ALL NOVEL Ch 23
As the horn announcing the return of the Black Heaven Eight Kings resounded loudly, the guards at the outer perimeter of the Grand Union’s headquarters shouted in unison.
– We greet the King!
– We greet the King!
The kings, Magyeom King and Dokpyeonsal King, waved their hands dismissively to dismiss the formalities of the Black Heaven Union’s warriors and immediately activated their movement techniques, heading toward the Medicine King Hall.
*Whoosh.*
As soon as Magyeom King arrived at the Medicine King Hall, he shouted in urgency.
“Medicine King! Are you inside?”
With a creak, a side door opened, and an elderly man with a beautiful white beard and hair poked his head out, snorting derisively.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you go out and binge all night again, damaging your vitality? The Blood Treasure Pill isn’t ready yet, come back later! Didn’t I tell you I would notify you first?”
Magyeom King immediately rushed up to the Medicine King and whispered quickly.
“We’ve been poisoned by the Invisible Poison.”
“Th-the Invisible Poison?”
The Invisible Poison—such an incredible poison that was said to have disappeared from the martial world long ago?
“Are you sure it wasn’t a mistake? The Invisible Poison has vanished from the world for centuries.”
Magyeom King wore a desperate expression.
“No! Both of us have experienced the typical symptoms of the Invisible Poison! We’ve already taken the antidote for half a month!”
“What a mess! You’ve really gotten yourselves caught in it!”
“Hurry up and make the antidote!”
“You’ve got to be kidding! Do you think the antidote for the Invisible Poison is just lying around in some street pharmacy?”
Despite the Medicine King’s grumbling, Magyeom King and Dokpyeonsal King’s faces remained serious.
This was not a normal situation for the Black Heaven Union. Two of the Eight Kings of Black Heaven had been captured by the Invisible Poison and needed the antidote.
“First, check the pulse points!”
Magyeom King extended his arm in haste.
The Medicine King, who had been half-lidded while checking his pulse, tilted his head slightly after a moment.
“The Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Main Meridians are perfectly normal. Your inner strength seems to have even increased. It feels like your vitality has improved as well. Have you been taking some sort of tonic recently?”
Magyeom King clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“You idiot! Do you even know what Invisible Poison means? It’s colorless, odorless, and the symptoms are subtle—it’s a poison that slowly withers away the body without showing signs! You, calling yourself the Medicine King, don’t even know this?”
“Well, that’s true…”
There was some truth to his words.
However, there was no poison in the world that would leave absolutely no symptoms.
The strength of poison, at its core, damages the human body.
No matter how subtle the poison, it would still affect the Eight Extraordinary Meridians in some way. It didn’t make sense that such a poison would exist.
“You were definitely poisoned by the Invisible Poison, lying there like an idiot unable to move! I couldn’t even move my body!”
Since Magyeom King had not yet reached the realm of absolute mastery and was unaware of the profound concepts of the mind, he could only think of poison.
Dokpyeonsal King chimed in.
“It was truly a horrifying poison. Everyone in the hundred-man team collapsed at once. The skill with which the poison was administered was terrifying, and the cruelty of the person who did it was beyond measure.”
Even Dokpyeonsal King, known for his cautious words, was speaking seriously, so the Medicine King could not take this lightly.
“You say you’ve been taking the antidote for half a month?”
“Yes!”
“It’s possible that the antidote is not actually an antidote.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“If what you’re saying is true—that it was indeed the Invisible Poison—and if there’s no trace of the poison in your meridians or pathways…”
“And if?”
The Medicine King’s expression grew grave.
“The answer lies in the brain. The Invisible Poison paralyzes the brain.”
The Medicine King spoke with an air of certainty.
“The mysterious vitality you’ve been feeling… don’t you realize it yet?”
“What… what are you saying?!”
The Medicine King’s diagnosis was like a thunderbolt to Magyeom King and Dokpyeonsal King.
“The antidote you’ve been taking, it’s actually a dual poison that forces the body to undergo a forced restoration process, causing a temporary reversal of vitality!”
*Clang!*
Magyeom King, for the first time in his life, dropped his sickle!
“Re, Re, Rehwang Banjo…!”
The phenomenon of a burst of vitality just before death, where all latent energy explodes temporarily, is called *Rehwang Banjo*.
“What, what are you talking about? I’m full of energy, how can it be Rehwang Banjo?!”
Magyeom King’s frantic shout made the Medicine King click his tongue.
“Normally, a poison that harms the brain has no antidote. There have been cases where an exceptional master of the Yang Gang style, using True Qi Guiding Technique, burned the poison that had reached the marrow, but even so, the person ended up an idiot. Even if you prolong their life, how can you call someone who’s lost their soul a person?”
When the Medicine King looked at him with pity, Magyeom King snapped in anger.
“Don’t look at me like that! Stop treating me like I’m already dead! Give me a solution now!”
If the poison had reached his brain, even the Medicine King had no proper remedy.
“What I can tell you is this: what you have taken is not an antidote, but another poison that temporarily ignites your latent energy. If there is hope, it will only come from the mercy of someone with the antidote.”
“Mercy?”
The Medicine King nodded silently.
