Chapter 44: The City of Peace and Love (1)
Chapter 44: The City of Peace and Love (1)
The Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance is a Black Path organization founded by Peng Bu-jeon, the fifth-generation ancestor of the Hebei Peng Family.
It was created to seize control of all interests across the Hebei region, specifically the area corresponding to Northern Zhili. Upon their founding, every Black Path sect in Hebei is automatically incorporated into the Dragon Slaying Alliance.
In modern terms, you could call it our family’s breadwinner.
I’ve often described my family as a chaebol. To put it in extremely simple terms, the relationship between the Hebei Peng Family and the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance is akin to a chaebol family and the corporate entity they established.
So, what exactly does the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance do?
Everything. Literally everything an armed group can do when colluding with government officials.
They handle the protection and contract killings for high-ranking nobles in Beijing and Hebei (via the Assassination Pavilion).
They establish discipline, guarantee safety, and secure business rights for the subordinate Black Path sects (via the Hebei Peng Family).
They handle the private outsourcing of tax collection for peddlers traveling between the major cities of Hebei (via the Heavenly Thunder Alliance).
And most importantly, they manage the overall distribution network of water logistics where the Yellow River and the Hai River meet the Grand Canal.
Since ancient times, river veins have been compared to dragons, and we have seized the most powerful dragon by the scruff of its neck.
Hence the name: Dragon Slaying Alliance (屠龍盟).
The massive capital generated here is redistributed among local officials. An enterprise grown on the foundation of enormous bribes and the provision of military force—that is the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance.
And the headquarters of this Alliance is located here, in Tianjin.
It is the junction of three major waterways: the Grand Canal, which transports the immense wealth and resources of Jiangnan; the Hai River, which connects to it; and the Yellow River, which distributes those goods throughout Northern China.
It is the largest commercial city in Northern China.
A paradise for the Black Path sects of the world, a city of wealth, pleasure, luxury, and everything in between.
A Las Vegas born in the wrong era, misplaced in medieval China. The city that never sleeps.
And so.
Whiz, bang! Fireworks sparkled and burst against the night sky.
Everyone at the canal docks paused for a moment, letting out a collective gasp of admiration.
To be honest, compared to the fireworks displays I saw in the 21st century, this was pitifully meager, but you have to remember this is 500 years ago and be appropriately impressed.
That’s right. Believe it or not, the Ming Dynasty actually had fireworks.
It was a country obsessed with gunpowder, after all.
While fireworks capable of killing people were strictly forbidden for civilians by the Great Ming Code, gunpowder used for this level of pyrotechnics could be found all over the Central Plains.
I’ll say it again: whatever god decided to send someone on a time-slip to this era should never have sent a liberal arts student.
In an age with fireworks and cannons, what can a liberal arts major even do?
"Welcome, Young Master! Let me take your luggage!"
"Oh, were you waiting for me?"
"Of course, of course! Is this your first time in Tianjin?"
"Hmm. The furthest I’ve been beyond Shuntian Prefecture is Shanxi."
"Haha! The weather is perfect today, so it’s quite fortunate! I shall be your guide! Let’s head to your accommodations first!"
"Very well."
The guide sent by the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance rubbed his hands together and took my bags.
When he clapped his hands, a palanquin bearer standing beside him opened the door and gave a simple, rustic smile.
For the record, both of these men are at the level of First-Rate warriors.
They weren't even hiding their killing intent, which leaked out palpably. Every time they smiled, the scars covering their faces contorted into a sinister, mean-spirited expression.
It made my head spin.
Should I call this the feeling of a department-head-level executive being assigned as protocol for a third-generation chaebol heir? In the martial world, a First-Rate warrior is by no means a low rank, yet here they were, pulling a young master's palanquin...
"Power is the best."
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing. Just talking to myself."
I sat in the palanquin, receiving the most hospitable treatment.
Wow, what is this cushioning? Is this goose down?
They used goose down instead of cotton for a silk cushion?
the 21st century needs to reflect on its choices.
"It seems much more prosperous than Beijing. Truly surprising."
"Haha, Young Master, you speak just like a government official! Beijing is an old city, so it has a quiet, antique charm, but this place is different. With consecutive years of good harvests, is this not a time of Great Peace?"
"I suppose so."
Along the official road leading to the heart of the city after crossing the Grand Canal, an incredible number of ships of immense scale were lined up.
Below them, the crowds continuing the unloading process looked as small as ants.
The important thing was that it was night.
The Grand Canal operates day and night. Unlike rivers or the sea, this is an artificial canal where tides barely exist.
Even by modern standards, the volume of cargo was insane.
