Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 181
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C181. What’s the Point of an Inn That Won’t Sell?
At first, the conversation was led by Cheok Jingyeong and Ungjaegwi. However, soon the Lunar Fairy and Lee Maehwa also became more active participants.
In particular, Lee Maehwa seemed to forget about the problems with the Demon Warriors and focused on the Justice Alliance. Her sect, Musansocho, was too close to the Justice Alliance’s Nanjing headquarters to be at ease.
The Lunar Fairy also got involved in the conversation for similar reasons. If Musansocho was on the front line, the next in the line of fire would be Eunha Manor, the Fairy Temple, and Guangming Manor.
On the other hand, Bang Cheongak, Kang Sangpi, and Gong Chwisan, who were geographically further away, were more passive.
In fact, it was difficult for them to perceive the imminent threat of the Justice Alliance due to the distance.
As a result, a conclusion wasn’t reached quickly.
“We need to keep the Justice Alliance occupied in Nanjing under the pretext of the competition. For that, we must rally around Musansocho. If we can stop them there, they won’t be able to go in any other direction,” said Lee Maehwa.
Ungjaegwi opposed this idea.
“There’s no guarantee they’ll head to Heifei, so how can we stop them there? I think it would be better to lure them to Hunan and eliminate them once and for all.”
“Telling them to go to Hunan? Do you think they’ll go wherever we tell them?” Lee Maehwa retorted sharply.
Ungjaegwi’s proposal was essentially to abandon Musansocho.
“When they start moving, we’ll be able to guess their route. We’ll have time to consider where to confront them,” Ungjaegwi explained.
Their opinions were divided.
The other Great Demon Generals supported or rejected the proposals according to their own interests.
In the end, no concrete solution was reached.
Ungjaegwi frowned as he looked at Lee Maehwa.
The idea of defending Musansocho was just a whim of hers.
‘What’s she planning by cramming all the members of the Cult into that small place?’
It was impossible to predict when the Justice Alliance would attack and have everyone waiting in one place.
Finally, Ungjaegwi proposed a middle-ground solution.
“Let’s do this: those who want to go to Musansocho, go. The rest of us will gather in Luoyang.”
“Agreed.”
“That sounds fine.”
The Great Demon Generals accepted Ungjaegwi’s proposal.
However, when the time came to decide, no one wanted to go to Musansocho.
Lee Maehwa looked at Kang Sangpi and Gong Chwisan with a bitter expression.
They had supported the idea of defending Musansocho, but now they chose to go to Luoyang.
“I can’t face the Justice Alliance alone in Musansocho. But I still believe we should have stopped their advance there. You’ll regret this decision,” said Lee Maehwa, staring intently at Ungjaegwi.
Ungjaegwi shook his head, overwhelmed.
“Remember this: Musansocho, which exterminated the Namgung Family, is right in front of them. Do you really think the Justice Alliance will ignore it? You’ll be remembered as the one who gave them the opportunity to strengthen themselves.”
“To the Justice Alliance, the Namgung Family is a forgotten issue. Attacking Musansocho would be waking the sleeping dragon. Instead, they’ll quickly advance toward Hunan to establish their power.”
“We’ll see. We’ll see who’s right.”
Lee Maehwa scoffed.
It was obvious where the Justice Alliance would attack, but Ungjaegwi, with his stubborn obstinacy, was giving them an opportunity.
Kaifeng.
A clear autumn noon with a bright blue sky and white clouds floating.
Nam Cho-gyeol, who had returned to his hometown after ruining his business, went for a walk for the first time in a long while.
The streets were crowded, perhaps due to the good weather.
After wandering for a while, Nam Cho-gyeol, feeling hungry, headed to a nearby restaurant.
The restaurant had set up tables and chairs outside.
Not wanting to feel confined, Nam Cho-gyeol sat outside and ordered a plate of noodles.
While waiting, someone recognized him with joy.
“Mr. Nam! It’s been a long time!”
Nam Cho-gyeol smiled weakly, recognizing Jang I-yu, a merchant from the Mandok Chamber of Commerce.
They had negotiated the purchase of an inn about two years ago.
Recalling those moments brought back many forgotten memories.
“Jang I-yu?”
“Yes, I’m Jang I-yu. How have you been?”
“Well, surviving. And Mandok Chamber?”
“We’ve been very busy lately. And your health, how is it?”
Jang I-yu observed Nam Cho-gyeol’s appearance.
Two years ago, he had tried to sell his inn due to health problems.
“I can barely go out,” Nam Cho-gyeol admitted.
“I’m glad to hear that. Have you come to eat? I was about to as well.”
Without further ado, Jang I-yu sat down in front of him.
There was a brief silence in the conversation.
“By the way, how’s Miss Nam?” asked Jang I-yu, changing the subject.