“The basic principle for poison masters is to always carry the antidote for the poisons they handle. A mistake could harm them. Anyone who could handle the Invisible Poison, which was once known as the ‘Heavenly Doom,’ would undoubtedly have the antidote with them. Even if they don’t, they must know how to neutralize it.”
“Damn it…”
In the end, it means that the damn bastard still holds the power over his life and death.
Magyeom King had never been this angry with himself since ascending to the position of the Eight Kings. He had never imagined that his fate would be controlled by something as trivial as poison.
“By the way, who was it? Invisible Poison… I can’t believe it. Was it a master from the Tang family? Or perhaps from the Poison Valley?”
Magyeom King turned sharply with an irritated expression.
“I don’t know, you quack. I hope you’re not going around spreading this nonsense.”
The Medicine King smiled bitterly.
“Who would come looking for an old man like me in a corner, if my body isn’t broken?”
“Hmph!”
Magyeom King turned abruptly and disappeared outside the Medicine King’s hall, with the Poisoned Killer King silently following behind.
* * *
Shin-gi Jeogal.
The wise men of Central Plains.
Zago Hyeonryang.
Words that symbolize the Jeogal family in the martial world.
Their family motto, “Prepare for the times,” is also well known.
The descendants of this Jeogal family have been with the martial world through its various crises. Their remarkable wisdom has saved the martial world several times, which has earned them deep respect.
That influence is still strong in the current martial alliance, to the point that it’s called “Shin-gi Jeogal’s Martial Alliance.”
Jeogal Myeong-hyun (諸葛明賢).
The eldest son of the famous Jeogal Yuun, the head of the Jeogal family, and the current leader of the Jeogal family.
He was carefully wiping the Phoenix Flag, which symbolized the Jeogal family.
“Master, the lord of the inner house has come to visit.”
Jeogal Myeong-hyun gently set down the Phoenix Flag and elegantly tied his ceremonial sash.
“Let him in.”
With a bow, Jeogal Yeong, the son of the head of the house and master of the inner house, entered the main hall.
“Father.”
With a formal greeting, Jeogal Yeong showed the dignified manners that reflected the high academic tradition of the Jeogal family.
Although Jeogal Myeong-hyun would usually be pleased by the excellent bearing of his eldest son, he only accepted the bow with a calm expression.
“What is it?”
Jeogal Yeong took out a letter from his chest.
“It’s news from Yun.”
“Yun?”
Jeogal Myeong-hyun’s face briefly showed joy, but then his brows furrowed in concern.
His youngest son, Jeogal Yun, had recently been appointed to the position of Inspection Officer at the Imperial Inspection Bureau. However, soon after his appointment, he sent word saying he was ignoring the alliance’s orders and acting alone.
This was a major issue for the Jeogal family.
The position of Inspection Officer in the Bureau was incredibly powerful, considering its role in overseeing the financial activities of all martial clans. Sending such a message was akin to declaring a break from the alliance, which could have disastrous consequences for the family.
Jeogal Myeong-hyun opened the letter.
His usual unchanging expression was replaced with a deep frown. His breath became shallow, and his hands trembled.
“What is this…!”
Despite apologizing and saying he would return quickly, Jeogal Yun had sent word of his resignation from the Inspection Bureau, and shockingly, he was asking for 20,000 gold coins.
20,000 gold coins was equivalent to the Jeogal family’s annual income.
What was even more shocking was that Jeogal Yun wanted to invest it in the Jo Ga Daesang-hui, a business known to be under the scrutiny of the alliance, and also linked to the Namgung family—an enemy of the Jeogal family.
“Father, may I also take a look at it?”
Jeogal Yeong had never seen his father so agitated. The contents of the letter had become a burning curiosity for him.
Jeogal Myeong-hyun, still trembling, handed the letter to his eldest son.
Jeogal Yeong’s expression mirrored his father’s as he read. With his outstanding education and usual dignity, he couldn’t hold back his curse.
“This, this crazy bastard!”
Even more impressive was how he had restrained himself from cursing further.
Was the position of Inspection Officer something you could just toss away so easily? There were many who would fight for such a position, even carrying gold to the alliance.
Jeogal Yeong crumpled the letter and stood up in anger.
“This damn kid! I will go to Anhui right now and bring Yun back, Father!”
Shaking with rage, Jeogal Yeong clenched his fists.
As the heir of the Jeogal family, it was his responsibility to correct his younger brother’s misdeeds.
“Sit down first.”
Jeogal Myeong-hyun had returned to his usual calm and composed demeanor.
His youngest son, who had never shown interest in anything other than studies, strategy, and civil engineering, suddenly talking about investments meant that he had found something unusual with the Namgung family’s business.
For the famously intelligent youngest son of the Jeogal family to give up his position as the Inspection Officer to pursue something related to the Namgung family’s Jo Ga Daesang-hui was unthinkable.
Jeogal Yun had always been someone who would never make rash decisions.
“Do you remember what Yun said after returning from the Dragon Banquet?”
After a brief hesitation, Jeogal Yeong nodded as if he remembered.
“Are you talking about the guest from the Namgung family, a man named Jo Hwi?”
