ALL NOVEL Ch 12
“Above, there is Heaven; below, there is Suzhou and Hangzhou.”
This phrase means that while heaven exists above, Suzhou and Hangzhou are the heavens on earth. However, no one in the martial world uses this phrase anymore. The new paradise flowing with milk and honey has become Hefei in Anhui Province, Suzhou.
The bustling streets, filled with the remarkable and innovative, young energy, were unmatched by any other city. Today, another young person moved to Hefei: Jin Juksan, the young master of the Jin Family Manor. He had been running a sizable trading group but sold all his properties to settle anew in Hefei.
“Whoa! I told you to handle it carefully!”
Someone was roughly driving his expensive Anhui Ironworks Celestial Cloud Carriage, which he had bought with great resolve. Jin Juksan quickly snatched the reins from his attendant’s hands, blowing on the gilded reins adorned with a leaping horse motif, then glared at the coachman.
“You fool! Do you know how much this costs? Can’t you handle it more gently?” His overly cautious handling to avoid even the smallest stone seemed almost comical.
The carriages produced by Anhui Ironworks, called cloud carriages due to their smoothness, were known for their high performance. Their limited production made them incredibly expensive and a symbol of wealth that everyone dreamed of owning. Particularly, the Celestial Cloud Carriage was a luxury far superior to the Earth Cloud Carriage and Human Cloud Carriage.
Jin Juksan had even spent a hundred silver liang to adorn it with the latest trend—a blue dragon emblem and refined sandalwood fragrance. It was no wonder he treated it with such reverence.
When he finally climbed into the coachman’s seat with exaggerated care, the coachman panicked and approached him. “Young master, I’ll drive it!”
“Quiet!” With a click-click, Jin Juksan began to slowly steer the cloud carriage, and soon, a wide smile spread across his face as he headed towards the grand annex at the heart of the lively Hefei.
This was a place that made all the youths’ hearts pound, where they could enjoy refined music and connect with potential partners under splendid lights. It was the only place to taste the renowned Hefei specialty, Hanbyungju (Cold Ice Wine).
It was his first visit to the Hefei Pavilion, and he had bought the Celestial Cloud Carriage with tearful sacrifice, all for this very destination. Hefei Pavilion was where all the illustrious young elites of Anhui flocked. Even the carriages one arrived in affected the treatment received, so one couldn’t afford to appear ordinary here.
As he looked around, pleased, Jin Juksan suddenly stopped the carriage. “What is that?”
It was Cho Family’s Sacred Heart Hall. Just looking at the grand inscription on its huge plaque made him feel a strange hunger.
How odd. To feel hungry just by looking at writing? It had to be the work of a renowned calligrapher who had reached the pinnacle of the art.
The Cho Family Sacred Heart Hall was, along with the Hefei Pavilion, one of Hefei’s two main attractions. Anyone visiting Hefei had to try their famous six-layered bread and black clear water. The six-layered bread was a delicacy with fragrant meat sandwiched between two slices of bread, seasoned with various vegetables and spices. The black clear water was a sweet and refreshing dark drink, true to its name.
Jin Juksan got out of the cloud carriage and leisurely approached the hall. A staff member at the Cho Family Sacred Heart Hall noticed him and greeted him with the utmost courtesy.
“Hello! Welcome to Cho Family’s Sacred Heart Hall, always serving with sincerity. May I take your order?”
Jin Juksan was startled and stepped back. He was looking for the main entrance of the hall, but suddenly, a head popped out of a window and greeted him. This moment of surprise was something all outsiders experienced at least once.
Not wanting to appear provincial, he spoke as if nothing was amiss. “I’ll have the six-layered bread and black clear water.”
“Understood, sir. Please wait a moment.”
Jin Juksan was slightly amazed. She had a level of courtesy not even seen in the most charming salespeople, and her bright smile somehow lifted his mood.
“I’m glad I came to Hefei,” he thought with a smile. But before even a quarter of an hour had passed, the server returned with his order. “Here is your food, sir. The total is 99 iron coins.”
She smiled brightly as she handed him the meal.
Jin Juksan’s face showed his amazement once again—first, at the swift preparation, and second, at the high price of nearly a whole liang of silver.
“Here’s one liang of silver.”
Though 99 iron coins were just shy of one liang, the one liang silver made him feel as though he had received a good deal. The server gave him one iron coin in change, her fresh smile still present.
