Chapter 225
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: Once Every Couple of Months
“Ugh!”
Seung Doheung shot up, startled.
He sat dazedly on the bed, trying to make sense of the situation.
Looking around, he found himself in a familiar room.
“When… did I get here?”
This was Seung Doheung’s personal room.
Outside this room lay his personal study for formation arts. Beyond that was the hall where formation masters gathered for discussion.
Seung Doheung sat there blankly for a moment before shaking his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
The memories from before he lost consciousness slowly returned.
“Right… the Young Master said he would give me a reward…!”
Seung Doheung finally remembered what had happened. He had died. And Byeok Taesan was the one who had killed him.
“What is this? Is this paradise?”
Hell would be far more terrible than this, so it couldn't be hell.
But it was too ordinary to be paradise.
Seung Doheung got out of bed and left the room.
He saw a member of the Underworld Sect.
“No one is supposed to enter this area…”
This was where he researched formations. Of course, unauthorized entry was forbidden.
Not a single scrap of paper from this place could be allowed to leak out. All his knowledge of formations and his brilliant ideas were stored here.
The Underworld Sect member spoke nonchalantly.
“By the Young Master’s order, everything in here has been moved to the Hyeoncheon Estate.”
“Ah… right. Since the Young Master has returned…”
Until now, even though the estate was complete, no one could stay there.
How could anyone reside there when its master, Byeok Taesan, had not yet arrived?
But now that Byeok Taesan was here, everyone was to move into the estate.
The key figures under Byeok Taesan would likely all be given residences within the estate.
The same went for Seung Doheung.
“Still, they’re my belongings. Shouldn’t they have been moved when I was awake?”
The Underworld Sect member replied immediately to Seung Doheung’s question.
“Five days.”
“Five days? What do you mean?”
“It has been five days since you lost consciousness, sir. We had to dispose of this estate, so we had no choice but to proceed with the move. Fortunately, you’ve woken up, so you can come with me now.”
If he hadn't woken up today, the Underworld Sect members were planning to move him to the Hyeoncheon Estate themselves.
Hearing all this, Seung Doheung’s mind became incredibly complicated.
*What in the world is…*
As he was trying to sort out his thoughts, the Underworld Sect member spoke.
“The Young Master ordered me to bring you to him as soon as you woke up.”
“The Young Master?”
Seung Doheung looked at the Underworld Sect member with anxious eyes, but the man’s expression showed he had no idea what was going on.
Having no choice, he followed the Underworld Sect member to the Hyeoncheon Estate.
Upon arriving at the Hyeoncheon Estate, Seung Doheung was taken to Byeok Taesan’s office.
In Byeok Taesan’s office were Hwaok and the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion—that is, the leader of the Underworld Sect.
As Seung Doheung approached, Byeok Taesan observed him carefully.
When their eyes met, Seung Doheung flinched and stopped in his tracks.
He felt as if his mind was being pierced through.
Then, the corners of Byeok Taesan’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Oh? Look at this.”
Byeok Taesan crooked a finger at Seung Doheung, beckoning him to come closer.
Fearing a repeat of what happened yesterday—no, five days ago—Seung Doheung hurried over.
How could someone kill a person after promising them a reward?
He hadn’t actually died, but Seung Doheung still didn’t feel like he was alive.
As Seung Doheung drew near, Byeok Taesan examined him more closely.
“I thought you’d have to die a few times, but it was over in one go.”
Hearing those words, a shiver ran down Seung Doheung’s spine.
“D-die? Why would you say something so terrible? Hahahaha.”
“Can’t you feel the difference?”
Seung Doheung looked bewildered.
But in the end, he couldn’t understand what Byeok Taesan was talking about.
Byeok Taesan waved a dismissive hand at Seung Doheung.
“Go back for now. I’ll take the time to look you over later. It’s a reward, so I’ll make sure it’s properly ingrained in your body.”
At those words, Seung Doheung retreated with a grimace.
Hwaok, standing beside them, watched Seung Doheung and Byeok Taesan alternately with a curious expression.
For Byeok Taesan to react like this meant there was something about Seung Doheung.
“He has talent.”
For the word “talent” to come from Byeok Taesan’s lips was truly remarkable.
Hwaok looked at Seung Doheung’s retreating back with newfound appreciation.
“Now, let’s finish our discussion.”
At Byeok Taesan’s words, the atmosphere in the room settled.
“You’re going to the Heavenly Martial Alliance?”
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion bowed her head and replied.
