Episode 320

“That’s the thing… The power of the Tons of Gold Merchant Union is so overwhelming that those who don’t want to oppose them are turning their backs on us…”

Geum Eun-hak answered, sweating nervously.

He had thought hard to persuade Dan Woo-hyun. In fact, it wasn’t entirely wrong, so he took solace in that.

However, Dan Woo-hyun’s indifferent gaze didn’t waver easily.

“If you had given them trust, there would be no reason for them to turn their backs.”

“Ugh…”

Geum Eun-hak shuddered.

Indeed, Geum Eun-hak was not utilizing the power of the Hunan Dan family properly. The knowledge he had in the business world was only minor, and no matter how much he tried to act composed and poised, the habits ingrained in him over a long time didn’t fade easily.

Dan Woo-hyun let out a small sigh,

“Hoo-.”

Soon, he turned his head to look at Jang Sam-tae.

“Sam-tae.”

“Yes?”

“Bring the owner of the Golden Ring Inn.”

“Again?!”

Jang Sam-tae, who had his head bowed, looked at Dan Woo-hyun with disbelief. It hadn’t even been a couple of hours since he’d returned from Yueyang. Yet, he was being asked to go again, leaving him bewildered.

“Fetch them.”

But at Dan Woo-hyun’s repeated words, Jang Sam-tae had to close his mouth like a mute who had his mouth stuck. The sharp gaze that seemed to say he wouldn’t let him off if he didn’t go pierced into him.

Jang Sam-tae slowly got up from his seat and shook his head.

It seemed like a hump had formed due to being bowed for too long.

“I-I’ll be back…”

Feeling dispirited, he spoke cautiously and slowly moved his steps.

The owner of the Golden Ring Inn is Ho Yeon-ji.

Though she was once so poor that she couldn’t afford a proper meal, she has now transformed into a wealthy person who wouldn’t blink an eye at eating the finest delicacies three times a day.

One might think, how much could she earn just from running an inn, but since it is the Golden Ring Inn that sells the most famous and best-quality liquor in the Hunan region, it bustles with over a hundred guests daily.

Because the money coming in is also substantial, her appearance has changed drastically from before.

“……”

Dan Woo-hyun, along with Namgung Sohye, were at a loss for words as they looked at Ho Yeon-ji standing before them.

Expensive palatial attire adorned with all sorts of earrings and jewelry. Just selling the items she was wearing and carrying could easily build a manor.

Another interesting thing is that Ho Yeon-ji, who used to be skinny, has gained a lot of weight now.

It’s almost pitiful just to look at her.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

Even Dan Woo-hyun opened his mouth with a bewildered expression.

He thought she had gained quite a bit the last time he saw her, but now he couldn’t find any trace of her former self.

It’s hard to tell if she’s a pig or a person.

“Hehehe, changed? I’m the same as ever.”

No matter how you look at it, she had changed.

She had gained so much weight that it was hard to believe she wasn’t aware of it.

Nevertheless, Ho Yeon-ji smiled and denied it, as if she didn’t want to face reality.

Dan Woo-hyun simply nodded without further pointing it out.

“I’ve seen the ledger. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yes, I understand well.”

Ho Yeon-ji nodded and took a deep breath.

She was about to speak anyway.

“A new inn has been established near Hunan recently. Are you aware?”

“I am not.”

There was no reason for him to know.

Dan Woo-hyun hadn’t been to Yueyang recently, and even if he did, he would only wander around the marketplace a bit, not paying attention to any newly established inns.

As he shook his head, Ho Yeon-ji looked somewhat perplexed.

“A Tons of Gold Inn has opened in front of our Golden Ring Inn. It’s quite large.”

“And so?”

“We are losing all our customers to them. The liquor that they import directly from Beijing has quite a good reputation.”

Dan Woo-hyun frowned.

The Golden Ring Merchant Union was being overshadowed by the Tons of Gold Merchant Union, and the Golden Ring Inn was being overshadowed by the Tons of Gold Inn, so it was naturally frustrating.

A long sigh escaped, and the two bowed their heads awkwardly.

“In the end, it’s those Tons of Gold Merchant guys causing trouble. Hahaha.”

Sa Dohak burst into loud laughter.

The Tons of Gold Merchant Union caused problems wherever they went. Now, even their leader, Man Hu-ryang, had disappeared, and they acted like wild horses without reins.

“It can’t be avoided…”

Namgung Chun murmured softly.

His gaze, while clenching his fist, was quite sharp.

He suspected that there must be a connection between Moyong Hyuk-mun and Man Hu-ryang. Perhaps Namgung Chun was destined to have an unavoidable fate with the Tons of Gold Merchant Union.

Dan Woo-hyun turned his head to look at Zhuge Yun.

Zhuge Yun, understanding the meaning in his gaze, bowed deeply.

“I will check it out.”

Dan Somi’s gaze is always directed downward. Being shorter than other children, she constantly has to look up at people.

“Did I grow a little?”

“Yeah! You grew as much as a pinky nail.”

“Yay-!”

