Chapter 163: v7c13 - Chaos
Volume 7 Chapter 13 – Chaos
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The Valley of Sin.
A place where not a single government soldier could be found, and the Sword Family closed its eyes and remained silent.
The person in charge of the Fourth Young Master’s side of the Valley of Sin business site was a middle-aged man named Tang Baek.
“….”
Tang Baek was feeling that under his skin, which was as expressionless as usual, he was heated up with nowhere-to-go anger.
He was merely deeply grateful that his lord, the Fourth Young Master, had appointed him as his representative.
Since then, not a single day had the Valley of Sin not been at its worst.
‘Today is especially the worst.’
The flames, burning so fiercely that the sight of dozens of people clinging together to carry water and put out the fire seemed futile, had the momentum to burn even the night sky.
Tang Baek, who glared at the flames as if containing them in his eyes, turned his body.
[I report.]
His subordinate, who appeared with a ghost-like movement technique, used teletransmission in close proximity.
[We captured a poor resident who was considered a strong suspect, but he turned out to have no relation to the arson.]
Tang Baek swallowed a sigh inside, remaining expressionless.
[Any other suspects?]
[As of now…]
Waving his hand, he glanced at his subordinate and entered the temporary response command headquarters tent set up to avoid the fire.
“Commander Tang Baek!”
As soon as he showed his face, the scholars of the Fourth Young Master’s side rushed over.
As usual, they were probably just raising their voices at each other, running in parallel lines without any conclusion.
“The fire is a fire, but right now we must rescue the personnel at the forward base located in the middle reaches of the valley!”
“In the middle reaches, three underworld organizations, the White Bone Gang, Black Steel Gang, and Three-Five Union, are currently fighting a turf war based on what we have identified! To rescue the forward base personnel, we must push right through their conflict! If we draw that much troop strength, what are you going to do about the fire?!”
“That is why we must rescue them first before the fire gets more serious, and also…!”
“Since the managers and personnel of the House of Benevolence and Love are stranded there, it would be good to save them first. But for now, we should obtain the cooperation of the relevant departments of the Luoyang government…!”
“Stop.”
Tang Baek slightly released his energy, halting their endless, chaotic debate.
“First, suppressing the fire is the priority.”
They wanted to say more, but shut their mouths and stepped back at Tang Baek’s sharp energy.
But they were only the beginning.
No, the scholars were rather better.
“The first-aid herbs for burns are insufficient! The bandages are also running out!”
The physician belonging to the House of Benevolence and Love, who was in charge of support, shouted in all directions, anxiously requesting support.
“There are too many patients! If we do not expand the safe zone immediately to accommodate them, they will all die in the streets!”
“To expand the safe zone, I must immediately pull my subordinates who are putting out the fire and put them on guard duty! Do you think that makes any sense right now?!”
The young physician of the House of Benevolence and Love responsible for patient treatment and transport, and the commander of the mercenary group hired to guard the business site, raised their voices.
“North! The flames are spreading to the north!”
“The flames to the southeast have been suppressed, but there is insufficient manpower to suppress beyond that!”
The messengers dashed in without rest, making the scholars who were frantically updating the fire status board even more frantic.
“My, my. Tonight is running completely crazy.”
A woman with narrow eyes approached Tang Baek, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
It was Tactician Tang Ye-rin, who could be called the closest confidante of the Fourth Young Master, just like Tang Baek.
“….”
Looking at her, who seemed so relaxed even in this situation, Tang Baek’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t look at me like that. I was sharing information with the Crescent Moon Pavilion side in my own way.”
Indeed, in the direction she had come from, the Crescent Moon Pavilion’s analysis agents were sweating profusely, processing the information collected by the field agents.
“According to them, the suspects are narrowed down to four categories.”
Tang Baek snorted lowly.
“Arsonists, the mentally ill, those wishing for suicide, idiots, and the enemy. According to my analysis, it is five categories.”
“Sarcastic again, are we?”
At his cynical reaction toward the Crescent Moon Pavilion, Tang Ye-rin sighed.