Is this the scale of China? For a long while, I could do nothing but stare at the street scenery, which was lit as bright as day by rows of lanterns.
Even though I knew the massive buildings of the modern era, this sight was overwhelming enough to leave me dazed.
And, quite bruising to my pride...
The moment we crossed the Moat Bridge, I couldn't help but let out an exclamation of awe.
"Welcome to Tianjin!"
I couldn't even respond to the Dragon Slaying Alliance warrior (a First-Rate master who smelled of blood) who was smiling brightly like a package tour guide.
Past the bridge, I was met with a vast complex of pavilions filling the low hills, lanterns hung between them, and a massive throng of people passing underneath.
I had arrived in the city that never sleeps, Tianjin.
*
"What is this room condition?"
In this primitive China where elevators don't exist (though surprisingly, some places actually have them), a tall pavilion is a burden in itself.
Once a pavilion exceeds four stories, it's classified as a tower, and climbing it becomes a chore.
However, that doesn't apply to martial artists. From the moment one reaches the Second-Rate level and can circulate True Qi into their thighs, four stories are nothing.
In Tianjin, the paradise of the Black Path, six-story buildings are not uncommon!
"The skyline is insane."
I was assigned a room in such a guest house.
It was roughly equivalent to a 5-star hotel's Royal Suite. When I opened the window, I had a 'view-tastic' vantage point of the Tianjin canals and the connecting roads stretching out beautifully.
After admiring it for a while, I went downstairs to find our Mr. Guide waiting at the entrance of the first-floor landing, rubbing his hands.
He gave a mean-spirited smile, his scars contorting.
"Where shall I take you first? In this Heavenly Luck Pavilion, you can enjoy everything from a tavern to a gambling hall. If you haven't recovered from the fatigue of your journey, I recommend taking it slow here."
So they even have a hotel casino.
"Fatigue? I came by boat; it was a pleasure cruise. Let's go to the Assassination Pavilion."
"Pardon?"
"The Assassination Pavilion. Let's go to the branch office of the Assassination Pavilion at the Tianjin headquarters. I should pay my respects to the Head of the Pavilion."
"Ah, aha, yes, yes! Young Master!"
Our Mr. Guide seemed somewhat flustered by the third-generation chaebol heir who, instead of sightseeing, wanted to go straight to meet the CEO of the contract killing subsidiary as soon as he unpacked.
His face contorted through his scars as if a system error had occurred, but he soon broke into a wide smile and began to lead the way.
If I had traveled by palanquin in Beijing, I would have drawn the eyes of every commoner, but here, I could move through the streets naturally as if it were an everyday occurrence.
Palanquins similar to the one I was in were moving all over the official roads.
It was a city built on stacks of gold.
Honestly, I couldn't tell if this was a modern theme park or the actual Middle Ages.
"This is incredible..."
A modern man receiving positive culture shock from the Middle Ages. Well, I'll be.
I've explained it until I'm blue in the face, but it's important, so I'll emphasize it again.
While there was a separate government office where the Prefect of Tianjin resided, the heart of Tianjin was formed around the headquarters of the Dragon Slaying Alliance.
This is why it's called the City of Peace and Love.
The city is governed by the laws established by the Dragon Slaying Alliance, and when disputes arise, the Alliance—not the government office—mediates them.
In practice, it should be viewed as the Alliance's city.
In exchange, the Dragon Slaying Alliance offers a massive amount of gold collected from the city to the government office.
It’s a truly heartwarming public-private partnership.
The Alliance gets autonomy and income, and the government office gets taxes without lifting a finger.
Most cities in the Central Plains where great families reside take this form. In this wild-life medieval China, regional administration cannot be independent of the local gentry.
"Wow, this place is actually better than the room I was given."
"If the inner sanctum of the Dragon Slaying Alliance were less impressive than the guest house you're staying in for a few days, I would lose face. Why state the obvious?"
The Head of the Assassination Pavilion grumbled at me as I looked out the window at the street.
The old man was rubbing the bridge of his nose, the dark circles under his eyes prominent.
"Why on earth did you come looking for me in the middle of the night?"
"Isn't it more appropriate to meet the pinnacle of the world's assassins at night?"
"Do you think I'm going out on a hit? I sleep at night and wake up during the day, you tactless brat."
"Aha."
I mean, what kind of assassin keeps a 'regular' sleep schedule?
"I only stepped out personally in Pyeongseong because of the Hao Clan Leader's urgent request. Do you think I'd normally move my old bones just to save one of you?"
"I came to express my gratitude for that. I owe you my life, Lord Pavilion Head."
