A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

When Han Seol-hyun stepped down from the cart, the bustling activity in front of the inn came to a halt.

She wore a tightly fitting black martial uniform, her figure clearly outlined, causing everyone to stare, mesmerized.

However, when they noticed the veil covering her face beneath her eyes, a collective sigh of disappointment arose.

The fame of the Han siblings, particularly Han Seol-hyun’s beauty, was well known within the Jo Trading Association.

While everyone has their own tastes, Han Seol-hyun’s beauty was so striking it transcended individual preferences. Though no one had actually seen her face, people speculated that she could rival Sima Tianhui, the famed “First Beauty Under Heaven” of the Sima family.

Accustomed to the attention, Han Seol-hyun merely cast a cold gaze at the inn as she walked toward it.

Then it happened.

*Whoosh!*

A massive chain-sickle came streaking out of nowhere, swift as lightning, slicing off her veil.

It was a lightning-fast attack, so quick that even Han Seol-hyun couldn’t react in time.

Seeing the clean cut of her veil, Han Seol-hyun turned pale.

The chain-sickle had come within just half a *chi* (1.5 cm) of her face.

For such a precise strike with such a heavy weapon, it was clear the assailant was no ordinary master.

“Ho!”

The man who had already retrieved the chain-sickle threw it over his shoulder, flashing a smile that revealed his lust.

Recognizing the middle-aged man with graying goat-like whiskers, a few townsfolk screamed in terror and scattered in all directions.

“It’s the King of Chain-Sickle!”

“Black Poison Demon!”

The Black Heavenly Lotus, ruler of Jiangxi, was known for its terrifying masters. Among them, the strongest eight were called the Eight Warlords of Black Heaven.

And one of them had appeared here.

Demon Sickle King, Mak Yeoso—known as the *King of Slaughter*.

Renowned for his brutality, Mak Yeoso was the most feared among the vicious masters of Black Heaven Lotus.

This Demon Sickle King looked at Han Seol-hyun with insatiable lust.

“An absolute gem! I have never in my life encountered such a rare beauty!”

Han Seol-hyun felt a chill down her spine as Mak Yeoso’s leering eyes appraised her from head to toe, as if a snake had slithered past her.

Just then, a low, chilling voice sounded from behind him.

“Heh heh… Truly, an extraordinary beauty.”

A towering, middle-aged man appeared.

He had a whip coiled around his waist like a belt, and his face was cold and merciless, like a block of ice.

**”Even… the King of Death!”**

A horrified cry rose from one corner of the marketplace.

Poison Whip King, Ak. He was also one of the Black Heaven Eight Warlords. Second to none in brutality, seeing two of Black Heaven’s most notorious *Old Killing Demons* in one place was a rare and shocking event.

“Came to check on my disciples, and I end up striking gold,” Ak chuckled. “Girl, I’ll personally prepare a chamber for you—become my concubine.”

Upon hearing this, the Demon Sickle King grimaced.

“Greedy bastard! You’ve already got eight concubines. This time, step aside for me!”

“Idiot. You’re not even fit to be near a woman. Won’t you just strangle her to death at the height of your pleasure?”

The Demon Sickle King was known for his… unique taste. Necrophilia. He had the sick habit of strangling women to death at the height of pleasure, then violating their corpses. His twisted deeds were infamous throughout Lake Poyang.

Hearing these two old men’s horrific conversation up close made Han Seol-hyun’s skin crawl.

When the drooling Demon Sickle King retracted his chain-sickle and approached her, she cried out, “Stay away from me!”

*Whoosh!*

The Demon Sickle King halted, seeing the cold energy gathering in her palms.

“Ice arts?”

Few groups in Central Plains knew ice arts. The last known practitioners belonged to the Dark Demon Sect, the precursor to today’s Heavenly Demon Sect, who had a feared technique called the *Nine Yin Demon Scripture*. Since the sect’s eradication by the Sword God, ice arts hadn’t been seen in the martial world.

“So, you must be from the Northern Sea?” he sneered.

Han Seol-hyun’s face grew even paler.

“Well, aren’t you a daring one! To think a Northern Sea wretch would dare set foot in the heart of the Central Plains in broad daylight. Haha!”

The aftermath of the brutal Northern Frontier War still haunted the martial world. If this were righteous territory, Han Seol-hyun could easily have been dragged off to the Martial Alliance.

“Don’t worry. All places in the martial world aren’t the same. This is unorthodox territory. I’ll personally protect you as my concubine.”

“Are you insane?”

A voice came from the inn’s doorway. Jo Hui walked out calmly, his face expressionless.

Han Seol-hyun’s face brightened for a moment, then turned rigid. She was confused as to why she felt relieved, even if only for a second.

“Now hold on,” Jo Hui said coolly. “Miss Han here is the head of department at Jo Trading Association. What’s this talk of concubines? That’s highly inappropriate.”

The Demon Sickle King didn’t hear a word after “inappropriate.”

One word echoed in his mind: “insane.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Reflect that, you jerk. Who’s the one following me?” Jo Hui shot back.

“Are you serious right now? Do you not know who I am?”

Even a three-year-old would stop crying upon hearing the name of the Eight Warlords. Someone living around Lake Poyang couldn’t possibly be ignorant of Black Heaven’s Eight Warlords.

Jo Hui took out a ledger and casually flipped through it.

“Oh, I know. Big chain-sickle, goat-like beard—yep, you’re the Demon Sickle King.”

“You *know*, and yet…?”

“Know what?”

The Demon Sickle King was at a loss for words.

He had roamed around Lake Poyang, yet had never encountered someone this brazen.

“Judging by your appearance, you’re from Dangcheonpo. So, you’re clueless about the way things work here, huh? How dare you stir up trouble in a place under the protection of Jo Trading Association?”

“How do you know about… Dangcheonpo?”

