Yellow Dragon Lord, Genius Swordsman
Episode 27
“Based on the original nature, all the residential areas to the north have been cleaned out.”
The interior of the Hwangryongseong Fortress is extremely simple.
A large man with a long beard was talking to Dan Sa-hyeok.
“The remaining areas can be completely emptied by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”
“I see.”
“I’ll have to go back and value the collected items. It’ll probably take about a week, but if you want, I can accept a portion of the payment in the middle.”
“Okay, I understand. And?”
“We have to deduct labor costs. As you know, it was a huge task just to dispose of the stuff here, and in fact, most of it was worthless scrap.”
“Just to the point.”
“Well, that’s why… … I’ll have to calculate this too, but it’ll probably come out to quite a lot. But we can just deduct it from the final payment.”
“Then please do so. Do you have anything else to add?”
“Your subordinate, the ugly man, may think simple-mindedly, but he has guts. Well, to be honest, he was more of a hindrance than a help.”
It was clear that it was Jang Woo-cheol’s story.
When Dan Sa-hyeok nodded slightly, Jang Mul-a-bi also bowed and walked away.
Dan Sa-hyeok, who was watching him, asked quietly.
“I think I’ll be using it a lot in the future. What’s your name?”
“Hwewoong. Everyone calls him that.”
Judging from the way he speaks, it seems like that’s not his real name.
Since using a pseudonym was common in the martial arts world, Dan Sa-hyeok didn’t really care.
“I understand, Hoeung. I will take care of you in the future.”
“Please take good care of us too. Regulars like you are always welcome.”
I thought he was just saying it out of courtesy, but after thinking about it for a moment, Hoe-woong added slyly.
“Our main business is basically handling long items, but if you want, we can take on other types of orders, so please keep that in mind.”
“we?”
“The Ash Cloud Gang. That’s what they’re called in the back streets of Xi’an.”
“I see. What exactly do you mean by other requests?”
“Basically, whatever the client wants. Of course, the price of the commission varies greatly depending on the nature and difficulty of the request.”
This means that there is nothing he cannot do, including killing people.
It might sound like a rather brutal statement, but to Dan Sa-hyeok, who had lived in a harsh world, it was nothing but ordinary.
“Keep that in mind.”
“then…….”
Hoeung bowed again and left with his men.
* * *
The next morning.
Jang Woo-cheol, who was sleeping at the South Gate just like yesterday, woke up to the sound of people.
I thought it was Jangmul-abi Hoe-ung and his men, but surprisingly, there was only one visitor.
furthermore…….
‘A beautiful woman with eyes that roll around!’
At times like this, Jang Woo-cheol, who has eagle eyes, hurriedly straightened his clothes.
“Ahem. What’s going on?”
When I asked that question at the castle, the woman answered right away.
“My name is Eun Ah-seol. I came from Geumwol Battlefield.”
“Geumwoljeonjang? No, why is it here… …?”
“I have made an appointment with the Hwangryongseongju Dansahyeok Daehyeop. Please open the door.”
“Oh, I see. Hmm, I understand.”
It was Jang Woo-cheol who hurriedly went down the wall and opened the door.
“But the Geumwol battlefield is further north than here, so you managed to come to the south gate.”
“I heard the other three doors are sealed.”
Eun-ah-seol gives a short answer.
In fact, the north gate, east gate, and west gate were locked with iron chains.
Because there were few people, it was impossible to manage all four doors.
Of course, there were many people who could climb over the walls or break down the gates and invade if they wanted to, but Odu Seok could easily deal with them.
In the first place, since Dan Sa-hyeok’s inaction was known to the world, no one would have tried to do such a crazy thing.
“Ahem. But if it’s the Geumwol battlefield, it would be the best battlefield in Seoan… … .”
Jang Woo-cheol wanted to continue the conversation, but Eun Ah-seol was silent.
Eventually, I consoled myself and guided him to his hometown, where Oduseok happened to be walking out.
“Huh? You came earlier than I expected.”
“That’s how it is, Branch Manager Oh Du-seok.”
“I don’t remember introducing myself, but do you really have that much information?”
“If you are the head of the Gansu Province branch of the Murim Alliance, then you are one of the heroes who killed the Blood Heavenly Demon. It would be rude to not recognize you.”
“Huh. The hero will freeze to death. Anyway, Dan Sa-hyeok isn’t here right now.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t feel any presence at all. Well, that guy could easily hide his presence, but… … I don’t think he’s ever completely disappeared since he came here.”
“I see. I understand. I’ll wait until you get back.”
“Either way.”
Oh Du-seok speaks indifferently and walks away, scratching his stomach.
Jang Woo-cheol was trying to cautiously talk to Eun Ah-seol, but Oh Du-seok interrupted him.
“You follow me.”
“Yes? But… … .”
“If you tell me to just follow you, just follow me without saying anything.”
“yes.”
Jang Woo-cheol follows Oh Du-seok, trying to console his regret.
As he moved away from her, Oduseok blurted out.
“Don’t do it.”
“Yes? What do you mean, big brother?”
“You tried to hit on that girl, didn’t you? I told you not to do that.”
“Uh… … Did Dan Sa-hyeok pick you out by any chance? Or maybe your older brother?”
“You idiot. How can you think like that?”
“… … .”
Oh Du-seok, who was clicking his tongue at Jang Woo-cheol, turned his gaze and spoke.
“That woman smells strongly of death. Even though she is young, she must have been through a lot more bloodshed than you.”
“Umm… … .”
