Episode 196. Don’t stay away from the official.
The next morning.
Yeonjeok, who had slowly gotten up and gone down to the restaurant, stopped in his tracks when he saw the unexpected visitors.
The deputy commissioner of the Gaebongseong Fortress, Cheon Ryang-ji, arrived with a familiar military officer.
Cheon Ryang-ji, who had been looking back at the sound, got up from his seat.
“Your Majesty, how have you been?”
“Oh, yes. But what’s the matter this time?”
Yeonjeokha tilted her head.
Because the deputy chief inspector didn’t have any business coming to see him in the morning.
“I heard the news. I heard you caught the con artists. I came to congratulate you.”
While speaking, Cheon Ryang Ji observed Yeon Jeok Ha’s expression.
I was worried that he might be offended by my coming to congratulate him.
The government and the martial arts world do not invade each other like a river and a well, but that does not mean there is no interaction at all.
After Cheonryangji discovered Yeonjeokha’s true identity, he began to focus his attention on the guest house.
Of course, it is to strengthen ties with the Nokrim General Patrol.
Regardless of your sect, it is secretly helpful to get to know the masters of the martial arts world.
It’s like the relationship between a crocodile and a crocodile bird.
Furthermore, although he lives in the Green Forest, he is not a vicious thief. Rather, he is a martial arts master who struggles to live an ordinary life and gets scammed. To him, he is an opponent with a lot to fight against.
Yeonjeokha muttered with a sullen face.
“How did you know that?”
“I heard about this while I was looking around for the Yeong Gongja. By the way, did you know? In Luoyang alone, more than ten people committed suicide because of those guys. There was even a family that committed suicide because of the shock.”
“They are really bad guys.”
“If you hand it over to me, I can behead you before the snow falls… … .”
Cheonryangji trailed off.
I had no intention of stopping him even if he said he would take revenge himself.
“Beheading? You can’t kill such bad guys so easily.”
“Oh, that’s a fair point. Considering the suffering the victims endured while alive, beheading is a bit much.”
Cheonryangji quickly changed his words.
As Yeonjeok-ha stared blankly, Cheonryang-ji, who had become awkward, pointed to an empty seat.
“Please sit down for a moment. I would like to hear the opinion of the late Duke Yeon.”
In this way, Cheon Ryang-ji used the excuse of being a conman to lead a conversation with Yeon Jeok-ha.
As the conversation became more comfortable, Cheon Ryang-ji spoke in a quiet tone.
“Your Majesty, there are two axes that move this world. Do you know what they are?”
“What is it?”
“That is the government and the martial arts world. In fact, they try to divide the river water and the well water, but how is that the case in the world? It is just like distinguishing between the martial arts world and the ordinary world. How are the martial arts world and the ordinary world separate? If you take one more step forward in your life, isn’t it martial arts?”
Yeonjeok nodded his head vigorously.
That wasn’t much different from what he had said to Nam Soo-kyung.
“That’s right. If you take a strong step in the world, you’ll be a strong man. Wow! You speak well, perhaps because you’re a manager!”
“Haha! I knew you would be able to communicate well with Prince Yeon. The same goes for the government and the martial arts world. Since ancient times, there has been a lot of exchange between us, whether we know it or not.”
“is it so?”
“Most of the officers are from the military or martial arts factions. Unless they have cut ties with the Buddhist clan, isn’t it natural for them to come and go?”
“I see.”
He showed interest in the words of the person he was dating.
It was quite fun because it was my first time talking about everyday life with an official.
“Your Majesty, please do not shun an official like me. Although I may not be of much help to you, it is a hundred times better than not having one.”
“… … .”
When Yeonjeokha looked at him with a puzzled expression, Cheonryangji quickly continued speaking.
“In the world of martial arts, the information power of Haomen and Gaebong is considered the most powerful, but in fact, the information power of the government office is even more outstanding. Isn’t there no place in the world where there are no government officials?”
He nodded his head in agreement.
It was not ordinary just to find out that the con artists had committed crimes in Luoyang.
