Sichuan Dang Clan (1)
“Then we shall take our leave.”
After the commotion had died down, Hyeon Yucheon and his group descended Mount Ami, leaving behind a mountain rife with words and troubles.
The very next day, astonishing news rocked the entirety of Sichuan Province.
The Ami Sect had abruptly announced its formal secession from the Murim Alliance.
Cheollim Seonsa of Shaolin and Seonjong Jin-in of Wudang expressed their regrets and subtly applied pressure as the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Clans, but Yeo Unsa-tae, the Biyeon Sinn-i, remained resolute.
And that was not all.
— Though we claimed it was to punish a fiend of the unorthodox Murim, in reality, we feared him and coveted his supreme art, the Formless Flash Quick Sword.
This earth-shattering revelation sent massive shockwaves through the entire martial world.
Especially since it was the first time a member of the Cheon Ha Ojon had openly admitted it, the impact was immense.
Until now, the official stance of the Murim Alliance and the Seok Family had been to dismiss the Demon Sword Sect's claims as fabrications spread by an alliance of unorthodox forces. This was an event of monumental proportions.
Moreover, the ignorant masses who had blindly accepted the Murim Alliance's declarations as truth now had the chance to see the real picture thanks to Yeo Unsa-tae's announcement.
“The Biyeon Sinn-i has made a grand resolution.”
Even So Jaun, the Haomen leader who harbored no fondness for the Ami Sect, couldn't help but express admiration and joy at Yeo Unsa-tae's aid.
“Indeed.”
“Heh heh, well now.”
Jin Gwangma Geom and Eum Ji-myeong, his two senior brothers, were quietly pleased as well.
They had inwardly wondered if Hyeon Yucheon had been too lenient, but mercy had swiftly returned as a favor.
‘I won’t say thanks. When you meet my master someday, tell him then that I’m sorry.’
Harboring such thoughts, Hyeon Yucheon gazed eastward toward Mount Ami and grinned.
“As the saying goes, ‘the one who ties must untie’. Since the Biyeon Sinn-i was the culprit, she’s resolving it herself.”
With that brief remark, Hyeon Yucheon resumed his steps.
“Ah! Sect Leader. Don’t we have the Sun Golden Frog’s gall bladder and various other material ingredients from the one you recently acquired?”
It was right then.
Eum Ji-myeong, ever knowledgeable in miscellaneous lore, clasped his hands together as something occurred to him.
“We’re right in the Chengdu region, the heart of Sichuan Province—the most renowned herbal market in the Central Plains, where top physicians, herb gatherers, and apothecaries converge. Why not have those materials refined into pills or processed here?”
It was a solid suggestion.
‘Hm, I was already worried they’d spoil if left any longer.’
The Sun Golden Frog’s bones and hide wouldn’t rot, but the gall bladder and organs had been dried as best as possible—though he wasn’t sure how to handle them properly.
To be precise, he knew the methods, but rather than bungle such premium ingredients himself, heading to Chengdu’s herbal market, where the finest experts gathered, to have them made into pills made perfect sense.
“Very well. Let’s head there.”
Conveniently, it wasn’t far from the vicinity of Mount Ami.
“However… we must conceal our identities as much as possible to avoid exposure.”
At So Jaun’s words, Jin Gwangma Geom shot her a questioning glance.
The reason was simple.
“Mount Qingcheng of the Qingcheng Sect is nearby Chengdu. And within Chengdu itself lie the Murim Alliance’s Sichuan branch alongside the hegemonic Sichuan Dang Clan of the province.”
So Jaun was spot on.
Across from Chengdu’s herbal market loomed the Sichuan Dang Clan, with the Murim Alliance’s Sichuan branch firmly entrenched on the outskirts.
In other words, this was the heart of enemy territory like no other.
With three colossal powers in place, no less.
“But even if we disguise ourselves, won’t carrying Sun Golden Frog materials give us away?”
At Hyeon Yucheon’s persuasive point, So Jaun shook her head.
“You wouldn’t know, but lately, rumors have been circulating in the Black Path’s back-alley markets: the Demon Sword Sect is dumping Sun Golden Frog gall bladders, bones, and hides at rock-bottom prices, soon to hit auction.”
As she said, certain parties had their eyes on the Sun Golden Frog’s byproducts.
Given the Demon Sword Sect’s wealth and Hyeon Yucheon’s tendencies, they expected bargain prices and were waiting to snap them up.
“So we’ll disguise ourselves as a small merchant caravan that luckily snagged them at a steal.”
Hyeon Yucheon was once again impressed by her insight and information network.
He was no slouch in scheming himself, but So Jaun’s grasp of the Black Path and underworld intel made her incredibly practical.
“Hmm, but how do we handle the disguises?”
Just as the group—Cheon Baeksang’s three disciples, handy with martial arts but not much else—felt stumped,
“Oh my! Have you forgotten my epithet?”
So Jaun feigned offense, placing a hand on her slender waist.
As Haomen leader, her title was Faceless Black Rabbit.
“Faceless” meant her disguises were so flawless no one could recognize her; “Black Rabbit” referred to the Haomen leader.
In short, she was a master of disguise.
