Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1204. What's the Difference? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Cold sweat ran down the man's entire body. Large drops of sweat constantly swept and passed his sides and lower back.
However, the man didn’t feel anything. Perhaps even if a blade were to graze his body now, he wouldn’t be able to focus on the sensation or the pain.
The reason was extremely simple.
Pain was nothing more than a fleeting sensation. Would someone whose head is bitten by a tiger's mouth feel the pain of a mere scratch on their hand?
Moreover, the person the man was facing now couldn’t even be compared to a mere tiger.
"Hmm."
As a low hum leaked out, the man's body instinctively flinched and shrank.
"It seems you are not pleased with the tea."
"Yes? Ah... H- How could that be? A- Absolutely not, Ryeonju-nim."
"Is anyone there?"
As soon as the person in front of the man questioned, the waiting servant outside immediately entered.
"Brew me new tea. Warm it properly.”
"At once."
The servants collected the teacup placed in front of the man and left the room with polite movements. Watching them, the man unconsciously bit the inside of his lip.
He feared that his act of not drinking the tea had displeased the person in front of him.
“Hmm."
At that moment, the eyes looking at the man drew a strange crescent shape. No matter how you looked at it, it was a smile that did not hold any malice.
However, there was no way anyone who faced that smile could feel at ease.
“There’s no need to be so tense, Danju-nim.”
"Fo- Forgive me, I just...."
"No, no. I'm not blaming you. I understand completely."
The voice was truly soft and filled with warmth.
"But... Danju-nim, you needn’t fear this person so much.”
"Yes, yes! Of course...”
"If I had any intention of harming you, Danju-nim, there would have been no need to resort to such crude methods, right?"
The meaning behind those words was clearly goodwill. And the way it was expressed was not inappropriate either. If there was any problem, it was the person who said those words, Paegun Jang Ilso himself. Even the most meaningless words seemed to turn into eerie words when they came out of his mouth.
"....Indeed."
The man addressed as danju nodded absentmindedly. Watching him, Jang Ilso smiled faintly once more.
“I know how people in the world think of me, but I’m not as ruthless as they believe. I'm more of a gentle person, especially toward those I deem valuable."
Unable to figure out how to respond, the man hesitated and eventually chose to remain silent. Jang Ilso’s eyes curved even more.
"Do you find that hard to believe?"
"T- That can't be true! Ryeonju-nim! I, I believe in you!"
"Hahahaha!"
Jang Ilso, who laughed as if it were amusing, gave a seductive smile and slightly propped his chin, staring intently at the man.
"The reason I arranged this meeting is because I will require Danju-nim's help in the future."
"...How can someone like me, a mere merchant, be of any help to a noble person like Ryeonju-nim?"
The man who glanced at Jang Ilso’s complexion. Jang Ilso just stared at him without saying anything. The man, realizing that he had chosen the wrong answer, immediately changed his words.
“H- However, if my meager strength can be of any help to you, Ryeonju-nim, I would gladly sacrifice everything, even if it breaks my body and shatters my bones! I, I will offer my life in loyalty!"
It was an oath of loyalty as extreme as one could hope for. Yet, Jang Ilso’s expression remained unchanged.
After silently staring at the man for a while, Jang Ilso opened his mouth in a slow tone.
“Loyalty, you say...”
How should one describe the emotion contained in that voice?
"A merchant's words are exceedingly smooth and sweet, but......"
Jang Ilso’s gaze remained gentle, yet it was as if his eyes slithered over the man’s entire body like a living viper.
“…they are just as dangerous and empty.”
For a moment, the man felt as if his blood had turned cold. Each word that came softly from Jang Ilso’s lips echoed in his mind like a shock. Knowing that hundreds or thousands of heads could fall in an instant depending on the mood of this capricious demon, the man could only lower himself in submission.
“I, I deserve punishment for my foolish words…”
"What merchants ultimately pursue is profit."
"…."
"Isn't that so?"
Beads of sweat oozed from the man's forehead.
Jang Ilso continued in a slow tone again..
“I am aware that, due to the situation along the Yangtze River, the merchants of Gangnam have suffered greatly. As the leader of Evil Tyrant Alliance, I apologize."
The moment the word apology left Jang Il-so's mouth, the man's face was drained of color.
“W- Why would that be something for Ryeonju-nim to apologize for? Who wouldn't know that it was a bold decision to stabilize the world?"
"A bold decision... Kukukukukuk."
