Chapter 145: Seeking the Hao Clan-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 145: Seeking the Hao Clan-1
Sun-woo’s gaze, fixed intently on Samcheok, was sharp enough to pierce.
Flinch.
Perhaps sensing the intensity of that stare, Samcheok trembled and stole a cautious glance at him.
"Who... who are you?"
"Your customer."
Sun-woo spoke nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.
"What kind of customer acts like this? This is assault!"
Hearing Sun-woo’s words, Samcheok protested as if the situation were absurd.
The Hao Clan was an information brokerage that would sell any secret as long as they were paid. If someone wanted information, they simply had to pay. Why resort to such violence?
Samcheok’s mind began to race. Using his instincts as an informant, he tried to deduce the man’s motives.
Come to think of it, this wasn't entirely unprecedented. It was common for Murim novices—those with high martial arts but empty pockets—to throw their weight around and demand information through intimidation.
Samcheok rubbed his forehead. This man was likely no different. He was probably some country bumpkin who had studied under a hermit master in the mountains before making his debut in the Murim. That would explain why he was ignorant of the world and bold enough to threaten the Hao Clan.
Samcheok snorted. His fear vanished instantly.
"You brat! If you don't have the money, you don't buy the information! How dare you act like a thug and demand things for free? Is that what your master taught you?"
Samcheok shouted at Sun-woo. In times like these, one had to be firm. He steeled his resolve, determined to teach this naive fool exactly why the Hao Clan was to be feared.
"Do you have any idea what you've done? You’ve made an enemy of the great Hao Clan!"
Samcheok bellowed at him. In fictional stories like the Heroic Chronicles, the Hao Clan was often portrayed as a mere plot device that provided information for free.
But the reality was entirely different.
The Hao Clan was not weak, nor did they give anything away. they provided information strictly for money, and if one couldn't pay, they demanded a corresponding price. Furthermore, they had countless experts who had promised them martial support in exchange for favors.
Making an enemy of the Hao Clan meant making an enemy of all those experts. Moreover, because Hao Clan members were embedded in every region, they could track a target’s location at any time. There was no escape. That was what it meant to cross them.
"You fool! Do you think you can persecute the Hao Clan for no reason and walk away unscathed? A Pursuit Order will be issued, and countless experts will hunt you down. No matter where you go or what you do, your every move will be exposed, and your identity will be broadcast to the entire world!"
Samcheok shouted with heated passion. When he finished, a thick smirk played on his lips. Surely, this would be enough to make the man turn pale. He might even wet his pants.
"And?"
However, Sun-woo’s reaction was nothing like what he expected. He simply stared at Samcheok with a look of utter boredom.
"The Hao Clan isn't as weak as you think! Besides the Pursuit Order, we’ll put a bounty on your head so every expert in the land is after you. We’ll share your location every second so you won't have a single place to set foot in the Central Plains!"
Thinking the Murim novice hadn't understood him, Samcheok kindly repeated his threats. But Sun-woo remained silent, his expression still one of pure indifference.
Is he just insane?
Usually, a newcomer would be trembling by now, repenting for their mistakes and bowing their head to Samcheok, begging for mercy. But for some reason, this guy just stood there with that bored look.
Doubt began to creep into Samcheok’s mind, soon followed by a sense of unease. The fact that the man didn't recognize the gravity of the situation, no matter how much it was explained, was unsettling.
In cases like this, it was usually one of two things: either he was the scion of a prestigious family who looked down on the Hao Clan, or he was an idiot. Samcheok leaned toward the latter. The man wore a clean martial arts uniform, but he didn't look particularly wealthy.
Samcheok fell into deep thought. Should he just give him the information he wanted and issue the Pursuit Order later? Or should he keep explaining until the fool understood?
He quickly reached a conclusion. The man was clearly a lunatic, so it was best to give him the info and get rid of him. Whatever he wanted was bound to be something trivial anyway—like who the Number One Beauty was or who the strongest martial artist in the world was.
