Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Heading to Yushan (1)
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Hongze Lake in central Jiangsu Province.
The estate known to most as Golden Manor, or Crimson Tears Manor, lay nestled along the northeastern shore of the lake.
It was no exaggeration to call Crimson Tears Manor a massive fortress, housing the headquarters of Taoguang Merchant Guild—the greatest trading house in the Central Plains—and Yanghui Escort Bureau, equally renowned as the top escort agency in the realm.
Even excluding the natural barrier of the lakeshore, its perimeter stretched nearly twenty li, filled with hundreds of grand and modest buildings.
Word had it that Taoguang Merchant Guild first set roots by Hongze Lake about sixty years ago. Of course, it hadn't started at its current scale.
Like all merchant houses, its beginnings were humble. But fifty years ago, when the man later hailed as the God of Wealth and Living Buddha—Yagul Jae—took the helm at the tender age of thirty, Taoguang Merchant Guild exploded in prominence.
By forty, he had made it the premier house in Jiangsu. By fifty, it stood unrivaled across the land.
Then, twenty years ago, at sixty, Yagul Jae abruptly retired, passing Taoguang to his eldest son Yagul Soseong and the fledgling Yanghui Escort Bureau to his second son Yagul Cheon-gyeong.
The last anyone saw of Yagul Jae was the day Crimson Tears Manor was completed, when the plaque bearing his own calligraphy was hung.
No one had laid eyes on him since.
His two sons proved capable enough in leading Taoguang and Yanghui, but people always lamented Yagul Jae's absence.
Not just for growing a modest house into the Central Plains' greatest in a mere twenty years, but for his boundless generosity with his wealth.
Yagul Jae donated so freely that it was said no one starved within a thousand li of Taoguang. He rushed aid to famine and flood-stricken areas without fail, tirelessly aided plague victims abandoned by the court, and earned universal praise.
The towering bronze statue before Crimson Tears Manor had been raised by those he helped, one by one banding together. The pedestal beneath it, especially, was carved from stone bestowed by the emperor himself in commendation of his deeds.
What an honor—to have a statue made with imperial gifts. People cherished and revered Yagul Jae's likeness with utmost devotion.
Decades on, it had become a famed spot where throngs circled the statue, silently praying their wishes would come true.
"Seems like more people than usual today."
From a pavilion overlooking the statue, an old man fanning himself languidly with a peacock feather fan lifted his teacup and spoke.
"Hasn't it been dry for a while? They're probably worried about a bad harvest."
The middle-aged man across from him set his teacup aside and reached for a sake cup instead.
"The weather's truly unpredictable. Last year it wouldn't rain and gave us headaches. Now this."
"True enough. But one thing's certain."
"What's that?"
"Heaven is watching over our cult."
The old man smiled faintly at the middle-aged man's words.
"You're talking about the Heavenly Demon Cult."
"Yes. The Heavenly Demon Cult unified the demonic path, only for its key figures to depart. Then, as if waiting for that moment, rebellions erupted and the cult leader changed. All so exquisitely timed, wouldn't you say?"
"It is. We had little room to meddle compared to others. If that Divine Demon Division Leader hadn't left, it would've been far tougher. Didn't our boys get their identities exposed and wiped out?"
"Exactly why Heaven's protecting us. And who could've dreamed the Three Elders would become Alliance Leader? We backed him materially and morally seeing the potential, but even that's Heaven's grace."
The old man nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Never thought Ha Hu Clan would defy the Five Great Clans. That made it easier for the Heavenly Demon Cult to pressure them. Everything's falling into place, just as you say."
The middle-aged man poured tea into the old man's empty cup with a smile.
"But turning all this to our cult's advantage? That's solely your achievement, Left Elder."
"Hoho! The head of the world's greatest merchant guild is gilding this old man's face. Makes me uneasy."
"Gilding? I'm just stating facts."
"Is that so? Grateful for the words, then."
Blood Slaughter Cult's Left Elder Sima Sang smiled softly, lightly stroking his beard that draped below his navel, then continued.
"As you say, things are unfolding somewhat as we've painted. But the imperial matter's proving trickier than expected."
"I hear we planted quite a few of ours in key military posts during the recent reshuffle."
"We did. But they're all straw men. The real talents got purged."
Sima Sang frowned, lifting his teacup.
"Yi Hwang-suk again?"
Taoguang Merchant Guild's head, Yagul Soseong, lifted his cup and asked.
"More precisely, the Azure Orchid Lord."
"Hm."
A low groan escaped Yagul Soseong's lips.
"We should've dealt with Yi Hwang-suk back then. Worried it might haunt us forever."
Sima Sang shook his head bitterly at Yagul Soseong's words.
"Who could've foreseen the Divine Demon Division Leader meddling? So ironic. He unwittingly aided us with the Heavenly Demon Cult affair, only to obstruct elsewhere. Losing Blood Flame General still pains me."
"I was shocked to hear the news myself."
"Speaking of which—how's Blood Flame General's grandson faring?"
"Seemed adrift for a bit, but he's doing well now. Recently made a name crushing the Yellow River Four Ghosts who targeted an escort shipment. Folks even compare him to Yongseung Escort Agency's Imu Jin."
"Imu Jin? Who's that?"
Sima Sang tilted his head.
"An escort leader with some fame. Seems competent enough. But nowhere near your friend's grandson in three moves."
"Naturally. If he inherited Blood Flame General's skill fully, he's the real deal. Anyway, keep an eye on him. Not just for his grandfather's sake, but he'll prove useful to the cult ahead."
"Understood."
"Pour me one too. Thinking of Blood Flame General makes me crave a drink."
Sima Sang lifted his sake cup.