“That’s right. The ‘Hidden Dragon’ he spoke of.”
The Hidden Dragon of Anhui.
Jeogal Yun had told his father that this man was the most remarkable person he had ever encountered—superior in martial arts, knowledge, and the arts.
“A ridiculous claim. At that age, everything is new and exciting. It’s natural to be fascinated by someone who possesses what you don’t. I believe it’s an exaggeration,” Jeogal Myeong-hyun said quietly, shaking his head.
“Isn’t Yun going to meet him again soon? That man is as cold as ice. When someone like him causes a stir, there’s always a reason behind it.”
“Hm…”
Jeogal Myeong-hyun took out a fan and waved it while half-closing his eyes.
“You should go investigate this Jo Hwi.”
“Yes, Father. I will do that.”
“Tell the steward. Take some gold with you.”
“Father?”
Jeogal Yeong widened his eyes in confusion.
Twenty thousand gold coins—that was not a small amount.
“Didn’t I hear that this Jo Hwi is a businessman who took control of the entire trade market in Heifei in just a few years? Go investigate his worth. The decision on whether to invest will not be Yun’s, but yours,” Jeogal Myeong-hyun explained.
“I understand, Father.”
As Jeogal Yeong respectfully withdrew, Jeogal Myeong-hyun closed his eyes again, his mind still preoccupied with matters related to the martial alliance.
If this continued, the Inspection Officer position would likely go to the Huashan Sect, whose influence had been growing rapidly. This was not a good sign.
* * *
Heukcheon Ryu, the Black Heaven King, suddenly stood up.
“That damn evil spirit has come again?”
The messenger, who had been kneeling, raised his head, his eyes gleaming.
“There’s no doubt about it! Just like last time, he visited the Black King Hall alone!”
“Ha…”
That audacity was something to be admired, but still! How dare he walk around the Black Heaven Sect as if it were his own home?
“Did the Black Gate’s ghost killers not find him again?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Lord.”
The messenger was sweating profusely.
Once again, that evil spirit had completely ignored the defenses of the Black Heaven Sect and appeared at the Black King Hall without warning.
This was no person to take lightly.
“Bring him here.”
“At once!”
After a while, the messenger returned with the man—of course, it was Jo Hwi.
“Have you been well?” Jo Hwi greeted with his usual mocking tone.
Heukcheon Ryu glared at him with intense eyes.
“You’re quite the fool. If you continue to provoke me like this, your neck won’t stay intact, you know?”
“We’re partners, aren’t we? What’s with the killing words? Soon, all our goods will be coming in, and you’ll want to take your share, won’t you?”
“From now on, make sure you follow the proper procedure before visiting me. Notify the Black Gate’s ghost killers and get an official guest certificate before coming here.”
Jo Hwi laughed lightly.
“Ah, that won’t do. Then I’d have to reveal my identity, and I have no intention of taking off this mask.”
Heukcheon Ryu’s face twisted in annoyance.
“You think I can’t get you to take off that cheap mask?”
“As I told you last time, whenever I visit here, I always have a messenger ready to report to the imperial palace. If I don’t return within two hours, news will be sent to the emperor immediately.”
“…”
To dare to regularly threaten in front of the leader of the Black Heaven Sect!
Heukcheon Ryu struggled to suppress his murderous intent, massaging his temples.
“What do you want?”
He spat out the words like a growl.
Jo Hwi calmly replied.
“Just lend me about 100,000 gold coins. As you know, I’ve been buying up a lot of land, so I’m a little short on funds. I’ll pay back the interest, of course.”
The Black Heaven Sect’s officials, who had been standing nearby, were furious.
“Did you see that madman?”
“What an arrogant bastard!”
Jo Hwi completely ignored the reactions of the Black Heaven Sect’s officials and spoke again.
“Why all the fuss? You’ll be making a fortune with our goods soon enough. Think of this as an advance payment for the items. If you show some generosity, I’ll make sure you get a larger share of the goods as interest.”
With Jo Hwi’s tone seemingly meant to flaunt his generosity, Heukcheon Ryu finally lost the last of his composure.
He glared at Jo Hwi as if he were about to kill him and spoke coldly.
“Dark Heaven Slayer.”
At his summons, a shadow cloaked in darkness appeared from thin air, an ominous figure with a single eye—Dark Heaven Slayer.
– *Chung* (忠).
The sound of a chilling echo reverberated through the air, a strange voice that seemed to awaken an innate fear in the listener.
Dark Heaven Slayer.
Known only as the shadow of the Lord of the Black Heaven Sect.
No one knew the full extent of his power, but rumors circulated that even the leader of the Iron Fist Dynasty, the Eight Kings, feared him. His true rank was said to be just below that of the Sect Leader.
“Lead the Special Killers and take control of all the ports. Block all messengers heading north.”
– *Respectfully accepted* (尊命).
Jo Hwi’s expression shifted slightly.
Heukcheon Ryu had made his intentions clear.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
As Heukcheon Ryu lifted his sword in silence, Jo Hwi smiled faintly, seemingly entertained.
“Well then.”
When things escalated to this point, there was no turning back.
The air around them began to tremble violently.
