Sakju (2)

146. Sakju (2)

The Hao Sect branch in Sakju was closed for business at the moment. But my business here wasn't anything major anyway. I spoke to her as she clutched her silver and stared at me anxiously.

"Then let me just ask a few things. Do you know what the going rate for a cargo wagon is these days? I'm looking to buy one, but I need to know if the merchant's price is a rip-off or not."

"I know that market well. He asked for two taels of gold, did he not? That's the proper price. I don't know your circumstances, Daoist, but almost no one comes to buy an expensive cargo wagon without checking the market first. The trick comes afterward. Jugeon Merchant Guild is both Sakju’s only wagon shop and its only livery stable. Once a customer buys a wagon at a fair price, they demand twice the usual price for a horse or mule. A customer who's already bought the wagon can't haul it out of town without an animal, so even knowing they've been trapped, they have no choice but to pay another two taels of gold."

Ah...

I knew something had felt off. It was seriously irritating—those Chink bastards felt hardly any guilt about fraud. The one who got scammed was the fool. In a place where that idea passed for common sense, they were the sort who would brazenly call this nothing more than a business tactic.

"You're a guest of the Shanxi Branch Head, yes? I'm the lowest of the low, so I don't know who you are, Daoist. But since you're the Branch Head's guest, I'll handle it clean for you. For three taels of gold, I'll have a cargo wagon with a sturdy mule parked in front of the inn in ten days."

The woman spoke with sparkling eyes. I didn't know the details, but she seemed to be planning to knock the shop's price down considerably and pocket a certain share of the remaining money. I had no idea how much her cut was, but since the four taels of gold that would have been spent became three taels, I wouldn't be losing out either.

"The gold, though, you must give to me—not to Jugeon Merchant Guild."

"Got it. I'll leave it to you, then."

At those words, she clenched her fist tightly. The Hao Sect's wooden token was proving far more useful than I'd expected.

"Well, now that your business is done, you ought to fire one off and leave feeling refreshed. Honestly, it's a good deal for me too, so the red-light district is on me. Young girls are the best, right? I'll specially set you up with our youngest."

"I said I don't need it."

"Daoist. Here, you can be honest..."

She had been about to try to persuade me, but suddenly she stared at the alley entrance and went ghastly pale.

"Dao... Daoist. It's the Great Sun Association. I'm off now. See you in front of the inn in ten days."

After spotting the three martial men at the alley entrance, she swiftly vanished somewhere. Men with solid builds and black martial uniforms—distinctive in their swords with red tassels. The moment they appeared, the bustling back alley went silent in an instant, and the shady merchants and courtesans retreated into the buildings and shut their doors. The three men swaggered into the suddenly deserted street. For a moment, our eyes met, but they merely glanced at me and then strode into the alley as if uninterested. Then a man stopped in front of a shabby old building, took his stance, and threw a fist.

In a single blow, the thick wooden door shattered to splinters. He'd struck a bit of a posturing pose, but in the end, they were all third-rate martial artists who couldn't even use Fist Qi. Even my master could likely take down those three martial artists within thirty moves. Behind the smashed door, a rather pretty middle-aged woman was clutching a young girl tightly, trembling uncontrollably. The Great Sun Association's martial artist stepped inside wearing a greasy smirk, but the man was abruptly blasted backward by a massive impact and tumbled disgracefully across the ground.

"What the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

The moment one man went flying, the other two drew their swords and shouted.

"Get the hell out. You crazy sons of bitches!"

A young woman emerged from inside the building. I didn't remember her face, but I remembered that bold outfit, utterly out of place in the fifteenth century. It was Jo Sa-eun of the Jeonchu Finance House—the Beijing loan shark who had lent money to Do-hwa and then tried to collect with her body. What was that woman doing here?

"You must be utterly insane. We took in a woman with nowhere to go, and you dare interfere with the Great Sun Association's business?"

A fight between two men with swords and one woman with bare hands. They always say that scrub fights make the best entertainment, and a blood battle between true third-rate martial artists really did provide a splendidly uproarious spectacle. Jo Sa-eun's martial prowess itself was somewhat superior, but the Great Sun Association had two men, and between such low-level fighters, the mere presence or absence of a weapon could decide victory or defeat. Jo Sa-eun was narrowly dodging their swords and enduring the fierce assault, but she couldn't even attempt a counterattack and was gradually being pushed onto the defensive. At that moment, the middle-aged woman who had been trembling in the corner quietly rose, drew a gentle circle, and launched a successful surprise attack on one man.

Taiji Fist. The clumsily executed Taiji Fist carried roughly five years' worth of internal energy and sent one man flying. This time, the two women's combined assault cornered the remaining martial artist.

