Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Chapter 64: ○○ Swordsman Jin Yeomyeong

"The Ink Sword Hero must accept."

Two men arrived before Jin Yeomyeong's house.

"So this is the house he moved to. Has rear garden too, much better."

"Captain. Aren't you the one who provided furnishings for this house, Captain? Yet would the Ink Sword Hero refuse the request?"

The person called Captain was Luoyang's largest trading company Golden Cloud Trading's Captain Zhu Hochong, and the figure beside was Vice General Manager who accompanied the Captain today.

"Vice General Manager Yang, you also know martial artists' pride. He might consider my request rude."

Vice General Manager Yang tilted his head.

"Still, isn't the relationship strong?" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novᴇlfire.net

"Of course. The Ink Sword Hero saved my life."

"You did various things together after that."

Zhu Hochong and Jin Yeomyeong had many occasions to meet through trading company alliance dissolution, magistrate introductions, etc.

"Then won't he accept the request? It's not a request without compensation, and you're thinking to give that much money."

"Uhuh. You don't know the Ink Sword Hero."

Zhu Hochong still shook his head.

"The Ink Sword Hero isn't someone swayed by money."

"I understand your doubt. Hard to see such people in the commercial world."

"Government offices same. Magistrate Yang Daeryang seems different, but doesn't even he want trading company support?"

"The Ink Sword Hero is even more. Not at all someone who moves for money."

If someone buyable with money, just offer more contract money. What moved Jin Yeomyeong was different.

"But our current request is only related to money."

The reason the Captain himself came to request.

One girl playing before Jin Yeomyeong's house boldly asked.

Since Captain Zhu and Vice General Manager Yang didn't lower voices, seems she heard the conversation.

"Child. Not something for you to interfere."

Vice General Manager Yang tried scolding the child, but Zhu Hochong stopped him.

"Enough. What does it matter?"

"Captain. You're too soft on children."

"What's wrong with that? Why be strong toward children?"

Pushing Vice General Manager Yang back, he looked at the child.

The child stood bowing her head—kkubbeok. Quite polite greeting.

"I'm Jeongi, daughter of this house's employee."

"Oh? Really? One of the people the Ink Sword Hero took."

Jin Yeomyeong sent people saved from Master Dongpae's estate to Golden Cloud Trading. Heard he took them as employees when moving houses.

"Yes. You're Captain Zhu Hochong?"

This girl named Jeongi seems to have guessed who Zhu Hochong was hearing the brief conversation.

Looking at her eyes, could tell her cleverness.

"Thank you for treating us well when we went to Golden Cloud Trading."

"I was too busy to even meet."

"We ate delicious things. Sleeping quarters were comfortable too."

Not meeting didn't mean neglecting hospitality. Weren't they people the Ink Sword Hero sent?

"You're planning to give the hero lots of money making a request, right?"

"Right. Want to know how much?"

"No. That's not my concern."

Less and less understanding what this kid wanted to say.

However, didn't seem to be saying just anything. Seems scheming in that young head.

"Meet the Ink Sword Hero's wife. And if you talk money to the wife, the Ink Sword Hero will do it."

Zhu Hochong had never met Jin Yeomyeong's wife Yeom Jayeong. Only knew Jin Yeomyeong cared for family.

But this child would have watched the Ink Sword Hero couple beside.

"I see. To catch the general, must shoot the horse. To request the Ink Sword Hero, must meet the wife?"

Jeongi looked at Zhu Hochong grinning—hejuk.

That appearance pretty, so reached out hand to pat her head.

Jeongi also reached out hand.

However, palm facing up.

Zhu Hochong snapped awake.

Jeongi pushed hand further in with bright smile.

Beside, Vice General Manager Yang made surprised sound—heueuh.

Zhu Hochong the same.

Felt caught off guard.

"Jeongi. How old are you?"

"Eight? At that age? Splendid!"

At eight already knowing to sell not things but information.

Not level exceeding peers but genius merchant talent. How well she speaks too.

Gazes passed between Luoyang's great trading company captain and young merchant.

"Just asking one thing. Why tell beforehand? What if I don't give money?"

"Then I won't say anything going forward."

