Chapter 42
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Hwa Mujin, the Hidden Dragon of Sichuan
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The Kongtong Sect possessed countless secret techniques.
However, among them, the sword arts most favored by the Kongtong Taoists were the Demon Subduing Sword, the Seven Injuries Sword, and the Seven Kills Sword.
Of these three, Mujin was fondest of the Taoists who used the Seven Kills Sword and the Seven Injuries Sword.
The reason was that, back in his days as Jeongcheon, he had created counters for both sword forms.
Two sword arts with an overpowering nature, forgoing feints and variations to directly target the enemy's vital points or to strike the opponent's sword aside and close the distance in a flash.
The moment Ja-yul's counter-strike, meant to bat away his own sword, became far faster and fiercer, Mujin relaxed the strength in his sword arm.
Clang!
Unlike before, Mujin's sword was easily knocked away. Ja-yul landed stably on the ground, breathing a sigh of relief.
He had set aside his fear of being disgraced by a young junior.
Only two moves remained.
!!
The moment he let his guard down, Mujin spun his body and began to close in on Ja-yul.
Ja-yul was quite surprised by Mujin, who was matching his own footwork.
He reflexively turned his body to react to Mujin, who was closing in from the side.
Swish!
With a sharp sound, Mujin's sword fell.
Clang!
Thud!
As Ja-yul turned to follow his opponent and knock his sword upward, he exposed his chest to Mujin's left hand, which came from a blind spot.
‘You black-robed Taoists always create your own blind spot on your flank when you use the Seven Kills Sword.’
Struck in the chest by Mujin, Ja-yul suppressed the blood rising in his throat and held his breath.
The vital point he was hit on was the Anjung point, a crucial channel for sending internal energy to the sword when performing the Seven Kills Sword.
Struck in that exact spot, Ja-yul staggered, his face turning pale. Mujin spun once more, approached him, and swung his sword down.
The Nine Swords of Dugu, Sixth Form. One Sword Reaping Two Moons.
Mujin used the final move of the set—the very sword form whose ultimate technique he had awakened while risking his life to cut down the Red Moon Sword.
Swoosh!
As he watched Mujin's sword descend, Ja-yul's entire life flashed before his eyes.
‘So this is the end.’
“Martial Uncle!”
Claaang!
Slice!
“Puuuh!!”
Pung Gwan-o and Cheong Ho-yeon were so stunned by the sudden turn of events that they could only stare blankly, unable to react.
Beside Mujin, Cheol-muk and No-sak had appeared at some point, their energy surging as they prepared to leap into action. The Taoist who had rushed in at the critical moment to pull Ja-yul back and block Mujin's sword was sent flying, crashing to the ground and spewing blood.
Another Taoist stood before Mujin with his sword drawn, blocking the way.
Cheong Ho-yeon simply couldn't comprehend how this situation had come to be.
Having learned some martial arts himself, he couldn't fully process the rapid reversal that had occurred just two moves away from victory.
By the time he came to his senses, this was the scene before him.
“Dong-chu! Are you alright?”
“M-Martial Uncle. I’m fine. But you…”
The sword energy from Mujin’s blade had sliced about eight inches of Ja-yul’s robe. He looked down at the torn fabric with a bitter expression and spoke.
“I am fine. You did something unnecessary.”
“I apologize, Martial Uncle.”
Ja-yul looked down at the Taoist named Dong-chu, whose complexion hadn't returned even after coughing up blood, a clear sign of severe internal injuries. He then turned his gaze to Mujin.
Mujin wore a disappointed expression, thinking that if the young Taoist hadn’t interfered, he could have certainly inflicted a fatal wound on Ja-yul.
‘An opportunity like this doesn't come easily. What a shame.’
It was a duel where no one could be held responsible, even if Ja-yul had died.
Mujin, who had intended to use this chance to decisively repay his debt to Kongtong, glared at the Taoist who had dared to interfere and ruin his plan.
“Well, the ways of the Kongtong Sect exceed my imagination. It seems interfering in another’s fight is the Kongtong definition of honor.”
Ja-yul had nothing to say in the face of Mujin’s sarcasm.
The Kongtong Sect’s involvement in the conflict between the Yeomhwa Family and the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild was a mistake from the start.
And now, his own martial nephew had interfered in a duel he himself had proposed.
The result was his nephew’s grave injury.
Of course, if his nephew hadn't intervened, he would have faced a fatal wound or even death.
‘I severely misjudged the Hidden Dragon of Sichuan’s skill. And those last two moves…’
“I have no words for showing such a disgraceful sight. I ask for your understanding with a generous heart.”
Holding his sword in a reverse grip, Ja-yul bowed deeply, offering a fist-and-palm salute.
