Chapter 121: Chapter 121
The Pinghai Merchant Guild, which had hired the disappeared people of Dujiangyan.
At Cheon Woo-jin’s words that the guild head there had died, everyone was startled. Naturally, they could not help but wonder about the source of the intelligence.
“How did you know?”
It was Zhuge Rin’s question.
If the Hidden Dragon Squad led by Cheon Woo-jin was like the sword of the Inspection Hall, Zhuge Rin was the brain of the Inspection Hall. In the first place, she was a figure of the Zhuge Clan and practically had the best intellect.
For her part, she had a duty to collect all information and make accurate judgments.
Cheon Woo-jin pondered for a moment.
Was it acceptable to speak of Hao Sect’s existence?
If the Beggars’ Sect was the bird listening to daytime talk, Hao Sect was those who listened to nocturnal stories. They nibbled and gathered the words blurted out by people intoxicated by alcohol and atmosphere.
In the first place, the moniker of Hao Sect’s leader, Wild Flower, meant ‘flower of the night’ as well as ‘nocturnal tale’.
The reason they hid in the darkness of the night was simple. Because they were weak. Because they handled information so perilous that it was difficult to preserve their lives unless they remained hidden.
Soon sorting out his thoughts, Cheon Woo-jin shook his head. Disclosing Hao Sect’s existence to others without permission was a rash deed.
“A person who shares ties with my master told me.”
At that, everyone looked around warily. Because they had clearly not sensed anyone coming or going at all.
It was a natural reaction. Surely, it would not be easy to imagine that the waiter who had smiled brightly upon receiving a few iron coins had ties to a senior master of the martial world.
“In any case, it seems we must act personally to obtain more detailed information. Hall Master, may I go for a moment?”
Cheon Woo-jin asked for permission.
While informing him via sound transmission that the Pinghai Merchant Guild head had died, the waiter had added that if he wished to hear detailed information, he should personally seek out the Hao Sect Leader.
Cheol Ji-ak hesitated briefly before nodding.
Because whenever Cheon Woo-jin moved with confidence, he had never been wrong.
“Then the Black Tortoise Squad Leader and I will remain here to investigate the vicinity of the Qingcheng Sect further. Hidden Dragon Squad Leader, lead your squad members and go.”
Cheon Woo-jin looked at the Hidden Dragon Squad members.
It was a matter of meeting someone connected to a master of Cheon Woo-jin’s teacher’s caliber. Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and even Namgung Jin wore expectant looks.
Gazing at them for a moment, Cheon Woo-jin sighed and looked back at Cheol Ji-ak.
‘Must I take them with me?’
Such was his gaze.
But Cheol Ji-ak was resolute. As long as he had agreed to take on the post of Hidden Dragon Squad Leader, taking care of his members was also the duty of a squad leader.
Cheol Ji-ak had a saying he personally believed in.
That old-fashioned saying that the position makes the person.
Cheol Ji-ak’s life was divided into before and after becoming the Black Tortoise Squad Leader. It was in the same vein as how marriage commonly changed a person. When one had responsibilities, one was bound to mature.
Although he did not know how long the Hidden Dragon Squad, the Inspection Hall, or the Martial Alliance could contain a genius like Cheon Woo-jin…
‘Each day spent here will become a truly wonderful experience for you as well as those fellows.’
For that reason, as Cheol Ji-ak firmly looked away, Cheon Woo-jin sighed and spoke to the Hidden Dragon Squad members.
“They might refuse to meet you. Even if they act that way, they are an acquaintance of my master, so we will have no choice but to respect it.”
This was what Cheon Woo-jin genuinely worried about. It was not merely a matter of annoyance, but out of concern that Hao Sect might mistreat or openly disrespect these righteous martial artists.
However, the Hidden Dragon Squad members merely shrugged their shoulders as though asking what the problem was.
* * *
A dark night.
Centered around a single manor, the surroundings were tinged exceptionally red.
