Chapter 96: Wuchang Martial Alliance Gathering (6)
Chapter 96: Wuchang Martial Alliance Gathering (6)
After a subtly tense period of "rapport building," I surreptitiously wiped the cold sweat off my palms onto my trousers and brought up the main point.
"Lady Cheon, do you happen to know of a man called the Jade-Faced Zither Master of Suzhou?"
"The Jade-Faced Zither Master of Suzhou. Yes, he is a renowned martial artist even here in Hubei. I am familiar with Chief of the General Bureau Baek."
"I wish to send him a letter. Would that be possible?"
"Suzhou is not far from Wuchang, so it shouldn't be difficult."
Fortunately, it seemed Lady Cheon’s business also handled mail transport. I said with an embarrassed expression, "The Jade-Faced Zither Master will handle the payment upon delivery. I would like to pay an advance, but I’ve lost my travel pack."
In truth, it wasn't so much lost as it was never brought along. Had I traveled normally, I would have withdrawn some funds from any Hao Clan branch I passed while crossing the canal.
After all, my eldest sister—the Hao Clan Leader—is essentially a human ATM with near-infinite balance.
Regardless, the letter I handed over included a note explaining that this was a 'pay on delivery' situation and asking him to cover the courier fees.
However, Lady Cheon surprisingly shook her head.
"How could I possibly take money for such a trivial request?"
"It’s an urgent matter, so it needs to be sent via express delivery..."
"That is also no trouble. It is fine."
What’s the catch?
She’s offering to send an urgent letter in the dead of winter for free?
Our rapport shouldn't be that high yet. We barely had any time to socialize on the way to Wuchang in the first place.
As I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, Lady Cheon let out a soft chuckle.
"If you truly feel burdened... may I also ask a favor of you?"
"If it is within my power, I shall certainly do so. I’d prefer it that way as well."
"It is a somewhat... private matter."
As she spoke, Lady Cheon glanced at Murong Cheong, who was still sitting there like a broken machine. Murong Cheong didn't even notice the look; she was still muttering to herself. Her words were mixed with Northern dialects, making them hard to decipher.
"But if I marry into that family, then this is..."
"Hey. Hey. Murong Cheong. Hey. Lady Murong. Pure and Clear Maiden?"
"...Still, I must be prepared... B-but my child can never be of the Black Path... What on earth should I do about this..."
"Hey!"
"Ack!"
I poked her in the ribs with my elbow, and Murong Cheong jumped up, startled. She glared at me with resentful eyes for a moment while rubbing her side, then followed my gaze to Lady Cheon.
"Lady Murong. I have a private matter to discuss with Young Master Peng for a moment."
"Private...?"
This part surprised me. Usually, descendants of prestigious families tended to use incredibly flowery, indirect language in these situations.
Murong Cheong, catching Lady Cheon’s directness head-on, immediately turned fierce.
"A private conversation with Peng Hyeon-hwi? Lady Cheon, have you no shame?"
"...?"
"It is said that in noble families, men and women should not sit together after the age of seven! Having a private conversation alone with this wicked scoundrel of the Unorthodox Path could leave a stain on your chastity, Lady Cheon!"
"Wait, no."
Hey.
You and I traveled all the way here alone together. I’m speechless.
And why are you suddenly so eloquent?
Lady Cheon seemed to be thinking the same thing. She looked at Murong Cheong with a look of utter disdain before letting out a sharp laugh.
"Lady Murong. Though I am but a daughter of a merchant family... this is quite unpleasant. You are being rude."
"You're the one in the wrong here."
"...!!"
Murong Cheong looked at me with a deeply wounded expression, her eyes welling up with tears as she shrieked.
"Fine! Do whatever you want! You crazy lecher!! I should have known from the moment you lived in that tavern surrounded by courtesans that you'd take any woman! It was my mistake to trust a Han, a Han Chinese!"
"No, that tavern was my place of business!"
This is seriously unfair.
Murong Cheong huffed and stormed out of the inn.