For him to so casually mention a Black Lotus secret in a crowded marketplace—unbelievable!

Jo Hui tersely thrust forward a contract stamped with the seal of the Black Lotus Lord.

“Enough talk. You recognize the Black Lotus Lord’s seal, don’t you? This place is under the authority of Jo Trading Association. Black Lotus is prohibited from interfering with any actions taken in Jo’s name. Do you intend to defy the Black Lotus Lord’s command?”

“…Jo Trading Association?”

The Demon Sickle King had not yet received a report about the secret dealings of the Black Lotus.

He had intended to call his disciple and inquire after the unexpected withdrawal order from the Black Lotus, but when he learned that his disciple was staying at this inn, he came to check it out himself.

The Demon Sickle King could not fail to recognize the seal and the distinctive handwriting of the Black Lotus Lord on the letter. There was no doubt that this was a contract filled with the authority of the Black Lotus Lord.

But something didn’t make sense.

How could the great Black Lotus pledge inviolability to a mere trading association?

The seal and handwriting were undeniable, but the contents of the contract seemed unbelievable.

At that moment, the Poison Whip King, who had been standing behind the Demon Sickle King, stepped forward and closely examined the contract in Jo Hui’s hands.

The Poison Whip King immediately furrowed his brow.

“…Has he gone senile?”

The contents were so unbelievable. The Black Lotus was giving away its prime land around Lake Poyang for free, while promising inviolability?

“This is definitely some kind of trickery.”

The whip wrapped around the Poison Whip King’s waist began to unravel, as a powerful aura began to flow into it.

“How could someone like you, an Eight King, not recognize your own lord’s seal? Or are you pretending not to?”

Jo Hui, with an expression still indifferent, folded the contract and tucked it back into his pocket.

“You’d better think carefully. If you break this contract, your heads will roll.”

“You insane bastard!”

*Whip Crack!*

The Poison Whip King’s face twisted with doubt.

His whip sliced through the air.

‘Is my vision blurred?’

He blinked, trying to clear his eyesight, since he could hardly imagine that his poison whip, aimed at such a close target, could miss.

He just assumed that his vision was failing him.

*Whip Crack!*

*Hmm?*

At that moment, the Poison Whip King immediately realized that his attack had failed, and it wasn’t just a coincidence.

One miss might be a fluke, but two misses in a row were definitely not.

‘Could it be the *Elder’s Twist*? I didn’t even feel it…?’

How was this possible?

His deadly strike should have been unavoidable, given his cultivation at the mid-level of the Hua realm. Though it was a simple, light move, it was still not something that could be dodged with mere trickery.

In fact, what Jo Hui had executed was not the *Elder’s Twist*, but a lightning-fast *Thunderclap* technique from the Nangong family’s *Thunderbolt Strike* technique. It was so fast that there was no afterimage, making it seem as if Jo Hui had never been there at all.

At that moment, another whistling sound filled the air.

*Whoosh!*

It was so fast that the sound seemed like an ominous, ghostly wail.

A massive chain sickle came rushing toward Jo Hui, slicing through the air with devastating speed.

*Clang!*

The sickle struck the ground, breaking the stone floor and embedding itself deep into the earth.

Three attacks from two Hua realm masters, and Jo Hui had dodged them all?

And without even seeming to move in the usual way?

Only now did the two Kings realize something had changed.

“A master!” they exclaimed.

The two Hua realm experts finally began to show their true power.

The chilling killing intent, the brutal energy that engulfed the surroundings, made all the workers of Jo Trading Association quickly retreat behind the walls of the inn, trying to hide from the growing bloodlust.

Jo Hui exhaled a heavy sigh.

Chang Il-ryong’s master had come and gone as well.

On the second floor of the inn, Nangong Su of the Sky Sword Alliance was present.

Now, even the masters of the two lowly sects had arrived, causing even more trouble.

Was this some kind of parent-teacher meeting?

The road ahead was long, yet it seemed like only trouble and dangerous encounters kept coming his way, and it was incredibly frustrating.

However, revealing his true strength here would be troublesome.

He had only just attracted the attention of the Sky Sword Alliance, and if he showed his full power now, everything would be in vain.

The Jo Trading Association needed to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

*Sigh* … What should I do?

He hadn’t yet revealed his martial spirit.

Had his dodging of the three attacks been merely a coincidence, or was he truly a master beyond the Hua realm? The others would still be uncertain.

Would a young person like him, still so green, be accepted as a higher-level martial artist than someone like the Eight Kings, who had gained their titles through years of reputation?

Jo Hui’s strategy for now was to buy time with conversation.

“Seriously, it’s always the same with you scoundrels. You try to kill first, and talk later. Let’s settle this with words for now.”

As he said this, Jo Hui secretly activated his perception and scanned his surroundings.

There were definitely Black Lotus spies nearby. After all the commotion, it would be strange if the Jo Trading Association’s every move wasn’t under surveillance.

The Demon Sickle King, still not relaxing his tense expression, asked:

“Why does a kid like you speak so rudely?”

Jo Hui smirked.

“Are you really going to argue about formalities between the righteous and the evil? Do you even know what respect means to you lowlifes?”

“Heh, this kid really is crazy,” Poison Whip King interjected, swinging his long whip with a chuckle.

“A mere trading association calls itself righteous? Under whose command are you?”

Jo Hui nonchalantly took out a token from his pocket and showed it.

“Take a good look.”

It was the distinctive sword-shaped token.

The word *Changtian* was engraved in raised characters.

Anyone who claimed to be a martial artist in the Jianghu would recognize the famous *Changtian Sword Token*.

“A sword clan?”

“Heh, so you’re from the Anhui Sword Clan!” the Poison Whip King sneered.

The Anhui Sword Clan was a derogatory term used by the evil sects to refer to the Nangong family.

At that moment.

“Out!”

