A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

**Chapter 47**

The shocking faction war of the Cha Gao Trading Union, which sent shockwaves through the martial world.

The great Sima family, upon opening their gates and leaving the sect, was immediately told to leave by the Sword Saint, and they truly left.

The news of the intense standoff between the world’s number one swordsmanship school, the Zhāhà Jiàn Sèng (The Absolute Sword Sect), and the Sword Saint left all swordsmen trembling with anticipation.

Despite declaring their power, the alliance between the Cha Gao Trading Union and the Martial Arts Alliance quickly spread throughout the world, astonishing everyone.

What was even more shocking to the people of the martial world was the advanced innovations introduced by the Cha Gao Trading Union.

Having experienced the goods of the Cha Gao Trading Union firsthand, which they had only heard of as rumors, it became clear that these were innovations that would truly astound the world.

As a result, many martial arts sects and their affiliated merchants rushed to the Cha Gao Trading Union, eager to get in on the action.

Thanks to this, the Union’s products, like the Yuncha Series, Han Bing Zhu, and He Qing Shu, were sold out for the next three years, all under contract.

Without an innovative solution to increase production, there would be no more goods left for the market.

In such a dire situation, countless merchants had no choice but to return home with dejected faces.

However, the faction war of the Cha Gao Trading Union did not leave only despair in the martial world.

**The Sword Tomb (劒塚)!**

This was the new legacy declared by the Sword Saint of the Cha Gao Trading Union to the world!

It was the sacred ground of the sword, the very site where the highest of the Three Swords (三神) were enshrined. Furthermore, anyone who wielded a sword from the righteous sects would be allowed to freely visit this place, a proclamation that shocked the world.

At first, people were skeptical, but with the Martial Arts Alliance’s official endorsement, it was confirmed. Every swordsman, regardless of sect, cheered in unison.

Three months later, as the festive atmosphere had fully taken root, the Cha Gao Trading Union finally made the public declaration that the Sword Tomb would officially open to the world.

—

**Ganquan County, Shaanxi.**

**Qiu Hui Valley.**

Standing at the entrance to the path leading to the Sword Tomb, a man stood frozen with a face full of awe, as if captured in a painting.

This man was none other than Yue Ziliang, a prominent figure from Shandong and the head of the Double-Ho Sword Sect.

The Double-Ho Sword Sect was one of the few righteous sects that practiced dual-sword martial arts, and it had earned considerable fame due to its unique swordsmanship.

Yue Ziliang could hardly contain his excitement.

For those who lived their lives with the sword, the Sword Saint was a myth, the greatest of all time.

Now, with only the Qiu Hui Valley to pass, he felt that he was about to witness this great myth in person, and it stirred his emotions to the point that he could hardly keep his composure.

This overwhelming emotion was not unique to him alone.

The many swordsmen standing in line at the entrance to the Sword Tomb were surely feeling the same way.

With his face full of excitement, Yue Ziliang took his place at the end of the line.

Whispers spread.

However, the reactions of the swordsmen seemed a bit off.

At the far entrance of Qiu Hui Valley, there was an ongoing commotion.

“No way! Ten gold taels? That much?”

A swordsman was so shocked that he almost fell over, prompting a loud roar from a man sitting at a table and exposing his large chest muscles. It was Zhang Yilong.

“That’s right! This is the legacy of the Sword Saint! The very cave where the marks of the greatest swordsman of all time remain!”

“Ah, no matter how you look at it, this is too expensive!”

Zhang Yilong glared and stared at the cliff on the peak.

“Are you blind, or what? You see that and still say such things?”

His gaze was directed at an elevator-like contraption precariously hanging from a towering peak, so high that it seemed to touch the clouds.

Below the contraption, dozens of pulley workers (the remnants of the Black Heaven Alliance) stood, their faces pale as they waited their turn.

“Have you ever seen something like that before? That’s an ‘elevator’ designed by the great Zhegalsega’s engineering expertise! How difficult do you think it is to set up such a massive machine at the top of a mountain, where no one can even see the end? It took a full three months just to install it!”

