Shadows on the Grand Canal
The boat gliding along the seemingly endless Grand Canal finally came to a halt. "This is Jinjiang," the boatman announced. "One of the midway ports where the Huaiyang Canal ends and the Jiangnan Canal begins."
Though the voyage had concluded for them, the Grand Canal itself stretched far into the distance. For Namgung Woo and his companions, however, this was their destination. The thirty-day journey had at last reached its end.
"The regions the Jiangnan Canal passes through are under heavy Black Lotus influence," Paeng Ha-ryeong remarked as she watched the docking from the deck, eager to share her knowledge. "Jinjiang and Shangzhou are still considered neutral thanks to Nanjing and the Mt. Mao Sect, but beyond that, it's pure Black Path territory."
Not to be outdone, Yang Kvae chimed in with his own tidbits. "They say the Nine Dragons Society in Hangzhou is one of the Black Lotus's Seven Great Sects. Though whether you can really call it a sect is another matter."
The Nine Dragons Society was a massive alliance founded under the leadership of three merchant guilds that had drawn in six other factions. Because of its origins, it possessed a unique character—more merchant consortium than traditional martial sect.
"As long as the canal belongs to the empire, they can't block passage outright," Paeng Ha-ryeong continued. "But once we disembark, that's when the real trouble starts."
"They'll pull every trick in the book to make our lives difficult," Yang Kvae added with a knowing grunt.
Since their ultimate goal was Nanjing, Namgung Woo's group disembarked alongside the other passengers. Having grown fond of their fellow travelers over the thirty days, they decided to stay one night at a branch of the Paeng Family's merchant guild rather than part ways immediately.
Leaving the porters to their work, the group headed into Jinjiang proper. By the time they settled into their lodgings after a brief stroll through the streets, night had already fallen.
"It's a shame," Paeng Ha-ryeong murmured after dinner, gazing out the window at the evening scenery before they retired to their rooms. "I heard Jinjiang has plenty worth seeing. Especially the Daqing Tower—they say you must visit it at least once."
This was her first real journey beyond Hebei, her first true venture into the jianghu. She had carried her own quiet expectations. Yet with the need to reach Guya Manor before the Start of Winter, there was no time for leisurely sightseeing. On an ordinary trip, they might have stolen a few hours, but the Four Seasons Commission was different. Threats could arise without warning, and even without deliberate pursuit, they might stumble into trouble. They had no choice but to press on, ensuring that even unexpected delays would not prevent their arrival before the deadline.
Paeng Ha-ryeong understood this, yet the reluctance to depart so soon was plain in her eyes.
"We'll explore together on the way back," Namgung Woo said gently.
Her expression softened. "Really? It's a promise?"
They were deep in conversation about their return journey when the Yang twins burst in, having skipped dinner to gather information.
"Captain! We've got some massive news!"
"This is truly important!"
Namgung Woo sat facing the twins to hear what was so urgent, with Paeng Ha-ryeong naturally taking the seat beside him. The brothers looked thoroughly pleased with themselves; Yang Kvae's lips twitched with barely contained excitement.
"Well? What is it?"
"Don't be too shocked, Captain," Yang Kvae began, drawing out the moment.
Yang Jeong cut in directly. "The Jegal Family has made a move."
"Hey! I was about to say that, you—!"
"Yang Kvae, be quiet. Yang Jeong, continue."
With Namgung Woo's permission silencing his brother, Yang Jeong explained. "Great sects rarely move because they're weighed down by their own resources. They maintain ties with renowned forges and artisans, or even run their own workshops."
"Like the Sichuan Tang Family," Namgung Woo noted.
"Exactly. They're the prime example of a sect that handles everything internally."
"Most of the Nine Great Sects prefer the former approach," Paeng Ha-ryeong added. "As Taoists or monks first and martial artists second, they view chasing after famous blades as worldly desire and avoid it."
They would not refuse offerings sent their way, but neither would they go out of their way to seek them. That was the unspoken rule among the orthodox sects.
"The Huashan Sect is somewhat more worldly and occasionally commissions work, but even they don't do it often."
"Secular factions are different, though. Especially the Seven Great Families—they have too much pride to go running around themselves. Ah, my apologies."