“They are the Eldest Young Master’s subordinates, and they are cooperators to us. You had better trust them more…”
“Where did that Crescent Moon Pavilion manager in charge of the Valley of Sin, named Yang Tong, go?”
“I also don’t…”
Yang Tong was currently in Yeon So-hyeon’s ox cart, but there was no way the Crescent Moon Pavilion agents would tell them such information.
“There is no intelligence organization in the world that is safe to trust. As a tactician, you should know at least that much.”
At his words, Tang Ye-rin crossed her arms.
“You say that, Commander Tang Baek, but in the first place, is there anyone in this world you trust besides our lord?”
“….”
Tang Baek, who possessed distrust of people, had nothing to say.
“Let us go back to the four categories of suspects.”
Tang Ye-rin, who had shut Tang Baek’s mouth like that, began to say what she had to say.
“First, the Demon-Subduing Evil-Destroying Squad under the Third Young Master of the Sword Family, who rummages through Luoyang’s slums looking for Demonic Cultists.”
Tang Baek’s eyelids twitched.
For the Demon-Subduing Evil-Destroying Squad’s fanatical hatred of the Demonic Cult was famous.
“Second, an underworld organization trying to prevent our intervention in the midst of the intensifying struggle to occupy the middle and upper reaches of the Valley of Sin. In this case, it would be the ‘White Bone Gang’ which is taking the lead in the power struggle.”
The White Bone Gang was a newly emerged organization that arose after the Black Bone Gang was wiped out by an unknown existence called the Dark Venerable.
“Third, they said it might be an incident caused by real ‘Demonic Cultists’.”
“…Real Demonic Cult.”
“Did you not say, Commander, that you had personally witnessed Demonic Cultists after coming here?”
Tang Baek only nodded without answering.
The worst, most evil fanatics with black eyeballs and no whites.
Even in Sichuan, which was close to their past stronghold of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, rumors were only rife, but Tang Baek had only witnessed the Demonic Cultists in person after coming to the Valley of Sin.
“I thought it was a joke at first, but in the last few weeks, the eyewitness accounts of seeing those with black eyeballs have increased significantly.”
“…How are they and the fire related?”
Tang Ye-rin touched her smooth chin.
“Some kind of sacrifice? Ritual? They were talking about something like that, but said they did not know if it had to do with setting fires. They said the Crescent Moon Pavilion side did not know well either, and instead suggested asking the House of Benevolence and Love.”
“Next?”
“The last is…”
Tang Ye-rin frowned.
“They said it might be the work of sorcerers, Daoist priests, or practitioners.”
She raised her sleeve to cover her mouth.
“What kind of superstition worshippers in this day and age. At any rate, whether in Sichuan or here, there are still many people who believe in superstitions so it makes money, but in this day and age, such half-witted…”
She cut her words short.
Because she recalled belatedly that Tang Baek was from the Tea Horse Road Patrol Unit of the Sichuan Tang Family.
“Mmh.”
Tang Baek’s gaze turned to her.
He had traveled between rugged lands such as the jungles and highlands of Sichuan and Yunnan, directly witnessing the primitive sorcery and strange, twisted beliefs of all sorts of tribes.
“Concluding that something does not exist just because you have not seen it yourself is a naive thing to do.”
At Tang Baek’s low voice, she shrugged her shoulders.
“…Well, let us say I am the naive one for now.”
To her, who was from the urban areas of Sichuan, it was a story of an uncivilized world that she could not understand.
‘But a story of superstitions in the middle of Luoyang’s urban center, which is larger than any city in Sichuan.’
Just as she, who let out a sigh, was about to continue speaking, a messenger and a member of the House of Benevolence and Love rolled in, tangled together.
“L-Looting! The poor are gathering on a large scale and looting!”
“There are too many to count!”
“For now, they are looting the shopping district, but we do not know when they will head this way!”
As the buzzing of those flustered by the unprecedented situation grew louder, Tang Baek shouted, putting internal energy into his voice.
“Leave only the essential personnel and all of you go deal with it immediately!”
The people inside the tent grit their teeth and dashed out.