Saving money now loses the information source called Jeongi.

Seems she instinctively knew Zhu Hochong wasn't someone who'd make such choice.

'Might come a day to make another request to the Ink Sword Hero.'

Golden Cloud Trading won't have only Luoyang as territory. To advance to all-under-heaven, the more talent the better.

Amount neither too much nor too little for a child—placed that much money in her hand.

Kkubbeok—after bowing, Jeongi headed toward the alley—dododo.

"I'm going to eat dumplings!"

Leaving even words not asked, feeling good, she ran off.

Standing beside, Vice General Manager Yang watched Jeongi's back shaking his head.

"Various people gather near the Ink Sword Hero. Even the child is unique."

"Child the Ink Sword Hero saved? Perhaps talent awakened early from experiencing hardship?"

Zhu Hochong briefly reviewed past years.

He himself, from vagrant origins as lowest rank member, also grew amid hardship. Having no money, senses for money were sharply honed; having nowhere to retreat, temperament hardened solid.

"Must be. Won't be people around the hero to awaken merchant talent. Must be hardship's influence."

Captain and Vice General Manager nodded knocking on Jin Yeomyeong's house door.

"What's this clause in the contract?"

Vice General Manager Yang wiped sweat once more explaining.

Someone to awaken merchant talent.

"Hmm. Distribution here is strange. If it goes well, my husband's achievement is great, yet distribution is too low."

Jin Yeomyeong's wife Yeom Jayeong was reviewing the contract tapping an iron abacus.

Knocked on door revealing identities, but the Ink Sword Hero was at training hall.

Requested to meet wife first bringing up the story.

Not long after conversing, Vice General Manager Yang started sweating profusely.

Watching that, Zhu Hochong asked.

"Wife, do you spend much time with the child called Jeongi?"

"Yes. Jeongi adores Taebok. I also converse with her often."

"What do you mainly talk about?"

"What? Jeongi likes buying and selling anything. I tell her stories that might help with that."

"By chance, about buying and selling information too?"

"Do I give information for free?"

Became clear through whom Jeongi's merchant talent awakened.

Hardship was secondary.

Yeom Jayeong was the first cause.

At Vice General Manager Yang's groan, Zhu Hochong glanced down at contract—Jin Yeomyeong's distribution was rising without limit.

Zhu Hochong was shocked.

'The Ink Sword Hero didn't need to be sensitive about money problems.'

With a wife existing, no chance of loss.

The other side loses.

Vice General Manager Yang made crying sounds.

Yeom Jayeong folded arms with a dissatisfied face.

"Really unreasonable. Though our Golden Cloud Trading is in requesting position—we don't know if this will work or not."

Vice General Manager Yang pleaded again.

"Seems like it will work though."

"Of course such expectations exist but—"

"Really seems like it will work. Too good an idea."

Zhu Hochong listened to Yeom Jayeong's words.

"Wife's expert opinion also so?"

"Not expert opinion but—bit awkward to say with my own mouth, but my husband is quite handsome. Seems like it will work sufficiently."

Zhu Hochong also smiled at Jayeong with merchant talent speaking.

"Let's do distribution as wife stated."

Vice General Manager Yang shouted, while Jayeong's face brightened.

"However, this includes cost of persuading the Ink Sword Hero."

"Don't worry! Leave that to me!"

Watching confident Jayeong, Zhu Hochong smiled.

'The martial artist Yeom Jayeong is also worth establishing dealings with.'

For that, adjusting distribution was nothing.

Jin Yeomyeong, Yeom Jayeong, even Jeongi seen earlier—how many talents to invest in just this one house?

Zhu Hochong felt reassured even spending big money.

Smiling contentedly lifting teacup with comfortable heart—

Dropped teacup at tremendous roar.

After experiencing various recent incidents, attack came to mind first. Vice General Manager Yang also stood suddenly trying to go outside.

"No. You two calm down."

Jayeong sat listening only with ears to what sound.

"Wife Yeom, what is this sound?"

"Shh. Just a moment."

"Really. Baby doesn't wake to martial arts training sounds."

At Jayeong's admiration, Zhu Hochong asked.

"Martial arts training? This tremendous sound?"