“Why didn’t you think that someone who can break things might take what they want?” Jo Hwi remarked calmly.
The Sword Style of Heaven.
The World’s Ultimate Sword Spirit.
Once again, the great sword technique manifested.
Heukcheon Ryu’s eyes widened.
It was now that he fully realized the true threat before him was not the Namgung family, but this very man in front of him, wearing the mask of an evil spirit.
Jo Hwi was irritated.
Why did things always escalate to violence, both at the inn and now here?
He had believed that threatening with the messenger would have worked, but now Heukcheon Ryu was showing murderous intent. He had never expected this.
He had simply wanted to speak, but it seemed the situation had spiraled out of control.
Heukcheon Ryu looked at the man, who seemed more like an evil spirit than a human, in shock, stumbling slightly.
If even Namgung Su, a member of the Seven Warlords, had taken so long to recover, what hope did Heukcheon Ryu have?
‘What is this!’
How was he supposed to process this?
He found it nearly impossible to stay upright without invoking a force of will.
Was this martial arts?
This method seemed like something from the Western regions, such as sorcery from the heretics or the Soul Control techniques from the Demon Heaven Sect. These arts could induce hypnosis or confusion in the mind.
But Heukcheon Ryu felt no dizziness or disturbance in his thoughts, meaning this wasn’t sorcery.
Yet, he couldn’t move.
The moment he tried to act, some supernatural force seemed to negate his every move.
It was as if a ghost were haunting him.
The only way to resist this force was by strengthening his will, meaning only those with absolute mental focus could stand firm in this battle.
Anyone else wouldn’t even know why they had fallen.
Humans were often unable to accept what they had never experienced before.
And this was evident in the reactions of Heukcheon Ryu’s subordinates.
“It’s poison!”
“Extremely toxic…!”
When something unusual suddenly happens to the body, the first assumption is usually poison.
“No! This isn’t poison…!”
But as Heukcheon Ryu was about to yell to calm his subordinates, a sharp object shot toward him, piercing his mouth.
– *Swaaaaak!*
He had no time to react as the object flew in like lightning, lodging deep into his throat.
*Gulp.*
The pain as if his throat was being torn apart was unbearable, and he swallowed the object involuntarily.
He clutched his throat, staggering and staring at Jo Hwi with a look of horror.
“It’s a special poison. If you want to give it to your subordinates as well, you’ll have to follow my instructions,” Jo Hwi said coldly.
Heukcheon Ryu, gasping for air, shouted in desperation.
“D-Don’t panic! It’s not poison! I swear it’s not poison!”
The subordinates who had collapsed groaned, their faces contorted in pain.
This merciless Lord of the Black Heaven Sect, who had never hesitated to order the death of his own men to achieve victory, was now helpless against his enemy.
None of his subordinates had ever been unaffected by his cruel reputation.
Having claimed the antidote for himself, Jo Hwi knew that his subordinates were now irrelevant to him.
As Heukcheon Ryu’s subordinates looked at him with strange glances, Heukcheon Ryu was filled with panic.
*‘These fools!’*
Jo Hwi, seemingly satisfied with the tense atmosphere in the hall, smirked inwardly.
If this had been the Namgung family, a single word from the head of the family would have ignited the resolve in the eyes of every martial artist present.
This was the limit of the evil sects.
The Black Heaven Sect was a group bound together by profit, with a hierarchical power structure that controlled its subordinates through sheer strength.
The weakest link in such a group was their ‘faith.’
For them, trust wasn’t born from tradition, respect, emotions, or loyalty, but from money.
When such “interests” crumbled, they became extremely vulnerable.
“Do you still think I can’t raid the Black Heaven Sect’s treasury? I have your lives in my hands.”
All the Black Heaven Sect officials in the hall trembled in fear.
Take a look at the powerful figures in the Black Heaven Sect’s hall.
The Great Black Wolf, Yimcheon Gwi, the Death Slayer, Pajin Sa, the Evil Soul Slayer, Ak Murin, the Blood Rain Poison Dagger, Chu Long, and many more.
Leading the various martial factions of the Black Heaven Sect, the Four Heavenly Slayers (Sicheon Sal) were the mightiest, with other figures like the elders of the Black Heaven Sect, the Six Great Elders, the Poison Mind Master, the leader of the Eight Kings, the Sword King, and the Chief of Staff, Seo Yu. Even the ominous Dark Heaven Slayer had just appeared.
Almost all the top martial artists of the Black Heaven Sect, except for the Eight Kings, were here, and they were all poisoned. Even the Sect Leader himself, usually so unshakable, was visibly shaken and bewildered.
If the top martial artists of the sect were this helpless, how could mere guards at the entrance of the treasury stand a chance against Jo Hwi?
And with the Evil Spirit’s poison, Jo Hwi now had the lives of every top martial artist in the hall in his grasp.
He held the power of life and death over them, and with that threat, there was no room for any tricks.
All the officials of the Black Heaven Sect now fixed their eyes on the Sect Leader, with lethal determination in their gazes.
With their lives at stake, things had now reached a critical point.
Feeling the dangerous atmosphere from his subordinates, the Sect Leader’s heart grew cold.
