A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

Chapter 62

A long silence.

For Choi Seon-gae, it was probably the first time ever that he could not speak to someone face to face for such a long time.

“Father…”

Chun Seon, unable to endure it any longer, called out to Choi Seon-gae, but his face remained cold, showing no signs of emotion, only a frozen stillness.

“Father.”

“I know this is hard to believe, but I have always been sincere with you.”

“Just one question.”

Chun Seon shuddered slightly, as if a chill ran down her spine, and then opened her mouth with difficulty at the indifferent face of Choi Seon-gae.

“Please, speak.”

Choi Seon-gae’s eyes burned like an active volcano.

“Why did you laugh?”

“What?”

Choi Seon-gae touched his Tianling Cap (a part of the body related to energy points).

“You laughed after you drugged me and anesthetized my entire body, and then drilled into my skull to implant loneliness in me.”

“That…!”

“When I barely regained consciousness, you were smiling more brightly than any smile you had shown before. I still sometimes dream of your smile, drenched in cold sweat.”

Chun Seon stuttered.

“As you know, controlling the Tianling Cap is dangerous medical practice. You must have been relieved that the procedure was over.”

Choi Seon-gae let out a hollow laugh and muttered bitterly.

“Now, even lies are no longer free.”

“It’s not a lie!”

Choi Seon-gae withdrew his hand from his Tianling Cap and slowly interlocked his fingers.

“Relieved? Yes, that smile was a smile of relief. But it was relief in a different sense.”

“What do you mean…?”

Choi Seon-gae’s mouth twisted in a strange grimace.

“It was the satisfaction of finally completing the mission. The thrill of accomplishment. The enormous reward you’d receive from the upper echelons. At that moment, in your mind, you must have imagined such a beautiful future, a rosy life trajectory. A smile of relief that combined all the pleasures of life.”

“No… that’s not true!”

Choi Seon-gae smiled faintly.

“Do you know what the first thing you said to me when I woke up was? No, you probably don’t remember.”

“What?”

“The first thing you said to me, covered in my own blood, was surprisingly, ‘You disgusting bastard.’ All the time we spent together, from the moment you opened my skull and implanted the blood core, was disgusting to you, wasn’t it? Or maybe, because I was already ugly, seeing me drenched in blood made it even more disgusting.”

At that moment, Chun Seon faintly recalled the memory.

She had never imagined he would remember that time so clearly while he was drugged, his pupils unfocused.

Creeeak—

As Choi Seon-gae stood up from his chair, Chun Seon, who was tied up with ropes, began to struggle.

“Don’t… come near me! Didn’t you forget? The blood core is in your body…!”

Choi Seon-gae laughed again with a slight smirk.

“Unfortunately, the blood core in my head was completely burned by the consciousness of the soul-rejuvenation technique. The martial arts of the Absolute Realm are truly extraordinary.”

“Save me… gurgle…”

With an indifferent face, Choi Seon-gae tightened his grip on Chun Seon’s neck and heard her last breath.

“Who can I blame? The fool was me. Let’s never meet again, neither in this life nor the next.”

Tears of blood were now flowing from his eyes.

Zhou Hui had quickly left the Zhou Family Association but, frustratingly, found that there was nowhere to go.

He couldn’t go to Namgung Jang-ho or Jang Il-ryong for complaints, as they were both also tired from their own work.

The reality that he had no true friend to confide in, someone to share his burdens, made him feel even more despondent.

He briefly considered visiting the Namgung family or the Tang family, or even the Meng family, but they were all bound by business relationships. He couldn’t consider them true friends.

‘Have I been living wrong in this martial world?’

Lost in self-deprecation, Zhou Hui decided to stop by any random tavern near Poyang Lake to quench his thirst.

Five Hu Tavern.

This was not a tavern affiliated with the Zhou Family Association.

However, in order to avoid attracting attention, Zhou Hui casually changed his appearance near the river and entered through the front.

“Welcome!”

It was not the modern world, nor was it any ordinary world of martial arts, yet Zhou Hui, known as the Soul-Resurrecting Sword, found himself drinking alone.

