Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Close the Door on Your Way Out
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Hwaok stared in surprise at Jo Taeju, who was prostrated beside Byeok Taesan, his body curled into a ball.
"What did you see?"
Hwaok calmly recalled the scene she had just witnessed.
Byeok Taesan had placed his hand on the crown of Jo Taeju's head and then pulled something out.
She didn't know what it was.
But after that, Jo Taeju's eyes had rolled back, and he had begun to scream.
It seemed to have been prearranged, as no one came to investigate the commotion in front of the pavilion.
Perhaps anyone else who saw the scene would have been merely bewildered.
But Hwaok was different.
She had eyes that could see other things.
That was why she was truly shocked.
She could see nothing from the screaming Jo Taeju.
The strong emotions he had harbored just moments before had completely vanished.
There was only emptiness.
Having only recently acquired her new ability, she couldn't be certain, but wasn't a person with only such emptiness someone who had lost their mind from a great shock?
Jo Taeju stood rooted to the spot, eyes rolled back, screaming at the top of his lungs for a full four hours.
What was more surprising was what happened next.
Suddenly, Jo Taeju collapsed to the floor, and since then, he had been prostrated like that, trembling in fear.
And from that moment, Jo Taeju's emotions began to appear.
The lust, ambition, deceit, and mockery she had seen earlier were all gone. In their place were only fear and submission.
Recalling all this, Hwaok looked at Byeok Taesan with tense eyes.
And calmly, she explained what she had seen.
Byeok Taesan listened to Hwaok's words with interest.
When she finished her explanation, Byeok Taesan nodded.
"Interesting."
It was truly interesting. That only emptiness remained the moment he extracted the soul.
Byeok Taesan pondered for a moment.
He had actually planned to teach Hwaok the Secret Spirit Divine Arts, just like the other maids.
But now he saw that there was a martial art more suited to Hwaok than the Secret Spirit Divine Arts.
The synergy between the Shadow Steps and the Secret Spirit Divine Arts was quite good, so honestly, it wouldn't have mattered if she just learned it.
But having seen this, how could he just let it pass?
"Have you any thought of learning demonic arts?"
Hwaok's eyes widened even more than before.
* * *
Seo Dogun visited the Thousand Gold Alliance.
The Thousand Gold Alliance was formed by several merchant groups based in Wuhan, all of which were now floundering.
Their failed scheme against the Golden Jade Trading Company and the subsequent counterattack had been too painful.
They had invested too much money in the scheme.
At the time, they believed they would not only recover it all but also use it to make even more money.
But it had come back to bite them.
The Thousand Gold Alliance was now in a state where its funds were not flowing properly.
It was a situation where even a slight push from someone could cause it to crumble.
It was into this situation that Seo Dogun had come.
And with him was Bong Muok, the Black Moon Sword, who had previously acted as their messenger.
Naturally, the Thousand Gold Alliance was in an uproar.
The Black Moon Sword had not been seen since the Thousand Gold Alliance began to be soundly beaten by the Golden Jade Trading Company.
Then he suddenly appeared like this, accompanied by a man who was clearly his superior.
The leader of the Thousand Gold Alliance looked at Seo Dogun with nervous eyes.
Honestly, he was filled with resentment, but he couldn't express it.
Because these men were truly terrifying.
Seo Dogun grinned at the leader.
"Why are you trembling so? Did you do something wrong to me?"
"O-Of course not. I am merely... surprised. Your visit was so sudden..."
"So you're a bit upset that I showed up out of the blue after being gone for so long?"
"N-No, not at all."
"Then was it that only this fellow kept coming, and now that I've suddenly appeared, you're thinking, 'I'm done for'?"
The leader of the Thousand Gold Alliance felt his heart drop.
He had honestly thought that. But he never expected the man to say it so directly.
"A-Are you going to kill me?"
"Hey, I'm not the kind of guy who goes around killing people. I just came to have a little chat. And to make you an offer you can't refuse."
The phrase 'an offer you can't refuse' sounded suspiciously like 'refuse and you die,' which made it even more terrifying.
"W-What is this offer?"
Seo Dogun spoke as casually as if he were picking up a stone from the road.
"The Thousand Gold Alliance is ruined anyway, right?"
"Pardon?"
"You've been crushed by the Golden Jade Trading Company. Is there any chance of recovery?"
The leader's expression hardened, but he quickly composed himself.
"That is correct. We are ruined, with no possibility of recovery."
Only then did Seo Dogun smile faintly.
