Chapter 29
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Shenzhou Iron Butterfly Jin Seolhwa
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The shop interior bustled chaotically.
At the center of the shop stood a large purple sandalwood table, piled high with all manner of silks.
And seated at the middle of that table was a beautiful woman in her thirties, sweeping back her loosened hair and tying it up again.
She was the table's owner.
"Bring in the next one."
A short while later, the next merchant waiting his turn entered and began unrolling his silks on the table.
The woman examined each bolt, turning them this way and that.
"Excellent. The weave is even, and the dye has taken beautifully."
"Then it's a deal. This is the finest from Sichuan."
"How much did you bring?"
"Three hundred bolts."
"Eight taels per bolt."
"Oh, thank you! We'll do that."
She signed the receipt and handed it over, and the merchant snatched it up, rising to his feet.
"Hey, you. Verify these three hundred bolts and take them in."
"Yes, understood."
The clerk standing by the table escorted the merchant out.
"Bring in the next one."
Just then, an elderly shop clerk with gray hair approached, his expression grave.
"Um... Branch Master. We have visitors."
"Visitors to the shop are a dime a dozen..."
"Not those kinds of visitors. The young branch master of the 兴陽 Merchant Guild..."
The old man's report didn't get to continue.
"Long time no see, Aunt."
A white-robed young noble had already entered and called out loudly in greeting.
A youth wrapped head to toe in the finest white silk stood before her, flanked on either side by two middle-aged men in black martial robes.
None of them looked like merchants.
The white-robed youth held a long sword with an ornate scabbard in his left hand, and the other two men were also armed with swords.
"What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to pay my respects to you, Aunt."
"No time for that, and certainly not the place. Cut the flattery and get to the point."
"Heh heh... As expected, Aunt, you're as spirited as ever. Haven't aged a bit. Must be meeting some young stud on the side..."
"Shut that filthy mouth. I hate bad breath."
"Fine. Here's the message: Cease all Shenzhou Merchant Guild transactions here immediately and await further word."
"Didn't know you had the authority for that. Ha ha..."
"Are you laughing? The merchants of Jinjian Market have been gathered for four days straight, setting quotas and prices. Going to pretend you don't know?"
"I've been handling silks here for twenty years. The market flows by its own rules. You think a few of you banding together can bend it to your will?"
"If we pool our strength, what couldn't we do? People like you are the problem. Ha ha..."
"I'll discuss that particular problem with your father myself. For today, be on your way."
"Treating me like some snot-nosed kid will get you in trouble. Father entrusted all Jinjian Market matters to me, so if you have grievances, take them up with me now."
"Hey, you."
The woman raised her voice, summoning someone, and the old man approached.
"Escort these three out and bring in the next one."
"Yes, as you command."
The old man turned toward the trio.
But he couldn't utter a word.
One of the men beside the white-robed youth had drawn his blade, its edge pressing against the old man's chin.
"Where do you think you're going...? Anyone leaving this place today does so at my whim... so don't get cocky."
The white-robed youth sneered, stepping back, as the other black-clad man drew his saber from his waist and advanced on the woman.
"You bastard, Yang Dongs a! You dare draw ugly steel in front of this aunt of yours?"
"If you insist on dodging the wine, I have no choice but to offer the penalty cup. And what aunt? As you said, that connection ended over a decade ago, hasn't it?"
"So what? You going to hack me down with that blade? If you've got the guts, I'll acknowledge you. Ha ha..."
At her mocking provocation, the black-clad man with the drawn blade spoke up.
"Blades have no eyes. Watch your mouth."
"Hmph. Who the hell are you to act so fearless? Do you not know me, Jin Seolhwa, Gold Branch Master of the Shenzhou Merchant Guild?"
"Heh heh... I heard there's some uppity widow in Xi'an who doesn't know her place..."
Jin Seolhwa shot to her feet at his words.
"That's quite the mouth you've got. Looks like business is done for today. Care for a little spar after all this time? Ha ha..."
The woman's name was Jin Seolhwa.
Younger sister of Shenzhou Merchant Guild's guild master Jin Ichang, she oversaw silk trading here in Jinjian Market as the Gold Branch Master.
And she herself was a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple.
A female master who had entered as a disciple alongside her brother Jin Ichang long ago and mastered her own signature techniques.
"Aunt. I don't want to see blood spilled here today. Simply halt the Shenzhou Merchant Guild's operations as I say. You can resume once you follow our terms later."
"I'm deeply disappointed in you. Threatening me with a blade, of all things."
"No matter that the Shenzhou Guild has Shaolin backing, Xi'an is Mount Hua Sect territory through and through. We can no longer stand by, so don't blame me."
"Hmph. And you call yourself a righteous sect disciple? In terms of warrior's honor or merchant's ethics..."
"Woman. Shut your hole. Righteous sect? What bullshit... heh heh..."