Zhang Yilong’s gaze shifted to the pulley workers.

“Look at those poor souls. Aren’t you feeling sorry for them?”

“No, but ten gold taels is…”

“Ha! Do you think ordinary people who don’t know martial arts can possibly pull those heavy pulleys? Every single one of those pulley workers is a master of the highest level! You know how much it costs to hire a top-tier master from the wandering mercenary markets, don’t you?”

Amidst the commotion, another swordsman voiced his concern.

“Then I won’t ride the elevator. I’ll climb by myself.”

Zhang Yilong immediately shouted in response.

“Oh no! Have you reached the divine realm of wall climbing? What if you fall off the cliff? Who’s going to clean up your corpse? No entry without paying the fee!”

“….”

If inexperienced fighters started climbing the steep peak, many would certainly fall, and Zhang Yilong couldn’t possibly test each one’s martial abilities.

However, ten gold taels was a massive sum.

It might not matter to swordsmen from large sects, but to ordinary swordsmen, it was an astronomical amount.

To exaggerate, it was enough to buy a house!

But after coming this far, there was no way they could leave empty-handed. So, some swordsmen reluctantly gave in and started pulling out their coin pouches.

Watching all of this, Yue Ziliang’s face quickly became filled with embarrassment.

‘Ten gold taels…’

Even if he emptied his purse, leaving no travel money for the return journey, he wouldn’t have more than two or three taels, let alone ten.

And to return from Shaanxi, having come so far, would surely torment him for at least a month without sleep.

If he’d known earlier, he would have prepared better!

Deep in thought, he nervously bit his nails as his turn approached.

A giant, whose age was impossible to guess, lazily addressed him, his massive chest flexing.

“Ten gold taels. If you decide to join, you’ll be the last for this group. After twenty people board, you’ll have to wait quite a bit longer for the next lift. Make your decision. If you don’t want to, next!”

“Wait a moment!”

Yue Ziliang’s voice was full of urgency as he called out to Zhang Yilong.

“Hmm, it seems like you don’t have any gold.”

After dealing with countless disputes, Zhang Yilong could now judge whether someone was a customer just by their appearance.

“Do you perhaps accept valuable items?”

At that, Zhang Yilong’s eyes lit up, his boredom fading as he quickly spread out a list of items on the table.

“I’ll tell you what’s acceptable. Precious swords, gemstones, tickets from the Central Plains’ Three Great Martial Arenas, or proof that you belong to the Seven Great Families or similar sects. If you can provide one of those, you can pay on credit.”

When Zhang Yilong mentioned credit, Yue Ziliang’s face brightened instantly.

“Would being a disciple of the Shandong Double-Ho Sword Sect work?”

Zhang Yilong frowned as he checked the sect ranking list written by Sect Leader Zhou Hui.

“Hmm… It’s a bit unclear.”

According to the sect ranking, the Double-Ho Sword Sect was listed as a lower-level sect.

After a brief pause, Zhang Yilong made his decision and relaxed his expression.

“Fine. I’ll let you pay half on credit. Just five gold taels.”

“Huh!”

Why offer half credit? Why not just let him have it fully?

Yue Ziliang’s situation was dire, as his total savings barely amounted to two or three taels.

As his face became filled with frustration, Zhang Yilong glanced at the twin swords hanging from his back.

“Those swords look quite impressive.”

“No, no, sir!”

Yue Ziliang stepped back in surprise!

The twin swords were the heirlooms of the Double-Ho Sword Sect, sacred treasures that symbolized the future leader. They were priceless, and no one could casually appraise their value.

“What, are you so surprised? Just leave them with me, and you can pay the gold later when you bring it.”

“Pawn them?”

“Yes, that’s possible.”

Yue Ziliang bit his lip as he hesitated.

But eventually, he relented and took off his treasured swords.

The power of the name “Sword Saint” was simply too overwhelming.