“I believe it was Heaven’s will that I met Yeon Gongja here. If you need anything, please call me at any time. I will help you without holding back to the extent of my ability.”
Cheon Ryang-ji, who had poured out what he wanted to say, looked at Yeon Jeok-ha with secret eyes.
For a moment, silence fell between the two.
“You will help me?”
“exactly.”
“For free?”
“That’s obvious. How can we accept an exchange of favors between us?”
Cheon Ryang-ji subtly emphasized, “Between us.”
This is because when you do that, something that is ‘nothing’ will soon be transformed into something that is ‘special’.
“Oh my! Thank you.”
Although he didn’t know why his lover Cheonryangji was showing him such kindness, he didn’t refuse.
There is a saying that if it is free, you will drink even lye. It is a saying that suits someone like Yeonjeokha. To him, who learned the ways of life in the green forest, free is a ‘good thing.’
“There’s one thing I’m curious about anyway. You know, the famous religion and the Justice Alliance are going to fight, right?”
“I heard that too.”
“Do you know when and where the fight will take place?”
“Hmm! I’m not sure when, but I have a rough idea of where.”
“Do you know where the fight will take place?”
Yeonjeokha’s eyes widened.
I asked without much expectation, just in case, but you know?
“I was already on edge about the fight they were waging. That’s why I was diligently sending people to both the Yumeonggyo and the Jeongui Alliance.”
“Where did they fight?”
“The famous religion is planning to have a showdown between the Righteous Alliance and the Heavenly Sword in Hanam Province.”
“Are you sure?”
“It is certain that the famous religious leaders are not moving at all in Jeongju. If they had planned to fight at Namjikrye Castle, they would have already moved.”
“Does the Justice League know about that?”
“I probably don’t know. All the people related to the Justice League have gone to Nanjing. Their only interest is in openness, but they are mostly concentrated in Nanjing now… … By the way, do you know what Nokrim is planning to do?”
Cheonryangji examined Yeonjeokha’s complexion.
One of the reasons I took the time to visit Yeonjeokha was to catch a glimpse of the Nokrim trend.
In that sense, Cheon Ryang-ji was a typical official.
I’m trying to leak information about the famous church and the Justice Alliance and get information about the Nokrim.
“When I see the old man keep telling me to do things on my own, it seems like he’s just trying to watch a performance and eat rice cakes. That old man is actually quite lazy. He keeps putting off the things he has to do.”
Cheonryangji’s eyes sparkled.
As a high-ranking official, he could find out a lot from Yeon-jeok-ha’s words.
“Haha. So what are you thinking, Yeon Gongja?”
A dry spit gulped down his throat.
At first, it was a conversation that started simply to get to know this person from the Green Forest. However, when I found out that the Pacheonma Army had given him full authority, my mouth became dry.
“What can I do? Who do I run around for? Once is enough. I won’t do it twice.”
“What do you mean, ‘once’?”
“At the request of the chief pastor, I cleaned the mountain vegetables a while ago.”
“ah!”
Cheonryangji thought to himself, ‘I must find out what happened in Nokrim recently.’
I don’t know the details, but judging from the fact that it’s called cleaning, it looks like they’ve beaten up quite a few people.
“I’ve been through so much for almost a year. I’d be an idiot if I get fooled again.”
“Haha! That’s right. I didn’t know the first time, but how about the second time?”
“Right? That’s why I’m going to pretend not to know. I’m going to just stay in the guest room and be quiet.”
“You’ve thought it through. Now that you’ve got your money back, what are you going to do? If you’re interested in coming to the opening, I can look into it for you.”
From the perspective of the deputy chief of the police, Cheonryangji hoped that Yeonjeokha would remain quiet.
“I heard that the opening price is at least this much?”
“That’s because the scammers only show you the best inns. They drag you here and there and make you think the inns are expensive, and then they rip you off.”
Of course, they usually sell other people’s buildings for less than the market price and run away. However, if they think the other person is a fool, they sometimes put a lid on it.
“Then how much does it cost to buy it?”