At the word ‘bold decision’, Jang Ilso chuckled as if he couldn’t restrain himself.
“I appreciate you thinking of it that way. In any case, I don't want to tell you to give up profit and sacrifice for Evil Tyrant Alliance. Rather, I’m proposing a way for us to help each other.”
"....Help each other?"
"It is simple."
Jang Ilso brought the teacup in his hand to his lips. Then he savored a sip of tea very slowly. It was a gesture that showed not the slightest care whether the person across from him was burning inside or not.
"Danju-nim."
"Yes, yes! Ryeonju-nim."
“If a merchant seeks profit, what Evil Tyrant Alliance seeks is stability.”
"...Stability, is it?"
"Anything must have a solid foundation. To that end, the most important thing is stability, wouldn’t you agree?”
It was, of course, a sound statement.
Yet the man couldn’t help but ask because the one making the statement was Jang Ilso. Considering the path he had walked so far, words like "unconventional" or "radical" suited him, while the word stability didn't suit him at all.
“That’s true, but...”
"In fact, the lives of the common people in Gangnam cannot be said to be very stable right now."
When Jang Ilso spoke with a voice mixed with a slight sigh, the man was startled and looked at him again.
‘Is this man really Paegun Jang Ilso?’
Of course, the man also knew it was him. Who else in the world would wear such extravagant clothing? Even if there were an identical person of him, who else, besides Jang Ilso himself, could command the terrifying leaders of Evil Sects with nothing more than a spoon here within Evil Tyrant Alliance?
As the man was unable to hide his surprise, Jang Ilso gave a peculiar smile.
"Why? Is it strange to hear such words from my mouth?"
"N- No such thing...."
"Haha. There's nothing strange about it. Danju-nim, I am certainly the leader of Evil Sects and a murderer who killed countless."
"....."
"However... even so, there's no need to unnecessarily oppress the common people, is there? All I want from Gangnam is stability and order."
The man opened his mouth several times and then closed it again. He found it difficult to judge what to say without offending Jang Ilso, whose thoughts were hard to grasp.
“That’s why I’m making a request. Merchants are beings that pursue profit. That's why they sometimes forget. In the end, profit exists only because there are people who will buy the goods.”
Just as the man thought he had no idea of the intention, Jang Ilso casually continued.
"I’m aware that ever since Evil Tyrant Alliance took control of Gangnam, the Gangnam merchants have been secretly hiding and stockpiling grains and goods."
"Rye- Ryeonju-nim......"
"Aahh."
Jang Ilso waved his hand, adorned with many ornaments, as if to stop the man from interrupting.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not here to blame you for that. Sometimes, when times are uncertain, lying low is also a valid strategy.”
"....Thank you for un- understanding."
For a moment, it felt like his soul had left and barely returned. The man was on the verge of begging to be executed swiftly rather than enduring this torment.
At that moment, Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed slyly.
"But there must be a limit to chasing profit. With people starving, refusing to release the grain crosses that line, don’t you think?"
"...."
“I’ve heard Danju-nim have significant influence in Gangnam merchant world. I heard that if one mentions Shim Yi-gyeong (심이경(沈二更)) of Nanjing Merchant Guild (남경상단(南京商團)), everyone in Gangnam would count Danju-nim among the top merchants."
“…You flatter me.”
"So go and tell them. Release all the grains they have gathered in the warehouses. And bring the other goods they have collected to Evil Tyrant Alliance. They will be used for the reconstruction of Hangzhou."
The man, Shim Yi-gyeong, began to tremble. The words he least wanted to hear had finally come out of Jang Ilso’s mouth. His vision grew hazy. In the midst of wanting to shout might as well just behead him, completely unexpected words reached his ears.
"And send us the bill. You’ll be paid within a month."
"...Pardon?"
Shim Yi-gyeong was so dumbfounded that he unintentionally asked back in a dumbfounded voice.
“I said I will compensate you. What’s the matter? Did you think I would take everything by force?”
"H- How...... How could that be, Ryeonju-nim!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
As if finding that reaction amusing, Jang Ilso laughed heartily, shaking his body.
"Good, good. However... don't demand too high a price. I like people who are greedy, but I despise those who are excessively greedy. Do you understand what I mean?"
"O- Of course, it goes without saying. How could I be excessively greedy in a matter for the good of all people!"
"Hmm."
A nasal hum flowed out from Jang Ilso. Shim Yi-gyeong carefully observed his expression.
"Th- Then, if I just deliver the message…"
"And."