“I’ll come for them soon. Please take care of them.”

Zhang Yilong grinned as he took the swords.

“Hehe! Good decision! I hope you find the ultimate enlightenment at the Sword Tomb and emerge as the Twin Sword Saint!”

The title “Twin Sword Saint” stirred Yue Ziliang’s heart as his face flushed with excitement.

As he finally boarded the lift, panting with nervous anticipation, the pulley workers once again strained with all their might to pull the ropes.

“Yah! Yah!”

“Yah… damn it!”

“Ughhh! Damn!”

The twenty swordsman customers aboard the lift felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and withdrew their gazes from the workers below.

As the harsh curses of the pulley workers faded into the distance, the lift finally arrived at the entrance of the Sword Tomb.

Creak! Clank!

As the device securing the lift was fastened, the twenty swordsmen looked up, their faces filled with excitement as they gazed at the Sword Tomb.

Upon seeing the words “Sword Tomb” intricately engraved in red on the entrance, they couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

“Ah…!”

“O Great Sword God…!”

Some of them shed tears of emotion, others knelt and bowed deeply, while some murmured incoherent words in disbelief.

Just as they were overcome with emotion, the group that entered before them began to emerge, their strange appearance causing Aja-ryang to tilt his head in confusion.

“Mm?”

In their hands, they carried a variety of goods—glittering swords, jewelry, scrolls, trinkets, and other items one might find at a marketplace or bazaar.

What stood out even more were the odd leather garments they wore, and the peculiar thing was that, despite the awe and reverence that should have filled their faces, every one of them wore a look of utter exhaustion and despair.

Suddenly, from the direction of the Sword Tomb’s entrance, an enormous roar echoed.

“Hurry up!”

The sound was so powerful it seemed as if it could rival the roar of a lion. As the group covered their ears in distress, a man, clearly wearing a wig, shouted once again with an overwhelming voice.

“The Sword God’s life-size portrait, preserved in a painting for just five silver coins! The sword of the Sword God, recreated to match the one he used in life, for only twenty silver coins!”

Aja-ryang and his group stood frozen, their faces blank with shock.

“Moreover, all the trinkets and jewelry that the Sword God loved in life are here! Come and take a look!”

The group from Aja-ryang’s party was now motionless, staring at the “Sword God merchandise” developed by Cho Hwi.

Near the entrance of the Sword Tomb, Cho Hwi, who had been leaning against a cliff and smiling contentedly, finally uncrossed his arms and approached the customers.

“You’ve come a long way; it must have been tough. Let’s have a drink first.”

At his signal, the attendants who had been standing nearby brought out trays of dark blue tea and served each of the customers.

“You’ve heard the rumors, right? This is the famous Black Blue Tea of the Cho Clan.”

“Oooh!”

“This is the Black Blue Tea!”

Aja-ryang and his group, who had been awkwardly silent, now reacted with excitement. Black Blue Tea, along with Icebing Liquor, was one of the most famous and sought-after new products of the Cho Clan.

Just the thought of drinking such a rare beverage made their hearts race.

“Drink up, drink up.”

“Ah, yes!”

Aja-ryang took the first sip, gulping it down, and the others quickly followed suit.

Soon after.

“Kuhhh!”

“Kuuhhh!”

Their faces filled with various expressions of shock as they experienced the incredible refreshment of the tea. The intense sensation and sharp taste were unlike anything they had ever experienced in their lives.

It was far beyond just tea.

It was almost intoxicating!

In the midst of their excitement, Cho Hwi suddenly unfurled the Sword God’s life-size portrait and hung it on a nearby wooden stand.

The young Sword God, wearing a long sword at his waist and gazing into the distance, captured in his prime, appeared vividly in the painting.

His noble and dignified aura left everyone in awe.

“Ah! The Sword God!”

“Ah! Truly the air of a hero!”

Cho Hwi smiled meaningfully and asked Aja-ryang, “Can you feel it?”

“Mm? Feel what…?”