The tavernkeeper, noticing his somber expression, immediately showed concern.

“Shall I prepare some poison wine for you?”

Indeed, wherever you went, the tavernkeepers were keen on reading the mood.

This one was probably at least five years into the job of serving with sharp instincts.

“Bring the strongest one.”

“I’ll bring the ‘Drunken Immortal’!”

The Drunken Immortal.

It was the infamous strong poison wine from Poyang Lake, known for making you lose consciousness for three whole days and nights if you drank it.

Zhou Hui had heard of it but had never tasted it himself.

“Bring it over. I don’t need any snacks.”

“Yes, customer!”

As the tavernkeeper hurried away, Zhou Hui slumped into a seat by the window.

Even now, the elders in the spiritual realm were still fighting endlessly, and Zhou Hui gritted his teeth to block out the noise.

“Ugh… damn old fools.”

However, at that moment, voices from the tavern caught Zhou Hui’s attention.

“Damn it! In this situation, things were better before!”

“Right! Even though the Heavens’ Bloodline were a bunch of savages, they didn’t tie up merchants like this!”

“Sigh… don’t even mention it. Now, customers in the city won’t even look at anything unless it’s from the Zhou Family Association. I’ve never seen such brutal business tactics in my life! Refunds? No, exchanging goods or returning them for coins—what kind of nonsense is that? Merchants are no fools!”

A policy of exchanging goods or refunding money for reasons such as product defects or change of mind was a developed business model of the modern world.

When the Zhou Family Association entered the Poyang Lake region, they introduced this refund policy.

In fact, when Zhou Hui first observed the markets of the Central Plains, he was utterly astounded by the state of affairs.

There was still no refrigeration technology, and the food products in the markets would spoil within a few days. The merchants, fully aware of this, simply used masking techniques to sell the spoiled goods, eager to make money at any cost.

The customers who later discovered the issue did not even think of complaining, taking the matter with a casual attitude as bad luck. This passive mindset was also a problem.

In the Central Plains at that time, concepts like corporate integrity or consumer rights did not exist.

So when Zhou Hui first suggested the business model of a refund policy, the affiliated merchants of the Zhou Family Association strongly opposed it.

It was obvious that profits would sharply decline as a result.

However, Zhou Hui, with firm conviction, pushed forward with the refund policy.

Initially, profits did indeed drop sharply, but he knew from his experience in the modern world that building consumer trust would later translate into enormous profits.

The result was exactly the scene in this tavern.

Zhou Hui, smiling wryly, muttered to himself.

“Selling spoiled meat and vegetables sprinkled with preservative powder, selling rusty and worn-out knives rubbed with pig fat, selling ordinary timber as if it were precious sandalwood… Wasn’t that wrong from the start? Why blame only the Zhou Family Association for all this? Haven’t they profited enough already?”

Zhou Hui’s words poured oil on the fire.

“You, a young brat, what do you know about business ethics?!”

“You bastard! How dare you speak like that to the managers of Mo-Ga Merchant Guild!”

Merchants have their own way of handling things.

Most merchants would temper their words after assessing the appearance or demeanor of their counterpart, but these merchants, seeing Zhou Hui, immediately started pointing their fingers. They were so blinded by anger that they could no longer think rationally.

However, their instincts, honed by years of shallow dealings, could not be ignored.

After angrily shouting, their faces slowly began to pale.

They finally realized that Zhou Hui, dressed in luxurious silks and adorned with various accessories, was no ordinary person.

“Ah, we don’t know which noble family you belong to, but your words are extremely rude! Please withdraw them!”

Zhou Hui sneered.

“No, I won’t. Objectively speaking, there’s nothing wrong with what Zhou Family Association is doing. Exchanging a defective product for a new one is ensuring the rights of the customers, isn’t it?”

Before the managers of Mo-Ga Merchant Guild could respond, a voice from the corner of the window interrupted.

A young nobleman, also wearing fine silks, who looked like someone from a distinguished family, had been quietly sipping tea and observing the scene.

“Exchanging products that have lost their value and replacing them with proper goods is indeed in line with the merchant’s duty,” the nobleman said, smiling warmly at Zhou Hui.

