Chapter 32

“Cheolmyeongho, we missed him.”

As a man reported this at the door, instead of a reply, a woman’s moans echoed from within. The reporting man narrowed his brows and said curtly.

“······I’ll come back.”

As the man turned to leave, the leader of the Red Lotus Alliance spoke from inside.

“Come in and speak.”

The voice from inside the room was deep and resonant. The man replied.

“Yes, I will enter then.”

After speaking, he waited a moment before opening the door and entering. He immediately knelt, fixing his gaze on the floor.

The voice of Jikye, rolling around with a courtesan, could be heard.

“Speak. Why did you let him escape?”

Is he a person with feelings, or without?

Even while rolling around with a courtesan, his voice held no emotion whatsoever.

The reporting man glanced at the creaking lower part of the bedding and replied.

“We almost caught them all, but that bastard’s friend blocked us. One man charged and was knocked unconscious; he still hasn’t woken up. We recorded his physical description…”

The commotion atop the bed intensified, then the woman suddenly let out a sound closer to a scream than a moan. It felt like she might die at the enemy’s hands. The reporting man paused, his face involuntarily contorting with anger.

Jikye replied.

“What’s the point of recording it?”

“I checked with people around here using facial recognition, and it was the Grand Prince of the Eunha Trading Guild.”

“So you’re getting beaten up by the merchant guild’s young master?”

As the courtesan’s screams grew louder, the man replied with his eyes closed.

“My apologies. The kids said his martial arts were formidable…”

A wooden pillow flew through the air and struck the man’s head. With a thud, he clutched his forehead.

“I’m sorry.”

Unable to move, the man looked down at his hand, which was covered in blood, likely from a gash on his forehead.

Jieye spoke.

“Didn’t you say the Eunha Trading Guild pays tribute to the Gu Yang Clan?”

“Yes, I understand that as well.”

“Ask Gwangpyo in detail and keep the kids on standby. Whether the Gu family protects him or not, that duke’s son must die. Find Cheolmyeongho too.”

“Understood.”

The man pressed his hand to stop the bleeding as he left the room. Just a year ago, he had been the third-in-command of the Black Sword Sect, a rising star. Now, this was the treatment he received.

Everything now revolved around Jie Ye.

Jie Ye was the man who had lost his parents to the master of the Liu Wan Mountain Lodge in his youth, vanished for about ten years, and then returned to wipe out the entire Liu Wan Mountain Lodge.

Later, the leaders and second-in-command of the Jangsan Gang, the Old Leopard Gang, the Dragon Gang, and the Red Joy Fort were brutally killed by Jie Ye. They held no grudge against him.

They merely stood in the way of Zhi Ye’s expansion.

Rumors circulated that he had been a disciple of a master of the Dark Path, and indeed, he dealt with his opponents brutally.

Most preferred tearing their victims apart limb from limb with their bare hands.

After that, not only the merchants, couriers, and battlefields that had settled in the bustling district of Yuwan, but also brothels, inns, and even the auction houses secretly run by the Iron-Crested Tiger all paid tribute.

The man knew full well that the Red Lotus had seized control of the bustling district and would not stop expanding. Now, even within the underworld, the name Red Lotus was becoming increasingly known.

However, the Eunha Trading Company was not a mere group doing business in a single bustling district; it was a giant merchant spanning several cities. They couldn’t just charge in recklessly.

The man sought out Guang Biao, the third-in-command of the Luo Piao Gang.

“The leader is inquiring about the Galaxy Trading Company and the Gu family.”

As Guangbiao rose, the man tapped his palm twice, as if warning him to be careful.

“He’s busy with a courtesan. Tell me.”

Kwang-pyo stared at the man’s forehead and said in a cold tone.

“The Galaxy Trading Company is now an ownerless mountain. Just take it. We’ve discussed the Galaxy Trading Company several times already.”

“Did the Gu Yang Clan pull out?”

“Definitely out.”

“I heard it from someone.”

“There’s this guy named Seong Gi-chan in Yanghwa Street who hangs out with kids. He seemed to know the details.”

