Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Then Let's Fight
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Yoo Geon had sent someone to check on him. To head to the Golden Flower Money House, Do Cheon stepped out of the Iron Lion Sect. The main avenue in front of the sect was bustling with foundation work for new buildings.
"You've come out?"
Man Gwa-hae came running up.
"Don't run until you've lost that weight. What if your knees give out?"
"Heavens, you're even worrying about my knees. Thank you."
"That's right. You do good work, so I keep getting concerned."
"Yes, yes. I'll work even harder from now on. See? The preparations for the buildings are coming along smoothly."
"I see. It changes overnight, seems like it changes every time I wake up. But why is the area right in front of the main gate left empty?"
"There've been a few big fights there. If we start building now, we'd just waste materials, so we left that spot out."
"Ha! Because of those bastards, even unrelated areas are getting delayed."
"Young Master Do. How about we leave the area right in front of the main gate empty like this?"
"Empty?"
"Yes. Instead of buildings, make it a wide plaza. When people come down the avenue and enter the plaza, won't the Iron Lion Sect look even more imposing, with the plaza as its front yard?"
At Man Gwa-hae's words, Do Cheon looked again at the space right in front of the Iron Lion Sect. It was already quite a wide open area. If they leveled the ground and tidied the surroundings, it could make for a pretty spacious plaza.
"Good idea. Do it as you think best, Gang Leader Man."
"Understood."
Man Gwa-hae's face brightened dramatically. He could feel that Do Cheon trusted him.
"I have business at that place, so get back to work."
"Yes. Safe travels."
Man Gwa-hae bowed deeply.
Golden Flower Money House.
As soon as Do Cheon arrived, the elder merchant appeared alongside Yoo Geon.
"It's been a few days."
"Sounds like you've been away somewhere."
"Yes, I took a trip to the Yangtze."
"The Yangtze?"
The elder looked surprised.
"Were you doing some preliminary scouting?"
Yoo Geon caught on immediately. Do Cheon nodded with a smile, and the elder understood as well.
"What did you want to see me about?"
Do Cheon asked.
"The Gold Emperor Clan has started moving."
"Already?"
"Yeah. Faster than we thought. That's why I called you."
Do Cheon furrowed his brow at Yoo Geon's words. At that moment, the elder spoke up.
"I've heard about the plan you two came up with for the Gold Emperor Clan. You were thinking of allying with them, right? Using their financial power to push from the Yangtze all the way to the sea routes."
"Yes."
"It's impossible."
"Why is that?"
"It might be easy at first. With the Gold Emperor Clan's money, what couldn't you do? But as you get used to that ease, before you know it, everything will belong to them."
"...!"
"The Gold Emperor Clan isn't just some merchant group. They're a monster that devours everything in sight."
"A monster?"
"There are plenty of giant merchants shaking the world. But when word gets out that the Gold Emperor Clan is involved, everyone pulls back. No exceptions."
"Whoa, that's pretty scary."
"Think of it as even bigger than the positions held by the Great Righteous Alliance, Tyrant Emperor Sect, and Solar Heaven in the martial world."
"Like the Demonic Cult?"
"Exactly. You could call them the Demonic Cult of the merchant world. The difference from the actual Demonic Cult is that they roam freely across the continent."
Do Cheon's brow furrowed involuntarily at the elder's words.
"Looks like..."
Yoo Geon spoke up.
As Do Cheon turned to him, Yoo Geon wore a resolute expression.
"We'll have to fight the Gold Emperor Clan."
They say merchant wars are battles of wealth.
That's ignorant talk. Merchant wars are all-out battles deploying both wealth and force. Up front, they cripple the opponent's businesses with money; in the back, they cut off their lifelines with martial power. Fierce intrigue and brutal bloodshed leave no room to breathe, so the side without resources can't hold out.
That described the side led by Do Cheon and Yoo Geon. Their force and wealth were both incomplete.
The Gold Emperor Clan was the overlord of overlords in the merchant world. They were called a monster that devoured everything, immense in scale. It also meant they were backed by substantial martial force—enough to sustain that massive body for years.
The elder groaned, Yoo Geon looked resolute, and Do Cheon crossed his arms.
