Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: River Pirates
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Escort agencies.
A general term for businesses that primarily handle the transportation and protection of goods.
The Sea Dragon Escort Agency, located in Samun Gorge at the edge of Shanxi, was one of many such agencies scattered throughout the Central Plains.
However, their business was focused not on land, but on river transport.
Using the Samun Gorge waterway, they reached the northern edge of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu to the west, and Henan and Shandong to the east, going as far as the great sea.
With dozens of ships in their possession, they boasted a scale so large they were counted among the top river transport agencies in Samun Gorge.
Of course, the fact that they were a branch of the Demonic Cult had only recently been revealed.
“…Thanks to that, all our business has been cut off.”
“I see.”
Neung Un-bi nodded at Jeong Hyo-sang's report.
It was only natural. No matter how great a sect was, if rumors spread that they were associated with the Demonic Cult, they would become a target of criticism.
Let alone a mere escort agency…
The moment their connection to the Demonic Cult was revealed, they would be jointly attacked until not even their foundation stones remained.
Fortunately, thanks to the truce between the Orthodox and Demonic factions, they didn't have to worry about an attack.
However, there was nothing they could do about the merchant guilds scrambling to sever ties, even paying cancellation fees. From their perspective, they were more wary of the Orthodox Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Faction than a Demonic Cult branch.
“Then, your finances must be tight?”
“I'm sorry to say, but yes. From the moment we revealed ourselves as a Demonic Cult branch, our ships haven't even been able to set sail.”
“Hmm…”
Seeing Jeong Hyo-sang's troubled expression, Neung Un-bi shifted his gaze to the books on the table.
The books were piled in two stacks.
One contained the business records of the Sea Dragon Escort Agency, and the other detailed the movements of the Orthodox Murim Alliance and the Orthodox Faction that they had gathered.
Looking at them, he was struck again by what an excellent choice it had been to disguise themselves as an escort agency.
An escort agency, after all, was an entity with one foot in the world of commerce and the other in the world of martial arts.
Was there any place that didn't require food, clothing, and shelter?
The martial world also did business with merchant guilds. And the ones who transported the goods for those transactions were the escort agencies.
Thus, escort agencies could freely enter and exit all the places their client guilds traded with, and by becoming a little friendly, they could even learn the various tidbits of news from the sects.
*Of course, it’s only natural for a branch to gather information from the Central Plains and relay it to the main headquarters.*
*They wouldn't have established branches just to secure finances, would they?*
“But it's surprising that the Orthodox Faction never noticed all this time.”
“That is… as you can see, we have not learned demonic arts.”
“Oh?”
“Actually, we use the martial arts of a secular family belonging to the Orthodox Faction…”
“Ah!”
Come to think of it, he hadn't detected the scent of demonic energy from Jeong Hyo-sang or any of the other branch martial artists.
A dry laugh escaped him. To think they had given up demonic arts just to avoid suspicion…
The Orthodox Faction probably never would have dreamed of it.
In the first place, who would suspect a weak escort agency martial artist?
And they would have considered their status so lowly that they wouldn't have bothered to observe them closely.
*But wait, how on earth did they transmit all that information to the Demonic Cult… Ah!*
“By any chance, does the information travel through the Dancheon Gate to the main headquarters?”
“That is correct.”
“…”
For a moment, a hollow laugh escaped him.
The Dancheon Gate, which had been disguised as a merchant guild.
When he had inspected that place, he hadn't been able to look into the flow of information in detail because of the Heavenly Pillar Gate incident.
He was only realizing it now, but he was once again amazed at the meticulous coordination.
“Disguising yourselves as an escort agency must have been an order from the Cult?”
“Yes. It was designated by the Third Elder's office.”
“I see.”
Neung Un-bi nodded, grinding his teeth inwardly.
*These meticulous bastards… they gave me that kind of disguised identity to screw me over.*
He had already expected it, but he couldn't help but feel angry.
“By the way, if all your business connections have been severed, your income must have taken a pretty big hit.”
“Yes. Unfortunately…”
“The tribute to be sent to the main headquarters must be substantial. We should inform them about this in advance.”
“No, that's fine.”
“…You say it's fine?”
“Yes. Actually, we have other business we conduct besides the escort agency…”
“Other… business?”
“That's right. It's a little… illegal, but…”
“Illegal?”
Having already seen what the Dancheon Gate had done, Neung Un-bi's eyes narrowed as he asked, a sense of déjà vu washing over him.
“Did you… also engage in things like human trafficking?”
Neung Un-bi's tone instantly became informal and commanding, and an intimidating aura radiated from him. Jeong Hyo-sang hurriedly waved his hands in denial.
“What? N-No, absolutely not. Human trafficking? How could a proud member of the Demonic Cult do such a thing?”
“…”
*A proud Demonic Cult? Those bastards from Dancheon Gate had plenty of pride in the Demonic Cult, too.*
“Well… we secretly run a gambling house, and sometimes sell off stolen goods acquired during escorts… We also give some bribes to officials.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi stared at Jeong Hyo-sang, who spoke with an awkward expression, then finally let out a small laugh.
*Just a gambling house?*
“Occasionally, when we had friction with the Unorthodox Faction or bandits, we would secretly steal their assets. I apologize.”
“Ah, so that's what it was?”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi broke into a bright smile as if he had never frowned, Jeong Hyo-sang breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was worried for a moment. That much is fine. When you live in the shadows, things like that can happen. But you didn't do things like charge exorbitant interest to the poor, did you?”
“Absolutely not. And Samun Gorge is close to the Orthodox Murim Alliance, so if we caused harm to the common people, an investigation would be launched immediately.”
“True.”
Neung Un-bi nodded as if he understood.