“However, exchanging those goods for money is another matter. Surely, this is an attempt to dominate the market of Poyang Lake. Such a policy is far beyond the ethics of business.”

Zhou Hui, sensing a slight prick, forced a smile and looked back at him.

“Such competition is what drives the market forward.”

The nobleman laughed heartily.

“Haha! You claim to protect the rights of those who purchase goods, but in reality, what Zhou Family Association is aiming for is to dominate the Poyang Lake market. As a new merchant group, they are willing to bear temporary losses to win over the people of Poyang Lake. The president of Zhou Family Association, that ‘Soul-Resurrecting Sword,’ is truly a formidable and dangerous man.”

“……”

Though it seemed like praise, it was far from it.

As the nobleman’s words dug deeper into his intentions, Zhou Hui began to look at him with interest.

“Competition is always like this, isn’t it? When your competitor introduces an exchange or refund policy, you either adopt the same policy or quickly respond with another strategy. Competing on price is simply the natural logic of the marketplace. Blaming Zhou Family Association for it is admitting that you lack the ability to compete.”

However, despite Zhou Hui’s logical argument, the nobleman at the window was unwavering.

“There is a contradiction in your argument.”

“What contradiction?”

The nobleman smiled slyly.

“Unlike the massive Zhou Family Association, they don’t have the ability to bear ‘temporary losses.’ Exchanges? Refunds? They probably can’t even last a month, let alone seven days. That’s the absence of business ethics. What Zhou Family Association is doing is simply the ruthless violence of a giant merchant group.”

“……”

Zhou Hui was left speechless by his well-reasoned rebuttal.

His logic was similar to a critique of the violent management methods of modern conglomerates.

“The great merchant guilds of the Central Plains have adhered to the ethics of business all these years because they wish to coexist. If they had been focused solely on profit, they would have acted just like the Zhou Family Association. In the current market, the Zhou Family Association is undoubtedly a great evil.”

When his argument reached that point, Zhou Hui couldn’t help but be astonished.

“Am I the great evil?”

No, absolutely not!

Although he couldn’t deny the intention to dominate the Poyang Lake market, he had a clear sense of goodwill in his heart to protect consumer rights.

“Heh, do you really think the great merchants had such a conscience?”

“Is there a merchant who doesn’t hold the ethics of business in their heart?”

Zhou Hui’s lips twisted strangely, forming a wry smile.

“You don’t understand how difficult it is for a merchant to relinquish profit. What they’ve protected isn’t the ethics of business but their vested interests. If they simply turned a blind eye to the fraudulent actions of their subordinates selling defective goods, their immense profits would be guaranteed without needing to stir up trouble.”

As soon as Zhou Hui finished speaking, the wine server placed the wine jar on the table, and Zhou Hui poured himself a drink.

“Hmm. The ones who are desperate for immediate profits—what do they know about the rights of the buyers? Merchant integrity? How laughable. Can we just throw around such lofty words? Where has the true greatness gone?”

“How dare you…!”

The nobleman leaped to his feet in fury.

At Zhou Hui’s scathing critique of the merchant guilds, he finally lost his composure.

“Gasp! That badge!”

His disheveled clothing revealed a small jade pendant.

The finely engraved characters on the pendant read “Tianhua”.

The managers of Mo-Ga Merchant Guild immediately stood up and bowed deeply.

“We greet the Tianhua Guild!”

“We greet the greatest guild in the world!”

Tianhua Guild.

It was a colossal merchant group, rivaling the Mangem Guild for supremacy in the world.

This guild was so powerful that it handled inter-country trade and had a massive influence.

However, unlike the Mangem Guild, which pursued wealth at all costs, the Tianhua Guild was famous for its chivalric principles.

Their acts of charity were endless—helping starving people during droughts, sending free doctors during plagues, and other good deeds that were constantly spoken of.

“Tianhua Guild?”

Zhou Hui’s eyes immediately lit up with interest.

Given that the man before him wore the radiant Tianhua jade pendant, he must have held a significant position within the Tianhua Guild.