Only after the commotion died down did Lady Cheon let out a shallow, trembling breath to calm her anger.
"She might talk like that, but she’s not a bad person at heart. She’s just deeply shaken after unexpectedly running into the Sword Immortal today..."
Even as I said it, I felt confused. Even I, coming from the Hebei Peng Family, wasn't that affected. Could a member of the Five Great Clans like Murong Cheong really be that rattled by meeting the Sword Immortal?
At my words, the corners of Lady Cheon’s mouth twitched.
"It seems you are quite close with Lady Murong. To the point where... it’s hard to see it as a simple friendship."
"I’ve always been the type to get along with people without much formality."
"Haha..."
Lady Cheon muttered the words "surrounded by courtesans" under her breath before shaking her head.
"What was the private favor you wanted to ask?"
"The greatest interests of the Jiangnan merchant guilds lie in the canal transport. My Heavenly Merchant Guild is no different. I was wondering if I could secure the goodwill of the Dragon Slaying Alliance for our future business operations in the Northern Zhili region. I assumed Lady Murong, being a heroine of the Orthodox Faction, wouldn't be too pleased with such a discussion."
"Ah, if that’s all. But... I don't know how much you know about me, but my influence within the Dragon Slaying Alliance is much smaller than you might think."
"If that is the case, our Heavenly Merchant Guild can assist you in that regard."
Lady Cheon took a quiet sip of her tea and continued.
"It is a bit embarrassing to say so myself, but the Heavenly Merchant Guild is by no means a small association. If the Dragon Slaying Alliance can accept our guild, our trade will undoubtedly benefit your clan. And you, Young Master Peng, can take the credit for that achievement."
"That sounds wonderful, but... why does it have to be me? Any of my older brothers would welcome such a proposal with open arms."
As I’ve reflected before, an offer that sounds too good to be true always comes with a price. There is no such thing as a free lunch, nor is there a simple, high-paying legal desk job in this world.
"To be honest... it is difficult for a guild belonging to the Jiangnan White Forest Association to approach them. I wouldn't have even tried if I hadn't run into you so coincidentally."
"Ah, I suppose that’s true."
"And..."
Lady Cheon leaned toward me and slowly reached out her hand.
For some reason, something about her posture...
It felt intensely familiar.
A sticky sensation, as if my gaze was being sucked in... a feeling like spiderwebs tightening around my fingertips.
"To ensure the deal goes through, I would like to accompany you when you return to Northern Zhili."
"Uh, excuse me. You're a bit close..."
"I hear the night streets of Tianjin and the fireworks on New Year’s Day are quite magnificent and beautiful. Being a woman myself, I have a great interest in things that are beautiful and fleeting."
She was close enough that the scent of her perfume sachet brushed against the tip of my nose.
Lady Cheon’s fingertips touched mine—just barely, like a tiny prick.
The sensation of her fingernails tapping against mine, tap, tap, as if playing a prank, was so strange that—
"I’m actually a fantastic guide. Wow, I’m so, so looking forward to the day we leave. Oh, right. Please make sure to take care of that letter!"
"Pardon? Yes?"
"If a reply comes, please send it to the Martial Alliance guest hall! I doubt I’ll be kicked out of there. Thanks to you, the trip home will be comfortable! Haha!"
"Wait, just a moment. Young Master Peng?"
"Oh my, look at the time! I have to hurry back, eat dinner, practice my breathing exercises—gosh, I have so much to do! Well then, have a good evening!"
I quickly pulled my hand away, bowed, and retreated. A flustered Lady Cheon stared at me blankly before biting her lip hard.
Seeing that, I had to get out of the inn as fast as possible. Even as I closed the door, I could feel her gaze burning into my back.
"Phew."
"Sniff. Are you... finally out? Did something... good happen?"
"Wait, have you been waiting here the whole time?"
"Sniff."
It must have been cold; Murong Cheong was leaning against the inn door, her nose bright red as she sniffled. If she was going to do that, she should have just stayed inside.