“Thank you, sir. Enjoy your meal.” With that, Jin Juksan climbed back into the cloud carriage, unwrapped the paper covering the six-layered bread, and took a big bite.
“……Hah!”
The harmony of flavors, the fantasy of taste, ravaged his mouth.
How could this taste be real?
Between the sharp spiciness, there was a sweet fragrance and savory flavor that overwhelmed his senses without mercy.
It was truly a mad combination of sweet and salty!
Without a doubt, this was the first time in his life that he had been so astonished simply by “eating.”
A face full of ecstasy, Jin Zheshan’s expression soon turned towards the flask.
He took a deep sip from the slender bamboo straw of the black-clear water.
“Ahh…!”
The burning sensation going down his throat, that mysterious refreshing coolness pierced from his head to his toes.
And soon after, an uncontrollable pleasure erupted!
“Ahhhh!”
Unable to believe the refreshing taste, Jin Zheshan checked the flask multiple times.
How could he have lived this long without knowing such a taste?
He began to doubt whether this was really food made by humans.
Jin Zheshan, in a daze, stared at the sign of the Cao family restaurant.
“This is really cheap!”
He was truly grateful for the generosity of being able to taste such rare food for only a single silver coin, or rather, ninety-nine copper coins.
He made up his mind to visit the Cao family’s restaurant for all his meals from now on.
Clink, clink.
With one hand on the reins and the other continually sipping the black-clear water, Jin Zheshan walked on.
As dusk settled, when he turned the last corner, dazzling lights poured out brightly.
“Wow!”
A childlike exclamation naturally escaped his lips.
The Heping Pavilion.
Why did those three simple characters make his emotions boil with such a desire to meet a woman?
Indeed, even the common signs of Hefei could stir one’s emotions.
“This is amazing!”
The lights shone in brilliant colors, making it clear that it was the famous Persian glass, a luxury item used by nobles in the Persian Kingdom. How much would it cost to transport it this far without breaking?
It was said that the glass was more expensive than gold by weight. Yet, here it was, stuck all over the building!
Just looking at it was enough to make his eyes spin.
Such marvelous artifacts!
A crowd of people were lined up, waiting for their turn to enter, and it was no surprise.
As Jin Zheshan got out of the carriage, thinking that it was indeed a good decision to come to Hefei, a stunning sight caught his eye.
With a clattering sound, a special carriage drew his attention.
Clank, clank.
Jin Zheshan was astonished as he watched the entire roof of the carriage flip backward.
“…A… Gaetian Yunche?”
That was a Gaetian Yunche, a limited-edition luxury carriage produced only three or four times a year by Anhui Chefang.
It was a high-end, premium carriage equipped with a mechanism that allowed the entire roof to flip backward at the turn of a handle—a masterpiece combining the ingenuity of Zhuge Sejia’s bronzework!
Seeing it in person, Jin Zheshan was dumbfounded.
The Anhui Chefang brand’s distinctive symbol was displayed on the front of the carriage—an image of a horse aggressively kicking towards the sky, as if alive.
Suddenly, Jin Zheshan felt embarrassed about his own Heaven Carriage.
Then, a man in a glamorous outfit disembarked from the Gaetian Yunche, and a young boy rushed over to greet him.
“Greetings, Lord Ximen! I, Long, will serve you comfortably today!”
The man in the elegant outfit smiled and handed over some silver to the boy.
“How is it today?”
The boy gave a cryptic smile.
“Don’t worry, the water is fine!”
Jin Zheshan couldn’t help but notice the boy’s chest.
“Li Shaolong?”
The three characters on the boy’s chest. For some reason, the name made him think the boy might be good at fighting.
Before Jin Zheshan could react, a larger boy, Hong Jinbao, appeared.
“I will serve you well, brother! I’m Hong Jinbao! Do you have any specific woman you’re looking for, brother?”
“Yinren Sheng (matchmaker)?”
Hong Jinbao whispered.
“It seems like it’s your first time here, brother? We Yinren Shengs are the boys who help match men with beautiful women. Just trust me and follow me.”
Hong Jinbao grabbed the reins of Jin Zheshan’s Heaven Carriage and moved towards the parking area.
“This is our brother’s Heaven Carriage. Be careful with it.”
“Yes, brother!”
Jin Zheshan made a confused expression. Was it the custom to call everyone brother here?
At that moment, a commotion was heard.
“Ah! Why is Xianping allowed in and not me?”
