A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

In the upper floor of the Great Black Tavern in Poyangho, Yeom Sangrok kept glancing nervously between Namgung Jangho and Jang Ilryong.

“Is it perhaps *Banrohwandong*?” Namgung Jangho questioned Yeom Sangrok, who was looking at him.

“…Are you talking about me?” Yeom Sangrok nodded slightly.

Namgung Jangho frowned, seemingly annoyed.

“Why are you spouting nonsense from the morning?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You look to be in your late twenties at most, but you’re calling a man in his forties *hyung*? It’s clear, unless you’ve learned the *Zhu Yan Shu* (a technique to retain youth), then it must be *Banrohwandong* (the art of returning to one’s youth).”

Jang Ilryong made a suspicious expression.

“A man in his forties? Where is there a middle-aged man here?”

Yeom Sangrok retorted.

“Obviously, it’s you. You’re not in a senior-junior relationship, so why are you calling that young man *hyung*?”

“…”

Jang Ilryong’s face turned pale. The words *middle-aged* and *great hero* were the things Jang Ilryong hated most. Yeom Sangrok was walking straight into a firepit.

“You little bastard!”

Zhuge Wun quickly grabbed Jang Ilryong’s arms, exclaiming, “Jang Bu-jang is only twenty-three!”

Yeom Sangrok asked in disbelief, “What? No way, you’re joking, right?”

“Kraaack!” Jang Ilryong screamed, and Yeom Sangrok stepped back in fear.

They were obsessed with rank and age—Jang Ilryong and his group would never lie about their age to someone they’d just met.

“Are you really four years younger than me?” Yeom Sangrok thought in disbelief. How much hardship must one have endured for their face to look so aged at that age? He must have lived through hell, moving in and out of life-threatening situations. Looking again, the muscles on Jang Ilryong’s body were no ordinary muscles.

Jin Gahui, who had been watching quietly, turned paler.

“Seriously, chills run down my spine. You’re telling me that face is twenty-three? Ha ha!”

Jang Ilryong, with a look of disbelief, showed her the goosebumps on his arm.

“F***, now I’m the one getting chills. You *ghost* of a woman, looking so old on the outside.”

“You crazy. Does the blood even flow through your face?”

At that moment, a new figure entered.

“Jo Bonggong!”

Namgung Jangho greeted the newcomer with respect, narrowing his eyes at Jo Hwi.

“Do you really need to be so formal with him? Why can’t you just relax for once? Do you get itchy all over your body if you don’t use *Pogwon* (a martial arts technique) even for a day?”

“…”

Namgung Jangho let out a bitter sigh and adjusted his hat as Zhuge Wun looked at him in confusion.

“What is all this about?”

What Zhuge Wun was looking at was a stack of papers that Jo Hwi had placed on the table. Jo Hwi, with a terse expression, threw the stack down on the table.

After looking through several sheets, Zhuge Wun was horrified.

“This… this is!”

It was a pile of land deeds—hundreds of them! And when he looked at the names on the deeds, every single one had *Heukcheollyeon* as the owner.

“Wait…? Didn’t you give me all the vouchers for these?”

The vouchers that had been given to him to purchase land from merchants were all in his possession.

“This means…”

“Heukcheollyeon has decided to give away all of their land for free.”

Zhuge Wun’s face was full of disbelief. If he knew Jo Hwi even a little, he would know that he would never make such a decision. It was a huge trap, and now the largest scam in the martial world was unfolding right before them.

—

**Inside the office of the Namgung family.**

Namgung Su, the head of the family, could hardly believe the report that Naewonju had brought in and had to check it over and over again.

“This… what is this… such nonsense…!”

He gritted his teeth. Since inheriting the head of the family position after mastering the *Jido* (Ultimate Martial Arts), he had never used such vulgar language. The report detailed the *Changcheon Sword Clan*’s heroic(?) deeds in the Jiangxi province.

He had never even left the family estate. What were these ridiculous lies?

While it was certainly gratifying that they had dealt a blow to *Heukcheollyeon*, the method used was a problem.

If one looked at the heroic stories in the report!

The legendary *Igiereom* swordsmanship and *Uhyunggeomgang* (Sword King’s Power).

The legendary *Ilwido-gang* and *Neunggong Cheonsangje* (Immortal Martial God).

These legendary feats were used solely to destroy the enemy’s assets. What’s more, they had done it secretly with surprise attacks—attacking from behind.

They burned down all of *Heukcheollyeon*’s warehouses. It was certainly a great achievement. But could this really be called a heroic tale?

The *Changcheon Sword Clan*—the symbol of justice and honor in the martial world. How could they carry out such disgraceful actions under such a noble name?

