Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: How Many More Like You Are There?
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"Let's go."
At Byeok Taesan's words, the Underworld Sect member hurried over.
He looked at the five men and Hong Yeo-ik, piled up on one side, with a troubled expression.
He was worried about whether he could carry them all by himself.
Whether he knew of the member's concern or not, Byeok Taesan was looking at Yeon Harin, who was still unconscious.
"You girls take care of her. It looks like she won't be waking up today."
"Yes, Young Master."
"We'll take good care of her. Please don't worry."
The maids replied and quickly attended to Yeon Harin.
Since they had to go down the mountain, they decided one person would carry her on their back while the other two assisted.
They would take turns if it became too difficult.
The Underworld Sect member stared blankly as the maids figured out how to handle Yeon Harin.
Then he turned his head to look at the five men and Hong Yeo-ik.
The five men were one thing, but what about Hong Yeo-ik? He hadn't even lost consciousness yet.
He was clearly watching for any opportunity to escape.
He had seen the fight earlier, so he knew just how formidable a master Hong Yeo-ik was.
How was he supposed to manage such a master?
The Underworld Sect member glanced at Byeok Taesan before approaching Hong Yeo-ik.
"Um..."
The Underworld Sect member cautiously called out to Hong Yeo-ik.
Hong Yeo-ik happened to be looking elsewhere and didn't turn his head even when the member called him.
"Excuse me... sir."
The Underworld Sect member didn't dare speak carelessly to Hong Yeo-ik.
He knew full well the man could kill him with a flick of his finger, so how could he be reckless?
"When did it become like that?"
Hong Yeo-ik's abrupt question left the Underworld Sect member bewildered.
"Pardon?"
"I'm talking about that. The lower part of the cliff."
The Underworld Sect member finally realized what Hong Yeo-ik was talking about and smiled brightly.
"Ah, you mean that. Our Young Master did it."
"What?"
Hong Yeo-ik stared at the Underworld Sect member, dumbfounded.
"Then that sound from earlier... hah, how absurd."
He had heard a tremendous roar while in the mountain stronghold. He knew something had happened outside, but he never imagined it was *that*.
Seeing Hong Yeo-ik's expression, the Underworld Sect member excitedly explained.
"Earlier, I saw the stronghold up there and wondered how on earth it was built. The Young Master said it was done like this, and he just went *swoosh* with his hand."
Hong Yeo-ik stared blankly at the Underworld Sect member.
"You're saying that place became like that with a single gesture?"
"Yes. I couldn't believe it even after seeing it myself. He's an incredible person, I tell you."
Hong Yeo-ik glanced back and forth between the lower part of the cliff and Byeok Taesan.
He should have noticed that before they fought. If he had, he would have run away first, even if it meant throwing all his subordinates to the wolves.
It was Hong Yeo-ik who had built the stronghold in the middle of the cliff. He had spent a great deal of time and effort on it.
The sense of accomplishment upon its completion had been immense.
But now, looking at the scene Byeok Taesan had created at the bottom of the cliff, he felt a sense of emptiness.
"Excuse me... sir."
"What?"
"Could you please give me a little hand?"
Hong Yeo-ik glared at the Underworld Sect member with a look of disbelief. For a moment, he considered smashing the man's head in.
But the thought vanished the instant it appeared. He had made eye contact with Byeok Taesan.
It felt as if the blood in his veins had turned to ice.
Thwack!
Hong Yeo-ik felt a pain as if his head were about to fly off, and then he lost consciousness.
The Underworld Sect member, flustered, looked back and forth between the fallen Hong Yeo-ik and Byeok Taesan.
At that moment, Hong Yeo-ik and the five men floated up into the air.
"Ugh!"
The Underworld Sect member jumped back in surprise, stumbling and landing hard on his backside.
The six men, floating in mid-air, began to glide smoothly forward.
The Underworld Sect member's gaze followed them.
Byeok Taesan's group was descending the mountain. The six men were floating along behind them.
The Underworld Sect member quickly got up and hurried after them.
Quickly catching up to Byeok Taesan's side, the member hurried to the front.
He had followed Byeok Taesan this far, but he remembered the way here perfectly.
Leading the way was his job.
* * *
After Byeok Taesan's group left, Wuhan was exceptionally peaceful.
Wuhan was where the Underworld Sect's main headquarters was located. Naturally, more of its members were active there than in any other city.
Moreover, Wuhan was also the city with the most members of the Secret Heaven Group.
Wuhan's criminal underworld was completely under the control of Jang Gagu, a former leader from the Secret Heaven Group.
Likewise, Wuhan's mercenary market was completely controlled by Yuk Taegu, also a former leader from the Secret Heaven Group.
On top of that, the Golden Jade Trading Company and the Underworld Sect had all but seized control of Wuhan's commerce.
