Chapter 371
Chapter 371
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 380
Chapter Title: The Black Dao King's Patrol
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Do Daewoong strutted down the alleyway, puffing out his chest for all it was worth.
Clink, clink, clink!
Every time he moved, the gold jewelry dangling from his hands and neck clanged noisily.
"Gold really is the best, huh?"
Seo Chilhong nodded as he admired the two rings jammed onto each of his fingers.
"These are diamonds that came straight from Beijing. And this one's a jade ring even the emperor wears! Man, who would've thought I'd have twenty of these beauties on my fingers!"
"This punk keeps talking down to me?"
"...It was a soliloquy."
"Soliloquy?"
"It's a soliloquy, damn it."
"You little shit, watch your tongue. Think about who got those gold rings on your fingers, punk."
"It's thanks to you, Young Master."
...That much was true.
Do Daewoong flinched.
All of this was loot from that one big score in Shandong Province, wasn't it?
He'd gritted his teeth and pried them off, based on Nangong Hyeok's words that anything from Shandong was personal property.
They'd hustled a thousand li in a single day while kicking off the operation, and on top of that, Nangong Hyeok had even handed out bonuses!
'Getting paid for thieving like a pro!'
Such black dao vibes!
Do Daewoong cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Hey, punk, I earned it fair and square by doing good work!"
"Act like you got a brain in that thick skull."
"Wanna die? Need some re-education?"
"...Yes, sir. That's what I said."
"Hmph!"
Do Daewoong snorted, then grinned.
His gaze shifted to the warehouse.
The treasure vault of the Ilseon Society, built underground beneath the Silver River Inn.
It brimmed with silver ingots and gold bars, stuffed to bursting.
Even as thick darkness gathered, the glow was so dazzling it lit up the surroundings—an insane amount.
Gulp!
"It's shocking every time I see it."
"No kidding."
"Even back when we ran the gambling den, it wasn't this much."
"Of course not. We've got power now."
Seo Chilhong nodded vigorously in agreement, and Do Daewoong's lips twitched upward.
Power.
Heh, heh heh!
Just that one word made laughter bubble up unbidden.
This was the Ilseon Society at its absolute peak.
And the golden age was still going strong.
Starting from Hefei, the Ilseon Society's influence had spread beyond Anhui Province to Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Jiangxi Provinces.
Across the entire region commonly called the Eastern Martial World, the Ilseon Society was growing vigorously.
Compared to the early days, their power had ballooned at least tenfold.
Now, most sects bolted their doors in fear at the mere name of the Ilseon Society—their reputation was that massive.
It went beyond just raking in cash.
They'd reached a level where they could compete with actual martial sects.
Sure, they were still only better than backwater local ones, but still.
It was a luxury and status no black dao street thug could dream of.
There was fear, but the thrill was even more intoxicating.
Do Daewoong chuckled as he turned around.
"Time to make the rounds at the businesses!"
"What about here?"
"Punk, the boss patrols the operations to manage them. If we're short-handed, we pitch in too, punk."
That's nonsense, man.
Seo Chilhong clicked his tongue.
"The boss gives orders and reports to the Young Master. That's the job."
"...Yeah, uh, sure."
It had nothing to do with being the boss, but the Ilseon Society executives—black dao slaves, essentially—accepted that style as normal.
Do Daewoong headed out to the Silver River Inn.
"The boss is here!"
"The boss!"
"We'll escort you!"
Booming voices shattered the night at the Silver River Inn.
Do Daewoong's cheeks puffed out as he eyed the hundred Ilseon Society underlings lined up in the courtyard.
Behold these valiant warriors of the Ilseon Society!
"These the new recruits?"
"Heard they pulled 'em fresh from Jiangxi and Fujian Provinces. Guys who've eaten their share of steel rice."
"Punks."
Do Daewoong grinned, and a burly man with a cross-shaped scar on his cheek bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Boss! Twin Blades from the Fujian branch reporting to the Boss—no, to you!"
"Twin Blades? Oh, you're the Twin Blades guy?"
"It's an honor! For this Twin Blades, seeing the Black Dao King Do, our Boss, has been a lifelong dream—and now it's come true!"
