Chapter 68
“Now then, Bongchun will go down the mountain and deal with the Demonic Path. Next is Bangsam.”
“Yes, Leader. I don’t get nervous like Bongchun-i. Please entrust me with anything.”
Bang Sam-i’s expression was so extraordinary that he looked ready to depart immediately if I told him to go and slit the Murim Alliance Leader’s throat.
However,
“Uh, right. You just keep being an Attendant at the Entrance Pavilion.”
“Oh, fuck.”
“Yeah, I knew you’d curse. You rude bastard.”
Smack - !
When I forcefully smacked the back of his head, Bang Sam-i shouted at me with a wronged expression.
“No, Leader! Isn’t that right! You entrusted Bongchun-i with the heavy task of going down the mountain, dealing with all the Demonic Path, and making them Subordinates, but for me, who is above Bongchun-i, you’re telling me to just do the same guiding!”
“This bastard…, do you know how important it is to be an Attendant at the Entrance Pavilion…”
I wasn’t saying it as a joke; the work Bang Sam-i handled was truly an important job.
“Whatever the case, the very essence of our business is the Mountain Path Business. I’m entrusting you with the most important job among them, so you should be feeling honored. Yet, you dare curse at your Leader? And you’re not the only one doing Mountain Path work.”
I looked around at all the other executives except Bongchun-i and continued speaking.
“The rest of you, excluding Bongchun-i, will also take on the duties you originally had.”
The other Executive guys also each had their own positions they handled on the Mountain Path.
“We’ve reopened the Mountain Path, but it’s not perfect yet. There’s a gap in personnel, and the atmosphere is unsettled. For now, the Normalization of the Mountain Path, which is the center of our business, is what’s important.”
When I spoke seriously, Dongryong-i nodded and answered.
“Normalization of the Mountain Path… Yes, understood.”
Dongryong-i nodded as if agreeing with my words, but at the same time, a regretful expression coexisted on his face.
Well, it was understandable.
Now we have become the ones closest to being the masters of Hunan Province, so just doing the same Mountain Path Management could leave them feeling disappointed.
“Dongryong-i, don’t be too disappointed. Rushing too much ruins things. Eventually, Hunan Province will fall into our hands, and when that time comes, there will be plenty of things to do besides the Mountain Path.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“And also…”
I looked around and grinned.
“Starting this week, I plan to personally teach you my Saber Art.”
“Is that really true?”
When I said that, Dongryong-i got so excited that he even kicked off his seat and stood up.
“T-truly, the Saber Art…”
“Yeah.”
From the moment Dongryong-i became my Subordinate until now… I have only taught all my Subordinates the Cultivation Method and Physical Training methods.
The reason was that my Saber Arts were so tyrannical that the consumption of Internal Energy was extreme.
Even the energy accumulated through the Hebei Peng Family’s Cultivation Method wouldn’t be enough, and it would be difficult to properly execute unless the energy was accumulated solely through the Cultivation Method I taught them.
That was why I waited until my Subordinates had accumulated a certain amount of internal energy.
Actually…, I had thoughts of teaching them after letting them accumulate a bit more Internal Energy, but…
“We can’t guarantee that something like this won’t happen again.”
“…”
“…I felt that we needed to become stronger as a whole.”
…My thoughts had changed a bit after the incident when Dokgoyeong invaded this time.
“First, I will teach you guys. Once you get the hang of it a bit, you’ll teach the kids below you…, and going further, we’ll dispatch you to each Mountain Stronghold so that eventually, all of our Green Forest will become stronger.”
I didn’t know how long it would take. However, if this plan succeeded, our Green Forest would be able to strengthen its overall combat power.
“First, let’s pass down the Cultivation Method to the guys in our Subordinate Strongholds. Most of the guys in our Muak Mountain Stronghold know the Cultivation Method Formula, right? Pick a few of them and have them go pass down the Cultivation Method to each Mountain Stronghold.”
“To all twenty Mountain Strongholds?”
“Yeah, all of them. While I go down for a bit, finish the Normalization of the Mountain Path and the transmission of the Cultivation Method.”
At my words, the Youngest asked with a questioning expression.
“You’re going down again?”
“Yeah, I’m busy. I just came up briefly to tell you guys this. I’ll teach you the Saber Art when I get back, so wait until then.”
“Yes, Leader.”
I looked at my Subordinates nodding and answering, then turned toward Dongryong-i.
“Dongryong-i.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“I’ll say it again: when I’m not here, you’re the Leader. With what happened this time…, you really played the role of Leader well.”
In our Mountain Stronghold, Dongryong-i was the only one who could cross swords with Dokgoyeong. Thanks to Dongryong-i’s standing his ground well, we were able to prevent what could have been a major disaster.
“…Don’t overdo it and just wait while I’m gone. You can’t learn the Saber Art in that physical condition.”
“…Yes, Leader.”
“Then, since I’m done saying what I had to say, I’m leaving.”
“Already?”
The Youngest made a regretful expression. I patted the Youngest’s head once and then grabbed the doorknob.
“I have something important to do, so it can’t be helped. I’ll be back soon.”
“Have a safe trip, Leader!”
I watched the Executives bow in greeting and stepped outside just like that. A task just as important as negotiating with the Murim Alliance was waiting for me.
* * *
As soon as I descended the mountain, the place I headed to was none other than the Haomun Hunan Branch.
I went to find Munseok as if it were my own home now.
“Munseok, I’m here.”
“Hmm…, you said you’d be back soon, and you really did come back soon.”
“More importantly, did you organize everything I asked for?”
“I just finished.”
Munseok said so and handed me a book, when I opened it…
“You did a good job.”
…The list I wanted was written down inside it in a row.
It was a record of everything about all the Demonic Path groups in Hunan, based on Haomun’s information network.