Furthermore, the newly established Heavenly Medicine Hall in Wuhan, with the help of the Underworld Sect, had taken command of the city's clinics and pharmacies.
In this way, nothing within Wuhan could escape Byeok Taesan's influence.
There had been quite a few large and small information networks originally active in Wuhan, but they had all been absorbed by the Underworld Sect.
Under such circumstances, there was little room for trouble to arise.
As peace continued, the interest of the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, the Namgung Family, and the Jegal Family—who had all dispatched personnel to Wuhan—clearly waned.
Those who remained couldn't shake the feeling of being utterly abandoned and neglected.
They continuously petitioned their superiors for a withdrawal.
When they first came to Wuhan, they had expected to establish a branch depending on the situation, but with how things turned out, those who remained felt a considerable sense of deprivation.
The current state of the world was too precarious to simply suggest establishing a branch.
Right now, the main topic of concern for the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, and the Five Great Families was undoubtedly the organization called Nameless.
They needed to gather their strength to deal with them, and they couldn't afford to divide their forces by establishing a branch in Wuhan in the meantime.
Moreover, Wuhan itself was already running like a well-oiled machine, excluding the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance. There was almost no room for them to wedge themselves in.
Even if they forcibly established a branch, it would likely take a very long time to properly get a foothold.
In any case, that was the situation.
As a result, the four men who had fallen into the same predicament grew closer.
Though their inner thoughts were unknown, on the surface, a bond of shared misery formed, and they began to meet more frequently.
Today, too, the four men were sharing drinks in a private room of a tavern.
Jin Sahong, Jeok Gyeolmyeong, Namgung Jun, and Jegal Gwan sat in a circle, conversing quietly.
But today, the atmosphere was slightly different from usual.
"It seems our side said no, in the end."
At Jin Sahong's words, Jeok Gyeolmyeong also gave a bitter smile.
"Same for me."
Namgung Jun and Jegal Gwan also nodded at the same time.
"It's the same for me."
"Me as well."
They had been consistently submitting withdrawal requests to their superiors.
But today, they had received their answers. Coincidentally, all four received them on the same day.
"Well, it's not like they'd withdraw when an opportunity like this came up."
This is Wuhan, the center of waterway logistics.
It was strange that they didn't have branches here in the first place.
They're just holding off because the world is in chaos, but eventually, they'll make a full-scale advance here to get a piece of the pie.
The problem was that there was no telling when that would be.
"If only we could do *something*, it wouldn't be this frustrating."
At Jin Sahong's muttering, Jeok Gyeolmyeong sighed and shook his head.
"On top of all this, I even received a mission."
"A mission?"
"They want me to recruit the Heavenly Medicine Hall."
At those words, everyone snorted.
"That's a mission only someone who doesn't know the situation on the ground could assign."
It wasn't as if they didn't know it would be good to recruit the Heavenly Medicine Hall. Of course, they had tried several times.
But the Heavenly Medicine Hall was already under Byeok Taesan. They wouldn't even scoff at any offer, no matter the terms.
"And it's not a situation where we can use force..."
Byeok Taesan's forces in Wuhan were operating in a very interconnected way.
If they tried to pressure the Heavenly Medicine Hall with force, the Underworld Sect would be the first to move.
And the criminal underworld and the mercenaries would secretly lend their strength with the Underworld Sect's help.
One wrong move and they could end up dead.
The four men here didn't know the internal workings, but they intuitively felt that there was *something* in Wuhan.
And they guessed it was related to the Golden Jade Trading Company.
"This... isn't some plan to apply continuous pressure, and then, when the Golden Jade Trading Company finally squirms, to launch a massive operation to wipe them out, is it?"
Jegal Gwan asked, looking at Jeok Gyeolmyeong with cold eyes.
Jeok Gyeolmyeong snorted.
"How would I know what they're thinking? Well... it does seem likely. And I doubt we're the only ones thinking that way."
The other three, meeting Jeok Gyeolmyeong's gaze, all wore bitter expressions.
They too knew what discussions were taking place within their respective organizations and families.
If not right away, then soon, orders would come down in one form or another.
Besides, if Jeok Gyeolmyeong made a move, they would have to hurry to prevent the Black Alliance from snatching the Heavenly Medicine Hall.
Jin Sahong let out a low sigh.
"I guess we can say our chances for advancement are gone now."
Everyone nodded in agreement at his words.
They would face penalties for failing the mission, which would have a significant negative impact on their future careers.
"The only option is to continuously request support..."
But right now, no faction had the spare capacity to send additional personnel.
And those in high positions have a tendency not to admit their own mistakes.
If they couldn't grant the request for more manpower, it was highly likely they would conclude that no more manpower was needed for this mission.
All that was left was to fail the mission due to incompetence.
