Chapter 56: Quite the Brotherhood
Having finished dealing with Dark Sun Sect, Sa Ryeong-geuk headed to the Hwa-un Trading Company. No one in the company recognized him, but with the Master of Azure Wild Valley and the Master of Twilight Pavilion at his sides, no one dared block his path.
As they moved deep into the Hwa-un Trading Company, Sa Ryeong-geuk continued to observe his surroundings.
Walls as solid as fortress ramparts, a vast plaza, throngs of people and ceaselessly moving carts. The air typical of a massive trading company filled the place.
Although it was more unstable than before, the Hwa-un Trading Company was still among the most prominent in the world.
Sa Ryeong-geuk took a deep breath, as if savoring it all.
"How nice."
The smile that accompanied his exhale made him look like someone who already had the Hwa-un Trading Company in his grasp.
An old man appeared up ahead. He immediately recognized Sa Ryeong-geuk and bowed deeply.
"Vice Leader."
It was Ho Yeon-baek, the chief manager of the Hwa-un Trading Company.
Sa Ryeong-geuk casually nodded in acknowledgment and spoke.
"Let’s go."
No further explanation was needed. Yet the group naturally headed to the trading company leader’s office. At the lead was Chief Manager Ho Yeon-baek.
Standing before the door, Ho Yeon-baek spoke in a cautious tone.
"Trading Company Master, the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance has arrived."
It was a visit already announced through a swift attendant.
After a brief silence, the door opened.
As Sa Ryeong-geuk saw Hwa Yeon-seol’s face, a gleam passed through his eyes.
"A pleasure to meet you, Trading Company Master."
"……"
Hwa Yeon-seol looked up at Sa Ryeong-geuk, who was much taller than her, without saying a word. At this, the Chief Manager, the Master of Twilight Pavilion, and the Master of Azure Wild Valley all looked visibly flustered.
Regardless of the situation, with the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance personally visiting, Hwa Yeon-seol, as the Trading Company Master, was obligated to receive him with full courtesy.
Yet Sa Ryeong-geuk didn’t appear the least bit offended. Rather, with a faint smile, he looked Hwa Yeon-seol over as though enjoying the moment.
"How did such a beauty come from such a father?"
At his blatant comment, Hwa Yeon-seol furrowed her brow tightly.
"……It’s an honor to meet you. I am Hwa Yeon-seol, the Master of the Hwa-un Trading Company."
She emphasized the title Trading Company Master—a warning not to speak recklessly, as this was a meeting between equals.
Sa Ryeong-geuk, being a seasoned old fox, certainly understood the nuance. Still, he smiled and naturally stepped inside.
Hwa Yeon-seol deliberately moved quickly to sit at the head seat. It was an effort to retain the initiative.
However, Sa Ryeong-geuk, as if he had no intention of sitting at the head to begin with, took the seat beside it.
His composed attitude brought a subtle sense of defeat to Hwa Yeon-seol’s heart.
"I didn’t expect you to come in person."
"I came to share good news with the Trading Company Master. Since I’m already in Deyang, I thought I’d deliver it myself."
"……"
Hwa Yeon-seol stared at Sa Ryeong-geuk. No matter how much she tried to steady her mind, it was hard to remain calm before a man like him.
That was the presence of the Heavenly Poison Alliance in Sichuan. Especially the Vice Leader, Sa Ryeong-geuk, who was one of the most formidable Unorthodox Faction masters in the region—old in age and fierce in countenance.
Above all, it was well known that his methods were merciless and cruel.
"First, the Four Dragons River Gang has been annihilated."
"I’ve heard. They were reportedly attacked by an unknown assailant."
Sa Ryeong-geuk closely observed her as she spoke. He had suspected the Hwa-un Trading Company might have had something to do with the gang’s annihilation.
However, Hwa Yeon-seol merely seemed to be trying to suppress her fear. There was no sign she was lying.
"Right. In any case, the Four Dragons River Gang had long been a thorn in the Hwa-un Trading Company’s side, so I imagine this is good news for the Trading Company Master."
