Chapter 66: < Protect – Episode 65 – Shanghai Express [4] >

After the reform of the Chinese Communist party, the master caused quite a change for the people, but he shed and secularized his abstemious stance. After the Cultural Revolution, the monks were differentiated into two categories and treated differently, and the horseman led by Kurshenbai took the lead to build great power.

Ahn Soo Ho didn’t believe in strength.

He knew how to foster a great warrior through various practical training that builds muscle, but he was unable to create a perfect human that would transcend all of humanity. In contrast to machines, human stamina had their limits. Despite the fact, veteran mercenaries were more fatal and effective than any weapon. As long as an android that could replace humans was invented, the need for mercenaries would continue to grow.

“We have the potential of 1.3 billion people.”

The monks led by Kurshenbai were realistic and had an innate respect for authority. The use of their bodies was simply their ultimate method. In contrast, those who stressed letting nature be preferred figuring out the mind before the body.

“Desire isn’t a bad thing. Wanting to accomplish something is what makes this world abundant.”

“Didn’t the revolution prohibit thought and reason?”

“That’s a big misunderstanding. It’s true that the Reformation had bad effects, but that foundation was the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution didn’t necessarily fail. It actually became the stepping stone to whole new thoughts.”

“That’s an interesting way of looking at it.”

The Cultural Revolution fell through so badly that even the Chinese Communist Party thought so, but Kurshenbai thought differently. Or was it just that a man of martial arts had a different opinion from a politician? But one couldn’t call him a stupid muscleman, because he led China to what it was today.

“Outsiders probably see it in a negative light. It’s true.”

Just like Kim Dae San, people who survived those times had strong beliefs of their own. Kurshenbai was an old man. But he was different from ordinary elders who survived on pride alone. He survived because of his flexible way of thinking.

“I heard you retired…what are you going to do from now on?”

“I’m just going to travel. I went all over the place all my life, but this time I’m going to actually enjoy it.”

“Then what happened in Indonesia must have been personal.”

“Yes.”

Just as Ahn Soo Ho expected, the Indonesia incident awakened those who were watching him. They probably felt a sense of crisis.

“I respect that you don’t pick sides, Soo Ho.”

Ahn Soo Ho accepted Kurshenbai’s handshake and smirked.

“Did I pa.s.s the test?”

“Test? There’s no test. I just want what is to come to be handled properly. We might run into unwanted situations while we’re in Shanghai. When that happens, please don’t kill them for my sake.”

The horseman’s heir was a living legend, and in the world with almost 1.4 billion people, there were rebel forces everywhere. They didn’t follow a vertical chain of command, but there were more like franchises.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

“Good.”

Kurshenbai played music.

The Grand Hyatt Hotel situated at the top of Jin Mao Tower was regulating normal guests just for the attendees of the BRICS summit. Among the police and information agents, there were many who trained under Kurshenbai. The t.i.tle of being a teacher was the biggest honor for one who took pride in using fists and kicks. It was the same as a good student aiming to go to top university.

“Oh. Soo Ho.”

The man who approached after Kurshenbai left was the Head of State of China.

“Did you have a good talk, Brother?”

“Yeah. But aren’t you on bad terms with the prime minister?”

“Haha. Many outsiders misunderstand. The different regions don’t hate each other. We’re just in a relations.h.i.+p where we can’t get rid of each other. If we really want to build our country’s power, we should learn how to deal with little inconveniences.”

The Republic of China was going through another generation change, and in the center of it was a group that prioritized the citizens of China. China’s leaders.h.i.+p tended to cover small errors and problems in order to become a powerful nation. It was an absurd rationalization and those victimized couldn’t help but feel helpless, but there were few countries that could restrict sanctions with China.

“Oh yeah! I made a lot of preparations for you.”

Yuhaipung dragged Ahn Soo Ho everywhere and introduced him to important people. This was their first time meeting, so how affectionate they were being made him realize how important networking was in China. The loyalty that Koreans and Chinese thought of was very similar yet different.

When the Asia Team of Hosoo Entertainment entered Shanghai, they got a taste of how powerful networking could be. In contrast to those who were sent back due to the ban, they were welcomed with open arms. In addition, the broadcasters announced Hosoo Entertainment’s Shanghai Tour and made it sound very important. It was a big deal in Korea as well. Since Hosoo Entertainment was the only one to get past the Korean culture ban in China, there were all sorts of guesses and stories being made up about it. Some said the CEO of Hosoo Entertainment was actually an overseas Chinese or that he had some mixed blood in him.

And near Star Tower, there were countless reporters and fans wanting to know more. The promotional team was dying.

“I don’t know! We released a press release! Why do you keep saying other things? Reporter Jung! If you keep doing this, I’ll delete your number!”

“The CEO isn’t available to interview! That’s right! I’ll get you an appointment later, so please calm down! Don’t you believe me?”

“Where? Oh, we don’t tamper with the portal profiles! Make this part clear! We don’t want to sue you!”

“Who did this? Who released CEO Ahn’s family photo? I’m going to kill all of them! If you don’t take this down, you’re all going to die! I’m not kidding!”

“Open recruitment? I don’t know about that. I’ll check with the personnel team, Reporter Yoon!”

“Ministry of Culture? Oh, yes. But what do we do? CEO Ahn is still in China so he can’t be contacted! Yes, yes.”

“He doesn’t do talk shows! That’s right! He doesn’t do them, PD Kim!”

Oh Joo Kyung, who was watching over the chaos, turned around in response to a tap.

“Let’s have some tea.”