Dan Somi clapped her hands in joy upon hearing Ju Jiyak’s words while measuring her height. Ju Jiyak had already grown enough to have a handspan’s difference with Dan Somi, making her feel quite indignant as she remained unchanged.

“Isn’t it just that the ground you’re standing on is a bit higher?”

Hong Jin-rang made a nonchalant expression.

The idea of growing as much as a pinky nail ultimately depends on what you’re standing on. Since they were on slightly elevated ground, it might have made her seem a bit taller.

Ju Jiyak’s eyes flashed at the piercing comment.

“Oh, yeah, I grew. I know…”

“Hehehe, really?”

Hong Jin-rang bowed his head deeply as he looked at Dan Somi, who approached with a bashful smile. It was because he was more afraid of Ju Jiyak, who was glaring fiercely from behind the innocent-looking child.

He involuntarily swallowed a gulp of air.

“Anyway, is that the Tons of Gold Inn you mentioned?”

Ju Jiyak asked, turning her gaze towards Hong Jin-rang.

A newly established inn in this land of Yueyang.

In truth, whether it was an inn or whatever, due to the fiercely competitive market, any new establishment was bound to fail soon, yet Tons of Gold Inn was subtly crowded with people.

Most of them were dressed in luxurious clothing, and at a glance, it seemed like they sold expensive dishes.

Hong Jin-rang nodded, drooling slightly.

“That’s right! I went there because of my mother, and it was incredibly delicious! You must visit there.”

Hong Jin-rang couldn’t contain his pounding heart. He was ready to rush to the Tons of Gold Inn and order a variety of dishes, stuffing his mouth with plenty of food.

“But…isn’t it expensive there?”

Dan Somi asked with an anxious look.

Right in front of them was the Golden Ring Inn. It also appeared quite grand and impressive, but the Tons of Gold Inn was excessively extravagant.

The appearance of the servers outside was also very different from what was typically seen. They didn’t lazily deal with customers but seemed like people well-versed in all manners of etiquette.

Even entering felt awkward.

“Why do I feel like I have to eat with a lot of effort?”

Even Ju Jiyak frowned, seemingly displeased.

Eating in such a formal manner is enough at home. Why eat like that when meeting with friends for fun?

Ju Jiyak waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s a waste of money, a waste of money.”

“But…but it’s really delicious…?”

“Moreover, isn’t your family close to Somi’s? What if your father finds out you went to the Tons of Gold Inn?”

Ju Jiyak chuckled with a peculiar expression.

That smile on her face looked like that of a little devil. It felt as if she would run to the Governor’s office and tell Hong Won-chang at any moment.

“No, you can’t do that-!”

Hong Jin-rang, turning pale, shouted loudly to stop Ju Jiyak. But Ju Jiyak, amused by teasing, didn’t care and ran around, bursting into laughter.

It was then.

Thud!

Ack!

As Ju Jiyak was about to fall after bumping into someone while running, Dan Somi, who had quickly rushed to her side, caught her.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

Ju Jiyak frowned slightly and nodded. Seeing Dan Somi’s worried face seemed to ease her mind a bit.

Then, as she glanced to the side, her eyes met with a group of men.

“Careful.”

Chill-!

They were warriors carrying swords.

There were about five or six men wearing bamboo hats, and just by looking into their eyes, an unintentional chill ran down her spine. They seemed like men who could prove they could cut a person down with just their gaze.

Even Hong Jin-rang shuddered and stepped back.

The single word they uttered carried a threat.

The men glanced at the children once before heading toward the Tons of Gold Inn with heavy steps.

“Wow, they’re really scary.”

Ju Jiyak and Dan Somi nodded at Hong Jin-rang’s words.

It was the first time they realized how frightening it could be to be stared at by someone. The three children remained in place, silently watching the men disappear.

The men walking ahead glanced back, observing the three children. Eventually, one man briefly fixed his gaze on one child, then spoke to the person ahead with a gleam in his eyes.

“That child, you mean.”

“I know. That’s not the movement of a mere child.”

The child who had collided with others was immediately noticed. Although it wasn’t a great distance, it was a place not easily reachable by the small child’s steps.

Despite this, as she supported the child who was about to fall, it was clear that she had received martial arts training from a significant warrior.

“I heard there’s a Hunan Dan family here, and I suspect that child might be from there. Such agility at that age is rare, even in prestigious families.”

“Haha, so are you saying the Hunan Dan family is stronger than prestigious families?”

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

At his subordinate’s words, the man gave a faint smile.

They were warriors from the Tons of Gold Merchant Union, who had come to expand their influence once more in Hunan.

Thus, their task was to overthrow the Hunan Dan family and reclaim the power of the Hunan lands.

The men walked without expression and soon arrived in front of the Tons of Gold Inn. As they arrived, the innkeeper, as if expecting them, opened the door wide with a welcoming gesture.

Swinging both doors wide open and looking inside, everyone working in the inn bowed their heads, welcoming the men.

“Do not forget. The command of the merchant leader is absolute… We must bring down the Hunan Dan family.”

“Understood!”