“Are you… Prince Xiaotianhua?”

The question from the guild managers made the man nod quietly, confirming that he was indeed the renowned Xiaotianhua, Tan Xi.

Tan Xi, the first son of the Tianhua Guild’s leader!

A renowned figure in the business world, his talent and commercial acumen were said to surpass even his father’s.

Tan Xi continued to gaze at Zhou Hui with intense, steady eyes.

“How dare you speak of the hypocrisy of the great merchants in front of me? You will surely have to take responsibility for your words.”

But Zhou Hui, still unfazed, simply took another sip from his wine glass.

“So, you intend to deny everything to the end?”

The reputation of Xiaotianhua was not just known among the martial world and government officials—it was feared everywhere.

Even after clearly identifying himself, Zhou Hui still treated him with disdain.

Now, instead of anger, Zhou Hui was filled with interest.

Then, Tan Xi’s voice, filled with the weight of Tianhua’s authority, echoed through the room.

“Are you a martial artist?”

“Haha, martial artist?”

Zhou Hui let out a quiet laugh.

Having drunk several cups of wine, Zhou Hui now stood up, somewhat unsteady, and approached Tan Xi with the wine bottle in hand.

Without permission, he sat down at Tan Xi’s table, and Tan Xi’s expression darkened further.

Zhou Hui, emboldened by the alcohol, offered the wine bottle to Tan Xi.

“Care for a drink? I don’t have any friends today.”

“Rude! Do you intend to continue speaking like this? I will…!”

“Heh, even a dog is half-fed in front of its own house. Why did you come to Jiangsu?”

“You!”

“What’s with all the talk? We’re about the same age, let’s just be friends, huh?”

“Jiangsu!”

Tan Xi, unable to control his rage, finally called for his guards.

Outside the tavern, the guards of the Tianhua Guild immediately rushed in.

Soon, they surrounded Zhou Hui!

The leader of the guards approached Tan Xi and bowed deeply.

“Please give us your orders!”

Zhou Hui furrowed his brows.

“I was just offering a drink. Is it really necessary to call for your swords?”

“Swords?”

The guards, who looked like they couldn’t even lift a sword, stood frozen in surprise. The situation had turned absurd.

It was even more absurd when Zhou Hui, with no sword skills of his own, dared to address them as “sword bearers.”

“Are you really going to do this?”

The guard, furious, drew his sword in a violent motion, but froze abruptly.

His instincts told him something was wrong.

For some reason, as he reached for his sword, he felt as though he would die instantly if he drew it.

“Gasp…!”

In an instant, the sword hanging at Zhou Hui’s side, as if by magic, was pointed directly at the guard’s forehead.

The veteran guard’s instincts saved him, as the blade barely missed.

Zhou Hui, still with an indifferent expression, stared at Tan Xi.

“I was just offering a drink.”

With a flick of his wrist, Zhou Hui made the sword hover in the air in front of him.

It was clear that he was using qi to control the sword.

Moreover, the formidable skill contained within the sword was beyond what could be imagined.

As Kang Hoi gazed at the legendary level of swordsmanship unfolding right before him, it felt unreal, as if it couldn’t possibly be happening in reality.

What kind of swordsmanship was this? Was this some sort of legendary sword technique, like the Three Calamities Sword?

The astonishment was not limited to Kang Hoi alone; the guards surrounding Jo Hwi were equally stunned.

“Put down your sword. Do you really want to end up in your own blood?”

Though Jo Hwi casually said this while looking slightly disheveled from the alcohol, the guards could not ignore the seriousness of his words.

Silently, the guards slowly sheathed their swords.

Jo Hwi, with a slight smile, looked at Tam Hui.

“See? This is what happens when you hire warriors with money. Even without a command from their master, they put away their weapons.”

Tam Hui remained silent, only expressing his fury through his intense gaze.

“You see, a reclusive merchant can never save the life of a warrior. Even if you’re from Tianhua, you’re still just a merchant.”

The swordsmanship in question, known as “Qi-Controlled Sword,” could not be executed without a solid foundation of focused thought and intention. It was an extremely advanced technique.

