A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

Chapter 70

“Wow! This is it!”

With the completed model of the Cao Family Composite Heavenly Tower in his hands, Zhuge Yun was so moved that it seemed he might start crying.

Among the artisans who had brought the model to him, there were others who were also wiping away tears, standing beside him.

In a world where even the basics of physics hadn’t been properly established, building a ten-story high-rise was an extremely difficult task.

Countless measurements and experiments had been conducted, but due to flawed designs, the model had collapsed several times, either unable to withstand the wind and rain or the stress of the load.

The initial failures were quickly understood, and progress was made, but the real problem lay in the collapses for which the cause was not apparent.

The many trial-and-error experiences had pushed the artisans to the brink of despair.

Today’s completed model was the reward for all the hellish years they’d endured!

The emotion was something one could not understand unless they had experienced it themselves.

This was the product of a craftsman’s passion.

Such a result of dedication sometimes took precedence over any other value in life.

Zhuge Yun, holding the model close, continued with a trembling voice.

“Did it really withstand all the tests this time?”

The lead artisan, Nam Cheon-il, nodded decisively without a moment’s hesitation.

“Absolutely! The model has withstood a load ten times its weight for over two months!”

“The cause was indeed the foundation itself,” Zhuge Yun said.

The reason it took so long to complete the model was because Zhuge Yun and the artisans had focused solely on the design of the model itself.

In modern architecture, buildings are first built with a solid foundation.

However, in the world of the Central Plains, where construction only involves preparing the ground to a basic level, trying to build a ten-story high-rise, especially with a steel structure, meant that the foundation would inevitably fail.

It could be said that this was a natural trial and error for the artisans in the Central Plains, who had never built such tall steel structures before.

“That’s right! We reinforced the foundation with a new material, Cheomongto, and it was able to withstand the weight! Even with the massive water reservoir planned for the top of the model, it was more than sufficient!”

The Suwanggo was the large water tank to be placed at the very top of the Cao Family Composite Heavenly Tower.

The Suwanggo was a key component that would revolutionize the living conditions of the Central Plains.

“And what about the Yeolwangno?”

The Yeolwangno was the Central Plains’ equivalent of a modern boiler.

“Haha! Don’t worry! Didn’t I say it can withstand ten times its original weight? There’s no need to test it again!”

At that moment, Zhuge Yun’s expression shifted.

A cold air seemed to envelop his face.

The lead artisan, Nam Cheon-il, grew extremely tense and quickly wiped the smile off his face.

“What is it that I hate the most?” Zhuge Yun asked.

“That is… I thought there was no need to waste resources on another long experiment…” Nam Cheon-il stammered.

“I gave an order, and you just need to follow it. Why are you making judgments on my behalf? What did I clearly say?” Zhuge Yun’s voice became stern.

“To withstand the weight of the entire structure…” Nam Cheon-il replied.

“Exactly. I clearly said ‘all weight.’ The Yeolwangno cannot be omitted. If your only basis for confidence is the small-scale model test, then you should not have come to me.”

Zhuge Yun demanded a full-scale test of the actual model, not just small-scale simulations.

As Nam Cheon-il was being scolded, at that moment, Jo Hwi finally arrived.

“Wow! It’s finally complete!”

Zhuge Yun shook his head firmly.

“Not yet. Not yet.”

***

“Chomp, chomp.”

When he had spent three thousand years in the void, he thought that if he could just taste a single sip of water or feel the slightest breeze, he would be content even if he died. But now, even after eating so much, he was still hungry, and his chopsticks never stopped moving. It made him realize how shallow and pitiful human beings are.

Indeed, humans must eat to survive.

It was a simple truth of nature, and yet he hadn’t experienced it for three thousand years.

Jo Hwi marveled at himself for not going mad, for still keeping his sanity.

“What on earth…”

Zhuge Yun, who had been watching Jo Hwi devour the food, couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

How could a human eat this much so quickly?

Twelve plates of Poman Du (dumplings), five bowls of Ohyang Jang Yook (five-spiced pork), and even the giant bowl of Yuk Gye Yeol Tang (spicy chicken stew), Jo Hwi had been devouring so quickly that Zhuge Yun had lost count.

Zhuge Yun knew Jo Hwi wasn’t a big eater.

In fact, men like Jang Il-ryong and Nam Gung Jang-ho were much closer to being big eaters.

Jo Hwi had always maintained a small appetite, and even after reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, he had never been one to indulge in large meals.

So, seeing Jo Hwi devouring so much food so desperately was something Zhuge Yun couldn’t quite adapt to.

“Did a Gaki (hungry ghost) possess you?”

Jo Hwi chewed for a long time, finally swallowing the food, and wiped his mouth, still smeared with rice and grease, glaring fiercely at Zhuge Yun.

“You should try starving for three thousand years. Let’s see if you end up like this. So don’t look at me like that. It’s making it uncomfortable for me to eat.”

Zhuge Yun shot a sidelong glance at him.

