Chapter 535
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 535
Chapter Title: As Expected, Fast
Maehyangmun's Chief Steward Seo Hon tilted his head at the report from his subordinate.
The Black Mask Agency's Sa-hun had come to see him, but Seo Hon had expected him to hold off a bit longer.
Since they were pushing and pulling for their own gains, moving first meant being at a disadvantage.
It was a negotiation that was absolutely unfavorable to the Black Mask Agency, but he hadn't thought they'd move this quickly.
Sa-hun was a man of talent too good for a third-rate black path outfit like the Black Mask Agency.
Sa-hun headed to the small reception room at the back entrance.
It was the place frequented by those who needed to avoid prying eyes when entering Maehyangmun through the main gate.
Naturally, Sa-hun could only come and go from Maehyangmun via this route.
"What brings you here? I thought you'd wait a bit longer."
Seo Hon entered the reception room and cut straight to the chase upon seeing Sa-hun.
Sa-hun bowed deeply to show respect before answering immediately.
"It's done."
"Pardon?"
"Flowing Cloud Martial Hall has paid off all their debts."
A glint appeared in Seo Hon's eyes.
Even he hadn't anticipated that they'd repay a hundred nyang of gold in a single day.
His mind raced.
Flowing Cloud Martial Hall.
It was a place they needed too, but the Black Mask Agency needed it even more desperately.
If Maehyangmun couldn't get it legitimately, they could just open their own martial hall there after some time.
That would put the Black Mask Agency in a tougher spot, but it wasn't Seo Hon's concern.
He simply pondered why Sa-hun had come.
With Flowing Cloud Martial Hall's debts cleared, their scheme was over.
They wouldn't fall for the same trick twice, leaving the Black Mask Agency with no options.
'This complicates things for us a bit.'
Just that much.
It was merely regrettable that they had to take the troublesome path instead of the easy one.
"Understood."
Seo Hon nodded curtly.
He shot Sa-hun a look that said it was time to leave.
To gauge Sa-hun's reaction.
Sa-hun hesitated, not rising from his seat despite the signal.
'Ho. Interesting.'
One possibility came to mind.
They couldn't give up on Flowing Cloud Martial Hall. It made sense; they needed it desperately.
So now they were here to ask for Maehyangmun's help.
That's why Sa-hun was hesitating.
He knew full well this decision could turn poisonous for them.
'Must be the Black Mask's call.'
The nickname of the Black Mask Agency's leader, Seon-gyu. A typical crude, third-rate black path rogue.
Luckily, he'd gathered two capable subordinates, growing the agency to its current size, but this decision showed he lacked the vessel to be a leader.
"You can't let go of Flowing Cloud Martial Hall."
At Seo Hon's words, Sa-hun squeezed his eyes shut.
As expected, this fox-like man had seen through everything easily.
"I beg you."
Sa-hun forced the words out.
"No justification for it, though?"
"We're black path scum who don't care about justifications."
"And?"
"We'll use black path methods."
"Hmm."
"Just turn a blind eye."
"Maintaining order in chaotic areas disrupted by black path disturbances is Maehyangmun's responsibility."
"It'll be Flowing Cloud Martial Hall's outrage, not black path mayhem, and we'll be fighting a righteous battle."
Seo Hon mulled over Sa-hun's words.
It seemed they planned to provoke Flowing Cloud Martial Hall first.
They'd set the board so that Flowing Cloud struck first.
That would leave no room for Maehyangmun to intervene.
Not black path attacking the righteous, but the righteous attacking the black path.
"And?"
"We lack the strength."
Seo Hon nodded.
Obviously.
Even rotten, it was still bonito; Flowing Cloud Martial Hall had considerable power.
They'd nearly gone under, but there were plenty of Flowing Cloud warriors in Shangnam who'd come to their aid, making it a tough fight for the Black Mask Agency.
"Don't you have a deputy leader?"
"He's just another third-rate rogue."
Seo Hon chuckled inwardly at Sa-hun's words.
'Pulling some cheap trick.'
Gwan-po, lord of the Pleasure Den.
One reason Maehyangmun kept tabs on the Black Mask Agency.
They judged him to be at least at the pinnacle realm.
If he stepped in, Flowing Cloud would be wiped out in a night.
Yet asking to borrow Maehyangmun's hands meant hiding his strength.
"Hmm."
Pretending to think, Seo Hon let out a groan.
Soon, he spoke.
"You know what that means, right? Even if you take Flowing Cloud with our help, it won't benefit the Black Mask Agency."
A question dripping with greed.
Sa-hun bit his lip and replied.
"Nine to one. How's that?"
Seo Hon smirked at the offer.
"Nine-five. That's the best we can concede."
With that, Seo Hon rose from his seat.
"Think it over and come back."
He left those final words and exited the reception room.
There was no hesitation in his steps.
An attitude showing no regret whatsoever.
'Damn it... as expected...'
This was negotiation too, hence the nine-five split.
Promising the Black Mask even five parts.
But in time, who knew.
They'd surely end up as Maehyangmun's hunting dogs.
Tossed only rotten scraps.
Of course, with Gwan-po, it wouldn't go that far.
"Sigh. I wash my hands of it. Leader."