*‘That treacherous bastard!’*
No matter how he looked at it, Jo Hwi’s aura and intentions exuded a deep, serious, and refined energy.
A pure, clean aura unique to martial arts of the orthodox sects.
But the schemes and strategies behind his actions felt like facing a bishop of the Demon Heaven Sect.
With his absolute mastery, it was clear Jo Hwi was a martial artist of the highest caliber, akin to the Seven Warlords of the martial world.
Was there another absolute master besides Namgung Su, the head of the Namgung family, in this world?
Everything felt so chaotic.
“If you want to kill your subordinates, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll be on my way.”
Jo Hwi suddenly turned, walking out toward the outer hall, leaving the rest behind.
The shout that it wasn’t poison almost escaped Heukcheon Ryu’s throat, but if he said that, his subordinates’ trust in him would sink even further.
“Stop!”
“Huh? Why?”
Heukcheon Ryu clenched his teeth and shouted.
“100,000 gold coins is too much.”
Jo Hwi furrowed his brow in disbelief as he took out his ledger from his inner pocket.
“What are you talking about? Just the seat fees you extort from the businesses in Poyang Lake alone amount to 30,000 gold every year. On top of that, you pocket 50,000 gold from overseeing various guilds and post offices, 130,000 gold from price differences in crops resold during the spring famine, 100,000 gold in fish market commissions, 70,000 gold in tolls from controlling the river routes, and let’s not forget the brothels, gambling dens, and the like… Oh! 400,000 gold? You sons of bitches?”
As he listed the figures, Jo Hwi realized that the Black Heaven Sect’s annual income was greater than that of the major trade organizations.
The problem was that most of this income was derived from exploitation, and Jo Hwi could only shake his head at the ruthlessness of it.
“The estimated income the informant has gathered is around 800,000 gold, you bastard! What? You don’t have 100,000 gold? Seriously?”
His tone was so dismissive that it almost sounded like he would start threatening with “If you don’t come up with it, I’ll charge you a hundred a piece when you die.”
Despite the sudden rough language, Heukcheon Ryu didn’t get angry but instead shouted coldly.
“You were the one who destroyed and burned all of it! It’s all gone! What do you want me to do now?!”
“Is that so?” Jo Hwi glared at him and flipped to the next page in his ledger.
*Swish! Swish!*
“300,000 gold for the Continental Battlefield, 300,000 gold for the Golden Wa Battlefield, and 300,000 gold for the Mingyil Battlefield? What’s with this ‘three-three-three’ diversification strategy? You’ve been so fair in your distribution, huh?”
“N-No, that’s…”
“Does the Black Heaven Sect’s wealth only lie in the warehouses? Do you think I’m a fool? You’ve been keeping it all tucked away nicely, haven’t you? Want me to tell you more? The Imperial Uncle, Zhu Jing…”
“Don’t!”
The moment the name of the Imperial Uncle, Zhu Jing, slipped from Jo Hwi’s mouth, Heukcheon Ryu reacted in alarm and created a sound barrier around Jo Hwi.
This was something that could never be known by outsiders, no matter how high-ranking the officials in the hall were.
However, Jo Hwi was an absolute master who could also wield the same level of “mind and intention.”
When Jo Hwi tried to tear apart the barrier with his own will, Heukcheon Ryu trembled, his face showing signs of hesitation.
*‘Is this bastard…!’*
Jo Hwi responded nonchalantly.
“Ah, that was just part of the original negotiation. The antidote and the Imperial Uncle… Oh, never mind. Anyway, a person’s intentions always change when they enter and leave the privy.”
Jo Hwi raised three fingers.
“300,000 gold.”
Heukcheon Ryu felt his mind go blank.
300,000 gold was half of the Black Heaven Sect’s total annual income.
Considering the warehouses had already been wiped out, adding an additional 300,000 gold in losses made Heukcheon Ryu’s blood boil. His mind went completely white from the overwhelming frustration.
“Ha…!”
If such a madman had existed in the martial world, Heukcheon Ryu would have known about it.
Where in the world had such a monster like that suddenly appeared from?
This man being from the Namgung family?
Impossible.
The obsession with etiquette and honor of the orthodox great families is enough to make one gag.
If a man like that was from an orthodox sect, then the Black Heaven Sect would be the Heavenly Demon Sect.
A merchant?
What kind of merchant could wander freely through the Black Heaven Sect’s territory and crush the leadership all at once?
If a man like that were a merchant, the Martial Alliance wouldn’t have existed, and an Association of Merchants would have been established instead.
‘…For now, I must stop that damned mouth of his from mentioning the Imperial Uncle.’
Heukcheon Ryu clenched his lips so hard they bled, filled with a sense of utter despair.
“…I accept.”
The harsh reality was that he had no choice but to pay the massive 300,000 gold.
“…Now, give me that damned antidote.”
He knew full well it wasn’t poison, but he could no longer ignore the unrest among his subordinates.
Jo Hwi nodded enthusiastically.
“Oh! You’re offering me 300,000 gold, of course, I’ll hand it over.”
*Papapapat!*
The faces of the leaders lying collapsed on the ground brightened.