"……"
It was absurd. It was obvious that the Heavenly Poison Alliance was behind the Four Great Black Path Gangs in Deyang.
Yet Hwa Yeon-seol had no choice but to swallow her thoughts. At least until she understood his true intentions.
Sa Ryeong-geuk continued.
"Dark Sun Sect has also been annihilated just earlier."
"……"
This time, even Hwa Yeon-seol was visibly shaken.
Sa Ryeong-geuk relished her reaction before going on.
"They were deceived by someone’s instigation and attacked Azure Wild Valley. Ridiculous, right? So, I personally eradicated them. It’s better in many ways when those without value disappear."
His words carried weight.
They weren’t directed at Hwa Yeon-seol alone. The Masters of Azure Wild Valley and Twilight Pavilion both held their breath with tense expressions.
Sa Ryeong-geuk spoke again.
"From now on, Twilight Pavilion and Azure Wild Valley will divide Deyang between them. That means the Hwa-un Trading Company now has two enemies instead of four. That’s a good thing, right?"
"……I don’t think that’s something the Heavenly Poison Alliance should be saying."
"Hahaha, true. But I meant no offense to the Trading Company Master, so please don’t misunderstand. What I really want to say is this—"
A servant brought in tea. Sa Ryeong-geuk took a moment to savor the tea before continuing.
"Just as the Four Dragons River Gang and Dark Sun Sect disappeared overnight, Twilight Pavilion and Azure Wild Valley could also vanish. On the other hand, a new force could suddenly rise. That’s the current jianghu, and the Unorthodox Faction. Can the Hwa-un Trading Company survive in such chaos?"
"……"
"Your father managed it. He commanded the Masters of Twilight Pavilion, Azure Wild Valley, the Four Dragons River Gang, and Dark Sun Sect like limbs. Though a merchant, his leadership surpassed that of many martial artists."
At the word limbs, the Master of Twilight Pavilion gave a dry cough. Sa Ryeong-geuk, unconcerned, continued speaking.
"But you are not him. Just look at the situation now. These Unorthodox Faction dogs, forgetting the favor they were shown, are baring their fangs. That’s why I’m making a sincere suggestion to the Trading Company Master."
"……"
"Let go of your greed. Those who chase dreams too big for their ability never meet a gentle end."
In other words, Sa Ryeong-geuk was telling her to surrender the Hwa-un Trading Company quietly.
Hwa Yeon-seol’s face turned red with shame and fear. Yet she couldn’t say a word.
Sa Ryeong-geuk’s sheer presence had already taken over the spacious office entirely.
As if he hadn’t even expected a reply, Sa Ryeong-geuk turned to the two Unorthodox Faction leaders.
"Go catch the slippery one. If it’s an individual, kill them. If it’s an organization…"
Sa Ryeong-geuk trailed off, but everyone understood. The Heavenly Poison Alliance was prepared to go to war over this.
At his command, the Masters of Twilight Pavilion and Azure Wild Valley left the room. Watching them go, Sa Ryeong-geuk clicked his tongue softly.
"If it were up to me, I’d summon all the Heavenly Poison Alliance elites right here to Deyang."
A dangerous glint sparkled in his eyes.
Even Hwa Yeon-seol and the experienced Chief Manager Ho Yeon-baek gulped.
"What do you think, Chief Manager? Wouldn’t it be better to speak directly with our Heavenly Poison Alliance rather than deal with those thugs? The young Trading Company Master may not understand, but you, surely, know better."
"Ah…"
Ho Yeon-baek hesitated to speak.
He and Hwa Yeon-seol briefly exchanged glances.
Ho Yeon-baek had previously advised her that handing over the Hwa-un Trading Company to the Heavenly Poison Alliance was the only path to survival.
"Keolkeol, just joking. Even if those bastards are fools, if I brought the Heavenly Poison Alliance's elite here, the Master of Twilight Pavilion and the Master of Azure Wild Valley would be seriously displeased. Especially that guy from Twilight Pavilion—he’s a damn wolf pup."
Hwa Yeon-seol was simply dumbfounded.