Because it was a considerably large manor, pavilions rose here and there, and red lanterns hung on every pavilion emitted a delicate crimson glow.
The footsteps of people coming and going were always endlessly cheerful, the scent of wine and music filled the air, and laughter and chatter never ceased all night long in that place.
Xianghua Pavilion, the finest brothel in the vicinity, became bustling for once. It was not because there were many guests. Rather, unlike usual when there was no room to set foot, there was not a single guest.
The head manager lined up the courtesans and selected those of top-notch beauty and skill, while the martial artists wiped their blades as though preparing for war.
The busiest ones were the cooks. Boasting the finest culinary skills in Lanzhou, the cooks sweated profusely while stir-frying all kinds of ingredients.
Here at Xianghua Pavilion.
No, the reason Hao Sect’s headquarters had become so bustling was solely to welcome a single man.
“It is the same on ordinary days, but tonight of all nights, I will not tolerate a single mistake. Even if it is the most trivial error.”
A crisp, resonant voice sounded from the stairs.
Naturally, everyone affiliated with Xianghua Pavilion nodded with tense expressions.
The mistress of Xianghua Pavilion and the master of Hao Sect.
Furthermore, the woman known as Wild Flower, the Flower of the Night, came down to the first floor and inspected everything once more.
“My, he sure takes his sweet time visiting.”
It had been nearly a year since she first met Black Elder’s disciple. Despite so much time having passed, he had not visited Hao Sect aside from that one time when searching for the Shadowless Divine Thief.
Even his master, Black Elder, had visited Hao Sect at least once with each changing season.
Yet Wild Flower was not disappointed. Merely hearing news of Cheon Woo-jin had been her greatest joy lately.
“As expected of his disciple.”
Every single piece of news reaching her ears was so astonishing that it shook the entire martial world. After being quiet for a while, it was said he fought the Blood Immortal, and after being peaceful for another while, it was said he killed the Demon Physician.
Recently, the Green King suffered a mysterious death, and coincidentally, she discovered traces that Cheon Woo-jin’s steps had led there.
Wild Flower enjoyed the time spent waiting for Cheon Woo-jin. What sort of deed was he seeking Hao Sect to accomplish this time? In what grand affair could our Hao Sect be put to use this time?
.
.
.
It did not take a few hours for Wild Flower’s expectations to shatter. Having made full preparations and waited, what arrived was not just Black Elder’s disciple.
Some Hidden Dragon Squad Leader had brought little kids along. Furthermore, those little kids even greeted her politely like people visiting a friend’s house for the first time.
“Pleased to meet you for the first time. I am Jin Un, a friend and subordinate of Young Hero Cheon, no, Squad Leader Cheon.”
“Uh? I believe I saw you once before, right?”
Song Yi-yeon greeted her warmly, recognizing her. He had met Wild Flower once before during the affair with Gu Jin-seok. Of course, he would not know that she was the Hao Sect Leader.
“…”
Seated before the office table and facing four young men barely in their twenties, Wild Flower fell into silent contemplation for a moment.
She had managed Hao Sect for several decades, but this was a first. What was more, those young men were Black Elder’s disciple, the eldest son of an Anhui tycoon, Mount Hua’s Plum Blossom Swordsman, and the son of the Sword King.
‘Has the Martial Alliance gone mad?’
Why on earth did they shove such people into a single organization?
Right now they were merely hidden dragons, but could they handle it when each one became a dragon ascending to the heavens in the future? In fact, it was said that the young patriarch of the Tang Clan had also been saved by Cheon Woo-jin.
Wild Flower pinched between her brows with her slender fingers as if having a headache.
“I thought you would come alone?”
“That is how it turned out.”
“…”
What an unabashed reply.
Although somewhat flustered, business had to be done. In any case, the counterpart was Black Elder’s disciple.
“You said you want to know about the Pinghai Merchant Guild?”
“Yes. I heard the guild head died.”
“He died. Without any sound or rumor. I investigated further while waiting for you, Young Hero.”
