Chapter 409
## Chapter 409. The Reason for the Living (3)
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Songhwa-gak.
Recognized for its outrageously steep prices, it stood proud as one of Wuhan’s three legendary taverns. The cost to lay out a single table of food and spirits here could effortlessly dwarf the monthly budget of an average household, ensuring commoners never set foot inside. Even those occupying the modest tables on the ground floor were individuals of notable prestige and standing elsewhere.
A patron enjoying his drinks flanked by a pair of attentive courtesans felt nature calling and rose from his place.
“Keep the rhythm flowing and don’t let the mood drop while I’m gone. If I come back to a dull room, I’m going to have to discipline you.”
“Ho-ho-ho-ho.”
“Kya-ha-ha-ha.”
The lighthearted giggles of the women followed him as he turned away, his chest puffed out with pride.
*Thud.*
Suddenly, a hard shove from behind sent him sprawling forward across the floor, utterly shattering the dignified image he had just been projecting.
“Which blind fool forgot to bring their eyes out today!”
Owning three prosperous establishments within Wuhan, there was very little in this world that truly intimidated him. Wealth could smooth over almost any friction, and for anything grander, he possessed ties to the Murim Alliance. And yet,
“The… the Red Dragon Pavilion?”
Catching sight of the uniform belonging to the person who had jostled him, the fog of alcohol instantly vanished from his mind.
“……Is there a problem?”
“A-ah, no…… not at all.”
Had it been a solitary officer, he might have attempted to salvage his pride. However, a continuous stream of martial artists wearing the unmistakable garb of the Red Dragon Pavilion was flooding into Songhwa-gak right behind the first. The patrons who had been drinking, feasting, and enjoying the musical performances gradually shifted their attention toward these uninvited intruders.
“What is going on here?”
“Are they throwing a collective banquet?”
“Huh? Since when does the Murim Alliance possess the funds for such luxury?”
Their stiff demeanor made it perfectly clear they weren’t here to patronize the establishment. Barring the sudden discovery of a gold reserve within the Red Dragon Pavilion, a celebratory dinner at Songhwa-gak was out of the question. A serious matter was undoubtedly unfolding.
The staff and managers of Songhwa-gak, deeply unsettled by the sudden inundation of Red Dragon Pavilion forces, moved to intercept them. In a commonplace tavern, the workers would have shrunk back immediately, but this was Songhwa-gak.
“What is the meaning of this disruption?”
“Step aside and cooperate with our official inquiry.”
“You cannot simply force your way in without cause!”
As the Red Dragon Pavilion members pushed forward aggressively, the elite clientele of Songhwa-gak began to frown in deep displeasure. It was at this volatile moment that the Pavilion Master descended from the upper level.
“How dare you cause such an uproar in this establishment!”
“…….”
The authority in his voice caused a temporary lull in the tense standoff between the officers and the tavern staff. Very quickly, however, the leading representative, Great Hall Master Jang Bo-geuk, stepped forward to confront the Pavilion Master with absolute resolve.
“This is an authorized operation of the Murim Alliance. We expect your compliance.”
“Do you possess an official warrant?”
“……We are merely executing a routine inspection.”
A routine inspection? The Pavilion Master let out a mocking scoff at a claim he hadn’t heard once since the day he opened his doors.
“Demanding entry without legal documentation? Have you forgotten whose ground you are standing on?”
“I am well aware. This property is managed by the Jeongdo-hoe.”
“Then turn right around and leave. The patrons here are not the helpless merchants you intimidate in the public squares.”
The Pavilion Master’s sharp retort prompted an eruption of mocking laughter from the surrounding tables, the guests thoroughly enjoying the display.
“If your desire to enter is truly so desperate, pay the standard cover charge. It will be fifty silver pieces per head. Naturally, spirits and dining will incur additional fees. Though, I highly doubt your meager pockets can accommodate such a sum.”
The biting mockery triggered another wave of loud jeering. The faces of the silent Red Dragon Pavilion martial artists steadily flushed a deep crimson. Unable to tolerate the humiliation any longer, Great Hall Master Jang Bo-geuk reached for the hilt of his blade, only for a subordinate to quickly catch his arm.
“The overwhelming majority of the people gathered here hold direct or indirect ties to the Jeongdo-hoe. A reckless move on our part will give them exactly the leverage they want.”
“……I am aware.”
The tavern was openly degrading the Red Dragon Pavilion, fully aware that a formal arrest warrant targeting an esteemed member of the Elder Council like Cheong-su Jin-in was impossible to obtain. Swallowing his rage, Jang Bo-geuk reluctantly released his weapon. Witnessing this capitulation, a mocking grin formed on the Pavilion Master’s face.
