Chapter 168
Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Shadow Gate Intelligence
Upon arriving in Jenam City, the sun had already set.
Pang Deokjo and I shared a simple dinner before naturally parting ways.
"Then, let's meet back here at noon tomorrow."
"Ahem, have yourself a good time."
Mistaking my plans for a visit to a brothel, Pang Deokjo shot me an envious glance.
But the place I was heading to now wasn't a brothel.
'First things first, I need to meet the Shadow Gate Leader.'
I'd been wondering how to shake off Pang Deokjo when it came time to see the Shadow Gate Leader, so this worked out perfectly.
After parting with Pang Deokjo, I made my way to a modest little eatery run by the Brothel Hall.
The moment I pushed open the restaurant door, a burly middle-aged man greeted me with a grin.
"What took you so damn long? I was starting to worry I'd get an earful for waiting, haha."
It was the Shadow Gate Leader, Fan Senchun.
I hadn't even sent word ahead, yet he spoke as if we'd scheduled it beforehand.
"Were you waiting for me?"
"With the famed New Dragon rolling into Jenam City? Of course I was!"
Hearing the moniker "New Dragon" right to my face felt strangely surreal.
I shrugged and took a seat across from the Shadow Gate Leader.
"Word spread here that fast?"
"Haha, what do you take our Shadow Gate for?"
I'd figured intel from the Murim Alliance might lag a bit since there wasn't a Shadow Gate branch near Jeongju, but as expected, the Shadow Gate was the Shadow Gate.
'Well, it's been over a month since everything went down. It'd be weirder if they didn't know.'
"Speaking of which, what happened to your precious Sword Phoenix that you're tagging along with the Dragon Youth instead?"
Typical info broker, cutting straight to the probing questions.
I had no intention of hiding anything about Harmony Group from the Shadow Gate, but his directness still rubbed me the wrong way.
"That story can wait—it's a long one. For now, can I get some information?"
"What kind?"
"Everything you have on Red Phoenix Baek Iryeong."
"Red Phoenix?"
The Shadow Gate Leader narrowed his eyes at me.
'What's with that look?'
He was already in the know about the Blissful Creation Art, after all.
So there shouldn't be anything suspicious about me asking for a woman's intel...
"Why are you staring like that?"
"You sure you only want info on the Red Phoenix?"
"There's more, but let's start with her."
"Hmm, detailed stuff will take about two days. So, what else do you need?"
"Fill me in on the Four Black Alliance's next moves and the Baek Family too."
At my words, the man suddenly burst into a hearty laugh.
I wondered what that was about until his follow-up made me pause.
"You already claimed Phoenix Rise, huh?"
For a split second, I wondered how he'd guessed, but then it hit me—my own slip-up.
Excluding Moyong Hui, there were two phoenixes left in the Murim Alliance.
If I hadn't taken Nangong Sua, I would've naturally asked for intel on both, not just the Red Phoenix.
Still, piecing it together from just this exchange was impressive.
'He knows me too well.'
No wonder he'd won his Shadow Gate Leader seat through wits, not just gambling.
Denying it here would've been pointless.
Besides, no need to hide it.
'The Shadow Gate knowing won't cause any issues.'
He knew full well how much I cherished my women.
Hell, he'd even offered to put Somwol in his seat instead of his own son because of me.
If this Shadow Gate Leader knew about me and Nangong Sua?
It'd only benefit her, no harm done.
"Yeah, pretty much. Nangong Sua's mine now too, so take good care of her."
"Haha, no worries. Aren't we in the same boat?"
I was tempted to say we weren't that close, but held back for Somwol's sake.
Instead, I played along to squeeze out more info.
"Right, then spill on the Four Black Alliance. You said they're on the move—what's their play?"
"Before that, what's your angle? Gotta know to give you the right intel."
"Hmm..."
It grated that I was the only one spilling beans, but he wasn't wrong.
'No point dragging this out— it'll just cut into my brothel time.'
I already had a ton to ask about.
Better to cut the crap and get what I want quick.
I laid out the Murim Alliance's current stance and everything about Harmony Group for the Shadow Gate Leader.
As I talked on and on, a nagging unease crept in.