Suddenly, Cho Hwi scowled, irritated.

“Hah! After seeing the lifelong masterpiece of the greatest painter in the region, the renowned painter Nam Jo-young, are you not moved?”

“Th-the greatest painter of Gangseo?”

“Hah! Your lack of discernment is astounding!”

Though the words seemed insulting, Aja-ryang’s frustration began to rise, and just as he was about to retort, Cho Hwi continued.

“Imagine if the Sword God’s life-size portrait hung in your home. The immense energy from it would fill every corner, wouldn’t it?”

“Energy?”

“Indeed! The Sword God’s very essence, his glorious energy, would permeate your entire home.”

Suddenly, Cho Hwi looked over at a middle-aged man in the group.

“You have a son, don’t you?”

“Y-yes.”

With his shoulders broad and his face filled with a dreamy expression, Cho Hwi gazed at the painting once more.

“If the young swordsman spends his childhood looking at the Sword God’s portrait, the boundless energy from it will shape him into a noble swordsman in the future.”

“Ahhh!”

Cho Hwi once again stared at the customers.

“With just five silver coins, you can change the life of one person, whether it’s your own life or that of your child, to become a true swordsman. Do you believe it? That you can see a masterpiece from the greatest painter of Gangseo for just five silver coins?”

“Hmm!”

“Ha!”

Indeed, this painting was undeniably by the greatest painter of Gangseo.

But that was only true for the first one.

The rest were all replicas painted by ordinary artists!

Such mass-produced replicas could be purchased for around one silver coin each.

Selling them for five silver coins yielded a profit of nearly four silver coins per piece.

This explained Cho Hwi’s obsession with selling the Sword God’s portrait.

Of course, he had paid the famous painter Nam Jo-young a hefty sum of fifty gold coins to allow the replicas, but even with that expense, the profits from sales had already made up for it.

Soon, some of the swordsmen, persuaded by Cho Hwi’s sales pitch, began rummaging through their purses.

“One piece for me!”

“I’ll take one too!”

The idea that the great Sword God’s energy could fill their homes made the five silver coins seem like a worthwhile investment.

“Haha! An excellent decision!”

Aja-ryang and his group began to purchase more of the so-called “Sword God merchandise” scattered around the entrance of the Sword Tomb.

Cho Hwi beamed with satisfaction.

It was clear that this was the best sales result among all the groups that had visited the Sword Tomb so far.

Finally, when they began purchasing leather jackets from Cho’s leather shop, Cho Hwi’s eyes gleamed with a sinister light.

There was nothing left to extract from them, so now it was all about speed!

“Alright, everyone, gather round! We’ll begin the tour of the Sword Tomb now. The tour time is one-quarter of an hour!”

“One-quarter of an hour? This can’t be true!”

“How can this be?”

“Insane!”

They had invested ten gold coins, yet the tour time was only one-quarter of an hour (15 minutes)?

The kindness that had initially marked Cho Hwi’s face was now completely gone.

He now wore an expression of irritation and boredom, as if he were a man in the middle of a long, dull day.

“Everyone, all the other groups had the same tour time of one-quarter of an hour. You must be aware of how many people are flocking to the pavilion for the gathering, right?”

“Even so!”

Despite the strong objections from the group, Cho Hwi merely maintained his bored expression and flipped over the hourglass on the table.

“Alright, the tour starts now!”

“Yikes!”

The swordsmen opened their eyes wide in shock!

They began entering the Sword Tomb, all competing to get inside.

Aja-ryang entered the Sword Tomb with a dazed look on his face.

Torches lit the area, making the interior of the tomb as bright as day.

But…

“What… is all this?”

Aja-ryang’s face twisted in confusion as he surveyed the cave’s interior.

“What is all this…?”

“Ugh…”

The entire group froze, their faces blank with disbelief.

They had each imagined the Sword Tomb in different ways based on their knowledge and ideas of the Sword God.

But none of their imaginations had prepared them for this.

Human beings are creatures of imagination, but reality can sometimes be cruel.