Do Daewoong's cheeks twitched.
Twin Blades gazed at him with eyes full of awe.
'This is the man I'll serve! You can feel the Black Dao King's presence!'
The fierce glare, bald head flowing into that scar across his cheek, and those massive shoulders exuded true Black Dao King majesty.
He cut an impressive figure himself, but he paled next to Do Daewoong.
Not to mention Seo Chilhong and the other Ilseon executives behind him—they'd make anyone gawk in admiration.
"Greetings to the Black Dao heroes!"
His underlings behind him bowed sharply in unison.
Seo Chilhong's lips twitched.
"Haha, heroes, huh."
Twin Blades added,
"Heroes isn't even enough. In a world dominated by the Orthodox Heaven Alliance and the orthodox sects, you rose like wildfire and built the Ilseon Society's glory! To us, you're a guiding light, the salt of the earth, big brothers!"
Oh man, laying it on thick.
Do Daewoong plastered a wicked grin on his face.
'Mind the expression, mind the expression.'
A boss should be sparing with words and stern by nature.
Twin Blades let out another gasp of admiration.
'Ah, what overwhelming dignity!'
The Ilseon Society was starting to be recognized as part of the martial world, beyond just the black dao.
Word had it they even made the Huangbo family flinch, drawing comparisons to the old Black Dragon Sect.
That was why, in black dao circles now, Ilseon Society was the black dao, and the black dao was the Ilseon Society.
Do Daewoong smiled contentedly.
As the Nangong family's power grew, so did the Ilseon Society's.
It was inevitable.
The Nangong family was swiftly absorbing the unorthodox factions, so all that sweet gravy flowed straight to the Ilseon Society.
'No wonder they're saying the martial world's landscape is changing. Ahem!'
"Good. Work hard."
Twin Blades's eyes sparkled.
"Boss! Let me treat you today. You're patrolling the businesses, right?"
"Yeah."
"After the patrol, head to Ilseon Tower Branch One! It just finished construction and opens today. I've got everything ready."
"Smart kid we got here."
"Thank you, Boss!"
Twin Blades beamed inwardly.
Not only had he impressed the Boss—aka the Black Dao King Do Daewoong—but all the Ilseon executives too.
Hard workers get welcomed everywhere.
And Twin Blades had ambitions to rise at the heart of the Ilseon Society.
Twin Blades grinned as he led the patrol through Ilseon Society turf.
Everywhere they passed, folks bowed to Do Daewoong, the Ilseon Boss.
One in every ten new buildings was Ilseon property, and their businesses sprawled across Hefei's east, west, south, and north.
Sighs of admiration rose again.
'Wow, for real. Nothing but prime cuts here!'
The Nangong family really had grown massive.
The commercial districts alone were no joke.
With influence stretching beyond Anhui to Fujian Province, maybe it was only natural.
'...Gotta stick to an elephant's ass to snag even one extra blade of grass.'
Twin Blades swallowed dryly.
In Hefei, home to the colossal beast that was the Nangong family, the Black Dao King Do Daewoong—who'd carved out this empire—looked greater than ever.
"Here we are, Boss!"
Ilseon Tower Branch One, reeking of fresh opening vibes.
It rivaled Heavenly Abode Tower, one of Anhui's top three in scale.
He guided the Ilseon executives to a private annex prepared just for Ilseon Tower Branch One.
"Heh heh, this way..."
Mid-sentence, Twin Blades froze.
He blinked at the annex.
...I specifically cleared it out for the Boss, didn't I?
Still prepping?
Huh?
What's that?
"Drink up, drink! Gotta drink to attain enlightenment!"
"N-No more... I can't..."
"You, built like a damn ox but only stuffing your face with snacks! Drink the booze! This is all about building inner realizations!"
"I-I don't need any realizations..."
A scrawny guy, a bear of a man, an ox-like brute, and some shabby servant were throwing a drunken bash.
Off to the side, some ragamuffin was pouring drinks nonstop, then hurling a cloth that stuck smack to the ceiling.
Drunk as skunks, shirts half-off, impossible to tell if they were thugs or what.
What the hell are those guys?
No, what the fuck are those punks?
