Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: I Won't Kill You
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Chae Miryeong, Byeok Taesu's wife, had been on edge lately.
It was, of course, because of Byeok Taesan.
She hadn't liked it when he went to the Hubei Martial Alliance, but what came after was even more problematic.
Whatever he had done there, people from the Hubei Martial Alliance had started visiting incessantly.
They brought jaw-dropping proposals, enough to throw the entire Golden Jade Trading Company into an uproar.
The issue wasn't about making a fortune by dealing with the Hubei Martial Alliance.
In truth, a company of Golden Jade's stature could earn plenty of money and grow just fine without the Alliance's business.
However, dealing with the Hubei Martial Alliance offered additional benefits.
For one, it would build a diverse and powerful network of connections.
The Hubei Martial Alliance was an organization of Hubei's renowned martial families. Naturally, it could serve as a bridge to each of them.
Furthermore, the mere fact of conducting important business with the Alliance provided a layer of protection.
No one would dare to carelessly provoke the Golden Jade Trading Company.
Anyone who tried would have to consider the Hubei Martial Alliance, which might be standing behind them.
In any case, this continued situation was bound to put Chae Miryeong on edge.
But what irritated her even more was that as soon as Byeok Taesan returned, some people began trying to curry favor with him.
As Chae Miryeong was trying to suppress her anger, Byeok Cheonil came to see her.
"What happened?"
Chae Miryeong asked urgently the moment he entered.
Byeok Cheonil's expression was grim.
"The Master has taken all the authority, I'm told."
Chae Miryeong's eyes widened.
"Byeok Taesan gave it all up?"
"Yes."
The corners of Chae Miryeong's mouth lifted into a wide smile.
"Then we might be able to push one of those opportunities to our Jehyeok."
Byeok Cheonil gulped, watching her.
Chae Miryeong was someone who could certainly make that happen.
After all, she was the wife of the master, Byeok Taesu.
"However, the Master has promised to give Byeok Taesan ten percent of the net profit from this business."
"What?"
Chae Miryeong's eyes grew as wide as saucers. Flames of fury blazed within them.
Whose money did he think he was, giving it to Byeok Taesan?
"What about entrusting the escort agency business to Byeok Taesan? Is that proceeding smoothly?"
Byeok Cheonil shook his head again.
"He refused, I'm told."
Chae Miryeong was dumbfounded.
"He refused? What on earth is he thinking? Have you found anything out? A man who forged such a connection with the Hubei Martial Alliance wouldn't refuse something like that without a reason."
"Not yet... I'm not sure."
Chae Miryeong's expression instantly turned cold.
"Find out."
"Yes."
"Use any means necessary. Find out who in the Hubei Martial Alliance is showing him favor, if anyone is backing him, and if so, who. Find out his weaknesses, and see if anyone around him harbors any resentment. Everything! Do I have to spell out every little thing for you?"
At Chae Miryeong's torrent of words, Byeok Cheonil turned pale and lowered his head slightly.
Chae Miryeong then spoke to him in a soft, gentle voice.
"You'll need to be at least that capable to sit in the seat of the next Pavilion Master, wouldn't you say?"
With his head still bowed, Byeok Cheonil's body trembled.
A mixture of ambition, fear, and humiliation fiercely stirred his heart.
***
After returning from the Hubei Martial Alliance, Byeok Taesan didn't leave his room for about two days.
He ate his meals and bathed in his room.
To others, it seemed like he was getting some much-needed rest after the arduous trip to the Alliance.
But that wasn't the truth.
During those two days, Byeok Taesan was calmly organizing everything he had gained from his visit.
He trained at the same time.
Currently, Byeok Taesan was completely engrossed in the Heaven-Concealing Steps.
He practiced the technique as if starting from scratch, and the more he did, the more new discoveries he made.
And lately, he'd begun to suspect that the Heaven-Concealing Steps were somehow connected to the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
He hadn't figured out anything definitive yet, but he was certain of it.
The question that started there spread to the other martial arts of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
So, for the past two days, he had been deeply contemplating and analyzing that aspect.
Thanks to that, he had gained a certain degree of confidence.
The fact that the basic arts of the Heavenly Demonic Cult were somehow related to the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
Of course, even if they were called "basic arts," they weren't techniques practiced by the low-ranking warriors of the Cult. They were arts bestowed only upon squad leaders who commanded about twenty men.