“By the way, why are you speaking informally since yesterday?”

“I was worried you’d feel bad. It’s just me and the vice-president left to speak formally to each other now.”

Suddenly, Jo Hwi realized that now, apart from himself, Sogeomshin had been treating all of his companions like close friends without any formalities.

“Still, I’m a year older than you…”

“Wow, is this really how you’re acting, Sogeogyeol? You’re supposed to be a Little Zhuge (Sogeol) and yet you’re this petty? I’m the sect leader, the head of the faction! Plus, I have all the power!”

“…”

Jo Hwi set his spoon down and continued with more teasing.

“Besides, didn’t you hear? I’m over three thousand years old now. You still don’t believe it? Hm?”

“That’s not something that makes sense. A place like that couldn’t possibly exist. From what I can tell, you’re definitely not normal.”

“Ha! I have witnesses!”

“Did you spend time with them in that place called the Void?”

“Well, no, not exactly.”

“Forget it. Let’s drop it.”

“Seriously! How did I fail to earn your trust? Also, your tone! It’s always so feminine, isn’t it? Oh, could it be that you’re cross-dressing? I mean, your face is quite delicate.”

Zhuge Yun couldn’t help but laugh when he met Jo Hwi’s suspicious gaze, which was scanning him from head to toe.

“Heh! It’s because I studied with my older sister back in the day. It’s not okay to treat a man like me as a woman. You can check for yourself if you want.”

“Forget it. You’ve ruined my appetite.”

Jo Hwi, with a sulking expression, got up and dusted off his pants. Zhuge Yun’s expression turned serious.

“Jo Soyeop, you’re alright, right?”

“Jo Soyeop,” not Sogeomshin or the President… For a moment, Jo Hwi recalled the first time he met Zhuge Yun at the guesthouse in Hefei.

He hadn’t even known that 5×0=0 back then.

He had grown so much since then.

“Like you said, Sogeomshin is now one of the absolute powers of the Jianghu. There are tens of thousands of people looking only to you. Your safety is no longer just your own concern.”

“Not that.”

Jo Hwi pointed to Zhuge Yun’s chest with his eyes.

“Tell me about the ‘heart’ that’s there.”

Zhuge Yun sighed deeply and slumped into his seat.

“Don’t make your friends worry. President.”

You too have the ‘flame’ of a person inside you.

Jo Hwi, satisfied, smiled faintly and looked out the window.

“When do you think the real model experiment will be finished?”

“Two months.”

Jo Hwi shook his head firmly.

“Too long. Cut it down to a month and a half.”

“No, it’s not that simple…”

“It’s an order. From the president.”

“Damn it! Bloody hell!”

Zhuge Yun swore, and Jo Hwi smiled wickedly.

“Work life is about doing what you’re told. That’s what you get for receiving a salary.”

“Ha…”

Jo Hwi crossed his arms behind his back and started walking toward the door. Suddenly, he turned back.

“Where is that guy right now?”

“That guy?”

Jo Hwi’s eyes narrowed into crescent moons.

“Small Heaven’s Flower, Dam Hee. Huh? By the way, you’re a little Zhuge, Nam Gung-hyung is a little Geomju… Is this ‘Little’ trend something that’s catching on among the new generation? Wait! Hold on, I just realized… I’m also Sogeomshin, aren’t I?”

Zhuge Yun’s face crumpled in displeasure.

He didn’t mind being called Sogeomshin, but being grouped with Nam Gung Jang-ho was a blow to his pride.

***

“Hmm!”

The man who had been groaning with frustration while looking around Cao Family Leather Workshop was none other than Dam Hee of Small Heaven’s Flower.

Just like when he visited the Cao Family Steel Forge, this place was another shock to his system, with scene after scene that nearly shattered his mind.

There were no seamstresses here either.

Instead, large leather fabrics were being carefully cut into shapes to fit the original patterns.

The cut leather pieces were then stitched together to form the basic shape of the clothing.

Others were using hot iron to emboss patterns and craft various decorations, while others meticulously finished the leather garments with their individual tools to improve the overall quality.

It was like watching an art performance, with every process fitting together without a second’s delay, almost like the teeth of a gear working in perfect harmony.

It was a cultural shock that completely destroyed the concept of artisans in his mind!

The famous seamstress, no matter how fast they worked, took at least three days to make a single piece of clothing.

Yet, what was this?

Leather garments were being produced continuously, with one finished every single moment. Even as Dam Hee watched, he still couldn’t believe it.

How many could be produced in a single day?

Moreover, the quality of the leather, the intricate decorations, and the meticulous finishes—each piece from Cao Family Leather Workshop seemed to be of a higher standard than any other clothing produced elsewhere.

At this rate, they would dominate the market, crushing all competition in both quality and price.

Until now, Dam Hee had been deliberately ignoring the Cao Family Trade Association.

Even though their name had spread around Anhui and Jiangxi, they were still just a fledgling faction. The limits of a new faction were clear.