Chapter 358: Eight Exalts (1)
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They say that when boiling a frog, if you boil it in warm water at first, the frog dies without ever knowing it is being cooked.
In that sense, the plan to stop spending our money was also intended to be carried out gradually. Rather than completely cutting off the circulation of silver all at once, we would reduce it gradually.
So that they would fail to notice as much as possible and their countermeasures would be delayed. It felt like choking the opponent’s windpipe without their knowledge.
“The side effects will be quite large.”
“They probably will.”
Upon hearing my plan, Zhuge Yan expressed concern first.
It could not be helped. It was an unprecedented strategy targeting the entire Central Plains. No one had ever conceived a strategy of this scale, nor had anyone been in a position to execute it.
Even in my previous life, I had never engaged in games on such a massive scale. But now, with the Heaven’s Gift Merchant Company, it was possible.
“However, no matter how the Heaven’s Gift Merchant Company has become the foremost merchant company in the entire Central Plains, do they possess that much silver?”
“It is plenty.”
I guaranteed it. This was a certainty arising from the fact that silver was fundamentally not a currency minted by the Empire, but a limited mineral.
If we reduced the circulation of silver, the imperial palace would be unable to produce silver.
“Many unprecedented phenomena will arise. First, the prices of goods will fall drastically, and quick-witted people will refrain from spending money and save it.”
“Merchant companies and escort bureaus will probably be the first to save money. Since they are the ones who at least observe the broad flow of wealth.”
“Indeed. Then the Central Plains will naturally have no choice but to shrink. At first, seeing the drop in prices, the imperial palace might even mistakenly believe they governed well. By the time they realize it is severe, it will already be in an irreversible state.”
As expected, Zhuge Yan grasped all of my intentions. Having a smart subordinate made things this convenient.
“Well, since that is something whose effects will manifest gradually over time, it is not urgent right now. For now, I would like you to handle what is immediately pressing.”
“Immediately pressing? What is that?”
I was puzzled. Having just returned from the Heaven’s Gift Merchant Company, I had no way of knowing what was urgent. But could an urgent matter have arisen at the headquarters? Not to my knowledge.
“This.”
Zhuge Yan opened a large chest. It was a careful touch, as if opening a treasure chest.
“……What is all this?”
However, what lay inside were naturally not treasures. They were letters arranged in neat order. And in an exceedingly massive quantity.
“What else could it be? There are simply this many moths to the flame in the Central Plains.”
“What are they?”
I picked up one of the letters from the chest and unfolded it. On the top of the letter, the words ‘Challenge Letter’ were written in large characters.
“……?”
A challenge letter. Who was challenging whom? I read down in a daze.
—Greetings. I am a member of the Liu family who has descended after thirty years of secluded training in the deep mountains and valleys. Having recently heard the news that you defeated Wave Exalt, my fighting spirit as a martial artist boiled over, leading me to brazenly send this challenge letter……
“What complete drivel.”
Reading only that far, I immediately burned the letter to ashes with the Samadhi True Flame.
“Don’t tell me all of these are challenge letters?”
“No. They vary. From letters of threat to poems written to praise the Association Master. A very diverse mix.”
“In the end, they were all sent to me.”
“Indeed. Since they were addressed to the Association Master, I could not burn them at my own discretion, so I gathered them, and they ended up filling an entire chest.”
“You should have just burned them.”
I picked up a few more, read them, and clicked my tongue. All of them were letters lacking any real substance.
Only a short time had passed since the headquarters of the New Justice Association relocated, yet how did they find out and send such letters? The New Justice Association seemed to be situated at the center of the martial world more than I had thought.
“Did you truly defeat one of the Eight Exalts?”
Namgung Hwi, who had been sitting and working, stood up and asked. His eyes had grown quite sparkling.
No matter how devotedly Namgung Hwi followed me, the fact that I had defeated one of the Eight Exalts would be difficult to believe.
In fact, it had not even been five years since Namgung Hwi and I crossed swords. Yet during that time, I had built the strength to defeat one of the Eight Exalts. Searching across the entire martial world, it was undeniably an unprecedented rate of growth.
“Yeah.”
“As expected, you are truly amazing.”
Namgung Hwi wore an expression of deep admiration.
Considering the weight the title of the Eight Exalts carried in the martial world, such a reaction was understandable.
Was it not because of the name of the Eight Exalts that endless letters were arriving right now?
“Still, it has barely been a few days since I defeated Wave Exalt. Does it make sense that it has already spread throughout the entire Central Plains?”
“Words without feet originally travel a thousand li. What news could be more sensational than one of the Eight Exalts being killed by a young martial artist who hasn’t even reached thirty?”
“That is true.”
In truth, I was also surprised that I had defeated one of the Eight Exalts. Because I had not known the efficacy of the Heavenly Eye would exert such a massive influence on combat.
Even the party involved was surprised, so how astonished must others be? Thinking of that, I realized it might make sense for it to spread so quickly.
“On the other hand, humans have feet. So they are a bit slower.”
“What does that mean?”
“Among martial artists, those who send letters like this are the relatively refined ones. What are the majority like?”
“Ah.”
Hearing Zhuge Yan’s words, I finally realized.
Right now was a far greater crisis than I had thought.
Currently, I merely possessed high fame as the New Justice Association Master, with the sobriquet of the Eastern Emperor attached. Of course, in the process, I had defeated many famous martial artists, but because they were not colossal figures on the level of the Eight Exalts, they had been overshadowed by my reputation.
