Chapter 577
Chapter 577
Chapter 577. How to Screw Someone Over (2)
The duel between Hyung Jinho and Warrior Jo Un continued for quite some time, and in the end, after a fierce match lasting about half a shichen, victory and defeat were decided.
“The winner is Warrior Eun Jinho of the Eunhae Trading Company!” (Captain Geum Yeonhwa)
“Uwaaaah!” (Eun Jinho)
Hyung Jinho let out a victorious roar, and the people sent him unstinting cheers.
“Trench Spear Hero! Trench Spear Hero!”
Looking at them, I felt a little dumbfounded.
Were they not the ones who mocked me for being a merchant when I received the Alliance Leader’s recommendation?
And now people like that were cheering for Hyung Jinho.
I found myself laughing.
Mm, should I let it slide this time?
Just then, Hyung Jinho came down from the dueling stage and approached me.
“Did you see?” (Eun Jinho)
“Yeah. You did well.” (MC)
Surprisingly, there was not a single wound on Hyung Jinho’s body.
He had worked quite hard to avoid getting injured.
That was also why the duel took so long.
Well, there is no greater unfilial act than showing your parents the sight of you being injured.
I turned my head and looked at Warrior Changwoon.
He was unable to shake off the shock, as though he had never imagined that his Senior Brother, Warrior Jo Un, would lose.
“Are you all right?” (MC)
“Ah, yes….” (Warrior Changwoon)
He does not look all right….
---
At that time.
In the backyard of Yeonpung Inn, Warrior Daenok and Warrior Suam were training.
The training Eun Seoho had ordered was simple.
Basic sword form training.
And what was called the three great basic exercises.
Those were the training exercises the warriors of the Eunpung Unit had to do every day.
Running, push-ups, holding the horse-riding stance for a long time.
And hanging sit-ups.
The warriors of the Eunpung Unit set aside a fixed amount of time to train regularly, but they were different.
They had to train all day long.
Even if they wanted to slack off because they hated doing it, they could not, because if they did not move their bodies, they suffered greatly from unbearable muscle pain.
And another thing tormenting them was….
“Warriors. It is time for your medicine, sir.” (Palgap)
The Tiger-Bear Origin Body Decoction that Palgap brought.
They say good medicine is bitter to the mouth, but the Tiger-Bear Origin Body Decoction went beyond being bitter.
If it had not been something they absolutely had to drink, they would have wanted to vomit, but perhaps it was true that it was expensive and good medicine, because it was absorbed completely into their bodies.
So even when they dry-heaved from exhaustion while training, not a single drop of the medicine came back up.
“Do we truly have to drink this for three whole days?” (Warrior Daenok)
At Warrior Daenok’s words, Palgap nodded.
“Yes. That is right, sir.” (Palgap)
“Hoo… then please, at least let us drink some water.” (Warrior Daenok)
“Are you thirsty, sir? You should not be thirsty or hungry, sir.” (Palgap)
“…….”
It was just as Palgap said.
They had thought it made no sense to continue harsh physical training while drinking only that decoction for three whole days.
But sadly, they were neither thirsty nor hungry.
“You need only drink it all down quickly, sir. Young Master said that if you spill or leave even a single drop, ten hanging sit-ups will be added, sir.” (Palgap)
“…….”
“Ehew, this is truly expensive, sir. Young Master has made a big investment with great resolve, so is this really how you should behave, sir? Do you think you will be able to take revenge like that, sir?” (Palgap)
“I understand. I understand, so give me the decoction.” (Warrior Daenok)
“We just need to drink it.” (Warrior Suam)
They drank the decoction Palgap handed them with pained faces.
They had already drunk it several times, but there was no getting used to this bitterness.
And a moment later, the unbearable muscle pain began again.
They started training once more.
After swinging their swords for a long while, they eventually became exhausted and collapsed onto the ground.
Daenok gasped for breath and called out to Suam.
“Senior Brother.” (Daenok)
“Why are you calling me?” (Suam)
“I have no idea what wealth and glory we are trying to enjoy that we are going through all this hardship.” (Daenok)
“Is it not for revenge for what happened to you and for the honor of our sect?” (Suam)
“Our opponent is the Namgung Clan. No matter how much we fly and crawl, they are difficult opponents to take revenge on. And as for honor, is advancing to the main competition not already enough?” (Daenok)
“What are you trying to say?” (Suam)
“Let us run away.” (Daenok)
“What?” (Suam)
“To be honest, I do not know what meaning there is in this sadistic training right now.” (Daenok)
“But we have already signed a contract. Are you saying you will not fulfill the contract?” (Suam)
“If I remember correctly, the contract we made says that if they help us take revenge, we will become a strength to the Eunhae Trading Company. So if we say we do not want it, would that not make the contract invalid?” (Daenok)
Suam was tempted.
“I-is that so?” (Suam)
“Honestly, Senior Brother, you are suffering too, are you not?” (Daenok)
“…….”