“Yes. I want to give it a try.”
Desire flickered in her eyes, but it didn’t diminish her sense of reverence for Byeok Taesan.
“Well, that’s not a bad idea.”
Joy spread across the Master’s face.
“Thank you! I will be sure to bring back good results!”
Byeok Taesan nodded and fell into thought for a moment.
“But isn’t it a bit strange?”
At that question, Hwaok and the Master’s expressions stiffened slightly. They both nodded at the same time.
“It is strange.”
They even answered in unison.
The Underworld Sect had already regained the power it had before losing the Shadow Fortress. No, it had surpassed it.
But because its growth had been so rapid, the outside world’s perception of the Underworld Sect hadn’t changed much.
The Underworld Sect, having lost the Shadow Fortress, was not an intelligence organization worthy of the Martial Alliance’s or the Black Alliance’s attention.
The Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance typically used the Underworld Sect when they wanted to spread or redirect rumors.
Although the Underworld Sect’s status had risen slightly recently, it was still just the Underworld Sect.
After meeting Byeok Taesan, the Underworld Sect’s activities revolved strictly around him.
It wasn't that they didn't take outside requests, but they didn't prioritize them, so their true capabilities remained largely unknown.
At most, their involvement with the Golden Moon Trading Company was the only thing that might have been visible to outsiders, but that was hard for anyone not deeply interested in the world of commerce to notice.
In fact, most of the important work was done using the Mystic Heaven Trading Company.
But for the Heavenly Martial Alliance to recruit such an organization was extremely odd.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion spoke her speculation in a slightly subdued voice.
“Perhaps… they intend to use us as a subordinate organization.”
Byeok Taesan nodded. That's what he thought as well.
It was unknown how powerful the Heavenly Martial Alliance would become. But an organization newly formed by the Five Great Families, the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, and even the Hubei Martial Alliance, could not be ordinary.
If nurtured properly, it could potentially grow larger than any of the individual factions that joined it.
For a power of that magnitude, it wouldn't be strange to operate several intelligence organizations.
It seemed they planned to have one large organization at the center, with several subordinate groups operating under it.
And the Underworld Sect would be one of them.
Byeok Taesan looked at the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion steadily. His gaze asked if she still wanted to do it, knowing this.
Her eyes sparkling, she said.
“Lowering myself for a while means nothing to me. There will surely be something to gain by going there.”
But one wrong move, and the Underworld Sect could be swallowed whole by them.
Byeok Taesan gave a light nod.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll handle it well.”
A bright smile spread across the Master’s face at Byeok Taesan’s words.
“Thank you for trusting me. I will repay the Young Master’s faith with great achievements.”
Byeok Taesan nodded and then turned his gaze to Hwaok.
“Sama Wihong is looking for me?”
“Yes.”
Byeok Taesan let out a short laugh.
“He’s not going to come here… so he’s telling me to go to the Martial Alliance, is that it?”
“That is the message.”
Sama Wihong’s letter had arrived at the Golden Jade Estate, and from there it was sent to the Hyeoncheon Estate.
Hwaok anticipated what Byeok Taesan would say.
“The one who wants to see me should be the one to come.”
“I will send a reply with that intention.”
Of course, she couldn’t use those exact words. She would write something along the lines of him being unable to leave due to the opening of his new estate.
Adding that a visit from him would be welcome anytime would probably get the message across.
Though it would surely offend him.
That was all for the discussion about Sama Wihong.
Hwaok took a deep breath and then slowly began to speak.
“I would like to establish the headquarters of the Mystic Heaven Trading Company in Wuhan.”
Currently, they were based and operating in Changsha.
However, the Mystic Heaven Trading Company was destined to encompass the entire world. Therefore, she believed its headquarters should be where Byeok Taesan was.
This wasn't just Hwaok’s opinion; it was the consensus among everyone involved.
Byeok Taesan nodded as if it didn't matter much to him.
“Do as you see fit.”
“I will avoid encroaching on the Golden Jade Trading Company’s business territory as much as possible. The Mystic Heaven Trading Company plans to do business with the entire world, not just Wuhan.”
“Not bad.”
With Byeok Taesan’s permission, Hwaok smiled gently and bowed her head slightly.
After that, a series of minor reports followed.
After all the reports were finished, Byeok Taesan looked at Hwaok and said.
“That guy, Je Wiryong, keep him on a tight leash. If he doesn’t listen, tell me. A heavenly brain works best when it’s stomped on once every couple of months.”
