A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

Zhao Sun stood frozen under the eaves of the wall, unable to take another step.

He tiptoed to peek into the manor.

How many buildings were there, and how beautiful was the garden?

He had no idea how much money one would need to own such a grand manor.

Soon, his gaze turned to the huge plaque at the entrance of the manor.

**Hualong Merchant Group (Fire Dragon Trading Company)**.

One of the top five merchant groups in Anhui Province.

Their influence wasn’t just confined to Anhui.

It extended to Jiangsu, Henan, and Shandong provinces, and they had close ties with nearly every government official in their territories. They were a group of extraordinary businessmen.

Led by Hualong Merchant Group’s leader, Shangguan Yide (Shangguan Yide), and his four sons, all of whom were successful businessmen, the third son, Shangguan Fei (Shangguan Fei), had made a huge fortune in usury.

Though it was called usury, in Hefei, it was considered a moneylender’s market.

“…What are you doing, standing there?”

Zhao Hui’s face was clearly tired and in pain.

They had traveled for seven days straight on foot, from Bongtaehyeon to Hefei, without rest.

Even a military march wasn’t this exhausting.

Having lived in a world with buses and subways, walking for seven days straight was nothing short of hell.

On top of that, the shoes in this world were nothing like modern ones.

The rough straw sandals they wore transmitted every shock directly to their feet, making it almost more comfortable to go barefoot.

Without any proper soles, stepping on sharp stones would send pain shooting up to the crown of the head.

When stepping into muddy water, the coarse fibers of the straw would rub the feet raw, and eventually, the feet would be soaked in blood and pus.

After enduring that pain, alternating between sleeping outdoors and walking, Zhao Hui was longing to soak his feet in hot water.

He vowed that the first thing he would do once he earned money would be to buy silk shoes.

“…What’s going on?”

Zhao Hui shook his head, frustrated by how his father was acting like a country bumpkin, constantly glancing around.

What was the point of being a skilled artisan at the forge if he was so clueless about the world?

Zhao Hui then stepped forward and was about to say something to the gatekeeper when—

“The third son’s guests. Go wait over there.”

The gatekeeper, with a friendly smile, casually pointed them in the direction, having quickly assessed their appearance.

Indeed, the gatekeeper had a keen eye, recognizing them as guests who had come to borrow money.

“Thank you.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhao Hui looked where the gatekeeper pointed.

A large crowd of potential borrowers had already gathered in the waiting area.

At that moment, someone came out from the reception room.

A countryman with slumped shoulders and a dejected look, sighing repeatedly, came out, clearly unsuccessful in borrowing money.

“Next!”

The Zhao father and son waited under the shade of a tree in the reception area for a long time.

Zhao Hui kept massaging his feet while watching the people coming out of the reception room.

The number of people leaving with a bright smile and celebrating their success didn’t even reach a handful.

Had they succeeded in usury?

What this meant was simple.

They had managed to get interest without losing any money.

Zhao Hui instinctively felt that the third son of Hualong Merchant Group was not someone to be underestimated.

“Next!”

Finally, it was Zhao Hui and his father’s turn.

Zhao Hui stood up quickly with clenched lips and walked confidently toward the reception room, while Zhao Sun’s steps were sluggish and hesitant.

“Father, just stay here.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Only then did Zhao Sun’s face lighten up.

Zhao Hui chuckled, watching his father’s reaction.

Entering such a grand manor and meeting the third son of the merchant group was undoubtedly an overwhelming and intimidating situation for him.

While his father had seemed so mighty when working with the hammer, outside of that, he was nothing more than a simple country bumpkin.

Clank.

As Zhao Hui entered the reception room, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Is that… Lee Jung-jae?”

The resemblance was uncanny.

The smooth forehead, the attractively high cheekbones, the wide smile…

It was like looking at the South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae himself.

It was almost bewildering to find someone who resembled him so much.

“Yes, what kind of loan are you looking for?”

Unfortunately, his voice was distinctly different from Lee Jung-jae’s.

“Three hundred liang of silver.”

Lee Jung-jae (or the person who looked like him) furrowed his brow and then gave Zhao Hui a tired look.

“…Take him outside.”

To ask for three hundred liang of silver at such a young age?

Three hundred liang was enough to support an average family’s living expenses for ten years.

If it were a smaller amount, it might be worth listening to the story, but given his youth and shabby appearance, there was no way he seemed capable of handling such a large sum.

However, the bold young man’s voice continued.

“In three years, you will regret turning me away at this moment. It will probably be the biggest mistake of your life.”

Zhao Hui’s boldness left the man speechless.

“…What?”

“I’m telling you exactly what I think. Right now, by turning me away, you are losing the chance to form a partnership with the iron forge that will soon produce the highest volume of iron products in Anhui, and at the lowest prices.”