“Let us run away.” (Daenok)
“Would we be able to run away?” (Suam)
“As far as I know, most people have gone out to watch the duels. The only ones left are servants and aides.” (Daenok)
“…….”
“Senior Brother. If we are going to run away, now is our chance.” (Daenok)
After pondering for a moment, Suam nodded.
“Fine.” (Suam)
And so, after checking around the inn, they quietly ran away.
But they did not know.
That aside from Palgap and Kwak Seohyang, there was another being Eun Seoho had left behind.
“Kkui?” (Geumryeong)
---
After the morning duels ended, one shichen was given for lunch.
Instead of eating, I headed to the temporary shop.
I had to check the morning’s sales and see whether there were any issues.
Hyung Jinho headed elsewhere with the Chief Administrator, and my parents went to a gathering of trading company heads and their spouses.
“I hear the Second Young Master passed the preliminaries.” (Merchant Manager)
“Congratulations.” (Merchant Manager)
The merchant managers in charge of the temporary shop congratulated me on Hyung Jinho’s preliminaries pass when they saw me.
“Thank you. I will tell Hyung Jinho. By the way, how is the sales trend?” (MC)
“It is very good.” (Merchant Manager)
I listened to the detailed explanation.
As expected, many items that martial artists would like, such as golden wound medicine or ornaments to attach to weapons, are selling well.
After all, when people participate in events like this, they tend to spend more than usual.
The trading companies also sell at lower prices than usual.
I looked around at the Baekcheon Trading Company’s temporary shop nearby.
They, too, were doing quite a thriving business.
During the Dragon Phoenix Dueling Tournament, they had lost public favor because of former Trading Company Head Namgung Kang’s greed, but a fair amount of time had passed, and they were also selling at comparatively cheaper prices than other trading companies.
Those cheap prices are probably a way to regain public favor, but… what is the point of selling poor-quality goods cheaply?
They may sell well now, but later, that karma will return to them.
Hoo, the Baekcheon Trading Company must have it nice.
They can do business while showing that much nerve.
One of the things they sell exclusively is whetstones.
For martial artists, whetstones are essential to keep the blades of their weapons sharp.
Moreover, since they are also essential for those who make weapons, I heard that the Hongryeon Trading Company also has a contract with the Martial Alliance to receive whetstone supplies.
“Please continue working hard.” (MC)
“Do not worry.” (Merchant Manager)
After looking around the trading company like that, just as I was about to eat, I felt something tap my arm from inside my sleeve.
When I slipped my hand into my sleeve, I felt something plump.
* Huh? Geumryeong? When did you get here? (MC)
* Kkui! Kku! Kkui! (Geumryeong)
Hm? You just got here? And… you know where Warrior Daenok and Warrior Suam, who ran away, are?
Wait, that means….
Huh, they ran away.
I sighed and sent Geumryeong a telepathic message.
* Geumryeong. Guide me. (MC)
* Kkui! (Geumryeong)
A little while later.
I headed toward Luoyang’s southern gate.
Seeing that they fled through the southern gate instead of the western gate, which is closer to Shaanxi, it seems they used their heads in their own way.
Tsk tsk, they are trying so hard.
* Kkui! (Geumryeong)
Even Geumryeong is clicking her tongue right now.
“They have no perseverance. If it were me, I would never miss this opportunity you gave us, Liege.” (Warrior Myeongjong)
At Warrior Myeongjong’s words, Warrior Changwoon also nodded in agreement.
“I think the same. That decoction may be terribly bitter, but if it can produce the effect of three months of training in only three days, that much is worth enduring.” (Warrior Changwoon)
I chuckled.
“If they had thought that way as well, this would not have happened.” (MC)
And so we ran using movement arts, and soon saw Warrior Daenok and Warrior Suam running toward Mount Song.
They came farther than I expected.
That means they ran that desperately, but was the training really that hard?
“Warrior Seowoo, Warrior Yeo Eung-am. Let us go. Everyone else, follow me at this speed.” (MC)
“Yes!” (Warrior Seowoo and Warrior Yeo Eung-am)
The two warriors and I increased our speed and went ahead.
Then we stopped in front of Warrior Daenok and Warrior Suam, who were running with all their might.
“Huff huff, huff….”
“Hoo-ook, hoo-ook….”
The two warriors of the Yeongyeol Sect came running while gasping for breath.
When they discovered me, their expressions showed utter shock. To them, I was someone who should not have been here.
“M-Master… that is….” (Warrior Daenok)
“I, um, that is….” (Warrior Suam)
To them as they stammered, I spoke with a smile.
“It seems the backyard of the inn was too narrow for training.” (MC)
“…….”
“I am sorry I failed to notice your difficulties.” (MC)
At my words, they eventually knelt in front of us.
