?
"To use a blade on someone's back and then act so brazenly... you must be looking for a fight. Did you think the Yeomhwa Family would back down just because you brought an elder from the Gongtong Sect?"
As Mujin grew agitated and raised his voice, Jayul quickly spoke up.
"It seems there is a deep misunderstanding. Please, calm yourself first. Why must members of the Orthodox Faction shed blood? From what I've heard, it seems things have happened that would anger the Yeomhwa Family. What does the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild think of this?"
At Jayul's question, Vice Guildmaster Cheong Ho-yeon replied, his expression still unchanged.
"It appears there was indeed a mistake made by the escorts dispatched from our guild. However, it was the mistake of an escort who had only recently joined. Besides, no warrior actually suffered any harm, so I believe it would be troublesome to escalate this matter. If you can help us find a good point of agreement, our Cheonghwa Merchant Guild is more than willing to respect the Gongtong Sect's mediation."
*'So, you refuse to admit defeat until the very end? You've got a glib tongue.'*
Unlike the Vice General Manager who was losing his mind in the brothel, the Vice Guildmaster never made a statement admitting fault first.
He was thoroughly assessing the current balance of power and adjusting his words and actions based on who had the upper hand.
As long as an elder from the Gongtong Sect was leading the mediation as the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild's backer, he judged there was no need to bow his head more than necessary.
But Cheong Ho-yeon had misjudged one thing.
The true nature of the warrior named Hwa Mujin.
The fact that inside this mere twenty-three-year-old upstart, who had luckily obtained a fortuitous encounter, resided the Divine Demon who had brought a storm of blood to the Central Plains thirty years ago.
"So you'll respect the Gongtong Sect's mediation, which means we should just shut up and follow whatever they decide?"
As Mujin spat out the words with a sneer, Jayul's position became awkward.
Cheong Ho-yeon was acting stiffly, subtly asserting that he had the Gongtong Sect's backing while still relying on them, whereas Hwa Mujin of the Yeomhwa Family was displaying his displeasure without filter.
"I, Jayul, who have taken on this mediation, pledge on the honor of the Gongtong Sect to be fair and just."
"Then let's see you try."
An arrogant and insolent tone.
Even for the leader of a martial family, it was a difficult thing to say to a martial senior who was significantly older.
However, Jayul understood Mujin's feelings and did not take issue with it.
"First, as Young Master Hwa said, there should be an apology, no? From what I've heard, using killing intent from behind is an unthinkable act for one who walks the path of righteousness. A responsible apology should certainly come first."
Before Jayul could even finish speaking, Cheong Ho-yeon rose to his feet.
"Since Elder Taoist Jayul has spoken, I will comply without another word. Our guild made a grave mistake against your family by hiring the wrong escorts. On behalf of the guild, I apologize."
Saying so, Cheong Ho-yeon bowed to Mujin.
But of course, his apology felt utterly insincere.
He went through the motions, and as the Vice Guildmaster, he certainly had the authority to represent them, but Mujin was not one to let it slide after seeing his expression and hearing the added remark that implied he was only doing it because the Gongtong Sect told him to.
"Well, let's just say that's the apology. Let's move on."
At Mujin's words, it seemed the mediation was finally proceeding properly, and Jayul waited for Mujin's next words with a satisfied smile.
"How do you intend to take responsibility for this incident? We demand that the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild withdraw all business ventures in Ssangnyu and avoid any future financial conflicts with the Pungyang Merchant Guild, Muryeong Company, and Geumeo Workshop."
At Mujin's words, Cheong Ho-yeon's face, which had remained calm throughout, began to stiffen.
"Competition with other guilds is inevitable when running a business. To demand we give all of that up is the same as telling us to stop doing business altogether, is it not?"
Cheong Ho-yeon calmly retorted.
"Who said to stop doing business? I'm telling you to take responsibility for unjustly pressuring the weak in Ssangnyu."
"..."
Cheong Ho-yeon, who had been looking straight at Mujin, turned to Jayul with a pleading look in his eyes.
Just as Jayul was about to speak, Mujin cut him off and spoke first.
"I'm not finished. Not only that, but to take responsibility for sending assassins to our main house, you must hand over Bu Cho-yeon and the General Manager of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild. That assassination attempt left our family's warriors seriously injured, and my two younger siblings were nearly killed."
!!!
At Mujin's words, Jayul's eyes widened as he stared at Cheong Ho-yeon.
It was a rumor he had not heard in Gansu.
In Seochang, the rumor had spread far and wide due to the blood-soaked Mujin and the corpses scattered along the Jeodong River, but it had not reached other regions.
Jayul couldn't help but be greatly shaken and flustered.
If what the Hidden Dragon of Seochang just said was true, then this was not a matter the Gongtong Sect should be mediating.
*'Assassins and an ambush... Surely not...'*
It was an act that strayed far, far from the righteous path.
If the Gongtong Sect were to mediate despite this being true, their honor would surely be tarnished in the future.
"Vice Guildmaster Cheong. What is the meaning of this?"
To Jayul's question, Cheong Ho-yeon replied with a composed expression.
"I wonder? This is the first I'm hearing of it. Why would our Cheonghwa Merchant Guild commit such an unprincipled act? I believe Young Master Hwa must be gravely mistaken about something."
At Cheong Ho-yeon's words, Mujin smiled.
*'I've got you.'*
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