Shangguan Fei, the third son of the Hualong Merchant Group, stared at Zhao Hui for a long time, wondering if he had made a mistake.

“Did you come from Jinjiu Iron Forge, or perhaps… Dahuohong Iron Forge?”

Jinjiu Iron Forge and Dahuohong Iron Forge were two of the most prestigious iron forges in Anhui.

In particular, the craftsman Mo Suge of Dahuohong had received the title of “Best Craftsman in the World” directly from the Emperor, and his fame resonated across the land.

The swords and tools he produced were priceless.

“I’m Zhao Hui, the second son of the Zhao family from Bongtaehyeon’s Zhao Iron Forge. I’ve come representing our forge.”

Becoming the third son of the Hualong Merchant Group wasn’t something that could be easily attained.

In a market so tightly regulated, there wasn’t a place in Anhui that Shangguan Fei hadn’t scrutinized.

But what was this? The Zhao family from Bongtaehyeon?

Such a forge had never once been mentioned in the group’s extensive information network. It must be just another insignificant iron forge.

“Are you trying to joke with me? Do you think the name ‘Hualong Merchant Group’ is so easily ignored?”

Zhao Hui sighed deeply, trying to stay calm.

“I’m well aware that our family’s reputation is lacking. I never intended to ask for a credit loan.”

“Then…?”

Zhao Hui took out another booklet.

“I’m offering only tangible assets as collateral—iron tools that are priced by the market. Three hundred jin of steel anvils for fifty liang, two large hammers for forging, four small hammers, six molds for casting iron, three steel sharpening frames—all of which would be worth at least forty liang.”

He flipped to the next page.

“The land where the forge is located, about two hundred and twenty square meters, is worth forty liang; three thousand jin of oak, two thousand jin of locust wood, four hundred jin of charcoal, three thousand jin of wood leather… If we sell all of these, the total value in silver will be one hundred and fifty liang.”

Shangguan Fei’s face slowly shifted to one of curiosity.

“What about the remaining one hundred and fifty liang in collateral?”

Suddenly, Zhao Hui’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth.

“I’ll offer the lives of my family as collateral—my father in his later forties, my mother in her mid-forties, my older brother and I, both in our early twenties… Four lives in total.”

He couldn’t bring himself to include his younger sister Zhao Yuan in the offer.

“Your lives?”

“The standard price for human trafficking in black markets is something I find difficult to determine. However, if we use the price of government slaves as a reference, I believe that one hundred and fifty liang would be more than enough,” Zhao Hui said coldly.

“……”

Most people who came here, desperate, would immediately fall to the ground, begging for mercy with cries like, “Please spare my life just this once!” or “My daughter is dying, I’ll pay you back once the harvest comes!” Their desperation was often direct and simple.

But this was not someone driven to madness in a typical way.

He was coldly offering the entirety of his family as collateral, calculating it with a kind of calm detachment that no one could have imagined.

When he mentioned the market price of government slaves, it was almost laughable.

Shangguan Fei made a peculiar expression. He was now beyond mere curiosity and had started to show interest.

“That’s an interesting proposition. However, all the collateral you mentioned requires handling costs. First, I’ll send my men to verify that the goods you mentioned actually exist and reassess the market value. Also, should there be any default, there will be further costs and delays in processing these goods. The issue with government slaves is particularly problematic…”

“And that’s exactly why I’m giving you this opportunity—to establish a business deal with me,” Zhao Hui interjected.

“A deal? An opportunity?”

For a large merchant group like the Hualong Merchant Group, why would they need to establish a relationship with a mere iron forge?

“Has the power dynamic shifted? What reason would there be for your forge to present an ‘opportunity’ for my Hualong Merchant Group?” Shangguan Fei asked, looking at Zhao Hui skeptically.

Zhao Hui opened the booklet and showed it to him.

“I’m offering to supply all the items listed in this book to Hualong Merchant Group at seventy percent of their market value.”

Shangguan Fei’s eyes widened as he looked at the page.

“The large iron plow for horses… just twenty-eight liang?”

The market price for such a plow was at least forty liang.

“Can you really supply them at this price?” Shangguan Fei asked, surprised.

Zhao Hui confidently nodded. “I will draw up the contract immediately.”

Shangguan Fei’s gaze deepened.

The more he saw and interacted with this young man, the more curious he became.

Zhao Hui’s voice continued, breaking the silence.

“If you truly want to cancel this deal, I’ll offer the same proposal to the Yubae Merchant Group.”

“…What?”

The Yubae Merchant Group.

It was one of the most competitive merchant groups in Anhui, fiercely contending with the Hualong Merchant Group for dominance.

Could this young man be intentionally provoking him?

Shangguan Fei furrowed his brow, his expression showing a flicker of unease. After a moment, he quietly spoke.

“Chief Guard.”

The Chief Guard, Ha Seoge, who had been standing quietly on the opposite side, replied respectfully, “Yes, my lord. How can I serve you?”