This was a swordsmanship that symbolized absolute mastery.

Achieving such a level of skill at such a young age? There was no one else in the martial world of the Central Plains with a comparable reputation.

“You are that ‘Little Sword God’?”

“Yes.”

“Yes”? That’s it!?

The person before him was one of the eight greatest martial masters of the Central Plains, a legendary figure known as the “Eight Masters.” And yet his words were so flippant!

Moreover, Tam Hui was an admirer of this legendary swordsman’s disciple!

“If the person known as Little Tianhua has come to visit Jiangxi, then I believe it’s not without reason. Am I mistaken?”

“No, you’re correct. I’ve come to visit the Great Merchant Association.”

Jo Hwi chuckled.

“See, I told you I was right, we should’ve had a drink together earlier.”

Kang Hoi, observing all this, was even more astonished than before.

He was now face-to-face with the person who had single-handedly brought down the notorious Black Heaven Alliance, a leader of the unorthodox sects!

This carefree man, who appeared so casual, was the Little Sword God, a revered figure among orthodox martial artists, widely praised by swordsmen across the lands!

This man was already receiving full support from the younger generation of swordsmen and was expected to rival the famous Zaha Sword Saint in terms of skill.

When considering his age, it was clear he would soon surpass even Zaha Sword Saint and become the greatest swordsman in the world.

Kang Hoi respectfully stepped forward.

“I am Jiang Hai, the leader of Tianhua’s guards. I have long admired the reputation of Little Sword God.”

Jo Hwi grinned and waved his hand.

“That kind of formal greeting should be saved for Brother Namgung. He’ll love it.”

“Brother Namgung?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll meet him soon. But can you all leave for a bit? There are plenty of people eating here, and it’s getting a little uncomfortable.”

The atmosphere inside the inn became quite tense as guards with swords poured in.

“Understood.”

As Tianhua’s guards quietly withdrew, Jo Hwi, now pleased, offered the wine bottle filled with the famous “Drunken Immortal” to Tam Hui.

“Now we can finally have a drink.”

Tam Hui frowned for a moment but eventually accepted the cup.

“Alright, pour it.”

Jo Hwi’s eyes gleamed with interest as Tam Hui addressed him in such a way despite his status as the Little Sword God. Jo Hwi could see the prideful nature of the man, who was not willing to bow to anyone—even Jo Hwi.

He actually found it even more interesting.

“But why are your hands shaking?”

“I… I’m not shaking! It’s just a cold!”

“No, it’s definitely shaking.”

“Nonsense!”

“Trying to act tough, huh?”

“Shut up!”

Clearly irritated, Tam Hui downed the entire drink of Drunken Immortal in one go.

“Ugh!”

“You should’ve shared it. This is a famous liquor from Jiangxi.”

Ah, where did the reputation of the Little Tianhua go?

Whether it was in refinement, wisdom, virtue, or martial arts, Tam Hui was known as a genius in the region of Shanxi. However, for some reason, he could not maintain his composure today.

After all, even the legendary strategist Zhuge Yun became a fool when standing before Jo Hwi, so it wasn’t surprising that Tam Hui was acting this way.

As the wine circulated, Tam Hui’s face flushed, and he showed signs of getting drunk.

“I’ll ask directly.”

“Feel free to speak in as complicated a way as you like.”

Tam Hui bit his lip.

Jo Hwi’s way of speaking was truly unique—he had a way of unsettling his opponents and turning their thoughts upside down.

Tam Hui then pulled out a document from his sleeve and spread it out on the table.

“Taiyuan in Shanxi, Tai’an in Shandong, Yongqing in Hebei, Danyang in Jiangsu, Xinmi in Henan, Huanggang in Hubei.”

“Hmm?”

“We’re planning to open branches of Tianhua Trading in all these places.”

Jo Hwi looked at the map that Tam Hui had spread out, his expression turning strange.

All these places were in direct competition with the territory of the Golden Coin Alliance.

The intention was clear.

“You plan to take over the entire territory of the Golden Coin Alliance during this time of chaos?”

“I already knew. The fall of the Golden Coin Alliance is not unrelated to the Little Sword God.”

