Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Jade-Faced Young Lord (3)
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Tang Family's threat left me utterly flustered and frozen in shock.
Every action and word from him reeked of genius-level eccentricity.
Just a light scratch, and out comes the blackmail.
No matter how decentralized this patchwork nation of local autonomies might be due to its vast lands, brazenly invoking the law like that was pure audacity.
And then.
"......Are you seriously calling that a threat right now?"
Relying on the brute force of some second-rate nobody, flaunting a pathetic low-level technique like sword energy instead of sword aura.
I had no idea where to even start criticizing.
Naturally, about 30% of my brain cells shut down on the spot.
"No matter who's backing you, every single item you've cornered the market on is crucial to the Tang Family. We can only assume impure motives are at play."
Did he misread my reaction as fear?
With that bold declaration that only made sense under that assumption, the Tang Family guy plopped down across from me like he owned the place.
Come to think of it, our friend Tang Mok started out as a bit of a prickly type too.
Like Lurina, the poison-type bad girl Pokémon.
Whereas Lady Seol, the ice-type Pokémon, is so gentle and obedient.
Seems poison types need some special training path.
"Please take a look at these documents."
He handed over the essence of the discreet lobbying I'd been doing over the past few days, splashing money around Chengdu's streets.
"Ah, no......"
The Tang Family guy's face soured rapidly as he snatched the papers away.
And well he might.
"Reasonable prices and a consistent supply source. Perfectly suitable for government dealings, wouldn't you say? One does wonder why the Tang Family couldn't manage something so simple."
What he was looking at was a perfectly legal and reasonable goods delivery request stamped with the Sichuan Patrol Department's official seal.
Of course, making it legal required some extra expenditures.
Everyone knows apple crates are essential for cozying up to officials.
Naturally, they knew that basic courtesy too.
But I'd exploited the gaps with my connections.
"You've been gouging the leather craftsmen especially hard lately, oblivious to how tough tanning is. So I've gone ahead and secured permits for a large leather workshop outside the city to address that."
And.
I'd originally planned just a light market cornering.
But for a major franchise operation.
With such outdated management everywhere else, I put a little extra effort into some structural reforms.
I'm just that nice a guy.
"The ancients said, 'Without laws, chaos reigns; thus, one must diligently discern the ways of the realm and pierce the truths to illuminate the stars.'"
"......?"
"How could the Tang Family presume to set its own rules when the imperial court and national laws stand so solemnly?"
Finally, the Tang Family guy's face drained to a muddy pallor.
Now, how would he play this?
Murder and silence?
Big move incoming?
"......I lost my temper and spoke rashly. My apologies."
A bit disappointingly, reason beat rage to his brain.
If he'd whipped out that dagger here and menaced me with some slashes, my prepped witnesses would have been perfect.
Then, Operation Local Provocation Phase Two.
"If you're sorry, does that end your military service...... no, this mess?"
"What......?"
"Even without inner energy, I'm a bit too petty to swallow such rudeness with a mere apology. No more haggling with the likes of you—why don't you head out now?"
I secretly hoped he'd weather the eviction order too, but.
"......You'll regret this."
Face flushed red—not an Alex-level six-pack in sight, just a beer gut—the Tang Family guy fled the scene.
Ka-boom.
"Ahem, never pegged him for that. Tang Hyuk's got a bit of a hothead streak."
I dispelled the barrier he'd missed, retracted my feet from the inn's corner shadows.
And resummoned today's invited guest (fueled by crate three of apples), lounging there leisurely.
"Haha...... Starting out as a young entrepreneur like me isn't easy. Still, he backed off out of respect for your face as an elder, right? Here, it's cooled a bit, but try some more. I've got fine liquor ready."
"Just hearing it makes my mouth water. Should I give that kid a little nudge?"
"No need. I should handle this much on my own without your help, elder. Oh, elder—don't eat that dish. Seems a bit off."
Not about to spout tired lines like "officials can't be touched."
Having stirred the pot this far, cleaning it up is naturally on me.
That's the whole point of the setup.
"Insolent brat......!"
Tang Hyuk ground his teeth as he stormed down the main street.
That green punk, acting all high and mighty.
Not content with masking up in front of an elder, he even resorted to threats.