Namgung Su kept rechecking the letter, his hands shaking.

At the very last line of the letter:

“I’m sorry, Master. I deeply regret it.”

The trembling handwriting clearly conveyed the guilt and sorrow.

“Hah…”

The achievements of Jo Hwi’s group were undoubtedly astonishing. What they had accomplished was almost beyond belief—four late-stage martial artists had achieved results that no one could have expected. The *Moo-Rim Alliance* hadn’t even been aware of the *Sa-Nok Alliance*, and just knowing about its existence was enough, but they had disbanded it!

A force of one thousand men!

If they had invaded Anhui, Namgung Family might have been in great danger.

It was certainly a result that could earn them a hero’s title from the leader of the martial world. But…

*Hoo!*

Suddenly, Namgung Su clutched his chest in pain, staggering.

“Master!”

Naewonju, his subordinate, rushed to support him.

“I’m fine…”

How could he hold his head high after all this? The masters of the righteous sect would never show it outwardly, but they would certainly scorn him internally.

*What should I do?*

The legendary *Uhyunggeomgang* swordsmanship that had represented the Namgung family… That kind of martial power was only possessed by three people in the family: himself, his uncle Namgung Seongchan, and Jo Hwi, who had become the head of the family.

Namgung Seongchan had secluded himself at Damrowon, and with Namgung Su too busy with family matters to leave, it was clear that Jo Hwi was behind everything that had happened. Furthermore, the martial arts techniques of the Namgung family were taught by him.

Even though it was spreading across the provinces like wildfire, his heroic story had already crossed from Jiangxi to Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui.

Eventually, the exploits of the *Changcheon Sword Clan* would be widely known across the martial world.

“Hah…”

The pain in his chest worsened as a headache followed.

What could he do? All of this had happened because of his own greed, wanting to bring Jo Hwi under the Namgung family.

“There’s another letter, Master.”

Namgung Su, in a weak voice, responded.

“…What now?”

Namgung Su, now looking exhausted, began to relax as if all hope had left him.

“It’s a letter from Jangho.”

“Hmm…”

The head of the Namgung family, Namgung Su, unfolded the letter he had received.

As he read through it, his eyes began to shake as though they were caught in an earthquake.

Forgetting the decorum of his position, Namgung Su let out a coarse curse.

“This, this! What the hell is this…?!”

“Father, Father!”

There was no one in the martial world who didn’t know that the Zhao Family Grand Association was under the influence of the Namgung family.

Everything Zhao Hui did in the name of the Zhao Family Grand Association had been led by the legendary Changcheon Sword Sect.

Moreover, just recently, an official declaration had been made by the Namgung family that Zhao Hui had been granted the title of Grand Gong.

But now, in the name of the Zhao Family Grand Association, he had bought up all the lands in the Jiangxi region?

And not only that, but somehow, he had also received the gift of several million square feet of land from the Black Heaven Alliance for free.

The vast commercial district surrounding Poyang Lake, over half of it, had been seized.

What would Zhao Hui do after securing that land?

He planned to turn the southern district of Poyang Lake into a hub of commerce, similar to Hefei!

The face of Namgung Su, once full of color, now turned ashen.

The prestigious Namgung family, representing the righteous sects, was now using its influence to do business within the territory of the Black Daoists?

In business, it was inevitable that they would have to share profits with the Black Heaven Alliance.

This was a huge issue that could result in being expelled from the Martial Alliance.

“I’m sorry, Father. I, your unworthy son…”

Namgung Su hastily grasped the letter in his hands before finishing the last line.

“No, no! I’m going to the southern district right now! Get ready!”

“Lord, please calm down!”

“Calm down? In a situation like this, you want me to calm down? Are we supposed to sit back and watch the family fall apart?”

His voice was filled with the determination of someone about to fly off to the southern district, as if preparing to use the flying martial arts technique.

Namgung Baek, watching his father, felt a sense of despair.

He called the chief of the guards who stood nearby.

“Chief, prepare for a covert mission. No need for force. Just me and the lord will go.”

“As ordered, my lord.”

* * *

From early morning until the afternoon, Zhao Hui stood motionless, staring at Poyang Lake.

As he gazed intently at the vast lake, his thoughts seemed deep. Then, Ze Galun approached him.

“What are you thinking about now?”

Zhao Hui smiled slightly.

“I’m thinking about whether the people of Central Plains can truly live so closely together, in such a crowded manner.”

“Closely together? Where is this coming from?” Ze Galun asked, puzzled.

Zhao Hui suddenly shifted the topic.

“Mr. Ze, your expertise in civil engineering… I’d like to hear your opinion. How many stories can the tallest building in the Central Plains be with current technology?”

