Chapter 30: Lower Filth Gate vs Sichuan Tang Family

Step-.

When the martial artists of the Sichuan Tang Family approached the Moon-gazing Pavilion, it was Moon-seok who stepped forward.

He had the swordsmen of the Lower Filth Gate, including me and the youngest, wait behind him, then went ahead and bowed to them.

“I am Moon Mo, the manager of this place. It is an honor to meet the renowned martial artists of the Tang Family from Sichuan.”

“……”

However, they showed no reaction, as if they didn’t care whether Uncle Moon-seok bowed or not.

Some of them even frowned.

Of course, they would.

To those guys, who are filled with pride as martial artists of the Five Great Families, meeting the Lower Filth Gate, which is made up of the lowest of the Black Path, would not be pleasant.

‘Still, it feels disgusting.’

It was obvious that those arrogant and disrespectful guys, who ignored Uncle Moon-seok even though he bowed deeply, wouldn’t look good to anyone.

One of the reasons I hated the Orthodox Sects was also because I wanted to beat up guys like them.

But since my job was just to stand by and there was no good reason to provoke those poison dart frog guys, I decided to stay put.

Fortunately, before I got more upset, one of the martial artists of the Tang Family, who seemed to be the leader, spoke up.

“The Great Elder will arrive soon. Remove everyone from the brothel except for the Master.”

“…Everyone except for the Master?”

Moon-seok looked troubled at the arrogant declaration of the Tang Family martial artist.

It was understandable since the swordsmen of the Lower Filth Gate were stationed on each floor of the brothel.

Those swordsmen were a safety measure prepared by the Lower Filth Gate to prevent any unforeseen situations, but now these guys were trying to disarm even that.

Naturally, Moon-seok expressed his refusal…

“Haha… That would be difficult…”

Swoosh-.

“…!”

The Tang Family martial artist responded by pointing a dagger at Moon-seok’s neck. Others might not have noticed, but I could smell a bitter scent from the dagger at Moon-seok’s neck.

…True to their reputation as poison dart frogs, they had applied poison.

“I hope you understand that even talking to trash like you is a torment for me.”

“……”

“The Great Elder has ordered us to subdue you by force if you do not cooperate. I hope you don’t make me move my hand any further.”

“……”

Moon-seok glared silently at the martial artist.

Uncle Moon-seok’s martial prowess was not very high. He was certainly weaker than the Tang Family martial artist.

However, Moon-seok had a certain ferocity unique to someone who had lived a bottom-feeder life for decades. His sharp and fierce aura was definitely not inferior to the Tang Family martial artist.

As the tense situation continued… I, of course…

‘Wow… This is really interesting…’

I watched the scene with great interest.

A confrontation between the Sichuan Tang Family and the Lower Filth Gate? This was definitely going to be an exciting match.

The two groups didn’t have much interaction, so I had never seen their conflict in any Wuxia Novel.

But now, they were growling and fighting right in front of my eyes.

So, who would win?

Naturally, if it came to an all-out war, the Sichuan Tang Family would easily defeat the Lower Filth Gate.

The Sichuan Tang Family was a prestigious family… In some Wuxia Novels, the Sichuan Tang Family is mentioned as one of the Five Great Families, and in this world, their power was immense.

To put it simply, they were one of the top three families among the Five Great Families, along with the Namgung Family and the Northern Peng Family.

However, the Lower Filth Gate was not without its strengths.

Although they were far behind in martial prowess, they surpassed the Sichuan Tang Family in numbers and intelligence.

In the short term, it would be difficult, but in the long term, it was possible to deal a blow to the Sichuan Tang Family.

Swoosh-.

I saw one of the swordsmen of the Lower Filth Gate subtly reaching for his sword.

Swoosh-.

On the Tang Family side, I saw someone reaching into their wide sleeves.

It was a moment where it wouldn’t be strange if either side attacked first. At that moment…

‘Everyone, stop.’

“…!”

“…!”

I heard the Whisper Technique of the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate.

Judging by the reactions of the others, it seemed that everyone present had heard it.

I was a bit surprised. At first glance, her martial arts level didn’t seem that high, but for her to use the Whisper Technique to reach everyone here from the top of the brothel…

It seemed that running a large organization like the Lower Filth Gate wasn’t something just anyone could do.

While I was roughly thinking that, her Whisper Technique continued. The gist of it was this:

‘I will meet the Great Elder alone. Withdraw everyone from the brothel.’

“…Didn’t you hear? Your Leader has ordered you to do so.”

“……”

The Tang Family martial artist looked at Moon-seok triumphantly and said.

Uncle Moon-seok seemed displeased with the Leader’s decision, but he couldn’t disobey her order and sighed as he commanded his subordinates.

