Chapter 75 (1/2)
No. 75
Yoo-seong’s impact had been so great that Lee Hwi-min’s briefing, which was supposed the main subject, had been largely ignored.
Immediately after the briefing, every reporter sought Yoo-seong. However, his seat was already empty.
Yoo-seong was walking briskly towards Exit 2 of the Special Defense Agency.
As he walked, he checked Seoyu’s text messages. She was providing him with real-time updates.
-There’s a very explosive reaction to what you’ve done.
-Negative?
-Some of it.
Yoo-seong considered this,
That meant the public opinion towards him was not as bad as he had initially thought.
‘I think this will really work’; he chuckled to himself.
Although he planned it to be that way, he didn’t expect it to work. The culture in China was indeed different.
If he were in Korea, he would have been literally buried.
What was it like after his live interview?
After his broadcast with the point of “Don’t touch me,” the public opinion toward him declined.
However, it was different in China.
The virtue pursued here was ambition rather than humility, to take pride in your skills and prove it consistently.
Yoo-seong had learned it from watching the others. As he walked out of the building, he reflected on himself.
‘Isn’t this what they call ‘image management’?’ He thought.
‘I’m becoming a real professional.’
Yoo-seong laughed bitterly. Of course, it wasn’t that everybody loved what he did.
Just before he arrived, Lee Hwi-min had built up antipathy towards him, using his status as a foreigner to stimulate Chinese pride.
-It’s not a significant difference yet, but it seems that the reaction is gradually improving.
Yoo-seong’s action itself did not cause much resentment. Even the part where he challenged established hunters was being praised.
-They say your Chinese is improving.
Yoo-seong smiled as he read Seoyu’s text. Then, he replied.
-Any feedback about the sword fight?
-There is, but they were blaming Ha Yuk-il for drawing his sword first. They say he overreacted.
Yoo-seong thought about it.
Although Ha Yuk-il drew his sword first, it was simply to emphasize his ‘rank.’
It was a calculated move, much like what Yoo-seong did.
-Besides, plum blossoms… even I was surprised.
No one had ever seen it before.
However, it was common knowledge as to how the legendary Volcano Sword looked like.
It was said that, when it was unfolded, you could clearly see the shape of flowers around it. Ha Yuk-il had been referred to as the successor of the Volcano Martial Arts. Anyone who had seen his sword in the past believed it was the greatest.
However, when they saw what Yoo-seong unfolded, they realized how different the original was from a reprint.
The Volcano was a legend. It was martial arts so symbolic that even ordinary people knew its lore.
Now, the real successor had appeared.
Not only that, he overwhelmed the fake heir in front of everyone’s eyes.
Wasn’t it such a perfect reversal? Everyone loved this kind of drama.
-In the midst of all this, the stock price of Goryong Company fell.
Yoo-seong nodded to himself.
It was a natural outcome. It was a shame for them to even announce a confidential Dive. Now, with Ha Yuk-il’s and Lee Hwi-min’s embarrassment, they looked more like villains.
-Now, they can’t touch you in the Dive.
Yoo-seong understood. If anything happened to Yoo-seong, the company would only be further mired with suspicion.
The times were different now.
The battle between Yoo-seong and Goryong was not Korea versus China anymore. In the eyes of the Chinese public, Yoo-seong wasn’t just a stranger.
They knew his character. Proud, arrogant, yet has certain skills and achievements.
Now, he has dared to challenge Goryong and Won Gyeong-cheon.
Everyone wanted to see what would happen next.
Who would win?
Yoo-seong could feel Seoyu’s admiration through her text messages.
-You really did it. Even if we didn’t provide you any support.
‘No,’ Yoo-seong wanted to tell her. ’I was just lucky.’
However, just as he was about to type his response, he heard footsteps approaching him.