With a loud shout, Nangong Su from the Sky Sword Alliance emerged from the inn.

Jo Hui stared at him with a look of disbelief.

“I told you not to come out!”

The martial prowess of the Sky Sword Alliance had already been exposed in the heart of Lake Poyang.

How much more would he need to provoke the Black Lotus before his frustration would be alleviated?

Nangong Su let out another loud shout.

“Jo, how much longer are you going to keep using that *Changtian Sword Token*? Your true martial prowess is clearly outstanding, so why are you still hiding in the shadow of Nangong’s name?”

Jo Hui rubbed his aching temples and gazed at the distant mountains, looking utterly drained.

“Enough.”

This was already a mistake.

In an instant.

Jo Hui’s eyes glowed with a piercing, bright white light.

*Sky Sword Technique.*

*Unparalleled Sword Energy of the World.*

Hundreds of blades were trapped within the absolute sword energy, encircling everything with an impenetrable force, obliterating all physical power except for the practitioner’s own.

The legendary power of the supreme sword god had returned to the Jianghu after centuries.

Martial arts have their own inherent laws.

If we were to compare it to nature…

It’s like how water always flows downward or how spring follows winter. There are certain unchangeable, absolute laws that cannot be broken.

But now, how should this be understood?

His inner energy was flowing smoothly.

His body’s will was fully mobilized.

Yet, the moment he tried to move, something unseen intervened, and all his strength dissipated.

It was truly a shocking experience.

Could this even be considered martial arts?

The Demon Sickle King lay on the ground, his limbs stuck as he could only roll his eyes in confusion.

‘What kind of madman is this…?’

What kind of martial art was this?

If his mind were clouded, one might suspect some sort of strange sorcery, but his mind was even clearer than when he was standing.

The powerful demonic fire and vitality that flowed through his body remained unchanged.

Yet, he couldn’t move.

Even someone like him, a veteran of the Jianghu who had roamed the world for sixty years, had never encountered such a bizarre martial art.

What kind of technique did he use to render a Hua realm martial artist so helpless?

Meanwhile, Jo Hui’s eyes, pale to the point of being almost transparent, constantly scanned the surroundings.

There were definitely Black Lotus spies nearby. If he couldn’t find them now, it would only lead to more troublesome matters in the future.

*Unparalleled Sword Energy of the World.*

This was one of Jo Hui’s top-tier martial arts techniques.

Only someone who had mastered the Sword Sky and could achieve divine sword power could perform it. By pushing the will of the mind to the extreme, it intervenes with all physical forces within a radius of one hundred zhang, nullifying them.

Right now, Jo Hui’s *White Eyes*.

In this intense black-and-white world, he twisted every physical pattern he could see with his will.

This martial technique consumes more mental energy than inner strength, and it was the depletion of this willpower that posed a greater problem.

According to the sword god’s teachings, even a martial artist who reached the Hua realm should never sustain this technique for more than half an hour.

If it were prolonged, it could cause extreme damage to the brain, potentially leaving the person a fool for the rest of their life.

Jo Hui summoned a powerful thunderstorm in his mind.

His pale, ghostly face flickered in and out of existence, while he examined the napes of all the people within the hundred-zhang radius who had collapsed.

Any martial artist from the Black Lotus sect would surely have a small scorpion tattoo on the back of their neck.

Jo Hui’s prediction was accurate.

There were seventeen Black Lotus agents lurking around the market, watching the inn from every corner.

Jo Hui couldn’t help but feel stunned by the unexpected number.

The seventeen Black Lotus agents, their necks tightly grabbed, were thrown to the front of the inn.

Merchants from the stalls, opera performers, comedians, fortune tellers, porters, and even a coachman—there were a variety of people, but what was strange was that none of them showed any signs of martial arts ability.

Jo Hui still stood facing the agents and spoke. He couldn’t reveal his *White Eyes* to the two kings.

“Do you know these people?”

Magyeom Wang shouted in rage at Jo Hui’s question.

“Despicable! How dare you use the *Invisibly Toxic Poison* on us! Stop talking nonsense and give us the antidote!”

Magyeom Wang had come to a conclusion.

It was *Invisibly Toxic Poison*.

This had to be the legendary, colorless, odorless poison. Without it, none of these events could be explained.

Just as he had heard, the classic symptoms of the *Invisibly Toxic Poison* were present.

At first, there was no problem with the inner energy. Vitality seemed normal as well.

But if one continued to move or circulate inner energy without realizing it, all their power would eventually dissipate, turning them into invalids.

Magyeom Wang also temporarily closed off the inner flow of his energy, just as a seasoned veteran of the evil sects would.

Jo Hui’s expression shifted briefly before returning to its usual cold demeanor.

As people age, the more experiences they accumulate, the more rigid their thinking becomes.

But these old, seasoned martial artists of the evil sect had never encountered the *Sky Sword Technique*.

In fact, if they considered this *Invisibly Toxic Poison* to be the explanation, Jo Hui would gladly welcome it.

With a cold smile, Jo Hui took two pills from his pocket and tossed them over his shoulder.

These were Vitality Pills, painstakingly acquired by his superior, worn out from managing affairs.

The famous *Vitality Pills* of the *Life-and-Death Medical Sect* were highly expensive and used only by high-ranking officials, making them a rare and sought-after tonic.

Jo Hui, although reluctant, had no choice but to use them in an emergency.

Magyeom Wang and Poison Whip King looked at the antidote pills curiously.

It was the first time they had seen antidote being given so easily.

Jo Hui smirked meaningfully.

“You think I’m underestimating the *Invisibly Toxic Poison*? This is just a fifteen-day antidote. If you don’t take it again after that, your internal organs will start to fail, and you’ll die immediately.”

Only then did the two kings nod in realization, their faces turning malicious.

The classic tactics of evil villains—poison them with something dangerous, then periodically give them the antidote to control them.