Hwaok’s eyes widened in surprise at his words. But then she thought of Je Wiryong and smiled faintly.
Byeok Taesan was right. Je Wiryong was still a bit different from his other subordinates.
Hwaok decided she shouldn't let him remain in that state any longer.
***
Within the Martial Alliance, there was an organization composed solely of strategists.
It was called the Pavilion of Crimson Sages, an organization managed by the Grand Strategist, Sama Wihong.
The Pavilion of Crimson Sages was where dozens of strategists wracked their brains daily for the sake of the Martial Alliance.
They determined the course of action for the organizations under the Martial Alliance and also mediated any disputes related to it.
They also received various pieces of information to assess the state of the world and plan the Martial Alliance’s movements.
Of course, the Pavilion of Crimson Sages only made plans; the decision to execute them rested with the Alliance Lord.
Even so, as long as their proposals weren’t nonsensical, they were mostly accepted, so their influence was considerable.
Naturally, the influence of Sama Wihong, the Grand Strategist and head of the Pavilion, was comparable to that of the Alliance Lord.
Sama Wihong was reading a letter.
As he read, his eyebrows twitched incessantly.
The letter was composed of very elegant prose. But its core message was quite simple.
“He can’t come? Hah, well now…”
After finishing the letter, Sama Wihong took a deep breath. His mind immediately calmed.
In front of him, several strategists sat at their respective desks, working with hollow eyes.
Among them, a strategist who had been taking a short break, rubbing his eyes, heard Sama Wihong’s murmur and made a look of disbelief.
“That brat, has he lost his mind? How can he refuse a summons from the Grand Strategist of the Martial Alliance?”
Sama Wihong gave a bitter smile.
“Wasn’t I the arrogant one for assuming he would naturally come when called? There’s no need to get so worked up.”
To be honest, he was a little surprised. Until now, not a single person Sama Wihong had summoned had failed to show up.
That even included the heads of some rather prominent families.
So he had naturally assumed Byeok Taesan would be the same.
“Still, if we let this slide, won’t it tarnish the Martial Alliance’s prestige? I believe appropriate measures should be taken.”
Sama Wihong shook his head.
“What’s the need for that? Honestly, he’s not wrong.”
The one in need is the one who should make the visit. Though it wasn't a pleasant feeling.
“But…!”
“That’s enough. Get back to your work.”
“Yes, sir.”
The strategist quickly shrank back and resumed his work.
Sama Wihong was lost in thought with a peculiar expression.
The first time he had heard the name Byeok Taesan was when he sent the True Sword Captain to Wuhan to recruit the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric.
Of course, at that time, Byeok Taesan was only mentioned briefly in the investigation into the Golden Jade Trading Company, where the two doctors had taken refuge.
He began to take a serious interest in Byeok Taesan during the investigation into the disappearance of Bang Durip, the leader of the Martial Alliance’s Heavenly Sword Division.
The case of Bang Durip’s disappearance was still shrouded in mystery, but as they conducted a broad investigation into Changsha, where Bang Durip had gone, the name Byeok Taesan popped up.
Remembering who Byeok Taesan was, Sama Wihong began to investigate, curious as to why the man who should have been in Wuhan was in Changsha.
But once the investigation started, there was more than one surprising discovery.
First, it was most surprising that the Divine Doctor of the Ages and the One-Needle Eccentric had entrusted themselves not to the Golden Jade Trading Company, but to Byeok Taesan personally.
On top of that, even the Heavenly Medicine Hall had come under Byeok Taesan.
And that wasn't all; the Underworld Sect also had a close relationship with Byeok Taesan.
That's why he wanted to see him.
He thought that if a talent like Byeok Taesan joined the Heavenly Martial Alliance, he could play a significant role.
He was planning to personally recommend him so he could establish a proper position in the Heavenly Martial Alliance.
Sama Wihong pondered whether it was truly worth his while to go to Wuhan and meet Byeok Taesan in person.
Honestly, if he thought about it coldly, there was no need.
It was true that there was something special about Byeok Taesan, but that didn't change his background as the second young master of the Golden Jade Trading Company.
And it wasn't as if that special something was great enough to overturn the world.
It would be far more beneficial to spend that time focusing on the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Martial Alliance.
But a lingering attachment remained.
For some reason, he really wanted to see him just once. He felt he wouldn't be satisfied until he met him in person and saw what kind of man he was with his own eyes.
Sama Wihong’s contemplation deepened.