"Don't bow your head. It wouldn't have happened if not for the Hao Clan Leader. And there's no need to gild the lily when I didn't actually do much."
"No, I must."
I looked at the Head of the Assassination Pavilion and spoke as politely as possible.
Though he was acting like a comfortable grandfather now, the old man before me was a powerhouse who could take my head with a single gesture.
Furthermore, seven years ago, I had killed his second son. Right before his eyes.
"I am aware that you hold a deep grudge, Lord Pavilion Head."
"...That matter was my own lack of virtue. It was my failure to educate my child properly, so your excessive formality only makes me uncomfortable."
"However, the fact that you covered an old grudge with grace is something this Peng cannot forget. I will not stop at mere words of thanks; I intend to assist your endeavors in every way possible."
"Words I never expected to hear from a bloodline of the Peng Family."
The Head of the Assassination Pavilion looked at me with sunken eyes and let out a sigh.
He soon placed a teacup on the table and poured tea.
The old man's eyes watched me deeply.
It was a situation where the Head of the Assassination Pavilion was personally serving tea to the young man who had killed his son.
Common sense would dictate suspecting poison. But...
My judgment passed in an instant.
As if I hadn't even considered the possibility of poison, I picked up the cup and drained it in one gulp.
The sharp, characteristic aroma of Silver Needle tea rose pleasantly.
A light flickered in the old man's eyes for a moment before vanishing.
"I understand you have become the direct disciple of the Hao Clan Leader. Are you visiting this old man today as her disciple?"
"I requested this meeting as a blood relative of the Peng Family."
"Is that so. You may leave now. I have understood your intent."
"Take care of yourself, Elder."
I bowed deeply and left the Head's quarters.
Just before I closed the door, a small voice brushed past my ear.
"The Blade Emperor has been blessed with too much luck in his grandson in his later years."
It was a bitter voice. But somehow, it sounded satisfied.
In medieval China, drinking the same tea is equivalent to a handshake. It meant we were joining hands.
Walking through the solemn pavilion complex of the Dragon Slaying Alliance headquarters late at night, I thought to myself:
The long-standing grudge with the Head of the Assassination Pavilion is now settled.
At the same time, making my intentions known to him was a huge gain.
Currently, the Acting Leader of the Dragon Slaying Alliance is my eldest brother, Peng Hyeon-ryang.
In such a situation, coming to the city where the Alliance headquarters is located and seeking out the Head of the Assassination Pavilion first implies that I am not on friendly terms with Peng Hyeon-ryang.
Furthermore, I apologized for the old grudge, expressed gratitude for saving my life, and promised assistance in 'every way possible.'
What kind of 'every way possible' assistance could I even provide? I'm just the youngest master who has been confirmed as a branch member, with no foundational organization within the Alliance.
That's why the Head of the Assassination Pavilion tested me.
—Did you come as a member of the Hao Clan, or as the youngest of the Peng Family?
If I had answered the former, he would have taken it as part of business cooperation. But...
—I requested this meeting as a blood relative of the Peng Family.
I met him as a direct bloodline of the Hebei Peng Family.
In other words, my mention of 'assistance in every way possible' was nothing more than an empty promise.
The fact that a direct descendant made such an empty promise to the Head of the Assassination Pavilion—who sits at the very top of the Dragon Slaying Alliance—meant one thing.
It meant I was aiming for my eldest brother's position.
—Is that so. You may leave now. I have understood your intent.
This meant, at the very least, that he would not interfere, regardless of the process.
In short, it was a declaration of neutrality—he would take neither my side nor my brother's within the Dragon Slaying Alliance.
"Damn the martial world."
This fierce and heartless world where old snakes lie in wait is exhausting as hell.
After finishing this tiring political skirmish and crossing the bustling streets of Tianjin to return to my guest house...
"Was your sightseeing enjoyable?"
"Oh."
A very handsome, well-built young man was looking at me with a warm smile.
In the tavern area on the first floor of the Heavenly Luck Pavilion, not a single other customer was in sight.
As I approached and sat in the chair across from him, a waiter quickly hurried over and began to set a warm cup of wine and luxurious delicacies before me.
Watching this with a grin, the young man spoke.
"To think you didn't come to see me first."
"Haha, it was late, and I was worried about being a nuisance. Are you not a man busy with the great affairs of the family business?"
"Which is exactly why the night is more relaxed than the day. Let's have a drink, Hwi."
My eldest brother, Peng Hyeon-ryang, smiled softly as he poured clear wine into the cup before me.
Without a single guard, without even a weapon.
"Yes, Brother."
This bastard.
Look at his initiative.