Since taking charge of the Disciplinary Hall, this was the first time he had bowed so deeply to anyone other than the elders of his sect.
“Well, it was a dangerous situation for both of us, so let’s move on.”
When Mujin, for once, didn't press the issue, Ja-yul finally straightened his back.
The young Taoist who had drawn his sword and stood before Mujin finally sheathed it and looked back at Ja-yul.
His face was pale and bloodless.
His complexion, clearly a sign of internal injury, continued to grow paler.
“Do you admit defeat?”
Mujin's dry question sounded incredibly cold to the Taoists.
But they could not argue with the decided outcome.
“I admit it. I, Ja-yul, Head of the Kongtong Sect’s Disciplinary Hall, have been defeated by Young Master Hwa Mujin of the Yeomhwa Family. From this moment on, I promise the Kongtong Sect will not interfere in the conflict between the Yeomhwa Family and the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild in any way!”
With those words, Ja-yul turned his body.
“Help Dong-chu.”
The Taoist who had sheathed his sword quickly helped his fallen senior martial brother to his feet and followed Ja-yul.
“M-Master Taoist…”
“It’s no use calling for him. The match is already over.”
Meeting the gaze of Mujin, who spoke with a smirk, Cheong Ho-yeon finally began to grasp reality.
He didn't even notice that Mujin's speech had become informal as he collapsed onto the wooden floor of the main hall.
As he stared at the backs of the three departing Taoists, two warriors with stern expressions stepped forward.
“How about you sheathe your sword before we speak?”
At the words of the warrior, who looked well past thirty and approaching middle age, Mujin’s eye twitched.
“Cheol-muk. No-sak. Get rid of them.”
“Yes, sir!”
The moment they answered, the two warriors unleashed their power, their aura instantly overwhelming the four retainers of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild.
Clang! Th-Th-Thud!
Krrang! Thwack!
Having easily dispatched two of the retainers, Cheol-muk and No-sak stared at the remaining two.
Faced with their challenging gazes, the last two retainers subtly lowered their eyes.
Seeing Mujin’s attitude change the moment the Kongtong Taoists disappeared, Cheong Ho-yeon’s expression hardened.
“Hey. Vice Guild Master, was it? You were running your mouth quite well earlier, weren't you?”
Cheong Ho-yeon’s vision went dark as Mujin thrust a large, rough sword at his chin.
“…”
“Why don’t you run your mouth like you did before?”
“L-Let’s renegotiate. We will withdraw from Shuangliu and never again deal with the merchants here…”
“Why? Didn’t you say your business would fail if you did that?”
“…”
Cheong Ho-yeon stared at Mujin with a hardened face, saying nothing.
The cold steel of Mujin’s sword was pressed against his chin.
“Listen carefully. You have two options. First, you go back, kick out that bitch Bu Cho-yeon and her so-called steward. After that, you don't care what happens to those two. Then you clean up the mess you made in Shuangliu and get out. And as compensation for the damages you've caused… you give the Pungyang Merchant Guild a thirty percent stake in the tea trade you monopolize in Hubei.”
!
The tea business in Hubei was the very foundation upon which the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild had been built.
Even now, the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild monopolized nearly eighty percent of the tea distribution and sales throughout Hubei. Mujin’s demand for a thirty percent stake sent an earthquake through Cheong Ho-yeon’s mind.
“Th-That is…”
“If you don’t like that, there’s a second option. You can have it out with the Yeomhwa Family. Don’t worry. I won’t kill you here.”
Finishing his words, Mujin withdrew his sword.
“The moment you return, I will lead my warriors to Hubei. And… I will kill every single person who stands in my way to get to Bu Cho-yeon. I don’t care how many of these pathetic retainers you have. With enough time, I can kill a hundred of them. I’ll kill Bu Cho-yeon, and I’ll kill that steward of hers too. The justification is on my side, anyway. You sent assassins to threaten my family, so whatever I do to you will be warranted. After I wipe out your guild, leaving not a single roof tile, the Pungyang Merchant Guild will take its place. Under the name of the Yeomhwa Family, of course. The tea business rights in Hubei will be shattered and torn apart, but the Pungyang Merchant Guild will surely be able to claim a few shares. What do you think? Does it sound like a bluff?”
At Mujin’s words, Cheong Ho-yeon’s face turned deathly white.
The power of the warrior named Hwa Mujin, which he had seen with his own eyes, was far greater than the rumors suggested.
In a few days, his title would change.
His prestige, having defeated even an elder of the Kongtong Sect, would soar once more, and without the Kongtong Sect’s help, the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild might find it impossible to stop him.