For these men, this moment was perhaps the cruelest of their lives.

Rather than the secret techniques or sword diagrams they had expected to find in the tomb…

All they saw were sword marks etched into every surface of the cave, like spider webs.

The sword marks were so tangled that it was impossible to distinguish which ones were from earlier times or later ones.

Occasionally, there were markings that looked like letters, but they were so tiny that, even with their knowledge, they couldn’t decipher them or even identify which dynasty or era the script belonged to.

However, a few exceptional individuals exist in every group.

One man, as if he had already anticipated this, pulled out a large stone ink slab and paper.

He had come prepared to make rubbings of the markings.

It seemed that others from previous groups had also had the foresight to come prepared, as the cave’s walls were now covered in various stains from ink.

“Move aside!”

In a hurry, Aja-ryang anxiously spoke to the man who was making rubbings.

“Great hero! Could you lend me some paper and ink?”

The man with the rubbing tools turned sharply to face Aja-ryang and spoke curtly.

“How much do you need?”

“Pardon?”

“Silver coins!”

Having experienced the harshness of the Sword Tomb, it seemed that even the heroes here had abandoned their former martial virtues. Now, only the petty calculations of merchants filled the air—this place had turned into a hell of commerce.

Aja-ryang frantically rummaged through his sleeves and laid out all the silver coins he had.

“This… this is all I have!”

The desperation to recoup one’s investment is a terrifying thing. Having already invested ten gold coins, Aja-ryang could not afford to leave empty-handed.

“I’ll give you more silver than this man!” someone else shouted.

“Hey! Stick to your turn!”

Soon, the cave became a chaotic mess, and the man making the rubbings shouted harshly.

“Only two! Only two will be accepted! To make rubbings of all these sword marks, we must hurry!”

“Give me the chance!”

“I’ll pay with gold coins!”

As the crowd clamored and a scuffle broke out, Aja-ryang, desperate, pushed through the chaos and shouted, “I asked first! Move aside!”

At that moment, a middle-aged man grabbed the bundle of paper the rubbing man was holding, and before he could react, the man fell backward.

“Ahhh!”

Screeek!

“…”

“…”

The noisy cave was suddenly filled with a shocking silence.

The paper, which could have been saved if torn vertically, had been ripped diagonally into a triangle.

This made it impossible for the rubbings to be done…

No, it was absolutely impossible.

“Ahhh…”

People sat down in despair, faces frozen with shock.

Staring blankly at the cave walls, they were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a bell marking the end of the tour.

Ding, ding.

As Aja-ryang heard the bell, it felt as though his life had come to an end, and his heart sank.

“Well then, I hope you had a good viewing experience. The cave is very narrow, so please keep order and leave in an orderly fashion.”

Seeing Cho Hwi’s cheerful face, Aja-ryang’s anger surged.

His face turned red and blue as he clenched his fists in fury.

“Pure fraudster!”

Cho Hwi swiftly turned and nonchalantly stared at him.

“…Fraud?”

Aja-ryang’s eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.

“You think I came all the way out here to see these sword marks? Ten gold coins? To gather all these warriors and pull off such an audacious scam? You’re a merchant with a lot of nerve!”

A slight smile appeared on Cho Hwi’s face.

It was precisely because of people like them that Cho Hwi could never leave the Sword Tomb unattended.

Given the nature of martial artists, once they started causing trouble through force, ordinary staff could not handle it.

A faint sound of a sword’s hum echoed, and Cho Hwi’s steel sword shimmered in the air.

He was, without a doubt, standing with his arms crossed—this was the so-called “Empty Air Manipulation” technique.

With a flick.

Without a word, Cho Hwi mounted the sword and, with an invisible gaze, observed Aja-ryang and his group.

Aja-ryang groaned, his face stained with horror.

“Small Sword God?” he whispered.

In the martial world of the Central Plains, only one person traveled the world riding a sword—the president of the Swordsman’s Association, the Small Sword God.