The man who had been beaten by Dan Woo-sung on the street earlier was Seong Gi-chan. Gwang-pyo said.

“We could gather and attack, but the leader must go anyway.”

“Why?”

“Rumors already abound that he’s the strongest man in the Yanghwa district. I didn’t know he was Dokjonghori’s friend. Who’d have thought trying to take down Dokjonghori would blow up like this.”

“Why is the Sect Leader so obsessed with Dokjonghori?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“I don’t know.”

“I suppose there’s a certain kinship between two ruthless men, since he’s ruthless himself.”

Take Jie Ye, for instance. He was a man who had gone into hiding for ten years, only to return for revenge. Jie Ye knew better than anyone how terrifying a man like Dokjonghori was. There was absolutely no reason to spare someone from the same kind as himself.

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Just because I blocked that poisonous dragon once.

The Eunha Trading Guild, now drawing the attention of the Red-Eyed Alliance, carried on with its usual daily routine.

Upon his return, Dan Woo-sung immediately entrusted all miscellaneous tasks back to Chief Administrator Lee Hwa-eon and focused solely on his training. The evening after his return, while teaching the Ssangbo brothers, Dan Woo-sung suddenly thought of Dokjonghori.

Given Dokjonghori’s temperament, he’d likely be holed up somewhere by now, swinging his Mookcheol Umbrella until his arms went numb.

Ten thousand times was no easy feat. The weight of the Black Iron Umbrella was incomparable to that of a wooden sword.

Therefore, Dan Wooseong quite naturally thought of the Jieye Alliance.

“I’ll go out for a drink.”

Yuk Jinbo asked Danwooseong.

“Yes, Brother. Are you running late?”

For the Iron-Fanged Sword to strike a hundred thousand times, the Red-Eyed Alliance must not interfere. A promise is a promise. And originally, he had warned the Red-Eyed Alliance that if not the Iron-Fanged Sword, then Dan Woo-sung himself would come looking for them.

Dan Woo-sung asked.

“I’m heading to the Jikye Alliance. Where are they located?”

“Do you know the Yookwan District?”

“I know it.”

“These days, whether it’s inns or brothels, they all pay tribute to the Red Lotus Alliance. They control that entire area, so you can easily find out by asking anyone.”

Yuk Myeong-bo relayed what he knew.

“Boatmen, peddlers, and even nearby customs offices and merchant guilds pay tribute.”

Dan Woo-seong replied.

“That’s quite substantial?”

“We’ve taken control of the Black Path factions in the Yukwan area and even the small and medium-sized forces that had been operating independently.”

“So that’s why it’s called the Alliance.”

“Yes, that’s because we absorbed multiple factions. We even managed to extract tribute from Cheolmyeong-ho.”

Dan Woo-sung retorted.

“I met him yesterday. He’d completely taken it over. The entire auction house.”

The Ssangbo brothers exchanged glances and nodded.

“That’s to be expected.”

“Jikye is a man who can do that and still have plenty left.”

Dan Woo-sung nodded.

“Understood. Since we’ve met before, if they uncover my true identity, the merchant guild might become troublesome. I must go all the more.”

The Ssangbo brothers asked.

“Brother, should we come too?”

Danwooseong shook his head.

“Stay here and keep watch until I return.”

“Understood.”

As Danwooseong walked out of his quarters, Lee Hwa-eon stopped in his tracks while approaching from the opposite direction.

“Brother, where are you going?”

“I’m going for a walk. By the way, have you decided on a name for the Merchants’ Union?”

“I was thinking of calling it the Grand Merchants’ Union. What do you think?”

Dan Woo-sung shook his head.

“Union sounds a bit off. Let’s just go with the Grand Merchants’ Association.”

“Why does the alliance suddenly bother you?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Dan Woo-sung asked as he headed toward the gate.

“Who’s been chosen to lead the alliance?”

Lee Hwa-eon grinned and said.

“My brother.”

“Why me?”

“You said there’s no concrete plan yet. The proposal came from you, and both the Taeho Trading Company elders and Father agreed on the merchant association, but they said it would be best for you to take the chair.”

Dan Woo-seong turned away.

