The Black Wind Arrives
Hongman spoke to Odal, revealing Cheonhwa’s true identity.
“That fellow is no ordinary civilian. He’s a martial artist from the jianghu. And quite likely one who has cultivated inner energy.”
“A martial artist, you say?”
“At first, I set the dice to twelve. He bet on twelve. Then, when he wagered everything, I used a faint vibration to change the number to seven. But it seems he used his inner energy to alter it again.”
“Is that true? Then wasn’t that cheating?”
“I used a technique as well. However, there’s no way to prove it, so it’s difficult to outright call it fraud. If it were a rigged card, we could search for hidden ones, but dice are rather hard to verify.”
Odal frowned at Hongman’s explanation.
“Then what should we do?”
“I believe it is only right for a martial artist to be dealt with by another martial artist. Moreover, according to the customs of us gamblers, we are forbidden from getting involved with people from the jianghu. So I must wash my hands of this matter here.”
“Hmm…”
Odal decided he would report the money lost to Cheonhwa so far to Nam Cha-seong of the Gangso Merchant Group and seek help from the Wolyeongmun, the foremost unorthodox sect in Jiangsu Province that backed the Gangso Merchant Group.
Although he would surely be scolded for the losses, he had paid using promissory notes from the Gangso Gambling House. Once that brat disappeared, the money would flow back into the merchant group intact, so the actual damage would not be too great.
“Understood. Thank you for your help.”
“No need. Since I caused you considerable loss, I will not accept the commission fee this time. My apologies. If you call me again next time, I will make up for all the money lost today.”
“That won’t be necessary. You couldn’t have known he would cheat. Simply finding a way to deal with him is already a great help to us.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Even though Hongman had refused the payment, Odal knew he might need to request his services again in the future. So he paid the commission fee, reminded him of future requests, and sent him off.
“So he cheated, did he?”
Hongman had just left the gambling house after receiving the money from Odal when Cheonhwa approached and began walking beside him.
“It seems your skills have grown even sharper than before.”
Hongman spoke familiarly, as if he had known Cheonhwa for a long time.
“It’s all thanks to my master’s excellent teaching.”
Cheonhwa grinned and handed him two ten-thousand-tael promissory notes. Hongman accepted them without hesitation and tucked them into his robes.
Hongman belonged to the Haomun. At the request of Ga-wol, the Taihu branch leader, he had once taught Cheonhwa the arts of gambling.
Cheonhwa had learned gambling techniques from Hongman, and his quick comprehension had allowed him to reach the same level.
The reason Cheonhwa could learn and master gambling techniques so rapidly was because he was a martial artist who had reached a high enough realm to freely manipulate his inner energy.
With hand speed fast enough to catch falling lightning and dynamic vision to match, learning gambling techniques posed no difficulty. Moreover, since he could control his inner energy at will, manipulating dice to show whatever number he desired was child’s play for Cheonhwa.
“Why not challenge the King of Gamblers now?”
“I only gamble when necessary. I have no intention of stealing other people’s rice bowls.”
“Hahaha.”
Hongman let out a hearty laugh before his expression turned serious.
“Behind the Gangso Merchant Group stands the Wolyeongmun. You must be careful of them.”
“Don’t worry. The whole reason I asked for Master’s help was to draw those very people out.”
Though his words showed no concern, matters involving martial artists rarely went as planned.
“I have a guest to meet, so I must go. Take care on your way back.”
“Understood. After reporting to the branch leader, I will head to the capital.”
As Hongman walked ahead, Cheonhwa stood in place and watched until he disappeared from sight.
Once Hongman was no longer visible, Cheonhwa spoke softly.
“You’re a little later than I expected.”
The moment his words ended, a man appeared before him. It was Hyeok Cheon-gwang, leader of the Black Wind Squad.
“Are you the son of the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Flower?”
“That’s right. I am also the son of the one who uses the characters ‘Cheon’ and ‘Woo’.”
Hyeok Cheon-gwang looked at Cheonhwa with an expression that seemed to ask if he had misheard.
At that moment, Cheonhwa’s aura completely changed.
A dark, dense energy bloomed from his entire body and spread outward, dominating the surroundings. Hyeok Cheon-gwang’s body began to tremble faintly.
“This is…”
It was an energy so familiar to Hyeok Cheon-gwang that there could be no doubt.
“Your appearance is quite similar to what Father described. Are you Squad Leader Hyeok Cheon-gwang?”
“Y-yes… I mean, yes, I am. Are you truly the young lord?”
