Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Ten-Year Grand Plan
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Baek Clan Manor was still something of an unknown quantity when it came to receiving help in establishing a branch hall.
Even if they had investigated everything beforehand, setting up a branch in another martial clan's estate was simply rude.
Setting those factors aside, the reason Dang Gun had rejected Yang-hui's proposal before he could even finish speaking...
"If our Tang Clan sets up shop in Baek Clan Manor, there won't be anything good in it for Baek Clan Manor."
Yang-hui realized what Dang Gun was thinking the moment he heard the response.
'He's worried that the Tang Clan's bad rumors and poor reputation might harm the main family. Well, Brother Dang has always been that kind of guy.'
If that was the case, persuading him would be easy.
"If that's the reason, then it doesn't matter, Brother Dang. Our main family's reputation isn't all that great either."
The reason was simple.
"Lately, the gossips have been saying that Baek Clan Manor couldn't endure its declining fortunes and took in a Black Dao thug as a retainer."
"Hm? Isn't Baek Clan Manor a White Dao martial house? And they took in a Black Dao thug?"
Gu-ak rose from his seat at Yang-hui's glance.
"I'll explain that matter, Young Clan Leader."
Gu-ak continued.
The fact that Mount Evil Eye had originally been a region dominated by the Black Dao.
The fact that they were taking in Black Dao thugs who sought redemption through acts of justice and the principles of abandoning poison for medicine, and training them in the clan.
And the fact that he himself, who had once borne the moniker Blood Lord, had now earned a new title: One-Man Righteous Bandit.
"Our clan head gave even this rotten Black Dao thug like me a chance at a new life. I received his grace."
A hint of admiration and emotion flickered across Dang Gun's face.
"Such noble intentions. The gossips are going too far, judging by appearances alone."
"Isn't it the same with the bad rumors about the Tang Clan? As long as the Tang Clan's will lies in righteousness, Baek Clan Manor couldn't care less about such gossip."
"I see..."
"To be honest, Brother Dang, it's true that our clan falls far short when it comes to joining hands with the Tang Clan. But..."
At Yang-hui's gesture, one of the servants brought over a map and unrolled it.
Now it was time to convince the Tang Clan that allying with Baek Clan would bring them the greatest benefits.
"The Tang Clan of Sichuan. The Baek Clan of Jiangxi. As you know, Jiangxi has no massive martial sects capable of contending for supremacy over the world. That makes it an ideal region for the Tang Clan to establish a branch."
"That's true enough. Can't argue with that."
"Moreover, our clan head is sworn brothers with Zhuge Seon's great hero, the young leader of the Zhuge Clan. Joining with us means you can count on support from the Zhuge Clan as well."
"Mm. The Zhuge Clan."
Dang Gun's expression hardened slightly.
The Zhuge Clan held one of the seats among the Five Great Clans.
In other words, they were the ones who had raised the Tang Clan—and now, one of the forces keeping them in check.
"The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans. They may be grouped together, but they are not one. Some are upright sects pursuing purity with their rigid temperaments, while others repeatedly form alliances and mergers in pursuit of profit."
The Zhuge Clan wasn't like the Namgung Clan, crossing lines in pursuit of gain.
Even if they were, the connections forged so far would prevent any issues.
'From the start, after sending Seol-ha as Master Eun-ho's disciple, they can't openly chase profits.'
He couldn't reveal all these facts, but he skirted around them just enough, providing information to convince Dang Gun.
Before long, Dang Gun wore an intrigued expression.
"I see. Everything you've said so far makes sense. But I have one question."
"Ask away, Brother Dang."
"If we do as you say, it seems our clan stands to gain immensely. But what about Baek Clan's benefits?"
Simple.
"Tiger deterrence. And for even greater gains, a blood alliance."
"Tiger deterrence, huh. So there's a hostile faction nearby?"
"Exactly."
Since the Zhuge Clan people had left, the largest Black Dao faction in the area, Advance Teaching Gang, had been eyeing them covetously.
