Chapter 413

At Changryong Sangbang, valuable goods from outside always seem to pop up from somewhere.

Although no one has ever seen a proper trading venture take place, it’s quite the mystery.

Officially, it’s said to be an extremely secretive and mystical operation.

And although everyone in Gwangju knows that this mystery involves smuggling across the sea, flouting national laws, they don’t really seem to care.

Of course, it’s not like the Qing has ever shown loyalty to the country by proclaiming execution on people just because they broke laws that even dogs don’t follow (though we should definitely hear the dogs out).

However, I can’t overlook the fact that the rowers are nothing but free labor, and essential products too.

They cross the sea using slaves as their power source.

If someone dies along the way, that just means it’s a day for some meat on the side.

This was a shocking level of efficiency that could make even the western flat-noses tip their hats.

Or perhaps they were regressing into a system of shared labor rather than specialization.

“Great Hero, please spare my children! I beg you!”

“Father! No! I’ll take the punishment instead.”

“No! Great Hero, this is all my fault, please forgive me with my life!”

What a heartwarming scene it was to see a family willing to sacrifice themselves, something I never thought I’d witness in the Sapa.

The Qing was grinning; it was a smile that didn’t really mask anything, though.

“Wow, look at this uncle blabbering away. Who said anyone is dying? Hey, Uncle, did you hear what this old guy just said? Who does he think is a wicked Flesh Demon?”

“Yeah! That’s just too much. Sure, the Shaman enjoys killing, but he’s really quite the nice demon.”

“I’m so sad. But uncle, you know how much I treasure my family, so why do you go and steal other people’s families to sell them? My family counts as family, while others are just livestock?”

“I did… a terrible thing, please…!”

“Well, I’ll let you go. Oh, have you heard the one about the Blind Man and the Cripple? They help each other out on the road, the Cripple carrying the Blind Man while the Blind Man shows him the way—oh wait, that’s backward. Anyway.”

“No idea! Never heard it before!”

“So it’s like they fill in each other’s shortcomings. With that kind of strong family love, surely they could get along just fine even if they had to sacrifice an arm or a leg, right?”

And with that, the whole family ended up splattered around in some awkward position.

They managed to keep one arm and one leg each intact, and with ten family members, that meant four left arms (one was a left-handed) and five left legs.

Anyhow, since the Qing didn’t push any further and left, the twisted family members showed a hint of relief amidst their suffering.

That was until they opened the main door to check the pile of slave goods, workforce, and meat that had gathered in the yard.

“Alright, everyone, have a nice time!”

As the Qing waved, the Shaman waved back as well.

And then the tightly-packed goods that couldn’t even lie down in the cramped warehouse shuffled their filthy feet into the great hall.

The Qing stepped out the front door, re-hanging the signboard in its place.

The blood-stained sign of Changryong Sangbang dangled precariously at the corner.

Unlike Changryong Sangbang that did smuggling openly, Ogage Seonbang was a truly law-abiding organization with a great spirit of legality.

According to national law, making ships without official permission was strictly forbidden and punishable by death.

That’s why Ogage Seonbang bravely dealt with the heinous lawbreakers who secretly built ships, showing no mercy.

Of course, national law stated that civilians couldn’t kill other civilians in any circumstance.

Thus, the law-abiding Ogage Seonbang abided by the law, giving the ruffians a thorough beating before handing them over to local laws with a small fee as a reward.

They certainly didn’t sell them!

National law prohibits slave trade, so they didn’t sell them; they just received a small fee as thanks for upholding the law!

How could such an exemplary public agency not be favored by the authorities?

As soon as they entered, the patrol officers raised their spears and aimed them squarely at the Qing.

“Halt! The national law is severe, and how dare you cause a ruckus in broad daylight!”

The Qing stopped and looked around to gauge the officer’s mood, then mumbled loudly.

“What to do? If I kill them all, I won’t get caught. But if I miss even one, it’ll become a headache.”

“Hmm. Should I block the main gate?”

“Nah. Do they even know our faces? Or our names? So what if I let a couple slip? I could just quit being a Shaman and leave.”

“Wow, exactly! The Shaman always thinks ahead.”

The officer’s face paled at the blatant threat.

Either way, who would hear that nonsense when the Qing casually stepped forward, as if no one was listening?

“Excuse me, who is this fine gentleman blocking the path of this Shaman?”

Suddenly, one of the officials shouted out in outrage.

“This gentleman is none other than the Vice Minister of Gwangju! Kneel down and pay your respects immediately!”

“Ah, Vice Minister! But do you even know who I am? I’m the Civil Engineering Fairy. I’m here to exorcise the evil spirits in this house, so how could someone living here step foot into a place where demons reside?”

The Vice Minister desperately tried to stay stern.

“Ahem. Confucius warned us to avoid the supernatural. Can you stop your wicked tongue and just turn around?”

“What a naive man. The owner of this house has touched a dark spirit, so if you take their side too lightly, the curse will come for you as well.”

The great evil chuckled at the Vice Minister’s words and proceeded.

“It’s a horrible curse that kills people in a dreadful manner at night. Let’s see, I should probably read your name and figure things out. Know that you’re lucky my spiritual power doesn’t come cheap. So, Vice Minister, what’s your name and where do you live? And do you happen to have any particularly precious children? If they die, you’ll forever regret it and suffer your whole life regretting it, right?”

The officer clearly heard this.

Where do you live? Should I kill you or your precious child?

And truth be told, the Qing said that exactly, so he heard it crystal clear.

“I tried to exorcise my evil spirit, but since you blocked me, it’s not my problem if your household falls to mourning later. I warned you; don’t hold regret against me when that time comes! Just pray to the deceased Confucius who advised against the supernatural.”

