Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Merchant Elder and the Martial God
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“It seems we have no choice but to accept it as fact.”
A middle-aged man with sharp eyes delivered his report. He was Yu Jin-pil, acting as the Merchant Elder’s spokesman. And the elder receiving Yu Jin-pil’s report was, naturally, the Merchant Elder himself.
“So it’s true that the Iron Lion Sect surpasses even the Hundred Li Clan?”
“According to Cheon the Hero, mastering just eight-tenths of their ancestors’ supreme arts would make it so.”
“That’s not good.”
“Property prices around the Iron Lion Sect are skyrocketing. Several buildings are already being renovated on the spot, and the inns and taverns are buzzing about whether they should relocate there.”
“That makes sense. When a major sect establishes itself, the area sees the highest foot traffic. The flow of the world follows money, and money gathers to great figures. Is the Iron Lion Sect aiming to become one of those?”
Yu Jin-pil fell silent, and the Merchant Elder closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought. He quickly recalled all the reports he’d received about the Iron Lion Sect. Analyzing the movements of nearby factions and surveying the balance between righteous and demonic sects, he concluded that as long as they weren’t crushed midway, they had a strong chance of growing into the largest faction south of the Yangtze, encompassing both Hunan and Jiangxi.
If backed by sufficient wealth, it could happen even faster.
The Merchant Elder’s eyes snapped open.
“I need to meet this young lion myself! I must determine if he’s just a lucky upstart who’ll burn out wildly, or an ambitious talent in need of capable allies.”
Iron Lion Sect.
Do Cheon sat face-to-face with the suddenly visiting Merchant Elder.
“You must have some real pull. People come knocking even when you turn your back, and now the region’s top tycoon shows up in person. Impressive.”
“Even after such a grave misunderstanding, you’ve met this old man—proof of your broad magnanimity. A fine sight.”
“I’m not dwelling on it. My master taught me not to be petty. Besides, the merchant world is as cutthroat as the martial one—everyone’s always fighting to snatch each other’s rice bowls.”
“A brilliant disciple under an excellent master. This old man believes the famed Iron Lion Sect of Hunan will go from strength to strength.”
“Thank you.”
As Do Cheon bowed his head, a broad smile bloomed across the Merchant Elder’s face. The atmosphere was even better than expected, so today’s negotiations seemed destined to go smoothly.
“Since you understand the merchant world so well, I’ll get straight to it without preamble.”
“Please do. I’m sorely lacking by your standards, but I can read the lay of the land.”
“Lacking? Hardly. We’ll get along just fine.”
“I have a good feeling about that too. Speak freely.”
“Very well. Controlling just the waterways of Dongting Lake won’t be enough for the Iron Lion Sect to dominate south of the Yangtze. Great endeavors require more than great men.”
“Then what else is needed?”
“There’s an old saying: To aim for the world, one must grasp military might, manpower, and wealth.”
Do Cheon nodded at the Merchant Elder’s gleaming words. It rang true. Long ago, in half-serious talk of conquering the world with Yoo Geon, they’d said much the same.
Military might, manpower, and wealth.
Securing the Iron Lions’ supreme arts had locked in military might. But manpower and wealth were just in the early stages.
The fierce battle with the Heaven-Rending Legion and forcing both the Great Righteous Alliance and the legion to withdraw had bought time to build manpower.
And finally, wealth.
The unexpected aid from the Sky-Spanning Gang leader had provided substantial funds, but considering future expansions, it was woefully insufficient.
“Manpower can be bought with wealth, in a way. Which makes wealth the real key, doesn’t it?”
Do Cheon nodded.
The Merchant Elder brightened and replied.
“More vital than military might, perhaps? With proper financial backing, a ten-year plan could shrink to five.”
“I think it’s even more than that. Seeing you buy up all of Dongting Lake’s ships drove it home. Military might and wealth must stand as equals. Only when those two forces unite can one set out for the world.”
“Such worldly wisdom from one so young.”
