Chapter 414 – Evil Fate Continues Endlessly (2)

Won Seol-hwa walked straight toward Eun So-cheong. This was evidence that she already knew Eun So-cheong.

Eun So-cheong's expression hardened stiffly. Because she too recognized Won Seol-hwa. They had met a very long time ago.

At that time, Eun So-cheong was still a young girl, and Won Seol-hwa wasn't in such a prominent period either. But because their very presence itself was so intense, they had looked at each other impressively and become acquainted.

Won Seol-hwa was the first to speak.

"You're Eun So-cheong of Silver Treasure Escort Agency, right?"

"That's right. You still remember? Sister!"

"How could I not remember? The only daughter of Silver Treasure Escort Agency."

Won Seol-hwa smiled gently. It was a bright smile as beautiful as her pretty face, but Eun So-cheong felt an inexplicable chill and shivered.

"How did you come here? It wouldn't have been easy to enter Hunan Province. Did you come to make a deal with the Divine Cult?"

"You seem to have forgotten. Originally Silver Treasure Escort Agency has its roots in Hunan Province. I've come home."

"Ah! That's right."

Won Seol-hwa nodded as if she was just now learning a new fact. Her reaction was so natural. But Eun So-cheong wasn't fooled.

'Every breath, every smile – it's all fabricated. I absolutely must not be taken in by that outward appearance.'

A merchant uses everything they have to sell even one small item. Eye smiles, smiles, and seductive gestures were the basics of basics. Viewers accept it as natural behavior, but all of it was actually highly calculated conduct.

Since Eun So-cheong had also built her foundation as a merchant, she knew this fact well and could do it too. But she couldn't naturally incorporate it into all her actions like Won Seol-hwa did.

"You must be returning after a long time. Since I came to this place, I haven't seen Silver Treasure Escort Agency's merchant group at all."

"Yes!"

Won Seol-hwa's gaze turned to the cargo wagons lined up behind Eun So-cheong.

"What did you bring?"

"Rock salt."

"Just when Yueyang is very short on salt too, you'll make some good money."

"I hope so."

"Please take care of me in the future."

"What do you mean?"

"As you know, sister, our Divine Flower Merchant Group has also made its nest here in Hunan Province. Since Silver Treasure Escort Agency is the original owner, naturally we guests should ask for understanding."

Won Seol-hwa's bright smile deepened. In contrast, Eun So-cheong's face hardened even more. Because she felt Won Seol-hwa's words were mocking her.

Hunan Province was completely controlled by the Demon Cult. Therefore, Silver Treasure Escort Agency's influence, which had been a traditional powerhouse of Hunan Province, had pathetically shrunk to an incomparable degree compared to before. For Divine Flower Merchant Group, backed by the Demon Cult, to say they were asking permission from such Silver Treasure Escort Agency was no different from deceptive behavior.

Eun So-cheong's eyes trembled, and Won Seol-hwa smiled even more deeply watching such Eun So-cheong.

Eun So-cheong suppressed the surging anger and tried to speak nonchalantly.

"If Divine Flower Merchant Group is going to make its nest in Hunan Province, we greatly welcome it. When the world's greatest merchant group enters, won't the market naturally expand? The small crumbs that Divine Flower Merchant Group spills are enough for us."

"Hoho! So modest. Anyway, I'll take it as permission. Thank you!"

"Not at all."

Won Seol-hwa's eyes curved like crescents.

It wasn't only men who liked to create hierarchies and take superior positions. Women also had such instincts, and Won Seol-hwa had particularly strong such tendencies.

By putting Silver Treasure Escort Agency, which had once challenged Divine Flower Merchant Group with fierce momentum, under her feet, she confirmed her own position. Her position seated far higher than Eun So-cheong.

Won Seol-hwa's gaze, which had been enjoying superiority for a while, suddenly turned toward Cho Yeon-woon standing behind Eun So-cheong. At this, Cho Yeon-woon put on a deliberately calm expression.

"Who is that person?"

"He's called Cho Il-gyeong of Silver Treasure Escort Agency."

Cho Yeon-woon spoke his alias with a calm expression. Since he was lightly disguised anyway, there was no worry about his real face being discovered.

Won Seol-hwa looked closely at Cho Yeon-woon's appearance.

"Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing. He seems to resemble someone I know, but I guess I was mistaken."

At Cho Yeon-woon's calm expression and question, Won Seol-hwa slightly shook her head.

Won Seol-hwa looked at the escort agency people visible behind Eun So-cheong one by one. A merchant's basics were observation and analysis, and Won Seol-hwa had made all of this a habit.

The strike force including Jang Jin-myeong acted calmly. At first it was awkward to disguise as an escort agency, but after traveling together for a long time, they had become much more natural.