Subordinates, desperate, twisted their bodies toward the antidote(?) in front of them.
Jo Hwi smirked maliciously and manipulated the intention to loosen it for them.
In the end, each leader took the antidote and breathed a sigh of relief.
Jo Hwi didn’t forget to give his final warning.
“It’s a fifteen-day antidote. You’d better behave yourselves.”
Though Jo Hwi had switched back to formal speech, his subordinates felt even more uncomfortable than when he had used informal speech.
Using antidotes to secure one’s life was a traditional tactic of the Sima family and outsiders.
Now, the Black Heaven Sect had almost completely fallen under the control of that Demon Killer.
Heukcheon Ryu, with a blank expression, reached into his robes and pulled something out.
A black leopard insignia.
A dark black leopard ornament.
It symbolized the authority of the Black Heaven Sect’s leader.
“Commander.”
Commander Seo Yu bowed.
“Please give your orders.”
“I authorize the withdrawal of 300,000 gold.”
“Understood.”
With that, Heukcheon Ryu glared at Jo Hwi as though he were going to kill him.
However, Jo Hwi felt no sense of threat.
“What about the goods from the Grand Merchant Association worth 300,000 gold?”
“Ah, of course, I’ll give them. Do you have something specific in mind?”
Heukcheon Ryu’s lips twitched.
“For now, I’ll accept military supplies worth 50,000 gold.”
“That’s problematic.”
Military supplies worth 50,000 gold would be equal to the yearly supply of weapons from General An Hui’s department.
Such a vast quantity of military supplies would be a great boon to the Black Heaven Sect.
Moreover, with the artisans from the Grand Merchant Association being moved to Poyang Lake, there was no way to provide them.
“Instead, I’ll give you the three-year operating rights to the Grand Merchant Association’s business. You can experience firsthand just how tremendous the food business is.”
“…Operating rights?”
Jo Hwi clicked his tongue.
“Are you scheming again? Just take it. Since you made such a big decision, I’m showing you some real sincerity.”
Heukcheon Ryu finally lost his temper.
“If you’re going to talk like that, then stick to informal speech, you bastard!”
Jo Hwi tugged at Commander Seo Yu’s sleeve, urging him to hurry.
“Don’t want to? Too bad.”
Thus, the Grand Merchant Association secured 300,000 gold in cash.
The fall of the Black Heaven Sect.
Today marked the beginning of that downfall.
* * *
Despite being caught up in various annoying matters and having some clashes with the conservative merchants of Poyang Lake, everything had been going smoothly since the Black Heaven Sect’s visit.
After securing the massive 300,000 gold, Jo Hwi purchased a ship to transport iron ore.
The iron mines, managed by the Seojusa Office, were located in Anhui’s Guoquyuan, and while land transport was possible to Hefei, it was far more advantageous to transport by water to the southern docks of Poyang Lake.
However, just securing the ship wasn’t enough—hiring skilled sailors was just as important.
With the powerful weapon of the antidote(?) in his hand, Jo Hwi had no obstacles to his plans.
He could even afford to hire the subordinates of the Iron Fist King’s Black Dragon Fleet.
Jo Hwi quickly resolved the issue by hiring the subordinates of the Iron Fist King.
With stable railroads secured, a massive smelting workshop was finally established at the southern docks of Poyang Lake.
The scale of the operation was so impressive that even the Governor of Jiangxi was shocked and brought his military forces to check it out. However, Jo Hwi led him into a secluded alley and quickly handled the officials’ interference.
The people of Poyang Lake, upon seeing the pale face of the Governor of Jiangxi, realized just how powerful the Grand Merchant Association had become.
What kind of trick had Jo Hwi used to subdue the Governor of Jiangxi so easily, just like he had with the Black Heaven Sect?
The remnants of the past, when the state managed salt and iron, still lingered heavily.
All rebellions historically began with rice and iron, so the production of steel was something the government could not take lightly.
Most smelting workshops producing steel were monopolized by the state.
Aside from Sichuan Province, known as the land of artisans, this was the first time a mere merchant association was operating large-scale smelting workshops in Central Plains.
Of course, Anhui’s Anhui Steel Factory also operated smelting workshops, but their scale was confined within the factory walls, and the government had some level of control.
However, constructing large smelting workshops in plain sight was an entirely different matter, and this was why the governor had to personally make an appearance.
Yet, Jo Hwi had resolved this enormous matter, which could have easily led to charges of treason, by simply leading the governor into a secluded alley and exchanging a few words. The people of Poyang Lake were utterly shocked by this.
More importantly, everything was just beginning.
Shops quickly began to spring up on the land purchased by the Grand Merchant Association.
Almost all of the old buildings were demolished. Even when using existing structures, the outer walls were torn down, and roofs were remodeled, transforming the buildings into completely different ones.
The fame of the Grand Merchant Association was already well-known throughout Poyang Lake.
The Grand Merchant Inn was famous for its sweet and mild iced tea and unique seafood broth noodles.
The refreshing and invigorating taste of the Black Green Water from the Grand Merchant’s Sacred Hall, as well as the otherworldly flavor of the six-layer noodle soup, had everyone talking.