“These sword marks, you call them ‘this’?”

While most of the sword marks in the Sword Tomb were left by ancient masters, some of them were also the marks of the Sword God himself.

Cho Hwi’s eyes began to harden with a chilling aura.

“You sure you can back up that statement?”

Realizing the magnitude of his mistake, Aja-ryang hurriedly bowed and apologized.

“I… I apologize! I’ve offended you!”

Cho Hwi stared silently at Aja-ryang and his group, his face serious, then slowly spoke.

“I’ll make it clear. I am the proof standing before you. I have spent three years here perfecting the Sword God’s sword techniques.”

“Ahhh!”

Only then did Aja-ryang realize the mistake he had made.

This was a site officially certified by the martial world’s leader, the King of the Martial World, Wu Huang.

Moreover, he had completely forgotten the reputation of the Sword God’s direct disciple, the Small Sword God.

“Now, please leave.”

“Yes? Yes! Understood.”

Terrified by Cho Hwi’s unwavering presence, Aja-ryang and his group hastily made their way out of the cave.

When they emerged, they were met by another group, filled with hope and anticipation, gazing at the Sword Tomb from the elevator.

Aja-ryang glanced at his group, and saw expressions as if they had lost their country, their eyes unfocused, staring only at the distant mountains.

At that moment, Aja-ryang realized what those newcomers might be thinking as they looked at them.

He himself had been standing there not long ago.

“Now, you all get to experience it too.”

The fools had arrived.

* * *

The Sword God had collapsed.

It was no exaggeration—he was really lying motionless in a corner of the Spirit Realm.

Given that the nobleman had already been caught in a trance due to a weakening of his spiritual power, all the resentment from the other Lords turned toward Jo Hwi, but Jo Hwi stood his ground, merely glaring back defiantly.

– **”Is it possible for the fame of a Sword God to fade away? Now that the situation has come this far, we might as well make some money! Let’s think long-term!”**

If only he could speak, he wouldn’t be so hated.

The Lords fiercely criticized Jo Hwi, but deep down, they could not help but marvel at his astonishing business acumen.

Jo Hwi’s so-called “Sword God merchandise” was selling like hotcakes.

**”Sword God’s Sacred Emblem,”** alone was selling nearly a thousand scrolls a day, generating a revenue of five hundred gold coins.

Just from the sale of the Sword God Sacred Emblem, he was raking in five hundred gold coins every single day.

Moreover, other merchandise, such as Sword God-themed ornaments, trinkets, the Sword God Sword, and even Rider Jackets, all contributed to the overwhelming sales.

If you combined all the profits from these, the daily revenue was almost two thousand gold coins.

In just ten days, this would amount to twenty thousand gold coins; in a month, a staggering sixty thousand gold coins!

This was truly an unimaginable amount of money!

Originally, the merchandise business was a gold mine.

Modern-day celebrities also leverage their fame to sell cheap, mass-produced items at a huge premium, often sparking controversies. But this type of profitable business was nearly unheard of in the esteemed families of the Jo Family.

If this incredible revenue of the Sword Realm continued for three years, just considering an annual revenue of about three hundred thousand gold coins, this would sum up to nearly one million gold coins in just three years—an astronomical amount!

Even more astonishing was the fact that none of this sales figure included the entrance fees for the Sword Realm!

The profits alone surpassed what four or five large family businesses might earn in total.

Now, the tourism business of the Sword Realm was something Jo Hwi could never afford to lose.

He never expected that the tourism business would be so lucrative.

As Jo Hwi was contemplating how to expand the thriving tourism business, his reach extended even to the Demon God.

– **”Demon God, could you tell me where the Ten Thousand Demon Mound is located?”**

The Demon God, though bodiless, felt like cold sweat was running down his face. The thought of his image being printed on countless scrolls and spread all over the world was enough to send chills down his spine!

**”Look at that Sword God Sword!**”

The name **”Sword God”** was clearly engraved on the handle of the sword… It made him feel embarrassed just looking at it.