"Now we're getting somewhere. In any case, just because you're ruined doesn't mean everyone has to die, right?"
Seo Dogun kept the leader off balance with his shifting tone.
The leader's gaze wavered.
No matter how ruined, the Thousand Gold Alliance was still the Thousand Gold Alliance. If he cut his losses now without getting greedy, he could still secure a foundation to start over.
'But this bastard is telling me to go die.'
But what could he do? If he didn't like this, he shouldn't have taken the man's hand in the first place.
"What would you have me do?"
"It's nothing much. Just package the Thousand Gold Alliance nicely and approach the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance."
"T-The Martial Alliance? And the Black Alliance as well?"
The leader's eyes grew as wide as saucers.
"D-Didn't you say you wouldn't kill me?"
"Why would that get you killed? And I'm not finished. Make contact with the Namgung and Jegal families as well."
It was getting more and more absurd. How could the man say such things unless he was mad?
Seeing the leader's reaction, Seo Dogun sneered.
"This... I heard you were going under, but it seems you've gone blind and deaf as well."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The places I just mentioned are aiming to expand into Wuhan."
"I am aware of that."
"What do you think they'll do to establish a foothold in Wuhan?"
"They'll... establish a pretext. Just like the Hubei Martial Alliance did."
"Exactly. What I want is for the Thousand Gold Alliance to become their pretext."
The leader of the Thousand Gold Alliance looked at Seo Dogun and swallowed dryly.
"Is that... even possible?"
Seo Dogun grinned.
"How would I know? Isn't that something for you, the leader, to worry about? Well... if you can draw in the Martial Alliance or the Black Alliance, you could even use their help to strike at me."
A chill ran down the leader's spine, and he vehemently waved his hands in denial.
"Never! I would never harbor such foolish thoughts! I know my place very well!"
Seo Dogun shook his head lightly.
"No need for that. That's exactly what I want."
"Pardon?"
"Skillfully draw in the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance and expose our existence. However, the story will be that we are partnered with the Golden Jade Trading Company. I'll plant the evidence here and there."
The leader's jaw dropped.
"W-Will that really work?"
The Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance were not fools. A clumsy attempt would only backfire.
Seo Dogun smiled pleasantly.
"What does it matter if it works or not? It's going to be a mess anyway. The Thousand Gold Alliance just needs to profit from the chaos, right? What, no confidence?"
The leader's mind raced.
This was a fight worth trying. As long as Seo Dogun played his part properly.
And he, knowing the truth in advance, was in the most advantageous position. He could profit from this in some way.
"I will try. No, I will make it happen."
Seo Dogun smiled brightly.
"An excellent decision."
* * *
Two days had passed since Byeok Taesan extracted and burned Jo Taeju's soul.
Jo Taeju had returned to the Underworld Sect, and the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had gone back to normal.
And today, the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion arrived in Wuhan.
As soon as she disembarked, she rushed not to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion but to the Golden Jade Villa.
Upon arriving at the Golden Jade Villa, she was guided to the reception room of the pavilion where Byeok Taesan was staying, and soon after, she met him.
Byeok Taesan silently observed the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, who sat demurely before him.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was extremely tense.
She was different from Jo Taeju. On her way here, she had grasped everything that had happened in Wuhan.
"I apologize. I should have been better prepared."
"Enough. It wasn't a problem that could have been solved with preparation. Well, he won't be causing any more trouble from now on."
A chill ran down her spine. Once again, she realized how terrifying Byeok Taesan was.
"I heard you received information about the recent situation in Wuhan."
Byeok Taesan nodded.
"I have compiled the information I requested from each branch of the Underworld Sect on my way to Wuhan."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion respectfully presented a few documents with both hands.
Byeok Taesan took them and glanced through them. Then, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Well, look at this."
It was information that the Martial Alliance, the Black Alliance, the Namgung family, and the Jegal family were in the process of preparing to advance into Wuhan.
It also detailed how they were moving and who was in charge of the operation.
After confirming everything, Byeok Taesan looked at the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
She looked at Byeok Taesan with tense eyes.
Their gazes met, and a brief silence hung between them.
Byeok Taesan was the first to speak.
"Do you have any intention of becoming the master of the Underworld Sect?"
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion prostrated herself.
"If the Young Master grants his permission, I will do so."
Byeok Taesan's eyes gleamed as he looked down at her.
She didn't ask for help, only permission. That meant she was already somewhat prepared to take over the Underworld Sect.