“Prepare six hundred liang of silver.”

“Six—six hundred liang, my lord?” Ha Seoge stammered in surprise.

Zhao Hui, too, was taken aback. This was double the amount he had initially requested!

Shangguan Fei smiled meaningfully.

“Since you mentioned the black market, we’ll calculate it based on those prices. You did say ‘lives,’ which means you’re entrusting me with the power of life and death. Whether I sell them as laborers or as slaves is my decision. Most importantly…”

Shangguan Fei pointed a finger at Zhao Hui.

“I don’t need any of the other collateral. If you fail to repay, I’ll buy that young man for one thousand liang.”

This was truly the demeanor of the third son of the Hualong Merchant Group—imposing and confident in his ability to judge people.

Zhao Hui smiled faintly.

“That won’t happen.”

Zhao Hui’s meeting with Shangguan Fei was an event that would shake Anhui.

* * *

Fifteen days later, the Chief Guard, Ha Seoge, returned after verifying whether Zhao Hui actually owned the Zhao Iron Forge.

A merchant group like Hualong Merchant Group would never move recklessly. Especially one as large as theirs.

Yet, the fact that Ha Seoge left without checking the collateral or its value meant that Zhao Hui’s persuasive words had made a strong impression.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hui was excited because he had secured twice the amount of silver he originally asked for, which would help him expand the forge even further.

What was the most common thing in this era?

It was human resources—labor.

Zhao Hui had once seen over a hundred people crowding to apply for just three porter jobs at a dock.

Now, how many people would come if he offered twenty full-time jobs?

He had no idea, but he was about to find out.

So, he posted a recruitment notice in the largest open area near the market and planned to hire people directly.

Sure enough, within less than an hour, people began to gather, and soon, over five hundred had arrived.

It seemed almost everyone in the village, except for the women and children of Bongtaehyeon, was there.

Among them were some genuinely looking for work, but half were simply curious about the fact that an iron forge was hiring.

Iron forges were usually closed off to outsiders.

Working in a forge required specialized skills. Naturally, working there would reveal the secrets of the craft, which was why iron forge owners rarely allowed anyone outside their family or chosen heirs to get close.

And now, Zhao Hui was offering twenty positions—an almost unheard-of opportunity, which made people more intrigued.

Moreover, everyone knew that the Zhao family had fallen on hard times, so the interest was even higher.

“We’ll start the interviews in order!” Zhao Hui called out.

The noisy crowd quickly quieted down.

Zhao Hui had his own standards.

First, anyone who talked too much was automatically disqualified.

“Talking too much means a lack of focus.”

Those who are quick to speak often stir up trouble and excel at stirring up the crowd, causing division. They were the kind of people Zhao Hui most wanted to avoid.

Second, weak individuals were excluded.

Working in an iron forge was tough.

While one might endure the harsh work for a day or two, surviving it for years required strong physical stamina.

Third, those who were too dull were also excluded.

Even if someone had a strong and determined heart, without basic intelligence, it was useless.

If an incompetent person were chosen, their mistakes could derail the entire process.

To ensure that the forge ran smoothly, mistakes had to be minimized.

So, Zhao Hui spent the entire day conducting interviews.

In any business, talent is the most important asset.

No matter how great the technology or business model, without the right people to execute it, it was all meaningless.

Zhao Hui, though he had graduated from a regional university in modern times with a decent degree in business management, was no stranger to the importance of proper business practices. Even while studying for the public service exams, he had saved up money by working various side jobs and had read many books on small business management like *500 Million Small Businesses, Surviving as a Boss* and *Success in Small Business with Principles*. He also kept up with the latest business theories online, which proved very useful in his current life in Zhongyuan.

The life of a modern person, despite outward comfort, could not be described as light when one had survived in the fierce, hyper-competitive society until their thirties.

Now, Zhao Hui looked at each of the twenty strong men he had carefully chosen. He spoke with determination:

“Welcome to the Zhao Iron Forge family! Since you need to learn the work here, for the time being, we’ll gather every morning regardless of your shift. I’ll see you all at the forge tomorrow!”

The village elders, curious about what was going on, kept asking him questions, but Zhao Hui gave no answer and simply left.

The next day, the first task Zhao Hui set for his workers was to build a high wall.

He had not forgotten how the last time, when he had been caught off guard, left a deep impression on him.

Any technology must be monopolized to truly have value, and Zhao Hui had no intention of revealing the forge’s division of labor system to anyone.

Within half a day, the high wall was built, and satisfied, Zhao Hui pulled out a stack of documents from his chest.

“Here is the contract. Please, those who are selected as charcoal burners, gather around.”

The charcoal burners gathered, and Zhao Hui handed each of them a contract.

“Anyone who can read can do so, but I’ll be happy to explain it to you. If you’re not sure, you can take it to someone who can read to confirm.”