“As I said, I may not grasp principles, but I’ve got instincts. Anyway, your visit suggests you’ve heard about the Heaven-Rending Legion business. And somehow, word of recovering our ancestors’ arts has reached you too, right?”
“Correct.”
“Mentioning the world means you’re open to alliance if our goals align?”
“Sharp as ever—makes for easy talk. Yes.”
“Then bluntly: I’ve already shown you my military might. Haven’t I?”
“Plenty witnessed the clash with the Heaven-Rending Legion.”
The Merchant Elder nodded.
Do Cheon straightened, adopting a somewhat arrogant air.
“That’s the extent of my power. As I said, it only shines when matched with wealth on equal footing. So I ask: How much wealth do you command, Elder?”
This time, the Merchant Elder straightened.
“They say I’m the richest around.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what?”
“Empty words won’t cut it when the world’s at stake. I want to see tangible proof.”
“How?”
“I’ve had Yoo Geon of the Yoo Merchant Group acquire ships on Poyang Lake.”
“Poyang Lake? That’s under Hundred Li Clan management...”
“They just manage it—they’re not the true owners. With Dongting Lake’s waterways secured, Poyang’s are next. That’s the foothold for the Yangtze.”
“The Yangtze too...!”
The Merchant Elder was hit with one shock after another.
He hadn’t imagined they’d eye the Hundred Li Clan’s territory and push to the Yangtze already. Power to rival the Heaven-Rending Legion, insight into worldly flows, and such ambition.
The Merchant Elder’s eyes flashed wide.
A great peng! A great peng! If its wings aren’t clipped, it’ll soar ten thousand li!
Ride that peng, and it wouldn’t just be Hunan—it’d be the entire world!
“So how shall we proceed?”
“What I want now is Poyang Lake’s waterways. My power will be needed if the Hundred Li Clan steps in. Which means wealth handles the financial side.”
The Merchant Elder’s mind raced.
Grasping Do Cheon’s intent, he smiled faintly.
“It won’t take long.”
The Merchant Elder rose.
Do Cheon stood as well.
“I’ll return in a few days.”
“I’ll await good news.”
Do Cheon smiled. The Merchant Elder smiled back and departed. The sudden visit ended on a warm, harmonious note.
Generation’s Heavenly Demon Secret Chamber.
Kwachik!
As the Heaven-Rending Legion slammed his hand down, the glowstone embedded there shattered. Simultaneously, the crimson qi within briefly asserted its presence before scattering into the air and vanishing.
“What do we do now?”
The Hundred Li Clan Lord shouted.
His eyes were fixed on the shattered glowstone fragments.
“You saw it too! It’s just a rock holding some qi—nothing more!”
“It could be something we failed to detect!”
“If it were that impressive, would it shatter so easily? And you saw it—the qi just fizzled out like nothing!”
Still fuming, the Heaven-Rending Legion bellowed. The Hundred Li Clan Lord shut his mouth, unable to retort. Even to him, the stone from the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s secret chamber felt suspiciously underwhelming.
“That bastard! He tricked us!”
“Back then?”
“Yes. He infused this rock with qi right there.”
“For that to hold, one assumption must be true.”
The Heaven-Rending Legion, seething with rage, couldn’t speak.
“He must have mastered the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s qi—that is, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
A heavy silence blanketed the chamber at the Hundred Li Clan Lord’s words. Even the Heaven-Rending Legion could only clench his fists tremblingly.
“Do you think... that’s possible?”
The Volcanic Divine Sword asked.
His question was directed at Byeon Ryeo-gun, sitting quietly to the side.
“Not impossible, with one precondition.”
“What’s that?”
“That the Thunder Barrier Fist he showed us was fake.”
Byeon Ryeo-gun replied.
If the Thunder Barrier Fist was fake, then he’d mastered the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s arts and mimicked it flawlessly to deceive them all. All eyes turned to the Heaven-Rending Legion, who had clashed directly with Do Cheon.