What kind of place was Samun Gorge?
Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan. It was a place where the influence of three provincial capitals converged.
Even setting aside the Orthodox Murim Alliance in Henan, Mount Hua and Shaolin were nearby.
What would the two places representing Buddhism and Taoism do if they heard rumors of villains harassing commoners in the vicinity?
They would immediately dispatch their disciples to begin an investigation.
The branch, knowing this, seemed to have avoided any conspicuously illegal activities.
It was a relief. If they had committed the same sins as the Dancheon Gate, he would have sent Jeong Hyo-sang's head flying right then and there.
“Good. Then let's conclude the inspection of the Samun Gorge branch… and discuss the future, shall we? Now that our Demonic Cult's branch has officially launched in the Central Plains.”
“I will listen carefully.”
Jeong Hyo-sang listened intently with a serious expression.
“First… we will withdraw from all the illegal businesses you've been running.”
“…What?”
They were words he had never expected.
When they might have to shut down the escort agency at any moment, he was telling them to abandon their most profitable ventures?
But Jeong Hyo-sang was not bold enough to defy someone of the Third Young Master's stature.
“My lord, what do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean? From now on, you'll only do legal business.”
“Hah!”
Wang Cheon couldn't hide his bewilderment at Neung Un-bi's response.
*Why is he being like this again? Where is that respectably intimidating figure who reprimanded that Peng Clan bastard…?*
“My lord, running a gambling house or dealing in stolen goods aren't things you despise, are they? It's not like they're harassing commoners or anything…”
“Why not?”
“Pardon?”
“Gambling is a disease. And you said you bribed officials. That's a crime.”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi put on a very serious expression, Wang Cheon stared at him in disbelief.
*This crazy lord!*
*Why do you keep flip-flopping! You're making me lose all respect for you!*
But he couldn't bring himself to shout.
It might be different if they were alone, but wasn't this their first meeting with the Samun Gorge branch master?
[My lord, my lord!]
In the end, Wang Cheon desperately called to him via telepathy, but Neung Un-bi paid him no mind.
He thought he heard a "Hey, you bastard!" at the end, but he ignored it.
“And, let's reveal all the illegal activities you've engaged in up until now.”
“What?”
“You must have a ledger recording the bribes you paid, right?”
“W-Well…”
“Of course you do. Let's make that public, too.”
“T-Third Young Master!”
“You are to confess your crimes and receive a just punishment. Don't try to hide it.”
“But…”
“Why? Are there other illegal activities besides those?”
“That's not it, but.”
“Then that's settled. They won't be able to impose a very severe punishment for just bribery, running a gambling house, and dealing in stolen goods.”
“…”
“It's a matter outside of government jurisdiction anyway. If you were still an escort agency, it might be different, but since you've revealed yourselves as the Demonic Cult, the authorities won't make a big deal out of it. However, we must be mindful of public perception. Use all of the branch's finances to find and help the needy in the vicinity of Samun Gorge.”
Now, at the suggestion of even spending their money to help people, everyone's eyes widened.
“Even that won't be enough, so you'll have to work tirelessly. To change the perception people have had of the Demonic Cult until now…”
“This is absurd. If we do as you say, my lord, the branch will surely be ruined.”
Wang Cheon could no longer hold back.
Branch master or not, he had to make Neung Un-bi retract his order. He had to prevent a Demonic Cult branch from being reduced to beggars the moment it stepped into the light.
But, as if he had already anticipated such a reaction, Neung Un-bi received his words with utmost calm.
“Why would it be ruined?”
“You think it won't be? You're telling us to shut down all our businesses!”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“…”
“You have the business you've always done.”
“Pardon?”
“The escort agency. I'm talking about the escort agency.”
“…”
Everyone stared blankly at Neung Un-bi, who had a perfectly matter-of-fact expression.
*What on earth has he been listening to until now?*
*Didn't he just say that all his business had been cut off after they revealed they were a Demonic Cult branch?*
“Haa, my lord… no matter how I think about it, this is…”
“Branch Master Jeong.”
“…”
Wang Cheon tried to stop him again, but Neung Un-bi cut him off and looked at Jeong Hyo-sang.
“Please speak.”
“Change is like that.”
“…”
“From the shadows to the light… it's not an easy thing. As the situation has changed, so must the work you do.”
“Hmm…”
He seemed to understand what he was trying to say. But was there any way to make it a reality?
“If you command it, I will carry it out. However, I'm not sure if we can recover the severed business ties… The Peng Clan's branch has already secured a large number of the merchant guilds that used to trade with us.”
“The Peng Clan…”
At those words, a sinister smile formed on Neung Un-bi's lips.
*Then that's even better.*
“I will handle that matter myself.”
“You'll do it yourself, Third Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Surely not? You mean the incident on the tavern street?”
“Come on, do you think I'd be that petty?”
“Pardon?”
He had already left the aftermath of that to Elder Jin San of Zhongnan. He didn't know what results he would bring, but an incident where the honor of the Demonic Cult was mentioned couldn't be handled lightly.
“Branch Master Jeong.”
“Yes.”
“What is the biggest obstacle in river escorting?”
“Hmm… are you perhaps referring to river pirates?”
Neung Un-bi just grinned without answering.
*Correct!*
Why did merchant guilds go to such lengths to hire escorts and form connections with various sects?
Bandits in the mountains, pirates on the rivers. It was to secure their safety from them.
So, he was now going to meet the river pirates.
It would take a long time for Jin San to raise hell at the Peng Clan and bring back a negotiation proposal.
*Just you wait, Peng Clan.*
*You may have forgotten me, but I still haven't forgotten that day.*
*I'll show you exactly what happens when a person holds a grudge.*