“Hmm hmm.”

Most of the charcoal burners were illiterate, and they seemed embarrassed, coughing awkwardly.

“As I mentioned yesterday, the daily wage for charcoal burners is eight wen of iron money. If you work overtime, you’ll receive an additional two wen for each shift.”

“Overtime pay? What’s that?”

Zhao Hui smiled brightly and replied, “It means you’ll get extra pay for working more hours.”

The charcoal burners all looked shocked.

“You mean if we work longer, we’ll get more pay?”

“Two wen for each shift over?”

“Wow…!”

The idea of receiving overtime pay was foreign to the people of Zhongyuan.

For them, being hired as a worker was already a big deal, and if they worked a little more, it usually meant they would be hired again, so most people just tolerated the work without expecting extra compensation.

“And you will get one day off every week. For this day, you’ll receive a weekly holiday allowance. The allowance is set at six wen, which is seventy percent of your usual daily wage.”

“…One day off?”

“Weekly holiday allowance?”

Zhao Hui smiled again.

“Even if you take the day off, you still get paid. It’s important for you to rest so you can maintain your strength and work harder the next day.”

“R- rest and still get paid?”

“You’re saying we get paid even if we don’t work?”

The charcoal burners looked even more shocked than before.

“You haven’t heard everything yet. There’s also a performance bonus. If you produce more than thirty-two dou of charcoal in one day, I’ll give you a bonus of five hao. This means your daily wage will increase to twelve wen.”

“Twelve wen!”

“Are you serious?!”

“And there’s also a monthly leave. In addition to your weekly day off, you’ll have one day off per month. If you don’t take the leave and work instead, you’ll receive double the wage.”

“…”

“And there’s also annual leave. If you work continuously for a year without missing any days, you’ll receive five days of paid leave the following year. Of course, you can choose to work or take the leave, and your pay will be doubled if you work during that time.”

“Huh!”

“That’s incredible!”

The eyes of the charcoal burners and all the workers widened in astonishment.

The modern system of bonuses is a product of countless trial and error, a sophisticated outcome of capitalism.

For entrepreneurs, maintaining a stable level of production was the greatest challenge, and the most perfect system to achieve this was the monetization of labor (bonus system).

While modern workers would accept such a system as a given, this was the Zhongyuan world.

For the workers, Zhao Hui’s speech sounded like sweet, heavenly words, something completely new and attractive.

“Of course, the same terms apply to the bellows workers, casting workers, and blacksmiths. But!”

As a few workers gulped nervously, Zhao Hui’s face hardened with an intense glare.

“Anything that happens here at the Zhao Iron Forge must not be disclosed to outsiders, not even to your family. If you violate this condition, you will be immediately fired. We can investigate and find out. There are plenty of people ready to take your place.”

Such a good work environment—how could anyone give it up?

The workers answered in unison.

“We won’t say a word!”

“Stop worrying and get us to work already!”

“Work! We want to work!”

From the moment they heard about the additional bonuses, some of the workers’ eyes began to sparkle with excitement!

“Not yet. Only the charcoal burners should follow me. The rest of you need to go over there and receive training from my father. Don’t worry about the wages. You’ll still get paid while you train.”

“Got it!”

The fiery enthusiasm of the workers!

Zhao Hui looked at their backs, his face resembling that of a trainer guiding his students.

—

*Whack! Whack!*

“Hey! The bellows can’t rest! You can’t just shove the charcoal in like that! Don’t turn away from the heat! Feel the heat with your whole body!”

“Understood!”

*Bang! Bang!*

“Tsk, tsk! You can’t just hammer like that! The strength of each strike must be the same! You need to hit the exact spot with equal force every time! How many times do I have to tell you this?”

“I understand! I’ll do my best!”

*Thud!*

*Thud!*

“Good! Excellent! The key to casting is to use the least amount of material to create the necessary shape! Skipping the handle in the mold was a bold and wise decision! We can use wood for the handle! You’re one to learn fast, aren’t you, Mr. Ochil?”

“Haha! You’re too kind, sir!”

Zhao Hui continued his constant guidance, mixing praise and criticism, carefully crafting the workers’ skills.

A perfect balance of carrot and stick!

Whenever a worker received praise, the others would glance at them enviously, trying to learn. And when scolded, they immediately corrected their mistakes, desperate to avoid repeating them.

A constant battle of pride and ego in the air!

“Heh, they say a position makes the man!”

Zhao Hui realized that his father had quite the talent for handling and teaching people.

“Father, could I have a moment?”

Zhao Sun, wiping sweat from his brow, approached Zhao Hui, taking off his work clothes.

“Ugh… What is it now?”

Zhao Hui glanced at the workers.

“They seem like they’re finally getting the hang of it. It’s time to start production.”

Zhao Sun snorted.