'No pretext to wipe them out. They're like a thorn under my nail.'
With the Tang Clan as backing, there'd be no worries about such nuisances.
Advance Teaching Gang would know all about the Tang Clan's bad rumors too.
"I understand the tiger deterrence. But what do you mean by even greater gains?"
Right, this was the truly important part.
Yang-hui reached out and pointed to one spot on the world map.
"Honam."
To the right of Sichuan. To the left of Jiangxi.
The province sandwiched between the Tang and Baek Clans—a land where, dozens of years ago, the righteous martial sects had been decimated by the Sword King's massacre, leaving Black Dao and unorthodox factions dominant.
In other words, ripe prey that could be devoured without interference from righteous martial houses.
"I promise you this. Within the next ten years, I will make our clan strong enough to stand as an equal ally to the Tang Clan. At the same time, Baek Clan and Tang Clan will prepare a grand scheme to claim Honam as our sphere of influence."
A plan called the Ten-Year Grand Strategy, conceived right after his regression.
"The Tang Clan advances from left to right, Baek Clan from right to left. Brother Dang, in ten years, we'll devour Honam together. Thus, the Tang Clan sheds its birth limitations, and our Baek Clan lays the foundations of a great clan!"
Dang Gun stared at Yang-hui with wide eyes.
Such a grand blueprint emerging from the mouth of a mere child.
'I knew he wasn't ordinary, but this is truly impressive.'
Unconsciously, Dang Gun released his qi to probe Yang-hui.
He was a fifteen-year-old boy, but Dang Gun was the young leader of the Tang Clan.
Having already reached the second-rate realm, he could roughly gauge an opponent's level with qi alone.
'Hm!'
In that moment, Dang Gun was startled once more by Yang-hui, who suddenly nodded and grinned.
"Brother Yang-hui... I've taken a dragon as my brother."
"You're too kind, Brother Dang."
Second-rate realm. Was it such a low level that a child not even ten could reach it?
No, far from it.
Dang Gun himself had been hailed as a once-in-a-century genius just last year upon entering the second-rate realm.
"Haha. Hahaha! Frog in a well—no, Tang Clan confined to Sichuan. Thanks to you, my eyes are open."
One more reason to ally with Baek Clan had been added.
No, perhaps the greatest reason of all.
Baek Yang-hui.
"Alright. Our Tang Clan will accept Baek Clan's proposal. No—I'll return to the main clan and obtain the clan head's approval."
"That's more than enough. Thank you for your grace, Brother Dang."
"Grace? We're the ones receiving grace here. Didn't you say you'd even give up part of your estate?"
As a martial clan, handing over part of one's estate to warriors of another family wasn't exactly honorable.
The gossips would no doubt chatter again about how Baek Clan had no face.
'Doesn't matter. The most important thing is building power as quickly as possible.'
A bit of infamy was nothing for that.
It would vanish anyway once the clan grew strong enough.
"By the way, one more favor to ask."
"I'm listening. Since Baek Clan has bestowed such grace, I'll do what I can."
"Well, someone of your station as the head of the Mild Poison Hall must be quite skilled in pill refinement, right?"
"Of course. The reason our Tang Clan could grow so quickly is partly because we can craft elixirs from medicines and poisons. Though it costs a fortune."
'Costs a fortune... Sigh.'
Yang-hui chuckled shamelessly at the response.
"Hehehe, brother. Won't you give this little brother just one Spirit Pill...? No, just the recipe for Spirit Pills?"
"Huh?"
* * * Unfortunately, Yang-hui's shameless charm offensive failed spectacularly.
Dang Gun flatly refused to hand over the Spirit Pill recipe.
Instead, he made a counteroffer.
"While our main clan borrows space in your estate, bring materials and we'll refine as many as you want."
Truth be told, this was already a huge favor compared to catching the Colorful Light Fox for them or giving up part of the estate for a branch hall.
Plus, they'd likely take responsibility for his mother Jeong In-hwa's health during their stay.
'I've gained so much from this. Great momentum.'
He had prevented his mother's health decline and death.
