Chapter 198
Gate Master? My lord?
So they have a Gate Master, and someone else they call their lord?
More importantly, they would rather die than be reprimanded by their Gate Master?
Just what kind of monster was this Gate Master of theirs?
As Gi Horang stood there dumbfounded, the True Martial Merchant Company martial artists charged the Blood Demon Gate as one.
“Absurd. Just how little must you think of me to dare—”
The enraged Blood Demon Lord drew up his power.
“Mad Heaven Blood World!”
KWAAAAAA—
A raging gale of blood-red energy swept toward the True Martial Merchant Company martial artists.
“Group up!”
They instantly fell into formation and combined their strength to raise a defensive barrier.
CRRRRNNCH—
Even with the barrier in place, the sheer force drove them backward, their feet gouging deep into the ground.
“Damn it! He really is strong.”
“Still, I think we can take him if we work together.”
“Yeah. Let’s do this!”
Their casual claim that they might stand a chance together only enraged the Blood Demon Lord further.
“Very well! Let’s see how long you can keep this up!”
WHOOOOOM—
A vortex of blood currents erupted around the Blood Demon Lord.
“Heaven-Shattering Bloodstorm!”
A crimson torrent surged skyward around him like a storm.
The tempest writhed almost as though alive, raging with enough violence to shred anything it touched to pieces.
CRRRRNNCH—
“Damn it! I don’t think we can handle this one!”
“Quit whining and put some strength into it!”
“Grrrgh!”
They were barely holding on through their combined strength when the Blood Demon Lord narrowed his eyes.
“You’re more tenacious than I expected. Let’s see just how long you can last.”
The moment he poured in even more inner power, the Heaven-Shattering Bloodstorm began spinning with even greater force.
At this rate, they would all be wiped out.
Just as they reached their limit and were about to give up—
SHAAK—
The enormous bloodstorm split cleanly in two.
The howling winds vanished in an instant.
The men who had been struggling against the Heaven-Shattering Bloodstorm stared up in confusion at the sudden turn of events.
“Gate Master?”
“Pathetic bastards. Struggling this badly against something like this.”
It was Jin Muryang, Gate Master of the Escort Sect.
“What brings you here, Gate Master?”
“I was making the rounds to see whether everyone was doing their jobs properly. Who’s that guy, and why are you having so much trouble with him?”
“He’s the Blood Demon Lord, Gate Master of the Blood Demon Gate.”
“Oh. That guy who’s supposedly made a bit of a name for himself among the unorthodox factions?”
The Blood Demon Lord’s face twisted at Jin Muryang’s remark.
But the fact that Jin Muryang had split his Heaven-Shattering Bloodstorm with a single sword strike made it clear he was no ordinary opponent, so the Blood Demon Lord did not move rashly.
“So why are you bullying my boys?”
“Your side abducted my men first.”
Jin Muryang turned to look at his people, and one of them immediately protested as though deeply wronged.
“They attacked us first. So instead of killing them, we came to an agreement that they’d join us. Now he’s making it sound like we’re the bad guys.”
Jin Muryang looked back toward the Blood Demon Gate.
“That’s what they say. While I’m still asking nicely, anyone who already agreed to join us should come back over here. Anyone who comes over later is going to suffer. A lot.”
Not a single person crossed over despite Jin Muryang’s warning.
“All right. If you’re that determined to suffer, suit yourselves.”
“What is the meaning of this?! Are you mocking me?!”
WHOOOOOM—
Believing himself openly insulted, the Blood Demon Lord unleashed a massive wave of pressure.
“So excitable...”
Jin Muryang muttered under his breath.
Then he appeared directly in front of the Blood Demon Lord in an instant.
Startled, the Blood Demon Lord hurriedly tried to attack—
WHUMP—
“Ghk!”
Jin Muryang’s fist buried itself in his abdomen, folding him in half.
THUD—
He dropped unconscious to the ground.
“You weren’t even worth a single punch...”
Silence fell across the entire area.
Jin Muryang spoke.
“Go catch the ones who ran off.”
“Yes!”
*****
“Aaaaaagh!”
“Grrrrraaaagh!”
Piercing screams dragged the Blood Demon Lord back to consciousness.