“Leave it to me. I’ll make you all perfect!”
Her seductive laughter echoed far and wide.
* * *
Chengdu’s herbal market, the bustling center of Sichuan Province.
Among its alleys, the grandest apothecary was none other than the Yigdeung Apothecary.
It was market day, a peak time, and the shop was in a frenzy when—
“Is the owner in?”
Two servants of ordinary build sought the Yigdeung Apothecary’s proprietor.
The owner rarely met casually, but this was different.
Behind the servants stood a handsome young couple.
Their attire, rings, and necklaces screamed uncommon wealth.
Bringing servants to such a shop proved their affluence.
‘But they’re unfamiliar faces.’
Gong Jin, owner of Yigdeung Apothecary, pondered whether to engage.
He was swamped with regulars and wondered how much these two might buy.
But what was this?
“We’ve brought something truly precious for the master.”
One servant—burly yet flat-chested around the solar plexus, marking him no warrior but a mere attendant—spoke up.
“Hm, and what might that be? Be warned: if it’s shoddy, you’ll regret wasting my time.”
Gong Jin, a man of influence in Chengdu’s streets, issued a stern warning.
It was then.
Smoothly!
The man of the couple drew something from his bosom—and could it be?!
“Gasp! Heuk!”
Gong Jin let out a strangled cry that drowned the market din.
Regaining his breath with effort, he hastily ushered the group into the apothecary’s reception room.
“Th-this way, this way, please.”
His tone shifted instantly.
What had changed the man who’d been nonchalant even at their rich garb into such deference?
The ingredients they carried.
‘Unbelievable! To think I’d lay eyes on the Sun Golden Frog’s gall bladder, five viscera, and six bowels myself!’
To his astonishment, they were Sun Golden Frog byproducts.
Even Gong Jin, proprietor of Yigdeung Apothecary—which claimed to handle every herb and elixir under heaven—had never seen such rarities.
“Dear, let’s go.”
“Ohohoho, splendid!”
The couple shivered with goosebumps at the sudden courtesy, the husband a tad awkward, the wife more enthusiastic.
[Sect Leader! Be more affectionate! The art of disguise lies in acting, not just looks.]
The young couple were, naturally, Hyeon Yucheon and So Jaun.
She’d delivered on her promise of perfect disguises.
Though she’d indulged her personal whims in the process.
[A-alright.]
Hyeon Yucheon sweated inwardly but amped up the affection in his acting. The two servants behind were Jin Gwangma Geom and Eum Ji-myeong.
‘Disguises perfect, but servants…?’
‘In the end, only our junior brother and the Haomen leader get the fun?’
As the two seniors felt a bitter pang—
“You know what we’ve brought, yes?”
Gong Jin approached, rubbing his hands eagerly.
“Of course. Who in the herb trade doesn’t know the Sun Golden Frog?”
So Jaun, flawlessly embodying a pampered young wife with impeccable acting to match her disguise, responded perfectly.
“Aigoo~ I know full well. I’m just curious… how did it come into your hands? The supply chain, you see. We’re, well…”
Gong Jin hesitated briefly.
Then, with utmost courtesy, he bowed his head.
“Handling stolen goods could mean big trouble. Oh, of course! Naturally, it’s not—but still.”
He treaded carefully, lest he offend the couple oozing nobility.
“My uncle has deep ties to the Demon Sword Merchant Association in Shaanxi.”
At the expected question, Hyeon Yucheon recited the prepared line So Jaun had fed him.
“My husband hails from a renowned wealthy family in Shaanxi.”
With So Jaun’s dazzling eloquence and acting bolstering him, it was flawless.
As proof, they even presented a Demon Sword Merchant Association plaque—easy to procure, since these four were its key figures.
“Oho, it’s genuine!”
Gong Jin leaped in excitement.
He’d been waiting ages for Sun Golden Frog parts to trickle in.
And with the association’s plaque, no doubts remained.
“Excellent, perfect. Let’s start appraising the priciest—the gall bladder…”
Gong Jin buzzed with anticipation, diving into purchase talks, but So Jaun interjected.
“Ah, we’re not here to sell. We want you to process these into refined ingredients.”
She drew a clear line.
They’d never said they came to sell—only that they brought ingredients.
“The perishables into pills, and the durable ones hand-processed here at Yigdeung Apothecary.”
Her request was neither rude nor unusual.
Herb hunters often brought bear gall like this, asking for processing to sell directly and pocket the margin.
“Ah… so you won’t sell?”
Gong Jin’s eyes drooped in profound regret.
“Yes. Frankly… at a proper auction, we’d get multiples more. Why sell here?”
Her savvy words told Gong Jin she wasn’t some pushover mark.
But he couldn’t give up.
“There’s someone who’s been desperately awaiting these rarities, begging to buy them.”
Truth be told, Gong Jin’s urgency wasn’t personal greed.
“Yigdeung” meant “remembering the Dang Clan,” and Gong Jin was a retainer backed by them.
“Who might that be?”
Hyeon Yucheon inquired, unaware of the connection.
“The patriarch of the Sichuan Dang Clan, the Thousand Blood Poison Maniac Dang Bijan.”