The Balance of Jiangsu Shifts
Bae Du-sang, lord of Sayeong Gate, scratched at his jawline with one finger—a habit that surfaced whenever he was deep in thought.
“Is that true?”
“It seems to be. Strange rumors have been spreading quietly through Jiangsu Province. I asked my younger brother in the Hao Clan, and he said a coffin was delivered to Wolyeong Moon two mornings ago.”
“You’re saying fifty or sixty martial artists from Wolyeong Moon were killed?”
Sayeong Gate’s steward waited patiently until his lord finished thinking.
“Then the news must have reached every other sect as well.”
“I believe so. Fifty or sixty warriors represent half of Wolyeong Moon’s fighting strength. If the rumors are accurate, the balance of power among Jiangsu’s unorthodox sects could shift entirely. The other sects won’t let this chance slip by—not when they could grow strong with the massive support of the Gangso Merchant Group.”
“Of course they won’t. But there was no mention of who did it?”
“None. Only that a coffin arrived in the morning. However…”
“However?”
“Recently, a new merchant group has been expanding rapidly in Jiangsu Province.”
“A merchant group?”
“Yes. They’re called Sinfungjang. Somehow they obtained a gambling license from the Jiangsu provincial governor and opened gambling houses in Taihu and Hongze Lake. With the money pouring in, they’ve expanded into lodging, inns, taverns, general stores, escort agencies, currency exchange, and even moneylending. Their businesses overlap heavily with the Gangso Merchant Group’s—especially the ones the Gangso Merchant Group operates in the shadows.”
“So Wolyeong Moon moved to help the Gangso Merchant Group by attacking Sinfungjang… and was defeated instead?”
“That much is unclear. Aside from this incident, there have been no other disturbances in Jiangsu.”
“What about Sinfungjang itself? If Wolyeong Moon attacked them, they must have suffered losses too, no?”
“That’s the strange part…”
Bae Du-sang shot his steward a look that said stop dragging it out.
“They suffered no damage at all. Witnesses say Sinfungjang continued operating as if nothing had happened.”
“Then it wasn’t them. Sixty warriors from Wolyeong Moon died. Unless every single martial artist in Sinfungjang is a Peak expert or a Transcendence master, there’s no way they could walk away unscathed.”
“That is true.”
“So they’re not the ones. I heard the Gangso Merchant Group is involved in smuggling. Could Wolyeong Moon have been supporting that operation and run into trouble?”
“Smuggling is conducted in secret… it’s not the kind of business that allows large groups of martial artists to move openly.”
“I suppose not. If we went and asked who was responsible, they’d probably try to kill us for even inquiring.”
“Most likely…”
“Can’t your brother in the Hao Clan dig up any information?”
“He’s only a low-ranking member. Gathering that level of intelligence will take some time.”
“Then are we forced to simply watch how the other sects move?”
“That is one option. But what if we had the Myriad Goods Association—the group we support—begin nibbling away at the Gangso Merchant Group’s businesses?”
“Attack the Gangso Merchant Group’s operations?”
“Exactly. Wolyeong Moon will be focused on rebuilding their strength right now and won’t be able to intervene. This is the perfect time to expand our own support base through the Myriad Goods Association.”
“Attacking the Gangso Merchant Group…”
Bae Du-sang’s expression brightened. He gave a slow nod.
“True. If they start losing their business holdings left and right, even the Gangso Merchant Group will struggle.”
“Precisely. The other sects are probably thinking the exact same thing.”
People’s thoughts tended to run in similar directions, so the other sects were likely considering the same move.
“Shouldn’t we at least go to Sinfungjang and demand protection fees?”
“I believe we should hold off on that for now.”
“Why?”
“The fact that the Jiangsu governor granted them permission to open gambling houses suggests they have a rather close relationship, doesn’t it?”
“It does. And not an ordinary connection, either. That’s why he approved the gambling licenses.”
“Therefore, it would be wiser to leave Sinfungjang alone for the moment and let the Myriad Goods Association slowly erode the Gangso Merchant Group’s businesses.”
“Hmm…”
Bae Du-sang scratched his jawline again and fell silent. Acting too hastily could be dangerous, yet hesitating might allow other sects to seize the advantage first.
“Contact the leader of the Myriad Goods Association. Tell him I wish to see him briefly.”
“Understood.”
As rumors spread that Wolyeong Moon had been crushed by a mysterious force, the atmosphere across Jiangsu Province grew increasingly tense.
The Gangso Merchant Group, which had dominated the province’s commerce, found itself in the worst trouble of all.
Every merchant organization operating in Jiangsu suddenly began opening identical businesses right beside the Gangso Merchant Group’s establishments, sparking constant conflicts. When the sects backing those merchants stepped forward with open threats, the Gangso Merchant Group had no choice but to shrink back.
From their perspective, they couldn’t even bring this problem to Wolyeong Moon. After all, they had requested help dealing with Sinfungjang, only to lose sixty martial artists and even pay compensation.
Although they had provided Wolyeong Moon with enormous support, the recent losses had weakened the sect considerably. Their position as the top unorthodox faction in Jiangsu was now shaking.
The sect leader, elders, and division heads had all survived, but with their numbers now inferior to the other four major sects, their future had become uncertain.
The Gangso Merchant Group had created the conditions that led to this crisis and felt a degree of responsibility. They didn’t want to burden Wolyeong Moon any further.
With Wolyeong Moon’s power diminished, the merchant groups supporting other unorthodox factions began openly interfering with the Gangso Merchant Group’s businesses. Only then did the Gangso Merchant Group truly understand just how much protection Wolyeong Moon had provided.