“My Subordinate Bongchun-i will come tomorrow morning, so give this to him along with some appropriate guards.”
“…Unifying Hunan's Demonic Path, huh. The idea is good, but is it okay if you don’t do it yourself?”
“They’re just Hoodlum bastards who obviously only learned Martial Arts on a surface level anyway. My Subordinate is more than enough. And I have a more important job, don’t I? Is that side ready now?”
“I just received word that he has entered the Courtesan House.”
“Then I should hurry up and go too.”
As I unfastened my belt to change into the clean clothes prepared in advance, Munseok, who was watching, again this time asked me as if he were worried.
“Are you sure it’s okay for you to do it yourself? You probably aren’t used to this sort of thing, so it might be better if I do it…”
“What are you talking about? I obviously have to do this job myself. And something of this level is no problem at all. You know my entertaining skills, right?”
I grinned as if telling him not to worry, then immediately changed my clothes.
* * *
Yi Gaseong, the Hunan Provincial Lord who oversaw the entirety of Hunan Province, was currently in a very uncomfortable state of mind.
It was because of the arrogant notification from the Murim Alliance a while ago.
[The Murim Alliance will now wash its hands of Hunan Province.]
It wasn’t even spoken directly by the Representative of the Murim Alliance; it was merely written in a letter brought by the Murim Alliance's Messenger.
“Hah! It makes me angry just thinking about it again.”
Yi Gaseong was from a prominent Noble Family in the Imperial Capital. No matter how separated the government and Jianghu were, he thought the Murim Alliance’s actions were far too ill-mannered this time.
“And what? They’re washing their hands of it as they please?”
If the Murim Alliance washed its hands of the Hunan Murim, it would become a void without anyone to manage it. Then another bout of chaos would surely break out.
While he was worrying about that, an invitation addressed to his name arrived at the Hunan Provincial Government. The sender was the Green Forest.
The Green Forest.
It wasn’t as if Yi Gaseong lacked ears. He already knew that the Green Forest guys had unified into one and had pioneered a path in the mountains this time.
He also knew that the Green Forest and the Murim Alliance had clashed and subsequently held talks.
[If so, could the Murim Alliance’s withdrawal mean… Did the Green Forest secure territorial rights in Hunan Province?]
Even as he thought that it couldn’t be, he couldn’t erase the thought that it was a reasonable deduction.
Perhaps this current invitation was the Green Forest’s plan to be recognized by the Provincial Lord as the Master of the Hunan Murim.
“If that’s their intention, they should come find me themselves. Who do they think they are, telling me to come and go?”
The government and Murim did not interfere with or encroach upon each other.
However, the Green Forest had a rather ambiguous relationship.
While they were Martial Artists, they weren’t as strong as Righteous Faction members, and they also persecuted and tormented the Common People.
Although it was a bit much to call Yi Gaseong clean, he was someone who had his own pride as an Official.
It made him a bit uneasy that someone who ate the nation’s stipend would meet with mere Bandit riffraff, no matter the circumstances.
[If I meet them and they seem like guys I can’t sit at the same table with, I’ll flip it right over.]
Screech - .
While he was making such a resolution, the carriage came to a stop before he knew it.
“Provincial Lord, we have arrived.”
“Hmm…”
Yi Gaseong felt his mind settle a bit as he looked at his destination.
Maehyangru.
Originally, Hunan Province was a place with few people, so it wasn’t an area with developed entertainment. However, perhaps because the Mountain Path was pioneered and the number of Merchants coming and going increased, the number of Inns and Taverns grew recently.
Maehyangru was actually a Courtesan House that had been almost the only one of its kind from the start, but it had recently undergone construction to become larger and more luxurious, making it a place that gossips talked about frequently.
“Hmm…, the choice of location is excellent.”
Until now, whenever he met with Martial Artists, he would only occasionally drink tea in places where immortals seemed to live before returning.
However, he liked alcohol and women.
[When men are having a talk, there really needs to be alcohol and women. Indeed.]
In this regard, there was definitely a good point about Unorthodox Faction members compared to the stuffy Righteous Faction members.
[It seems they want to look good to me, but even with this much, they won’t be able to change my mind.]
Yi Gaseong steeled his resolve again like that and stepped inside Maehyangru.
And then…
“Provincial Lord, have you arrived?”
“Provincial Lord, have you arrived?!”
“Ah, you startled me…”
…As soon as he opened the door, he could see people who appeared to be the entire staff of the Courtesan House welcoming him.
“We have been waiting for you to come. I will guide you to your seat.”
“Ah, thank you…”
No matter how high his status as a Provincial Lord was, it was his first time receiving such a welcome from the entire staff when visiting an establishment.
He followed behind with a bewildered feeling, but then he discovered something else that was strange.
“Excuse me, look here.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“…But why is there no one in the Courtesan House?”
“Ah.”
At Yi Gaseong’s question, the person guiding him smiled amiably and answered.
“The General Stronghold Master has rented out the entire place for you for the day, Provincial Lord.”
“…He rented out this place?”
“Yes.”
“Hoh…”
Maehyangru was currently a Courtesan House whose popularity was skyrocketing in Hunan Province.
No matter how much money one had, renting out the entire place wouldn’t have been easy.
Besides, wasn’t this a Courtesan House directly managed by Haomun?
[What kind of connection does he have with Haomun to…]
As the guide grinned and opened the door, Yi Gaseong must have arrived, while Yi Gaseong was marveling.
And in that place…
“…”
…There were present a lavish drinking table and all sorts of Courtesans, enough to surprise even him, the Provincial Lord.
“You may enjoy the entertainment first before the General Stronghold Master arrives.”
“…”
Yi Gaseong could feel his mind changing in real time.