“Hmph! With that level of skill? No way! The quality of Zhao Iron Forge doesn’t come that easily!”

“I’ve told you time and time again. If they can reach seventy percent of the quality, that’s good enough, right?”

An intense stare from Zhao Sun!

“Seventy percent? Not even close! With those skills, they won’t even make forty percent!”

Zhao Hui sighed.

“Sigh… You know how much their wages are, right? It’s been twenty days already. Are you planning to spend all six hundred nyang on wages?”

“Hmm…”

“You’ve paid off the Yeomwangchae debt, but after deducting the cost of the ingots, we’ll only have enough to last about ten more days. The workers’ wages, food costs, and our living expenses are eating up everything. It’s becoming a real problem. You really need to make a decision now.”

Zhao Sun’s pride as a craftsman was well known, but now it was time to face reality.

That’s how mass production systems work.

It’s impossible for a craftsman who has spent their whole life making things by hand to match the quality of mass-produced items created through a division of labor system.

It’s like comparing a handmade Ferrari to a mass-produced Volkswagen. They can’t possibly be of the same quality.

—

“Give me three more days. I’ll make sure they at least mimic the craftsmanship.”

“You said the same thing a few days ago. This is the final chance.”

“Alright.”

Three days later, Zhao Sun kept his promise.

And the long-awaited first production began.

*Whack! Whack!*

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Zhao Sun stood, his eyes bloodshot as he watched the process carefully.

Countless lessons had clearly paid off.

Two charcoal burners tirelessly carried charcoal and ingots back and forth, while the bellows workers kept the furnace temperature steady by pumping the air continuously.

Once the ingots melted, the casting workers poured the molten metal into molds, then removed the clay after it cooled and transported it to the anvil.

Four blacksmiths hammered the red-hot metal continuously as the casting workers transported more molten metal to the furnace.

As the casting and blacksmithing workers repeated this process, the next ingots were carried by the charcoal burners.

They repeated this cycle—melting, pouring, cleaning, and hammering.

Seeing the scene unfold before his eyes, Zhao Sun was filled with a strange emotion.

He had done this alone for his entire life.

A peculiar sense of defeat washed over him.

He looked at his son.

“How could I have…”

The difference in efficiency was embarrassing to compare.

After struggling alone to carry charcoal and iron ore, he takes a short break, and then tirelessly uses the bellows to heat the furnace, only to take another rest.

When the iron has completely melted, hunger sets in. He pours the molten metal into the casting mold and takes a lunch break.

After lunch, when he returns, the metal has already cooled down.

He starts the bellows again to raise the furnace temperature.

Next, he grunts as he places the metal back into the furnace and takes another break.

As the metal turns red-hot, he feels a tightness in his chest.

Even though he’s exhausted, he must now begin the forging, which is even more grueling than the previous tasks.

He places the hot metal onto the anvil and contemplates for a while. Will he have enough energy left to finish forging today? After a few blows, his back and shoulders already feel like they’re tearing apart.

After hammering for a while, the metal cools down again. Looking at the furnace, the temperature has dropped once more. Again, he uses the bellows to raise the heat. Then, grunting, he places the metal back into the furnace and takes another rest.

As his physical limits approach, he removes his feet from the bellows and ends the work for the day.

The next day, the cycle starts again with the bellows.

Zhou Sun feels foolish for having done this alone his entire life.

If there were ten of him doing this, the efficiency would be unimaginable.

The first large iron plow, completed after the entire process, was carried by the casting workers to him.

For a moment, his mind went blank.

Within a short time, the large iron plow was finished.

The shock of experiencing the work firsthand was far greater than the vague imagination he had before.

Bam!

Before he even noticed, his son, who had been hammering the iron plow, had a bright smile on his face.

“Oh! I think this looks good!”

“… Damn.”

“What?”

“Give me the rest of my years.”

His son, mischievously tilting his head, asked, “What does that mean?”

Zhou Hui, realizing what his father meant, laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! It’s never too late, you know! It’s only late when you think it’s too late!”

“It’s only late when it’s too late.”

A chill ran down Zhou Hui’s spine as he quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, something’s odd.”

Zhou Sun followed his son’s gaze.

“Yeah. The casting workers are slacking off a bit.”

“Yes. We’ll need to buy a couple more anvils and increase the number of forgers.”

“Heh.”

That day, alternating between day and night shifts, twenty-two large iron plows were produced.

The following day, twenty-four, and the day after that, twenty-six.

In less than four days, the factory produced a hundred large iron plows.

As time passed, and after half a year, the Zhou’s Iron Workshop had expanded five times in size, the total number of anvils had grown to eighteen, and the number of workers exceeded one hundred.

Soon, the Zhou Iron Workshop had become the center of the industry in Bongtaehyeon.

* * *

Inside the Zhou Iron Workshop’s office, Zhou Hui was savoring the feel of his silk shoes.