Even then, to receive all the basic arts, one had to achieve a series of significant merits.
However, the Heavenly Demonic Cult was filled with martial arts far superior to these grandly-named basic arts.
Thus, even if someone received the basic arts as a reward, hardly anyone ever bothered to master them properly.
Byeok Taesan was one of those few.
But even as he learned them, Byeok Taesan had to admit they were practically useless in actual combat.
However, they were of great help in training.
The Heaven-Concealing Steps were a prime example.
Simply practicing them properly smoothed the flow of ki and balanced the body.
The basic arts of the Heavenly Demonic Cult were generally like that.
But if those basic arts were intertwined with the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts, wouldn't that change things?
In any case, after organizing his thoughts on the basic arts, Byeok Taesan finally left his room.
The spiritual energy he had obtained from the water vein this time was so exceptional that it had accelerated his healing.
At this rate, it seemed he could bring his body to a perfect state much faster than he had anticipated.
But that wasn't the end.
From then on, he had to train properly to temper his mind, ki, and body.
Of course, he could take his time with that.
No, he planned to do it at a leisurely pace. Hadn't he decided to live a quiet and peaceful life if he ever got a second chance?
He had already experienced more than enough of a fierce life.
As Byeok Taesan stepped out of his room, Hwaok approached as if she had been waiting.
She was Byeok Taesan's handmaiden, but also his liaison with the Underworld Sect.
She was also in charge of managing his schedule.
Perhaps due to her past experience, she was excellent at it.
"Young Master, you've come out."
Byeok Taesan nodded at Hwaok's polite greeting.
Behind her, he could see other handmaidens moving about the pavilion, attending to their chores.
Byeok Taesan stroked his chin, his gaze shifting between Hwaok and the other handmaidens.
Hwaok asked cautiously.
"Is something the matter?"
There was something peculiar in the way Byeok Taesan was looking at her, and Hwaok tensed slightly.
She had heard the rumors about Byeok Taesan.
She had heard the legendary tale of how he had laid waste to the Infinite Gisaeng House and earned the title "King of the Night" back when she was in Yichang.
It wasn't information she'd obtained through the Underworld Sect, but something she'd heard because she ran a gisaeng house.
In other words, Byeok Taesan was already famous among the gisaengs.
It would be a lie to say she didn't feel a flicker of anticipation when such a man looked at her with that peculiar gaze.
"Come to think of it, you were the tenth."
Hwaok swallowed dryly. But she didn't hear the words she was expecting.
"If you have something to say, say it."
"Ah!"
Hwaok finally came to her senses and quickly composed her expression.
"Many guests came to see you while you were resting, Young Master."
"Guests?"
"Yes. For now, I've sent them all away as you instructed."
Byeok Taesan nodded in approval, and Hwaok continued.
"First, the Patrol Hall Master of the Hubei Martial Alliance came. You know of the great warrior Seo Mundeok, correct?"
"I do."
"Also, the two physicians from the Heavenly Medicine Hall visited more than three times a day. I expect they will come again today."
"And someone from the East Lake Escort Agency came."
"The East Lake Escort Agency?"
The East Lake Escort Agency was a secret organization of the Heavenly Demonic Cult that he had briefly used when crushing the Jongli Family.
A slight smile touched Byeok Taesan's lips.
"These guys... what are they up to?"
The secret organizations of the Heavenly Demonic Cult were forbidden from acting on their own like this.
They were to carry out only their assigned missions.
They could only take on other tasks when an order came down from above.
But right now, their superiors in the Heavenly Demonic Cult were in no position to issue any orders.
And yet, they had acted of their own accord.
Sensing the ominous shift in Byeok Taesan's mood, Hwaok tensed up.
"Is... something wrong?"
"It's nothing. Continue. Were those all the guests?"
"There were many more, but they were rather insignificant, so I've only compiled a list of their affiliations and names."
Hwaok said this and respectfully presented a long sheet of paper from her sleeve.
It was densely covered with affiliations and names.
Byeok Taesan took it, glanced over it, and then tossed it aside.
*Fwoosh!*
Flames suddenly erupted, and the paper instantly turned to ash.
Hwaok's eyes widened like saucers.
But she quickly composed herself.
"Also, as you instructed, I am searching for a suitable manor. The assets currently held by the Underworld Sect will be moved there as soon as one is secured."