This was fascinating. Unlike a battle between masters, I genuinely could not predict who would win. The middle-aged woman was barely a martial artist even by the standards of the old Yeongsan Sect. The swordsman might have found a way through if he had calmly exploited his weapon’s advantage, but in his confusion he launched a wide-open attack, took Jo Sa-eun’s kick, and collapsed. Even after embracing a beauty such as Jeong-hyang, my eyes were still drawn to the thin undergarment visible beneath that short skirt. Male instinct truly was hopeless.

"Ha... Haa... M-Madam Seong. Are you all right?"

Jo Sa-eun asked after the middle-aged woman's well-being, gasping for breath.

"I-I'm all right. But Miss Jo, are you all right? Your arm is bleeding!"

The middle-aged woman spoke with pity, looking at the graze wound on Jo Sa-eun. She was in the company of a woman like Jo Sa-eun, but she had very kind eyes that didn't suit the Unorthodox Faction at all.

"Mother! This is impossible! This is already the third group of pursuers. There's no way we can make it all the way to Hebei. I'm the only one the Great Sun Association wants because I joined Jidong Sect. Leave me here and flee with Sister Jo!"

The girl spoke with a tearful face. Perhaps she was around Cho-ryeong's age? The middle-aged woman gently pulled the girl into her arms and spoke in a resolute voice.

"How could I possibly leave you and flee? When you are the only family I have left in this whole world?!"

"But at this rate, because of me, Mother and Sister Jo will die too! They said the Great Sun Association will send far stronger martial artists next time!

"Sister. I don't know why you're helping me, but didn't you say things would work out somehow once we reached the Hao Sect? But even the Hao Sect shut its doors to avoid the Great Sun Association. There's no way I can repay you, but if you really want to help me, take Mother and flee to a safe place right now."

At the girl's desperate cry, Jo Sa-eun spoke slowly, her expression troubled.

"It's already too late. Even if Miss Yu ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were captured, we've already taken down Great Sun Association martial artists—we are their pursuit targets now. It's a secret so critical I still can't tell you, but if we can just get out of Shanxi, we will survive. Without a doubt."

Jo Sa-eun calmly tried to persuade the girl, but the girl's eyes were full of disbelief.

"What changes if we go to Hebei? Even if the Beggars' Sect and the Peng Clan and the Eon Clan are there, there's no way they'd roll up their sleeves and help in a fight among Unorthodox Faction members like us. I'll try to buy time here. Please, just you and my mother—get out of here!"

"They absolutely will help. The Beggars' Sect or the Eon Clan might not, but at least the Peng Clan will help. Because Madam Seong is..."

Jo Sa-eun couldn't finish her sentence. In an instant, roughly twenty martial artists of the Great Sun Association had revealed themselves in this narrow alley. Furthermore, this time there were five second-rate experts, and while he didn't radiate his qi, the fact he could suppress it meant a man who was clearly a first-rate martial artist appeared before the three women.

"You've got some nerve, Jo Sa-eun. We took you in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after you were thrown out of the Jeonchu Finance House, and you dare smuggle out Jidong Sect prisoners?"

At the old man's icy rebuke, Jo Sa-eun collapsed on the spot into a sitting position.

"Co-Commander."

"I thought you were a clever wench, but I came all the way here myself because I was curious what made you pull a crazy stunt like this. So. Who is this woman, that you dared to defy the Great Sun Association?"

"Commander, I can't explain it, but this woman truly is someone of great importance. If you harm Miss Yu or Madam Seong, something will happen that you'll bitterly regret."

Even I found it laughable, watching from a distance. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠woman called Madam Seong didn't look noble no matter how I looked at her. No—if she were truly a noble woman, she shouldn't have run into this kind of situation in the first place. Even with that commander threatening their lives through manifested Sword Aura, she answered with a threat of her own. Her nerve was astonishing.

Seeing the mother and daughter bewildered, the Great Sun Association warriors seemed to have the same thought as me and snickered, mocking Jo Sa-eun.

"Commander. I mean this sincerely. Your Great Sun Association's prison holds countless prisoners right now, doesn't it? Honestly, you can afford to turn a blind eye to just one Miss Yu. When you learn Madam Seong's identity later, you'll be grateful to me."

Jo Sa-eun continued pleading with unwavering eyes. The Commander burst into loud laughter and answered her.

"Fine. I could turn a blind eye to one little girl. But the thing is, you dared to beat Great Sun Association martial artists into this state, and the Hao Sect, which has the loosest lips under heaven, witnessed the whole scene. This is no longer just about the little girl."

"If it's about your low-ranking martial artists, I'll apologize. I'll satisfy every single Great Sun Association martial artist here with my body, so just please—turn a blind eye to Miss Yu and Madam Seong at least."