"Yes, yes! Ryeonju-nim!"
"I will reopen the Yangtze River for you, so resume trade with Gangbuk."
At those words, Shim Yi-gyeong’s eyes widened
"There is one condition."
“…What would that be?”
"Ensure that the grain and goods from your warehouses reach not just the major cities but also the poor villages."
"...."
“Just as blood flows through the veins, let the flow of goods circulate throughout Gangnam again. The same goes for goods traded with Gangbuk."
"I- If that can be done, we can only welcome it. After all, merchants live and breathe through the flow of goods, don’t they?"
Shim Yi-gyeong continued, sweating profusely.
"However... right now in Gangnam, logistics is impossible. If even a little bit of valuable goods goes out on the road..."
"It’ll be plundered?"
"That's...."
"Bear with it."
"Pardon?"
Shim Yi-gyeong asked in surprise, but just Jang Ilso smiled softly.
"Once or twice will be enough. After that, no one will think of plundering. After seeing the first person who dared to touch the goods die, flesh torn off piece by piece, over the course of a month."
For a moment, an eerie chill ran down Shim Yi-gyeong’s back.
"Therefore, Danju-nim, quickly move the merchant guild to release grain and goods throughout the land, and send what has been accumulated to Gangbuk to make a profit. In return, make sure the price of that profit reaches all of Gangnam. That is the condition that Evil Tyrant Alliance sets for the merchant guild. In exchange, the merchants will be able to trade freely within Gangnam without restrictions."
"T- Thank you, Ryeonju-nim!"
"Think nothing of it."
Jang Ilso smiled quietly. Seeing that, a small suspicion suddenly arose in Shim Yi-gyeong's mind.
"...However..."
"Hmm?"
Perhaps this was Shim Yi-gyeong's courage. No, to be honest, it was more because of a sense of unease rather than courage.
Paegun Jang Ilso was one of the most denounced figures in Evil Sects. He has complete control over Evil Tyrant Alliance and yet the first thing he does was to spend his own money to save the starving people of Gangnam. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
That's why Shim Yi-gyeong eventually asked, slightly pushing aside the fear that welled up.
"Why would you carry out such benevolent policies...?"
"Does it seem strange?"
"...."
"Or is there a reason why it shouldn't be done?"
"N- No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what do you think?"
Jang Ilso said with a broad smile.
"This Jang Ilso isn't as bad a person as you think, is that it?"
"B- Bad person? Preposterous! I, I never dared to harbor such thoughts in my head for even a moment."
Jang Ilso let out a pleasant laugh and lowered her gaze slowly, smiling.
"It's a good thing. A good thing. While the world misunderstands me, I'm truly grateful that at least Danju-nim recognizes me."
"...."
"Danju-nim pursues profit, and I pursue stability, I think we can have a beneficial relationship. I look forward to working with you in the future."
"Yes, Ryeonju-nim! I will do my utmost."
A slightly excited expression appeared on Shim Yi-gyeong's face, which had been pale all along.
Although it feels like his life has been shortened by ten years, in any case, he has been able to sell the goods he had accumulated and regain the blocked trade routes.
There may not be a large profit right away, but isn't it a gain in itself to be able to resume the flow of goods?
And seeing that Jang Ilso was more reasonable than he expected, it might not take long for him to take advantage of this opportunity and gain a huge profit...
"Ah. Right. Just one more thing."
"Yes?"
Shim Yi-gyeong lifted his head with a start. And at that moment, he saw it.
The most chilling gleam streaming from Jang Ilso's beautifully curved eyes.
“I’m saying this just in case… be sure to convey this message clearly to the merchant guilds. That this Jang Ilso is a person who enjoys setting examples."
"...."
"The difference between a human and a pig is that a human knows gratitude, wouldn’t you agree? If they are ones who know gratitude, they will receive goodwill with goodwill. If someone appears who cannot receive my goodwill simply as goodwill."
Jang Ilso lightly licked his red lips.
"Danju-nim, you will come to realize once again, in a slightly different way, that the person the world speaks of and who I truly am may not be quite the same."
The strength left Shim Yi-gyeong's body.
"Please, enjoy the tea before you leave. Consider it a gesture of my goodwill. Hahahahahah!"
As Jang Ilso stood up, laughing heartily, a servant came forward and served tea, placing it in front of Shim Yi-gyeong.
That day, Shim Yi-gyeong couldn’t finish that one cup of tea, even after sitting for more than two hours.
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