“I only intend to focus on my training.”

Lee Hwa-eon nodded.

“I’ll handle the work, so please take charge for now.”

“Understood.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Dan Woo-sung waved his hand once, as if to say, “Look at this.”

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As soon as Dan Woo-sung stepped into the bustling district of Yukwan, he approached a group of individuals deliberately sporting a rough appearance and menacing glances.

“I’m here to meet someone named Jikye.”

The expressions of those asked turned utterly bewildered. No one here would refer to Jikye by name alone, without any title. Usually, they would call him ‘Master’. They all scrutinized Dan Woo-sung from head to toe. It was even stranger that he was a man without a single sword.

They exchanged glances among themselves before one man answered.

“He’s at the Warmth Pavilion.”

Danwooseong gazed at the street illuminated by dazzling colored lights and asked.

“Is it over there?”

“Yes.”

As Dan Woo-sung slowly made his way toward the Color Light House, the men finally grumbled.

“Why are you talking to us like that? You insolent brat.”

His companion retorted.

“Save that for when you’re in front of him. He’s over there, so chase him down and say it.”

“Would you dare?”

One man said this.

“That guy looks familiar… I swear I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

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Danwooseong looked up at the sign for Onjeongru and entered without encountering any particular obstruction.

His attire was ordinary, and he carried neither sword nor other weapons. Moreover, even those who recognized his appearance never imagined the young master of the Eunha Trading Company would come to such a place alone. Here, everyone feared the enemy’s schemes.

In any case, for Danwooseong, it was a long-awaited visit to the brothel.

The brothel had several partitioned waiting areas for incoming guests. A young woman approached and asked.

“Young Master, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m in charge of guiding guests. Shall I give you a brief explanation?”

“No, I heard there’s a spy here.”

Her eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together before replying.

“Ah, Master, I will send someone else to attend to you immediately. I did contact you beforehand, didn’t I?”

Dan Woo-sung said as he pulled the woman’s arm.

“I said no. Is Jieye up there? Just tell me that. Is she?”

“Yes, she is.”

Dan Woo-sung said.

“Then, what’s your name?”

“Jeonghwa.”

“Jeonghwa, make sure to evacuate the kids properly while I’m going up.”

“It must be hard for you to climb up.”

“It’s fine.”

Dan Wooseong stared blankly at Jeonghwa’s face before leaving the waiting room and climbing the stairs. Not a single man stopped him until the third floor. When he reached the bottom of the fourth-floor stairs, a man poked his head out and said to Dan Wooseong.

“Sir, why are you coming up alone?”

It was a question often asked because usually, a female attendant would stick close to escort the guest.

Woo-sung replied as he climbed the stairs.

“I came alone, so I’m going up alone.”

“Go back down. This is not a place you can roam freely.”

Dan Wooseong silently climbed the stairs and stared at the man. The man studied Dan Wooseong, anticipating that any further words would earn him a beating. Quick-witted, the man clamped his mouth shut and stepped aside.

As Dan Woo-sung passed by, he said.

“You’re quick to catch on.”

He turned the corner and climbed the five-story staircase again. The fourth floor was where the VIPs came and went, and the floor above that was the top floor. Here, warriors with swords sheathed stood directly on the stairs.

Dan Wooseong glanced upward, then listened intently to the sounds outside the brothel. It seemed quite noisy, as if Jikye’s men were gathering.

The man staying on the fifth floor spoke in an unnaturally casual tone.

“Get down.”

As Dan Wooseong climbed the stairs without a word, the waiting man lunged forward, kicking Dan Wooseong squarely in the chest. Dan Wooseong precisely parried the incoming kick with his left hand, then grabbed the man by the collar and hurled him backward.

With a crash, the man smashed through the wall of the Onjeong Pavilion and plummeted to the ground below. That deafening sound was like a signal flare. Doors burst open on both sides of the fifth-floor corridor, and the men guarding the enemy drew their swords.

As Danwooseong stood in the hallway watching, a voice with a truly deep, resonant tone flowed out from the room at the end of the corridor.

“Let the guest in.”

It was Jikye’s voice.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong

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