But for now, they had no choice but to take the antidote.

The two kings desperately twisted their bodies as they tried to ingest the antidote.

As Jo Hui loosened his focus, the two kings were finally able to crawl over and swallow the antidote pills.

To make the situation even more convincing, Jo Hui lifted the *Unparalleled Sword Energy of the World* just for that moment, releasing the pressure only on the two kings.

The two kings cautiously began to rise from their positions, scanning the situation.

Magyeom Wang spoke solemnly.

“What is it that you want?”

The great Eight King immediately shifted to a more cooperative stance.

Jo Hui inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration at the sudden change of attitude.

Such a sharp shift in behavior was likely the reason the Eight King had risen to such a high position in the ruthless world of the evil sects.

These seasoned, crafty veterans of the evil sects had spent many years navigating the underworld, and Jo Hui knew better than to underestimate them.

“I’d like to deal with those spies without further delay.”

Before Jo Hui could even finish his sentence, Magyeom Wang’s massive chain sickle shot towards the group of spies.

Screech!

Thud! Thud!

In the blink of an eye, the heads of seventeen people were severed, and the chain sickle returned to its wielder.

Jo Hui was utterly stunned.

“W-What the hell, this crazy bastard!”

Magyeom Wang had killed seventeen people without so much as a flicker of emotion.

Was this truly the work of a king of slaughter, someone with no human empathy?

“Can you think of a cleaner way to deal with them? If you kill them and remove the potential for any further issues, there will be no complaints,” Magyeom Wang said matter-of-factly.

Jo Hui wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat. He couldn’t deny that what the king said was true.

“Now, go back to the Black Lotus. If something comes up, you’ll hear from us. I’ll send the antidote through my disciples. And for the time being, don’t bother meeting any of my disciples. If you try any tricks, there will be no more antidote.”

“Understood.”

“Very well.”

As soon as Jo Hui finished speaking, the two kings vanished from the scene like a flash of lightning.

Jo Hui let out a deep sigh and released the *Unparalleled Sword Energy of the World*.

The black aura slowly returned from his white eyes.

People slowly began to stir, rising to their feet, and then they screamed in shock.

“Ahhh!”

“Ughhh!”

Just moments ago, these people had been shoulder to shoulder in the marketplace, and now seventeen of them lay with severed heads scattered around. Their shock was unimaginable.

Nangong Su from the Changcheon Sword Sect’s eyes blazed with anger.

“Truly, these are the worst villains of the world. Why is the Wuhuang hesitating to punish such wicked individuals?”

Wuhuang.

A title given to the leader of the martial world.

The number one sword of Wudang, Qingyun Zhenren.

Alongside the Mount Hua’s legendary sword, his name was always mentioned when discussing the greatest martial artists of the world.

Despite Nangong Su’s disappointed expression, Jo Hui remained emotionless.

“Once they chose to become spies for the Black Lotus Sect, they too are simply performers walking the razor’s edge of the Jianghu. Even if they aren’t martial artists, they cannot escape the fate of Jianghu people.”

Nangong Su nodded slowly, agreeing with Jo Hui’s words.

“Even so, their deaths are the responsibility of Lord Jo. Let the merchant take care of the funeral.”

Jo Hui also nodded in acknowledgment.

“Understood. It shall be done.”

It was at that moment that Nangong Su, looking at Jo Hui as though seeing a monster, asked:

“Are you truly human?”

“Eh? What are you trying to say?”

“I’m referring to your martial arts, just now.”

“Ah…”

Jo Hui had thought he wouldn’t be surprised by anything anymore, but that assumption was completely wrong.

According to the theory of martial arts ascension, there was a governing law at the heart of the harmony of all things in the world.

It was something that ordinary humans couldn’t grasp unless they were divine.

Even Nangong Su, who had reached the peak of martial arts, could only faintly sense it but could never truly comprehend it.

Yet, this young man, Jo Hui, seemed to understand that “essence.”

The *Unparalleled Sword Energy of the World* that Jo Hui had just executed could only be felt by someone who had reached the same absolute level of martial arts.

The movements of energy were manipulated and distorted by his focus, which could only be done by someone who understood that higher law of the world.

Nangong Su had been utterly overwhelmed by the twisted thoughts Jo Hui sent into the flow of energy.

He had only recently begun to vaguely perceive the existence of this higher law of the world, but Jo Hui could not only feel it—he could manipulate it.

It was a shocking revelation.

What was even more terrifying was that Jo Hui wasn’t just manipulating a specific part of the energy flow but was controlling every single “essence” within a hundred-foot radius.

If Nangong Su hadn’t witnessed it, he would have dismissed it as insane.

The ability to “see” all the flows within a hundred feet was already in the realm of divinity.

Yet Jo Hui didn’t just observe the movements of energy—he twisted and manipulated them all? That was something that could not be imagined.

Was this even martial arts?

Finally, Nangong Su couldn’t help but ask:

“Lord Jo, have you entered the Natural Realm?”

The *Natural Realm*.

The highest state a human could reach in martial arts.

It was the state where a person becomes one with all things in nature, and the distinctions between essence, energy, and spirit are blurred. In this state, a person could exert the powers of nature itself, transcending humanity.

If Jo Hui hadn’t reached such a state, there was no explanation for the transcendent martial arts he had just shown.

In the long history of Jianghu, there had been only three martial artists who reached the Natural Realm.

Now, Nangong Su was seeing Jo Hui as one of those legendary figures.

Jo Hui only smiled bitterly.

When the Sword God had possessed him, Jo Hui had witnessed the ultimate Natural Realm firsthand.

In a single sword strike, the Sword God had wiped away an entire mountain. That was a level of power beyond comparison to anything Jo Hui had now.

“Haha! What are you talking about? The Natural Realm? Do you think I’m a god?”

Nangong Su, looking even more confused, stared at him.