“If the lord you serve is my father, then that would be correct.”
Cheonhwa unfastened the sword at his right hip and tossed it to Hyeok Cheon-gwang.
Hyeok Cheon-gwang caught it reflexively and examined it. There was no mistake. It was the cherished blade his lord had used, the White Horse Sword that symbolized the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
It was a law of the Demonic Cult that the Heavenly Demon Sword was bestowed upon the Cult Leader, while the White Horse Sword was given to the Young Cult Leader to signify their status.
“This one, Hyeok Cheon-gwang, pays respect to the White Horse Sword, sacred artifact of the Cult.”
Hyeok Cheon-gwang dropped to one knee and respectfully offered the White Horse Sword with both hands.
Cheonhwa walked over, retrieved the sword, fastened it back at his waist, and asked.
“You didn’t come alone, did you?”
“No, Young Lord!”
“How many came in total?”
“Twenty-five in all.”
Cheonhwa immediately understood that the entire Black Wind Squad had arrived.
“From what I heard from Father, the Black Wind Squad is considered an irregular force even within the Demonic Cult.”
“That is correct. The Black Wind Squad exists solely as my lord’s personal troops. We serve as his escorts and handle matters of the jianghu alongside him. While the squad’s existence is known within the Cult, the identities of its members remain strictly confidential.”
“It’s similar to the New Wind Squad, then.”
“The New Wind Squad?”
“They are people from my mother’s side.”
Hearing the word “mother,” Hyeok Cheon-gwang asked out of curiosity.
“I heard that you and the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Flower engaged in a life-or-death duel…”
“They fought and both ended up injured. It was a draw. The place they fought was supposedly some mountain in Guangdong Province… The mountain collapsed, and they drifted all the way to a remote island in the South Sea. The two injured people needed each other’s help to survive.”
“Ah…”
“And then they fell in love, and I was born.”
Cheonhwa spoke as if it were nothing special and then asked Hyeok Cheon-gwang.
“You brought the Black Wind Squad to help me, correct?”
“T-that is correct.”
“Then come with me to my maternal family’s home.”
“You mean the Haedong Merchant Group?”
“Yes. Can all of you conceal the aura of Demonic Energy?”
“We can.”
“Then go to the maternal family home and learn several martial arts from me. Work hard to become several times stronger than you are now.”
“Stronger than we are now?”
“Yes. My plan is to turn the maternal family into the greatest merchant group under heaven. To do that, we will have to fight the entire world. With the New Wind Squad and Black Wind Squad’s current level of martial prowess, it will be difficult.”
Hyeok Cheon-gwang narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Do you have no intention of returning to the Cult?”
“The Demonic Cult, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“What would I do if I returned now? It would only cause chaos. Besides, who would welcome me other than you, Uncle?”
As Cheonhwa said, if the son of the Great Prince Cheonwoo returned to the Demonic Cult, there would be no one to welcome him with open arms.
Everyone would see him as either a rival or a target to eliminate. They would not treat him with the same respect they would show the return of the Great Prince Cheonwoo.
“Wouldn’t the maternal family be a little more comfortable than a place filled with starving demons who fight every day even though there is more than enough food to go around? And although it will take some time, if I prove my ability while turning the maternal family into the greatest merchant group under heaven, the Cult will have little reason to oppose me.”
There was a strange persuasiveness to his words.
“There’s no need to go out of my way to fight with the people of the Cult. I intend to have my abilities recognized from outside the Cult and fulfill my father’s will that way.”
“The lord’s will…”
“He said that if I could simply hear the words ‘Well done’ from the Heavenly Demon Bang-gak, the Cult Leader, that would be enough.”
Only after hearing Cheonhwa’s words did Hyeok Cheon-gwang finally understand why Cheonwoo had worked so tirelessly.
“This one, Hyeok Cheon-gwang, will follow the Young Lord’s will.”
“Good. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
When Cheonhwa extended his hand, Hyeok Cheon-gwang took it.
“Then go back and bring the squad members to the maternal family home. I have something to take care of tonight, so I must go now.”
“As you command.”
“So you’re saying that little brat has already cost us over a million taels, and now it turns out he’s a martial artist?”
“That is correct, Brother-in-law. Since we paid using promissory notes from the Gangso Gambling House, we will suffer no loss if we simply eliminate him.”
“We’re already swamped dealing with the stolen contraband…”
“My apologies.”
“And because that little brat is a martial artist, you want to ask the Wolyeongmun for help?”