"If you wander around Wuchang all by yourself, you'll become a lonely ghost within a day."
"Ah, right. You're right. Thanks. Let's go."
"Yes. By the way, what did you talk about? What was the private matter?"
"Business. It’s nothing. She said she wants to try doing some business in Northern Zhili. She seems like a very passionate person."
I gave a vague excuse and quickened my pace. I heard Murong Cheong grumbling for me to slow down, but I ignored her. I had to get away as fast as possible.
The scent of irises.
That was the smell from Lady Cheon’s perfume sachet. It smelled like irises.
I’m not a perfumer, and I don't usually care what perfume someone uses, but the fact that it was irises bothered me.
Because that was the scent Hwa-yeong used to put on every letter she sent me. It was Hwa-yeong’s favorite scent. The 'Chanel No. 5' of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Cheon Hwa-ryeong. Cheon Hwa-ryeong...
Heavenly Demon Cult (Cheonma-shingyo).
Hwa-yeong.
Flip the two names, and you get Hwa-ryeong.
Hwa-ryeong of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The fireworks of Tianjin. Fleeting beauty...
Hwa-yeong, is it you...?
How did you find out I was here...?
No, why is the second-in-command of the Three Evils Beyond the Great Wall in the middle of the Orthodox Martial World? You being caught is a much bigger problem than me being caught.
The relationship between the Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult is somewhat indifferent, though.
The Heavenly Demon Cult—specifically the Sixth Heaven Esoteric Buddhism—doesn't have a strong desire to expand into the Central Plains. And from the perspective of the Central Plains, there was no reason to care about the Heavenly Mountains, which required a long journey to the Western Regions to reach.
So, even if Hwa-yeong’s identity were revealed, it would likely be seen as a shocking event rather than an immediate declaration of war. However, given her exalted status, there was no guarantee that there weren't assassins targeting her.
If it really is Hwa-yeong...
It probably is.
If it is... did she come because of me? Or for some other purpose? Does the Heavenly Demon Cult have business with the Martial Alliance? Did she attend as an envoy?
I don't have enough information.
The Hao Clan doesn't usually handle information regarding that side, which makes it even harder. I bit my lip as I headed toward the Martial Alliance pavilion.
*
Cheon Hwa-ryeong—no, Im Hwa-yeong, wearing the Human Skin Mask of the Jiangnan Heavenly Merchant Guild—stared at the closed door for a long time, then toyed with the letter Peng Hyeon-hwi had left behind.
"A letter."
Her fingertips traced the smooth edges of the paper. She even coveted the handwriting written inside this small missive. How much effort had she poured in just to have this?
For the past ten years in the Heavenly Mountains, she had lived only for these letters to arrive. To someone else, obtaining such a thing might have been so easy.
Sending regards and asking for news.
Peng Hyeon-hwi never responded to such letters. Perhaps it was because of that stoicism. She felt a sense of resentment, but whenever a reply did arrive, that feeling seemed to melt away like snow.
In the letter she received after she first killed her youngest brother, there was heartfelt worry.
When she killed her other brothers after that, the letters were tinged with anxiety.
Yes, his interest has not vanished entirely. He is always worrying about me. That was what she thought.
"Haha."
Look at him now. In just a few words, he realized her identity and fled the scene.
And yet, even so.
Despite being brilliant enough to deduce her identity from just a few words, Peng Hyeon-hwi did not reject her proposal to return to Tianjin together.
That thought was incredibly sweet.
"If it is the Cheon family’s merchant guild, it means I can stay by your side."
She smiled contentedly. Her status as the Little Heavenly Demon was insufficient to possess Peng Hyeon-hwi, but paradoxically, a minor merchant guild she had planted in Jiangnan long ago was enough to stand by his side.
She turned her head and spoke to her long-time maid.
"Well done. It proved useful."
"U-um... I think if you had removed the perfume sachet, he wouldn't have caught on..."
"Hush. Did you not see how much he has been conscious of me all this time? This is enough."