Won Seol-hwa didn't seem to feel anything strange and soon turned her head. She said to Eun So-cheong:

"Then since you've returned home after a long time, enjoy your freedom. Home is always the best place anyway."

"Thank you, sister."

"Then I'll be going. I need to enter the main base."

Won Seol-hwa openly said she was entering the Demon Cult's main base. This meant there was nothing more to hide or any reason to conceal. Her confidence had reached its peak to that degree.

Won Seol-hwa turned around and rejoined her companions.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

The group departed with their answer.

"Miss!"

When they had gotten somewhat far away, Divine Flower Merchant Group's inner hall leader Cho Gwan-seo approached her side. He had cold reason and an excellent brain, enough to have earned the epithet Cold Ice Scholar.

He noticed that Won Seol-hwa's expression was different from usual.

"Is something wrong? Miss."

"Hall Leader Cho."

"Please speak."

"Assign people to Silver Treasure Escort Agency."

"You mean to monitor them?"

"That's right."

"Understood."

Cho Gwan-seo didn't make the mistake of asking tediously for reasons.

Though not very old, Won Seol-hwa had seasoned herself in the merchant world for a long time. In martial world terms, she was no different from a veteran martial artist who had experienced all battles.

When she said something was strange, something strange had certainly occurred. There was nothing bad about preparing in advance.

Won Seol-hwa's eyes shone sharp as a blade.

'Escort agency martial artists, they say.'

She recalled the appearance of some martial artists who had been lined up behind Eun So-cheong. They acted as naturally as possible, but they couldn't deceive Won Seol-hwa's eyes.

General martial world people and escort agency martial artists are different.

Most martial world people don't watch others' reactions. Because they think it's natural for the strong to have everything.

If they think they're even slightly strong themselves, they naturally don't watch others' reactions. Such thinking naturally manifests in their behavior.

On the other hand, escort agency martial artists were different.

They were people hired with money to sell their martial force to merchant groups as bodyguards. Since they were employed with money, their behavior was naturally cautious, and they tended to humble themselves.

They were especially careful in front of their employers and didn't commit the error of putting themselves forward. At least most escort agency martial artists Won Seol-hwa knew had such tendencies.

Therefore, she could detect the strange atmosphere of the escort agency martial artists lined up behind Eun So-cheong.

'They are definitely not simple escort agency people.'

Her merchant's intuition whispered so. Her intuition had been wrong only once so far.

'Fist Demon.'

She had misjudged the size of his vessel from the beginning, so she committed a grave error. She was confident she could wrap Dam Ho in her skirt, but it didn't work out as intended.

Everything was because she hadn't properly grasped his caliber from the start. But since then she had grown a lot. She wouldn't make such a mistake again.

Won Seol-hwa suddenly looked back. Far away she could see Eun So-cheong and the escort agency watching her.

'She's definitely suspicious.'

Eun So-cheong clenched her small fist tightly.

She recalled Won Seol-hwa's gaze from just before. It wasn't simply because of a woman's intuition. Won Seol-hwa had certainly assessed the members of the escort agency in that brief moment. And she had certainly felt that the escort agency Eun So-cheong led was different from ordinary escort agency martial artists.

"What's wrong?"

At Eun So-cheong's serious expression, Cho Yeon-woon's face also hardened.

"We need to be careful."

"We're already being careful."

"Won Seol-hwa is definitely suspicious."

"That can't be… Are you certain?"

"I'm certain."

When Eun So-cheong answered without hesitation for even a moment, Cho Yeon-woon's gaze also became serious.

Until just before, he had thought he had successfully deceived Won Seol-hwa's eyes. The same was true for Jang Jin-myeong and the other strike force members.

"Everyone worked hard. Just keep acting like that from now on."

Jang Jin-myeong was praising the strike force that had acted calmly. The strike force was also smiling and naturally accepting Jang Jin-myeong's praise.

"Phew!"

Cho Yeon-woon unconsciously let out a sigh.

***

The Demon Cult's main base was built on the site of the former Martial Alliance.

Befitting the Demon Cult's main stronghold, the base's scale was enormous. Massive palace complexes stretched endlessly out of sight, and the high walls resembled a giant fortress.

It had taken decades of time, determination, and sacrifice to occupy this place. Therefore, the pride that Demon Cult martial artists had in the main base was indescribably tremendous.

Like the nine-fold depths of a palace, the Demon Cult's main base was also composed of complex structures.

The Elder Council where the elders gathered.

The Military Department where Military Advisor Sang Han-cheon resided.

The Inner Court where core forces were stationed.

Besides these, countless organizations occupied one place in the main base forming a giant fortress. Among them, the deepest place was where Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol resided.