‘I cannot gamble the future of the guild.’
Before coming here, his older brother, the Guild Master, had entrusted him with full authority over all decisions.
He wasn’t sure if that included the right to decide the fate of his brother’s concubine, but he could not endanger the entire guild for one woman.
‘My brother would make the same decision.’
Now was the time to retreat.
His lifelong instincts as a merchant were screaming at him.
Choosing the first option would result in less loss.
“Understood. We will withdraw our hands from Shuangliu, remove Bu Cho-yeon and the steward, and of course, we will transfer a thirty percent stake in the Hubei tea business to the Pungyang Merchant Guild.”
“Tsk. Is that so? Quite obedient.”
Despite Mujin’s provocative words meant to grate on his nerves, Cheong Ho-yeon bowed his head.
If he provoked Mujin here, he might face even more unreasonable demands.
‘Right now, we have no way to stop this man.’
Having lost the means to fight, he had no choice but to comply with whatever the opponent demanded.
In that case, the only way was to prostrate himself so thoroughly it was as if he were offering up his own liver.
Clang!
Mujin slammed the sword in his hand onto the floor.
“Then the negotiations are settled… Guild Master Pung.”
“Yes.”
Pung Gwan-o, who had been watching from the side, approached and answered respectfully.
“We should bring the other two as well. Isn’t it time for an apology?”
!
At the word “apology,” Cheong Ho-yeon’s eye twitched.
A short while later, Hwang Yeo-cheong and Dong Gwan-yeo appeared in the main building.
As the two of them stepped onto the main floor and stood beside Mujin, Cheong Ho-yeon broke out in a cold sweat.
In martial arts terms, these three were second-rate masters at best.
In contrast, he was essentially the second-in-command of one of the top ten sects in the Central Plains.
Seeing Mujin smiling as he demanded an apology to people who were worlds apart from him, Cheong Ho-yeon felt a sense of humiliation and shame far greater than when he had promised to share his Hubei shares.
With his wealth, he could ruin merchants from Shuangliu in a matter of days.
And now he was being told to bow his head to them.
“It has to be polite and sincere. These are the people whose livelihoods were nearly cut off because of you. The price for me not setting foot in Hubei is steep. Since you're a merchant, you should know how to show sincerity worth that price, right?”
At Mujin's words, Cheong Ho-yeon clenched his teeth and knelt.
!!!
“V-Vice Guild Master…”
The retainers of the Cheonghwa Merchant Guild who were watching turned their heads away with contorted expressions.
They who had come to protect him had no power to do so.
“I sincerely apologize to all of you who have suffered losses due to our guild.”
Thump!
Cheong Ho-yeon completed a full prostration, his forehead hitting the wooden floor with an audible sound.
Looking down at him from above, Mujin smiled.
“Continuing to calculate things so clearly like that will be the way to live a long life. If you ever hover around me again, I’ll show you exactly what a bloodbath is.”
The moment he saw Mujin smiling with murder in his eyes, a chill ran down Cheong Ho-yeon’s entire body.
It was a killing intent that seemed born from countless murders, and an expression that seemed to relish it.
‘He’s serious…’
Feeling the spirit of the man once called the Divine Demon, Cheong Ho-yeon was able to completely erase all resentment he had felt towards Mujin from his mind.
With slumped shoulders, a 180-degree turn from the dignified attitude he had when entering the Pungyang Merchant Guild, Cheong Ho-yeon turned to leave. From behind him, Mujin shouted.
“Ah! There’s one thing I forgot to mention…”
At Mujin’s words, Cheong Ho-yeon quickly turned back.
“Please, speak.”
Cheong Ho-yeon had become extremely polite.
“The cloth you bought up and stockpiled in Shuangliu, leave it with the Muryeong Trading Company on your way out. I was just worried you’d have trouble carrying all that heavy stuff. So you can return with your hands light.”
“Ah… Understood.”
After finishing his words, Cheong Ho-yeon bowed deeply and turned away.
‘These merchant brats have no pride for all their quick calculations. I don’t like it.’
And so, the financial struggle that had shaken Shuangliu was completely resolved by Hwa Mujin of the Yeomhwa Family.
This news started in Shuangliu and quickly spread throughout Sichuan.
And it did not take long for it to spread from Sichuan to the Central Plains.
He had defeated an elder of the Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, in a duel.
Of course, this duel had the restriction that the Kongtong elder could not attack Mujin, but the rumors did not focus on such trivial details.
What mattered was that the Hidden Dragon who had cut down the Red Moon Sword had now defeated an elder of the Kongtong Sect.
Hwa Mujin, the Hidden Dragon of Sichuan, silences a Kongtong elder.
It was the emergence of a new rising master.