Indeed, it was an absurd notion.

If Jo Hui’s martial arts had reached the level of a god, Nangong Su would have recognized it instantly.

“Then what was that martial art just now? It was definitely something never seen before in the history of Jianghu.”

That was true.

The *Unparalleled Sword Energy of the World* was a technique Jo Hui had conceived and that the Sword God had perfected and named.

Even the Sword God had reached the *Unparalleled Sword Energy* in the past, but he couldn’t fully comprehend the complex mathematical schemes involved in it.

Only Jo Hui, a modern person with a knowledge of mathematics, could grasp it fully.

Therefore, breaking down the vectors of all movements and manipulating them with focused thought was a concept that even the Sword God had been perplexed by.

Jo Hui could no longer deny it.

With all the precious teachings and gifts he had received, if he continued to hide and ignore them, he could no longer call himself a true disciple.

With a solemn expression, Jo Hui stood tall and proudly said:

“The Sword God, Cao Tian. The name of my great master.”

In the history of the martial world, there had been three legendary figures known as the *Three Gods*.

The God of Martial Arts, the God of Magic, and the God of Swords.

The descendants of the God of Martial Arts and the God of Magic still existed in the Jianghu today, wielding great power and respect.

However, the Sword God was always regarded as the most powerful of the three, yet strangely, there were almost no records of him remaining in the Jianghu.

The God of Swords.

With a single sword, he had destroyed the Dark Demon Sect in a single day, surpassing even the power of the Celestial Demon Sect.

He was the dream and the final destination of all swordsmen in the Jianghu—a name spoken of in awe, a legend like no other.

Now, Jo Hui was proudly declaring that the Sword God was his master.

“The Sword God!”

Even Nangong Su, who revered the sword, was stunned by this declaration.

His respect for the Sword God was so great that it filled his heart.

Nangong Su stared at Jo Hui, utterly unable to believe what he had just heard.

“…Is that truly the case?”

“Yes.”

Jo Hui’s face remained calm and composed.

The pride of having learned from the great Sword God was evident in his demeanor.

“Then, what about this ‘Heavenly Sword Style’?”

“That’s correct. It’s the Sword God’s unique swordsmanship.”

With eyes full of strange longing, Nangong Su slowly nodded in acknowledgment.

*Heavenly Sword Style* (天劒流).

A sword that reaches the heavens.

At one point, he had thought the name sounded arrogant.

But when it came to the swordsmanship of the Sword God, his perspective completely changed. In fact, it seemed entirely justified. Someone of his stature would certainly be entitled to such arrogance.

“The Sword God, Cao Tian…”

The real name of the Sword God, a name Jo Hui had never heard before until today. Upon further thought, it struck Nangong Su that Jo Hui shared the same surname as the Sword God.

“Could it be? Are you a descendant of the Sword God?”

“Yes. He is an ancestor of my family.”

“Ah!”

Not just a descendant of the Sword God, but of his family!

Nangong Su was genuinely pleased.

If Jo Hui was truly a direct descendant of the Sword God, it would bestow enormous legitimacy upon his lineage, rivaling the fame of the Sima clan.

“Hahaha! If that’s true, it would be a great blessing for the righteous martial world. You should make it known to the alliance and have your lineage verified as soon as possible.”

However, Jo Hui’s expression turned somewhat disinterested.

“I’m not inclined to do that.”

“Why not? If you go through the verification, you could officially prove you are a descendant of the Sword God. Your family could establish a powerful sect, and martial artists from all over would flock to you. This is an opportunity to become a major force in the righteous martial world!”

Jo Hui smiled mysteriously.

“I wonder if the benefits of establishing the Cao family lineage would outweigh those of the *Joga Daesanghoe*.”

“Well, that’s…”

What, is money everything?

Establishing a family lineage in the Jianghu is a noble act that spreads your family’s name and history across the world.

Yet Jo Hui seemed to care only about money. Nangong Su found this troubling.

“I too understand the importance of wealth when running a family. But is money really the only value in this world? Honor and history—”

“No. Money is everything.”

The truth was, money was the ultimate priority.

Because of money, his parents fought every day. It was because they didn’t have money that his mother couldn’t receive cancer treatment in time and passed away.

He was so useless that he couldn’t even afford a room, so he broke up with the woman he had promised a future to. He couldn’t even buy a drink, and as a result, lost all his friends.

Do you know what my nickname was?

When it came time to calculate, they said I only tied my shoes, calling me “Shoelace.”

Have you ever been afraid to open wedding invitations from close friends?

Do you know the misery of not even being able to buy a bottle of soju?

I’ve had to pick up cigarette butts off the street and smoke them, crying, wondering what the hell I was doing with my life.

Honestly, the common trait of my friends who got married in their twenties was one thing:

At least their families were middle-class.

Only those with parents who could lend them a deposit of two or three thousand to help with their children’s futures were getting married.

And us, with student loans piled up to the thousands—marriage? What a joke. The priority was getting a job first.

When will we get married?

Do you understand the miserable feeling of having to brush off the question from a girlfriend you love?

The DINKs? The single lifestyle?

That’s just a cover-up for poverty.

It was like this in modern times, but do you think there are no miserable lives in this harsh Jianghu?

Living as a member of one of the five most powerful families in the Jianghu, you, a golden spoon among golden spoons, could never understand the value of money.

You’ll never know how money can break a person, how it can turn them into a monster.

At least, that was how it was for me when I was preparing for public exams.

Jo Hui wore a dark expression, clearly recalling an unpleasant past.

He never wanted to feel that dirty sense of being stripped of his humanity due to lack of money ever again.

Seeing Jo Hui’s response, which seemed to hide some kind of story, Nangong Su found himself at a loss for words.

After a long period of silence, Nangong Su finally spoke again.

“If that is Lord Cao’s will, then there’s nothing to be done. I’ll first attend to the deceased.”

