Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Branch
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Rumors spread within a few days. Even though Hainan Island wasn't a small place. It was a lowly disciple who brought breakfast that let it slip.
The once-mighty Jin Clan had fallen overnight. News that shook heaven and earth. Even if the Guangdong Jin Clan was a rising power that had only recently come into prominence.
Thanks to that, Hainan's influence had solidified once more, they said. Apologetic letters had arrived from merchant houses and escort agencies that had pulled away, and even those showing signs of wavering had come inquiring after their well-being.
The aftermath didn't end there.
Flap flap!
It happened while eating breakfast with the Flying Stream Pavilion warriors. A falcon squeezed through the open window. Its tail feathers were dyed purple.
The falcon landed on Yuk Jin-yang's shoulder as if it recognized him.
"Isn't that a Purple Ember Hawk?"
So Yun-un asked, eyes wide. It was a spirit beast the clan used instead of ordinary pigeons for messages. Only the clan head could deploy it for personal matters beyond urgent reports.
"That's right."
"Has something happened?"
"We'll know once we check."
Yuk Jin-yang untied the letter from the spirit beast's leg. As expected, it was in his grandfather's handwriting. It contained brief praise along with instructions on future policy.
Yuk Jin-yang let out a smirk.
"What's so funny?"
"Seems like people have started prying into my business."
"Who the hell would dare!"
"The Beggars' Sect and the Hao Clan."
So Yun-un quietly sat back down. His comrades looked at him with pity.
Yuk Jin-yang took it in stride. That was their job, after all. Gathering information on promising talents and masters across the land.
Besides, the Zhejiang Yuk Clan was an extraordinary force even among ancient clans. As a rising star of the family who had newly made his mark, it was only natural that the eyes of the world would turn to him.
So Yun-un scratched his cheek awkwardly and asked,
"Aren't you pleased? I haven't heard of any precedent for someone your age slaying a clan head."
He looked at his young lord with renewed wonder. If not for the Yuk bloodline, it might have invited mockery instead. It was that astonishing a feat.
"Even if it was a joint assault. Who knows—your name might already be ringing throughout the land."
"It's good, but not necessarily in a good way."
The higher his fame rose, the greater his uncles' wariness would grow. Yuk Jin-yang would always have to keep tabs on their movements. That was why fame wasn't always welcome.
Yuk Jin-yang pulled a small brush and inkstone from his sleeve pocket. As he wrote a reply, he shared the letter's contents.
"And it says to head straight to Fujian upon receiving this. Hwang Dal-pyeong should already be there."
"Weren't we supposed to return directly to the main house?"
Not just So Yun-un, but all the Flying Stream Pavilion warriors looked baffled. They didn't know about the deal between Yuk Jin-yang and the clan head.
"We agreed to establish a branch in Fujian after completing this mission. Seems he's accounting for that."
"Ooh!"
The warriors cheered. Greater responsibility and authority meant Yuk Jin-yang's standing had risen accordingly. The benefits would naturally trickle down to those below.
Yuk Jin-yang smiled inwardly at their honest reactions. A camaraderie had formed among the warriors through the fierce battle. The stronger their bond, the more they would become his people.
"Then, shall we prepare to depart?"
So Yun-un asked.
"We should. You all pack up."
Yuk Jin-yang left the guesthouse and headed for the division leader's quarters. The guard at the door was Jeong Yak-bin. She greeted him warmly.
"Here to see the division leader?"
"Yes. I'm planning to leave soon, so I wanted to say goodbye."
"Ah..."
Jeong Yak-bin furrowed her delicate brow with a wistful smile.
She let out a soft sigh and offered a deep bow. Unlike the fist salutes used by common folk these days, it was an ancient courtesy that bent the waist low to show utmost respect.
"Thank you for everything, benefactor. Will we meet again someday?"
"Probably not."
Yuk Jin-yang answered honestly in a calm tone. Hainan Island was a remote backwater. A place with no ties to the greater jianghu.
Besides, once he returned to the clan, he'd be busy too. They likely wouldn't cross paths again.
As Jeong Yak-bin started to lower her head, Yuk Jin-yang hesitated a moment and left an opening.
"But a bond once formed doesn't break easily. If it's fate, we'll meet again. The world is wide, after all."
"You're right. The world is wide."
A gentle curve touched Jeong Yak-bin's lips. She stepped aside to let him pass.
The division leader's office carried a faint scent of incense. Sa Jong-seop was sipping tea with a bandage around one arm.
"Care for a cup?"
Sa Jong-seop asked gruffly. Even after fighting side by side, there was no warmth. But knowing it was his nature, Yuk Jin-yang didn't mind.
"Gladly."
Sa Jong-seop poured personally. It was kuding tea, grown only on Hainan's remote mountains, he said.
The sip carried a unique bitterness. After savoring it, Yuk Jin-yang got to the point.
"I came to say goodbye before leaving tomorrow."
"Already? Well, you're busy, I suppose."
Sa Jong-seop nodded, then voiced a subtle concern.
"There's something you should know."
"What is it?"
"About the Jin clan head's ambush."
Yuk Jin-yang had found the Guangdong Jin Clan's actions suspicious too. The forces the clan head led weren't that strong. For a battlefield where the clan head himself took the field, elites should have followed.