“Ah?”

Jo Hwi was inwardly shocked by this unexpected answer.

His actions had been so secretive that even the upper echelons of the Great Merchant Association were mostly unaware of them.

How did Tianhua Trading know about his covert movements?

“Could it be her?”

At that moment, Zho Hui thought of the infamous, information-peddling innkeeper Hong Ye, who would sell any information, regardless of its origin, as long as the price was right. However, gathering intelligence was Zho Hui’s own unique skill, and he did not need to scrutinize where the information came from.

“Given all the facts and the context, it’s clear that the fall of the Wan Jin Sect was due to the actions of the Zhou Jia Sect. Do you intend to deny this?” Zho Hui asked, smiling faintly.

“Go on,” said Dam Hui with a grin.

“If it were the usual behavior of the Little Sword Immortal, you would have swiftly and decisively taken over the Wan Jin Sect’s territories, and before anyone could react, diverted attention elsewhere, just as you did in the past with the Kongshan. We know that’s how you operate,” Dam Hui continued.

Zho Hui nodded gravely. Dam Hui was speaking of how, after his defeat of the Black Sky Alliance, he had quickly consolidated control over the Poyang Ho market and distracted everyone by hosting a grand internal factional event.

“But why didn’t you actually take over the vast territory of Wan Jin Sect when you had the chance? This is what the Little Heaven’s judgment has been about,” Dam Hui said, his tone getting sharper.

Zho Hui smirked. “Did you think I didn’t take it because the prize was too big for me to handle?”

Dam Hui retorted, “You’re going to say no, aren’t you?”

“Ha, keep going,” Zho Hui responded with interest.

“The power base that Wan Jin had, just like Tian Hua, was vast. They had connections with the imperial family, government officials, and the military. Of course, to fully absorb their influence, you couldn’t just move forward without the acknowledgment of their allies. You couldn’t act until you had a firm understanding of their tangled web of interests,” Dam Hui explained.

From Zho Hui’s perspective, part of this was true, but part of it wasn’t. What Dam Hui didn’t know was that the presence of the “Tong Tian Zhen Xin” behind the scenes was a key reason Zho Hui couldn’t move as freely. However, Zho Hui couldn’t share this secret with Dam Hui.

Zho Hui smiled more deeply. “So, should we go ahead and eat together?”

Dam Hui nodded silently.

“Don’t underestimate the power of Tian Hua. We know everyone connected to the imperial family, officials, and generals who had dealings with the Wan Jin Sect. If we are given a little more time, we can uncover all their trade terms, interests, and weaknesses. The enemy’s enemy is our ally, after all,” Dam Hui added.

Zho Hui asked with a mysterious smile, “So what do you want from me in return?”

“Half of the Wan Jin Sect’s territory,” Dam Hui demanded.

Zho Hui’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “You’re asking for half? After everything I’ve been through, struggling for so long, you want me to give up half of their territory? No way. Go back,” he said firmly.

“Then what do you want?!” Dam Hui’s temper flared.

“Even if I were to agree, I’d still want more from you. What else do you have to offer?” Zho Hui said, raising his eyebrows.

Dam Hui glared at him. “You think I can’t handle this because I’m from a smaller sect? Can you handle a true national-scale operation, beyond just regional dominance? Can your Zhou Jia Sect really extend its influence like that?”

Zho Hui smirked, “I think we can, actually.”

Dam Hui scoffed, “Impossible. Your Zhou Jia Sect doesn’t even have access to the Stone Honey trade yet. How can you hope to take over the entire world like that?”

“Then do you think you can supply Stone Honey? Are you saying you have access to it?” Zho Hui raised an eyebrow.

Dam Hui laughed cryptically. “Ha! Now you see the true power of Tian Hua! Our warehouse is full of Stone Honey!”

Zho Hui’s eyes lit up. “Can you sell some of it to our Zhou Jia Sect? I’ll pay any price.”

Dam Hui shook his head. “No.”

Zho Hui’s expression turned serious. He knew the Zhou Jia Sect, despite its power, was still relatively small compared to Tian Hua Sect. Their reach was not even close to matching Tian Hua’s vast experience and resources.