Jo Hui nodded indifferently, and Nangong Su took a step forward.

“I’ll return to the family for now, as per Lord Cao’s will. Once I’ve arranged the martial artists for recruitment, I’ll send word.”

“Understood.”

* * *

When Jo Hui entered the guest room, everyone in his group merely glanced at each other, saying nothing.

They were all well aware of the *Heavenly Sword Order’s* white rank and what it represented.

As martial artists, they knew that this was a demonstration of Jo Hui’s authority.

Jo Hui introduced each of the officers he had brought from He Fei, one by one, to the group.

From here on, they would be working together and clashing often, so there was no harm in building rapport early on.

“Ugh!”

“Ahh!”

The problem, however, was Jin Gahee.

Every time she was introduced to the officers, she shrieked in horror and ran away, much to Jo Hui’s annoyance.

“Can’t you at least tie up your hair?”

Her long, flowing hair was the first problem.

If she at least styled it more decently, it wouldn’t be so bad, but why did she have to let it hang down so messily, scaring people?

With her face already sickly pale and her eyes looking dark and eerie, Jo Hui found it hard to get used to, no matter how much he tried.

Occasionally, when strands of hair drifted aside, revealing her strange and eerie eyes popping out, it made his legs tremble.

“You… do you like tying up your hair?”

Jin Gahee lightly flushed with embarrassment.

Jo Hui, feeling his whole body bristle in discomfort, quickly shook his head.

“No, I mean, doesn’t it feel uncomfortable having your hair everywhere like that?”

“Not at all. I’ve had this hair since I was a child.”

“…”

At that moment, the chief and Han Seolhyeon entered the guest room.

Her face, revealed beneath a half-removed veil, resembled the delicate, round shape of a moon jar.

Everyone was left speechless, staring at her beauty as if struck dumb.

“Holy…!”

“Wow, damn!”

The astonished exclamations of Jang Il-ryong.

“Unbelievable!”

Yeom Sang-rok repeatedly rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

“Hmph, humph!”

Nangong Zhangho cleared his throat awkwardly, and Je Galun, embarrassed, covered his face with a phoenix-patterned golden mask.

Even among the renowned martial artists of the martial world, Han Seolhyeon’s beauty was heavenly.

Her beauty, so otherworldly that it didn’t feel human, even made Jin Gahee scowl, showing an expression of wariness.

Jin Gahee immediately tied up her hair.

“Is this better?”

Jo Hui nodded at her improved appearance.

“Good. Now, this is Han Seolhyeon, a lady from the North Sea.”

“…The North Sea?”

“Is she from the Binggong faction?”

As expected from the martial world’s elite, both Nangong Zhangho and Je Galun’s faces showed signs of agitation at the mention of the North Sea.

Jo Hui quickly intervened to smooth things over.

“Come on, it’s been centuries. Do you still hold grudges? And in this line of work, personal feelings should be set aside. Won’t you greet her?”

Only then did Nangong Zhangho and Je Galun offer their greetings.

“Hmm… Nangong Zhangho here.”

“Je Galun.”

“Haha! I’m Jang Il-ryong! Truly a pleasure to meet you!”

The Green Forest faction, despite being large, had little to no grudge with the North Sea. Jang Il-ryong himself was the type who disliked being overly calculating. He lived by his heart, following what it told him.

He exaggerated his charm by stretching his chest muscles dramatically, trying to show off.

Han Seolhyeon couldn’t even look at him properly, her face turning red.

In the North Sea, people didn’t walk around exposing their bodies like that, so this was her first time seeing a man’s grotesque(?) form.

“Alright, everyone, let’s sit down. There aren’t enough chairs, so please make some space. Let’s start the meeting.”

As the senior members of the Jo Family gathered and the noise subsided, Jo Hui spread out a map of Poyang Lake on the table.

“First, the most urgent task is to set up the various divisions of the Jo Family’s operations on this map of Poyang Lake. I’ve marked a few promising candidate locations with red dots. Let’s hear your opinions.”

After inspecting the map for a moment, the chief of staff tilted his head.

“The layout here is completely different from He Fei. What was considered when planning this route?”

Of course, it had to be different from He Fei.

He Fei’s routes were planned around the central location of the Great Stone Icehouse, which required the shortest transportation routes due to the fragile nature of ice. During the summer, the ice melted quickly, so every moment was precious.

But now that they had secured a walking icehouse, there was no need to be constrained by those icy paths.

As they were free from the ice route, it was possible to set up guesthouses anywhere with good business prospects.

“Poyang Lake doesn’t require a Great Stone Icehouse. Instead, each guesthouse will have its own small icehouse. The lady here will visit each one and make ice as needed.”

“Ah!”

“Wow!”

Everyone was impressed by Jo Hui’s explanation.

Building and maintaining a Great Stone Icehouse came with astronomical costs, and transporting ice also required a considerable amount of manpower.

Saving all those resources meant more opportunities for the business.

Considering the massive costs already spent on purchasing land around Poyang Lake, this was indeed a welcome solution.

The chief of staff’s face brightened.

“Saving such an enormous cost will be a great help! I was worried we would run out of funds on our journey, but this is truly good news!”

He looked at Han Seolhyeon with newfound admiration.

To think that one person’s skill could have such an impact on the business—it was truly remarkable. It made him feel a new sense of awe for martial prowess.

Looking back at the map of Poyang Lake, after hearing Jo Hui’s explanation, the chief’s vision cleared up.

Now that they were free from the ice path, the layout was focused entirely on optimal locations.

The characteristics of each market and the scale of the crowds, the most efficient routes to each harbor, and the proper spacing between establishments were all meticulously planned.

Jo Hui’s careful consideration was evident in the arrangement.

However, the chief of staff didn’t miss the chance to showcase his experience.

“This spot doesn’t seem ideal.”

