Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Dealing with the Hao Gate
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A tattered scrap of paper, worn and frayed to rags.
Nevertheless, the Hao Gate branch chief couldn't help but be genuinely shocked upon reading its contents.
"Th-this...! Is this the real thing?"
About two hundred years ago.
A demonic force known as the City of Full Demons had unleashed a bloodbath across the land.
When all the people suffered under the grip of the demonic path, a comet-like savior appeared to rescue the world—the Sword King.
In other words, the Sword King Mausoleum had to be a relic from at least two hundred years ago.
Finding such concrete evidence was like plucking stars from the sky.
"Unbelievable. After the Sword King Mausoleum bloodbath stirred up by the Blood Slaughter Union in the past, I thought every last wanted notice had vanished from the world..."
"Back then, the Blood Slaughter Union gathered up and destroyed most of the clues about the Sword King Mausoleum scattered across the land."
He shrugged and continued.
"But how could they erase every single one?"
"Is this wanted notice authentic?"
"Check it yourself."
The branch chief alternated between the scrap and a newly drawn wanted notice, scrutinizing them for authenticity.
"The paper quality and ink color are definitely from that era. And the contents match perfectly."
Of course they matched. He'd revised and redrawn the Baek family's wanted notice based on the one from the old woman.
For the record, Chui-dal was the one who'd redrawn it.
Having learned the relevant skills from Yeo Un-hyeok, whose trade was forging... no, restoring ancient texts, his drawing skills were quite impressive.
"This new one is a copy of the wanted notice we have on file. That's why they match."
"You have the whole thing, not just this fragment?"
"That's right."
A lie. The fragment from Yeo Un-hyeok was all he had.
But Yang-hui nodded calmly.
"This should confirm its authenticity, right?"
"...Yes. It's definitely valuable enough information to sell. But."
The branch chief pointed sharply at the top of the wanted notice.
"The crucial part is missing. There's no exact location marked."
"I know."
"Hm. That could mean two things?"
Conversations were best with quick-witted people.
No beating around the bush.
Well, you needed this level of savvy to hold down a branch chief position.
"You knew and left it out on purpose?"
"I'll tell you when the time is right, so don't worry."
If the Hao Gate acted on their own, the whole plan would fall apart.
To prevent that, he had to make them move precisely when he wanted.
That was why he'd kept the mausoleum's location on Mount Baeksu a secret.
"It's not fake, is it?"
"Against the mighty Hao Gate? You know who I am, and I have no desire to drag my home clan into needless scandals."
"Then you're the fuse."
"Exactly."
The Hao Gate branch chief pondered while spinning a wine cup on his palm.
'The head office would love to swallow this whole, but that's impossible.'
It was the Sword King Mausoleum, after all. From the Hao Gate's perspective, if they could monopolize it, there'd be no reason to sell the info to other sects.
The young warrior before him knew that and had imposed restrictions accordingly.
'The head office has three options.'
Coerce the info out and claim it solo.
Leak it to the Namgung Clan and squeeze a reward.
Or.
'Ride along with the young warrior's scheme for maximum gain.'
As he mulled it over, the branch chief startled at Yang-hui's next words.
"Threaten me. Backstab me. Or dance together in the chaos. What's it gonna be?"
'He sees right through me.'
"...You're a remarkably shrewd one, young warrior."
"I hear that often."
"And your confidence doesn't lag behind either."
"I'm a man without shortcomings."
"Very well."
The branch chief clapped his palms together and pulled out an abacus.
"Let's tally the value. How much do you want?"
"Usually, the desperate side quotes first, no?"
"That's why I'm asking."
"Hmm, no. I'm the one offering the Hao Gate a chance to get in on this."
"...".
From Yang-hui's standpoint, it didn't have to be the Hao Gate.
He could grab any beggar off the streets of Taehwa and connect with the Beggar Clan just fine.
'Though going to the Beggar Clan would cause all sorts of headaches, which is why I came to the Hao Gate.'
If word of the Sword King Mausoleum spread everywhere, violence was inevitable.
The Beggar Clan would try to keep things small-scale.
Worst case, it could lead to misunderstandings that Baek Clan escorts got innocents caught in a bloodbath.
Since the Beggar Clan mainly dealt info to righteous sects.
But.
'Since they've chosen option three, I'm holding the cards.'
"Fine. No more haggling nonsense. One hundred nyang in gold."
Ten thousand nyang in silver. Enough to open a proper inn in a bustling city.
But Yang-hui shook his head as if it were chump change.
"Didn't we agree no tug-of-war?"
"A merchant's gotta test the waters."
"We're past that. Let's cut to the chase."
"Alright. One thousand nyang."
The price jumped tenfold in one go.
Still, Yang-hui crossed his arms, looking dissatisfied.
"...How much do you want?"
"Five thousand nyang. In gold, of course. All in bills of exchange for easy carrying."
"Impossible."
The branch chief made a face like it was absurd.
"Even setting aside the outrageous amount, we don't have that much on hand."
"Told you, no pointless haggling. Can you send me to Hangseong?"