“This is better than Air Max. Heh heh…”

The softness of the silk material that gently wrapped around his feet felt so much better than the rough, crude shoes he used to wear.

Satisfied, Zhou Hui placed the silk shoes on the display stand.

The display stand was full of high-quality shoes.

Various types of cloth shoes, leather shoes, and silk shoes, made from the finest materials, filled the stand.

The display was well-organized.

The shoes were first classified by material, then by color, pattern, and type of shoe toe, and finally by season and use.

It was like a shoe enthusiast’s paradise.

Just looking at the shoes in the display made Zhou Hui feel content.

Soon, his gaze shifted to the bronze mirror.

Straight eyebrows, deep brown eyes, a well-shaped nose, and smooth lips…

When he judged himself without any bias, he had to admit he looked quite handsome.

It wasn’t until about a year after coming to the Central Plains that he had the chance to closely examine his face in the expensive bronze mirror, not just in the water’s reflection.

At that moment, an elderly man entered the office.

He was Lee Ruseong, the new head of Zhou’s Iron Workshop, a former leader of the Wind Ridge Guild’s blacksmiths.

Zhou Hui, who had spent a fair amount of money to recruit him, greeted him with a satisfied smile.

“Welcome, General Manager.”

“Master Zhou, here’s the performance report for today.”

It was the daily performance report for the Zhou Iron Workshop.

It contained a list of workers who had completed their shifts, their overtime hours, and any irregularities, along with the number of items produced by each department, and any noteworthy issues.

There was also a detailed record of the inventory, including iron ingots, timber, and food supplies.

“Once again, it seems that the Dae San Gak (Large Mountain Workshop) has had the best performance.”

Zhou Hui had reorganized the Iron Workshop into three departments.

Dae San Gak focused on producing large iron products, like plows, large gates, and iron pillars, and was led by the original members.

On the other hand, the So San Gak (Small Mountain Workshop) produced small iron farming tools, such as shovels, sickles, and hoes, and was mostly made up of newer recruits.

Lately, Zhou Hui had high expectations for the So San Gak.

The revenue from products made in So San Gak had already surpassed that of Dae San Gak, and as the workers in So San Gak became more skilled, it was clear that the Iron Workshop’s profits would skyrocket.

Gi San Gak (Machine Mountain Workshop) was a new department dedicated to producing more specialized products, like safes, locks, carriages, stirrups, and iron wheels.

Though it was still in its infancy and draining money, it was a crucial investment for the future.

“The workers at So San Gak are still lacking in skill,” Lee Ruseong remarked.

Since a while ago, everyone had begun calling Zhou Sun “Iron Workshop Master.”

Zhou Sun had grown quite fond of the title.

As Zhou Hui looked over the reports, his eyes lit up.

“Skill is important, but this is a matter of perseverance. The number of workers receiving additional pay is still far higher in Dae San Gak. Please encourage the workers at So San Gak a little more.”

“Understood. Oh, and…”

“What’s the matter now?”

Lee Ruseong smiled warmly.

“A familiar guest has arrived.”

From just the expression on his face, Zhou Hui could already guess who the guest was.

“Brother Bi (Fei) has come. Is he at the guest hall?”

“He’s been here since two hours ago, waiting for your work to finish.”

“You should have told me earlier!”

With that, Jo Hwi quickly ran and greeted his superior, Jang Gwan-bi, warmly shaking his hands.

“Ah! Jeong Jae-hyung!”

“Haha! Yi-je, my younger brother!”

Over the past six months, the two of them had become sworn brothers through countless drinking sessions.

“I’m still feeling queasy from the drink we had three days ago… Are you planning to kill me with more alcohol again?”

“Of course not. My stomach is just as bad. I’ve been busy finishing up work, but I stopped by to greet you before returning to the guild.”

Jang Gwan-bi, with a look on his face that suggested he was going to die from the alcohol, rubbed his stomach.

Seeing this, Jo Hwi also grabbed his own stomach and laughed.

“You were acting so tough earlier, but now look at you! Ha ha!”

Jang Gwan-bi’s face hardened with determination.

“It was just that their home-brewed liquor didn’t agree with me. Next time, I’ll win for sure!”

“Haha! Just hand over the money you owe!”

“Hmph!”

Jang Gwan-bi took out a pouch from his sleeve, counted the money, and handed it to Jo Hwi with clenched teeth.

“Four wins, four losses! It’s not over yet, so don’t get too cocky! By the way, you keep calling me Jeong Jae-hyung, but who exactly is Jeong Jae?”

“It’s a thing. Hehe.”

Jang Gwan-bi squinted his eyes, then suddenly turned serious.

“By the way, have you made a decision about your patron yet?”

Jo Hwi also stopped laughing.

“Yes, hyung. I need to think about it a little more.”