The chief of staff pointed to the location for the Jo Family’s transport station.

“The station is too close to the relay station. If you insist on this route, you must expect friction with the authorities.”

The main source of extra income for high-ranking officials managing the relay stations was from handling stamps and cargo for private businesses.

Using a relay station for personal business was outright illegal, but the reality of relay stations was often overlooked. Many smaller relay stations were practically merged with major postal offices, existing in a symbiotic relationship.

If one could be appointed to a small relay station, officials were willing to accept bribes worth hundreds of gold.

“Do you really want to start off with conflict with the authorities?”

“Hmm…”

Jo Hui looked deeply regretful.

It wasn’t an easy decision to abandon that route.

A prime location like the one connecting the harbor and the official road, spanning both the north and south, was hard to come by.

At that moment, the intermittent genius (?) and So Je Gal spoke up at the same time.

“This seems like a simple problem.”

“Why are you making such a fuss about this?”

Jo Hui was more curious about Jang Il-ryong’s opinion.

“Do you have a solution?”

Jang Il-ryong gruffly responded.

“Isn’t the area marked in red land we’ve purchased? The harbor is ours too.”

“So?”

“A relay station has to be built near both the official road and the harbor. If we block the harbor for a month or two under the pretext of some construction, the relay station will have no choice but to move here.”

“Hmm?”

Jang Il-ryong was pointing much farther north.

That was also a point where the official road and the harbor met, though it was quite far from the commercial area.

However, the operation of a relay station wasn’t overly affected by the commercial district.

“What is Manager Je Gal’s opinion?”

Even though Jo Hui asked, Je Galun only stared at Jang Il-ryong without answering.

“…Who are you?”

The great So Je Gal, feeling a rivalry with the muscular man from the Daesan faction, had no words to say.

For a moment, Jo Hui thought, *Should I start calling him Je Gal Il-ryong?*

If Jang Il-ryong had studied under a prestigious family, how much of a talent would he have become?

Jo Hui hadn’t yet seen the full extent of Nangong Zhangho or Je Galun’s true abilities, but he was certain that Jang Il-ryong could surpass them.

Behind that seemingly dull muscle, an extraordinary strategist was hidden.

His perceptiveness, ability to pinpoint the core issue, drive to overcome obstacles, and animal-like instincts—he was truly one of the greatest talents of the martial world.

Je Galun was the most astonished of all.

To come up with such a brilliant solution just by glancing at the vast map of Poyang Lake was no easy feat.

Even someone like Je Galun, who had studied strategy and warfare for over ten years, found it difficult.

Before Je Galun could say anything, Jo Hui’s voice rang out again.

“Alright. Since we were planning to reorganize the harbors first anyway, let’s proceed with Manager Jang’s strategy. We’ll put Jo Ga Transport on hold for now. Next.”

Another document appeared from Jo Hui’s possession.

It was a diagram, and as soon as Jo Hui spread it out on the table, the chief of staff immediately reacted.

“Is this a blueprint for ironworking?”

Jo Hui praised his sharpness.

“Indeed, as expected of the chief of staff.”

Having managed the ironworks for so long, the chief of staff immediately recognized the iron beams.

However, the shape of the H-beam was unfamiliar to him, so he couldn’t immediately tell what its purpose was.

“It’s iron skeletons to replace wooden beams. Just like during the development of the transport vehicles, I want to use all the resources of the Gisan School to develop the strongest iron beams that can withstand the heaviest loads. Please mobilize the full capabilities of the ironworks.”

“Iron beams?”

The chief of staff couldn’t guess what the boss was planning with such an unusual idea.

Iron was fundamentally different from wood in terms of flexibility and strength.

With such length, thickness, and size, the tension would be far greater than that of a typical wooden beam.

“How much weight are we expecting them to bear?”

The answer came from Je Galun.

“At least 10,000 jin (about 6 tons).”

Ten thousand jin—6 tons.

What kind of structure required a pillar that could bear that much weight?

The chief of staff cautiously spoke, glancing at Jo Hui.

“If I may, what exactly are you planning to build…?”

Jo Hui’s face hardened, and he immediately ordered the windows of the guest hall to be closed. He then used his energy to block any sound waves within the room.

“Until the iron beams are made, this is a top-secret matter. I am planning to build a multi-story palace, over ten stories high.”

“Ten stories?”

“Over ten stories?!”

“That’s impossible!”

A hundred years ago, Gisan No Gong (Master of Engineering) Mo Yong Yeohak, hailed as the greatest architect in the Central Plains, completed the renowned Heavenly Illusory Tower in Hangzhou, a six-story building. It took him seven years to complete, and it was considered the tallest structure in the martial world. Its fame came not only from its height but also from the ingenious mechanisms Mo Yong Yeohak had designed.

The chief of staff shook his head in disbelief.

“If it’s made with iron beams, it might be possible to reach ten stories, but where will we get the astronomical funds for that? Besides, we don’t have someone like Mo Yong Yeohak or the eccentric geniuses of the past.”

Je Galun snapped in response.

“Greatest in the Central Plains?”

The Mo Yong family had once been a powerful force, rivaling the Je Gal family, until they fell into decline after the Demonic Cult’s rebellion. Since then, the Mo Yong family had never surpassed the Je Gal family’s dominance.

However, Gisan No Gong was an exception.

His engineering, military strategy, and especially his skill in creating blueprints had made him the greatest in the Central Plains.

If he had left records of his wandering genius, perhaps Mo Yong Zhang would have remained the greatest in engineering.

But such remarks could easily touch the pride of the Je Gal family.

“You are being disrespectful in front of the true Je Gal genius,” Je Galun said with a cold gaze.

“…I’m sorry.”

The chief of staff, visibly flustered, was met with Jo Hui’s hearty laughter.