Before him, the Blood Demon Gate disciples were writhing and twisting in agony.
“What in the...”
He tried to rise, unable to understand what was happening.
“Oh, you’re awake?”
Jin Muryang came into view.
“Sleep well?”
The Blood Demon Lord remembered.
That man had knocked him unconscious with a single blow.
He was no match for him.
“W-What do you want?”
“You... any good at lightness arts?”
What kind of question was that?
“Why? Are you bad at them?”
“What nonsense! I pride myself on my lightness arts. They are second to none!”
Even now, the Blood Demon Lord couldn’t help taking offense.
“Really? Then come work with us.”
The Blood Demon Lord fell silent.
“What? Don’t want to? The Blood Demon Gate doesn’t exist anymore, so you need a new job anyway.”
“W-What are you talking about? I’m standing right here, alive and well!”
“Then let’s settle it here. Want to work with me, or go back to the Blood Demon Gate?”
It hardly even qualified as a question.
“Obviously, I’m going back to the Blood Demon—”
“Ah! One thing, though. The Blood Demon Gate has to be completely annihilated. So if you say you’re going back, I’ll have to wipe it out anyway. Might as well get rid of you here.”
What exactly did he mean by get rid of?
“Wouldn’t staying in the world of the living be better?”
A chilling wave of killing intent washed over him.
Depending on his answer, it felt as though Jin Muryang might cut his head off on the spot.
Could a human being truly emit killing intent like this?
Compared to this, everything the Blood Demon Lord had ever unleashed was child’s play.
“...is not what I meant. I was saying I accept your offer.”
“That’s what I thought. Had me worried there for a second. Good. Now I don’t have to go through the trouble of killing everyone.”
This man is something else entirely.
Unorthodox?
No.
He’s a darkness far deeper than any unorthodox faction.
What would you even call something like this?
The true demonic path?
“Th-Then why are those children suffering like that...?”
“I told you earlier. Anyone who didn’t come over when I called would suffer greatly. They didn’t come, so now I’m making them suffer greatly.”
“They only stayed because they were watching my reaction. The children did nothing wrong. If someone must suffer, give that suffering to me instead.”
“Oh?”
Impressed by the Blood Demon Lord’s words, Jin Muryang snapped his fingers.
The screams ringing out from every direction immediately died away.
“I like you.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“All right, then. Shall we get going?”
“Where?”
“Where else? The True Martial Merchant Company. Congratulations. As of today, you’re a proud member of the True Martial Merchant Company’s great elite delivery team.”
*****
“What are you talking about? Every group we hired has gone silent?”
“Not merely silent. More than half of them have effectively ceased to exist.”
“Ceased to exist? Who in the world did you hire?”
“The Blood Demon Gate, the Heaven-Astonishing Gate, the White Sword Gate, as well as a number of fairly renowned independent martial artists.”
“The Blood Demon Gate, Heaven-Astonishing Gate, and White Sword Gate are all respected sects in their own right. And you’re telling me they’re gone?”
“Yes. When we went to investigate, their compounds were completely empty, with notices reading ‘Gates Closed’ pasted across the main entrances.”
Deep furrows appeared between the brows of Wang Cheongeum, Merchant Master of the Thousand-Gold Merchant Company.
“What in the world happened for all of them to disappear without a trace?”
“We’ve been trying to gather information from every direction, but it hasn’t been easy.”
“Why not? There’s the Lower Gate and the Beggars’ Union. If not them, there’s also the Thousand Flowers Sect, which has supposedly been expanding its influence lately.”
“None of them will sell us any information.”
“Why? Aren’t they the sort who’ll sell anything if the price is right?”
“They are, but they refuse to disclose anything concerning the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“Only information about the True Martial Merchant Company?”
“Yes. It seems they have some sort of connection with them.”
“Hmm. Is there nowhere else we can obtain information?”
“We’re pooling intelligence with other merchant companies, but same-day delivery hasn’t expanded into their regions yet. Since their own profits haven’t taken a serious hit, none of them appear particularly motivated to act.”
“Fools. Do they really think the True Martial Merchant Company will stop at Hunan? They’re watching from across the river as though the fire has nothing to do with them, without realizing a stray spark could cross over and burn their own houses to the ground.”