Jang Gwan-bi shook his head in disappointment.

“It’s good to be cautious, but you don’t have much time left. The guild can only protect you for so long. Even if you’re careful, there’s no one who doesn’t know that the iron products on the market are from your forge.”

“…Hmm. Already?”

Jo Hwi had expected it, but it was happening faster than he thought.

“Half a year’s worth of your goods have flooded the entire Anhoe-seong region. Even if you’re careful, you and I have sent and received hundreds of carts of goods in the past month alone. If anyone’s not a fool, they’ll know the iron products sold by the main guild came from your forge.”

“Hmm…”

“Moreover, with the way Jo Ga Cheolbang’s main gate has grown, anyone can guess how successful your forge has become. If the authorities come and start questioning your iron bars, what will you do? It’s only a matter of time before your forge disappears, with nothing left. Even I, who supplied you with the iron bars, will be in trouble.”

There had never been a forge caught operating with iron bars banned by law without facing consequences.

“But nothing has happened so far…”

Jang Gwan-bi feigned anger.

“Ha! Are you naïve or just pretending not to know? So far, the Huaryong Guild has been holding off, but that can’t last forever! You don’t know how vicious the authorities can be!”

“Hehe, for now, as long as you keep blocking things like you have, it’ll be fine. Let me see…”

Jo Hwi pulled a book from his robe, making Jang Gwan-bi flinch.

That book was the one that always put Jang Gwan-bi in a difficult spot.

“Just as you said, the rumors are already out. About a week ago, Daejin Guild came by… Ah! Right! Yesterday, Yubaek Guild… Haha! How did they know I collect shoes? They even gave me silk shoes as a gift! And the conditions are great—they want to trade at 80% of market price… Though I guess it’s not that easy, right? They probably think like you and could block external pressure easily…”

“Ha! You’re something else!”

Jang Gwan-bi quickly snatched the book away from Jo Hwi.

“Is that all there is to human relationships? Just profit? It’s about loyalty and affection!”

Since the deal with Jo Ga Cheolbang, Jang Gwan-bi had become the most powerful among the four brothers who had been fighting for control of the guild.

This was a crucial client he could not afford to lose.

Suddenly, Jang Gwan-bi sighed deeply.

“Ah… It won’t be long before Yi-je handles me like this too. The problem is not just with the authorities. The merchants from your forge have already started protesting in front of our guild. It’s been over a month now. Soon, they’ll swarm to you. For them, it’s a matter of life and death.”

Jo Hwi smiled meaningfully.

“As for that matter, I’ve already come up with a plan.”

Every time Jang Gwan-bi saw that smile, a chill ran down his spine.

“What’s your plan now…?”

“Hehe, you’ll see soon enough.”

Jang Gwan-bi shook his head.

“The iron bar issue should be resolved as quickly as possible. It would be best if you could handle it directly with Bang Dae-in, but he won’t be willing to protect just any forge. You must find a connection with him soon.”

At that moment, Jo Hwi’s gaze became calm and composed.

“Do you know how much monthly net profit I make from running Jo Ga Cheolbang?”

“…Hmm?”

“Six hundred nyang in silver, and sixty nyang in gold.”

The number was surprising even to Jang Gwan-bi, who had always handled large sums of money as a guild official.

A net profit of 720 nyang in gold a year.

Few businesses within the Huaryong Guild had such profits from a single venture.

Moreover, Jo Ga Cheolbang’s momentum today was unlike anything seen before.

The scale of growth was unimaginable.

“All matters with the authorities are handled through regular bribes. I’m not afraid of the authorities. But what I fear most are those who are trying to take over Jo Ga Cheolbang itself.”

“…”

“Those who fear the authorities, those who are free from the constraints of the imperial law, those iron-blooded groups who will stop at nothing for profit, who clearly distinguish between allies and enemies, and hold grudges with ruthless precision!”

Jang Gwan-bi nodded in agreement.

“Jang-ho (the martial world).”

“Yes.”

As the saying goes, “You see as much as you know.”

The world seen by Jo Ga Cheolbang’s new leader was completely different from that of the son of a dying forge.

The martial world truly existed.

For Jo Hwi, who had briefly glimpsed this fierce and secretive world, the fear was inevitable.

“That’s why I’ve made my decision.”

“What decision?”

Jo Hwi dipped his finger into the tea and began to write characters on the table.

“A group filled with the imperial family’s generals, a place of swordsmen whose very name strikes fear into the hearts of commoners. The leaders of the five great families, who always place their swordsmen at the top of the martial world rankings.”

“Are you suggesting…?”

“Yes. I want to make the King of Anhui my patron.”

Nangong.

Jo Hwi wrote the name in the tea.

The weight of the name seemed to leave Jang Gwan-bi momentarily speechless.

What kind of family is the Nangong family?

The Great Nangong Family.

The Sky Swordmaster.