Taken aback by the sudden question, Ze Galun replied after a moment’s thought.

“How many resources can we mobilize?”

“Unlimited.”

Ze Galun’s face turned pale as he asked again.

“Does it need to be a residence?”

If the resources were unlimited, a tower could be built up to twenty stories without much difficulty. But if it was meant to be a building for people to live in, it would be a completely different matter.

“Yes, it needs to be a residence.”

“Hmm… probably around six or seven stories would be the limit. If we really pushed the design, maybe we could reach seven stories.”

Even with unlimited resources, the limitations of current Central Plains construction technology were clear.

The tallest building in the Jiangxi region, the famous Tian Shang Huang Huo Lou in Hangzhou, was only six stories tall.

The physical limitations of wood as a material were the main issue.

Moreover, due to the specific structure, as the building gets taller, the available space decreases significantly.

“What if it wasn’t wood but steel? Specifically, steel skeletons?”

Ze Galun looked at him incredulously.

Steel skeletons? Replacing all the beams and columns with steel?

The average price of a simple steel plow used for oxen was forty taels of silver. Steel was not a common material like wood. It was unimaginable how much it would cost.

But if it were possible…

“We’d need to recalculate, but it would definitely exceed double the cost of wood. Steel has much better tensile strength, so it can handle much more weight.”

“Then, with a steel skeleton, you’re saying ten stories would be possible?”

“Yes. Easily.”

Finally, Zhao Hui smiled broadly.

“That’s enough. Starting today, I’d like you to begin the design for a ten-story steel structure building.”

“Wait, why do such a thing? It would be much more efficient to build several smaller buildings, maybe two or three stories tall, rather than one huge building. It’s incredibly inefficient.”

A steel building! How could Ze Galun even imagine how many taels of silver that would consume?

Just then, Zhao Hui’s gaze turned toward the far end of Poyang Lake.

“I’ll be building over twenty such buildings on the far end of this lake.”

“What did you just say?”

What on earth was he talking about?

Even putting aside the astronomical costs, the very idea of filling an entire stretch of lakeside with ten-story buildings was beyond comprehension. A single ten-story building would become a symbol of Poyang Lake.

Zhao Hui smiled again.

“A life where you can open the window anytime and fully enjoy the view of the lake. A life where you can take in the grand nature from such a height. When you step outside, you are greeted by the vibrant landscape of a lakeside garden.”

“Wait, what?” Ze Galun was bewildered.

Zhao Hui was clearly talking about a residence.

He had assumed Zhao Hui had purchased land to develop the commercial district, but this was something completely different.

“Wait, are you saying the ten-story building will be a place for people to live?”

Could one family really live in such a massive building?

But Zhao Hui’s response was completely different from what Ze Galun had expected.

“Once we finalize the design, we’ll have two homes per floor.”

For a moment, Ze Galun was speechless.

If each floor had two families, that meant each ten-story building would house twenty families.

“What, what do you mean by ‘family’?”

The concept of a family has existed since ancient times, and it is not just a casual term.

How could so many families live together in a single building?

It was a completely foreign and absurd idea.

Perhaps sensing the confusion in Ze Galun’s thoughts, Zhao Hui smiled gently and continued.

“On the first floor, there will be the Zhao Family Inn and Zhao Family Shengxin Hall. This floor will also house the Zhao Family shop selling goods distributed by the Zhao Family Trading Association.”

Zhao Hui’s smile deepened.

“Those living on the tenth floor won’t need to travel far to buy cold tea, Black Clear Water, or six-layer noodles. There’s no need to visit the distillery to fetch Bingjiu either. They will only need to walk down a few floors to reach the Zhao Family Grand Association.”

“Ah!”

Ze Galun was struck with a violent shock, as if something pierced his mind.

He immediately understood the true meaning behind Zhao Hui’s words.

This was an entirely new concept of housing that he had never considered before!

In the face of Zhao Hui’s revolutionary idea, Ze Galun felt a shiver run through him.

“With such a housing model, there would definitely be demand! No, people will definitely want to live there!”

“Heh. The steel-structured buildings will be quite expensive. The fact that you can open a window and have a panoramic view of Poyang Lake will also contribute to the high price. Humans have lived by rivers since ancient times. People naturally gravitate towards water. The price per unit can be determined later, but the key is making sure the building’s layout and space efficiency are properly designed.”

“……”

Having finished speaking, Zhao Hui’s gaze remained fixed on the lakeside with fiery intensity.

Ze Galun, who had been blankly following his gaze, couldn’t help but admit it inwardly.

Zhao Hui was a god of the business world.

There had never been anyone like him before, and there likely never would be again.