'At this rate, doesn't this make me a spy?'
Handing Murim Alliance secrets to the Shadow Gate?
Even spilling on a covert group like Harmony?
The Alliance Lord might grab me the second he found out.
'Eh, as long as I don't get caught. Since when do I care about that stuff?'
Once I'd finished, the Shadow Gate Leader nodded.
"The Four Black Alliance sees it much the same way. They haven't formed a dedicated group like Harmony, but each faction's hunting for moles."
"Any leads?"
He shook his head slowly.
Of course—if it were that easy, the Orthodox-Unorthodox War never would've happened.
"Suspects?"
"They're eyeing the Blood Cult."
This was ahead of the Murim Alliance.
While the Alliance chased shadows like the Demonic Cult's Outer Frontier conquest...
'Thanks to the Shadow Gate, probably.'
Come to think of it, the Shadow Gate Leader had stressed the Blood Cult's threat from our first meeting.
Said their entire Jeolgang Province branch had vanished.
If the Four Black Alliance knew that, suspecting the Blood Cult first made sense.
"They sent an envoy to the Blood Cult recently."
"Response?"
"Contact cut off."
"Hmm... Any intel on their doctrines or goals?"
"Nothing solid yet."
Looked like I'd have to dig into the Blood Cult myself.
Instead, I pivoted to another burning question.
"Why no reply to the Murim Alliance's letter to the Four Black Alliance?"
Back when I was with White Tiger Unit, the Alliance had sent that letter.
Black Tortoise held us off waiting for a reply that never came—even after the year turned, pushing White Tiger to move.
The Shadow Gate Leader's answer was straightforward.
"No need to reply."
"...?"
When I didn't get it, he elaborated.
"War was inevitable anyway. Unlike the Alliance, bound by greater justice, the Four Black Alliance is just factions huddled for self-interest and survival. Plenty of unorthodox sects already took hits—telling them to stand down? Useless, and it'd just erode the Four Black's sway among them."
"Ah..."
The Four Black Alliance was like the Murim Alliance, yet not.
The Alliance was a coalition of Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, and such.
The Four Black was closer to a single massive sect.
Just one with tentacles everywhere in unorthodox circles due to its size.
In other words, where the Alliance prioritized the greater good and orthodox interests, the Four Black put their own first.
And the unorthodox knew it.
So in this mess, if the Four Black tried mediating peace with the orthodox?
'Perfect recipe for suspicion.'
The unorthodox thugs would think the Four Black took a bribe.
No need for the Four Black to write back clearing the air.
'Especially with so many unorthodox sects already burned.'
And unorthodox types weren't the sort to listen anyway.
Hell, look at me—how wild had I run as the Lecherous Demon?
'Speaking of, what happened to Sa Hayerin?'
The beauty I'd saved from the Shandong Yue Family at great cost, Sa Hayerin.
Heard she was heading to Jenam City, but no word since.
Perfect chance—the guy who'd know best was right here, so I asked about her.
The Shadow Gate Leader grinned at my question.
"Figured you'd ask about the Evil Flower first, so the Red Phoenix threw me."
"So, what's Sa Hayerin's status? She said she was coming here when we parted."
"Made it safe, came straight to me. She's doing well in the Death Command Sect now."
Good to hear.
Losing a beauty like that would've been the Central Plains' loss.
'Tch, gotta swing by Death Command Sect sometime...'
I wanted to head there right now, but sadly, I had a leech clinging—a useless one called the Dragon Youth.
We'd had the Baek Family as cover coming here, but Death Command Sect? No ties whatsoever.
"How's the Death Command Sect holding up?"
"The Death Command Sect is..."
Grilling the Shadow Gate Leader on this and that stretched the conversation endlessly.
Beyond Death Command, Four Black routes, other unorthodox sects—the Shadow Gate had too much I needed.
'Gonna be up all night at this rate.'
But no way was I pulling an all-nighter chatting with this burly brute instead of some fine ladies.
So I took the Baek Family intel as a booklet to peruse later.
'I'll read this at my leisure.'
Planning to hit the Baek Family tomorrow anyway, but tonight? Brothel time took priority.