“I need something else. Perhaps you could open up trade routes with Tian Zhu or give us a spot on the Silk Road? That would be worth half of the Wan Jin Sect’s territory,” Zho Hui suggested.

“Trade routes with Tian Zhu? The Silk Road?” Dam Hui repeated. These were dreams every merchant in the central plains desired.

“Do you know how monumental it is to secure a trade route with Tian Zhu or the Silk Road?” Dam Hui asked, incredulously.

Zho Hui responded confidently, “Of course I do. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. You could amass a fortune in gold and open up trade with both the Emperor of the Central Plains and the great kings and nobles of the Western Regions. It’s the ultimate goal for any merchant.”

Dam Hui sighed in disbelief. “And you’re still asking for half of Wan Jin’s territory after knowing all this?”

Zho Hui smirked. “The value of half of Wan Jin’s territory is exactly what I’ve offered. With that, even Little Heaven could find his way here. But there’s one thing I really wonder about…” he trailed off, looking at Dam Hui closely.

“What’s that?” Dam Hui asked, a sense of unease creeping in.

Zho Hui’s eyes gleamed as he asked, “Do you truly have the authority to make this deal as Little Heaven? I wonder if you really have the power to negotiate with me. Without that, what’s the point of all this talk?”

Dam Hui, offended, stood up suddenly, glaring with wide eyes. He hadn’t realized it, but Zho Hui’s casual provocations had struck deep.

“How dare you say that!” Dam Hui spat, his pride hurt.

Zho Hui smiled, his voice calm. “I’m just wondering. This is a negotiation, after all. If you truly had the power, you wouldn’t let me make fun of you so easily.”

Dam Hui gritted his teeth, realizing his mistake too late. He had underestimated Zho Hui’s ability to provoke him. His emotions, once controlled, began to boil over.

Finally, after some internal conflict, Dam Hui, unable to hold back any longer, snapped, “Fine! I’ll give you the trade route to Tian Zhu! But that’s the last offer!”

Zho Hui nodded with a satisfied grin. “Agreed.”

In this moment, it became evident that Zho Hui, with his sharp words and unyielding nature, was always in control of the negotiation.

—

Later, as Dam Hui arrived at the gates of the Zhou Jia Sect with a heavy heart, still ruminating on the deal, he couldn’t shake the unease that lingered. Although his pride had been wounded, there was no turning back. He needed to make the most of this deal to gain whatever leverage he could.

However, when he arrived at the gates of the Zhou Jia Sect, an unexpected scene awaited him. Crowds of people were gathered, much more than usual.

“What happened? Is something going on?” Dam Hui wondered, scanning the crowd.

Amid the bustle, his gaze landed on a cart with a long pole, from which a white flag hung. It was an odd sight that caught his attention. “What’s this?” he murmured.

As soon as he saw the carriage, Zhou Hui immediately recognized where it came from.

“From the Sima family?”

But why has it arrived only now?

It had already been several months since Sima Zhong, the young master of the Sima family, left his clan, waving a white flag. Zhou Hui couldn’t help but smirk with a mischievous smile.

The prideful and noble man, Wujun, who had lived his life as the young master of the number one family, would never have been able to move that carriage during the day while flying the humiliating white flag. He must have been traveling only at night when no one could see.

Furthermore, the reason for his white flag wasn’t because he had been defeated in battle but merely to apologize to the Zhou Family. A man from a military family, his pride would never allow him to accept such an act lightly. If it hadn’t been for the senior members of his family insisting, he would never have come this far.

Zhou Hui, knowing the immense humiliation Sima Zhong must be feeling, approached the carriage with even more interest.

“Is… Is that the Sword Saint?”

“That’s Chairman Zhou Hui!”

Upon spotting Zhou Hui, the crowd instantly froze in awe, their faces showing deep respect.

For the people of the Jiangnan region, living without the Zhou Family was an unimaginable reality. To them, Zhou Hui held the power over life and death. As a result, the name of the Sword Saint was as revered as the emperor’s.

