Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: The Tang Clan's Plea
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233
Flutter, flutter.
Do Daewoong fanned from the left, while Seo Chil-hong carefully peeled fruit from the right and held it up to Namgung Hyeok's mouth.
Namgung Hyeok crossed his legs and leaned back as he took the fruit into his mouth.
Crunch, crunch!
He stuffed the fruit in vigorously and crooked a finger.
"We'll begin the report."
Pa Ho-un marked tallies on the paper affixed to the wall as he explained.
"First, I'll brief you on the Ilseon Society's ranks and forces, as well as our expansion plans."
A vast sheet of paper clearly depicted street maps of Hefei and Hangzhou.
Red and blue dots marked the Ilseon Society's forces in various spots, with the names of each business written atop them.
"Currently, we have five hundred members in Hefei, three hundred in Hangzhou, and two hundred deployed in Jiangsu Province—for a total of one thousand members actively operating across these three provinces."
"Oh, Ilseon Society. When did you get this big?"
A total of one thousand.
Namgung Hyeok let out a sigh of admiration as he thought of the Ilseon Society operatives thriving in the central hubs of each province.
A tree with deep roots does not sway.
The glory of the unorthodox paths together... Ah, that's not it.
"We've completely halted all illegal activities in the shadows, such as brothels, human trafficking, and usury. The brothels have been converted to inns, and the human traffickers have been summoned to our Hefei headquarters for retraining before reassignment to gambling dens."
"Who manages them?"
"The squad leaders at Seo Chil-hong's level in the Hefei branch handle thorough oversight and rehabilitation training..."
"Ah, they're at that level?"
"Yes. You approved promoting them to that rank, Young Master. And overseeing them is Gold-rank Do Daewoong."
"You've climbed the ladder."
As Namgung Hyeok chuckled, Do Daewoong bowed deeply while fanning.
"Heh heh, this is all thanks to your boundless grace, Young Master. This Do Daewoong will serve you like a dog or a horse for life!"
Flutter, flutter!
Pa Ho-un's plump cheeks quivered slightly as he watched the fan wag like a tail.
He sighed at Do Daewoong's glib three-inch tongue in action.
Is this what you call climbing the ladder?
'...It is climbing the ladder, though.'
From Hefei back alleys to the Ilseon Society's one and only Gold-rank member, the dragon's tail.
On top of that, a force several times larger than his old Daewoong Gang, more businesses, the former black path leaders and their underlings now under him.
And now he commanded the back alleys across vast regions from Hangzhou to Jiangsu Province. Without meeting Namgung Hyeok, Do Daewoong would have ended as just the Daewoong Gang leader—instead, he'd suddenly risen as a promising new force in the black paths.
The Black Dao King Do Daewoong, indeed.
Of course, still just a dragon's tail.
'A black path thug rules the back alleys with his silver tongue. Sigh, these are the end times.'
Come to think of it, Pa Ho-un, the Black Dot Hefei branch chief at the same rank, had a bitter life story too.
'Damn it, I even belong to a sect, so why...'
Crunch, crunch.
Pa Ho-un quietly lowered his gaze as his eyes met Namgung Hyeok's, who was munching fruit.
With careful movements, Pa Ho-un placed the ledger he'd hidden under the table before Namgung Hyeok.
"This month's settlement. Ha, haha!"
Namgung Hyeok's cheek twitched as he eyed the numbers in the ledger.
Do Daewoong and Seo Chil-hong sneaked glances at it too.
Instinctive curiosity. With the organization grown this large, just how much did the boss pocket?
'Eek, eek?!'
'C-Crazy. H-How much is that?!'
The two gulped.
Numbers they'd never seen in their lives filled the ledger.
Not the value of one or two plots of land.
Enough to feed generations, flowing into Namgung Hyeok's pockets.
Heh heh!
Namgung Hyeok grinned at Do Daewoong.
"Tempting, huh?"
"...Heh, heh heh."
"Then you be the boss."
"M-Me?"
"Yeah. As long as you're stronger than me."
"......"
Just say you want to kill me, you bastard.
"The strong devour the weak. That's how it is."
"...Yes, heh heh. I-I think it's better if I serve you faithfully like a dog or horse."
"Good. Having room to climb is a blessing. Man, back in my day, there was none of that, so it was boring as hell."
That damn 'back in my day' of yours.
Namgung Hyeok patted the ledger and swept his eyes over the paper on the wall.