She followed s.h.i.+m Il Kwon back to the office, but someone was already there. Kim Yoo Seon greeted her with his eyes. Come to think of it, besides Kim Woo Jung, the executive team was gathered in one spot.

“The situation has become strange.”

“What situation?”

“You know we’re outcasts, right, Director Oh?”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

After the JT Entertainment incident, Hosoo Entertainment became known as an evil empire.

“Rumors went around about how CEO Ahn will conquer the entertainment world with his money. Because of that, people are looking at our company in an unfavorable light.”

Oh Joo Kyung wanted to tell him that that was true, but she kept it to herself instead.

“Our country always says nasty things about China, but we can’t overlook China. They have much more national power.”

“So?”

“Among the elders, there are quite a few who studied in China and j.a.pan back in the day. I don’t want to label them as pro-j.a.panese or pro-Chinese, but they tend to rank Chinese and j.a.panese literature above that of Korea. The fact that it’s all under the East Asian cultural sphere makes it conclusive.”

“What does literature have to do with entertainment? Broadcasting and text are two completely different things.”

s.h.i.+m Il Kwon shooked his head.

“No, Director Oh. It may seem like broadcasting and literature and art have no connections. However, the force behind the Korean culture and art world are the cla.s.sic veterans. We also made a.s.sociations of our own, but the government tends to favor the groups with the refined and cla.s.sic image they have.”

From their perspective, the ones dancing and singing looked cheap, while they acknowledged the ones in the field of the cla.s.sic art.

“We got an invitation.”

“The Night of Korean Culture and Art? Oh!”

Oh Joo Kyung accepted the invitation, tilted her head, and then exclaimed that she had heard of it before because Daesan Group sponsored that event in the past.

“They have so much pride that average people of the entertainment world didn’t get invited. And even if they do, they usually get looked down upon.”

“It sounds like you’ve been there before.”

“Yes. I felt insulted.”

s.h.i.+m Il Kwon managed to get an invite by sucking up to a rich friend and getting a recommendation as a result. However, he didn’t get the warm response he expected. He sensed some sort of disregard or mockery.

‘You can’t buy art with money!’ That’s what the eyes were saying.

“I felt insulted, but it was effective.”

The way they viewed her changed. In other words, her level of cla.s.s went up a notch. Oh Joo Kyung nodded.

“Cla.s.s? That might be what we need most right now.”

“You catch on quick, Director Oh.”

“What do you want me to do, Director s.h.i.+m?”

“Please tell CEO Ahn. If he can’t attend, I’ll attend in his stead.”

“Sure.”

“That’s it. You may go now.”

He was very busy as it was. After wrapping up, s.h.i.+m Il Kwon went out, and Kim Yoo Seon spoke up.

“What a wicked person. I can see right through him. Don’t you agree, Director Oh?”

“I have no choice but to willingly be tricked.”

Oh Joo Kyung answered while laughing bitterly.

That was because the reason why s.h.i.+m Il Kwon was looked down upon in the past was vague. Even if people would suck up to their rich friends to get an invitation, very few people would acknowledge them. However, it was different this time. Since they sent the invite first, it was very unlikely that they would get looked down upon again.

“What are you going to say to CEO Ahn?”

“He probably won’t say much about it. He’ll probably tell us to take care of it.”

“Then?”

Oh Joo Kyung waved the invitation and smirked.

“This is too important for only one person to handle. We’ll all go together, You too, Director Kim.”

“Haha.”

Kim Yoo Seon laughed loudly. He knew she was a strong woman, but he didn’t expect this. Thinking about s.h.i.+m Il Kwon’s red face made him happy.

“It’s a success, CEO Ahn!”

Seo Joo Kyung, who arrived in Shanghai with the tour team, immediately found Ahn Soo Ho and caused a fuss. She honestly felt anxious when she found out that China would be their last tour destination. China’s ban against Korean culture was so strong that it made Korea’s entertainment world tremble. The agencies that focused on Chinese marketing couldn’t handle the aftermath and went bankrupt.

The agencies that supposedly closed because of Hosoo Entertainment simply couldn’t endure the wave of the ban against Korean culture. It was wrongful blame, but the employees of Hosoo Entertainment were just like Ahn Soo Ho so they didn’t care much. The employees had always been powerless, so they wanted to cheer on their owner and his spirit.

“What about the venue?”

“They’re giving us the Shanghai Main Stadium.”

“Whoa! Will we be able to fill the seats? If they look empty, that’ll be embarra.s.sing!”

Tens of thousands of people would be needed in order to fill the Shanghai Main Stadium. In order to fill that stadium, they needed to promote as well as be popular to begin with. Seo Joo Kyung answered confidently.

“We can! Despite China’s ban, their people still love Hallyu!”

“Really? Then I’ll look forward to it.”

Ahn Soo Ho was about to proceed, but then he stopped. Logan and his underlings also sensed something and went on full alert. Ahn Soo Ho, who stopped Logan from taking another step, found out the root cause of it.

A slim woman came into view.

As soon as the woman in a Chinese dress met eyes with Ahn Soo Ho, she greeted him in a unique way. He had to read her lips because she spoke so softly.

‘The original heir, Shun May? She’s kidding, right?’

What was this? Was this a street fight? He now understands why Kurshenbai said what he said. China’s pa.s.sion for martial arts was way above what Ahn Soo Ho imagined. He had no idea someone would ask to fight in a public place. If he was anywhere else, he would have thought it was a prank.

‘It’s not like we’re in Shanghai of the Jogye era…’

It looked like they would film a Bruce Lee movie in the 21st century. As soon as she took her stance, Ahn Soo Ho stepped back.

“Come at me.”

< Protect – Episode 65 – Shanghai Express [4] > The end.