The Vice Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance was already speaking as if he had taken over the Hwa-un Trading Company.
What made it worse was that, even when he insulted her in her own home, there was nothing she could do.
As if he could see right through her heart, Sa Ryeong-geuk chuckled slyly.
"Don’t glare so harshly. Who knows, we may end up as one family."
He was implying that the Hwa-un Trading Company might be absorbed into the Heavenly Poison Alliance. But Hwa Yeon-seol believed there was another, more sinister meaning hidden behind those words.
The pickpocket Jang Hong’s curses ripped sharply through the marketplace in Deyang.
"Shiiit!"
Jang Hong ran as if his life depended on it. Three men with blades at their waists were chasing him down, intent on killing.
Jang Hong was a fast runner. Even so, it was impossible to outrun martial artists.
Though they were only low-level members of Twilight Pavilion, they were still trained in movement arts. Every time he turned his head to check, they had already closed the distance.
The men, believing they had him, no longer shouted threats or curses. They just smiled. And those smiles sent chills through Jang Hong's chest.
‘If only I hadn’t gotten mixed up with those two!’
This was all because of them. If they wanted to pull something reckless against the Unorthodox Faction in Deyang, they should’ve done it alone. Why drag him into it?
The Twilight Pavilion thugs were after the one responsible for annihilating the Four Dragons River Gang. Someone had seen Jang Hong guide the two men to the gang’s location.
Jang Hong had told the truth. He had guided them, but didn’t know who they were. But those bastards were Unorthodox Faction. They weren’t the kind to let “I don’t know” slide.
Maybe he would die today. That was his only thought when he closed his eyes and opened them again.
"Ah!"
There they were.
The two fancy bastards who had gotten him into this mess.
While he was running for his life, they were sitting there smirking and eating sweets like they didn’t have a care in the world.
"Hey…!"
Before Jang Hong could finish shouting—
The two men began to walk.
Jang Hong ran with every ounce of strength he had. If he lost them here, he would be dragged off by those Unorthodox bastards.
Shoving people aside as he sprinted, Jang Hong followed them into an alley.
The black-clad Unorthodox men following him chuckled quietly. That alley was a dead end.
The Twilight Pavilion martial artists slowed their pace and leisurely entered the alley.
"Jang Hong, let’s just talk for a—"
The martial artist’s words trailed off.
They could see Jang Hong’s back. And in front of him stood a young man exuding a dark and ominous presence.
Seo Yu-gyeom looked at the Twilight Pavilion martial artists and asked Jang Hong,
"Got caught stealing again?"
"……"
Jang Hong was too dumbfounded to reply.
Regardless, Seo Yu-gyeom slowly walked toward the Twilight Pavilion men.
They sensed something dangerous in his aura.
Shrring—!
All three drew their swords at once. It should’ve been an intimidating scene, but unfortunately, they were retreating even as they drew their weapons.
Anyone could see they were terrified.
Seo Yu-gyeom found this amusing and asked,
"Is that what swords are for?"
"……"
Even though the words were insulting, the three didn’t stop backing away. Instinctively, they all realized—this was the 'slippery one' they were hunting.
He was the one who destroyed the Four Dragons River Gang. Whether he had done it alone, with a partner, or with a group—they didn’t know. But one thing was certain: that man alone could kill all three of them in an instant.
"Over here!"
"They’re here!"
The Twilight Pavilion martial artists shouted in desperation. Members of both Twilight Pavilion and Azure Wild Valley were stationed all over, searching for the 'slippery one.'
But Seo Yu-gyeom closed the distance faster than they could retreat.
The gap shrank. One of them couldn’t bear the fear any longer and turned to run.
He didn’t get far. After just three steps, he stopped—Jin Seong-un stood at the alley’s entrance.
"Weren’t you looking for us?"
Jin Seong-un said as he slowly walked forward.
From both ends, Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom closed in.
The Twilight Pavilion martial artists were being compressed between them.
Seeing this, Jin Seong-un muttered quietly,
"Quite the brotherhood you’ve got going."