He'd wanted to beat him to death on the spot.
But his snooping around had already painted him as the villain.
In the end.
Far from solving anything, he'd just piled on the fury and slunk back to the main house.
At least he'd scraped together enough stock to last three days, so it wasn't a total loss.
"Incompetent fool!"
The enraged Retired Patriarch hurled an ashtray that split his forehead, blood gushing everywhere.
Crunch!
Leaving the Retired Patriarch's quarters.
As he passed the Patriarch's hall, Tang Hyuk gnashed his teeth.
One failure could be overlooked.
Two would not.
He had to smooth over today's blunder, by any means.
"Hoo......"
But.
How?
Regaining some composure, he realized he couldn't even open his mouth to the Retired Patriarch—and against someone who'd shrewdly prepared even Sichuan Patrol Department backing, persuasion seemed impossible.
Another dead end.
In the end, Tang Hyuk had no choice but to seek someone he could confide in freely, without too much backlash.
The Tang Family's golden child and future hope.
Not only pioneering new poison arts frontiers, but always offering solutions to tough problems with her unique insight—the dwelling of Tang So-rin.
"Ahem, Young Lady. Got a moment?"
Tang Hyuk cleared his throat.
A moment later.
"......Uncle Hyuk."
Her voice seeped through the tightly sealed door, keeping poison qi contained.
Tang Hyuk explained today's events to Tang So-rin, heavily embellished.
She responded.
"......You, endured well. If you'd, touched him wrong, he might've, squeezed us harder......"
"Is that so......"
Damn punk.
Should he go kill him right now?
"......No violence, to solve it."
"Gah."
Tang Hyuk swallowed hard, as if she'd read his mind.
But.
"Watch for, a day, two days...... Tighten internal, security too."
"......I'll do that."
The young lady hadn't offered a clear answer either.
Tang Hyuk's shoulders grew heavier.
The next day.
Tang Hyuk finally awoke to the perfect solution for his dilemma.
In the end, for all the world's troubles.
If you don't want to do it, just make someone else.
......!
"Greetings. I'm Geum Sihyeon of Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress, a first-year student at Hundred Flowers Academy here in Chengdu for the grade completion exam against the Tang Family. Though I'm just a martial arts novice, I'll do my utmost for whatever the Tang Family needs."
A calm, gentle voice.
A solid, upright impression.
Fine clothes—elegant but not flashy.
If yesterday's masked punk was a wastrel.
This was the epitome of a promising orthodox martial artist: a noble young man appearing like a fixer before Tang Hyuk.
With Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress as his backing, no less.
Relations with their main trading partner, Azure Heaven Fortress, weren't great.
But depending on how he played it, quite useful.
"Haha, come in. I'm Tang Hyuk, handling the outer Tang Family affairs. Got lodging?"
"Ah, well. Every inn in the city was booked by some weirdo......"
"Tch, that lunatic Jade-Faced Young Lord pulling every stunt in the book. No worries. Plenty of rooms in the guest quarters—stay till the exam's done."
"My deepest gratitude."
After escorting Geum Sihyeon to the guest hall.
Tang Hyuk dragged his reluctant feet to the Patriarch's hall to discuss the grade completion exam details.
"I'm facing a slight snag in outer affairs, so I'd like to use one exam chance on that."
"What, you'd run crying to Father if I refused? Do as you like."
"......Understood."
The Patriarch, still head of the covert faction, was as disagreeable as ever, but formal permission was secured.
Back at the guest hall.
"......Here's the situation. If this drags on, our craftsmen will suffer. Could you meet with Jade-Faced Young Lord?"
Tang Hyuk summarized events for Geum Sihyeon.
"How can such a vile scoundrel exist? Don't worry—I'll meet him and give him a stern talking-to."
Tang Hyuk smiled contentedly at the righteous youth's reply.
Resolved or not.
Just having Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress's heir involved would pressure the foe enough.
Regrettably.
Tang Hyuk missed the rotten smile—identical to Jade-Faced Young Lord's—curling on Geum Sihyeon's lips as he turned away.
Three days later.
"The Jade-Faced Young Lord issue—I've negotiated and fully resolved it."
Tang Hyuk stared at Geum Sihyeon, dumbfounded.
"......How?"