“Haha! To think you would talk about the greatest engineering in the Central Plains while sitting in front of the true Je Gal family’s So Je Gal! Chief, you’ve made a mistake! You’ll have to drink a cup of punishment!”

Upon hearing the title “So Je Gal,” the chief of staff was struck with terror.

Even though he was a stranger to the martial world, he had heard of the legendary So Je Gal, a prized figure of the Je Gal family.

“So… I’m sorry. My knowledge of the martial world is limited, and I didn’t realize you were So Je Gal.”

Only then did Je Galun open his fan and smile faintly.

Jo Hui laughed along.

“Don’t worry about the blueprints. I’ll assist Manager Je Gal. You’ll see the best design ever created.”

“Hmm. Understood.”

Despite agreeing, the chief of staff still felt uneasy.

In his time with his master, he had learned that Jo Hui never did anything ordinary. If such craftsmen were being gathered, it was sure to be a massive project.

With a sense of foreboding, the chief of staff cautiously spoke up.

“Is this… not just one building?”

Jo Hui replied curtly.

“For now, the plan is for over twenty buildings.”

“Pardon? W-what!?”

Once again, his prediction was spot on.

Twenty buildings over ten stories high!

Even building just one ten-story structure would be an enormous undertaking. Moreover, the iron beams in that blueprint alone would cost a fortune.

How many of those iron beams would be needed for a ten-story building?

With a rough calculation, it would be more than a hundred.

Just the cost of the iron beams alone was unimaginable.

And now, over twenty buildings?

Setting aside the funds for now, how many workers would be needed in the forge to produce that much material?

Once Jo Hui set his mind to something, he would push through it relentlessly, meaning he would surely pressure everyone to complete the project.

The chief of staff already felt exhaustion setting in, his head pounding.

“Do you have the funds ready?”

Jo Hui had already spent all available assets from the Jo family, including those from the Poyang Lake land purchase.

Even though income was being steadily provided from Hefei, such a large-scale project would still fall far short of the necessary funds.

“Hm. I have something in mind.”

Of course, Jo Hui would find a way to procure the necessary funds.

The chief of staff was already too afraid to ask where the money would come from.

But then…

“Do you think Heo Cheon-ryeon will actually provide that much money?”

Je Galun asked, a strange expression on his face.

Jo Hui, without a hint of doubt, confidently replied.

“What if they refuse? They won’t be able to handle the consequences. If that happens, I’ll go to the lord of the castle.”

“The lord of the castle? Why him?”

“The lord of Gangseo is the second son of the imperial family’s distant relative, Hwang Ui-hyeon. Anyway, both Heo Cheon-ryeon and the lord of Gangseo are accomplices who stole gunpowder and cannons from the imperial arsenal. They’re both screwed either way.”

“…”

“Well, now that it’s come to this, I’ll have to take action against both of them.”

Hwang Ui-hyeon, the imperial family’s distant relative, was an incredibly powerful figure, holding absolute authority within the imperial court.

To defy such a powerful figure—was it courage or sheer recklessness on Jo Hui’s part?

“After all, the emperor is the top authority in the Central Plains. If I threaten them by saying I’ll inform the emperor’s inner circle, what can they do about it?”

“Th-the head of the empire! But still… your Majesty, the emperor… that’s… such language…”

“Normally, even the emperor would be criticized in such a situation. Why has the imperial family allowed such a distant relative to run rampant? If their household management is this sloppy…”

Nongong Jangho, the straw-hat warrior, covered Jo Hui’s mouth.

“Be careful who’s listening, Jo Bonggong.”

The idea that even the president can be criticized in a position of no power is only a modern concept. Jo Hui still didn’t fully understand the sheer magnitude of imperial power.

The foundations of power in the empire and modern South Korea were fundamentally different.

The attention of the imperial family extended across the world. No matter how cautious one was, it was impossible to guarantee that none of the imperial family’s people were involved in any situation. The Jo family, with its dominance over the upper echelons of Anhui, was enough to catch the eye of the imperial family.

Jo Hui pushed away Nongong Jangho’s hand and smiled meaningfully.

“Ah, I consider all the staff of the Jo family’s large trading company like family. Surely there wouldn’t be any traitors among them. They all know the consequences they would face.”

The executives of the Jo family’s large trading company trembled visibly.

These were the top martial artists, the most powerful of the Green Forest, who had witnessed firsthand what Jo Hui had done to their comrades. They all knew how well their boss understood the point at which a person would feel shame, and how cruelly he could exploit it.

“Now then, where is Master Gisan? Come over here and take the blueprint.”

Sitting in the corner of the guest room, Gisan Gakju, the head of Gisan’s School, hurried over, barefoot, and stood respectfully.

“Yes, Chairman!”

Jo Hui handed over the blueprint, his eyes shining.

“The length, width, and weight can change, but the shape must absolutely remain the same. The tensile strength must withstand 10,000 jin. You heard that earlier, right?”

“Yes! I understand perfectly.”

Jo Hui scanned the room, then pointed toward a map of Poyang Lake.

“Here, I’ve marked all the sites for the different projects on this map. Each of you should go on-site inspections. For the necessary resources, please submit the plans to Chief of Staff and report to him. This concludes today’s meeting!”

“Dae Sangpyeong Cheonha!”

“Dae Sangpyeong Cheonha!”

Jo Hui smiled contentedly, signaling the end of the meeting.

—

**A Modern Man in the Martial World 4**

**BUKDU NEO ORIENTAL FANTASY STORY**

*Written by Cheong Ruyeon, Published by Kwak Dong-hyun, Published by Good World Co., Ltd.*

*Email: [email protected]*

*Copyright for this book belongs to Good World Co., Ltd. and the author. It is forbidden to reproduce, adapt, or reprint this book, in whole or in part, in any form or medium.*

ⓒCheong Ruyeon / Good World Co., Ltd.

ISBN: 979-11-391-0708-1

Printed in Seoul, Korea

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