“Just take your leave. Surely you wouldn’t want to squander an entire month’s earnings in a single evening?”
“““Khahahaha!”””
Caught in a trap where they could neither tolerate the public degradation nor strike out blindly, the situation grew incredibly tense. Suddenly, the Red Dragon Pavilion forces positioned at the entrance began to murmur, parting down the center to form a clear aisle. Great Hall Master Jang Bo-geuk likewise stepped aside to show deference.
*Step, step, step.*
Every eye in the room naturally gravitated toward the figures advancing through the newly opened pathway.
“Who else thinks they can—”
The supreme confidence on the Pavilion Master’s face began to wither. The widespread laughter across the room abruptly died down as the patrons picked up on the sudden shift in the manager’s demeanor.
The individual leading the way through the ranks of the Red Dragon Pavilion drew to a halt. Locking his piercing gaze onto the Pavilion Master, he inverted a heavy sack held in his hand.
*Clink, clink.*
An endless stream of brilliant gold coins tumbled onto the floorboards. The echoing ring of precious metal bouncing, rolling, and scattering across the room instantly shattered the heavy silence of the tavern. And just as quickly, the stillness returned.
Without breaking his icy stare, the man’s lips curved into a sharp, mocking smile.
“Is this sufficient?”
“……Ge—General Counselor?”
The Pavilion Master, staring blankly at the wealth scattered across the floor, muttered the title in utter bewilderment. He received no direct acknowledgement.
“I asked if this meets your price.”
The absolute calm in Jegal So-myeong’s frigid tone caused the Pavilion Master to visibly lose his composure for the first time.
“……Th—that is to say…”
“Is it still not enough?”
Jegal So-myeong produced a second pouch, emptying its glittering contents onto the floor.
“No matter how exorbitant the menu at Songhwa-gak may be, this sum should comfortably offset your losses for the evening, including any property damage, correct?”
“…….”
Jegal So-myeong slowly cast his gaze upward toward the second and third balconies.
“Though, to properly compensate every guest in attendance, the funds might fall short.”
The underlying threat in Jegal So-myeong’s voice prompted several faint-hearted patrons to quietly gather their things and slip away. The majority of the clientele valued their personal safety far more than any display of pride.
A tense silence stretched over the room. As Jegal So-myeong observed the remaining crowd clustered behind the stunned Pavilion Master, his brow twitched slightly. While a few had fled, well over half the patrons remained rooted to their benches despite the palpable terror on their faces.
“…….”
Surveying the stubborn crowd frozen in the quiet room, Jegal So-myeong reached an absolute conclusion.
*‘He is definitely here.’*
They simply dared not commit an act of cowardice by abandoning the Jeongdo-hoe within its own stronghold. There was an overriding authority keeping them anchored to their seats despite their fear.
*Step, step, step.*
Moments later, the source of their restraint manifested at the top of the central staircase. Cheong-su Jin-in, casually waving a small folding fan, peered down at Jegal So-myeong with immense condescension.
“What prompts the General Counselor of the Murim Alliance to disrupt the commerce of a private business?”
“The gold currently pooling at your feet is more than ample to secure this entire establishment for the next seven days and nights.”
Cheong-su Jin-in let out a dismissive click of his tongue.
“*Tsk, tsk.* It is precisely due to your narrow, transactional mindset that the *Kangho* is descending into ruin.”
Cheong-su Jin-in began a slow, deliberate descent down the steps.
“Do you honestly believe these fine people gather here merely to drown themselves in alcohol? With cheap taverns lining every corner of the city, why do they choose this expensive venue? Is it not to purchase an oasis of peace and untroubled elegance?”
Recognizing his protector, the color rushed back into the Pavilion Master’s pale face.
“Yet, once such an egregious violation occurs, what follows? Can they ever return to this space and find the same serene comfort they once enjoyed?”
“If that is your concern, you ought to look inward and realize you failed to safeguard your clientele.”
With every step Cheong-su Jin-in took down the staircase, armed martial artists emerged from the upper floors to align themselves behind him.
“Incorrect. An impression once deeply carved into the mind is rarely wiped clean.”
Halting his descent, Cheong-su Jin-in snapped his fan shut, fixing Jegal So-myeong with an intense, unblinking glare.
“In the exact same manner, the denizens of the *Kangho* will conclude that the Murim Alliance has utterly capitulated to the Black Way Murim the very moment the Black Way sets foot inside Alliance territory.”
Jegal So-myeong met the hostile stare with a completely blank expression. His response was devoid of any warmth.
“Was that the grand lesson you wished to impart?”
The Red Dragon Pavilion officers tightened their grips on their weapons as they recognized the formidable fighters assembling at Cheong-su Jin-in’s back. A large portion of them were prominent figures from the Martial Pavilion of the Murim Alliance.