"Yes. There are sounds baby wakes to and doesn't wake to. Somehow father's martial arts training sounds don't wake sleep. Isn't it amazing?"

"That's amazing indeed. To such loud sound... no, more than that. Did the Ink Sword Hero achieve mastery again?"

Jayeong was proud as if her own achievement.

"Yes. He achieved mastery."

I looked at the training hall ceiling.

Right. Sky was visible through the wide-open ceiling—ppeeong.

I confirmed three things through just-now training.

First, Wind Essence energy remained in me as is.

That tremendous energy is inside me.

Since injected into Taebok's interior, shouldn't remain in me.

But definitely the true qi sent into Taebok's qi center returned to me.

Then didn't it remain in Taebok?

This is like... feeling true qi self-generated, or was copied returning to me.

This too Primordial Chaos's influence?

Though explanation is difficult, could know by sensation.

This fact led to the second result.

"To already reach Five-Tenths mastery."

Second, I reached Five-Tenths of Eight Trigram Unity Technique.

Using Wind Essence's energy, leaped over the wall at once. Possible because already had experience leaping over.

Reached right hand toward empty space.

Though formless wind, definitely entered my hand.

Hwiiiiing—small whirlwind appeared.

This time reached left hand.

Flame created in slightly gathered hand.

Eight Trigram Unity Technique allows operating one trigram technique each time achieving one mastery. Means can handle one among eight natural energies. I chose Li Trigram Technique I'd been learning before Taebok's conception.

Joining two hands reached forward—whirlwind and flame combined creating fire whirlwind.

Similar appearance to water whirlwind shown before Mad Demon.

I sent fire whirlwind toward ceiling.

Fire whirlwind heading to vast sky advanced for quite a while.

However, if used on person not sky?

Would fly into air while on fire. Might shatter to pieces.

Now, and lastly—third, I succeeded learning Wind God Sword Manual's profound principles.

The connection between Xun Trigram Technique and Wind God Sword Manual shortened time needed for training.

The manual was indeed tremendous.

Even without using Cotton Armor, sword technique used by one of the Five Eccentrics dramatically strengthened Xun hand seal sword technique.

Just as no same wind exists among countless winds—sword technique resembling wind also wasn't same sword technique.

The way Wind God Sword Technique contained wind differed from Xun hand seals.

Of course, becoming proficient needs experience, but I'll continue real battles going forward.

In summary—Wind Essence energy, Eight Trigram Unity Technique, Wind God Sword Technique.

I obtained these three simultaneously.

Binggeut—unsinkable smile rose.

Becoming stronger is lifelong wish even as individual martial artist.

Not martial arts but any field is same, isn't it?

Want to become the best.

Let alone for me, has another meaning.

Power to hasten the day seeing fully cured Taebok.

Also power to eradicate Demonic Cult members meeting meanwhile.

"Should soon meet Brother-in-law Rogues' Guild Leader."

Before regression, didn't directly obtain spiritual medicines.

Therefore, don't know in detail where and how spiritual medicines existed and through what process they were obtained.

Whether obtained or not, only that mattered.

What I have now is extent of clues.

Need someone to make these clues into perfect information about spiritual medicines.

The Rogues' Guild Leader is precisely someone who'll do so.

Tell Jayeong contacting Rogues' Guild Leader—

Mm—as soon as thinking, Jayeong appeared.

"Wife. I also had something to say. Eh?"

As Jayeong entered training room, behind her Captain Zhu Hochong was visible.

"Have you been well, Ink Sword Great Hero?"

"Captain. Please remove 'Great Hero.'"

Jayeong watched us smiling.

Right... everyone's smiling, so it's good.

"Wife? Why smile watching like that?"

"Because money-making work arose."

After learning about spiritual medicines, Jayeong said must also save funds.

Perhaps might obtain spiritual medicine with money?

"Money-making work? What?"

Jayeong's eyes sparkled bringing out Zhu Hochong's proposal.

"Captain Zhu made new words."

"Advertisement—widely informing."

Jayeong said clearly.

"Indirect advertisement."

...Indirect advertisement?

"Advertisement Swordsman Jin Yeomyeong. How about it?"