Strange light flickered in Jin Zheshan’s eyes.
“Is that the infamous ‘No Entry’ rule of Heping Pavilion?”
The strict gender entry restrictions and water management at Heping Pavilion were famous.
The shocking incident where even the head of the Hebei Peng family, Peng Jiaozhu, was banned had spread across the martial world.
“No entry, brother. Please come back next time,” one of the guards said.
“Dammit! This is ridiculous! Hey, you! How old are you?”
Despite his overtly friendly gestures, the large man’s face started to twist angrily.
“…This is unacceptable, brother.”
The large man cracked his neck, adjusting his fists.
“If you’re drunk, just leave before you get hurt.”
“What, what did you say!”
The man puffed his chest, trying to look imposing, but with such pressure, anyone would become a coward.
However, this was not the end.
Another massive figure appeared from the entrance.
A mountain-like man spoke.
“What’s going on here, Brother Zheng?”
“No big deal. Don’t worry about it, Zhang Guan.”
Jin Zheshan’s eyes widened as he looked at the towering man in disbelief.
It was him—the legendary Qing Nao (Clear Brain), Heping Pavilion’s strongest doorman!
“Yesterday, I got promoted to manager. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll tell you to go home nicely.”
Looking at his enormous back, Jin Zheshan felt as though he was being crushed.
“Alright.”
Zhang Guan grinned, flexing his muscles.
“That’s right.”
He was Zhang Yilong.
At that moment, Zhang Yilong shouted.
“Everyone! It’s past You Shi (the hour of the rooster)! No more free guests!”
Jin Zheshan, astonished, looked at Hong Jinbao.
“Free guests? If you come before You Shi, it’s free?”
Hong Jinbao’s eyes widened in surprise.
You didn’t know this basic rule?
Clearly, Jin Zheshan was an outsider who was ripe for being taken advantage of.
“Ah! It doesn’t apply to male guests, brother!”
“…Only to women?”
“Yes, that’s right! If women come before Zhen Shi (the hour of the pig), they get free appetizers and three bottles of fine wine, brother!”
Jin Zheshan smacked his lips.
Then Zhang Yilong gave him a suspicious look.
With furrowed brows, he scanned Jin Zheshan from top to bottom and then called Hong Jinbao.
“Jinbao.”
“Yes! Brother!”
With a light, almost graceful movement, Hong Geumboy approached.
“Isn’t this a bit awkward?”
Hong Geumboy squinted, whispering into Jang Il-ryong’s ear.
“I brought the Cheonsang Uncha, hyung.”
Jang Il-ryong’s face softened at that moment.
Even if the face was awkward, it was customary to let in someone who could be considered a ‘mark.’
“Let the guest in!”
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Boom! Bang! Boom!
Goldjeoksan had never heard such a loud noise in his life.
The intense, almost overwhelming sound of music echoed all around him, like it was pressing down on his chest.
Unable to stand it any longer, Goldjeoksan cupped his hands over his ears. Hong Geumboy’s eyes turned into crescents.
“Hehe…”
In truth, Hong Geumboy wasn’t very successful compared to other “Inyeonsaeng” (matchmakers).
The better one’s matchmaking skills, the higher their reputation would rise, but Hong Geumboy wasn’t popular with women due to his round body and less-than-handsome face.
His popularity was at an all-time low this month, and he was worried about being reprimanded by Manager Jang at the next meeting. But this unexpected mark (Goldjeoksan) had just appeared.
Hong Geumboy approached Goldjeoksan, opened his hand, and whispered in his ear.
“Should I take you to the Yeongi Bang (a private room for the wealthy)? If you want to stir up the women, we need to book a Yeongi Bang, hyung.”
Goldjeoksan hesitated for a moment, clearly deep in thought.
Although the massive size of the Hapbin Gwan was overwhelming, there were only eight rooms where one could talk quietly, away from the loud music. These rooms were so expensive that even well-off individuals could barely afford them.
Since he had spent about a third of his fortune to procure the Cheonsang Uncha, Goldjeoksan was reluctant to waste money on a private room for now.
“Since it’s my first time here, I’ll just go with a regular table and get the feel of it.”
Hong Geumboy’s eyes lit up with delight.
“Tables vary in price too, hyung.”
“…Really?”
Hong Geumboy pointed towards a far corner where the music and performers were.
Goldjeoksan, following his gaze, suddenly turned red.
