The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

Chapter 103 : Winter (3)

A marriage proposal is the most powerful weapon a prestigious family can use. Because among the many forms of alliances and unions, the strongest is the relationship of relatives.

But since the number of children is limited, the number of times it can be used is also limited. When it comes to the marriage proposal of the next head of the family, it is virtually a gamble with the entire family at stake.

But to use that weapon at this moment? Jang So-gil's mind went dizzy at this timely marriage proposal.

'As expected of Namgung Yeohwa. She doesn't let herself be beaten easily.'

In the current martial world, there were two people who could truly be Jang So-gil's opponents.

Zhuge Xian of the Zhuge Clan and Namgung Yeohwa of the Namgung Clan.

Since the Zhuge Clan had its base in Beijing and was an astronomical official favored by the emperor, he could not strike them for now. Although the Namgung Clan had a strong force, since its base of life was Luoyang, Jang So-gil's next target was Namgung Yeohwa.

The Namgung Clan was a prestigious family counted among the five great noble families. He was in the middle of preparing a trap to ensnare her in order to strike her all at once after thorough preparation.

Shake up the business world, reorganize it, and instill a sense of crisis to shake the Namgung Clan. Even after that, to tire out the Namgung Clan with a continuous wave of attacks and induce them to pay taxes voluntarily was Jang So-gil's plan.

"Thanks to that, my plan has been delayed a bit. Really, a marriage proposal with Namgung Yeohwa, I can't even breathe."

"Why? You and Namgung Yeohwa would make a very good pair."

Sima Hui said. Since he was speaking while having his first meal after finishing four days of hard research, his tone was filled with annoyance and fatigue. Jang So-gil, quickly snatching the beef from the knife-cut noodles he was eating, frowned.

"A good pair. What good pair."

"From what I've heard from various rumors, aren't you just Namgung Yeohwa if you were a woman?"

"Who on earth told you that I resemble that woman?"

"Don't you look in the mirror? You'd see it just by looking in the mirror."

The fact that her beauty was outstanding, the fact that her head was full of all sorts of bad tricks. Even the fact that she was crazy about money was exactly the same.

Sima Hui suddenly thought about what kind of person would be born if the two of them really got married and had a child, and goosebumps rose on his arms.

"Certainly, the Namgung Clan has made a strong move."

"Yes, I've been hit once."

There was no way he could proceed with the plan to check the Namgung Clan now that a marriage proposal had been exchanged and the rumor had spread widely. If he failed, a bad rumor would spread that it was a lenient investigation. And if he succeeded, a rumor would remain that he was an ungrateful bastard who repaid the opponent's goodwill with a slap.

"It's good to give the opponent a sense of pressure by being called a complete scoundrel for my bold and insolent behavior, but there's nothing good about a rumor spreading that I'm a dog who doesn't even know gratitude. So I'll have to put the operation on hold for a while."

"But isn't it not just a bad story for you?"

"It's not a bad story. That's why it's more difficult."

Jang So-gil's ultimate goal was the destruction of the Sichuan Tang Clan, not the normalization of the martial world or the peace of the central plains. The reason he pursued the normalization of the martial world or the peace of the central plains was because it was the fastest way to approach the core of power.

His judgment was not wrong. In just over a year, he had entered the Martial Alliance, which others found difficult to even enter, and had come to be regarded as the Alliance Leader's left arm.

It was thanks to Jang So-gil's outstanding ability, his accurate selection of a place to utilize that ability, and his insight into the Alliance Leader's intentions.

"If I'm with the Namgung Clan, my revenge will also become much easier."

To strike the Sichuan Tang Clan, which was also one of the five great noble families, with the support of the Namgung Clan, which was the best in terms of financial power among the five great noble families?

The success rate of revenge would double, and the preparation period would be cut in half.

In a situation where every minute and every second that the Tang Clan guys were alive and breathing was annoying, this was a great help that he had not wished for.

"And yet, seeing your expression, it seems you dislike this marriage quite a bit. Don't you like a contract marriage? Are you also a love marriage person?"

"I have never even dreamed of a love marriage. If necessary, I had also considered the method of forming an alliance in the form of a marriage."