Having spoken so, Wild Flower handed over a letter. The personal details of the deceased Pinghai Merchant Guild head were recorded there.
“It turned out he was originally from Gansu Province. As though having quite a solid backing, he accumulated great wealth through various illicit deeds. The last venture he pursued was also related to smuggling.”
The Hidden Dragon Squad members exchanged glances.
To think the merchant guild that took Dujiangyan people under the pretext of jobs were scoundrels engaged in smuggling. Somehow a foul stench wafted strongly. After being used in smuggling operations, everyone went missing in an instant.
Naturally, a single phrase came to mind for everyone.
Silencing through murder.
On the other hand, Cheon Woo-jin was calm.
It was something he had anticipated to some extent.
There was merely one thing to verify.
The place where the Gu Clan was located was none other than Gansu Province. Furthermore, he had recently learned that Gu Yong-baek, the patriarch of that clan, had been abandoned even by the Black Overlord Castle for having smuggled.
“Could it be that the Pinghai Merchant Guild is related to the Gu Clan?”
“How did you know? That is intelligence I only learned of recently myself. Ah, since you stopped by the Black Overlord Castle lately, you might have discovered it then.”
“Do you pry into my background too?”
“Do not think of it too unpleasantly. I pry into the backgrounds of everyone in the world, not just Young Hero Cheon.”
Wild Flower curled up her red lips.
Cheon Woo-jin merely shrugged his shoulders. The organization called Hao Sect was originally trusted by his master Black Elder. Whether they dug into him or not did not particularly matter.
Suddenly, Song Yi-yeon beside him chimed in.
“Gasp! Then could it be mine too?”
“…”
Why you?
Jin Un and Namgung Jin looked at Song Yi-yeon with that exact gaze.
Song Yi-yeon scratched his head awkwardly.
Neatly ignoring Song Yi-yeon as though nothing had happened, Wild Flower spoke to Cheon Woo-jin.
“It is likely connected to the Gu Clan. After finishing his last venture, the Pinghai Merchant Guild head returned to his hometown and drank at a brothel. That was his final drink.”
“Did he die at the brothel?”
“Yes. Supposedly over a trivial quarrel. But do you know what is truly interesting?”
Cheon Woo-jin looked at her calmly, telling her to explain.
Wild Flower grinned and continued.
“That not a single courtesan related to us exists in that brothel. In truth, that makes no sense.”
Even while thoroughly operating through cell networks, Hao Sect naturally melted into the societies of each lowest class, excluding beggars.
Courtesans, butchers, waiters, performers, clowns, and the like.
As long as they were present, there was nowhere Hao Sect’s eyes and ears did not reach.
Stated otherwise, the fact that Hao Sect’s intelligence network did not reach a brothel meant someone had intentionally blocked it.
In Gansu, where there were no Five Great Clans or Nine Great Sects and One Clan, the only faction capable of pulling off such a deed was the Gu Clan.
“However, it is merely circumstantial. All indications point toward the Gu Clan, but we lack the most crucial physical evidence.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head.
What problem would there be?
“Where is the brothel where that guild head died?”
If it was truly a brothel connected to the Gu Clan, martial artists of the Gu Clan would be there.
Wild Flower smiled as if amused. Black Elder’s disciple, who scattered blood and screams wherever he went, seemed determined to head toward the Gu Clan this time.
Originally, the Gu Clan patriarch was a scoundrel that Wild Flower loathed as well. So how could she not be delighted?
With a thoroughly pleasant heart, Wild Flower conveyed the location and name of the brothel to Cheon Woo-jin.
* * *
The four headed straight to the location Wild Flower had told them.
Suddenly, Jin Un spoke.
“Honestly, I was surprised. To think a woman merely running a brothel possessed such extraordinary information. I originally never visited brothels, but I must avoid them even more in the future.”
“…”
Song Yi-yeon and Namgung Jin looked at that Jin Un.
Did he truly think of the woman they just met as a mere brothel madam?