Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association (2)
When asked to name the largest merchant group in the Central Plains, most people would unhesitatingly point to the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association. Though the Gyeongun Merchant Group had recently gained momentum, threatening the established positions of the Ten Great Merchant Groups of the Central Plains, it hadn't yet risen to their ranks. Still, it was true that they'd grown enough to challenge that stronghold.
Of course, from the perspective of the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association—the pinnacle of that stronghold, holding the top spot among the Ten Great Merchant Groups—the emergence of the Gyeongun Merchant Group (formerly Gyeongun Merchant Troupe) was little more than a scoff-worthy matter. At least in terms of commercial success.
Everyone in the Central Plains knew that the Wudang Sword Hero lay at the foundation of the Gyeongun Merchant Group's rapid expansion, with demands flooding in to open more branches despite their surprisingly few locations for such influence.
"What a headache…."
"But we can't just leave the Gyeongun Merchant Group unchecked like this. If the other merchant groups start siding with them…."
Jin A-gyeong, head of the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association, sank deeper into her grand chair and furrowed her brow at the report from the acting deputy who had come up to deliver it.
"I already know that. There are people making under-the-table contact with the Gyeongun Merchant Group, right?"
"Yes."
"Argh, my head. Does it make any sense for the Ten Great Merchant Groups to be shaken by a single novel?"
It was truly incomprehensible. The Ten Great Merchant Groups had held their positions steadfastly for decades. Sure, the Gyeongun Merchant Troupe had a deep history and had once claimed a spot at the bottom of those ranks, but that was ancient history. Who could have imagined that a group they'd assumed had collapsed and vanished would rise again as the Gyeongun Merchant Association?
It had been nearly five years since Jin A-gyeong inherited the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association, but even she—a merchant hailed as fully mature—hadn't foreseen this.
"But we can't ignore the influence of Wudang Sword Hero either. Even our trading partners keep bringing it up…."
"It's just a novel! How can something like that turn the entire Central Plains upside down?!"
She simply couldn't wrap her head around it. Of course, the acting deputy understood her frustration all too well. Who could have predicted a novel sweeping the entire Central Plains in less than a year? And the rumors tied to Wudang Sword Hero were all so absurd: Wudang overflowing with disciples, swarmed by visitors day after day; Shaolin, visited by Baek Su-gyeong, drawing pilgrims under the guise of incense offerings. And that wasn't all—they even said that just because the Murim Alliance had stayed in Xuchang, their branch stores there had doubled in sales overnight.
"The influence one person can wield… does that even make sense?"
"But it's reality, Head."
"Ugh…."
Jin A-gyeong pressed her forehead and groaned. It sounded like a lie, but that was the power one man commanded. To her, he was like a natural disaster—a walking bundle of variables that was the hardest for any merchant to handle. Natural calamities lacked will, but this one was human, just like her.
Jin A-gyeong lifted her hand from her forehead and spoke.
"Lately, all eyes are on Luoyang, right?"
"Yes. We've heard that Haomen and the Open Faction's informants are unusually concentrated there. Rumor has it one of Haomen's three lords has stepped in…."
"A lord? That's one of Haomen's top executives, isn't it?"
The acting deputy nodded at Jin A-gyeong's words. While Haomen and the Open Faction were known for the fastest intelligence in the jianghu, expanding to non-martial realms made merchant associations the true frontrunners. The information network of traveling merchants across the Central Plains was no slouch compared to Haomen or the Open Faction—in fact, they often outpaced them in collection speed. Some underestimated merchant intelligence because Haomen and the Open Faction got all the spotlight, but it was far from lacking.
"Word is that Chwi Seon-gae, lord of the Open Faction's Rear Valley Hall, has been sighted."
"Chwi Seon? That drunken bum?"
"Yes."
"What the hell is in Luoyang…."
The acting deputy replied, "It's probably because the Gyeongun Merchant Association recently opened a branch there, but there might be other variables."
"…How the hell did they pierce through that stubborn bastard from the Yongmun Family?"
That was Jin A-gyeong's burning question. Even if the Gyeongun Merchant Association monopolized Wudang Sword Hero distribution, for the Yongmun Family head to permit a branch in Luoyang? It defied logic. The Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association itself had been forced to withdraw branch plans multiple times due to the Yongmun Family's territorial pushback. Luoyang was their stronghold.
"How did they sweet-talk that prickly guy?"