Under Tang Baek’s fierce glare, the scholars left holding the hexagonal staffs placed at the entrance, and even the intelligence agents of the Crescent Moon Pavilion took up armaments and left the tent.
While the people rushed out in a swarm like that, there was someone who instead came inside in the opposite direction.
“Haha, my word. I almost miss the time when we clashed with the elite regiment of the State of Yue in the jungle.”
A hooded elderly woman approached Tang Baek and Tang Ye-rin, clicking her tongue while leaning on a staff.
“Elder Gwak.”
At Tang Baek’s greeting, the old lady called Elder Gwak nodded.
“Both of you were here.”
She was a close confidante of the Fourth Young Master, and a strategic advisor who, despite her advanced age, could only be seen on the field.
“An estimated population of twenty to thirty thousand in this single valley. Even if it is Luoyang, it has gone too far.”
She clicked her tongue.
“So once something breaks out in the middle and upper reaches, it ends up sweeping down all the way to this lower reach.”
“…Do you think the fire broke out because of the turf war between the underworld organizations in the upper reaches?”
“Of course, that would also have an effect. And at the same time, other causes would also be operating simultaneously.”
She snorted, striking her staff against the ground.
“In a town as complex as this, when an event of this magnitude occurred, did you think there would be only a single reason?”
“….”
Tang Baek groaned.
Tang Ye-rin also frowned, lost in thought.
Elder Gwak shook her head at the acrid air that could be felt even inside the tent.
“The response to the forward base isolated in the middle reaches of the valley…”
She swallowed her words.
“No. Under the current circumstances, putting out the fire is first.”
“Yes, for now I am thinking of picking only elites and going myself, but…”
At Tang Baek’s words, Elder Gwak smacked her lips bitterly.
“Even if we rescue them right now, the problem is how we will escort them and bring them back.”
If only their elite forces were sufficient, they would have slaughtered all the underworld gang members approaching the forward base.
Currently, the majority of their elite forces were deployed over there for the battle against the Great Immortal Merchant Group, and had to remain there for the time being.
“…Even if the Eldest Young Master possesses plans called divine calculation, I feel that he has been too greedy this time.”
“….”
Elder Gwak wrinkled her lined brow.
“In the first place, our business site is the lower reach, so why did he install a forward base in the middle reach…”
Tang Ye-rin also brought up a point that did not feel right.
“I also feel that the attack on the Great Immortal Merchant Group by the Second Young Master’s side was too early.”
Only Tang Baek maintained silence.
However, it was not as if he had any disagreement with the words of the two women.
“…Though I say this out of old-age anxiety, do you think this alliance can produce good results?”
This time, Tang Baek was the first to open his mouth.
“It does not matter. Our lord clearly said that day. On the day the Eldest Young Master becomes the Young Patriarch, the ones standing closest will be us.”
It was a firm tone.
“If our lord wishes for it, it is our job to make it happen.”
Tang Ye-rin was also firm.
Elder Gwak sighed and shook her head.
“I am not saying that. I merely find it a waste. Our lord’s talent is a talent that shines brighter than anyone I have seen until now.”
Elder Yu of the Luoyang Sword Family’s Fourth Young Master faction, who clashed with her at every turn, also had the same opinion as her regarding the Fourth Young Master’s talent.
“The reason I bring this up now is none other than because of this.”
She pulled out the notes she had received from the Fourth Young Master’s personnel and the Crescent Moon Pavilion’s intelligence agents.
“They say the Eldest Young Master, who finished his business at Mount Beimang, and our lord, who heard about the situation here, are both heading this way.”
Only then noticing her concern, Tang Ye-rin frowned her delicate brows.
“Isn’t it the first time for both of them to personally come out to a scene that has become such a mess?”
“…That is true.”
Tang Baek, who realized a bit late, also frowned.
Elder Gwak made a voice full of concern.
“If both of them moderately wander about at their first scene, it would be fine.”
“But what if our lord shows excellent leadership while the Eldest Young Master wanders?”
“Then real chaos will come to this alliance.”