The thin, tight-fitting Nunglae clothes draped over the elegant women, who swayed and danced gracefully. Even Goldjeoksan, who considered himself quite experienced with women, couldn’t help but be captivated by their beauty.
“See, the tables closest to the music and dance stage are more expensive, hyung. Should we take a seat there?”
Goldjeoksan eagerly nodded.
“Okay, fine!”
Hong Geumboy silently celebrated and led Goldjeoksan to a table at the very front of the stage, just as the dancers performed.
Goldjeoksan’s attention was now fully fixed on the women dancing above.
Hapbin Gwan truly lived up to its reputation. His decision to move to Hapbi was proving to be completely right.
With his heart pounding, Goldjeoksan sat down at the table, and Hong Geumboy handed him the menu.
“What kind of liquor would you like, hyung?”
“Bring me some Cheongju.”
Hong Geumboy immediately scowled.
“Are you joking, hyung? Do you think women will even look at a table with just Cheongju? If you want a prime table like this, you need to get at least two bottles of Hanbyeongju.”
“Really?”
Goldjeoksan’s eyes widened as he saw the price of Hanbyeongju on the menu.
“Twenty nyang…?”
The crisp, refreshing taste of Hanbyeongju, the famous liquor from Hapbi, was legendary. But twenty nyang was a small fortune—far too expensive. And you had to buy two bottles?
Goldjeoksan furrowed his brow in frustration when a loud voice rang out from the stage.
“Once again, Lord Seo Mun has ordered Seolhwa Sinju! Bring on the music!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ear-piercing drums filled the air, accompanied by elaborate, majestic music.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
It was a concert of unheard-of music that resonated throughout the hall.
Along with the music, six beautiful women slowly walked into view, each carrying a large tray.
On the trays were colorful silks, jewels, and gold decorations, and in the center was an enormous glass bottle, shaped like jade, exuding an unmistakable aura.
Seolhwa Sinju.
Produced in small quantities, only a hundred bottles per year by the famous Caogayang Brewery.
“…Who exactly is the author of this liquor?”
Goldjeoksan, who had never been overly impressed by wealth among his peers, was taken aback by the luxury of Seolhwa Sinju and the extreme rarity of it.
The tall, slender women carrying the trays moved sensually, and the audience couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
“Wow…”
“Truly, Lord Seo Mun is something else…”
The women, sending flirtatious smiles to the guests, gathered around Lord Seo Mun, who was grinning arrogantly as if he were a king.
As his table filled with women, Goldjeoksan could feel an unfamiliar heat rising in his chest.
Just then, he met Lord Seo Mun’s gaze.
A smirk appeared on Goldjeoksan’s face.
“…That guy?”
How dare he mock Goldjeoksan, the owner of the Geumga-jang?
Anger surged through him like a wild beast.
“Bring me one bottle of Seolhwa Sinju! No—two bottles! Bring two bottles!”
Hong Geumboy was startled and hesitated.
“120 nyang up front… Is that okay, hyung?”
Goldjeoksan, snorting like an angry bull, pulled out a bundle of banknotes.
“Bring them! I said bring them!”
Hong Geumboy’s face twisted as he hesitated.
“Yes, hyung! Thank you, hyung! I’ll serve you with all my heart!”
Meanwhile, Jang Il-ryong, who had been watching this scene, gestured to Yeon So-hyang.
“Why, manager? I’m busy!”
Jang Il-ryong pointed to Goldjeoksan.
“Do you see him? Go work on him.”
Yeon So-hyang’s eyes gleamed suspiciously.
“How much are you paying per bottle?”
“This is a…”
—
“Hahaha! Got it!”
Geum Jeok-san, the owner of Geumga’s estate, had spent all his fortune in less than a month.
* * *
The Cao Family’s Grand Trading House (Cao Family Grand Chamber of Commerce).
Anhui Steel Forge, Hapbin Restaurant, Cao Family’s Core Store, Cao Family Brewery, Cao Family Inn, Cao Family Guild, Cao Family Logistics, and more.
The Grand Trading House was the mother company, overseeing numerous affiliated businesses.
It was the gigantic trading house that had taken control of all of Hefei’s economy, a business of unparalleled scale in history.
Today was the monthly settlement day for the Grand Trading House.
Around a massive conference table made from purple sandalwood, the senior executives of the affiliated businesses sat, their faces tense with anticipation.
Soon, a middle-aged man entered the meeting room.
He was Yi Ye-song, the head of the Anhui Steel Forge and the founding hero of the Grand Trading House.
