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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: We Don't Listen to the Words of the Weak (1)
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⚙ OFFICIAL DECLARATION ⚙
Cheongsung Sect Leader Cheon Yu hereby declares the following: One. Cheongsung Sect and Sacheon Tang Clan form an eternal alliance. Should any trouble befall the Tang Clan in the future, Cheongsung will devote all its power to their aid. Two. In any dispute, Cheongsung will stand by the Tang Clan, and this shall be enshrined as Cheongsung's law. Three. Cheongsung Sect will confront the Tang Clan's enemies with the same force as its own.
"...Are you planning to use Cheongsung however it suits your tastes?"
"Why speak so coldly? We're just saying we'll help each other out."
"Then why is there no reciprocal clause here?"
As Cheon Yu ground his teeth in fury, Dang Yu-wol smirked.
"Because right now, Cheongsung is the one in need."
"Kuh...!!!"
It wasn't wrong.
As long as Dang Yu-wol knew all of Cheongsung's martial arts, they had no choice.
Cheon Yu gripped his fist tightly.
'Unworthy descendants sin before our ancestors...!!'
In the end, Cheon Yu stamped the sect leader's seal on the document.
It was a declaration of complete surrender.
"Let's get along from now on. And..."
"What else do you plan to do?!"
"You're going to be a hardworking slave from here on out, so I need to let you build some strength."
Thud.
He handed over a single book.
Cheon Yu's expression was sullen as he took it, but his eyes widened the moment he saw the title.
"Th-this, th-this, th-this...?!"
Myriad Elephants Unification Sword Art.
A heavy, overpowering technique said to embody the weight of ten thousand elephants in the sword, making it impossible for anyone to withstand.
It was a Cheongsung Sect martial art that had been lost to practical use after the ancient war with the Demonic Cult.
"Decades ago, there was friction between the Demonic Cult and Cheongsung."
"..."
"And Cheongsung suffered great losses."
"Th-that..."
"The most critical loss was the deaths of the masters who had mastered that supreme art, which was already difficult to cultivate and thus neglected."
"...How much do you know?"
"Because of that, Cheongsung lost many martial arts."
He could still recall it vividly if he closed his eyes.
The sight of Cheongsung burning in his childhood.
And how his sky-like master and seniors had wailed as if vomiting blood over the lost history of Cheongsung.
"H-how do you have this?!"
-His speech is changing already.
'It can't be helped.'
"Fate brought it to me."
Dang Yu-wol was utterly unapologetic.
Before his regression, while carrying out the Blood Cult's orders, he had stumbled upon a hidden chamber by chance.
Since he had discovered and obtained it, wasn't that fate as well?
"And do you think this is the only thing I have?"
To him as a master who had lost a disciple, the man before him was an enemy.
But he was also the benefactor of his sect.
'Am I the Cheongsung disciple... or the master? Infinite Buddhas... Infinite Buddhas...'
"So work hard from now on, slave."
In the end, he had no choice but to nod at Dang Yu-wol's proposal.
"And one more thing."
"...Speak."
"I need you to handle a few matters at Cheongsung."
"What...?"
'With this, I can wipe out a few Blood Cult hideouts masquerading in the orthodox faction without lifting a finger.'
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Seongdo was in an uproar once more.
This time, because of the news that the Tang Clan had allied with Cheongsung Sect.
"Did you hear?"
"What? That Cheongsung Sect Leader personally visited the Tang Clan?"
"Yeah. Didn't the Tang Young Clan Head defeat Cheongsung's top sword? And the sect leader himself made the announcement."
"Ah, I heard that too. Cheongsung was completely in the wrong this time."
"It's a matter of the martial world, and they admitted to acting shamefully on a misguided request."
"Right. Man, to bow his head after losing a disciple..."
"Doesn't that just show how impressive the Tang Clan is?"
"You can't deny the man himself is remarkable."
"Even if he were an enemy, he tries to correct his wrongs."
"Exactly."
No matter how much the Tang Clan was rising lately, comparing it to Cheongsung Sect was disrespectful.
Yet Cheongsung had admitted its fault, and the sect leader came to apologize in person.
It was something everyone had to marvel at.
And there was one who felt fear at this fact.
"How?! How could this happen?!"
It was like chopping his own foot with the axe he trusted.
To think the Cheongsung Sect he'd been dealing with would betray him so utterly.
But that wasn't the important thing right now.
"Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper!!"
"What is it?! What's going on?!"
"Th-the Tang Clan is here!!"
The Tang Clan.
Gu Won-il, head of Yangji Merchant House, went pale.
Why else would the Tang Clan come?
"T-tell them I'm not here!!"
"He's not here? He's right here."
"There were definitely guards outside..."
Gu Won-il broke out in cold sweat.
Not transcendent experts, but the shop still had plenty of guards.
What had happened to them?
Had they fought?
But he hadn't heard a sound of battle.