“Yes. Isn’t it only proper for a martial artist to be handled by another martial artist?”
Although the Wolyeongmun backed their merchant group, asking them for a favor would require paying a suitable price.
The current situation was far from ideal, but there was no other choice when dealing with a martial artist.
“Where is that fellow now?”
“It seems he is staying as a guest at the Haedong Merchant Group. Recently, the second son and third daughter returned from the Wulin Alliance, and there are rumors he is teaching them martial arts.”
“Didn’t you say he was young?”
“That is correct.”
“Yet he has the skill to teach martial arts?”
“I am not certain, but such rumors exist. He may simply look younger than his age. Aren’t there occasional geniuses who comprehend martial arts at an astonishing speed?”
“Hmm…”
Nam Cha-seong, head of the Gangso Merchant Group, wore a doubtful expression, but he knew that Yi Sang-woo, the Supreme Leader of the Haedong Merchant Group, and its current head Yi Ja-saeng both had keen eyes for people. They would not have taken in just anyone.
“Then it means he has learned a considerable amount of martial arts.”
“Ah, and I once ordered some thugs to steal his money, but all of them have gone missing.”
“I will handle it myself. And if something like that happens, report it immediately. I will let it slide this time, but there will be no next time.”
“My apologies.”
“You may leave.”
Once Odal had left, Nam Cha-seong’s face twisted with irritation.
“Something feels off. What exactly is wrong here?”
There were many reasons a reservoir dam could collapse, but the most common was a small hole.
A hole so tiny that people failed to notice it would gradually widen and grow larger over time, eventually bringing down the entire dam.
He felt that what was happening in his merchant group was exactly like that.
If he could not find the cause now, his merchant group might collapse someday.
“The Untae Mountain Fortress was annihilated, the contraband was stolen, and we suffered massive losses at the gambling house…”
These three incidents seemed completely unrelated.
Moreover, since there were rumors that the one who annihilated the Untae Mountain Fortress was Cheonwoo’s disciple, it was unlikely he would also steal the contraband and gamble at the gambling house.
“Does the Haomun or some hidden force have any reason to oppose our merchant group?”
“My lord!”
At that moment, a voice called from outside.
“What is it?”
“The Provincial Governor has arrived.”
Upon hearing that the governor of Jiangsu Province had come, Nam Cha-seong rose from his seat and left the room. Standing there was Man Jeong-do, the governor of Jiangsu Province.
“Welcome, Your Excellency.”
He hurriedly bowed in greeting.
“Please come inside. You there, prepare some Dragon Well tea.”
Nam Cha-seong led the governor into his office and spoke.
“First, I must apologize.”
“For what reason?”
The governor asked with a puzzled look.
“The truth is…”
After hearing the full story, the governor’s expression changed.
“Then you’re saying there is no wild ginseng or sea cucumber to present to His Highness the Prince of Yeong?”
“I am truly sorry. We are searching everywhere. Since those thieves stole from our merchant group, the items will surely surface through the black market. Please give me a little more time. As soon as they appear in the market, I will purchase them and present them to Your Excellency.”
Since Nam Cha-seong was pleading so earnestly, it was difficult for the governor to get angry. He received substantial financial support from Nam Cha-seong, and if he could not obtain the items, the governor could simply acquire them through another merchant group and deliver them to the prince.
“Then couldn’t they target Merchant Head Nam’s goods again next time?”
“That is unlikely. At the time, there were many goods, so they became targets for the thieves. But in a situation where they do not even know what the items are, no one would covet such a small quantity.”
The governor of Jiangsu nodded.
“Very well. I shall wait a few more days. However, if you still cannot obtain them by then, I will be greatly disappointed in you, Merchant Head Nam.”
“Please set your worries aside. I will definitely secure them. And here…”
In return for the governor overlooking his illegal activities, Nam Cha-seong regularly offered a certain sum of money each month, steadily expanding his influence throughout Jiangsu Province.
“Ahem.”
The governor cleared his throat before accepting the money and tucking it into his robes.
“Also, the renovation of the governor’s residence and the outer walls will need to begin soon, so it would be best if you prepare in advance. This will be quite a large-scale project, so I hope there will be no delays in the schedule.”
At those words, a smile appeared on Nam Cha-seong’s lips.
“I will do so. Thank you, Your Excellency.”
“No need for thanks… It is simply because Merchant Head Nam works diligently and handles matters so competently that I can entrust them to you with confidence.”
“Haha, I merely do my best.”
“I hope that ‘best’ of yours continues without fail in the future as well.”