“Chairman is entering.”
The executives stood and bowed respectfully.
“Well, stop with the formalities and take your seats.”
It was Zuo Hui, who had now reached the age of twenty-four, yet still retained the same demeanor as before.
The executives carefully resumed their seats.
Zuo Hui quickly got to the point.
“Has the expansion of the Great Ice Vault been completed yet?”
The chief mason, Nam Cheon-il, wiped the sweat from his brow after receiving Zuo Hui’s fiery gaze.
“Well… It seems… it has failed.”
“…Failed?”
Zuo Hui clenched his lips. How could they have failed after investing so much?
“Explain yourself.”
Nam Cheon-il, caught off guard by Zuo Hui’s cold voice, struggled to respond.
“Well… It seems that the efficiency decreases as the Ice Vault’s size increases. Even though we expanded the Great Ice Vault and tried producing ice there, the output wasn’t much different from before.”
“You’re saying it takes longer to freeze the ice now?”
“Yes, that’s right. Previously, it would take about half a day for all the ice in the vault to freeze, but now it takes more than a full day. The maximum we can produce is about two hundred blocks (750 kg) a day using the eternal ice.”
Zuo Hui rubbed his temples, looking frustrated.
The First Law of Thermodynamics.
The total energy of a closed system remains constant.
How could modern people have missed such a simple truth?
They had poured all that money into expanding the vault and completely ignored this basic concept?
Damn it!
Had they been too hasty?
The issue of ice production was directly tied to the survival of the Grand Trading House.
Cao Family’s Inn relied on cold beverages, the Cao Family Core Store sold black tea and ice desserts, Cao Family Brewery produced cold liquor, and even Hapbin Restaurant consumed large quantities of ice.
There were so many places that needed ice. Demand was skyrocketing, but they couldn’t keep up.
“Hmm… What about the black tea?” Zuo Hui asked, his voice cold.
The manager of Cao Family Core Store, Dang Ju, stepped forward, sweating.
“Here it is.”
Zuo Hui took a sip of the black tea and suddenly shouted.
“Ha! This is awful! It’s even worse than last time!”
To the people of Central Plains, the black tea might have been an exotic taste, but to Zuo Hui, it was a flavor that couldn’t even compare to modern cola.
“You spent three months going to all those hot springs just to find this? Do you have any idea how much money was invested?”
“Yes, I know…”
“Write me twenty pages of reflection.”
“Yikes!”
He barely survived writing ten pages last time, and now he was being asked to write twenty? The manager looked like he might burst into tears.
Zuo Hui coldly ignored him.
“How about Hapbin Restaurant?” Zuo Hui asked.
Zhang Il-ryong, looking proud, flexed his chest muscles.
“Sales have doubled, sir.”
“Ho!”
Hapbin Restaurant had always been a strong support for the Grand Trading House.
Zuo Hui looked at Zhang Il-ryong with a curious expression. Initially, he had hired him as a simple doorman.
But he was a business genius. Zhang Il-ryong’s methods of attracting customers were constantly evolving, and his instincts were undoubtedly a natural talent.
Zuo Hui had never taught him how to catch prey; Zhang Il-ryong had learned this purely by his sharp instincts.
Could it be true that as Nam Gung So-so always said, Zhang Il-ryong wasn’t just a simpleton on the outside but a genius?
Thanks to Zhang Il-ryong’s efforts, Hapbin Restaurant was the only business that seemed to satisfy Zuo Hui.
“Phew… Yeah, it’s not easy to make modern cola,” Zuo Hui thought.
In the modern world, companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi dominated the global market because of their secret recipes.
In some ways, the fact that they had even come this far was a miracle.
However, the ice problem was a different matter entirely—a matter of survival.
If they could solve the ice issue, they could invest more money.
“Sir, I have a question,” Zhang Il-ryong said casually as he looked out the window toward the north.
“What is it?” Zuo Hui asked, intrigued.
Zhang Il-ryong tilted his head.
“The eternal ice has always been a treasure of the North Sea Ice Palace, hasn’t it? It’s a treasure used by experts of the North Sea to refine ice?”
“So?”
Zhang Il-ryong raised an eyebrow, waiting for Zuo Hui’s response.