“W-we are sorry.” (Warrior Daenok)
“Our apologies!” (Warrior Suam)
“What is there to be sorry or apologetic about? Did you not come all the way here to train hard?” (MC)
“…….”
I continued speaking.
“I know that this is difficult and painful for you. But as the two of you must have realized while living, there is no easy path in this world. Especially when that path is revenge against a powerful opponent.” (MC)
“…….”
“Do you truly long for revenge?” (MC)
I continued speaking.
“You must know that Warrior Namgung On was not imprisoned in the prison. But do you think he, who is under house arrest at home, is reflecting on his wrongdoings?” (MC)
There is no way he is.
“I hear he has been inviting friends and courtesans and enjoying merriment.” (MC)
“…….”
“And they say he claims he lost because he was struck by a cowardly trick during the duel.” (MC)
This is true.
It was information I obtained with the help of the Eunhae Trading Company’s intelligence unit.
“A cowardly trick? That is not true! I fought fairly and won!” (Warrior Daenok)
“That is exactly why I am telling you this.” (MC)
I continued speaking.
“Whether to stop training is your choice. But if you go back like this, Warrior Daenok will become someone who passed the preliminaries of the dueling tournament through a cowardly trick. Also, you will not be able to prevent your sponsorship from being cut off. Do you think there is a manor master who would sponsor a cowardly warrior?” (MC)
“……!”
“……!”
“Even so, are you thinking of quitting?” (MC)
“No!” (Warrior Daenok)
Warrior Daenok’s eyes burned with rage.
“I will not quit!” (Warrior Daenok)
I turned my head to Warrior Suam.
“If you return like this, not only will your sponsorship be cut off, but you will also be laughed at by those around you. Then your sect will become even more difficult to maintain, so do you want to see your junior brothers starve?” (MC)
As if even imagining it was horrific, he crushed his lips with his teeth and answered.
“That is something that must never happen.” (Warrior Suam)
“I told you earlier, did I not? Revenge is never an easy thing.” (MC)
I, too, know it well because I am living more fiercely and working harder than anyone else for revenge.
“They call it lying on firewood and tasting gall. To keep from forgetting revenge, one sleeps on a pile of firewood and licks and tastes gall. Every time you think of the bitter taste of the decoction you are drinking, and every time you feel the muscle pain, grow angry. That will become your strength.” (MC)
At my words, they bowed low while still on their knees.
“We will not forget your words, Master.” (Warrior Daenok)
“We were rash. We will keep your words in mind, Master.” (Warrior Suam)
“Good. Since something like this must not happen again, it would be best to tell you now.” (MC)
I took the contract out of my sleeve.
“This contract you wrote. Did you read it carefully?” (MC)
“Of course.” (Warrior Daenok)
“Then do you remember this clause?” (MC)
I unfolded the contract and pointed to the lower part.
In order to abandon this contract midway, the party abandoning it shall pay fifty gold coins in compensation.
Fifty gold coins is an enormous sum that would be difficult for them to handle.
It is enough money to easily buy a tiled house in this Luoyang.
“……!”
“……!”
Seeing the two men’s eyes bulge wide, it was obvious that they had erased it from their memories.
Roll roll.
I rolled the contract up again and put it into my sleeve as I spoke.
“Do you have fifty gold coins?” (MC)
“…….”
They cannot answer. Of course they do not.
“It seems you did not take my words about being prepared to heart. Hahahaha. It is fine. You need only do well from now on.” (MC)
I grinned broadly.
“Now, stand up and run at full speed to Yeonpung Inn.” (MC)
“Uwaaaah!” (Warrior Daenok)
“Uwaaaah!” (Warrior Suam)
The two warriors ran toward Yeonpung Inn as if their tails were on fire.
Good, very good.
Now they have come to their senses.
The picture I had in mind was becoming clear.
“Kkui?” (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong poked her head out from my sleeve.
Why am I not giving you silver?
Do not worry. I will give it to you. Have I ever swindled you out of silver I should have given?
I may have forgotten, but I have never swindled you.
.
.
.
The day after I returned with the two warriors like that, the preliminaries of the Heaven Group were completed.
Immediately after, the preliminaries of the Earth Group continued, and Noona Hyangok participated on the first day.
And Noona thoroughly demolished the opponent who mocked her with words.
Noona is well-behaved as long as you do not touch her, so why are people always so eager that they cannot help but touch her?
“Kuh! K-heuk! I forfeit!” (Hyangok’s Opponent)
In the end, the opponent Noona had beaten with words forfeited without even swinging his sword once, and so Noona advanced to the main competition without even fighting.
That is part of why I am afraid of Noona.
Noona hits people precisely with nothing but facts, and when that lands, it truly hurts.
Thanks to that, Noona’s fame as the Tongue-Sword Heroine rose even higher.
A few days later, the preliminaries ended, and the main competition began.
Hoo, now it is my turn to participate.
And it also meant the time had come to show the results of the training Warrior Daenok and Warrior Suam had done.