“In short, you are not an opponent that can handle you. Even someone as tough as me would be uncomfortable and try to avoid you as much as possible.”
“Then what about Brother Dan Sa-hyeok?”
“He’s not a fool, so he probably won’t try to close the distance.”
Oduseok frowned and crossed his arms.
“Come to think of it, you’ve never seen him show any interest in a woman? Well, we’ve only known each other for half a year.”
“Half a year? Is that all you have to do?”
“Isn’t it obvious just by looking at the fact that his final rank was a first-class warrior? We’re not fools, so there’s no way we would have left a guy with such skills as a mere first-class warrior, right?”
“Hmm. I see.”
“If things were as they were, he would have been enough to reach the level of a major general, or even right under me. Not only was his skill level high, but his accomplishments were also amazing.”
“It seems like he was already famous before he defeated the Blood Demon?”
“Do you think he heard the sound of the sword for nothing?”
Oduseok’s speech became longer as if he was slightly excited.
“The reason he stayed at the rank of First Class Warrior was due to the rules of the Meng itself. Promotion to the rank of Daeju or higher was only possible with the permission of the headquarters.”
“Oh, I see. I had no idea.”
“Well, it has nothing to do with you.”
“… … .”
“Anyway, that guy looks and acts like a stone Buddha. We don’t have to worry about him. He won’t fall for a woman like that.”
“Big brother, why are you talking as if Lady Eun is going to use a beauty trap?”
“Huh, a battlefield is ultimately a store. Isn’t it the domain of merchants? Those guys are also skilled in using any means necessary. A big shot like Dan Sa-hyeok would do anything to try to get you to boil it.”
“Certainly… … I guess that’s true.”
“Well, worrying about that guy is the most useless thing in the world.”
“Well, that might be true.”
The two people were going to find Jin Sook-soo while having a long conversation that did not match their size.
* * *
It was around evening, when the sun was slowly setting in the west, that Dan Sa-hyeok returned to his original state.
Eun Ah-seol had been waiting in front of the gate of Bonseong until then.
“You’re here.”
“hmm.”
Dan Sa-hyeok glanced at her and asked casually.
“Is this what you were waiting for?”
“Yes.”
“When did you come here?”
“It was around the hour of the dragon.”
It is said that he had been waiting for me since the morning breeze.
Even though he had to wait for half a day at the shortest, Dan Sa-hyeok was indifferent.
Eun Ah-seol didn’t seem to be having any particular trouble.
“It looks like you came to a conclusion quicker than I thought. So, what’s the answer?”
“If Your Majesty wishes, we can proceed with the transaction at any time.”
“I see. I understand.”
“However, regarding the cost of the loan, I would like to inform you that it may take some time to secure the funds.”
“Is that so? It’s a bit disappointing. Even though it’s the best battlefield in Shaanxi Province, it’s not possible to immediately provide that much money.”
“I’m sorry. This is not an excuse, but the value of the Blood Dragon Sword is so enormous… … .”
“I’m not selling it, I’m just putting it up as collateral. I’m not saying I’ll get the full price of the weapon.”
“That is… … I see. Then, Your Majesty, how much money are you thinking of?”
“Five hundred nyang of gold.”
“yes?”
“He said he would borrow five hundred nyang.”
“… … .”
Eun Ah-seol stares blankly at Dan Sa-hyeok with a blank expression.
She, who had remained calm from yesterday until now, could not hide her embarrassment this time.
“Are you saying it’s just… five hundred nyang?”
“Just a little? A first-class warrior’s meager salary is an amount that you won’t be able to earn even if you work until the day you die.”
“Well, that may be so, but… … .”
There was too little.
If we look at the value of the five hundred nyang gold piece itself, it was certainly a large sum, but compared to the value of the Blood Dragon Sword, it was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.
In the first place, if there was that much money, there was no need to use the Blood Dragon Sword as collateral.
To be honest, it was a total waste of time.
“I’ll ask again just to confirm, Grand Master. Are you really… … trying to borrow 500 nyang of gold with the Blood Dragon Sword as collateral?”
“I remember asking the same question last time. My answer is the same as last time.”
“All right.”
Eun Ah-seol answers in a crawling voice.
The original plan and mission were completely ruined in an instant.
‘This is difficult… … .’
Not only was Eun-Ah-Seol Eun-Ah-Seol, but her master, Geumwol Jeonjang-Ju, would not have expected this situation at all.
Originally, he had planned to prepare the large sum of money that Dan Sa-hyeok had offered, and then use that as an excuse to approach him and become closer to him.
The aim was to gauge the intentions of the man who ascended to the throne as the master of Hwangryongseong, while also attracting him to the Geumwol battlefield as an ally.
‘But… … .’
Five hundred nyang of gold is enough money to cover the expenses just with the funds currently in storage.
It was not a small amount, but it was not a huge amount either; it was an amount that could be easily borrowed from any decent company.
‘Is it really because he is a simple and shallow-minded martial artist, just as Jeon Jang-ju said? But this man doesn’t seem like that type of person.’
Eun Ah-seol looks at Dan Sa-hyeok with an embarrassed expression, lost in thought.
Dan Sa-hyeok, who was looking at her like that, asked quietly.
“Will it be hard?”
“Oh, no way!”
Eun Ah-seol’s voice, as she answered hurriedly, was louder than usual.
“Okay, then I’ll lend you the money right away.”
“And one more thing.”
Dan Sa-hyeok continued speaking with a still indifferent expression.
“I have something to ask of you, Geumwoljeonjang.”