As the Qing turned away, he called back.

“By the way, do you know where the Vice Minister lives?”

“Nope.”

“Well, who cares? Just grab any person from Gwangju and ask; they’ll know where you live. I should probably write up a big mourning note for when I return home.”

The Vice Minister got anxious at this point.

“Ahem, um, we’re just here to drive away the evil spirits.”

“Oh, do you perhaps feel chilly because the cold of evil spirits is coming in?”

The Qing chuckled and turned back.

“You see, ghosts don’t meddle with the officials or martial world—they cause trouble whenever they want. Do you understand what I mean, Vice Minister?”

Don’t you know the Official Imposition of Non-Interference?

Don’t meddle when you have no clue!

“Confucius warned us that a gentleman should avoid supernatural events, but I’m sure he said that to protect the innocent common people from sufferings due to wickedness. I’m not sure about your mystical arts, but if they can help the common people, wouldn’t that be a good thing? So handle this however you see fit.”

“Got it. I’ll be on my way. Have a little mercy on me.”

“Thank you very much.”

Having once grace permitted, the Qing told him not to meddle.

“Now, let’s go!”

The Vice Minister, looking disgusted, shoved his subordinates aside and took his leave.

Sure, one might question why he had to flee so pathetically.

But you see, a crazy person isn’t someone you want to engage with—this is always the advice we receive from our elders.

Even with a facade of fear toward the authorities, it’s important to give the impression that this fright still has some bite.

In a situation where it’s kill or be killed, it’s always the officials who get the bloody end.

The Official Imposition of Non-Interference is simply a justification for the officials.

“Sir!? If you go out like this, Sir! Sir!”

It seems the aide wasn’t part of the officials.

Clinging to the sleeves of the Vice Minister, he was brushed off with a simple, “Eh, let go,” and he didn’t end up on the ground.

After all, a guy who has learned martial arts won’t be easily thrown off by a mere scholar’s gesture.

There followed a “let go! This is not proper! Please, stop!” situation.

Ultimately, the Vice Minister, wanting to get away from this wretchedness, lost his temper.

“How dare you slander me! Before you upset me further, are you plotting rebellion?”

Only then did the aide let go, leaving him standing aimlessly in the recently emptied space as the troops left.

Then suddenly, he looked at the Qing and grinned cunningly.

“Hehe, fairy! I’ve heard so much about your abilities, and I’ve admired you for a long time. If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask, hehe…”

So much for being law-abiding, it seems.

The moment a civilian has a ship, they’ll sneakily drill holes in it come night.

When repairs come, they’ll stall as long as possible to snatch ships right out from under them.

It’s shocking to see their techniques; they’re really thieves clad in the craftsman’s guise!

The Qing shook his head and said, “Shaman. Lock the front door and bolt it tight.”

And with that, the door of Ogage Seonbang slammed shut.

On to the ship Cheongchul-ho.

In common terms, a ‘shipyard’ is where captains and crew dwell.

And according to an anonymous informant, since they didn’t ask for names before dying, that counts as being anonymous, plus they provided information for the public good before being sacrificed; thus, it seems Cheongchul-ho operates as a pirate ship.

All bandits are trash; they ought to be killed.

Pirates are just as trash—they should die too.

These pirates don’t even bother building grand manors; they’ve converted a tavern into their lair, and by the smell… yikes.

The Qing burst in through the door, scrunching up his face in disgust.

The mixture of opium smoke, marijuana smoke, and tobacco smoke made it hazy, like walking into a fog bank.

This was already bad enough, but the pungent cheap alcohol and the typical manly stench made even the Qin feel bile rising in his throat.

As he strode in, there was an immediate silence, the rowdy crowd going quiet.

Just as someone looked ready to speak, the Qing raised his hammer and grinned.

“Alright, pay attention. Bling bling! Listen up, little girl will just do her business and take off. Eyes down, you little punks.”

As the glaring Qi shone, the pirates looked down.

“Bling bling.”

From behind, the Shaman added charmingly to the scene.

The Qing chuckled.

With the striking demeanor of absolute beauty, the Qing exuded alluring vibes, so captivating that it would seem confusing in a way.

Of course, to the pirates, it was anything but cute.

There’s no way they’d find a bare-handed master radiating brilliant Qi adorable.

But the Qing had no clue that the Shaman wasn’t just talking cute; she was genuinely radiating sparkles of Qi.

Scanning the room, the Qing didn’t actually search for anyone; instead, he finally found his target across the smog-filled place.

With a swing of the hammer, WHOOSH!! The sound of metal whizzing through the air, then BAM! CRASH!

One column ruptured dramatically, splintering wood everywhere.

The Qing pressed forward.

WHAM! BANG! CRASH!

As he headed towards the entrance, he remembered to smash a nearby column to pieces, resting the hammer on his shoulder.

“Phew, all done. Let’s go.”

“Huh? Already? Not gonna kill anyone?”

“Ugh, it stinks too much to stay here. Let’s bounce.”

The Shaman tilted her head in adorable confusion as the Qing intertwined his arm with hers, and they stepped outside.

As they went out, the ominous creaking of the wood followed as if in protest at their departure.

Then came the crack of wood splitting apart.

The earth itself didn’t tremble, yet the very vessel began quake like there was an earthquake.

The Qing, being a carpenter, could easily guess which beams would be under pressure, knowing which pillars would lead to the house falling down.

“Uh-oh…!”

As the pirates finally realized the peril they were in, they rushed out, but the one in front flew straight up for some reason, and the whole crowd got tangled and collapsed.

Those downed pirates stared blankly at the swaying ceiling as dust danced in the air.

Then—BOOM!

A thunderous boom erupted nearby, echoing like the wrath of heaven.

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