Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Eternal Martial God Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sang Gang-jo, perhaps feeling more at ease, even made a joke.
“As long as the Alliance Lord arrives safely and the secret doesn't leak for a while, everything should be fine.”
Sang Gang-jo clasped his hands in a respectful salute.
“I must immediately share this joyous news with my wife.”
“Don't say anything that might cause a misunderstanding.”
“I will relay that message as well.”
A smile unconsciously formed on my lips as I watched Sang Gang-jo dash off toward the Dong-ro Branch as if he were flying.
However, I knew I would have to sort things out here by the time the Alliance Lord arrived in Dong-ro Prefecture.
Sang Gang-jo, in his excitement, probably hadn't thought that far ahead.
* * *
Jang Ung had been waiting a long time to give his report.
“We have placed the Sun Moon Sword Sect under our Peerless Sect as the Sun Moon Sword Altar, and appointed U Mun-rak as its Altar Lord.”
Since I tended to entrust most matters, including those concerning the Peerless Sect, to Jang Ung, I simply nodded.
“In my opinion, the Golden Star Group is based in Nanjing, but rather than needlessly competing with various merchant groups there, it would be better to relocate to Hangzhou.”
“That sounds fine.”
Placing the Sun Moon Sword Sect as a mere altar under the Peerless Sect and relocating the Golden Star Group to Hangzhou were both excellent, decisive measures typical of Jang Ung.
“Therefore, I have placed the Golden Star Group under the Crouching Dragon Group and arranged for all of the Golden Star Group's merchant ships to be moved to nearby Hangzhou.”
“Good!”
“Once the Golden Star Group relocates to Hangzhou, we plan to dispatch masters from the Sun Moon Sword Altar to act as guards and focus on securing our base of operations.”
Ja-un had once subtly asked me what would be a good name for the organization encompassing the Ja-un Pavilion and a total of twenty-four other gisaeng houses, taverns, and inns. I had suggested the Crouching Dragon Group, and they had been using that name ever since. He said he placed the Golden Star Group under that Crouching Dragon Group.
“I will entrust the Golden Star Group to Jo Wi-yang.”
“Do so.”
The Sun Moon Sword Sect and the Golden Star Group were assets I had acquired from the Blood Shadow Sword Venerable, whom I had killed. Since U Mun-rak and Jo Wi-yang had earnestly pleaded for me to take them in, I had entrusted the matter to Jang Ung.
Even I couldn't think of a better way to handle it.
Jang Ung's report continued.
“There are fifty-five assassins from the Northern Underworld Bureau in Dong-ro Prefecture, and they are staying at the Black Stone Manor to the west. The manor originally belonged to the Dong-ro branch of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union.”
“Did you know that the Black Stone Manor belonged to the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union's Dong-ro branch?”
“I was aware of all the properties in Dong-ro Prefecture owned by the Dong-ro branches of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union and the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path. Immediately after they withdrew, we seized all of them through proper legal procedures.”
Proper legal procedures meant they were approved by the Dong-ro Prefecture's government office.
This meant that the Black Stone Manor's ownership had transferred to the Crouching Dragon Group, yet the assassins from the Northern Underworld Bureau were hiding there, oblivious to this fact.
The contract that the Sword Demon King, Nu Jin-sang, the Zhejiang Demonic Union Lord of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union, had initially placed with the Northern Underworld Bureau to kill me was still active.
“Are the thirty-five members of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path still here?”
Jang Ung had previously reported that ten masters from the Demonic Emperor's Life-Reaping Squad, over fifty assassins from the Northern Underworld Bureau, and thirty-five members of the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path had entered Dong-ro Prefecture to kill me.
“They are lying low in groups of three and five in various places throughout Dong-ro Prefecture, including the inns.”
“Have you identified the remaining four?”
A few days ago, Jang Ung had said he was still investigating the four.
Jang Ung spoke with a serious tone.
“We have identified two of the four as being from the Mysterious Jade Palace and one from the Four Seas Way. However, we have not yet identified the last one. I apologize.”
“The Mysterious Jade Palace and the Four Seas Way?”
“Yes. It has been confirmed.”
The Mysterious Jade Palace of the Yokai realm and the Four Seas Way of the Green Forest. It was a bit unexpected.