“It can’t be fake! If it was, that kid’s already a Martial God!”
“Then he hasn’t mastered the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s arts.”
The Volcanic Divine Sword eyed the Heaven-Rending Legion.
“And he didn’t infuse it with qi either.”
The Hundred Li Clan Lord added, also eyeing him.
“No! It’s him, I tell you! That qi explosion back then! It wasn’t the corpse puppet triggering the stone—he put his qi in it!”
“If you’re right...”
“I am!”
“Then he’s a Martial God.”
“...!”
The Heaven-Rending Legion grimaced, speechless.
It was absurd even to him. By his claim, the Iron Lion King had mastered the Thunder Barrier Fist to a level that matched him, and moreover, reached a stage in the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s arts advanced enough to infuse the stone—all in just three years.
Conversely, if the Thunder Barrier Fist was fake, he’d undeniably mastered the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s arts and mimicked it well enough to fool them all, meaning he’d reached an untouchable level. A true Martial God.
Either truth was enough to silence them.
“I hope the truth is simply that he only learned the Thunder Barrier Fist, found this stone here, and it’s useless because it’s too old...”
The Hundred Li Clan Lord said with a heavy sigh. That sigh nearly burst the Heaven-Rending Legion’s gut; he shot to his feet.
“Let’s go confirm it!”
“Suppose he is at Martial God realm. Why trick us?”
The Volcanic Divine Sword’s question halted him.
“How should I know his twisted motives!”
“When in doubt, watching quietly isn’t a bad idea.”
“Just watch?”
“Botch it, and he’s not a god—he’s a calamity.”
“Hah...!”
The Heaven-Rending Legion scowled fiercely. The Hundred Li Clan Lord pondered deeply. Then Byeon Ryeo-gun spoke cautiously.
“The Wise King hasn’t moved.”
“Who cares about that corpse puppet now?”
As the Heaven-Rending Legion snapped, the Volcanic Divine Sword caught Byeon Ryeo-gun’s meaning and nodded.
“If the Wise King visits him again, it’ll confirm things.”
“Yes.”
The Heaven-Rending Legion got it from their exchange.
“Fine. Power must be used eventually. We wait.”
He sat back down. Then the Hundred Li Clan Lord rose. All eyes turned to him. He smiled faintly.
“Worried he might turn that power on my clan. And if we’re watching, better to do it up close. I’ll take my leave.”
Leaving those loaded words, the Hundred Li Clan Lord departed. Moments later, Byeon Ryeo-gun stood.
“Alliance Lord, my assigned mission is complete. I set down this heavy burden.”
Byeon Ryeo-gun offered the Secret Shadow Pavilion Lord’s token.
The Volcanic Divine Sword accepted wordlessly.
“Where to?”
“I’ll figure it out now.”
“Got a place? If not, the alliance can make room.”
“I have somewhere to go. Just not sure if there’s a spot for me. Thank you for trusting me all this time.”
Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed with cupped fists.
“Good ties reconnect.”
“I’ll remember that.”
As the Volcanic Divine Sword nodded, Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed to the Heaven-Rending Legion too.
“Thank you for trusting this uninvited guest and opening the Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s secret chamber together. Though it ended unexpectedly, I’ll cherish our shared purpose.”
“Don’t get cocky just because you’re righteous. Then we can meet smiling anytime. Come if you’ve nowhere else.”
“Thank you.”
Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed once more and left the chamber.
With even her gone, the Volcanic Divine Sword and Heaven-Rending Legion exchanged glances, surveyed the empty room, and deflated.
“What a letdown.”
“Old age, I suppose. Without allies to fight and watch with, it all feels pointless.”
“We see that kid through to the end! The Generation’s Heavenly Demon’s arts mustn’t emerge—no matter the cost, even if it kills us all!”
“Agreed—they can’t emerge.”
They nodded in unison. Finally, before the Heaven-Rending Legion who’d held the glowstone stood only the Wise King corpse puppet, standing blankly.