The black-clad man's strike was swift and ruthless.
He slashed horizontally with his saber.
Jin Seolhwa kicked the table before her forward as planned, launching herself into the air.
In the same motion, she undid her sash and parried the black-clad man's saber.
Jin Seolhwa's sash was gorgeously inlaid with seven treasures, looking like jewelry, but it was actually a soft sword forged from lian iron, renowned for its toughness among southern barbarian steels.
It had no sharpened edge, but its extreme thinness made it gleam with lethal sharpness.
Her soft sword blocked the incoming saber, then slid along its blade toward the black-clad man's wrist.
It was one of Shaolin's rare sword arts: Weituo Subduing Demon Sword.
As the name implied, it was supple and elegant, perfect for a woman and ideal for a soft sword.
The black-clad man's saber style countered with heavy, blunt ferocity.
Suited to his short, thick, heavy broad saber, it was honed purely for combat.
He easily deflected Jin Seolhwa's piercing soft sword with his blade and closed in, swinging wildly.
No fancy techniques, but brutally practical, keeping her soft sword at bay.
"Ha ha... First time seeing Aunt's skills in action, and it seems the rumors are off. 'Shenzhou Iron Butterfly' must be an empty title—more like a paper butterfly..."
Seeing the black-clad man press Jin Seolhwa, 兴陽 Merchant Guild's young branch master Yang Dongs a jeered mockingly.
Jin Seolhwa's skills were, of course, not so easily dismissed.
But her opponent was no pushover.
"Who the hell are you lot? Never seen you in Xi'an before..."
She hurled the question amid the clash of blades, but the black-clad man only poured more power into his saber, ignoring her.
"Old Brother No. You're hogging all the fun alone? Pass him over already. Let me play too. Heh heh heh..."
The other black-clad man, who had first drawn to threaten the shop's old clerk, cackled lewdly.
The old man had already fled outside, leaving only these four in the room.
"If the scent of anger is this sweet, how much sweeter must a widow's flesh be? Young Brother So, wait just a bit. I'll hand her over after a little more fun."
"To think you two enjoy such pleasures—I have much to learn. Ha ha ha..."
Yang Dongs a joined in the two black-clad men's filthy banter.
Enraged by their vulgar words, Jin Seolhwa was gradually backed into a corner.
Her opponent's saber and footwork clearly stemmed from some prestigious lineage.
No openings whatsoever.
Weituo Subduing Demon Sword was a Shaolin hallmark, and her attainment no slouch, but his internal energy depth and combat experience held the edge.
Especially in battle experience—the gap was vast.
It had been over a decade since Jin Seolhwa last drew steel in real combat.
Focused on guild affairs, she'd barely trained her martial arts.
Against a man who lived blade in hand, it was inevitable she'd falter.
Having cornered her, the black-clad man now openly toyed with Jin Seolhwa.
While parrying her soft sword with his right hand's blade, his free left hand deliberately groped toward her breasts or lower abdomen.
"You filthy bastard!"
Jin Seolhwa's fury infused her sword strikes with killing intent.
But the thicker the intent, the duller her finesse became.
Shaolin arts thrived on selfless tranquility; her rage only hindered her.
"Old Brother No. Truly admirable skill. But do show some mercy. If Aunt's jade body gets scratched, I'll be in a real bind. Ha ha..."
Yang Dongs a had dragged over a chair and sat leisurely.
"Young Branch Master. I have no intention of scarring this beauty. Just teaching her some manners..."
The No-surnamed middle-aged warrior continued his saber work without even labored breath.
And with his left hand, he now targeted her collar.
Moments later, he seized her right sleeve and tore it clean off.
Targeting a female opponent's clothing in duel was the ultimate taboo in the jianghu.
"Next, maybe rip off that front sash. Heh heh..."
"Old Brother No. A widow's skin really is so fair. But this is hardly a proper show. Ha ha..."
The No man's lewdness was followed by the So warrior's obscenities.
Distracted by fury and her torn garb, Jin Seolhwa's movements grew chaotic.
Then, as No's broad saber swept horizontally at her waist, she forwent parrying with her soft sword and instead leaped skyward with Lotus Terrace Steps.
The movement art was superb, but in that moment, the worst choice.
No had anticipated it, hurling himself at her landing spot and swinging again at her legs.
Jin Seolhwa had no options left.
Take the saber to the legs, or flip backward and crash down upside-down.
A hit from No's broad saber would sever them outright; falling inverted meant not just defeat, but enduring that humiliating sight.
Even with undergarments, for a woman in skirts, it was unbearable shame.
Jin Seolhwa reacted on instinct.
Better lose a leg than show such disgrace to these fiends.
That made No's hair stand on end.
Chopping her legs wasn't his goal.
He tried to pull back his saber, but too late.
Clang!
No's broad saber flew back, deflected.