"Of course. Let's get properly drunk together after ages. Haha! I'll have them bring more drinks and side dishes."
Yagul Soseong laughed heartily and moved to call a servant.
"Reporting, Pursuit Unit Leader."
A subdued voice came from beyond the door.
Sima Sang quietly set down his cup.
"Enter."
The door opened, revealing a man whose sharply arched brows lent him an air of utmost sternness. He entered cautiously.
"What is it?"
"A problem's arisen."
"Problem?"
Deep furrows creased Sima Sang's brow.
The head of Blood Slaughter Cult's intelligence network coming personally meant a grave incident.
"All our agents lurking in Zhuge Clan have been rounded up."
Sima Sang's face hardened like stone.
"What nonsense is this? Suddenly what..."
He drained the now-cold tea in one gulp, set the cup down, and demanded.
"Explain in detail. Just what the hell happened?"
His voice and gaze had sunk into icy calm; the leisurely chat with Yagul Soseong was gone.
"...And that's the current situation."
After explaining at length, even unrolling a map, Manchu reached out as if parched. Cheol Woo tossed him a sake bottle on cue.
"Thank you."
Manchu flashed a bright smile, downed the bottle in a blink, and bowed.
"Thought they'd crumble fast with all that initial fuss, but they're holding up decently."
Cheol Woo eyed the Heavenly Demon Cult's conquered territories with surprise.
"Yeah. Figured Southern Martial World would've been mopped up quick from that early momentum, but their advance seems slower than expected."
Manchu shook his head at Noejeon's words as if absurd.
"Not at all. 'Southern Martial World' usually centers on Jiangsu and spans Hunan Province—how many sects and families do you think are there?"
As Cheol Woo and Noejeon fell silent, Manchu flung his arms wide dramatically.
"More than you can imagine. Way more. They've united as one. The Heavenly Demon Cult's faster-than-expected push caused heavy early losses, but that only tightened their bonds. Plus, reinforcements poured in from all sides. Yet they've still lost this much ground. By start date, it's an unbelievable pace."
Manchu raised his voice, but Cheol Woo and Noejeon exchanged glances, unmoved.
"Most crucial are the casualties on both sides."
Manchu's shoulders slumped, his face darkening.
"Early hits were so bad no one feels it yet, but cumulative losses are beyond imagination. No exact count, but per the higher-ups, at least eighty percent of Southern Martial World's forces are gone. Even Nangong Clan standing firm means massive damage."
Unlike Cheol Woo, Noejeon, and others clueless on Southern Martial World's scale, Dang Cheon-hwa reacted fiercely.
"Fools fighting over scraps! That's why they're suffering. Even this old man on distant Haenam sensed the omens ages ago—how pathetic!"
Dang Cheon-hwa lumped Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans together for ignoring Heavenly Demon Cult's stirrings in favor of feuds.
Sima Geon, silently studying the map till now, asked Manchu.
"Ha Hu Clan is moving here, right?"
Manchu nodded at the spot Sima Geon indicated.
"Yes. Confirmed their path after toppling Golden Sword Gate, skirting Mount Wuyi northward—they're surely aiming for Feitian Stronghold."
"Feitian's no pushover; they won't fall easy. But if they do as expected, it'll hurt bad."
Sima Geon asked Dang Cheon-hwa.
"You know Feitian well?"
"History and tradition rival Nangong Clan. And I know its master, Gwan Hae, a bit. Stubborn blockhead, but usable enough."
Everyone marveled at Dang Cheon-hwa's assessment.
From days observing him, anyone he called "usable" had to be exceptional.
"Going with Ha Hu Clan?"
Cheol Woo asked.
"Thinking about it."
"You've decided to move, at least?"
"Gotta honor a dying wish."
"Yeon old man?"
"Yeah."
Dark shadows fell over Sima Geon, Cheol Woo, and Noejeon's faces as Yeon Jeok-chu's image surfaced.
"Taking the kid too?"
Sima Geon turned from his reverie at Dang Cheon-hwa's question.
"Feasible?"
"Not right now. Treatment's nearly done today or tomorrow, but best watch a few more days."
Sima Geon pondered, then asked.
"What about you, Elder?"
"What do you mean?"
"Heard Dang Family retainers who came to pay respects are moving with Ha Hu Clan too."
"Asking if this old man joins?"
"Yes."
"Obvious. Going to avenge a close friend. If you brats hadn't grabbed me, I'd have gone already."
Sima Geon seized the opening.
"Ha Hu Clan's delaying a few days over Blood Slaughter Cult issues. Could you take Surin when you go?"
"You rascal! Enough meddling. Why keep foisting burdens?"
"Heh, told you before—she looks dim but smashed more Demon Buddha Temple monks than anyone."
Dang Cheon-hwa's eye twitched at mention of Demon Buddha Temple.
"Heard it's repay grudge tenfold, grace a hundred..."
"Quiet. That's it. Last time."
Sima Geon bowed brightly at Dang Cheon-hwa's decree.
"Thank you, Elder."
"Said it—last time."
"Of course."
"But Captain, moving first?"
Sima Geon ignored Cheol Woo, turning to Gwayu.
"Heard there's Yushan at the pass to Feitian Stronghold. Where Blood Forest is—right?"
"Uh, how'd you know?"
Gwayu blinked, no prior mention of Blood Forest's spot.
Sima Geon glanced at Manchu.
"Gave you plenty time to mull."
Gwayu hesitated.
"I..."
As Gwayu finally opened his mouth after agonizing.
"Never mind. No rule says repay Dang grace tenfold only."
Sima Geon had decided regardless of Gwaiyu's thoughts.
"We're heading to Yushan."