Nam Cho-gyeol had a granddaughter, Nam Su-gyeong, the only relative left after the death of his children. Her beauty had attracted many customers to the inn.
“She’s learning to work at a tea house.”
“And the inn?”
“That inn that won’t sell, what good is it?” Nam Cho-gyeol said with disdain.
The nearby dock had moved, cutting off the flow of customers. His health had worsened just when he was trying to sell it, complicating things further.
Jang I-yu had been one of those interested in buying it for five thousand taels of silver at the time.
He refused to sell it for less than six thousand, and the negotiation fell through.
Now, he’d sell the inn for four thousand if someone wanted it.
But after two years of abandonment, no one would buy it.
‘There’s no one passing by…,’ Nam Cho-gyeol thought, shaking his head.
Jang I-yu, surprised, commented:
“It won’t sell? I thought there was traffic heading toward Shanxi now.”
“Are you sure? No one has passed by there in a long time.”
“I heard about it recently. Do you still want to sell it?”
“Yes, but it’s in worse condition. I haven’t been able to go because of my health.”
Nam Cho-gyeol looked at Jang I-yu.
If he really wanted to buy it, he’d accept four thousand taels of silver.
“Haha. It sounds worrisome. Can I inspect it and adjust the price?”
“Just don’t try to swindle me. If it doesn’t sell, I’ll leave it to my granddaughter.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not that heartless. Are you still living in the same place?”
“Yes. Visit me anytime.”
“I will.”
Nam Cho-gyeol returned home satisfied after the meal with Jang I-yu.
But his happiness didn’t last long.
That afternoon, his granddaughter came home with bruises on her face.
“Oh my God! What happened to you, Su-gyeong? Who did this to you?”
Nam Su-gyeong, crying, explained:
“Grandfather, I’m sorry. There’s a man who’s been following me for two years. His name is Nok Dam-pyeong, a Bangju from Sambobang. Today he came to the tea house and hit me because I didn’t want to go out with him. He says he’ll kill me if I don’t. What can we do? Waaah!”
“How dare someone hit you because you don’t reciprocate? We’ll go to the authorities in Kaifeng!”
“It’s no use. The government office doesn’t get involved in Murim matters.”
“Who says that?”
“The tea house owner said so.”
“Damn it!”
Nam Cho-gyeol was stunned.
How could someone threaten to kill a young girl for rejecting him?
“Grandfather, can we leave Kaifeng? If we stay, he might kill me.”
“What kind of place is Sambobang to act like this?”
“They handle the courtesans of Kaifeng and are greatly feared. No one dares challenge them.”
“Damn them!”
Nam Cho-gyeol slumped into a chair.
He had raised his only granddaughter with so much care, and now this.
But the bad luck didn’t end there.
The next morning, Jang I-yu arrived in a fury.
“Mr. Nam! Why are you trying to sell me an inn you already sold? Do you think Mandok Chamber of Commerce is a joke? Or are you losing your mind? Don’t live your life like this!”
Nam Cho-gyeol didn’t understand anything.
“What are you talking about? How could I have sold the inn? I haven’t left the house in two years. How could I have sold it?”
“Stop spouting nonsense. I met the new owner.”
“Are you sure it’s my inn in Hwasang Village?”
“Yes, I went there yesterday. It even has a chef hired. Seriously, don’t live your life like this.”
Thinking he had almost been swindled, Jang I-yu left in a rage.
“I didn’t sell it.”
“If you didn’t sell it, who did? Your granddaughter? Someone must have sold it if there’s a new owner.”
Nam Cho-gyeol was speechless.
He briefly thought that his granddaughter might have secretly sold it.
‘Was the tea house causing her that much stress?’
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
How could his granddaughter sell the inn without his permission?
Stunned, Nam Cho-gyeol watched Jang I-yu leave, slamming the door.
That afternoon, Nam Su-gyeong, exhausted from Nok Dam-pyeong’s harassment, returned home.
Nam Cho-gyeol, still pondering what Jang I-yu had said, called his granddaughter to the main hall.
“Su-gyeong.”
“Yes.”
“About the inn in Hwasang Village… Never mind.”
Seeing his granddaughter, Nam Cho-gyeol realized he couldn’t accuse her.
He had raised her and knew she wasn’t capable of something like that. She was an innocent, almost naive girl.
‘Jang I-yu must be mistaken.’
Though unsettling, he decided to leave it at that.
Even if his granddaughter had sold the inn, he didn’t care. After all, it was for her.
However, Nam Su-gyeong misunderstood her grandfather’s words.
She thought he meant, “let’s go to the inn in Hwasang Village.”
“Let’s go, grandfather. I’ll run the inn. It doesn’t matter if there are no customers. I’d prefer that to living in fear in Kaifeng.”
Nam Cho-gyeol, surprised, nodded.
With what Jang I-yu had said, it was an opportunity to check on the inn.
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