I'd put so much work into this for my big break, and they trashed it?!
The booze and snacks were wiped clean.
He whipped around in panic.
Do Daewoong and the executives wore grim expressions.
Twin Blades's eyes darted, then he bellowed.
"You fucking bastards!"
They froze.
The drinkers—scrawny, bear, ox, and servant—turned to stare.
The instant Twin Blades reached for his twin blades at his waist.
"You fucking prick, who you calling bastards?!"
Wham!
"Gah, gack!?"
A blow to the back of his head made Twin Blades's eyes bulge.
He flopped face-first to the floor and looked up to see the Ilseon executives glaring with bulging eyes.
"You crazy fuck!"
"Die, you shit! Who you cursing at!"
"This fucker's Twin Blades, and he pulls double curses?! You nutjob!"
"Die, die, die!"
The executives, who'd been all smiles moments ago, now foamed at the mouth and started kicking.
Heavy boots flew from all sides.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
"Gh, guh!"
Ah, what the fuck, suddenly why?!
As the executives stomped Twin Blades, Do Daewoong bolted over and kowtowed.
"Aigoo, Young Maaaster!"
Huh?
Even mid-beating, seeing Do Daewoong flatten himself made Twin Blades's jaw drop.
"Aigoo! Say something! Why come to such a dump?"
Wh-What?
Where'd that stern Black Dao King go...?
Rub-rub-rub!
Do Daewoong rubbed his hands raw as Twin Blades's jaw dropped further.
His ass wiggling as he groveled was more enthusiastic than a tail-wagging dog.
Could a human ass shake like that?!
"This crazy bastard just joined today and didn't recognize you, Young Master. I'll drill it into him good. No, wait! How dare he curse at you! I'll cut out his tongue and exile him to Fujian Province!"
Uh, hey?
"That was absolutely not my intent. This lunatic didn't know jack... Aigoo, it's been a while—you look even more imposing! Heh heh!"
...What the fuck?
What's going on here?
Nangong Hyeok smirked at Do Daewoong.
"You're gonna catch flies like that."
"Better catch 'em. Snap his neck clean off..."
"Nah."
"Heh, heh heh! Thanks for the mercy."
"Our Daewoong's turned Black Dao King and gotten real diligent."
"Heh heh heh, all thanks to you, Young Master!"
"That's how positions make the man."
Nangong Hyeok chuckled as Do Daewoong groveled nonstop with a dopey grin.
Twin Blades's jaw, already slack, threatened to unhinge completely.
Wh-What? You put him up to it?
The Black Dao King?
Who the hell is this guy?!
Wait...
Hold on.
Young Master?
Hefei had plenty of young masters, but only one whose name would make Do Daewoong bow.
"N-Nangong... guh!"
"You mad bastard, uttering that name?!"
"Die! Die! Die!"
"Slice this fucker up and bury him!"
Crunch-crunch-crunch!
Whether Twin Blades passed out or not, the kicks didn't stop.
Then.
Dash-dash-dash!
Someone burst into the annex.
Nangong Hyeok, mid-drink, looked up.
Geon Cheon-hwi came panting in, shoving executives aside.
"Young Master!"
Nangong Hyeok set down his cup.
"What?"
"Th-The Family Head's summoning you. Says come quick!"
"Who came?"
Geon Cheon-hwi gulped, then blurted.
"Someone from Shaolin!"
Thud!
Nangong Hyeok set his cup down with a grin.
"Ohhh? Really?"
What was bound to come had arrived!
Paeng Junghyuk flinched.
"Shaolin?"
Shaolin was here?
Nangong Hyeok chuckled as he stood.
"Time to reel in the bait!"
Paeng Junghyuk jumped up instinctively, hoisting the slack-jawed Hwangbo Chung, while Geum Cheomsang naturally fell in behind.
Nangong Hyeok shook out his hands and stepped forward.
"Wanna go see some monk faces after all this time?"
The Ilseon executives kowtowed behind his chuckling back.
"Take care, Young Master!"
"Long life and good health!"
"Come back soon!"
Amid the Ilseon Society's send-off, Nangong Hyeok exited Ilseon Tower.