The maid bowed and refilled Im Hwa-yeong’s teacup.
"In that case, shall I prepare other scripts for conversation in advance?"
"Yes, that would be best. The merchant dialect doesn't roll off my tongue easily; I think I need practice."
"Yes, My Lady."
She smiled with satisfaction as she crushed the note the maid had given her into powder and let it scatter.
The advice to approach him in this manner and induce conversation was spot on. As expected of the girl who had followed her for so many years that she was called her confidante.
The master and servant smiled happily for a while before standing up.
"Oh, by the way, My Lady. What should we do about that vixen from the Murong family?"
"Leave her be."
Im Hwa-yeong gave a cold snort.
"The Murong family is a house that can never be joined with the Peng family."
"Uh... um. I suppose so...?"
The maid nodded with a somewhat uneasy expression and withdrew. Unfortunately, since Shakespeare wouldn't be born for another two centuries, they knew nothing of the masterpiece Romeo and Juliet.
*
"You sent a letter? To the Hao Clan?"
"Yeah, something felt off."
"What do you mean?"
"How the Ghost Gate Meridian Lord could come all the way to Southern Zhili and perform such a grand technique."
At my words, Murong Cheong tilted her head, seemingly not finding anything strange.
It’s understandable. The Murong family is tucked away in such a remote corner of the world that it’s hard for her to grasp the geography of the Central Plains at once.
"The Dark Ghost Gate is based in Chongqing. How could those guys have come all the way to Southern Zhili and Shandong to set up an Inescapable Net?"
"But didn't the Jongri family also show up in Qinghe County?"
"They have their Black Ships. It’s not impossible for people who run smuggling fleets to move along the river."
But the Dark Ghost Gate is different. Fundamentally, those guys are like territorial animals.
You know, it’s a common trope in fantasy. Mages never leave their workshops or towers. The Dark Ghost Gate members are exactly like that. They don't leave Mount Gui, where they’re based, unless something major happens.
On top of that, how many resources would they have to invest to deploy an Inescapable Net using sorcery? I’m not an expert in sorcery or talismans, but I know that even writing a single talisman requires a fair amount of resources.
It takes lavish amounts of various high-grade materials like cinnabar and yellow paper, as well as sulfur, vermilion, gold thread, and white monkshood. And it only becomes sorcery when used by a practitioner who can handle them precisely.
There’s a reason why there are so few people who deal with such occult arts and supernatural powers. It’s incredibly finicky and difficult to see results.
And yet, those guys came from Chongqing to Southern Zhili to use such a grand technique?
The fastest way from Chongqing to Southern Zhili is to travel along the Yangtze River.
And that route includes Jingzhou, Yueyang, Wuchang, and Huangshan. They would have to pass not only the Hengshan Sect and the Namgung Family but also Wuchang, which is currently crawling with experts of the Orthodox Faction preparing for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
In other words.
There is a power protecting them.
It’s not the Jinzhou Eon family. I’m certain of that, given that the Drunken Cloud Palm knew about the bloodbath at the Jinzhou Eon family. It just hasn't been officially announced yet, but for all intents and purposes, the Jinzhou Eon family has become a public enemy within the Martial Alliance.
The Murong family didn't bring out their Sea-Clearing Fleet to stage a protest for nothing. The fall of the Jinzhou Eon family can already be considered a given.
If so, it’s only logical to assume that there is 'someone' or 'some group' within Wuchang right now who smuggled the Dark Ghost Gate sorcerers out and cleared a path for them to Southern Zhili.
Right before the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
Right at this moment, when the attention of the highest-ranking experts—the Fifteen Lords of the World—is focused on the bloody incident in Yunnan.
In the Wuchang Martial Alliance, which is supposed to be the safest land in the entire Central Plains for the Orthodox Faction.
A proper transmigrator should be preparing for the worst at this point.
"Isn't that just an obsession?"
"There you go again with the nonsense."
If a transmigrator has dropped into the Martial World, it’s 'common sense' that a storm breaks out wherever they go.