“Consequently, an example must be set. The world must see the consequences for those who blindly fracture this peace. Only then will our patrons return with absolute confidence.”
“Are you speaking of a tavern’s ledger? Or are you referring to the Murim Alliance itself?”
When Cheong-su Jin-in finally stepped onto the ground floor to stand directly before Jegal So-myeong, a force twice the size of the Red Dragon Pavilion contingency formed an imposing wall behind him. Cheong-su Jin-in unfurled his fan once more, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Which of the two do you imagine I mean?”
Gazing at Cheong-su Jin-in as if looking at a minor inconvenience, Jegal So-myeong spoke evenly.
“I have received word that you have mobilized factions allied with Wudang and enlisted mercenaries throughout the Hubei and Anhui territories.”
“I haven’t the slightest inkling of what you are implying.”
“Call off the hunters.”
“Your words are entirely foreign to me.”
“Are you truly determined to push this to the absolute limit?”
For a brief second, Cheong-su Jin-in’s composure fractured, his brow furrowing.
“Mind your tongue. You are the one who initiated this conflict.”
Maintaining his steady gaze on Cheong-su Jin-in, Jegal So-myeong pressed forward.
“As of midnight yesterday, I enacted a mandate to detain any unauthorized forces operating within the Hubei and Anhui sectors.”
“……!”
“The directive explicitly permits immediate, lethal force against any who resist compliance.”
A flash of pure malice sparked in Cheong-su Jin-in’s eyes.
“……Just how far are you prepared to go in fracturing our coalition?”
“If extracting a few cancerous elements from within allows the larger body to recover its health, I consider it an exceptionally sound investment.”
“…….”
“You would be wise to countermand your hunting parties immediately. The repercussions of the directives you have issued are far beyond your capacity to manage.”
Turning away from Cheong-su Jin-in, Jegal So-myeong prepared to depart. While the remaining patrons held their collective breath watching his departure, Cheong-su Jin-in’s voice cut through the silence from behind, dripping with venom.
“The matter is already entirely out of your hands.”
Jegal So-myeong froze instantly in his tracks.
“Have the tidings not reached you yet? Blood has spilled at the Cheonjang outpost, and open warfare has erupted between the Black Way and the local forces of the Murim Alliance.”
Cheong-su Jin-in’s words hung in the air. A look of profound shock and horror washed over Jegal So-myeong’s features.
“What did you say!!!”
“The conflict…… has already crossed the point of no return.”
Has Eun-hyeon always been such an active hub for martial artists? I have no idea what drawing card brings these wretched bastards crawling into this specific town. Groups acting as vassals to the Wudang Sect or possessing deep blood ties to Wudang are practically spilling out of the alleyways. I suppose I’m expected to believe it’s a mere coincidence? Utter garbage.
“A sudden curiosity has struck me.”
Dam-ak, currently strapped securely to my spine, was tossing out inquiries despite not contributing a single bit to the physical exertion. When I chose to ignore him, he repeated the exact same line after a brief pause.
“A sudden curiosity has struck me.”
If I remained silent due to sheer physical exhaustion, he would stubbornly voice the exact same phrase over and over again without altering a single syllable.
“……What do you want?”
“Throughout the annals of history, has there ever been a single prominent member of the White Way who shed as much White Way blood as you, Jin-gong-ja?”
A faint chuckle vibrated through Dam-ak’s voice, as if he found the irony incredibly rich.
“At this rate, shouldn’t you be formally classified under the Black Way?”
Honestly, I was wondering the exact same thing. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be locked in such a brutal, bloody conflict against fellow White Way martial artists after surviving the formal examinations.
“That absolute vulture over there belongs to the Black Way, you know?”
I gestured with a sharp nod of my chin toward the side. Among the waves of attackers, the mercenaries were proving to be an absolute nightmare. It wasn’t just White Way mercenaries; even Black Way mercenaries had swarmed into Eun-hyeon solely to collect my head. To be absolutely precise, they were hunting Dam-ak. *You ungrateful bastards, this man is your General Counselor. No matter how deep your greed runs, isn’t this crossing an ethical line?*
Dam-ak, who had been rambling incessantly, fell silent for a fleeting moment before murmuring under his breath.
“……Those individuals have clearly fallen under the corruption of the Blood Cult.”
“Sure, sure, whatever helps you sleep at night.”
*Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!*
Unleashing the Myriad Transformations Matchless Fist, I shattered the jaw of an oncoming mercenary. I had every intention of striking the opposite side to maintain symmetry and leave his face look uniform, but my knuckles simply lacked the necessary force.