“…It’s the Leader’s order. Tell everyone inside to come out and line up.”

“Yes!”

One of the subordinates went inside…

Rumble-.

Soon, a large number of swordsmen began to come out.

‘They really prepared a lot.’

It seemed that this matter was very important to the Lower Filth Gate. That’s why they paid me a high price to stand guard.

Anyway, with the swordsmen from inside the brothel joining, the number of Lower Filth Gate martial artists was several times that of the Sichuan Tang Family.

Of course, in terms of quality, the Tang Family martial artists were far superior, but this was enough to make it a fair fight.

At that moment…

Step-.

“…He’s coming.”

I heard footsteps with my Qi Sensitivity, and at the end of the street, another group of martial artists appeared.

They were also wearing wide-sleeved martial arts uniforms, indicating they were from the Sichuan Tang Family, but there was something different this time.

Unlike the others who wore black uniforms and masks to hide their identities, the old man in the center was wearing the Tang Family’s distinctive purple martial arts uniform.

He looked like a man between middle-aged and elderly with a very nasty face, and his expression exuded the unique arrogance and confidence of an Orthodox Sect elder.

And…

‘…He’s a master.’

…I could feel the skill that backed up his arrogance and confidence.

The aura I felt from him was enough to make me believe he was the family head of the Sichuan Tang Family. Could all the people here, except for me, defeat that man if they attacked him together?

I roughly assessed the possibility and shook my head.

I didn’t think they could win.

That’s how strong that man was. I guessed that he was the Great Elder they had been talking about.

And as soon as he arrived, the Tang Family martial artists, who had been so arrogant, bent their waists and bowed deeply.

“Greetings to the Great Elder.”

Moon-seok also acknowledged his presence and, after suppressing his fierce aura, bowed deeply again.

“I, Moon Mo, humbly greet the Great Elder of the Tang Family once again.”

“……”

The Great Elder, like the other Tang Family martial artists, didn’t even glance at Moon-seok and asked the Tang Family martial artist.

“Is everything as I ordered?”

“Yes, Great Elder. We have removed everyone from the brothel except for the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate. We do not sense any other presence inside.”

“Good.”

Hearing that, he turned towards the door of the Moon-gazing Pavilion.

Then…

“……”

“……”

…For a moment, he made eye contact with me.

As expected of the Great Elder of the Sichuan Tang Family, his intuition seemed to be well-developed.

Even though the aura emanating from my body should be similar to that of the other swordsmen of the Lower Filth Gate, he still noticed me.

Well…

Swoosh-.

…He soon passed by, thinking it was just his imagination.

By the way, the Great Elder of the Sichuan Tang Family… I didn’t know his name or face, but he felt familiar.

…Where had I heard about the Great Elder of the Sichuan Tang Family?

I had to think for a moment to find that trace in my memory. And then…

Sniff sniff.

“…Hmm?”

I noticed something strange from the spot where the Great Elder had passed by.

**

The Great Elder entered the brothel, leaving everyone else outside.

That didn’t mean the others were doing nothing.

They were engaged in a battle of wills, ready to draw their swords if anything happened inside. That was their role.

And I approached Uncle Moon-seok, who was at the forefront of the Lower Filth Gate, to talk.

“Uncle Moon-seok.”

“Do you have something to say? I also have something to discuss with you, so let’s step back for a moment.”

Moon-seok said that and took me behind a large swordsman of the Lower Filth Gate before asking.

“What do you want to tell me?”

“You seem to have something to say, so go ahead first.”

“Alright, then…”

Moon-seok looked around to make sure no one else could hear and whispered in my ear.

“You must have already noticed that those guys are from the Sichuan Tang Family, right?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t feel too pressured. They won’t attack unless necessary. However, I have a favor to ask. Do you see the leader of the Tang Family martial artists over there? That rude guy keeps trying to assert his dominance. Could you step in and engage in a battle of wills with him?”

“…A battle of wills, huh. Alright, but I also have something to say.”

“What is it? Tell me anything.”

When Moon-seok nodded, I slowly asked him.

“Tell me why I should help the Lower Filth Gate.”

“…What?”

Moon-seok looked confused by my words. He seemed to want to ask what I was talking about.

“Didn’t I promise to pay you 200 taels of gold once this is over? If you think that’s not enough…!”

“Just standing guard and engaging in a battle of wills is worth 200 taels of gold. But…”

“But…?”

“I think what’s about to happen will require more than 200 taels of gold.”

“What do you mean…?”

Moon-seok’s face darkened as he sensed something ominous in my words. I kindly explained to him.

“…In a little while, those poison dart frogs will kill all the people of the Lower Filth Gate.”

The truth that only I had noticed.