Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Midnight Assault on Qingyang
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“Woo-hoo! Kill them!”
“Smash them to pieces!”
Sudden attack.
They struck in the dead of night, when everyone was fast asleep.
They smashed through the main gate and knocked out every single escort warrior who came rushing at them.
But?
‘Why the Four Fiends Faction?’
Qingyang Merchant Group's chief steward Ichiseong simply couldn’t wrap his head around it.
They were the ones who had gone to kill Jinmu just the day before.
He had heard they missed their target due to interference from the Zhuge Family and had spent the entire night deploying subordinates to track Jinmu and his group.
But then,
why were they standing side by side with Gong Sacheok?
Jinmu, Cheongsang, Cheongu.
No matter how much he rubbed his eyes, it was unmistakably them.
Why was Gong Sacheok groveling like that, acting as their vanguard?
What on earth had happened in just one day?
And why were the Four Fiends Faction thugs so enthusiastic?
They were fighting the merchant escorts with everything they had, even as their limbs snapped and blades tore into their flesh.
“Execute the wicked scum of the Qingyang Merchant Group!”
Are they insane?
“Let’s show them the spirit of Wudang!”
They’ve lost their minds.
Back-alley thugs acting like they were Wudang disciples.
“Block them! I said block them!”
Ichiseong bellowed, veins bulging in his neck, as he slowly backed away.
No matter the reason, he knew the current escorts couldn’t stop them.
Even as the chief steward of the merchant group, he had heard enough about Gong Sacheok’s prowess to make his ears calloused.
His underlings might be another story, but Gong Sacheok himself was strong.
Strong enough that none of the escort warriors at the Dangeon-gu branch could match him.
Ichiseong planned to slip away unnoticed amid the chaos of battle.
He had to urgently inform Geumjeoksan of the current situation.
He needed to report Gong Sacheok’s betrayal and get him to mobilize the U Manor.
With their ties, the U Manor wouldn’t stay idle.
Surely Manor Lord U Munheum himself would...
Thud!
As he turned to flee, a massive foot flew into Ichiseong’s view.
“Kek!”
Countless men lay collapsed.
A long line stretched out.
Every one of them had faces bruised black-and-blue and swollen, kneeling on the ground, surrounded by Four Fiends Faction thugs.
And at the center, wearing a humiliated expression, was Qingyang Merchant Group’s chief steward Ichiseong.
“Kuhuk.”
Tears flowed from his heart full of despair.
That despicable bastard Gong Sacheok.
Even for an evil faction that betrayed as easily as breathing, he never imagined they’d latch onto Wudang.
And to think they would strike right after Geumjeoksan and the merchant group’s main escorts had all left for the smuggling deal.
“How can you do this, you bastard! You were paid to kill him, and now you’re leading them instead?”
Ichiseong roared at Gong Sacheok, glaring daggers.
Even with his face bruised black-and-blue and on his knees, he hadn’t lost his dignity.
“Hey, you there, steward. Eyes down.”
“......”
At Jinmu’s words, Ichiseong bristled and lifted his eyes defiantly.
A Taoist priest far younger than him.
No matter how strong he might be, this was no way to speak to an elder.
But Gong Sacheok moved first, unleashing a barrage of kicks into Ichiseong’s gut.
“You damn son of a bitch! How dare you glare at the great hero! (mumbled garble)”
Gong Sacheok grabbed him by the collar and glared, but with his missing teeth, no one could make out his slurred words.
Yet Ichiseong promptly lowered his gaze.
A beating makes a man.
It was an ironclad rule that applied regardless of age or gender.
And all the more effective when the pain chilled straight to the bone.
Gong Sacheok beat the merchant warriors and Ichiseong even more viciously, proving his loyalty to Jinmu in his bid for survival.
The previous dawn, Jinmu had made Gong Sacheok a single proposal and promised to overlook their attempt on a Wudang disciple’s life.
If he helped with just one thing.
Righteous and evil factions were polar opposites.
Especially when the opponent was Wudang, inheritor of the Taoist lineage.
Yet he would let it go.
He wouldn’t hold them accountable for targeting his own life.
Such mercy.
There was no more need to hesitate.
The worry of spending his life on the run from Wudang vanished in an instant.
And in that moment, everything flew from his memory: Jinmu slaughtering dozens of his men, beating him like a mangy dog, knocking out all his teeth so his speech leaked out garbled.
Gong Sacheok had received instruction from a black market expert and pushed himself to the brink to reach his current realm.
His skills were impressive even among thugs.
Enough to found a decent minor sect, yet he had become the boss of Dangeon-gu’s thugs.
There might have been better positions, but he was a petty man at heart, choosing to be the head of a snake over the tail of a dragon.
Better to live large as the king of local thugs than as a mere squad warrior in a massive sect.
As long as he didn’t cross the Zhuge Family, he could rule the underworld.
And if Jinmu forgave him this time, he could continue that life.
How could he ever repay such grace?
That was why he fought all the harder, pouring everything into crushing the Qingyang Merchant Group.
If only to repay a fraction of Jinmu’s kindness.
“Where’s Geumjeoksan?”