He was a one-of-a-kind individual who had now brought the concept of mixed-use residential-commercial buildings to the forefront.

* * *

“Heh…”

The voice of Zhao Mengde, who had always been intense yet gloomy, was now filled with excitement.

The achievements of Zhao Hui over the past seven years couldn’t be summarized by mere words.

Starting from a small corner of a steel warehouse, using his exceptional eloquence and cunning, he had maneuvered his way into gaining the Namgung family’s protection and eventually became the representative of the commercial world in Hefei.

Through his quick thinking during the Dragon Banquet, he had won over the long-term icy relations and produced unimaginable products like ice-based drinks and alcohol, transforming Hefei into a completely new city.

What about his business acumen?

Sometimes with a warm smile, other times using threats, he had slowly devoured the commercial sector of Hefei, and now, he was the undisputed ruler of the commercial world of Anhui Province.

But that wasn’t all.

While those who didn’t understand might criticize Zhao Hui’s actions in Jiangxi as cowardly or underhanded, to Zhao Mengde, it was an entirely different story.

His actions in Jiangxi were truly chilling!

Cold intellect, unwavering judgment, meticulous planning, and flawless execution.

What was most remarkable was that, through all this, Zhao Hui had cleverly shifted all potential risks and attention toward the Namgung family.

He had strategically used his position in the Namgung family to ensure that all the benefits from this venture would go to himself and the Zhao Family Grand Association, while the backlash from the Martial Alliance and the Black Heaven Alliance would solely fall upon the Namgung family.

This was sheer pragmatism!

A ruthless pragmatism where, for the sake of profits, one would cast aside even honor and reputation—this was the talent of a true leader.

Having mastered the martial arts of the Sword God, Zhao Hui could easily have been intoxicated by the power of the martial world, yet he chose not to live like a typical martial artist.

What impressed Zhao Mengde the most was that Zhao Hui was surrounded by exceptional talents.

The young leader of the Namgung family, Namgung Jangho.

The young master of the Ze Galun family, Ze Galun.

The top disciple of the Green Forest Sect, Zhang Yilong.

The Black Heaven Alliance’s Black Death, So Magyeom, and Yeom Sangrok.

The Black Heaven Alliance’s Ghost Killer, Dokmae Hong, and Jin Gahui.

These brilliant minds, from both the righteous and the evil factions, were all bound together by the central figure of Zhao Hui.

Whether they admired his overwhelming martial prowess or feared it, whether they were captivated by his extraordinary commercial sense or impressed by his vast knowledge, all were drawn to Zhao Hui as an individual.

Cunning, cold-hearted, and ruthless…

The many epithets that followed him were all negative, but in the end, the world’s greatest king who commanded the most talented people was none other than him.

Naturally, Zhou Mengde could not help but be pleased with Zhou Hui.

He was like a son who resembled him so much.

Now that he thought about it, they looked somewhat alike.

“Hehe! You are the embodiment of Zhou Mengde himself!”

Zhou Hui, sipping black-green water, looked at him with a puzzled expression as Zhou Mengde suddenly changed his tone.

“…Why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

A sense of unease crept in.

As expected, that premonition turned out to be right.

“Why don’t you raise an army?”

Zhou Hui’s eyes widened.

“An army all of a sudden?”

“You think you can fill your vast ambitions with just the Jianghu? Even if you achieve everything you want in the Jianghu, would it compare to the great feat of creating a new world?”

Is this old man telling me to become a king?

Such a tremendous thing was absolutely out of the question.

“As your martial accomplishments rise, and your wealth grows, you’ll inevitably draw the attention of ‘them.’ The only way to prepare for this is to stand at the pinnacle of the world.”

Zhou Hui was intrigued.

“Are you talking about the Sima clan?”

“Hmph! The Sima family is just a plaything. In a way, they are just as pitiable as our Zhou family, burdened with the shackles of humanity. The sealing of the Sima family must have been due to their influence.”

By now, Zhou Hui’s curiosity was about to burst.

“Then who exactly are ‘they’?”

“I don’t know either. They are humans, yet not humans. Beings who watch or travel through the human world, those who play with it, those who decide… There are so many ways to describe them, their true nature remains unclear.”

“…”

“This Heaven-Blooded Prison is also their legacy. You too are under their influence, whether you realize it or not. Perhaps they are already watching you.”

Zhou Mengde’s words were too vague.

It seemed like he was suggesting there were some tremendous beings in this world, but based on his experience, the sword saints or senior figures like Man Shangzhao inside the Heaven-Blooded Prison seemed far more monstrous.

“Even with my incomparable skills, I was once a disciple and companion of those ‘beings.'”