“Damn it all…”
A string of curses spilled from Nam Cha-seong’s lips.
“His promotion hasn’t been decided yet. Should I still call for my third brother?”
He thought of his youngest sibling, Nam Sang-o, who currently served as leader of the Blood Battle Squad within the Warlord Alliance.
This was a critical period for Nam Sang-o. Having him come to Jiangsu to handle the merchant group’s problems would be poor timing.
In the long term, it would benefit the family far more if Nam Sang-o advanced from Blood Battle Squad leader to supreme commander.
Throwing away future glory simply because of immediate difficulties would be utterly foolish.
Yet simply enduring these humiliations was infuriating.
Nam Cha-seong sat alone in thought for a long time before rising from his chair and leaving his office.
“Are you going out, Father?”
“There’s somewhere I need to visit. Keep that in mind.”
After informing his eldest son, Nam Il, that he would be stepping out, Nam Cha-seong left the Gangso Merchant Group headquarters.
The place he headed to was none other than Wolyeong Moon.
Upon meeting their leader, Chae Yeo-dong, he explained the merchant group’s current predicament.
“I know this is shameless of me. But if things continue as they are, the merchant group will collapse. That’s why I’ve come despite the embarrassment, Lord Chae.”
Nam Cha-seong knelt before Chae Yeo-dong and lowered his head. It was a deliberate display to show just how desperate he was.
“Since when have they been targeting you, Lord Nam?”
“It began after rumors spread that you suffered losses because of my carelessness.”
“So you’ve simply been enduring their attacks all this time?”
Chae Yeo-dong’s reaction differed from what Nam Cha-seong had expected. Hope flickered in his chest that he might actually receive help.
“I apologize.”
“Lord Nam, the reason this sect has accepted your support every month is because we consider your affairs to be our own affairs.”
“Lord Chae…”
“In any endeavor, things can go well or poorly. If I turned my back on you simply because you faced temporary difficulties, how would that be any different from calling me a thief?”
“No, that’s not… A thief? I never thought anything of the sort. I only…”
“Moreover, the fact that they are openly targeting you is no different from targeting me. Although our influence is limited to Jiangsu, this sect is the strongest unorthodox faction in the province. Challenging you is the same as challenging my authority as its leader.”
“I’m sorry. My thinking was too narrow.”
“Now that I understand your situation, I will take immediate action. Return with peace of mind. And in the future, if anything like this occurs, come to me at once.”
“I will do so.”
An unbelievable event had occurred among the Yangtze River Water Bandits who ruled the waterways.
The supreme leader of the Yangtze River Water Bandits, Dongjeong-eong, had returned to the Dongting Lake stronghold with his left arm severed.
“Supreme Chief!”
The bandits who saw his condition could not hide their shock. Dongjeong-eong looked as if he had aged more than ten years in a single moment.
“What in the world happened?”
“Stop making such a fuss. A martial artist experiences all kinds of things while walking the path.”
“But your arm…”
“At least it wasn’t my right arm. I should consider myself fortunate.”
—Hey, if I cut off your right arm, all the bastards below you would swarm like mad to take your position. That’s why I took your left arm instead.
When he recalled the young-looking lord of Sinfungjang who had severed his left arm with overwhelming martial prowess, his body trembled faintly.
“You. Deliver my command to every stronghold leader along the waterways.”
“What is…”
“From now on, the Yangtze water strongholds will not collect passage fees from any Haedong Merchant Group vessels, or from any ships carrying Haedong Merchant Group merchants.”
The vice chief was startled for a moment before expressing his doubts.
‘The supreme chief clearly went to Sinfungjang. Why is he talking about the Haedong Merchant Group?’
“The stronghold leaders will protest.”
“Protest? Who would dare refuse my order?”
“It’s not that they would refuse, but to suddenly tell them to let Haedong Merchant Group ships pass without collecting fees and without any explanation…”
“Explanation? There is none. If they want to live, they will allow any ship flying the Haedong flag to pass.”
The vice chief could sense fear in Dongjeong-eong’s voice.
‘Just who could have frightened the supreme chief—one of the Wulin Hundred Great Experts—to this degree?’
“You know what happened at the Poyang Lake stronghold, yes?”
“I do.”
“If you don’t want to end up like them, tell everyone to let the Haedong Merchant Group ships pass without interference.”
‘Then the one who killed our brothers at Poyang Lake was someone from the Haedong Merchant Group…’
Yet as far as the vice chief remembered, the Haedong Merchant Group had no martial artists left. Wasn’t that why they had to hire escort agencies whenever they conducted business?
Looking at his supreme chief’s condition, the vice chief suddenly felt a surge of curiosity.
What could possibly frighten their leader so badly?
“Forget it. If you try to investigate clumsily, your head will fly off. That man is not human.”
“Pardon?”
“There is such a monster. He is a true monster. Therefore, do not provoke him unnecessarily.”
The more Dongjeong-eong spoke this way, the more curious the vice chief became.
“Understood. I will first convey the supreme chief’s orders to the other stronghold leaders.”
“Also, I will remain here for the time being. If anyone has complaints, tell them to come see me in person and judge their opponent by looking at my condition.”
With that, he showed them the severed left shoulder.
“None of the stronghold leaders will dare refuse your command. However, some may come out of concern for your health.”
“There’s no need for such smooth talk. Do you really think those bastards care about my well-being?”
The vice chief lowered his head.
“Let me say it again. Do not provoke that monster. If he goes on a rampage, the Yangtze water strongholds will vanish from the central plains Murim on that very day.”