Zhou Hui then called on his martial guards to disperse the crowd in front of the main gate.

Had he considered profit and loss purely, it might have been better to leave the crowd to witness the grand moment when the Sima family came to surrender. But pushing Wujun further into a corner could have unintended consequences, so Zhou Hui had no choice but to be cautious.

When he reached the front of the carriage, Zhou Hui waited silently for Wujun to disembark.

After a while, the carriage door opened, and a man stepped out.

Although his face seemed rather haggard, his inherent good looks still shone through, almost as if he radiated light in the space around him.

“Ho…”

Zhou Hui had met countless martial experts in his time, but Sima Zhong’s looks were unmatched. He was comparable to the greatest beauties he had encountered, like Han Seolbaek. He was truly the heir of the number one family in the world.

He was a man whose heart seemed as tranquil as a calm lake, and he had the title of “Jun” (prince) written in his very being, a man of refined character who was rare among warriors.

Yet, the clothes he was wearing were a plain white robe—signifying his surrender.

Zhou Hui understood the humiliation Sima Zhong was feeling but paid it no mind.

After all, he had played a part in the political maneuvering with the Meng family, and this was the inevitable outcome.

“Master Sima Zhong of the Sima family.”

“I am Zhou Hui, Chairman of the Zhou Family.”

After exchanging a few formalities, Sima Zhong, his lips trembling slightly, spoke.

“I am here today to express my regret regarding the actions of my family towards the Zhou Family.”

Zhou Hui couldn’t help but smirk inside. The words Sima Zhong used were a bit peculiar. Instead of saying “regret,” he should have used words like “apology” or “schemes” to describe his family’s actions.

The use of the word “regret” instead of “apology” was a careful attempt to protect his family’s pride. Zhou Hui could easily imagine how much time Sima Zhong must have spent rehearsing these words in the carriage.

However, Zhou Hui didn’t point it out.

“It’s not a pleasant situation, so let’s go inside. There are too many eyes here.”

Despite Zhou Hui’s polite gesture, Sima Zhong shook his head.

“I have conveyed my family’s intentions, so I must leave now.”

“You must be exhausted after your long journey. Rest for a while before you leave.”

Sima Zhong, startled as if his secret had been revealed, froze for a moment.

“How does he know about my journey?”

Zhou Hui smiled faintly as he approached the horses pulling the carriage.

“Look at their eyes, cloudy and unfocused. It’s a typical reaction when a horse that’s been in the dark for a long time is suddenly exposed to sunlight.”

As a merchant who sold luxury goods like the “Cloud Carriage” series, Zhou Hui had always taken great care in selecting horses, and he could instantly tell that these horses had been used for smuggling.

Once a horse becomes accustomed to darkness, it loses its sense of direction in the light, often leading to accidents.

“Anyway, I must be going now,” Sima Zhong said, hurriedly climbing back into the carriage.

But just before he could leave, Zhou Hui’s voice cut through the air.

“Hmm. Sending a delegation to celebrate the Clan War while secretly collaborating with the Meng family is not something the Jianghu will overlook. It would be better for you if this doesn’t get exposed.”

“How dare you!”

How could he insult the number one family in the world like that?

Yet, Zhou Hui’s smile remained playful and light.

“Well, if that’s how you want to interpret it, I can’t help it. Just rest for a few days before you leave. Who knows what you might be scheming in the meantime?”

It was an obvious threat. If Sima Zhong didn’t follow through with the agreement, Zhou Hui would expose everything to the world.

“You are bold indeed,” Sima Zhong said through clenched teeth. “To threaten the number one family like this.”

“If that’s how you hear it, so be it. Just think carefully.”

As Zhou Hui entered the Zhou Family’s headquarters, he left Sima Zhong standing there, his face contorted in frustration.

The subordinate of the Sima family whispered softly, “Let’s go, sir.”

Sima Zhong bit his lip so hard it drew blood but said nothing more.

“Just one day. Only one day,” he muttered.

That decision to stay for “one day” would lead to a “lifetime.”

Thus, the Sima family and the Tianhua Merchants Guild arrived at the Zhou Family headquarters at the same time.