"We've taken Hefei and Hangzhou, so let's tidy up and absorb Jiangsu next."
Ambition befitting(?) the second young master of the great Namgung Clan.
In the past, they'd have called him mad, but now it just seemed like it would happen as he said.
'The fate of the black paths...'
The Ilseon Society executives genuinely worried for the black paths' future.
Namgung Hyeok dusted off his seat and headed out.
The three brightened.
"Where are you off to?"
"Home."
"Ah, home?"
"It's great, isn't it?"
"Th-That can't be..."
"I'm going!"
Namgung Hyeok trudged along, pulling a flask of Seven-Colored Chaos Brew from his belt and chugging it down.
Pa Ho-un and Seo Chil-hong clicked their tongues at his absurd swagger.
"Damn, he's getting more of a wastrel by the day."
"You gotta hear the wastrel's side too."
"...True. Sigh!"
"The Black Dao King was born in the Namgung Clan! End times, end times!"
A famed orthodox clan's young master as Black Dao King...
That was when they sighed like that.
Do Daewoong, who'd been listening quietly, suddenly smacked the backs of their heads hard.
Smack! Smack!
"Cough!"
"You crazy dog bastard, who the hell—"
Do Daewoong bellowed.
"You lot dare! Talking behind the Young Master's back when you don't even appreciate his grace?! Behind his back?!"
"Y-You mad bastard, why... You, don't tell me..."
"You still haven't knelt like a dog or horse?!"
As Do Daewoong smirked and spewed curses, Seo Chil-hong's mouth gaped.
He rolled his eyes and saw Pa Ho-un trembling before collapsing to the floor.
Sensing the ominous vibe instinctively, Seo Chil-hong sighed.
"Ha, fuck..."
Namgung Hyeok appeared before him with a chilling grin.
Seo Chil-hong forced a laugh and glanced at Do Daewoong.
"Haha, hahahaha!"
That bastard sold out his own?
Even a black path root has lines you cross and don't...
Namgung Hyeok nodded.
"Good, you're managing well. Extra points."
"Heh heh, I always think of your grace and do my best!"
"Send them to the education room."
"Yes, sir!"
Do Daewoong gleefully dragged the pale-faced Seo Chil-hong and Pa Ho-un away.
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue.
"Black path guys always need constant management. Sheesh."
Managing the black paths wasn't easy.
Namgung Hyeok trudged through the Namgung Clan's main gate.
The gate guards and warden rushed out and clasped hands in salute.
"You're back, Young Master!"
"Yeah. Good work."
"Yes, sir!"
Leaving their resounding voices behind, Namgung Hyeok sauntered toward the Heavenly Bow Hall.
Then.
Screeeee!
A sharp cry pierced from the sky as an eagle beat its massive wings and swooped in.
"It's Jeon Eung?"
Glossy black feathers and golden beak—no mistaking the spirit beast.
The spirit beast flapped into a hall with a flutter.
Such spirit beasts rarely flew in as messenger birds.
But even seeing it, Namgung Hyeok paid no mind—until Geum Geum-sang came panting from afar.
His flushed face held a bundle of letters in one hand.
"What is it? For me?"
"N-No!"
"Oh, looks like it is?"
"N-No..."
"I'll be at Heavenly Bow Hall, so hand it over. I'll take it."
"Uh, well..."
Namgung Hyeok grinned and snatched Geum Geum-sang up by grabbing his hand behind his back.
Snatch!
Geum Geum-sang stared blankly at Namgung Hyeok, who'd taken the letters in an instant.
Namgung Hyeok tilted his head.
"The Tang Clan?"
"Ah, goodness..."
"Help?"
"Yes, they suddenly requested aid..."
Geum Geum-sang fidgeted anxiously, staring at Namgung Hyeok.
He'd go berserk again once he saw the letter.
Namgung Hyeok jumped into any incident, woke from sleep at the whiff of action...
Whoosh!
"Here. Take it back."
"Yes?"
"Why."
"Y-You're not rushing off?"
Namgung Hyeok stared blankly at Geum Geum-sang.
Geum Geum-sang took the letter with an awkward face, then mimed running even more awkwardly.
"W-Well, you usually dash to Heavenly Bow Hall like this, grab the letter, and run to the Family Head..."
"Are you insane?"
Huh? That's not the reaction?
This reaction... He's pissed?
"Why? Should I serve your meals too?"
"Yes?"
"Go, man."
"Y-Yes!"