“Did they also come to kill me?”
“It doesn't seem so. We witnessed them approaching you several times before retreating. It seems their purpose is to meet with you, my lord.”
“Is that so?”
I hadn't been aware at all that people from the Mysterious Jade Palace or the Four Seas Way had approached me.
“Do you know where they are?”
“I do.”
I stood up.
“Let's go.”
“Sir?”
“We have esteemed guests arriving. We should go roll out the red carpet.”
* * *
In front of the Dong-ro Branch, about fifty martial artists were lined up, waiting for their membership review to join the Alliance.
The branch members, seeing me emerge from a side door next to the main gate, bowed respectfully.
“Grand Branch Master!”
Jang Ung and I walked side by side, with Go Un-hyo following behind.
“Since the people from the Mysterious Jade Palace and the Four Seas Way have no connections in Dong-ro Prefecture, they are staying in an inn and on a boat, respectively. Where would you like to go first?”
“Let's go to the nearest one.”
“They must have come to ask you for a favor, my lord.”
“A favor?”
“They were not sent by the main palace of the Mysterious Jade Palace or the main island of the Four Seas Way. They came in a personal capacity.”
“Is there anything I should know?”
“People from the Mysterious Jade Palace are called sorcerers, and they are skilled in using mystical arts.”
“Sorcery?”
“It is said to be an art that primarily bewitches people and suppresses their minds, but I am not well-versed in it myself.”
“Is there something even you don't know?”
“I am still inexperienced.”
I had never met anyone as close to perfection as Jang Ung. Yet, he claimed to be inexperienced.
I had never witnessed sorcery before.
“It is said that monks with deep spiritual cultivation, Taoist priests well-versed in Taoist arts, and those with profound internal energy cannot be deluded by a sorcerer's arts.”
Just then, Go Un-hyo sent me a mental message.
[Brother, someone has been tailing us since we left the Dong-ro Branch.]
I pointed to a tavern on the side of the road.
“Do you know that tavern?”
“It's one of ours.”
“Let's go in for a moment.”
As I headed to the tavern with Jang Ung, I sent a mental message to Go Un-hyo.
[Un-hyo, subdue the one tailing us and bring him here.]
[Understood.]
We sat in a pavilion in the tavern's backyard, drinking tea.
Suddenly, I became curious about the place called Chungmu Manor, which had offered to fund the Martial Alliance.
“Do you know anything about Chungmu Manor?”
“The name Chungmu Manor is common; there are probably thousands of manors with that name in the world. Which one are you referring to?”
“The one that agreed to fund the Martial Alliance.”
Jang Ung answered immediately.
“If that's the one, then there is only one place.”
“Oh?”
Jang Ung explained without hesitation.
“Chungmu Manor is the public face of the Eternal Martial God Family.”
“The Eternal Martial God Family?”
I had heard the name before. They were said to be the greatest and most sacred martial family since the beginning of the martial world.
That was all I knew. I didn't know why they came to be called the Eternal Martial God Family.
“Does the Eternal Martial God Family have the means to fund the Martial Alliance?”
“I believe the Nine Provinces Celestial Commerce, one of the three great merchant guilds of the world, is owned by the Eternal Martial God Family.”
“Is that so?”
“The Nine Provinces Celestial Commerce is larger than the Daehwa Merchant Guild and the Yong-un Merchant Guild combined, the other two of the three great guilds.”
“Impressive.”
“The fact that Chungmu Manor is the Eternal Martial God Family is almost unknown, and the fact that the Nine Provinces Celestial Commerce is owned by them is an even greater secret.”
“And yet, you know.”
“Very few people would know this.”
“Can you find out more?”
“The Eternal Martial God Family is so mysterious that it will be difficult.”
“I imagine so.”
It wasn't for any other reason than the thought that a mysterious family like them must have many outstanding masters. Strong masters were what caught my interest.
Jang Ung wore an apologetic expression.
“I will look into it, but please do not get your hopes up.”
*Whoosh!*
From the air outside the pavilion, Go Un-hyo descended vertically.
He had a person slung over his shoulder and greeted me politely.
“Put him down and let him speak.”
Go Un-hyo stepped into the pavilion, set down the person he was carrying, and released his muting acupoint.