Zhou Hui froze at the revelation of the immense sword saint’s testimony.

“Never make the mistake of judging them by human standards. With your absolute realm, you must never confront them. Always flee.”

Zhou Hui couldn’t close his mouth.

The sword saint, with just one strike, had wiped out the entire Huoshan Sect. Watching his terrifying martial arts, Zhou Hui had considered that power to be something that should never appear again in the world.

But now, was there a being who was at least equal to, or even superior to, that sword saint?

From the way Zhou Mengde spoke, it seemed there were many such beings. It was impossible to believe.

If there were so many such beings, could any empire or martial sect truly survive in this world?

At that moment, Zhuge Yun entered the guest room.

He was holding a large stack of papers.

“I’ve started drafting the preliminary blueprints. Could you help me with this?”

Zhou Hui took the papers and asked.

“I’m no expert in mechanical engineering, though.”

Zhuge Yun chuckled.

“You’re much better with numbers than I am. I think that will be enough help.”

Calculations were definitely his forte.

As Zhou Hui unfolded the stack of papers, he saw that the sketches were quite precise.

“I’ve drafted the basic outline as a rectangular structure, considering the strong tensile strength of steel. I thought this was the only way to increase the space utilization.”

In Central China, the style for high-rise buildings was usually conical with polygonal shapes. Due to the weakness of wooden beams, a conical shape was the only way to bear the load of the upper levels.

But if they could use steel beams without restriction, things would be different.

“The biggest issue, in my opinion, is water. People living in the top floors would have a hard time getting water.”

“Ah, right!”

Zhou Hui had forgotten about that.

In modern high-rise apartments, it wasn’t just about the structure. Plumbing, electricity, elevators, landscaping, and interior decoration all had to come together to complete the apartment complex.

Of course, electricity and elevators didn’t exist in this world, but they absolutely had to solve the water and sewage problems.

“We could install a huge water bag lined with leather on the top floor, and supply water to each household through narrow pipes. The problem is with the sewage…”

Zhou Hui was determined to install a flush toilet in this 10-story mixed-use building.

The culture of using toilets had not yet spread in Central China.

If he could introduce this clean and hygienic innovation, the people of Central China would be astonished.

“Mm…”

The principle of the water bag used to supply water is something that any modern person would know, and with just a few trial and error attempts, Zhou Hui could easily create it.

What was important, however, was whether the potters in Central China could shape ceramics into a seated toilet form.

Technically, there didn’t seem to be any major issues, but having experienced the management of a steel forge, Zhou Hui knew he couldn’t afford to overlook even the smallest details.

There were so many things that seemed possible with modern technology, but were impossible in reality. Bicycle chains and springs were examples of such things.

“Hmmm…”

As he thought carefully, another problem emerged: heating.

If they installed a fireplace in each unit, the volume of the chimneys would likely create issues with the space utilization rate. And if they tried applying modern ondol (underfloor heating), they would still need to pump hot water, which would place too much weight on the upper floors, the weakest part of the building.

In order to implement everything he had in mind, he would need to fit massive water tanks, hot water tanks, and large furnaces on the top floors.

To supply hot water for twenty units with ondol heating…

Zhou Hui froze as he suddenly realized something.

“Wait, there’s no rubber pipe either?”

There were no rubber pipes to install for the ondol system.

They would have to use metal pipes, which was the worst-case scenario.

The problem with metal was that it was incompatible with water.

For the water pipes running down from the top floor, they could pass the pipes through the outer wall of the building and replace them periodically, but for ondol heating, that would not be possible.

They couldn’t just tear up or flip the floors to replace pipes every so often, could they?

The more he thought about working with metal, the more he realized how much he missed the metallurgy techniques of modern alloys.

“Maybe I should have studied engineering…”

Zhou Hui sighed deeply as he set aside the papers.

“Let’s put off the design for now. I need to research alternative materials and gather my thoughts.”

Just having a way to build taller buildings didn’t mean they could actually construct an apartment. More people with expertise in this field were needed.

At that moment, Yeom Sangrok and Jin Gahee entered the guest room.

“What should we do now?”

Jin Gahee’s face was full of curiosity.

Zhou Hui gruffly responded.

“You’re not needed anymore. Go back to Heukcheonryeon.”

“What?!”

“What do you mean!”

How could they return to Heukcheonryeon without sealing the mouths of Zhou Hui’s group, who were like ticking time bombs?

Heukcheonryeon had strict rules about punishing traitors.

The closure of one’s meridians and the severing of their limbs would result in being discarded in the wilderness.

Yeom Sangrok spoke in a voice filled with anger.

“Then promise me! Don’t tell anyone about the alliance between the Sa-Rok Union and the military camp at Dangcheonpo!”