I knew that if I could just secure a solid two hours—no, even a single hour of uninterrupted stillness—I could bounce back. However, the extraordinary regenerative properties of the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear were barely functioning, a testament to just how broken my physical body currently was. Had I somehow depleted the core vitality of the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear entirely? Wasn’t that mystical boon supposed to endure within my system permanently once integrated? I felt thoroughly cheated.
“Huh?”
Strangely enough, past a certain intersection, the suffocating pressure of our pursuers began to diminish significantly.
“*Huff, huff.* Have these absolute cowards finally learned to fear my name?”
As a proud smirk formed on my face, Dam-ak, who was clinging to my back like an absolute parasite to preserve his own skin, shattered my illusion.
“In all likelihood, Jegal So-myeong has finally initiated his countermoves. Though his intervention is remarkably overdue. For a man of his standing to remain paralyzed while the Jeongdo-hoe mobilized, only to take action at this late stage, is thoroughly underwhelming.”
Listen to him lecture, a man who literally cannot place a single foot on the dirt out of sheer terror that these minor combatants will end his life. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it.
*Ching-ching-ching-ching-ching!*
*Ching-ching-ching-ching-ching!*
While the unaligned mercenaries and lone wolves dropped out of the chase to preserve their own lives, the dedicated disciples of Wudang’s secondary branches maintained a relentless, fanatical pursuit.
“They are clearly gambling on the hope that I fail to reach the destination in time.”
That exact fear kept me from pausing even for a breath. We were locked in an absolute race against the clock. The intelligence dispatches forwarded by the Hao-mun indicated that hostilities between the various regional outposts were reaching a boiling point. If those frictions sparked an open skirmish at even a single branch, forcing the Saheuk-ryeon to issue a formal declaration of war, the conflict would become unstoppable, regardless of whether Dam-ak made it back.
“Aaaaaah!”
A flurry of blades ripped through the surroundings, tearing the landscape to shreds. My inner reserves were rapidly approaching absolute zero, but I forced myself not to care. Just a fraction more distance and we would cross into Anhui Province. If I could just push through this perimeter……. Just a little further…….
“*Heuh, heuh, heuh.*”
Leaving a trail of incapacitated White Way fighters in my wake, I forced my legs into another sprint. My limbs were moving purely on survival instinct, wobbling violently. It was a cold reality that no matter how massive my pool of inner strength grew, it couldn’t compensate for a massive loss of blood.
“Jin-gong-ja, we should halt and recuperate for a brief spell. The immediate area appears clear of hostiles.”
He twisted his head around to get a clear view of my profile.
“Your current appearance suggests you are on the literal brink of death. Let us at least enter a brief state of meditative focus before advancing further.”
“I can press on.”
Letting out a weary sigh, Dam-ak tightened his grip on my shoulders.
“I am suggesting this because you look ready to drop at any second. If you collapse here, am I expected to navigate the rest of this journey on my own?”
“If I choose to rest now, what stops the war from breaking out?”
“…….”
After a long pause, another heavy sigh escaped Dam-ak.
“Was that the primary anxiety driving you?”
“If not that catastrophe, what else could possibly possess my mind?”
“You can cast that particular anxiety aside.”
Unexpectedly, his palm began to lightly pat my shoulder in a soothing gesture.
“Even if local skirmishes erupt between the outposts and the demonstrators, the Saheuk-ryeon will refrain from issuing an official declaration of war.”
“!!!???”
Reining in the volatile inner energy I had been forcing through my pathways, I came to a grinding halt.
“Just…… what on earth do you mean by that?”
“Should the plot on my life fall short, their fallback strategy will be to delay my return. Anticipating that exact scenario, I left strict instructions to defend against any provocations or assaults, but explicitly forbade a formal proclamation of war, regardless of losses. Maintaining a defensive posture will only serve to further consolidate the internal factions of the Saheuk-ryeon.”
“…….”
I felt as though a massive blunt object had just slammed into the back of my skull. That incredibly composed, calculating tone. Wow, this absolute bastard…….
“Why…… did you wait until this exact moment to share that?”
You should have informed me miles ago, or kept it a complete secret until we reached the end! Dam-ak slowly withdrew his hands from my trembling shoulders.
“You never raised the question. You didn’t even acknowledge my previous attempts at conversation.”
“You absolute son of a bitch!!!”
“……Jin-gong-ja?”
I instantly snapped the bonds of the Thousand-Silk Thread. Before Dam-ak could even voice an exclamation of pain as his backside crashed hard onto the dirt, I dropped into a cross-legged posture and immediately dove into deep meditation. *You miserable bastard, you had better pray I don’t settle this score the moment I complete a single minor heavenly cycle.*