Honestly, it was a bit surprising.
"Simply becoming the master isn't what I need."
It would be troublesome if the Underworld Sect's strength was diminished in the fight for the master's position.
The reason for making her the master was to make use of the sect. If its intelligence-gathering capabilities were weakened by a power struggle, there would be no point in taking control.
"To meet the standards the Young Master desires, I will need assistance."
"How much?"
"I need people who can fight properly."
"Be specific."
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion paused, lost in thought, gauging how many opponents she would have to fight.
"The martial skills of the Underworld Sect members are not very high. However, the three bodyguards of the current master, and the warriors protecting the elders who must be dealt with, are quite skilled."
Strictly speaking, they couldn't be called members of the Underworld Sect. They were hired by the master and the elders.
She gathered her thoughts for a moment before continuing.
"The skill level of the master's bodyguards is comparable to the leader of the river pirates who attacked the rising stars of the Hubei Martial Alliance."
Byeok Taesan's eyes flashed.
"Not as weak as I thought."
The man leading the river pirates at that time had fought fiercely with Yeon Harin. But objectively, he was a couple of steps above her.
"One of them is at that level; the others are a few steps below. And the warriors protecting the elders can be considered a bit weaker than that."
Byeok Taesan nodded.
Weren't there some fellows perfect for this kind of job?
It would be a good way to use them and have them atone for their sins.
"Take this and go to the East Lake Escort Agency."
Byeok Taesan dashed off a letter with a single stroke of his brush and handed it to her.
The Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion respectfully took it and placed it in her robes.
She didn't spare a thought for what was written in the letter, what Byeok Taesan's relationship with the East Lake Escort Agency was, or whether the agency could even handle them.
If Byeok Taesan told her to do it, she would simply do it.
Just as their conversation was wrapping up, a presence was felt outside.
"Young Master. May I come in?"
It was the voice of the Divine Doctor of the Ages. It seemed the One-Needle Eccentric was with him as well.
"Enter."
As soon as Byeok Taesan's permission was given, the door opened, and the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric came inside.
And behind them were seven large chests.
The Divine Doctor grinned and said to Byeok Taesan.
"Young Master, we have completed one hundred of each of the Divine Pills of the Ages you requested."
"Is that so?"
Byeok Taesan's eyes gleamed as he looked at the neatly stacked chests.
The energy flowing from the chests was similar to that of the Divine Pill he carried.
"It seems they're well made."
"Ahem, what are you saying? Who do you think I am? They are absolutely perfect. The best I've ever made."
This was possible thanks to the help of the One-Needle Eccentric, and because the two physicians from the Heavenly Medicine Hall had poured their sleep and effort into it.
At those words, the One-Needle Eccentric, standing beside him, scowled.
"Why are you taking all the credit?"
"When did I do that? I just said they were made perfectly."
Byeok Taesan cut them off before they could get any louder.
"Good work. Take them to my chambers for now."
The Divine Doctor was about to reply when another voice suddenly interjected.
"May I ask what these Divine Pills of the Ages are?"
It was the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
She was looking back and forth between the Divine Doctor and the chests with sparkling eyes.
The Divine Doctor's expression turned sour.
He had a bad feeling about this.
Sure enough, Byeok Taesan looked at the Divine Doctor and said.
"If this matter is handled well, I suppose I can give some of these to the Underworld Sect as a reward. Make thirty more of each."
"Whaat?"
The Divine Doctor stared blankly at Byeok Taesan, looking as if he'd been struck by lightning.
Then he stealthily turned his gaze to the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and glared at her, signaling for her to quickly decline.
But the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion prostrated herself before Byeok Taesan.
"I will never forget the Young Master's grace. I will repay you with definite results."
Byeok Taesan waved his hand dismissively, and the Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion quickly withdrew.
The Divine Doctor glared at her until the very end, but she never met his eyes.
"Agh, that woman..."
Into the Divine Doctor's ear came Byeok Taesan's cold voice.
"You seem displeased."
The Divine Doctor's mind cleared as if doused with ice water.
"Goodness, Young Master. Of course not. I'm different from my brother here."
"Hey! Why are you dragging me into this again!"
Seeing the two about to start again, Byeok Taesan waved his hand.
Then, surprisingly, the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric staggered backward. Before they knew it, they were standing outside, having been pushed out through the open door.
The two of them stared at Byeok Taesan in shock.
Byeok Taesan looked at them indifferently.
"Close the door on your way out."
The two men quietly closed the door.