Zhou Hui nodded without hesitation.

“Sure. I understand.”

Yeom Sangrok trembled violently.

“Ahhh, this is unbelievable! The lives of both of them are on the line! You need to answer me more seriously!”

Zhou Hui gave a look as if he was appalled by the situation.

“Hey, So Ma-Gyeom. Didn’t you brag about splitting the heads of dozens of masters? And now you’re worried about human lives?”

“Damn it! Those bastards deserved to die!”

“You guys deserve to die too.”

“Aaaaagh!”

As Yeom Sangrok seemed ready to have another outburst, Zhou Hui raised his inner power and coldly spoke.

“Sit down, you bastard.”

“Yes, Master.”

Yeom Sangrok obediently pulled the chair closer, sitting with his hands folded, his posture resembling that of a woman.

Zhou Hui’s cold voice once again filled the room.

“Do you want to live?”

“Yes, Master. Of course I want to live.”

Yeom Sangrok nodded furiously.

Zhou Hui took out a labor contract from his robes.

“Sign it.”

As Yeom Sangrok looked over the contract, his eyes filled with confusion.

“Junior staff? What does this mean?”

“It’s the hierarchy for our group, like your ‘ghost kill’ or ‘black kill.'”

“Does ‘staff’ mean high-ranking?”

“No, it’s the lowest rank.”

“……”

Yeom Sangrok, who had been making an unsatisfied face, continued to look over the labor contract before he suddenly recoiled in shock.

“Monthly salary of seventy mun in iron coins? Damn it! Are you kidding me? Even a low-ranking thief would earn more than this!”

Zhou Hui nonchalantly pointed to the bottom of the contract.

“Look at the section on bonuses. There’s additional pay.”

“Even then, this is too much! Two bottles of ‘Juyeopcheong’ and it’ll be gone, damn it!”

“So, are you going to live or die?”

“Damn it…!”

After much grumbling, Yeom Sangrok reluctantly signed the labor contract, and Zhou Hui snatched it up and tucked it into his robe.

“Effective immediately, Yeom Sangrok, you are to recruit all the famous craftsmen in the area—carpenters, stoneworkers, potters, and any other skilled builders—and bring them here. Offer them five times the current monthly salary. Got it?”

“Damn it! Got it!”

Jin Gahee, who had already received a hundred golden coins from Zhou Hui, wasn’t as concerned about the salary.

“What about me? Don’t I get a contract?”

Zhou Hui frowned and thought for a moment before looking at Jin Gahee.

“What are you good at?”

With a crack, Jin Gahee slammed her whip on the ground and gruffly replied.

“Killing people?”

Zhou Hui shook his head in exasperation, but then a glimmer of realization crossed his eyes.

“You’re always on the roof looking at the lake, right?”

Yeom Sangrok gave a horrified expression.

“That crazy woman’s hobby and specialty.”

Everyone has a use, it seems.

Zhou Hui gestured toward the northernmost branch of the Jilji sect outside the window.

“Perfect. You’ll go up on the roof every day and keep an eye on the movements around the Jilji branch. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately. Can you do that?”

Jin Gahee’s eyes sparkled.

“Hehehe! That’s the easiest task in the world!”

* * *

At the headquarters of the Heukcheonryeon (Black Sky Union).

After the remnants of the broken buildings were cleared away, Heukcheondaesal (the leader) finally felt a bit of peace.

While silently staring out the window, he asked his secretary, Seo Yu:

“Have you tracked the movements of that ghostly figure?”

The man who came the day after the agreement with the Changcheon Sword Sect was made—at first, Heukcheondaesal had assumed he was from the Changcheon Sword Sect, but the voice of the man was unmistakably young.

The problem was that during the negotiation, Heukcheondaesal had felt the presence of a martial soul in the young man.

This suggested that the one who had tormented Heukcheonryeon with the Wuyi technique might not be from the Changcheon Sword Sect at all.

The new martial artist from the Nangung family who had eluded Heukcheonryeon’s intelligence!

A sect with two practitioners of the absolute martial realm was rare. Only the Mount Huashan and Shaolin Sects were known to have such masters.

This meant that the Nangung family had risen to the level of the most powerful sects, like Huashan and Shaolin.

Had they known this beforehand, they would never have attempted reckless plans like the Sa-Rok Union or the Anhui campaign.

The destructive power of even one martial artist at the absolute level could overwhelm most sects.

“All the candidates for the absolute realm from the Nangung family are at Changcheon Danro Won (the old headquarters). They are not known martial artists in the Jianghu, though.”

Heukcheondaesal silently nodded.