The man was a stout fellow in his mid-thirties with a short, black beard. Seeing me while his vital acupoints were sealed, he was startled.
“Ah!”
Jang Ung spoke to the man calmly.
“Why were you following us?”
The stout man's eyes darted around, his face anxious.
“I... I was trying to escort you...!”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“To where?”
“My master wishes to see you.”
“Who is your master?”
“The Lord of the Taihu Fortress.”
I had never heard the title 'Lord of the Taihu Fortress' before.
“What is that?”
Jang Ung explained.
“He's a water bandit.”
“A water bandit?”
I had heard the term 'water bandit' before.
“There are countless rivers and lakes in the world, and thousands of water bandit factions operating on them. Among them, the group based in Lake Tai is known as the Eighteen Fortresses of Taihu, and their leader is the Lord of the Taihu Fortress.”
Jang Ung asked the stout man.
“Why does he want to meet the Fire Dragon Sword?”
“I was only ordered to bring the great hero, Fire Dragon Sword, so I do not know the reason.”
He knew, but he wasn't answering. He would confess under torture, but it was a hassle, and I didn't want to get my hands dirty.
Jang Ung didn't ask any more questions. Now, it was up to me to decide.
“What is the name of this Lord of the Taihu Fortress?”
“He is Heuk-wol.”
“And who are you?”
“I am Janbu, the trusted subordinate of the Lord of the Taihu Fortress.”
“This Heuk-wol fellow could have come to meet me himself. Why is he summoning me?”
Janbu flinched when his eyes met mine and lowered his gaze.
“The Fortress Lord cannot dare to show himself because there are too many watchful eyes.”
Jang Ung cut in.
“Are you worried about being watched by the Four Seas Way?”
The Four Seas Way, which dominated the Green Forest, also had water bandits under its command. For all I knew, the Eighteen Fortresses of Taihu were probably under their control as well.
Janbu glanced at Jang Ung.
“That is correct.”
“There is no one from the Four Seas Way in Dong-ro Prefecture.”
Jang Ung stated it as a fact.
“How do you know that?”
“If I say there are none, there are none.”
Janbu didn't understand and tilted his head in confusion.
Jang Ung asked Janbu.
“Where is this Heuk-wol?”
“He is on the Qiantang River.”
“On a boat?”
“Yes. We have dozens of boats.”
Jang Ung said to me.
“I will handle this matter.”
“Do so.”
As I stood up, Jang Ung said to Janbu.
“Return to your boat. We will visit soon.”
“Who... who will?”
I stepped down from the pavilion.
“Release him.”
Go Un-hyo released Janbu's acupoints and followed Jang Ung and me.
Janbu scrambled to his feet and shouted.
“We will fly the Heuk-wol flag on our boat!”
When no one answered, Janbu shouted again.
“Please! You must come!”
* * *
Back on the street, Jang Ung spoke.
“That man, Janbu, was from the Four Seas Way.”
“Then I suppose we should go see the people from the Mysterious Jade Palace now.”
“I will escort you.”
I casually asked Go Un-hyo.
“Un-hyo, what did you think of that man earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“His martial arts.”
I was curious, as I had never experienced the martial arts of the Green Forest.
“Ah! But I subdued him before he could use any techniques, so I do not know.”
Jang Ung said.
“My lord, the Green Forest's martial arts are a hodgepodge of techniques, far removed from the arts of the Orthodox, Demonic, or Unorthodox factions.”
“Is that so?”
“Furthermore, instead of conventional weapons like sabers, swords, or spears, they use a variety of miscellaneous tools as weapons, such as axes, chains, flails, steel pitchforks, and nunchaku.”
“Can they be effective with such things?”
Jang Ung smiled faintly.
“There's a reason why even the lowest-ranking Unorthodox warriors look down on the Green Forest.”
* * *
Dong-ro Prefecture is situated at the confluence where the Tianmu Stream, originating from Mount Tianmu and flowing south, merges with the Qiantang River.
There are two ports, one on the Tianmu Stream and one on the Qiantang River, at the point where the two rivers meet. Hundreds of boats and houseboats are packed tightly around these two ports.
Houseboats, as the name suggests, are houses built on top of boats and used as residences. This is a common sight in Zhejiang Province, which is full of rivers and canals, and they are convenient as they can travel anywhere.