He had secured the Tang Clan as backing for tiger deterrence.
And thanks to them crafting Spirit Pills, his clan's warriors' internal energy would skyrocket.
'Even laid the groundwork for the Ten-Year Grand Strategy.'
Of course, one new problem had cropped up immediately.
"Arrrgh!"
You can't spit in the face of a smiling one.
Hearing the shout, Yang-hui plastered on the most innocent, childlike smile he could muster.
"Even the Young Master Yang-hui whom I trusted! How could you do this?!"
Han Chief Steward bellowed, spittle flying and dampening Yang-hui's face.
Ah. Not working.
Smiling face strategy, failed gloriously.
"Hehehe, Chief Steward. Well, you see..."
"I thought you were the reincarnation of the God of Wealth! How could you! For you to punch a hole in the finances yourself! And this isn't a hole—it's like you've torn down the whole wall!"
No helping it. He had to make the Seven Star Herb and Three Elixirs into Spirit Pills before the Tang Clan party returned to Sichuan.
Obviously, crafting Spirit Pills required not just the core spirit herbs but a variety of expensive materials as well.
"We were free from balancing the books just a fortnight ago! How in a mere fortnight do you drag us back to the same mess?! Aaaagh!"
'No, for just a few thousand taels, we're getting twenty Spirit Pills that each boost internal energy by ten years. Isn't this a profit?'
Even as he thought that, Yang-hui humbly grabbed Han Chief Steward's arm.
"Chief Steward—no, Elder Han. Calm down first..."
"Calm down? Creating something from nothing doesn't happen overnight either!"
There was good reason for Han Chief Steward's frenzy.
"We threw a three-day feast to welcome the Tang Clan guests. That alone cost over a hundred taels! Fine, that was in the past and a necessary expense. But! But!"
Han Chief Steward recalled once more the sum Yang-hui had siphoned off under the pretext of crafting Spirit Pills.
Nearly eighty percent of their surplus funds.
As chief steward, he had opposed it vehemently, but with the clan head's approval, he had no choice but to hand over the precious thousands of taels.
'Even a martial clan has limits! Everyone goes mad at the mention of internal energy or Spirit Pills!'
Han Chief Steward shoved the contracts in Yang-hui's face.
"We have to pay two thousand taels in three days—two thousand! Fail, and one of our precious businesses flies away!"
Businesses can be regained anytime, but Spirit Pills aren't like that, Chief Steward. We need to boost internal energy ASAP, adapt, and train—our inaction will rise swiftly.
'Ah... where can I scrape up some money.'
He ransacked his memories from before regression, but there was no way to earn two thousand taels in three days.
...Since it's come to this, maybe raid a Black Dao gang?
Learn some thievery from Elder Yeo-hyeok?
'For now, make excuses and slip away.'
Staying pinned in the chief steward's quarters would lead to a spit facial.
Better to make vague excuses, escape, let him cool down, and talk later.
That was when it happened.
"Uh, Chief Steward Han."
A servant entered to announce a guest, and Yang-hui's face lit up.
'Escape opportunity!'
"Chief Steward! A guest has arrived, so I'll be going!"
Not waiting for a reply, Yang-hui bolted for the door and locked eyes with the waiting guest outside.
'Huh?'
Yang-hui spun around immediately.
Chest and shoulders puffed up with tension.
Nose held high arrogantly.
"Chief Steward. Follow my lead."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden, Young Master Yang-hui?"
Yang-hui curled his index and thumb into a circle, facing the bewildered Han Chief Steward.
Han Chief Steward instantly guessed who the guest was.
"No way?"
"Chief Steward. Who am I?"
"God of Wealth! Uhahaha! As expected, Young Master Yang-hui is definitely the reincarnation of the God of Wealth!"
Han Chief Steward rushed out barefoot to greet the guest.
"Welcome, Lady Chu!"
The guest's identity was none other than Chu Yong-wol, the young leader of Baek Book Merchant Group.
"Young master! Chief Steward Han! Jackpot!"