"Then isn't it a perfect opportunity? To get a bride price greater than marrying the next head of the Namgung Clan, the opponent would have to be the Alliance Leader's eldest daughter or an imperial grandson to be on the same level."

Even if Jang So-gil himself weighed it, he had no complaints about the price. Since the husband of the next head of the Namgung Clan was no different from the head of the family. The complaint was on a different side.

"To be honest, Brother Hui, do you want to marry someone who looks exactly like you?"

"I don't. Of course, I don't."

"Me too. I know well what kind of things I can do, so how can I live with someone who looks exactly like me? What I'm thinking, what I'll do, how far I can go... just thinking about it gives me goosebumps."

"You have weaker self-love than you look. No, is it actually stronger?"

Since he himself was himself, he could somehow understand, but was it that he disliked a person who looked exactly like him because they were not himself? Should that be called strong self-love? Even thinking about it alone, he couldn't quite understand, so Sima Hui tilted his head.

"Then let's say that's that. What about the marriage proposal?"

"I've put it on hold for now. They didn't seem to think much of it, saying that since they had waited for three years until now, there was no reason they couldn't wait longer."

"My goodness, then it seems the Namgung Clan is not just saying it, but is genuinely pursuing the marriage proposal."

A marriage proposal of a prestigious family was originally a long-term plan viewed in units of several years. Even after the marriage proposal was established, they would first get engaged, and even after the engagement, there were cases where they maintained a 'provisional marriage' until a child was conceived and did not actually get married.

In severe cases, they would get engaged as soon as they were born and then get married only when the man turned thirty. So rather, the fact that they were talking so politely and at length meant that they were seriously considering the marriage.

Then...

"A strange wind will blow in the martial world."

"Damn it. I also know that a strange wind is blowing. Since I know, stop picking at my sore spot and just make a good martial art."

"It won't get better just because you rush me, so don't rush me."

Sima Hui replied nonchalantly and raised his hand.

"Here, one more bowl of knife-cut noodles."

"Damn it. Just you wait if you can't pay for your meal."

"Hahaha. Don't worry about the meal price. What you should be worried about is your future. You're really going to have a hard time. Your path of suffering is wide open."

He looked quite pleased.

* * *

January in Luoyang is cold. It is because the Luo River, a tributary of the Yellow River, is in the south.

The fact that there is a waterway makes transportation convenient, which is a big advantage, but when winter comes, a cutting wind blows from the river. Naturally, people walk around wearing thick clothes.

Just because it's cold doesn't mean you can stay inside. You have to work to eat. Just like the countless common people, Jang So-gil and Ye-er also came out to work.

The act of walking, seeing a shop, entering, and suddenly demanding the ledgers was the most important of the inspector's duties. The merchants who were subjected to it would shed tears of blood, but these days, it had gotten a little better. It was because everyone was acting in the direction of voluntarily paying their taxes.

But in exchange for the inspector's work becoming easier, Jang So-gil's personal work had increased.

"Nyam... nyam."

A baby bear holding a bingtanghulu was walking next to Jang So-gil. Ye-er, who had not yet lost all the weight she had gained in the Western Great Mountain, looked just like a baby bear when she was bundled up in fur clothes.

Jang So-gil, wearing an overcoat made of the pure white silver marten fur said to be from the North Sea, was walking down the road when he ran into a person, exchanged a few words, and then immediately threw a punch.

"Aigoo-! This bastard is killing me!"

"You have to say something that makes sense, you bastard. I'm so annoyed, you really want to die."

"Do you know who I am!"

That person is asking for a beating even more than the person who came before. Ye-er, licking the bingtanghulu that had hardened even more in the winter cold, shook her head.

Today alone, three people had been beaten for talking such nonsense. Jang So-gil, as if punching was not enough, grabbed the fellow's two legs, spun him around, and threw him far away.

Ye-er put her hands together in prayer for the fellow who was rolling in the snow. Jang So-gil, huffing and puffing, stood next to Ye-er.

"A guy like that pops out every other day, I can't live. Damn it, I can't work. Should I just arrest them all for obstruction of official business...?"