He feared that those low-cost swords with “Sword God” written on them would soon be rebranded as “Demon God” and sold for an enormous profit.

– **”Hey, don’t be like that. Just teach me. After all, isn’t the Ten Thousand Demon Mound a place the Sword God himself destroyed? There shouldn’t be much magic power left there, so it won’t be a big deal.”**

**”It’s not the magic power, you fool, it’s the idea of my face being plastered all over! I’m not doing that!”**

The Demon God quickly disappeared into the corner of the Spirit Realm and fell silent.

– **”Hey, Martial God? No, Martial God Lord?**”

Although the Martial God was also bodiless, he felt the pressure of his own blood rushing to his head.

The Lords of the Jo Family, huddled together in a corner of the Spirit Realm, felt something inexplicable in their hearts.

They had entrusted their long-held family ambitions to Jo Hwi, and now, they felt a deep sense of sorrow.

Wait a minute—?

Looking at the situation now, the ambitions of the Jo Family, as well as those of the Sima Family, seemed meaningless now that the three legendary treasures—**the Heaven-Blooded Jade, the Unifying Earth-Blooded Jade,** and **the Boundless Heaven-Blooded Jade**—had been united.

At that moment, the Martial God realized how ridiculous it was for him to feel sorry for the Jo Family.

The Lords of the Spirit Realm were now all part of a shared fate.

They had no choice but to live with Jo Hwi’s decisions.

– **”Why is there no answer? Martial God? Sima Family, do you have nothing to share?”**

Even if they had something, they would never share it, given how miserly he was!

How obsessed with money must one be to behave like this?

To turn the Tomb of the Three Gods into a tourist spot?

Just then, an unbelievable voice reached Jo Hwi.

– **”I know where the Ten Thousand Demon Mound is.”**

The Demon God, having left his body, appeared before Jo Hwi using the celestial martial arts of the Celestial Demon.

– **”Wh-What is this!”**

The Sword God’s hollow gaze turned to the sky of the Spirit Realm.

– **”I’ve been meaning to visit the Ten Thousand Demon Mound one day.”**

– **”…”**

The Demon God clenched his teeth in frustration.

Was this a desperate attempt to not be left out?

At that moment, a dazzling light filled the Spirit Realm, and the Martial God’s ultimate martial skill—the **”Supreme Martial God’s Step”**—materialized before Jo Hwi.

The Martial God, who had disappeared without a trace, now seemed to echo from somewhere, as if his presence lingered.

– **”As long as it’s not me…”**

* * *

In front of the Sword Realm, where the darkness thickened.

Jo Hwi sat among piles of silver coins, a satisfied expression on his face, as he stroked the silver coins over and over.

The flickering torches illuminated Jo Hwi and Jang Il-ryong’s faces, both gleaming with madness.

**”Hehehe!”**

**”Heh-heh!”**

It was literal windfall money!

In less than half a month, the sales had already reached a level that would make even the wealthiest in the Central Plains no longer a distant dream.

Jo Hwi, smiling contentedly, turned his gaze toward Jang Il-ryong.

**”Il-ryong, what do you want?”**

Jang Il-ryong’s face flushed with excitement.

**”Hehe, I want to build a mansion like a palace! I want to bring my father, mother, and our youngest brother, Chil-ryong, to live together!”**

“Really?”

Jo Hwi paused for a moment, then nodded enthusiastically.

**”Alright. I’ll give you the rights to the Jo Family Complex Sky Tower. How about four houses?”**

The **Jo Family Complex Sky Tower** was the official name of the mixed-use apartment building recently announced in Gangseo, developed by Jo Gyu-won.

It was about to open its model homes soon.

Looking at the luxurious interior and stunning design, Jang Il-ryong couldn’t close his mouth in awe.

Especially the **water-closet**—it was a cultural shock to him when he learned about its shape and function.

The concept of the “ondol” system, where hot water circulated through copper pipes to warm the floor, was another surprising revelation.