If he turned out to be a noble scion later, they could squeeze compensation out of his family. If he was just a clueless novice, they could carry out the Pursuit Order as promised.
"Ahem, ahem."
Samcheok forced a cough. It would be awkward to suddenly be helpful after shouting so much, so he tried to shift the mood.
"Exactly what information are you looking for that makes you act so rudely?" Samcheok asked, his voice significantly softened. He congratulated himself on the natural transition.
"I'll tell you that later."
"Huh?"
The answer was entirely unexpected.
"First, you need a beating."
Sun-woo threw a punch straight at Samcheok’s face.
Thwack!
The fist connected squarely.
"Gah!"
Boom!
Samcheok was sent flying backward, slamming into the wall.
"Ugh... ugh..."
A sharp, agonizing pain radiated from his back, making him groan. Then, rage flared up. He had lowered himself to be reasonable, so shouldn't the man have responded in kind? How could he be so barbaric?
"Do you really want to die?!"
"Do you want to die?" Sun-woo growled back.
Samcheok was speechless. This man had barged in unannounced, and now he was the one making threats?
"The Hao Clan won't let this slide!"
"So what?"
Grip.
Sun-woo grabbed Samcheok by the hair and slammed his head into the floor.
Crack!
His forehead split open, and blood began to pour out.
"Aaaargh!"
Samcheok screamed in agony. Sun-woo didn't stop; he began to pummel him relentlessly.
Thud! Thud!
"You bastards... attacking people out of nowhere?" Sun-woo cursed as he struck.
"Gah... ugh... Hero... there must be... a mistake...!"
Samcheok pleaded piteously, but Sun-woo’s fists showed no sign of stopping. After being thoroughly battered, Samcheok finally lost consciousness.
*
After leaving White Flower Peak, Sun-woo had headed toward the Hao Clan to gather information on the Tang Clan. He could have used the Beggar Sect, but he didn't want to get involved with the Orthodox Faction anymore.
Typically, the Hao Clan resided in cities with large entertainment districts rather than small villages. Thus, he visited Yoseong, the nearest city to White Flower Peak.
Upon arriving, Sun-woo first secured a room at an inn to drop off his luggage and left Yorang in Ok-ryeong’s care. He gave them strict instructions not to leave her alone.
Leaving them by themselves made him uneasy. Ideally, he would have taken them both, but he felt uncomfortable bringing Ok-ryeong and Yorang into a red-light district. After making Yorang promise several times not to cause trouble, he left the inn.
Yoseong was a city on the edge of Shandong Province, but it lived up to its name with numerous entertainment districts. Sun-woo walked down the main thoroughfare lined with pleasure houses, looking around.
Perhaps because he looked like a country bumpkin, several courtesans tried to lure him in.
"Young master, why don't you come play with us?"
"Aing, look over here!"
"Our Hwanhui Pavilion will show you paradise."
"The night is long. Let us help you so you aren't lonely."
They all beckoned him, wearing thin silk undergarments that left little to the imagination. Sun-woo’s eyes were momentarily drawn to their deep cleavages, but he quickly regained his composure and kept walking.
He had Ok-ryeong, after all. He didn't want to waste time on cheap courtesans.
Soon, Sun-woo arrived at a massive establishment called Hwanhui Pavilion. Located in the heart of the district, it was the largest and most opulent brothel on the street. He entered without hesitation.
Tinkle.
A bell attached to the door rang as he opened it.
"Hoho, welcome to Hwanhui Pavilion, Young Master. Please, come in."
A woman in a low-cut dress approached him with a warm, professional smile.
"What kind of flower are you looking for? A pure flower like a magnolia? Or a brilliant one like a rose? Just say the word. Hwanhui Pavilion can cater to any taste."
The woman spoke with confidence. She was certain that no matter what kind of woman the man desired, they could provide her—provided he had the money.
"I'm looking for a flower, but one that doesn't bloom."
"And what flower would that be?"
"I believe it's called the Amcheon Flower."
"Hmm, I'm afraid we don't carry such a flower here," the woman replied, looking troubled.