"We don't know. But since they handle Wudang Sword Hero, maybe they used that as leverage for a deal. That's our guess."
"If we'd allied with Teacher Su-gyeong first…."
Jin A-gyeong bit her lip. If she'd met Baek Su-gyeong before he penned Wudang Sword Hero, not only would this mess never have happened, but the Heavenly Dragon's position would be even more ironclad. But that ship had sailed. The Gyeongun Merchant Troupe, thought swept away by time, had risen as the Gyeongun Merchant Association, building enough power to threaten the Ten Greats.
The Heavenly Dragon had grown by supplying sects and the imperial palace alike, but the Gyeongun had carved into territories the Heavenly Dragon hadn't even considered.
"Niche markets alone won't let them compete with us. The Gyeongun Merchant Association knows that too."
"True. But they hold a powerful card."
"That's the problem. That…."
That was the biggest reason Jin A-gyeong was racking her brains. The Wudang Sword Hero card the Gyeongun held was too strong. For now, it was just one novel, but as Teacher Su-gyeong's works multiplied, its power would only grow. If they started mass-producing Wudang Sword Hero-based merchandise? The Heavenly Dragon's stronghold might not crumble, but the Gyeongun's momentum would skyrocket.
"We need to meet Teacher Su-gyeong somehow. What about the instructions I gave?"
"We commissioned Haomen to track his whereabouts, but it seems it'll take some time. Contact should come soon…."
At that moment, pounding footsteps interrupted the acting deputy, and the door burst open.
"Head! Urgent news!!"
"W-what is it?!"
"T-Teacher Su-gyeong is staying in Luoyang! At the Yongmun Family home…!"
Jin A-gyeong's face paled at the report from the rushing merchant employee.
"Contact the Gyeongun Merchant Association immediately!!"
"Hmm. What should happen here?"
Baek Su-gyeong had been immersed in writing until the Heavenly Dragon's envoy arrived. He'd just wrapped up the decisive battle at the council chamber and moved to the next phase. Jin-un now needed to return to Wudang Mountain to gain new power.
Having realized in his clash with the Sword Lord Venerable that he was far from perfect.
"If Wudang's internal foes, jealous of Jin-un's triumphs, align with the Heavenly Extremes Divine Cult's scheme to detain him upon his return and reestablish a Central Plains foothold… that could paint a nice picture."
The Heavenly Extremes Divine Cult still had seven more demon lords left, even after losing their vanguard, the Sword Lord Venerable and Poison Demon Lord. But before them, Jin-un had more than just demon lords to face. The cult had secretly woven footholds across the Central Plains, and Jin-un—unaware of them all—had only eliminated the ones he knew, leaving him wide open for counterattacks.
"Should I advance the Triune Infinity Sword Radiance to a new realm, or…."
Baek Su-gyeong paused his brush and pondered. This was tricky.
Over seven volumes, Jin-un had felled countless foes with the Triune Infinity Sword Radiance. But his heavy injuries from the Sword Lord Venerable clash had exposed its limits.
So, evolve it into a new technique? Or invent something fresh based on Wudang's lost supreme arts?
It was a crucial choice.
"It's become Jin-un's signature, so ditching it feels like a waste…."
Of course, as realms ascended, diversifying techniques wasn't odd. It was just that the foes Jin-un had shattered with it had grown stronger, signaling time to shed the Triune Infinity Sword Radiance like old skin.
"Forge a new swordsmanship from the husk of the Triune Infinity Sword. That's the way."
And naturally, the heart method must evolve too. From One Origin to Twin Spirits, next fit Mugyeok—Infinity.
Born from Mysterious Peak Wudang, soaring across the vast jianghu, shedding Twin Spirits for Infinity, with Hyeoncheon—Mysterious Heaven—guiding the path.
"Hyeoncheon Mugyeok Singong (Mysterious Heaven Infinity Divine Art) and Jinmu Sipseum Geom (True Martial Thirteen Swords)."
Wudang revered the True Martial Emperor, so name it True Martial; distilling Wudang's myriad sword arts into thirteen essences.
The name for Wudang's mightiest sword art: True Martial Thirteen Swords. Alongside Mysterious Heaven Infinity Divine Art, the new cornerstone of Wudang.
Baek Su-gyeong smiled in satisfaction.
"…Perfect."
The moment Jin-un's new techniques were set.