Byeok Taesan nodded.
This is why you need competent people working for you. He only had to mention it in passing, and she handled everything so efficiently. How convenient.
"And the investigation you mentioned is underway. The scope is quite vast, so it seems it will take some time."
Byeok Taesan nodded and said.
"We'll handle them one by one. Let's start by meeting the fellow from the East Lake Escort Agency."
A slight smile touched Byeok Taesan's lips once more.
An unknown fear crept into Hwaok, and she shivered involuntarily.
She quickly bowed her head and replied.
"I will arrange it at once."
***
The man from the East Lake Escort Agency was staying at an inn not far from the Golden Jade Trading Company.
It was an inn of average size, and word was the man had been waiting there for ten days already to meet Byeok Taesan.
When Byeok Taesan entered the inn, all eyes turned to him.
The first floor of the inn was filled with a good number of tables for simple meals, and every table was packed with people.
He didn't know who they were, but from the aura they exuded, he could guess what kind of men they were.
They carried the distinct air of the underworld.
Byeok Taesan strode inside.
Just then, someone hurried down from the second floor.
He stood before Byeok Taesan and clasped his fist in the most respectful manner possible.
"I am Ma Chungsam, a guard captain of the East Lake Escort Agency. It is an honor to meet you, Young Master."
Byeok Taesan gave a slight nod and glanced around.
"Did you bring them?"
"Yes, I did."
As Ma Chungsam spoke, he glanced at Cheon Gyeongwan, Yu Seoyeon, and Hwaok, who had followed Byeok Taesan.
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon stood calmly, but Hwaok could not.
She was breaking out in a cold sweat.
Ma Chungsam watched Hwaok with deep, sunken eyes before speaking cautiously to Byeok Taesan.
"I have prepared a private room upstairs."
Byeok Taesan nodded and strode toward the stairs.
Cheon Gyeongwan, Yu Seoyeon, and Hwaok quickly followed him.
But just as they were about to ascend the stairs, the men sitting at the tables rose in unison and blocked their path.
"You'll have to wait here for a moment."
One of the men blocking the way said, his cold eyes sweeping over Cheon Gyeongwan's group.
"Our esteemed Guard Captain wishes to see the Young Master alone."
Cheon Gyeongwan replied calmly.
"That's your business. We are following our Young Master, so step aside."
They all stood their ground, showing no intention of backing down.
Cheon Gyeongwan looked up at Byeok Taesan, who was already ascending the stairs.
Byeok Taesan didn't even glance their way, as if he had no interest whatsoever.
Cheon Gyeongwan took a bold step forward.
He intended to break through by force.
Yu Seoyeon matched his movement.
The two moved in perfect sync, as if they had planned it from the start.
*Thwack! Thud! Bam!*
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon's skills had been improving by leaps and bounds recently.
They were not at a level that mere underworld thugs could block.
In an instant, they knocked down all the men who stood in their way.
But that wasn't the end of it.
Everyone on the first floor of the inn rose to their feet. Among them were a few who looked quite formidable.
Seeing this, Cheon Gyeongwan's eyes flashed as he stood guard at the foot of the stairs.
"You two go on ahead. We must not keep the Young Master waiting. I'll follow shortly."
The moment Cheon Gyeongwan finished speaking, Hwaok hurried up the stairs.
Yu Seoyeon gazed at Cheon Gyeongwan for a moment, but he shook his head resolutely.
Yu Seoyeon patted his shoulder and then ascended the stairs.
Cheon Gyeongwan surveyed the men approaching him.
As if by prior agreement, they all approached empty-handed, leaving their weapons at their seats.
Cheon Gyeongwan had no intention of drawing his weapon either.
"Since you're unarmed, I won't kill you."
As he spoke, Cheon Gyeongwan unleashed his aura without restraint.
*Kwoooosh!*
A rough and powerful aura, beyond imagination, swept through the inn.
The approaching men momentarily halted.
But soon, a venomous glint appeared in their eyes, and they charged forward in a rush.
The sight reminded Cheon Gyeongwan of his former self.
The way he looked when he trained through practical sparring with Yu Seoyeon.
He must have had similar eyes back then.
He felt a strange sense of kinship. But that didn't mean he had any intention of going easy on them.
The corners of Cheon Gyeongwan's mouth twitched up and then down.
And he clenched both his fists.