Tang Baek stroked his beard.
“Since our lord cherishes the Eldest Young Master, would he not match his pace with the Eldest Young Master?”
“If that happens, even if others do not know that fact, doubts will arise in our lord’s heart.”
“….”
They also knew of the performance Yeon So-hyeon had shown at Mount Beimang.
Although they could not know the inside details of exactly what deal was made, just the fact that he made a deal with those famous former patriarchs of Mount Beimang was an achievement worthy of being called outstanding.
Nevertheless, negotiation with those who could at least be communicated with and this ‘scene of great chaos’ were problems on completely different tracks.
At that moment, a messenger dashed in.
“The Eldest Young Master’s carriage procession is approaching from the entrance of the valley!”
Hearing that, Elder Gwak clicked her tongue and tapped her staff.
“I wish he would display leadership of even half his divine calculation-like resourcefulness.”
Or, at the very least, Elder Gwak thought it would be good if he left the practical work to the working-level staff and did not even show a wandering appearance.
* * *
The intersection in front of the temporary command tent.
The night sky, which should have been dark, was stained red, and large and small sparks flew up into the sky, yielding to the heat.
It was to the extent that it was difficult to breathe in the acrid smoke.
However, those waiting after installing obstacles in front of the intersection did not dare to even make a coughing sound.
Blocking their noses and mouths with wet cloths, those who without exception held subduing weapons such as clubs looked at the opposite street with anxious eyes.
“O-Over there…!”
Looters appeared from over there.
At first, one or two showed themselves, and soon it became dozens.
Those who had become dozens could not even find their direction here and there, showing a chaotic appearance among themselves.
But that was only temporary; as soon as a few individuals began to run while looking in the direction of the command headquarters, they soon became a wave on land.
In an instant, their number exceeded hundreds.
“W-We must stop them! No one retreat!”
The warriors under the Fourth Young Master spat on the ground.
“Damn it.”
He would feel refreshed if they cut them all down right now, but doing so would cause setbacks in their lord’s business plan.
Finally, when the poor whose eyeballs were practically rolled back rushed up right before the intersection.
The ground began to shake slightly, as if an earthquake had occurred.
“….”
At the vibration of unknown origin, the steps of the poor who had rushed like mad people also stopped.
There were those who tumbled tangled among themselves, those who sat down on the spot, and those who scattered in other directions out of anxiety.
The vibration gradually grew larger, and soon a long cry of a beast resounded from the bottom of the intersection.
Then, the steel ox cart, which was not described enough by the word heavy, showed its appearance as if bouncing up the hill.
As the brakes caught on the steel wheels, ear-scraping noise resounded along with sparks, followed by the pitch-black armored carriages showing their appearances one after another, causing noise and vibration.
“A-An ox cart of steel?”
At someone’s voice, joy shone on the face of the elderly official of the House of Benevolence and Love who recognized the appearance.
“Isn’t that the armored fortress the Medicine Fairy used to ride in the past! If so, could it be…?!”
As if responding to those words, in time with a sharp command voice, the repeating crossbows installed on the carriage roof began to fire all at once.
Piercing the noise filling the street, the sound of iron arrows ripping the air resounded.
The iron arrows, passing over the heads of the poor with a terrifying sound of tearing the air, mercilessly battered the walls of the buildings.
Iron arrows embedded themselves one after another in the walls of the stone buildings, sending stone dust flying and running spiderweb-like cracks.
In some buildings, the pillars broke and collapsed altogether, and the wooden upper floors, which had been precariously built up through repeated additions and renovations, were smashed.
The firing stopped according to the signal, and silence descended on the street for a moment.
“A-Aaargh!”
“Run away!”
The poor looters who had been face down on the ground scattered in all directions.
Clack.
The heavy steel door of the armored fortress opened, and a slender boy showed himself from inside.
His black silk coat draped over his shoulders fluttered wildly in the wind.
“Everyone has a stupid expression.”
In the midst of everyone’s attention, the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family, Yeon So-hyeon, wore a thick smile.
“Is a situation this chaotic a first for everyone?”