Chapter 51

Chapter 50>

Johwi, frozen in shock and trembling.

Without a doubt, he was the most surprised since falling into the world of Jungwon.

"Exactly how...?"

Coffee, which was initially considered a medicinal herb or a tonic, began to spread widely due to the old Islamic temples.

This was because it cleared the mind, refreshed the body, and prevented drowsiness, greatly aiding in spiritual cultivation.

As it began to spread, coffee later became a strategic material, strictly controlled by the Islamic powers.

It was only after the Crusades, when Europeans engaged in a great war with Islamic civilization, that coffee began to appear prominently in human history.

Yet, in this Jungwon, there was a coffee that was not even known to exist.

Johwi was well aware of what the current situation implied.

"Followers of Shinza, I see."

Shinza (神座), presumed to be an ancient modern person.

Without him, coffee could never have appeared in the current Jungwon civilization.

However, Yosokang's reaction was unexpected.

"Shinza? Followers? What do you mean?"

Instantly, Johwi's face was filled with confusion.

The follower of Shinza, Eunbongryeong, who had been killed by the former sword god, trembled and prostrated himself on the ground at the mere mention of 'Shinza.'

To them, the name Shinza was revered.

Yet, Yosokang not only showed no reaction at the mention of Shinza but also looked as if he truly knew nothing.

"Are you not a follower of Shinza?"

Yosokang smiled more innocently in response to Johwi's question.

"Shinza? I've never heard of it. Has a new god appeared in the martial world besides you?"

Johwi, frowning deeply, opened his mouth.

"If you're going to speak informally, do it properly, you brat."

Wait, this line sounds familiar...

-Now you're just like Heukcheon Daesal, hahaha! (Bold, Italic)

As this sneer from Jozho echoed in Johwi's mind, Jang Ilryong, standing beside him, stuck out his tongue and spoke.

"It's as if you're dealing with my brother. He's not an ordinary guy."

Johwi's eyes gleamed intensely.

It felt strangely familiar, and the tone of the guy was indeed similar to how he used to turn the tables on the Black Heaven Alliance's cadres and the righteous sects.

As Jang Ilryong said, he was definitely not an easy opponent.

However, Yosokang's informal tone was naturally that of someone who had long dealt with subordinates or servants.

From this, Johwi could infer his background.

"From the looks of it, you haven't learned martial arts, so you're not from a martial family... You must be from a noble family."

Yosokang smiled.

"You're too trusting. What if I'm not from the Yeo (呂) family?"

"A noble, not a royal?"

"Hmm, that's a bit far-fetched."

As Johwi took a sip of the coffee handed to him, his face turned from surprise to shock.

"Even sugar?"

This sweetness was undoubtedly from sugar, not from honey or syrup.

Johwi's face was now filled with astonishment.

The production of sugar was a lifelong ambition for Johwi!

Even if the supply of sugarcane could somehow be resolved, how could the technology to produce sugar be obtained?

If not, could it be that it was directly imported from Tianzhu?

Securing the technology to produce sugar and establishing direct trade with Tianzhu were both no easy tasks.

Even as the owner of a major merchant guild that shook the martial world, he had not yet dared to attempt it!

The Zhao family's merchant guild was still a guild operating at the provincial level.

Only a super-large merchant guild, like the Tianhua Merchant Guild or the Manjin Merchant Guild, which received the patronage of the royal family, could attempt trade with Tianzhu.

So, does this mean that this young man in front of me is related to a super-large merchant guild that competes for the title of the best in Jungwon?

"What is your intention in showing me coffee and sugar?"

"Kopi? Sugar? Do you mean Daxiangcha (大香茶) and Dolgul (石蜜)?"

"Daxiangcha?"

The aroma of coffee is more special, strange, and intense than that of Daxiang in Jungwon.

To the people of Jungwon, the aroma of coffee is indeed worthy of being called Daxiang.

"Sugar, or rather Dolgul, I can understand, but how do you know about Daxiangcha... and where did you get it?"

Yosokang sneered again.

"Seems like you're misunderstanding something. Jia (甲) is on this side."

"What?"

"Without the skilled artisans, wouldn't your guild be in trouble now?"

Are you trying to take control of the conversation by using me as a hostage?

Johwi chuckled.

"Your understanding of me is still lacking, it seems."

With that, he turned and headed out of the courtyard.

A guy who only spouts such suspicious and eerie talk is absolutely unacceptable.

In a way, he was a truly difficult person to deal with, but from another perspective, he was also the easiest to handle.

As long as you don't get caught up in his talk, you're fine.

However, the other party was surpassing Johwi's judgment.

"If you're going to act like that, it's not bad either. I've secured enough of the Zhao family's guild's skilled artisans. I'll use them well."

Everything else was fine.

But "I'll use them well."