"So, over there."

"What?"

"The guy to be arrested. He's coming again."

Someone was walking towards them. It was a walk clearly directed at Jang So-gil. The common people who were watching split to the left and right like rice grains meeting a waterfall, and through the gap, a well-dressed man slowly walked.

He was wearing much more high-class clothes than the man before, and at his waist was a strangely wide sword. At a glance, he was a person who had learned quite a bit of martial arts.

'Tsk', Jang So-gil clicked his tongue and turned around, and the man, without hiding his strong aura, cupped his fists.

"I am Seomun Jung-u, the eldest son of the Seomun Clan. I have undeservedly taken a seat at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly and have earned the nickname 'Firm Dragon'. Excuse me, but are you the Ghost King-nim?"

"Keung. Let's just say that's about right."

No matter how many times he heard the nickname 'Ghost King', he couldn't get used to it.

Jang So-gil, picking his ear, immediately asked back.

"What's your business?"

"Since we're both busy, let's make it short. How much will it take for you to give up?"

"You've made it too short."

"I'm asking how much it will take for you, who are notorious as the Golden Ear of the West, to give up the Flower Phoenix. After all, you're a Golden Ear, money will solve everything. Am I wrong?"

"..."

"I won't say much. Don't even look at a tree you can't climb. Know your place, bow your head, refuse, and then get out of the way. If you do so, you won't see me again. Do you understand me well?"

In the past few days, the people who had been looking for Jang So-gil were largely divided into three groups.

One was the merchants who were clinging to him, asking him to reduce their taxes. Since these were people he had to meet as a matter of course in the course of his official duties, they did not greatly increase his annoyance. Jang So-gil, surprisingly, gave them kind consultations, and if there was a valid reason, he would even reduce their taxes and conclude the conversation.

The problem was the other two groups. One of them was those who had heard the story of the marriage proposal with Namgung Yeohwa, the next head of the Namgung Clan, and were mocking Jang So-gil. Like the man just now, they were those who would say things like, 'How dare an orphan even think of a marriage with a prestigious noble family? Get lost to Sichuan!' and then get beaten by Jang So-gil and fly away.

The last was those who admired the Flower Phoenix, Namgung Yeohwa, like the eldest son of the Seomun Clan, Seomun Jung-u, who was right in front of him now. Those who were jealous of Jang So-gil and tried to persuade him or directly eliminate him.

"Today alone. This is the fourth."

Ye-er calmly counted the number. At the same time, a thick vein stood out on Jang So-gil's forehead.

"Hey."

"...Hey? Are you talking to me now?"

"You guys, are you really trying to drive me crazy?"

The Byeokryeoktan and Jincheonroe in his bosom were crying. If he had his way, he wanted to split the fellow's skull in half with a Jincheonroe and go to the Seomun Clan and throw a Byeokryeoktan. But he shouldn't do that.

"Even if the Seomun Clan has failed in raising their child, that's not a reason for their clan to be exterminated."

"You're saying things I don't understand. So how much will it be? Don't tell me you're not thinking of giving up no matter how much I give you."

"You're going to get a beating first."

Jang So-gil swung his fist in a surprise attack. The Firm Dragon, Seomun Jung-u, smiled with satisfaction.

'Stupid fool. You fell for the provocation.'

Attacking a weak person first was not an honorable thing to do, but if one responded to the opponent's first attack, it was self-defense.

Provoke the opponent to induce an attack, turn it into a fight, and then smash him. By doing so, he would show that fellow's disgraceful behavior to the Flower Phoenix, Namgung Yeohwa, and at the same time, reconfirm his own strength. A perfect plan.

The nickname 'Firm Dragon' came from the firm defense ability using the 'shield sword', a wide sword like a shield that was passed down in the Seomun Clan. There was no reason he couldn't block a fist like this.

Seomun Jung-u reached for the sword at his waist. But then, something strange happened. His body would not move.

'W-why?'

By the time he thought that, it was already too late. Jang So-gil's fist accurately hit Seomun Jung-u's nose.

(End of Chapter)