Sa Jong-seop took a sip and revealed the truth.
"Bae Ji-hak seems to have submitted a memorial."
"...Pardon?"
"The Jin clan head planned to hold him accountable for failing to protect his son. So Bae Ji-hak fled and spilled every dirty secret of the Jin Clan to the branch envoy. That's why the vanguard of the full army commander turned course and raided the Guangdong Jin Clan."
"Heh."
Yuk Jin-yang was floored. In his past life, he'd met all sorts, but scum like Bae Ji-hak was rare.
On the other hand, things were finally falling into place. A clan like the Guangdong Jin would have pulled plenty of underhanded stunts. Even just the revealed misuse of gunpowder was damning.
There were limits to turning a blind eye to such villainy. If they'd hidden it to the end, maybe—but once exposed, it couldn't be swept under the rug.
"They just let it play out, huh."
"Like a cornered rat biting a cat."
Sa Jong-seop answered cynically, then added,
"And watch out for Bae Ji-hak."
"What do you mean?"
"We were fellow disciples. I know his temperament well. Bae Ji-hak is ruthless and venomous. He never forgets a grudge."
"Even after losing everything, he'd come after me?"
It was a remark factoring in his clan backing. Sa Jong-seop shook his head.
"That's why he's more dangerous. He has nothing left to lose."
"...You're right."
"Especially you—he'd envy you. Born to a great clan with heaven-given talent."
Yuk Jin-yang gave a wry smile. Envy, huh. Compared to a lifetime of pity and scorn in his past life, the tables had fully turned.
"I'll be careful."
"Your men are quite skilled. I recommend keeping guards with you at all times."
Yuk Jin-yang nodded.
The next day.
Yuk Jin-yang's group left the guesthouse early in the morning. The return ship was already prepared.
Sa Jong-seop, who had followed them to the harbor, pulled a small wooden plaque from his bosom.
"Take this."
The roughly split wood bore four red-inked characters: "Knot Grass, Repay Kindness." It was a token of gratitude.
Eyes around them widened. No jianghu person could be unaware of such a plaque's value.
It was a pledge to repay any debt, even at the cost of one's life.
Break it, and you'd live despised by the world forever. Many chose death over that shame.
Yuk Jin-yang waved it off.
"I'm not worthy of such a precious token."
"No favor demands payment, but honoring a benefactor is human decency. Take it, unless you mean to shame us."
To refuse now would be rude. Yuk Jin-yang accepted and tucked it away. A faint, aged smile touched Sa Jong-seop's lips.
"Safe travels."
"You as well, Division Leader."
The ship sailed with a fair wind. The voyage to Fujian was serene, making the strait’s notoriety seem unfounded. The group arrived in Fujian after three days.
Through the shimmering haze, land appeared. The port of Fuzhou, Fujian's outer harbor city, was close at hand.
Upon disembarking, they headed straight for the yamen.
To meet Hwang Dal-pyeong. They had agreed to reunite there.
The sudden arrival of warriors put the gate guards on edge.
"What business brings you?"
"We're here for Hwang Dal-pyeong. He should be staying at the yamen guesthouse as a guest of the branch envoy."
"Ah! That lord. We'll pass the word."
The guards sighed in relief and left. Soon, Hwang Dal-pyeong appeared.
"Young master!"
In the time apart, his face had grown pallid.
Even the Fuzhou magistrate wouldn't dare slight someone from the Zhejiang Yuk Clan. Yuk Jin-yang asked, slightly surprised,
"Have you been mistreated here?"
"Not at all. They wouldn't have given me the yamen guesthouse otherwise. The hospitality has been excellent."
"Then why do you look like that? Like you haven't eaten in days."
Hwang Dal-pyeong glanced around, then nodded toward the wall beyond. Meaning to talk outside the yamen.
Yuk Jin-yang nodded. He'd hear the story over a meal first.
The group passed through an ornate door into an inn.
The interior was eerily quiet. Most seats stood empty. A waiter bustled over excitedly.
"Welcome!"
"Bring plenty of food, all varieties."
"Of course! We'll prepare the best!"
No sooner had they sat than Hwang Dal-pyeong muttered cynically,
"They must be thrilled to have customers. It's been ages since they saw any."
"No guests in a big place like this for that long?"
So Yun-un asked, eyes wide. It sounded odd at first. No one would build such a large inn where business was bad.
"The city's been declining since the sea ban. Merchant houses, escort agencies, sailors—all their traffic has dried up."
"Different from Guangdong? That place suffered from the Jin-Hainan clash, but you didn't mention other issues..."
"Very different."
Hwang Dal-pyeong cut in sharply, then whispered,
"Guangdong rarely sees the court's gaze, right? Bribe a few officials, and smuggling's easy. That's how the Jin Clan amassed their wealth."
"And Fujian...?"
"Here, they've stationed a massive navy. Smugglers can't even launch. Plus, the dreaded Embroidered Uniform Guard keeps watch. You get what I mean?"
So Yun-un swallowed and nodded. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had a notorious reputation even among jianghu warriors. Their members' martial prowess rivaled top masters, and they were brutally ruthless.
Hwang Dal-pyeong turned to Yuk Jin-yang.
"Anyway, congratulations on the mission's success. You can't imagine how shocked I was when I heard."
"Now to the main point. What have you been up to?"