The door opened naturally, and in walked the expressionless young man, Dang Yu-wol.
Behind him stood the transcendent expert Ji Gong and the magistrate himself.
"Hey, Gu Won-il. Don't we have business?"
"N-no, we don't."
"Really? I do."
Dang Yu-wol pulled a paper from his bosom.
It was the very complaint Gu Won-il had sent to Cheongsung Sect.
"This is more than enough for a murder contract."
Jang Ung took it, glanced at it, and handed it back to Dang Yu-wol.
Then he waved before Gu Won-il the letter written by the Daoist who had accompanied Ju Seong-chae.
With every shake of the paper, Gu Won-il's eyes shook too.
"You requested Cheongsung to cut off my head?"
"A misunderstanding!! Young Lord Tang! I...!!"
"I'd have spared you otherwise."
'Of course, after feeding you Blood Slave Poison.'
But this man was too valuable to waste Blood Slave Poison on.
He was competent, but not worth keeping.
"You've done far too much."
"Ugh..."
"Monopolizing shops to arbitrarily inflate prices, tormenting the people of Sacheon."
"Th-that..."
"Forcing sales of goods and, when they couldn't pay, selling them off as slaves."
'How did he find out?!'
"Not only that, but colluding with unorthodox sects to seize other shops, and killing without hesitation to claim land."
His secret sins were being exposed one by one.
His expression grew increasingly anxious.
"Misunderstanding! All misunderstandings! Young Clan Head! I can explain everything!!"
"Go ahead."
"Well..."
"Can't, huh."
Dang Yu-wol flicked his hand.
A dart flew from it, embedding in Gu Won-il's shoulder.
"Gaaahhh!!"
Excruciating pain hit him.
His body twisted, foam spewing from his mouth.
Yet he didn't die.
"If you want a clean death, leave your last words quickly."
At his words, Gu Won-il felt despair.
But there was nothing he could do.
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In the end, Gu Won-il couldn't hold out and left his last words.
Of course, they were notarized by Magistrate Jang Ung.
Once there was no need to keep him alive any longer and he was dealt with, Ji Gong entered from outside.
"It's all taken care of, my lord."
"What about Gu Won-il's family?"
"He had none."
"Oh?"
"Yes. He said having family would only create useless weaknesses, so he never made any."
Of course, there could be any number of bastards.
"I see. Anyway... is that guy the chief steward of Yangji Merchant House?"
Dang Yu-wol pointed to a middle-aged man shuffling along listlessly.
"Yes. I know him too. He works for Yangji Merchant House, but he's a good man."
"In what way?"
Ji Gong thought for a moment before answering.
"He'd arrange funds for those whose land was taken so they could start over elsewhere."
"Oh?"
"Yes. And for those whose shops were seized, he'd find ways for them to work under Yangji Merchant House."
It was a story he'd heard back when he was with Crimson Merchant Group.
And in the few times they'd worked together, he'd seen the man's kindness.
"I see."
"He's useful."
"Is he? Since you're recommending him... let's at least meet the man."
Ji Gong brought over the middle-aged man standing at a distance.
Terror filled his face.
"Mercy! Please, just spare my life!"
"I'm not some blood-mad killer who slaughters indiscriminately."
"R-really?"
"I have work for you."
"Wh-what... work?"
"You've been managing Yangji Merchant House's assets, right?"
"Yes."
"Can you convert them to the Tang Clan?"
"I-I can, but..."
"And I'd like you to compensate those harmed by Yangji Merchant House."
"Y-you really mean that?"
"Yes."
-Why go that far?
'Those greatly harmed by Yangji Merchant House cooperated with the Blood Cult.'
Absorbing Yangji Merchant House now also absorbs their grudges.
In the worst case, they'd harbor resentment toward the Tang Clan and side with the Blood Cult.
-You're not giving them any openings. It'll cost a fortune, though?
'Money is trivial. With time and a regressor's knowledge, I can earn as much as I want.'
Preempting undeveloped mines.
Times of famine and bounty he remembered.
And more besides.
There were endless ways to make money.
'Only one thing matters to me.'
-Preventing the same events as before regression?
Dang Yu-wol reaffirmed his resolve.
"Then you'll have to work hard from now on. What was your name again?"
"Call me No Sak, Young Clan Head."
Realizing he'd survive, No Sak's expression changed.
As he bowed joyfully, Dang Yu-wol patted his shoulder.
"Do well this time, and you could become chief steward of a Tang Clan shop later."
"Yes! Yes! I'll give it my all!"
The matter was more or less settled.
Dang Yu-wol stepped outside with Jang Ung.
"This wrapped up easily too. But to swallow something as big as Yangji Merchant House..."
"Same as last time."
"Just pay the taxes again?"
Jang Ung was dumbfounded.
But Dang Yu-wol didn't waver in the slightest.
This too was necessary.
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