Muttering softly, Sa-hun rose and slipped out Maehyangmun's back entrance.
His steps toward the Black Mask Agency were heavy.
***
"Ah, Elder!"
"Sword Immortal Elder!"
Chaos erupted as the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal crossed Huashan Sect's mountain gate.
He'd vanished like he was entering seclusion, only to appear casually strolling up the mountain path without warning.
It was such a shock that the entire sect buzzed.
No one paid attention to Wi Su-yeon walking quietly behind him.
"Greetings to Sword Immortal Martial Uncle!"
The Huashan Sect Leader, who'd rushed out upon hearing the news, bowed deeply to the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal.
"Haha, long time no see, Sect Leader."
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal returned a fist salute and bowed.
Though his martial nephew privately, he was the head of Great Huashan.
Proper etiquette was required.
"Did you achieve any enlightenment?"
Sect Leader No Hu-myeong asked cautiously.
He knew why the Sword Immortal had left Huashan for seclusion.
"A minor accomplishment."
"Congratulations."
No Hu-myeong smiled broadly at the reply.
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal smiled faintly.
"I'd like to visit the Scripture Depository to check something. May I?"
"Of course. Please go ahead."
No Hu-myeong stepped aside, gesturing to Wi Su-yeon standing silently behind.
As the two headed to the depository, people finally noticed Wi Su-yeon.
"Who's that girl?"
"Heavens, how is she...?"
Questions abounded, but since she was with the Sword Immortal, no one stopped her to ask.
Maehwa Repository.
The name of Huashan Sect's western Scripture Depository.
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal glanced at the plaque, signed the visitor log, and entered.
Wi Su-yeon hurriedly signed and followed.
"Do you know there's a sword art in Huashan derived from clouds?"
The Sword Immortal asked as they climbed the stairs.
"I didn't."
Wi Su-yeon answered.
Honestly, Huashan meant Plum Blossom Sword to everyone, so they focused solely on Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
Huashan had diverse arts beyond that, but few cared.
Unless it was footwork, lightness skill, staff, or fist—being swordsmanship, they delved only into plum-derived ones.
"Everyone thinks that way. Plum Blossom Swordsmanship is Huashan itself, so sword learners seek only it. Some even believe it's the only sword art of Huashan."
Wi Su-yeon nodded slightly.
Third floor, corner shelf.
A place Wi Su-yeon had never visited.
"But it's not. As many sword arts of Huashan exist here as its history."
Dust coated the manuals on the shelves.
The shelves themselves too.
Meaning few ever came here.
"It's been ages since I was here."
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal looked around the shelves nostalgically.
"It should be around here."
In his youth.
He'd examined most sword manuals in the Maehwa Repository, determined to know all of Huashan's swords.
Something others rarely did.
Plum Blossom alone overflowed, and even that was hard to master.
Only possible for the prodigiously talented Plum Blossom Sword Immortal.
His fingertips brushed each manual.
Self-Nurturing Sword, Supreme Purity Sword, Six Harmonies Sword, Thunderbolt Sword, Great Net Sword, Single Stroke Wisdom Sword, Mad Wind Swift Sword, Clear Wind Sword...
Titles unfamiliar to Wi Su-yeon scrolled by.
'Huashan's sword arts are so diverse. Focusing only on Plum Blossom here made me a frog in a well.'
Wi Su-yeon wanted to crawl into a hole.
"Hm. Here it is."
Azure Cloud Crimson Glow Sword.
His hand stopped on one book.
"When I checked everything here, this was the only sword with 'cloud' in the name. It was so long ago I was fuzzy, but my memory was right."
He pulled out the manual and began reading.
Character by character, intently.
Wi Su-yeon stood silently, not speaking.
Not wanting to disturb his focus.
Half a shichen later, having finished, he handed it to her.
"You look too."
Wi Su-yeon took it carefully and read intently.
It took her a full shichen to finish.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not sure."
Clearly inspired by clouds, but it didn't mesh with Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
Disappointment flickered on the Sword Immortal's face.
Seen only once in youth, he didn't remember details precisely, so he'd checked just in case—but it fell short.
Seeing that, Wi Su-yeon bowed, as if blaming her own inadequacy.
Her eyes caught another book.
Huashan Swordsmanship Compendium.
She reached out unconsciously, pulling it.
It summarized all Huashan sword arts' names and brief descriptions.
"Did you see this one too?"
"Hm? First time. Wasn't here when I checked... maybe moved?"
Their eyes scanning it halted at one spot.
Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship.
Both felt a jolt upon seeing it.
'This is it!'
'This one!'
They knew instantly from the name.
This was the swordsmanship holding the key to Plum Blossom.
They searched the shelves again.
But no Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship manual anywhere.
***
Today was peaceful too.
Sahae-ryeon showed no movement.
No armed forces stationed for vigilance like the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Completely vacated.
Ha Mu-baek returned to the garrison, idly lounging on his usual modest rock.
Meanwhile, his senses spread in all directions.
One approaching this place at high speed entered his perception.
Racing from Anbok toward Seobok, with orthodox inner energy.
"As expected, fast."
The intel he'd requested must be compiled.
Ha Mu-baek stretched and rose from the rock.
And.
Flash.
His figure vanished.