“Even if it’s an open-air hotel, a guest house of this level would cost seven or eight thousand nyang.”
“What the hell! These scammers!”
As his anger grew, he slammed the table with a ‘bang!’
Cheonryangji waited for Yeonjeokha to calm down and then asked again.
“Would you like me to check out the guest rooms in my building?”
“It’s okay. I like it here.”
I had no intention of going to another guest house.
Hyojaam Temple, located close to the guesthouse but in a secluded location, was a suitable place for training.
“How about buying a guest house from Namchogyeol? I think it would be possible to take it over for 4500 nyang.”
Nam Soo-kyung, who had been listening to the conversation between the two people at the checkout counter, approached them at a brisk pace.
“Excuse me, can I interrupt for a moment?”
Cheonryangji frowned slightly.
How dare Nam Soo-kyung interfere in this place!
After seeing Cheon Ryang-ji’s unpleasant expression, military officer Im Sa-seong took a step closer to Nam Su-gyeong.
“Friend! Come on. What do you mean by meddling? My business is yours. I was going to ask you about it sooner or later.”
At the word friend, Im Sa-seong naturally passed her and walked towards the checkout counter. It was as if he had something to do and was moving towards the checkout counter.
Cheonryangji also smiled and pointed to the empty seat.
“Haha! Now I see that Lady Nam was a friend of Prince Yeon. If I had known, I would have invited you a long time ago. Please take a seat.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
If it were before, she would have been too busy being careful, but Nam Soo-kyung was confident. This was because she knew that Yeon Jeok-ha, a martial arts world eccentric, was sincere to her.
“I don’t know what Grandpa thinks, but I don’t want to sell the inn.”
“… … .”
Cheonryangji looked embarrassed and said something else.
“How about this instead? Yeon Gongja and his grandfather will be the owners of the inn together, just like they are now.”
Yeonjeokha looked at Namsookyung with a puzzled look.
“Become masters together? How?”
“Why don’t we give half of the guest house fee to Grandpa and run it together? Grandpa’s health is not good, so he can’t run it by himself anyway.”
Nam Soo-kyung wanted to keep Yeon Jeok-ha by her side in that way.
If Cheonryangji introduces another guest house to Yeonjeokha, he will leave without hesitation. She did not want to send Yeonjeokha away just because of the ownership of the guest house.
“Oh! That’s a good idea. I think it’ll be fine if we do as Lady Nam says. What do you think? I’ll have someone write up the contract properly.”
Cheonryangji wanted to help Yeonjeokha in some way.
Then Yeonjeokha said with an ambiguous expression.
“That sounds good, but I don’t think my friend’s grandfather would approve. He gets impatient whenever he sees me.”
“No. My grandfather has been feeling sorry since the con artists were caught. He said that he used to be half-hearted and harsh towards them.”
Even if that weren’t the case, Nam Soo-kyung was confident in this contract.
Anyway, my grandfather had left the management and ownership of the inn to me.
If there is opposition, I plan to make it happen unconditionally, even if it means resorting to force.
“If my friend’s grandfather doesn’t object, I’m all for it! My friend will take care of managing the inn anyway. I just need a place to eat and play.”
Nam Soo-kyung snickered as she looked at Yeon-jeok-ha.
I don’t understand why people who just want to play and eat always go to Hyojaam to practice swordsmanship. With that kind of money, they could enjoy the pleasures of Gaebong for the rest of their lives.
Around lunchtime.
In front of the official sent by Cheonryangji, a contract for joint ownership was drawn up with Namchogyeol and Yeongdeok.
Nam Cho-gyeol muttered with an awkward expression after signing the contract.
“Hmm, hmm. A small inn with two owners. What is this?”
Contrary to his grumbling words, Nam Cho-gyeol was secretly happy.
I know that Yeonjeokha is rich and has great martial arts skills, so why would I dislike him?
‘That’s good. Yeah.’
It’s good for his granddaughter that he’s in the guest house too.
Before, I used to find it annoying just to watch him eat, but now I find him needlessly sane.
Wuxia,