The crystal-clear aroma of the cold liquor from the Grand Merchant Brewery, known as Ice Wine, was famous for traveling for miles.
Above all, what piqued people’s curiosity the most was the Grand Merchant’s Cloud Car.
Unlike ordinary carriages that would feel like breaking your back over a stone, riding in the Cloud Car felt as if one were walking on clouds, which was enough to stir anyone’s curiosity.
In fact, ordinary carriages were uncomfortable unless on official roads, and it was more convenient to simply ride horses instead.
Even though the Grand Merchant Association had just established its smelting workshop, many relatively well-off individuals, including government officials, merchants, and military officers, had already inquired about purchasing the Cloud Car.
Thus, the Poyang Lake area was gradually being transformed into a version of Hefei.
Having made a fortune, Jo Hwi was happily enjoying his days.
Then, the ominous news arrived.
* * *
“The Silver Phoenix Lord has appeared?”
Jo Hwi frowned.
When they were searching for him, they couldn’t find a trace, but now, suddenly, he had appeared in the Grand Merchant Association’s headquarters.
The Silver Phoenix was the secret intelligence agency of the Martial Alliance.
What was even more worrisome was that they had the authority to conduct surveillance and even arrest people, which gave Jo Hwi an ominous feeling.
The head of security cautiously approached and asked Jo Hwi about his plans.
“What will you do? Should we ignore them?”
Jo Hwi shook his head.
“There’s no reason to avoid them. Let them in.”
At Jo Hwi’s shameless attitude, the ever-loyal Zhuge Yun clicked his tongue in disbelief.
After all, he was working alongside them in the Black Heaven Sect, sharing profits, and now welcoming the Silver Phoenix Lord so casually?
Jo Hwi still didn’t understand the true terror of the Silver Phoenix. Within the Martial Alliance, the Silver Phoenix’s status was even higher than that of the Inspector General.
“I understand. I’ll bring them in.”
After a time for tea, the head of security returned to the meeting room, accompanied by a man draped in a dark crimson robe, his face mostly covered by a mask except for his mouth.
The man took out the Silver Phoenix insignia, a silver phoenix pin, and attached it to his chest, shedding his covert mission attire and displaying the full authority of the Silver Phoenix Lord.
Zhuge Yun was the first to show respect.
“The Inspector General of the Alliance… or rather, Zhuge Mo from the Zhuge family, greets you.”
Having already resigned from his position, the title of Inspector General was no longer applicable.
Zhuge Yun’s bitterness only deepened as he said this.
“Silver Phoenix Lord.”
Jo Hwi lazily looked up and down at the Silver Phoenix Lord.
Upon using his perception, Jo Hwi felt nothing.
This meant the man was either completely incompetent in martial arts or possessed the same level of absolute mastery as Jo Hwi himself.
A strange tension began to build in Jo Hwi’s chest.
“Are you the one who represents the Grand Merchant Association, Jo Hwi?”
The Silver Phoenix Lord’s tone seemed somewhat arrogant, and Jo Hwi felt slightly irritated.
“That’s right.”
Then, the Silver Phoenix Lord’s firm voice rang out.
“As the Silver Phoenix Lord of the Alliance, I have come to execute a surveillance mission. Jo Hwi, representative of the Grand Merchant Association, accept the aura of the Alliance!”
Screech!
Bam! Bam! Bam!
As a long rope surged toward him, Jo Hwi swiftly grabbed it with lightning speed, his face showing his usual indifferent expression.
Soon, his gaze turned toward his hands.
His hands were gradually turning red.
The rope he had caught wasn’t just any ordinary rope.
It was the Silver Phoenix Rope, a twisted combination of wrought iron and silk thread.
Bare-handed?
A momentary flicker of curiosity passed over the Silver Phoenix Lord’s face, but it quickly disappeared, returning to his usual stern expression.
“Are you some kind of rogue?”
Jo Hwi glared at the Silver Phoenix Lord with a twisted smile.
“What’s this all of a sudden?” Jo Hwi asked.
The Silver Phoenix Lord shifted his gaze out the window.
“I was on my way after confirming that the senior members of the Black Heaven Sect are running the branch of your Grand Merchant Association, the Sacred Hall of Jo Ga. This clearly violates the Alliance’s principle of ‘no alliances with evil,’ so it’s best you cooperate,” he stated.
“‘No alliances with evil?’” Jo Hwi repeated, puzzled.
It meant that righteousness and evil should not associate—essentially, one should not mingle with the wicked.
Jo Hwi asked incredulously, “Why is the Alliance imposing its standards on a mere merchant group?”
The Silver Phoenix Lord’s lips curled into a meaningful smile.
“Interesting. Are you denying that the Nammgung family’s loyalty is aligned with the righteous faction?”
“…” Jo Hwi let out a small laugh.
“Ha. This is ridiculous. Just a few months ago, I did everything to help save you, and now you’re betraying me like this?”
Jo Hwi’s efforts to track down the Silver Phoenix were well known to the Silver Phoenix Lord, who had ignored the Alliance’s signs left by Zhuge Yun.
“I know you gave them the exclusive trading rights for three years,” the Silver Phoenix Lord added.