—
“While we may not need to go as far as the Ice White Divine Art (Ice White Divine Skill) of the Northern Sea Palace’s martial arts, surely we can invite a skilled practitioner who has mastered something like the Han Snow Art (寒雪功) from the Seol family’s branch? I don’t understand why you’re so fixated on the ice vault, Brother,” said Zhang Il-ryong nonchalantly.
Ding!
It was like an arrow piercing through Zuo Hui’s heart.
“You don’t even need to offer a high monthly salary. If we simply allow them to train their ice abilities while lying in the Eternal Ice Vault, they would undoubtedly come running without a second thought, wouldn’t they? Martial artists are all the same. All we need to do is promise them a share of the ice production in return… Am I wrong, Brother?” Zhang Il-ryong continued.
“W-What? Genius!” Zuo Hui sprang to his feet in shock.
What had he been doing all this time, neglecting the numerous natural refrigerators in the Northern Sea?
He felt deeply ashamed.
How could he have mocked such a genius as “Qing Nuo”?
At this point, he could no longer deny Nam Gung So-so’s “Zhang Il-ryong is a genius” theory.
“…Who will go to the Northern Sea?”
Zuo Hui’s burning gaze swept over the executives, but everyone quickly averted their eyes, wiping the sweat from their brows.
Merchants had great adventurous spirits.
They had long-established trade routes stretching across distant lands like Tianzhu, Pasa Kingdom, and even the Great Buddhist Kingdom.
However, the Northern Sea was land that even these persistent traders could not conquer.
Where was the Northern Sea?
It was a perilous journey that took about half a year each way, but that wasn’t the worst of it.
It was a land populated by foreigners who harbored deep hatred and resentment toward the people of the Central Plains. The Northern Sea was home to the Tianma Castle (Heavenly Demon Castle), whose inhabitants despised outsiders, particularly the people of the Central Plains.
During the Battle of the Exiles, the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s ruler, the Ice White Empress (Ice White Empress) Han Bai-ha, was captured by the martial world, having lost to the mighty military family of the Samas. She was cruelly tortured, her energy point shattered, and her palace maids were torn apart and left to starve on the streets of Zhengzhou in Henan.
This wasn’t something that could be easily understood.
After all, over seven thousand people from the Central Plains had been sacrificed in the conflict.
The martial world’s vengeance was always cruel and unforgiving.
The people of the Northern Sea never forgot the humiliation their ruler had endured.
The moment they heard the Central Plains tongue, they would likely draw their swords.
How could anyone casually decide to travel to the Northern Sea?
It was a path where one would have to risk their life.
After a long silence, Zuo Hui spoke again.
“One thousand gold coins. That’s the reward for anyone who can bring back a master of ice martial arts.”
One thousand gold coins!
That was the equivalent of ten thousand silver taels.
Zuo Hui had made an incredibly generous offer, yet no one was willing to step forward.
No amount of money could outweigh one’s life.
“I’ll go, Brother,” Zhang Il-ryong said confidently.
Zuo Hui immediately rejected him.
“No, you can’t go, Manager Zhang.”
Hapbin Restaurant was essential to the operation of the Grand Trading House. Zhang Il-ryong was irreplaceable!
He was a man born for Hapbin Restaurant, without a doubt.
After much thought, Zuo Hui turned to the general manager.
“What are those guys up to now?”
The general manager looked confused.
“…Who are you referring to?”
“The ones with the red bear tattoos on their bodies.”
“Ah! You had instructed us to keep them hidden and not let them be seen by anyone, so we’ve been keeping them locked away.”
Zuo Hui tilted his head in thought.
“How long has it been? Are they fully recovered?”
“It’s been over six months already.”
“Has it really been that long?”
In his frantic business expansion, Zuo Hui had completely forgotten about them.
“Bring them here.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
After a respectful bow, the general manager disappeared, and the meeting resumed.
Once the main agenda had been covered, there were no further important topics to discuss.
Around an hour later, the general manager returned.
“I’ve brought them all. They’re waiting outside the meeting room.”
“Only the leader should come in.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Soon, a man entered the room, and Zhang Il-ryong’s head turned sharply.
“Hmm?”
Zhang Il-ryong’s mouth slowly opened in disbelief.
“Could it be… Kang Dae-ju? Is it really Kang Dae-ju?”
The man’s trembling body, with his eyes tightly shut, looked like he was about to burst into tears.
His appearance was unmistakably that of Kang Man-ho, the grand master, but where had his massive muscles gone? Instead, he now looked emaciated, his skin stretched thin over his bones.
“Cough! S-Sowang!”