"...".
Yang-hui snorted at the branch chief, struck silent by the bullseye.
Anhui's Taehwa and Henan’s Hangseong.
Both were transportation hubs near canals and major roads, close to each other.
'No way the Taehwa branch handles less than five thousand nyang in gold.'
Well, five thousand in gold wasn't pocket change, unlike silver.
"With lightfoot skill, it's just four shichen to Hangseong. Might as well sightsee in Henan while I'm at it."
As he made a show of rising, the branch chief grabbed his sleeve.
"Understood. Got it. Bad habit. I swear, no more haggling."
Yang-hui sat back down, and the branch chief rattled the abacus.
"Straight to the limit without fuss. Two thousand nyang. How's that?"
"Meet in the middle."
Midway between one thousand and five thousand.
Three thousand nyang.
"Ugh... At that rate, the risk of loss is too high..."
"Don't worry. I'll set the board properly. You saw the bandits yourself."
The Hao Gate branch chief's eyes sharpened instantly.
"You're really planning to blow this up that big?"
"No matter the outcome, I need total chaos."
"In that case..."
Bandits were the most obvious when they mobilized en masse.
Those mountain-dwellers descending meant no one could miss it.
In short, word was out, so latecomers would be lining up too.
Meaning the Hao Gate's customer pool would triple or more.
"Fine. Three thousand nyang. All in bills will take four or five days."
"No problem. I'll be lounging here anyway."
Yang-hui pocketed the wanted notice.
"Hand it over after payment, though."
"Naturally. The Hao Gate thrives on trust, after all."
He knew. That was why Yang-hui dealt with the Hao Gate, tied to the unorthodox paths.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yang-hui descended to the first floor with Chui-dal.
"Brother Dang. I'm back."
Drunken Gu-ak waved cheerfully.
"Said you were off for some fun, but it took a while. Handled something big while you were at it?"
"Brother Gu."
"What!"
"No filthy talk in front of Hwa-hwa."
"...Never again. Our Hwa-hwa only hears pretty, sweet words."
He pulled out a chair and plopped down.
"Sold some info to the Hao Gate."
Dangun, mid-sip, paused and glanced toward A-du.
A-du ignored it completely, inhaling rice cakes.
"Huh? Why look at me?"
"...Nothing."
Yang-hui waved it off.
"Doesn't matter if she's really dim or just acting. Shaolin won't get involved anyway."
A towering tree of hidden virtue. That was Shaolin.
Even if they learned of the wanted notice, they wouldn't step in.
"You sure? They might under the banner of preventing bloodshed."
"If so, they'd have joined the last Sword King Mausoleum bloodbath. Saving fools blinded by greed isn't their way."
"True enough."
Dangun stroked his chin briefly before continuing.
"Selling info to the Hao Gate. Isn't that risky?"
"It is. But no choice. Time's short."
Yang-hui's goal was clues on the Sword Immortal from the Sword King Mausoleum.
His companions' aims differed slightly.
The Tangs, for instance, focused on striking the Namgung Clan from behind.
So Dangun couldn't help but worry.
"Little brother Hui. You must've foreseen this to some extent."
"Yeah. Master gave me a heads-up. Planned it from the start."
"Then gather more forces upfront... No, that would've aroused Namgung suspicions."
The reason for the minimal escort despite targeting the mausoleum.
"Too much force for a single escort job draws eyes. This is the limit."
Then Gu-ak voiced a doubt.
"Little brother. By that logic, wasn't including me—a peak realm expert vying for the top spot in Baek Manor—a mismatch too?"
...Setting aside truth, his speech dripped with arrogance.
"You're fine, Brother Gu. I've dragged you into every mess so far."
"...".
Indeed, Yang-hui had thrown Gu-ak at every task.
Things Baek Mu-ryang couldn't do as clan head got dumped on Gu-ak.
Squeezed every drop from him.
"I used you for grand purposes. Now you see the depths of this little brother's schemes?"
"...".
Gu-ak looked skyward in silence.
This brat... Little brother never changed with age.
"What? Salty?"
"Little brother! Mind your words! What sect treats a peak expert like this?!"
As indignant Gu-ak rose.
"Paid you proper for the work. Can the young master's authority cut your salary?"
He eyed the frozen father of one child and husband of one woman.
"Hitting peak realm's thanks to me, anyway."
"...".
Gu-ak couldn't retort.
Because it was true.
Without Yang-hui's martial critiques and advice during his instructor days, he'd likely still be first-rate.
Yes, it was true, but...
'I just want to smack him once. Full force.'
Instead of grinding-teeth Gu-ak, Dangun chuckled and intervened.
"Little brother Hui. Enough teasing. More on the plan. Just handing info to the Hao Gate?"
"Nah. That'd give them too much sway. For real chaos, widen the board for more factions."
In that vein.
"Brother Gu. Got a favor."
"Hmph. No."
"Hehe. A real man doesn't sulk. You'll want to once you hear."
Yang-hui grinned and continued.
"Go throw your weight around. Blow off steam."