Zhuge Yun, unable to contain himself, intervened.
“The Lord doesn’t yet understand our chairman’s true intentions. That was a poison we handed over to the Black Heaven Sect. Our real goal is—!”
The Silver Phoenix Lord cut him off.
“I don’t care what your intentions are. The important thing is that even now, you continue to share profits with them.”
Namgung Jangho, speaking cautiously, said, “I am Namgung Jangho of the Namgung family. I don’t deny the Alliance’s authority, but there seem to be some misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings?” the Silver Phoenix Lord asked.
“The Grand Merchant Association destroyed all of the Black Heaven Sect’s warehouses, dealing them a heavy blow. Additionally, we managed to procure a fortune of 300,000 gold coins from them. How can this be harmful to the Alliance? In fact, it should benefit you,” Namgung Jangho pointed out.
The Silver Phoenix Lord’s lips twisted into a strange smile.
“To hear a noble swordmaster of the Namgung family talk about profit and gold coins like a merchant… I see, you’ve truly become a businessman.”
Namgung Jangho, stung by the remark, suddenly shot a fierce glare.
“Even if you represent the Silver Phoenix, if you continue to disparage my family’s honor, I won’t stand for it.”
“Hmph! Has the Namgung family ever not ignored the Alliance’s authority?” the Silver Phoenix Lord retorted.
With a growl, the Silver Phoenix Lord unleashed a burst of internal energy, causing Namgung Jangho to stagger back.
He immediately recognized that this man was a martial artist of a higher rank than him.
Having observed all of this, Jo Hwi finally opened his previously closed mouth.
“Silver Phoenix Lord?”
“Speak,” came the curt reply.
Jo Hwi gestured toward the meeting room door.
“Stop with this absurd talk of good and evil being forced onto a merchant. Leave while you still can. I’m not a member of the Alliance, nor do I have any intention of becoming one.”
The Silver Phoenix Lord adjusted his mask and then emanated a powerful aura.
“Your words sound as though you are denying the authority of the Namgung family, one of the Five Great Families.”
Jo Hwi’s annoyance grew.
“The Grand Merchant Association is a completely independent business. Isn’t it tiresome to keep bringing up the Namgung family?” Jo Hwi shot back.
“You’re still so naive. Don’t you understand what rejecting the Alliance’s authority means?” the Silver Phoenix Lord said coldly.
As a self-proclaimed righteous faction, the Alliance’s authority was absolute.
If they weren’t careful, both the Namgung family and the Grand Merchant Association could be wiped out from the martial world.
“The moment you reject the Alliance’s authority, both you and the Namgung family become enemies of the Gu Pai faction and the Five Great Families. All exchanges and support from them will cease, and your reputation will plummet to the ground. If the Alliance’s leader decides, you may even face the complete destruction of your family.”
At these terrifying words, Jo Hwi’s eyebrows twitched.
“Destroy my family just for not listening to you? Are you planning to kill me?”
A powerful aura surged from Jo Hwi, causing the Silver Phoenix Lord to gasp and raise his internal energy in response.
“Try it if you dare. I’ll pour all the wealth of the Grand Merchant Association into fighting you. I’ll take the side of the merchant sect, not the martial world. At least two of the general factions will join me, and perhaps even the imperial family will move. Do you not believe it?”
“……”
“Find out exactly what kind of relationship the officials and military of Anhui Province have with the Grand Merchant Association. And I’ve heard that they’ve already established quite a foothold in Jiangxi Province. Or do you already know that? With your impressive intelligence network, Silver Phoenix Lord, you must have gathered a lot of information about me, right?”
Namgung Jangho and Zhuge Yun stood there, wide-eyed.
How could someone like the Silver Phoenix Lord be subjected to such threats!
Meanwhile, the Silver Phoenix Lord was more tense about Jo Hwi’s martial abilities than the intimidation itself.
‘This is!’
He could clearly feel it—a mental intent.
This intent could only be explained by an absolute martial spirit.
‘…Could it be?’
The demonic man who visited the Black Heaven Sect… Could it be that Jo Hwi, the president of the Grand Merchant Association, was actually him?
At that moment, a strange wave was detected within Jo Hwi’s domain of perception, his overwhelming power becoming evident.
“…Huh?”
There was an inexplicable feeling of familiarity.
It was definitely a unique energy wave he had felt before.
Slowly, Jo Hwi’s eyes began to glow with a brilliant white light.
Gradually, all the physical information around him started to form in three-dimensional clarity within his eyes.
Jo Hwi continued to gaze intensely at the Silver Phoenix Lord.
With a look of disbelief on his face, Jo Hwi muttered, “Wow… incredible.”
There was no mistake.
The strange fluctuation of energy, this physical vector value, was something Jo Hwi had definitely experienced before.
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
The Silver Phoenix Lord’s voice trembled, as if taken aback.
“What… what’s going on?”
Jo Hwi slowly relaxed his white-eyed gaze, grinning mischievously.
“Wow, the Martial Alliance is impressive. But what were you thinking? What would you do if you were caught? You’ve just sent your subordinate straight to hell. Haha! Don’t you feel bitter toward your leader? Lord Dark Heaven Slayer?”