Unrivaled in the world.

The Absolute Sword of the Central Plains.

Just mentioning these terms associated with the Nangong family was enough to make anyone understand how powerful their martial force was.

When discussing swords in the martial world, the names of Huashan and Nangong always came first.

As for the authorities?

If one were to join the government of Anhuiseong, they would have to pay respects to the Nangong family. Their influence far surpassed that of the government.

They were, as Jo Hwi said, the true rulers of Anhuiseong.

“Haha…”

Suddenly, Jang Gwan-bi laughed hollowly.

Everyone in Anhuiseong would want to be connected to the Nangong family.

But how easy would it be?

Even the Huaryong Guild was no different.

The reason why Huaryong Guild was not called the top guild in Anhuiseong was because they lacked the Nangong family’s protection.

With the name of Nangong, nothing would be impossible in Anhuiseong. It was a guarantee of success in everything.

“…Yi-je, do you really think this is possible?”

Not long ago, Jo Hwi had met some martial artists in Jangbonghyeon.

Martial artists who had been at odds in front of a tavern.

Later, after paying a hefty price to an informant in Habi, Jo Hwi learned that the tavern was none other than the famous Cheonye-ro (Thousand Arts Tower), and those in conflict there were the masters of the Four Swordsmen Guild and the Tiger King Gate.

The Four Swordsmen Guild was an interest group formed by four masters, somewhat like a faction, and the Tiger King Gate was a group of traditional martial warriors from Jangbonghyeon.

But compared to the larger sects like the Old Factions or the Five Great Families, they were nothing more than minnows.

In the martial novels Jo Hwi had read in the modern world, they would be considered extras.

Yet, their ferocity left an intense and chilling impression on him, one that would make his hairs stand on end when recalling it.

The strength of the Tiger King Gate warrior, who wielded a massive blade as if it were a twig, was astonishing, but the fluid movements of the Four Swordsmen masters, who blocked every brutal attack with their graceful swordplay, were like willow branches in the wind.

Their combat was so unrealistic that it almost felt like watching a well-made CG movie.

Even though their attacks couldn’t possibly be made from a human body, they twisted and turned in ways that defied belief. With each strike, the air around them would distort, and the sound of their weapons colliding created a shocking, deafening crash.

When a Tiger King Gate warrior leapt five meters into the air to strike down with his blade, the earth shook beneath him as if there had been an earthquake.

Had he been transported to the modern world, he would have easily won gold in high jumping for the rest of his life.

But their fierce sword dance didn’t last long.

Soon, a swordsman in a blue dragon robe appeared.

– Those from the faction. You take your eyes off for a second, and they crawl out like cockroaches.

His voice was low, neither loud nor small.

In an instant, the fierce combatants froze.

– You cockroaches. Get lost.

The masters of the Four Swordsmen Guild, who had been engaged in such a fierce battle, disappeared without a second thought at the mere words of the swordsman in the blue dragon robe.

Without hesitation, they used their lightness skills to vanish from the scene in the blink of an eye.

It wasn’t until later that Jo Hwi realized that the swordsman in the blue dragon robe wasn’t an especially famous figure in the martial world.

What mattered was that he belonged to the Nangong family.

Still, for someone to wear the symbol of the Qinglongyi (Blue Dragon Robe), he had at least been granted the title of Sky Swordmaster (Changcheon Geom-su), which meant he was within the top 50 ranks of the Great Nangong Family.

That scene was a huge shock to Jo Hwi.

To think that such powerful individuals could be made to leave with just a single word!

From that moment on, Jo Hwi became captivated by the name Nangong, and he couldn’t forget it for even a moment.

“Do you remember the first time I came to see you, brother?”

At Jo Hwi’s question, Jang Gwan-bi chuckled.

“…Pfft! How could I forget?”

“Yes, it was an unbelievable outcome for me as well. At that time, all I had to offer was my promise. Yet, you still gave me silver.”

“Haha! If only I could go back to that time, I would have given you six thousand nyang, not just six hundred!”

Jo Hwi smiled lightly and replied.

“I’ll take a risk again this time. At worst, I’ll lose nothing. Surely, they wouldn’t just kill me, would they?”

Jang Gwan-bi slowly nodded.

“True. You built this forge without a single coin to your name, didn’t you? If things go well and a patronage relationship is established, don’t forget this old man.”

Jo Hwi’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.

“…With just your words?”

“Oh, come on!”

Jang Gwan-bi shot him a look before getting up from his seat.

“I’ll be on my way now. If anything happens, be sure to send a letter.”

“I will.”

At that moment, the steward entered the room.

“Master, the Chief of the Iron Forge is here to see you.”

“My father?”

Jo Hwi tilted his head slightly before bowing to Jang Gwan-bi.

“It seems something has happened. Then, have a safe journey.”

“Thank you, Jo Hwi.”