Subtly loosening her coat strings, Jo Sa-eun deployed the Honey Trap as her last resort. I was more than a little curious about the identities of the mother and daughter that a loan shark—no great chivalrous hero—would risk her own body to desperately protect, but under these circumstances, the Honey Trap would not have worked even if she were Jeong-hyang. A honey trap was viable only when negotiation itself remained possible.

"Of course, I'll be extracting an apology with your body. But forget any thoughts of running. I'm going to violate all three of you right here and then throw you into the prison."

"Commander. You'll regret this."

At last, Jo Sa-eun looked the Commander straight in the eye and spoke through gritted teeth.

"So who is this old hag? Who exactly is she, to make even a Commander of the Great Sun Association come to regret it?"

"Hah. There's no way I'd tell you. The Great Sun Association will end up annihilated before long because of a blockhead like you. You're riding high now? But ruin comes in an instant."

Jo Sa-eun was now speaking to the Commander with blazing eyes, without even using honorifics. With me, she had kept her life going ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠through swift submission, but seeing her like this, she must have already given up on surviving here.

"Annihilated?! Ha! Now that is rich. So you're trying to prolong your life by making me laugh. Fine. That was the first good laugh I have had in a while, so I'll let you keep breathing for the moment."

"What are you all doing? Violate these three women right here!"

At the Commander's order, the martial artists drew gleeful smiles.

"Commander. Which one will you choose for yourself, Commander?"

A second-rate martial artist asked the Commander discreetly, wearing an obsequious smile. Another second-rate martial artist kicked him in the rear and spoke.

"You dull-witted bastard. The Commander obviously takes the young girl. You go violate that Jo Sa-eun wench."

"Eh? Senior Brother? Don't tell me you have a taste for old hags?"

"It's not like I particularly prefer old hags, but violating the mother while she screams, watching her daughter get violated—there's a particular flavor to that."

The bastards cackled, exposing their vile desires. But this was none of my business, so I turned to leave the alley, only for the Great Sun Association martial artist guarding the entrance to speak to me.

"Judging by the look of you, you're some Orthodox Faction wretch. You look damn clueless, you know that?"

The lackey mocked me with a thuggish sneer.

"I was already about to leave, so move."

"Look at this son of a bitch? Seriously, those Orthodox Daoist bastards always think they're some damn Wudang or Mount Hua. Hey. You know how to use the Wuji Sword? Or maybe even Sword Fragrance?"

A vulgar man spoke through snickers. He was the type who couldn't even meet the eyes of a real Mount Hua or Wudang martial artist, yet grew cocky when backed by his gang—a textbook thug. And yeah, I knew how to use the Wuji Sword, you prick.

I tried to ignore him and leave, but the man grabbed my arm with a mischievous expression and said,

"Hey. Honestly, those bitches turn you on, right? Go ahead and have a go before you leave. Anyway, seeing an Orthodox bastard loitering around a place like this, you must've been headed for the red-light district too. Just pay fifty taels of silver and I'll get you in on the action."

The man spoke with a suggestive tone. Were Unorthodox Faction martial artists always nothing but thugs like this?

"Let go of my arm."

"You've been speaking a little too short, you know that? What sect are you from? Don't you know the Great Sun Association? Not from Shanxi, are you?"

"I said let go."

"And what if I don't?"

This was a pain. I'd never imagined that once I entered the first-rate realm and learned to suppress my qi, a third-rate thug like this would pick a fight with me.

"Re-Reverend Yeongmok?!"

Amid the commotion, Jo Sa-eun spotted me in the distance and burst into manic laughter as though she had found a savior. Every gaze turned toward me. Even the Commander stared at me in confusion and rested one hand lightly on his sword.

"I told you you'd regret it, didn't I? It's already too late. You go get screwed too."

Jo Sa-eun spoke to the Commander in a voice twisted with spite. Had that woman truly gone mad? Even if she disliked the thugs, did she really think that in this situation, I'd fight head-on against the Great Sun Association—one of the Ten Great Evil Factions and currently the faction gaining the most momentum—and rescue them?

"Madam Seong! Miss Yu! We're saved now! Look! It's Reverend Yeongmok! It's Reverend Yeongmok, one of the greatest masters under heaven who struck down the Black Heaven Wolf and the Black Heaven Association Leader!"

"Re-Reverend Yeongmok?"

Madam Seong looked at me with flustered eyes at Jo Sa-eun's sudden shift.

"The Black Heaven Wolf and the Black Heaven Association Leader? Then, isn't he an Orthodox Faction martial artist? Why would a man like that, for people like us..."

I was the one who wanted to know. Why an Orthodox Faction martial artist like me should have to fight the Great Sun Association to save those women.

"Reverend Yeongmok's sect is the Yeongsan Sect of Liaodong. He is the disciple of Yeongsan Sect Leader Chae Yeong-ok, and Madam Seong's... grand-disciple."