However, things were different now. In the perception of martial artists, the Eight Exalts were directly beneath the Five Great Sword Masters Under Heaven. The prestige of the Eight Exalts was far higher than the title of New Justice Association Master or Eastern Emperor.
And importantly, just as Zhuge Yan said, martial artists were a breed that felt satisfied only when they directly visited on their own two feet and swung their swords, rather than picking up a brush to write on paper.
“Several people have already visited the headquarters of the New Justice Association. Even when told you were not here, they caused an uproar demanding the Association Master come out.”
“How did you handle them?”
“Usually, Immortal Cheong-hwa handled them. Since the rascals who came were all riffraff.”
“I feel apologetic toward Master.”
“Indeed, Immortal Cheong-hwa was also grumbling, saying he never imagined he would have to clean up after his disciple even now.”
Good grief, if he was going to do it, he could have just done it without muttering complaints. Seeing that, it seemed Master also belonged to the type of adults who couldn’t act their age.
“Then keep telling them I am not here. It is exhausting for me to deal with those people one by one.”
“Then Immortal Cheong-hwa will continue to suffer, though.”
“Since Master must be bored anyway, it is the perfect pastime.”
“Didn’t you just say you felt apologetic toward him?”
“I am apologetic. And I plan to be even more apologetic in the future.”
Zhuge Yan looked at me with an utterly baffled expression. I decided to offer a piece of advice for my junior in life.
“No matter how much I dislike being indebted to others, as you live, you cannot help but receive someone’s help or consideration. Rather than fearing being indebted, you should fear being unable to repay what you owe.”
“Your tongue is truly as smooth as a flowing river.”
Just then, someone flung the door open from behind and walked in. I turned around and was startled.
Naturally, I had sensed someone approaching the door. However, thinking it was an errand boy belonging to the New Justice Association, I spoke without paying much attention, but unexpectedly, the one who opened the door was Master.
“Did you hear?”
“You spoke so loudly that it could be heard even outside the New Justice Association.”
“Please do not exaggerate.”
“That attitude of yours……”
Cheong-hwa sucked his lips. I knew that expression. It was an expression indicating he wanted to strike the back of my neck right this instant, but with Zhuge Yan and Namgung Hwi present, he was holding back for the sake of my face.
“Why did you come, by the way?”
Still, fearing I might get hit if I teased him further, I decided to change the subject. Cheong-hwa looked at me with dissatisfaction and spoke.
“Why else? Because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes. You must know since Young Lady Zhuge just told you. Because of the news that you defeated Wave Exalt, many wish to join the New Justice Association and many wish to harm it, so someone needs to oversee things. Since you were absent, did I not come in your stead?”
“Ah, so that was it. Thank you. Will you be staying continuously then?”
“Having confirmed your return, I am leaving.”
“Right after arriving? You could at least have a cup of tea before leaving.”
“When everyone is working day and night to rebuild our sect, how could I sit around drinking tea and bantering by myself?”
At Cheong-hwa’s words, I smacked my lips. If he put it that way, I had nothing to say. In fact, the Wudang Sect was currently in the midst of restoring many things.
First, restoring the secret manuals that could not be carried out during the fire was prioritized, so Master, who hailed from the Hall of Exhausting the Way that researched martial arts, was bound to be busy. Furthermore, putting aside hailing from the Hall of Exhausting the Way, he was also one of the foremost masters within the sect.
“Understood.”
“Right. Work hard.”
“You as well, Master. I cannot see you off far.”
“I didn’t expect you to.”
Master gave a dry laugh and left the Association Master’s room.
“You have a wonderful master.”
Zhuge Yan spoke in a slightly envious tone. Since Zhuge Yan’s master had in a sense been Zhuge Gyeom, it was understandable for her to feel envious.
“I must have lived well in my previous life.”
I shrugged my shoulders. Since this was a crisis right now, I could no longer waste time joking around.
“Anyway, since Master held the fort until now, the disciple must take over.”
“Even though you tried to pass it off until just a moment ago.”
I made an effort to ignore Zhuge Yan’s sharp remark. Having a smart subordinate made things this uncomfortable.
“Do you have a particular plan?”
Zhuge Yan asked. If it had been the old me, I would have wavered, not knowing how to resolve this problem, but the current me was both a merchant and a martial artist.
“Yeah. First, gather the people who came looking for me in one place.”
“Gather them?”
“In as single a space as possible. So arrange a spacious location. The widest open ground in Wuhan would be ideal.”
“What will you do there……?”
Zhuge Yan tilted her head, unable to understand.
Even Zhuge Yan, whose mind worked briskly regarding the commercial world, seemed unable to grasp the direction since this was a martial-world matter.
“Just gather them for now. Explaining it is complicated.”
I roughly omitted the explanation. To explain the intention of this strategy, I would have to unpack the underlying mindset of martial artists, but even if I told her, it was not something Zhuge Yan could understand. Since even I, who was immersed in the martial world, took several years to understand it.
“Yes.”
At my words, Zhuge Yan expressed no further curiosity and immediately set to work without a single complaint.
This was the good point of the New Justice Association’s planning division. Even without fully understanding, once an order was given, they followed it.
Of course, depending on the occasion, one had to push back against a superior, but knowing the Golden Mean—knowing when to push and when not to push—was extraordinary. Maintaining appropriateness depending on the occasion, rather than an arithmetic middle ground. I liked such moderation.
And neither I nor Zhuge Yan knew at that time.
Just how far the number of people charging toward Wuhan deviated from the Golden Mean.