And the stunning glass from the Pasaguk kingdom adorning the interior—it was truly a home worthy of royalty.

Certainly, such a home would be sold for a fortune, and Jo Hwi was offering four houses!

**”Really, hyung?”**

“Have you ever known me to speak in jest?”

Jang Il-ryong, on the verge of tears, felt overwhelmed.

**”Thank you, hyung! Ugh!”**

Unable to hold back, Jang Il-ryong burst into tears.

The Jang family had long struggled with poverty. Even now, Jang Il-ryong couldn’t forget the moment when the King of the Green Forest came to them, offering to take him to the Great Mountain.

At that moment, his mother’s face had briefly shown relief at the idea of having one less mouth to feed. Although he understood it, the memory still caused him to tear up every time he got drunk.

**”Why are you acting so big all of a sudden? Compared to all the effort Director Jang has put in, this is nothing, so don’t worry about it.”**

**”…It’s not just a burden, hyung.”**

**”Then?”**

**”It’s just… sorrow.”**

In this scene, Zhang Yilong, who had endured years of poverty, opened up to Zhuo Hui about his family struggles. As he spoke, Zhuo Hui’s expression gradually hardened, reflecting the universal truth that, whether in the modern world or the martial arts world, when a person is broke, they are bound to feel lonely and pitiful.

Zhuo Hui comforted him, saying he would ensure a generous salary for Zhang Yilong if he continued to work diligently. As the two shared a moment of understanding, a messenger entered the tent, announcing an unexpected visitor.

“Chairman, a guest has arrived,” the messenger said.

Zhuo Hui frowned. “What? It’s already past business hours! What kind of guest comes at this late hour?”

The messenger hesitated and replied, “I’m not sure, but they are from the Meng (Alliance).”

Zhuo Hui’s frown deepened. The Meng Alliance members had a notorious reputation for showing up at odd hours, and he couldn’t understand why someone would visit at such a late time.

“Why do the people from the Meng always act like this? What kind of people come at this hour?” he grumbled, visibly annoyed. He quickly opened a wooden box and said, “Zhang, prepare the silver.”

It seemed the Meng’s inspectors had caught wind of the success of Zhuo Hui’s business and were coming to inspect it. Zhang Yilong quickly gathered the silver as Zhuo Hui called out, “Come in.”

A young man entered the tent, and Zhuo Hui’s eyes widened with recognition. He had seen that face before.

“Wait, are you… Qing Yunso? The Huoshan Dragon of the Huoshan Sect?” Zhuo Hui asked.

Qing Yunso, a prominent figure from the Huoshan Sect and now an inspector for the Meng, replied, “I am Qing Yunso from the Meng, sent to inspect the Cao family’s business.”

Zhuo Hui’s eyes narrowed as he noted the serious and formal demeanor of Qing Yunso, and he gestured for him to sit.

Qing Yunso, visibly nervous, began to inspect the books, but immediately looked confused. The records were written in a script he didn’t recognize—neither ancient nor foreign language, but something entirely different.

Zhuo Hui, with a smirk, explained, “Our accounting is written in a unique system, and you probably won’t understand it.”

Qing Yunso’s face turned pale. He had no idea what he was looking at.

Zhuo Hui continued with an amused smile, “Perhaps you could take a look at the business contract between the Meng and our family. It states that if the Meng asks for the books, we’ll provide them. But we’re not required to interpret them for you.”

Qing Yunso hesitated, and Zhuo Hui continued, “Even if we rewrite the books in the common tongue, I doubt the Meng will believe them, as they will see them as altered.”

At that point, Qing Yunso began to realize the difficulty of his position. The principle of inspections was to catch a business red-handed, not to rely on records that could be altered.

Zhuo Hui smirked, observing Qing Yunso’s discomfort. He couldn’t help but wonder what the Meng’s leader was thinking, especially since even a seasoned inspector like Qing Yunso was stumped.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Hui absentmindedly fiddled with a labor contract in his hand, thinking of his next moves.