Yang Jeong bowed quickly upon realizing he had spoken in front of Paeng Ha-ryeong, a direct descendant of the Hebei Paeng Family, second only to the Tang Family among the Seven Great Families. She waved it off with a smile, showing no offense, and finished the thought for him.
"As you said, Senior. The Seven Great Families rarely lower themselves to run errands unless it's something they absolutely cannot solve within their own walls—like what Gaga needed."
"So the fact that the Jegal Family moved means…?"
"Yes. It seems they've set their sights on something truly extraordinary, just like you did."
Such news was indeed significant. When a power like the Jegal Family stirred, the currents of events shifted as surely as gravity warped space. Some would avoid them; others would flock toward them.
"We needn't concern ourselves for now," Namgung Woo said. "Our paths are completely different. The Jegal Family's base is in Wuhan, Hubei. While we're traveling south then west, they'll be moving east along the Yangtze from Wuhan."
"Still, once we near Gyeong County, we'll have to be careful."
"We should hurry regardless. If the Jegal Family reaches Guya Manor without interference thanks to their reputation, they'll claim the commission first."
Paeng Ha-ryeong shook her head. "As long as we arrive before the deadline, it doesn't matter. Guya Manor only accepts one commission per artisan during the Four Seasons Commission, but it's not strictly first-come, first-served. We simply need to stick to our own plan."
She neatly closed the matter. While the Jegal Family's movements warranted attention, there was no need to alter their route because of them.
"There's one more thing," Yang Kvae said, speaking up again after having kept quiet during the discussion.
"There's a place called Seogeummun in Nanjing. Rumor has it a young genius who recently reached the Peak Realm was targeted while heading for the Four Seasons Commission."
The jianghu's definition of a "young genius" was clear: reaching the Peak Realm before the age of thirty. Most who met that standard would attain the Transcendent Realm before sixty—provided they survived that long. For a smaller sect, producing such a talent was like sunlight breaking into a mouse hole, a cause for celebration. The Bokmanghoe, however, took pleasure in extinguishing exactly those hopes. A young genius carrying an entire sect's expectations was the perfect prey for them.
"Did you hear anything about the assassin?"
"Yes. They say it was the Blood Blind Elder."
Paeng Ha-ryeong recognized the name. "Blood Blind Elder Go Rok-gal."
"Is he famous?" Namgung Woo asked.
She turned toward him. "He's quite old. They say he went blind fighting the Blood Cult."
"I heard he learned their techniques. Is that true?" Yang Kvae pressed.
"I don't know about that. But I doubt he'd be a match for you, Gaga. From what I know, he's only at the late Peak Realm."
The familiar and unfamiliar names stirred Namgung Woo's thoughts. Jegal Sega. Bokmanghoe. Blood Blind Elder. Blood Cult. The ruthlessness of killing innocents for one's own desires. He felt, truly, that he now stood within the martial world. The events in Beijing had felt more like a political conspiracy involving the imperial court than pure jianghu affairs.
"They said he was attacked right after leaving Nanjing a few days ago?"
"Yes, that's what we heard."
"Then there's a good chance he's still in the area."
An evildoer who killed the innocent for his own greed. Namgung Woo could not abide leaving such a man nearby when he possessed the power to judge him.
"Let's depart tomorrow. If there are other young geniuses around, following them might not be a bad idea."
"You intend to catch the Blood Blind Elder?"
"If we cross paths."
"Captain, if that's the plan, why bother chasing young geniuses? Just let me flaunt my Peak Realm prowess! Give me one day and I'll spread the rumor all the way to Nanjing that the great Yang Kvae is heading for Guya Manor."
Yang Kvae believed in Namgung Woo's backing. After witnessing him complete the sealing of Mount Wanse alongside Commander Gwak Dan of the Jinyiwei and Blade King Paeng Hu-sang, he no longer doubted his captain's strength. He now understood Namgung Woo stood at the level of the Twelve Venerables. The only forces that could threaten him were the other great powers among those Twelve.
"That works too. We'll meet again in Nanjing, then. Until then, we'll act separately."
"Leave it to me!"
While Yang Kvae grew excited at the prospect of playing the role of a Peak Realm expert and young genius, Yang Jeong suddenly voiced a doubt.
"Um… hunting villains is fine and all, but… aren't we supposed to be a band of vagabonds? Shouldn't we just look for commissions instead?"