Those words set Johwi's heart ablaze.

"You're a guy who shouldn't be spoken to lightly."

Swoosh—

Johwi intended to show the guy just how dangerous it is to act recklessly without the backing of martial arts.

Back when he himself had no martial arts, how humiliated he had to be.

Yet, even as the sword was drawn from the waist of the young sword god, this Yosokang, who showed no fear, was instead laughing more mischievously.

"Ah, that's why I find it so amusing. In the commercial world of Jungwon, you are truly in a unique position."

As Johwi's frown deepened.

"No one in the history of Jungwon has ever dominated both the martial and commercial worlds. Of course, compared to your great reputation as the young sword god, your commercial side is still lacking, but you need to work harder in the future."

"…What?"

The Zhao family's merchant guild had influence over the entire Anhui and Jiangxi provinces and was now beginning to extend its reach to the entire territory of the Wulin Alliance north of the Yangtze River.

Therefore, the world did not hesitate to rank the Zhao family's merchant guild alongside the Tianhua and Manjin merchant guilds as one of the three major merchant guilds of Jungwon… What? Work harder?

His absurd talk was truly mind-boggling.

As Johwi silently raised his mental energy, a black-clad martial artist, wrapped in a dark cloak, suddenly appeared as if falling from the sky.

Johwi looked at the empty space where the martial artist appeared, utterly bewildered.

There was nothing there.

He just appeared out of nowhere.

This sent a shiver down Johwi's spine.

The ability to break through the void and use it freely could only be explained by mental energy.

Johwi's bewildered gaze soon turned to the black-clad martial artist.

"Muho…?"

But the man, whose face was completely covered in black cloth, only glared coldly without a word.

Is this some kind of absolute realm, or is it just a dog's name?

Is this body some kind of flower that calls out the absolute realm?

"Haha, you really are a divine being, yet also foolish. To think you would face the young sword god of the Zhao family's merchant guild without any martial preparation."

The black-clad martial artist, due to his unique attire, could not be identified in terms of age or origin.

Johwi, just in case, tried to discern the type of Muho by sensing the mental energy he emitted, but he could not detect any characteristics of any particular sect.

A Muho completely different from the Muho of the Southern Palace and the Hidden Fragrance of Huashan.

Moreover, to be able to conceal Muho to the point where it could not even be detected by his senses?

This meant that the Muho he possessed was at least at the level of Wuji.

To have a high-level absolute realm expert like this in the upper echelons of the Seven Wuza, and to use them as a bodyguard!

Johwi sheathed his sword and could not contain his curiosity.

"To use an absolute realm expert as a mere bodyguard? Is there really someone like you in the martial world? Who are you?"

Yosokang smiled faintly and stood up from his seat.

"Ah, now we're back to talking. I was hoping for a physical confrontation, but I'm disappointed."

With that, Yosokang rummaged through his clothes and tossed something at Johwi's feet.

It was a strangely shaped plaque.

Carved on it was a distorted demon's mask, which was enough to make one's skin crawl just by looking at it.

In the center of this demonic mask, the word 'Secret' (秘) was clearly engraved, adding to its mysterious aura.

"We haven't revealed the Secret Public Plaque in the martial world for quite a while. This is truly an honor."

"…Secret Public Plaque? Could it be the Secret Line?"

"What? You know the Secret Line?"

This time, Yosokang's eyes widened in shock.

The name of the ruler of the underground commercial world and the representative of the dark merchants of Jungwon was so veiled that almost no one knew its true identity.

Only a few, such as some members of the royal family, nobles, and the founders of the Secret Line, knew its long history.

Even though Johwi had reached the absolute realm and become the leader of a faction, as the head of a newly rising power, he should not have known, or should not have been allowed to know, this name.

Johwi smiled.

"Ho, the Secret Line… So, you're here to recruit me."

"…"

For the first time, Yosokang's face hardened as he realized his true intentions were understood.

Like Johwi, Yosokang also belonged to the type who disliked having his emotions or intentions read by others.

"Yes, that's right. You've caused quite a stir in the commercial world of Jungwon. You've taken too many risks."

"Hmm."

Johwi's indifferent response made Yosokang, who had already bitten his lip, even more frustrated.

"Don't take this lightly. This is no joke. The entire underground commercial world of Jungwon is now paying attention to you. Are you the only one who has disrupted the market in Jungwon so far? Being noticed by the Secret Line is a dangerous matter, so you need to make a good judgment."

"So, in the end, you find it a waste to kill me and want me to join the Secret Line?"

Johwi's continuous sneer made Yosokang's fists clench tightly.

"Remember this. If you refuse, the Zhao family's merchant guild will be finished in Jungwon. This incident is just a warning."

Without anyone knowing, he had lured away all the skilled artisans of the Zhao family's