Geum Geum-sang panicked and bolted away.
Namgung Hyeok let out a hollow laugh, then tilted his head.
"Sichuan Tang Clan?"
He'd run off in a huff, so I thought something happened in Hangzhou—for it to be just the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The Sichuan Tang Clan, thousands of li away, wasn't even on Namgung Hyeok's radar.
As Namgung Hyeok shook his head with a tsk.
"What's today?"
He turned and saw So Geol-gae come panting over.
That bastard climbed the wall again.
As Namgung Hyeok tsked, So Geol-gae came gasping.
"Y-Young! Huff! Huff! Y-Young Master!"
"Man, does the Namgung Clan wall have a hole? Another beggar scaling it?"
"Huff, huff! N-No, it's... Huff!"
"Gate guards, what the hell—saying all clear!"
"Heek, heek!"
So Geol-gae grabbed Namgung Hyeok's arm and waved his hand frantically.
"...Sichuan! Sichuan!"
"Tang Clan? What about the Tang Clan!"
"...I mean, Sichuan!"
"What's with Sichuan!"
Namgung Hyeok grabbed So Geol-gae's collar and shook him.
So Geol-gae choked out as he yelled.
"...They said!"
"What!"
"They found them! Huff! Those suspicious bastards in Sichuan..."
"Sichuan?"
"Yes!"
"In Sichuan?"
"Yeees!"
"You sure?"
"Yeees!"
Plop!
Namgung Hyeok slowly released his grip.
So Geol-gae coughed and bent at the waist.
He caught his breath and looked up.
What?
Where you going?
Huh? Why'd he turn around so suddenly?
Namgung Hyeok, who'd been heading to Heavenly Bow Hall, abruptly changed direction and slipped into a side path.
Separate from his initial excitement, he was utterly calm... extremely calm...
So Geol-gae's head slowly tilted sideways.
"...Did that bastard just smile?"
Fuck.
Why does it feel ominous?
* * *
News flying into Heavenly Bow Hall made the Namgung Clan's leadership sigh.
"We absolutely cannot accept this. Sending an urgent letter from so far means it's no ordinary crisis!"
"There's no reason for headquarters to respond, is there?"
"What about the other great clans? Will they aid the Sichuan Tang Clan?"
"What is there to ask? Of course they'll refuse."
"Hmm!"
The Sichuan Tang Clan had never once appeared at the great clans' gatherings, despite belonging to the Five Great Clans.
Unlike the Namgung Clan, ignored for weakness, the Tang Clan outright shunned the great clans.
With their inherently secretive and insular nature, the Tang Clan never mingled with outsiders.
Their eccentric temperament created an atmosphere that forbade blending.
The proud great clans couldn't tolerate it.
And as a family wielding poisons and hidden weapons that even warriors loathed, no one could like them.
Even the mighty Namgung Clan found the Tang Clan distasteful—let alone the others.
"The Family Head personally pledged aid in his name, so helping this once could gain us a sturdy ally in the Sichuan Tang Clan, no?"
"If the Tang Clan asks for help, it must be dangerously perilous. Our warriors could get hurt."
"Still, the Sichuan Tang Clan! Befriending them would be worth ten thousand troops..."
"You'd travel thousands of li for that alone?"
The leadership raised voices in heated debate.
As the meeting grew feverish, Namgung Wi-gyeong stroked his beard and glanced at Namgung Jang-cheon.
Namgung Jang-cheon had been fidgeting since earlier.
Well, it was a tough call.
But Namgung Jang-cheon had to decide.
Namgung Wi-gyeong asked quietly.
"Family Head! What are your thoughts?"
"......"
"Family Head?"
"......That punk mustn't get rowdy."
"Yes?"
"If that punk gets rowdy again..."
"Who's 'that punk'?"
"Namgung..."
Before Namgung Jang-cheon could finish.
The firmly shut doors of Heavenly Bow Hall burst open.
Boom!
With a heavy thud, Namgung Jang-cheon lightly clutched his face.
"Ahh..."
Eyes turned to Namgung Jang-cheon, then whipped to the door.
Namgung Hyeok, who'd kicked it open, grinned as he spoke.
"Heard the Tang Clan sent a letter."
Ah, that punk sniffed it out after all.
"......No, son."
"Then show it to me."
"......"
"Now."
We're doomed!
Namgung Jang-cheon sighed and shook his head.
Namgung Hyeok's grin deepened.