Among the Nangung family’s older masters at Changcheon Danro Won, there were several renowned practitioners of the Wuyi technique. The most famous among them was Changcheon Sword Immortal, a master who had reached the extreme of the Wuyi technique.

But they were all elders. Their ages didn’t match the young man from the ghostly figure.

“What about the martial arts of the ‘Little Sword Lord’ from the Nangung family?”

Seo Yu shook his head quietly.

“At the Great Dragon Tournament, the Little Sword Lord’s Wuyi was at the peak. Only six years have passed since then, so no matter how talented he is, he couldn’t have reached the absolute realm yet.”

If such an extraordinary new talent had emerged from the Nangung family, Heukcheonryeon would already have known about it. But after thinking about it, there was no clear candidate.

“There is one unusual piece of information.”

“What is it?”

“This individual is the one the Nangung family has promoted to a public office. He’s the chairman of the Zhao Family Union.”

“Promoted to a public office?”

The Nangung family, with its centuries-long history, had rarely promoted anyone to a public office. More importantly, they had never placed a merchant in such a position.

“Is this person a martial artist?”

“This Zhao Hui, the chairman of the Zhao Family Union, has never shown any martial abilities. He’s a typical merchant.”

“Hmm…”

Seo Yu stared out at the Po Yang Lake.

“This Zhao Hui is the merchant who has bought up huge amounts of land around Po Yang Lake. There must be some connection between him and the man who visited us as the ghostly figure. I’ll look into it.”

Heukcheondaesal’s eyes grew vacant once more.

“Do that.”

“I will carry out your orders. But I have a personal question—may I ask?”

Heukcheondaesal stared intently at Seo Yu, the chief, and smiled meaningfully.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve asked me a question. Go ahead.”

Seo Yu’s face was filled with confusion.

“I’m curious about the land that was donated to the sect for free. Why did you make such a decision?”

Heukcheondaesal’s lips twisted into a strange smile.

“They offered me the monopoly rights to the goods.”

Heukcheondaesal knew well the vast resources of the Zhao Family Union. Zhou Hui had presented Heukcheondaesal with the monopoly rights to distribute all the goods from the Zhao Family Union in the Jiangnan region, but with a catch: only a portion of the goods.

“What was the term for the monopoly?”

“They offered three years.”

“Three years!”

The thought of having exclusive rights to distribute such valuable goods for three years was beyond imagination.

“That’s quite a bold move,” Seo Yu commented.

Heukcheondaesal grinned.

“He probably has plans beyond that. He intends to tame me, daring to make a move on me. After the three years, no doubt he’ll make unreasonable demands.”

Seo Yu’s face showed deep doubt.

Even though the plan seemed like a mere trick, why would they give away so much land for free?

“If things go wrong, we could always move the headquarters to Zhejiang, even if it costs some transportation fees. We could change the entire system from storing goods in kind to liquidating them into currency and transporting them to Zhejiang—nothing would be an issue then.”

This was Heukcheondaesal’s attempt to nullify the opponent’s greatest asset. No matter how powerful the opponent’s martial arts were, the opponent was still alone. There were clear limitations to sneaking around and destroying warehouses. Once the warehouses were gone, the game was over.

“I’m curious to see how he’ll try to negotiate when that time comes,” Heukcheondaesal mused, his gaze growing more intense.

“Once he’s spent all the money on developing the land, the commercial district he builds will naturally belong to my faction. When we move the warehouses to Zhejiang, that day will be the beginning of his worst nightmare.”

Filled with confidence, Heukcheondaesal appeared certain of his victory. But Seo Yu felt a growing sense of unease.

If everything went according to Heukcheondaesal’s plan, it would be good, but who could say things in the world would go as smoothly as expected?

* * *

Zhou Hui had given various tasks to his subordinates before immediately boarding a celestial carriage.

To develop the commercial district around Po Yang Lake, he needed to bring in experienced leaders from the Zhao Family Union. Their expertise, honed in the market of Hefei, was an invaluable asset.

The journey was long, taking over twenty days, and if it had been in a regular carriage, the fatigue would have been significant. But thanks to the celestial carriage with its spring suspension, Zhou Hui was able to maintain his condition throughout the trip.

Finally, they arrived at Hefei.

Hefei, as usual, was bustling with travelers, merchants, and all sorts of people. It seemed that more people had gathered than two months ago. Zhou Hui felt a strange sense of pride well up inside him.

“Has the chairman arrived?”

As soon as Zhou Hui arrived at the Zhao Family Union, the doorman, Wu Yang, quickly came out to greet him.

“Any problems?”

Zhou Hui asked, and Wu Yang pointed toward the courtyard.

“The warriors who went to the North Sea returned three days ago.”