"Hmm... instead of that, how about we join forces, just this once?"
At Jegal Gwan's words, everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.
They each belonged to different organizations. And there was only one Heavenly Medicine Hall. What was the point of joining forces?
"What do you all think of the Golden Jade Trading Company?"
Everyone tilted their heads at Jegal Gwan's sudden question.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You've been watching all this time in Wuhan, so you know better than anyone. I'm talking about the fact that the Golden Jade Trading Company—no, their second young master, Byeok Taesan—is no ordinary person."
"Well, that..."
They had all figured that much out by now.
Currently, it seems as if the Golden Jade Trading Company controls most of Wuhan. At least, on the surface.
The Golden Jade Trading Company seized the commercial districts, and the Underworld Sect took control of everything else.
And the Underworld Sect was extremely close to the Golden Jade Trading Company.
But those who knew the reality didn't see it that way.
Everything was under Byeok Taesan.
Even the Heavenly Medicine Hall.
"So what are you suggesting we do?"
Jegal Gwan looked at the three men one by one, meeting their eyes with a meaningful gaze.
"How about looking to the future, rather than what's right in front of your nose?"
"The future?"
"We invest in the future of the Golden Jade Trading Company—no, of Byeok Taesan."
"How?"
With a cautious expression, Jegal Gwan met the eyes of the three men once more.
"We become the channel."
Everyone listened to Jegal Gwan with their lips sealed. He had said enough for them to understand what he meant.
All that was left was to decide.
His suggestion to join forces meant that if pressure came down from their respective superiors, they would work together to handle it.
In truth, if the four of them here combined their strength, it would be considerable.
"Then we should report that we've failed the current orders."
Jin Sahong's words made Jegal Gwan shake his head.
"No. First, you must try."
"But we're going to fail anyway."
"Isn't that the only way to make the other factions hurry and make their move?"
And doing so would naturally create an effect where no one would want to be dispatched to Wuhan.
Jegal Gwan's eyes gleamed.
"And when did I say we should fail the mission?"
Jin Sahong frowned. What was he talking about now?
"It will just take longer, but in the end, we can produce a result similar to recruiting the Heavenly Medicine Hall. And all four of us can do it."
At those words, everyone's eyes lit up. Indeed, if things went well, it wasn't an entirely impossible notion.
Having talked it out this far, they felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted.
Honestly, it was a gamble.
How much more Byeok Taesan would grow, and whether they could secure their positions—everything was uncertain.
Still, it was better than being cast adrift completely.
Jegal Gwan casually spoke up.
"And to make things more certain, I'd like to make a proposal to the Hubei Martial Alliance as well."
"The Hubei Martial Alliance?"
The Hubei Martial Alliance currently maintained a fairly good relationship with Byeok Taesan.
So if they joined, it would be a great help.
"Would they agree to join?"
Jegal Gwan grinned.
"We have to make them. They won't refuse, either."
Once the discussion was more or less settled, Jeok Gyeolmyeong raised his cup.
"Alright, alright, let's agree to that, and for today, let's drink until we can't see straight!"
The four men raised their cups simultaneously and drained them in one go.
The drinking session continued late into the night.
* * *
Byeok Taesan's group stayed in a county near Mount Huang.
There was no need to find an inn. The manor once used by Hyeokryeon Bigwang was still there.
The Underworld Sect member gathered his colleagues who were active in the area and prepared to assist Byeok Taesan.
Of course, it didn't seem entirely necessary, but it was better to be prepared for the unexpected.
Hong Yeo-ik and his five disciples were locked in a makeshift prison set up within the manor.
The five disciples were still unconscious, and while Hong Yeo-ik had barely woken up, he was still dazed and couldn't quite come to his senses.
Byeok Taesan stood before the cell where Hong Yeo-ik was confined.
Only then did Hong Yeo-ik slowly regain his senses. He saw Byeok Taesan standing before him and trembled in fear.
"So, how far has your research progressed?"
At Byeok Taesan's question, Hong Yeo-ik averted his fearful gaze and answered.
"It's about ninety percent complete."
"Ninety percent... How many did you kill to create those five?"
"I didn't count, so I don't know."
Byeok Taesan let out a small, derisive laugh.
Hong Yeo-ik had been researching a way to accumulate internal energy by using others.
It involved adding people who would cultivate internal energy in his stead. Infinitely, as long as the conditions were met.
And the research probably didn't end there.
If it was possible with internal energy, there was no reason it wouldn't be possible with spiritual energy.
Byeok Taesan asked Hong Yeo-ik.
"How many more like you are there?"
Hong Yeo-ik lowered his head in fear.
"I only know of three. As for whether there are more... I don't know either."
The corner of Byeok Taesan's mouth twisted slightly.
Isn't this interesting? They were far more vicious and massive than he had first thought.