“What would you like us to do?”
“I’ll meet the other Merchant Masters personally. Arrange it.”
“Understood.”
“And gather as much information as you can.”
“Yes!”
After his chief steward left, Wang Cheongeum remained alone, unable to shake his unease.
“This won’t do. I need to speak with my younger brother about this.”
He abruptly rose and hurried outside.
*****
“Brother. It’s been a long time.”
“Younger Brother. Have you been well?”
“Yes. I’ve been doing just fine.”
“I suppose you would be, considering you’ve been raking in practically every coin in the Central Plains.”
“Hahaha. What are you talking about?”
“The rumors are everywhere. Oh, right. I heard they’re calling you the Golden Gentleman these days. Quite the impressive title.”
“It’s embarrassing. All I did was help those in need, yet somehow the money I gave away kept coming back doubled.”
“Ugh. That’s precisely what makes it impressive. I could never manage anything like that.”
“So what brings you all the way here?”
“Do you know anything about the True Martial Merchant Company?”
The man’s expression stiffened at the name.
“You do know something. Geumman, help your elder brother out.”
The man Wang Cheongeum had come to see was Hwang Geumman, owner of the Golden Bank.
“What about the True Martial Merchant Company?”
“They’re making my life hell lately.”
“There’s nothing you can do about it. The tide has already turned in favor of the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“What are you talking about? I refuse to simply roll over and submit!”
“Brother.”
Hwang Geumman looked at him with a grave expression.
“You are the Golden Bank’s largest customer, so let me give you one piece of advice.”
“Why are you suddenly looking so frightening?”
“Do not provoke the True Martial Merchant Company. You’ll regret it.”
“Regret it? Why? Do you know something about them?”
“I know them very well.”
“You do? Then tell me. What exactly is the True Martial Merchant Company?”
“The merchant company that will soon control commerce throughout the entire Central Plains.”
“What nonsense is that? With me still standing, you think some company like the True Martial Merchant Company can simply do that?”
“Of course it can. Because the True Martial Merchant Company has a great man behind it.”
“A great man?”
“Yes. It is where my lord resides.”
Wang Cheongeum could only blink at Hwang Geumman.
After a moment, he collected himself.
“Come now. I didn’t come here to joke around.”
Hwang Geumman was known for playing jokes, so Wang Cheongeum naturally assumed this was another one.
But—
“What are you talking about? Do you really think I would joke about my lord?”
“Y-You’re serious? Why would a man like you serve the Merchant Master of some barely known merchant company as your lord? Get ahold of yourself. You’re the richest man in the Central Plains!”
“Do you know why I became the richest man?”
“Because you give generously, so people trust you enough to entrust their money to you.”
“No. I became who I am because my lord guided me onto the proper path. Which means the wealth I possess is not truly mine.”
Hwang Geumman rose from his seat.
“It belongs to my lord.”
Then he continued,
“For the sake of our long friendship, let me give you this warning. Do not make an enemy of the True Martial Merchant Company. Better yet, join hands with them. If you do, my lord may give the Thousand-Gold Merchant Company room to breathe.”
“You truly mean that?”
“I do. And thank you for reminding me of something I’d forgotten.”
“What had you forgotten?”
“My lord has established a merchant company. Naturally, I should return to his side. As of today, the Golden Bank will place itself under the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“Y-You’ve gone mad!”
“I’m perfectly sane. In fact, I haven’t felt this good in years. At last, I can be of some use to my lord.”
He looked Wang Cheongeum straight in the eye and repeated his warning.
“Resistance will only cost you more. Join hands with my lord as soon as possible. It is the only way the Thousand-Gold Merchant Company will survive. I suddenly have urgent business to attend to, so I’ll be going.”
Hwang Geumman hurried away.
Wang Cheongeum could only stare after him, utterly unable to process whether what had just happened was real.
Then his thoughts finally caught up.
The True Martial Merchant Company was already growing at a terrifying pace.
And now, if the Golden Bank—the institution owned by the richest man in the Central Plains—joined them as well?
The True Martial Merchant Company truly would come to dominate commerce across the entire Central Plains.
That was no longer some absurd possibility.
It was a very real threat.
“I-I need a plan. Now. I have to get back.”