“Oh?”

It would normally take half a year for a round trip, but the top mercenaries of the Green Forest had managed to finish their journey in less than three months!

“Did they bring any North Sea people with them?”

“Actually, that’s causing a lot of commotion at our union.”

“What’s going on?”

At that moment, Wu Yang’s eyes grew distant.

“The warriors brought a pair of North Sea people with them. Their appearance was so otherworldly that people from our union have been flocking to the courtyard just to get a glimpse of them.”

“…Otherworldly?”

“Yes. They look as though they are not from this world.”

Zhou Hui, now curious, made his way toward the courtyard.

As soon as he opened the large gate, a crowd of people caught his eye.

Among the crowd, there were the innkeepers, the riders from Zhao Family Transport, the chief artisan Nam Cheon-il, the head of the Zhao Family’s health clinic, the head of the Zhao Family Brewery, and many other high-ranking members of the union. Even Chief Yi Yeosong was there.

Zhou Hui was displeased to see so many of the leaders gathered at this time of day.

Just as he was about to reprimand them, his gaze fell upon a pair of individuals.

“No…!”

Zhou Hui stood frozen, unable to take any action.

He had always thought the beautiful men and women of Central Plains were all the same, especially after having seen the world’s top stars and experienced modern plastic surgery and cosmetics. He had become numb to the standard beauties of the region.

But now, in front of him, the man and woman before him shattered all of his preconceived notions.

He couldn’t close his mouth.

Her snow-white hair was impossibly pure and clean, exuding a mystical charm, and her large, magical eyes seemed to contain the light of stars.

With a gracefully shaped nose, scarlet lips, and a face that epitomized beauty with impeccable, refined lines, everything about her was in perfect balance. Even without needing to look closely, one could instantly recognize her perfection.

What stood out was how much they resembled each other, like twins.

Only then did they seem to notice Zhou Hui, as the leader of the Red Storm, Kang Man-ho, strode toward him.

“Have you arrived?”

Kang Man-ho’s voice carried a coldness, as if to prove the hardship he had endured, his eyes deeper than ever.

“Let me introduce them. This is Seol Baek, the prince, and this is Seol Hyun, the young lady.”

Zhou Hui respectfully nodded.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Zhou Hui.”

Despite Zhou Hui’s polite greeting, the Seol siblings did not loosen their cold expressions.

“Are you the master of the Eternal Ice?”

Zhou Hui couldn’t help but admire her. The voice of the woman, Seol Hyun, was as beautiful as her appearance.

The fact that they mentioned the “Eternal Ice” right away made their intentions clear.

They were here for the cultivation of Ice Arts.

Though they tried to maintain a cold demeanor, Zhou Hui did not miss the hint of anxiety in their eyes.

“Yes. I am the master of the Eternal Ice. You must have heard what needs to be done through my staff?”

At that moment, the white-haired man, Seol Baek, who had been silently observing, spoke.

“I cannot give any answers before seeing the Eternal Ice.”

Zhou Hui nodded without hesitation.

“I’ll show it to you right now. Follow me.”

As Zhou Hui led Seol Baek and Seol Hyun out, Kang Man-ho hurriedly grabbed his sleeve.

“What about us? What will happen to us now? Will you really let us go?”

“Am I some kind of third-rate scoundrel? Do you think I’ll change my words? If you like the mountains so much, go back there.”

*Whoosh!*

Before the words were even finished, all the Red Storm warriors quickly executed their lightness techniques and disappeared from the room in an instant.

Zhou Hui narrowed his eyes, watching them go, and then resumed walking.

“Let’s go.”

The Great Stone Ice Palace wasn’t far from the Zhao Family Union, just a short walk away.

If you looked at Hefei’s map, it was located right in the center.

“This is it.”

Seol Baek’s face looked shocked.

It was hard to believe this was a human-made structure; the sheer scale of it made him doubt its origin. In the North Sea, such large buildings were almost nonexistent.

With a deep breath, Zhou Hui used his internal energy to open the stone gates, and Seol Baek was even more amazed.

The scale inside was beyond imagination.

Endless stairs stretched downwards, and in the underground world, countless ice blocks were neatly stacked.

It felt as if he was looking at the now-vanished walls of the legendary Ice Palace of the North Sea.

“Let’s go down.”

“Ah? Yes.”

Seol Hyun, who had hesitated for a moment, finally followed Seol Baek, her older brother, as he led the way.

Despite her attempt to act cold, her true, delicate nature couldn’t be hidden, and Zhou Hui couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Seol Baek’s mouth gradually opened in awe.

At the center of the Great Stone Ice Palace, the brilliant, glimmering Eternal Ice was proudly displayed.