"Then let's fight."
On the way back to the Iron Lion Sect.
Do Cheon stopped by a tavern to think alone for a bit. He ordered some simple liquor and food, sat staring blankly, and recalled the conversation at the Golden Flower Money House.
- To fight the Gold Emperor Clan, we need three things: wealth, force, and intelligence. Our wealth is sorely lacking, but we can protect what we have. The problems are force and intelligence. The Baek Ri Clan said they'd help defend the Iron Lion Sect and here, but they can't attack the Gold Emperor Clan. And our intelligence is at rock bottom. Even the news that the Gold Emperor Clan is buying up Yangtze ships came late from the Baek Ri Clan.
The elder had shown confidence in their wealth.
A few years back, he'd started liquidating businesses, and after deciding to aim for the Yangtze, he'd sold off even what little remained. So even if the Gold Emperor Clan threw around massive funds, they didn't have much to lose, and they'd secured enough cash to hold out for a few years even if it all went.
While showing that confidence, the elder said he'd rely on Do Cheon and the Baek Ri Clan for force. He'd heard from Yoo Geon about how Do Cheon had told him to come find him once he had confidence to face the world. So the elder's real concern was intelligence. He'd urgently summoned Do Cheon to ask if he could use the Tyrant Emperor Sect and Great Righteous Alliance's networks. Do Cheon's answer had been that he didn't know.
"May I sit?"
A familiar voice.
"Sit."
With Do Cheon's permission, Ong Jung-seo sat across from him.
"Did you meet your little brother?"
"I'd have come back if I hadn't."
"What'd he say?"
"Just fed me a bunch of curses."
"...!"
"I told you we don't get along."
Ong Jung-seo looked sheepish.
Do Cheon stared at him blankly, then a sudden thought struck him.
"To be thieves, you must have pretty good intelligence, right?"
"Sure. Jump a wall clueless, and you're dead meat."
"Where do you get that info?"
"The Shadow Network."
"Shadow Network? It actually exists?"
Shadow Network!
The faction said to command all the dregs of society—pickpockets, thieves, swindlers, errand boys, prostitutes, you name it. They say all the world's information flows to the Shadow Network, making them top-tier in intel. But it's just a name floating around; no one's ever met a Shadow Network member. So people call it a legend from folktales.
"Of course it exists. Their eyes and ears are everywhere. Assume this tavern has them too."
"Think we can get it?"
"What do you want to know?"
"No, I mean, can we get the Shadow Network?"
"...!"
Ong Jung-seo looked flustered for a moment. But Do Cheon was just staring seriously. Ong cleared his throat and put on a firm face.
"No. Impossible."
"Why? Are they that strong?"
"Not strong—uncatchable. No one but the leader's inner circle knows who the leader is or where they are. And even they don't know who the inner circle is. Even if you somehow nab the leader, you won't get the Shadow Network."
"Why?"
"The leader's been caught three times so far. By absolute powers that ruled the world. But the leader died, and the Shadow Network survived on its own. Know why?"
"Why?"
"When the leader's caught, the Shadow Network abandons them themselves."
"...!"
"No need for that face. It's their survival strategy, and it's kept them alive till now."
"Still ridiculous and outrageous."
"Anyway. Need an intel sect?"
"Yeah."
"You have the Great Righteous Alliance."
"It'd just be shackles."
"True, they wouldn't help for free."
"Anything besides the Shadow Network?"
"Why not? Universal Sky Gang, Heavenly Abode Tower, Black Night Heaven, Hook Gang..."
"Black Night Heaven's an assassin sect, right?"
"Yes. Assassins."
"Then why?"
"Not as good as Shadow Network, but they match Universal Sky Gang or Heavenly Abode Tower in intel."
"...?"
"Told you: thieves jumping walls clueless get killed. Same for assassins. No target intel, dead meat. Intel's essential."
"Can't they just get it from Shadow Network like thieves?"
"Say a client comes to request your assassination. Do they go to Shadow Network then, scout you out, come back, quote the price?"
"Requests need instant quotes, so they must stockpile major intel?"