"Then I shall wait quietly until the flower arrives."
"I see. This way, then."
The woman took Sun-woo’s hand and led him inside. Sun-woo cheered inwardly. The words he had spoken were a secret code to contact the Hao Clan. Even though it was a code Lee Jae-hyung had used twenty years ago, it seemed it was still valid.
Following the woman, Sun-woo reached the top floor of Hwanhui Pavilion.
"Please wait here."
With that, the woman withdrew, and Sun-woo sat back to wait for whoever would come.
*
"Master! Master!"
Hwahong, the courtesan who had guided Sun-woo, rushed to find Seo Hwan, the owner of Hwanhui Pavilion and an official of the Hao Clan’s Yoseong Branch.
"What is it?"
Interrupted during his private business by Hwahong’s urgent voice, Seo Hwan snapped at her irritably.
"Something big has happened!"
"I don't care what it is, tell me later. I'm in the middle of a grand undertaking."
As he said, he was indeed in the middle of something significant. Before him stood a young-looking girl, naked and trembling. Today was the day of a grand ceremony where he would "pick the flower" of a virgin. This girl would never forget the man who took her first time.
"Hehehe."
A thick smile spread across Seo Hwan’s face.
"This isn't the time for that! It's a Gold-grade! A Gold-grade customer!"
"What!?"
Seo Hwan’s eyes widened in shock.
"I've settled him on the top floor. You need to go right now."
"Oh, for fuck's sake."
Seo Hwan cursed. He had her all stripped and ready to go, and now everything was ruined. He hurriedly pulled up his pants. A Gold-grade customer was no ordinary guest. He couldn't afford to waste time.
Before leaving, he planted a kiss on the girl’s vulva, unable to leave without at least a small taste, and then rushed out of the room.
*
"Greetings. I am Seo Hwan, an official of the Yoseong Branch."
Upon reaching the top floor, Seo Hwan greeted Sun-woo with polite formality.
"Yes, greetings."
"What brings you to us today?"
Though he knew the man was there for information, Seo Hwan followed the etiquette of asking.
"I'm here to buy information."
"I see. And what kind of information do you require?"
"I want all the current information on the Tang Clan."
"Could you be more specific about which area you're interested in?"
"Everything—their movements since the Demonic Cult’s attack, their current situation, all of it."
"As you know, information regarding the Six Great Clans is expensive. Even though the Tang Clan was ousted and they are now the Five Great Clans, they are still a prestigious family. You must be prepared for the corresponding fee."
Seo Hwan spoke with a serious expression. Even Gold-grade customers often questioned the price. By explaining the reasoning behind the cost upfront, he aimed to prevent any disputes over payment. This was the seasoned conduct of a veteran Hao Clan member.
"That doesn't matter," Sun-woo replied dismissively.
In his pocket, he had the massive sum of 50,000 Nyang he had squeezed out of the Dragon and Phoenix group. Payment was the least of his worries.
"May I verify your identity?"
"I'd prefer to remain anonymous."
"Are you aware that the price doubles for anonymous requests?" Seo Hwan asked in a low voice.
Unlike the Beggar Sect, which refused to show information to those with unclear identities, the Hao Clan would sell to anyone as long as they had the money. However, because it carried more risk, they charged double. Most people chose to reveal themselves, but the man before him didn't seem to care.
"That's fine."
"In that case... may I see the funds?"
Seo Hwan requested to see the cash. The man’s overly willing attitude had made him suspicious. Occasionally, people would get the information first and then shamelessly refuse to pay. Seo Hwan was cautious; nothing lost its value faster than information once it was spoken.
Thud.
Sun-woo pulled several banknotes from his robe and placed them on the table. They were all thousand-nyang notes.
In that instant, Seo Hwan’s eyes sparkled. It looked like he had landed a real whale of a customer.
"Is this enough?"
"More than enough. Please, wait just a moment."
Seo Hwan stood up and hurried out of the room, a bright smile plastered on his face. Sun-woo simply sat there, staring blankly at the door as he waited for his return.