Jinmu pulled Gong Sacheok back and asked Ichiseong.
“Th-that...”
“Not gonna answer?”
As Jinmu pressed, the ever-loyal(?) Gong Sacheok pressed his notched sword against Ichiseong’s neck.
How should he respond?
With Gong Sacheok captured, the U Manor’s involvement was as good as exposed.
Of course, the Qingyang Merchant Group’s role would come to light too.
One wrong move, and they’d all be done for.
Swipe.
The cold blade against his throat dug into his skin.
“Hup!”
This was no time to think of others and uphold loyalty.
Survival first.
“The leader is at the... deal...”
“Deal? Don’t lie! What kind of deal happens in the middle of the night?!”
Cheongsang exploded in anger at Ichiseong’s response.
“Smug- smuggling...”
“You still lying?!”
Hold on, Cheongsang.
Jinmu grabbed Cheongsang, who was storming toward Ichiseong in fury.
Jinmu already knew about their smuggling from overhearing their conversation back at Wudang.
Smuggling was illegal and secretive.
It mostly involved items banned by the government, heavily taxed goods, and above all, high-value merchandise.
Handled right, it could change one’s fate.
‘Ho? They’re smuggling? No wonder there were so few escorts compared to yesterday.’
Jinmu stroked his chin.
Smuggling came with risks, but the profits far exceeded legitimate trade.
And if the deal was happening right now?
Heh heh, he’d come for revenge and stumbled into an unexpected windfall.
This was hitting two birds with one stone—draining the ditch and catching a crawfish.
Yeah, this was revenge.
He was just taking a little compensation for his efforts in the process.
Wasn’t Jinmu already planning to bleed the Qingyang Merchant Group dry of funds anyway?
‘Might even need to open a few more branches if this pans out.’
In an instant, Jinmu devised a plan to raid the deal site and seize everything. He calmed Cheongsang and slyly asked Ichiseong.
A sinister smile was included for free.
“But why didn’t you send your underlings? Why’d Geumjeoksan go himself?”
“Th-that...”
As Ichiseong hesitated, Gong Sacheok’s sword dug even deeper into his neck.
“G-gunpowder. The item for this deal...”
“What?”
These crazy bastards?
He’d thought it was something like salt, porcelain, or fine tea.
At the word “gunpowder,” Jinmu shot to his feet, and even Cheongsang beside him—and Cheongu—couldn’t hide their shock.
Trading gunpowder.
They were utterly mad.
It was used for fireworks during festivals like the Spring Festival or Chrysanthemum Festival, but gunpowder was cannon propellant.
In other words, an essential item for warfare.
Even small quantities absolutely required reporting to the authorities.
Officials and military shall not trespass.
The founding Emperor had issued the decree because he’d received aid from the martial world during the nation’s founding, and it had become tradition passed down through generations.
But even with that tradition of non-interference, there were things martial artists had to uphold to keep it intact.
They must not harm civilians.
They must not join rebellions.
And they absolutely must not touch military-controlled gunpowder.
No matter its tremendous power, no righteous, evil, or demonic force dared covet it lightly.
That was the unspoken code of the martial world, a fact even the dim-witted Cheongu knew well.
Otherwise, they risked the martial world itself being swept away by a million imperial troops.
Yet,
a mere regional mid-tier merchant group was trading gunpowder?
‘Damn, that bastard Geumjeoksan. Totally lost his mind, huh? Even for money.’
No wonder a merchant group like theirs had joined the plot to assassinate a Wudang disciple.
Jinmu wore an incredulous expression when Cheongsang cautiously whispered.
“Um, Sasuk. Gunpowder... shouldn’t we notify the authorities?”
“Hm.”
Jinmu pondered briefly.
He’d planned revenge plus grabbing the smuggled goods and cash as a bonus... damn it, of all things, gunpowder.
This was too big a deal.
Regrettable, but he had no choice but to let it go.
He was still a Taoist priest, after all.
No good risking his life over unnecessary trouble.
“Hey, steward. Where’s the deal site?”
“The... reed beds at the northern reservoir.”
“Reed beds, huh.”
Jinmu nodded.
Gunpowder meant they had to call the authorities, at least.
“Cheongsang, head straight to the Dangeon-gu magistrate’s office. Reveal you’re a Wudang disciple and report the gunpowder smuggling.”
For something like this, the quick-witted Cheongsang was far better than Cheongu.
“Yes! But what about you, Sasuk?”
“Me? I’ve gotta go beat some ass.”
“Alone? Wouldn’t it be better to go with the officials?”
No way.
He had to get there before the authorities.
He might not take the gunpowder, but he was damn well getting his reward fee.
“Cheongsang.”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“No time. If they wrap up the deal first, we might lose the trail on the smuggling.”
“Ah!”
“So I’ll go hold them down. And don’t worry about me. Got solid backup, right?”
Jinmu glanced at Gong Sacheok, who was grinning ear-to-ear, desperately trying to catch his eye.
“But he...”
“Cheongsang.”
“Yes?”
“Trust your Sasuk.”
“Understood. Please be careful. I’ll hurry back with the officials.”
“Good. See you there.”