"Exactly. And assassin sects are thorns in both righteous and unrighteous sides. Righteous scorn them as unwarriorlike, and both factions lose leaders to hits now and then, so plenty hold grudges. To survive, they stay alert to both sides' movements."
"Hm. Then Black Night Heaven sounds good."
"What do you mean?"
"They owe me."
"...!"
"How do I meet Black Night Heaven's lord?"
"Just go to Black Night Heaven."
"Where?"
"Beats me. But you'll take them?"
"Why not?"
"Vicious bastards. Why else do they kill for a living?"
"Don't care. Forgot till now—they came to kill me. I warned them off. Told them to come crawling quick. Still haven't? Guess I gotta go. So find out where they are."
"If they catch me snooping, I'm marked."
"Scared?"
"Yes. Terrified. I'd run sleepless."
"You got me."
"...!"
"Stay at Iron Lion Sect. I'll make sure no one touches Elder Ong. If they do, that one—and their whole sect—loses heads."
"Surviving matters more than them dropping dead after I'm a ghost."
"Better a satisfied ghost than a resentful one."
Not wrong, so Ong just blinked.
Do Cheon grinned at him like "trust me," then yelled toward the kitchen.
"Hey, bring your priciest liquor!"
A few days later.
Anhui Province, Hefei, Golden Stream Tea House.
It sold a wide variety of high-quality teas at reasonable prices, so locals frequented it day and night. The owner was a woman in her mid-thirties, surname Jin, given name Stream. Pretty enough that plenty of Hefei men eyed her, keeping the place packed with guys.
It closed late for a tea house—at the hour of the dog (8-9 PM)—but still had a dozen men lingering, proof of its popularity.
Local women envied and gossiped plenty, but eventually, no one said it outright. Rumors spread that Nangong Clan's Sky-Spanning Sword Leader had his eye on Golden Stream. After that, customers stayed many, but harassers dropped off sharply.
Night had fallen dark outside the window.
The mid-thirties beauty Golden Stream tidied the tea house. Only one customer remained.
"Closing early today?"
A middle-aged man with a grave demeanor.
His blue robe's cuffs bore white cloud embroidery—mark of the Nangong Clan.
"With Great Hero Nangong here, everyone else turns away. Have to close up."
"Oh? Blaming me?"
"Not blame—scolding."
"Sorry. Had some rare free time; couldn't stay away."
"A drink?"
"No. Afraid I'd lose decorum if drunk."
"Just a little?"
"Liquor is drunk to get drunk."
"Then skip decorum."
"I... want your heart first."
Sky-Spanning Sword Leader Nangong Yu-jung rose. He gazed at Golden Stream awhile, then turned.
"If you leave now, she might fly away."
"Wherever... I'll find you."
With that, Nangong Yu-jung vanished from the tea house. Golden Stream stared after him, locked the door, and headed inside. Even in pitch dark from long familiarity, she went straight to her quarters.
A five-pyeong room with just a bed and wardrobe.
Golden Stream stood blankly in the center, then after a while pulled the bed aside. A black hole yawned beneath. She descended inside.
Moments later, voices echoed from the pitch-black underground.
"Ong Jung-seo's been asking around about headquarters."
"Why that old fool?"
"Couldn't find out."
"Iron Lion Sect's involved."
"...?"
"Think I wouldn't know?"
"No, figured you did."
"Hmph! Think stale Iron Lion Sect martial arts can change your lot?"
"Yes. Even Heaven-Rending Legion struggled against them."
"Think that's all Heaven-Rending Legion's got? That's why youngsters never beat old ginger."
"Exceptions always exist."
"Enough. Don't shake Ong off—capture him. Find out what that young Iron Lion lion wants."
"Got it."
"And Nangong Yu-jung—that kid. Gonna keep him around?"
"What if I don't?"
"You started it. Tie it off clean."
"That's why he came to me."
"Wouldn't have met if you hadn't opened Golden Stream Tea House here."
"Didn't know you'd be here."
"Don't play games. I know your thoughts. Remember one thing: you're a disposable pawn."
"I know. All too well. That's why I'm making him my lifeline. Nangong Yu-jung seems like he could protect me from any threat."
"Tsk tsk! Foolish moves will end you like your father."
"..."
After that, only the old man's orders flowed out.