A secret land surrounded by walls several times higher and thicker than human height. A forbidden zone where the inside could never be seen from outside and unauthorized persons could never enter – that was Cheok Gwan-hyeol's residence.

Those qualified to enter the Cult Leader's residence could be counted on one hand. One of them was precisely Military Advisor Sang Han-cheon.

Sang Han-cheon had the qualification to freely enter the Cult Leader's residence at any time.

Entering the Cult Leader Hall, Cheok Gwan-hyeol's residence, Sang Han-cheon straightened his attire and took a deep breath.

Though he had a supreme status second only to one person and above ten thousand, he was always nervous when facing Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol was a god to him.

The reason the fallen Demon Cult could be raised again was because the god called Cheok Gwan-hyeol firmly held his position. Without him, the current Demon Cult couldn't exist.

A massive iron door blocked his way.

It was the entrance leading to the Cult Leader Hall.

There were no ordinary guard warriors in front of the massive iron door. Because there was no need.

This massive iron door leading to the Cult Leader Hall couldn't be opened by human strength. Thanks to the massive iron door that could only be opened using mechanical power, guard warriors protecting the perimeter weren't necessary.

Sang Han-cheon spoke toward the iron door.

"Cult Leader, this is Han-cheon."

Groan!

Instantly the massive iron door slowly opened with a heavy sound.

Beyond the iron door, a corridor swallowed by darkness was visible. Like a passage leading to hell, it extended endlessly toward the underground. Without the torches hanging on both sides of the corridor walls, it would be dark as pitch, unable to distinguish even one's own hands.

Sang Han-cheon took a deep breath and stepped into the passage. He walked for a while following the torches. The corridor continued endlessly, to the point where he thought he might really reach the end of hell.

Only after walking for a long time could Sang Han-cheon reach his destination.

That place filled with pitch-black darkness was a massive underground cavern. As soon as he arrived at the underground cavern, Sang Han-cheon's face stiffened. Because his breath suddenly became choked.

Demonic energy filled the massive underground cavern. Like a hungry demon craving prey, the demonic energy was rippling while devouring light.

In the center of that space that concentrated all the world's darkness, one man sat in meditation posture.

The moment he saw him, Sang Han-cheon knelt and shouted.

"This subject Sang Han-cheon pays respects to the Master of Ten Thousand Demons."

Thunk thunk!

Sang Han-cheon struck his forehead against the floor made of blue steel stone. Though flesh tore and blood flowed, Sang Han-cheon didn't dare show even one expression of pain.

The one before him was precisely the Master of Ten Thousand Demons and Demon Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol. And the demonic energy filling the underground cavern was emanating from his body.

One who harbored tremendous demonic energy in his body beyond the limits the human body could contain.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had already reached the Demon God Realm – that was his lord and the Demon Cult Leader.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol was emanating such powerful demonic energy that just facing him made one's body tremble and mind go blank.

Cheok Gwan-hyeol's form was only faintly visible, obscured by darkness. Nevertheless, his presence dominated the entire underground cavern. Before that massive presence, Sang Han-cheon felt as if he had become an ant.

"Han-cheon."

Finally Cheok Gwan-hyeol's voice flowed out.

Rumble!

At that moment the massive underground cavern cried out as if it might collapse at any moment.

The leaders looked frustrated.

“Dujiangyan?”

“You must not know well, but Dujiangyan is not on the Yangtze River but on the upper reaches of the Min River, directly north of Chengdu where we are.”

Jin Ja-gang pointed to the map.

“The upper reaches of the Min River are correct. Not the Yangtze River, but the Min River. Yeong-gwi got off at Luzhou. Right after that, there’s a waterway where the Min River joins. If the boat went that way, she wouldn’t have known.”

The Min River crosses from northern Sichuan through the central part to join the Yangtze River in the south. Since Yeong-gwi was coming up from the southern Yangtze River, it wasn’t an impossible story.

But Dujiangyan was less than two hundred li from Chengdu. It would truly be like the darkness under the lamp.

Everyone was incredulous.

“Deliberately bringing salt back to store it so close to our main house? If so, they would have stored it there from the beginning.”

“King of Hell was cautious enough to proceed without even the Tang family knowing. If he had gathered such large quantities of salt in one place from the beginning, it would have looked suspicious to others. To keep the secret as much as possible until the great undertaking, it seems he stockpiled salt in various places over several years.”

“Then why not release it from there? Why bother gathering it all in one place?”

“Because poison must be mixed all at once to maintain the secret of mixing poison with salt until then, and simultaneous distribution achieves maximum effect.”

It made sense when they heard it.

Tang Gwi-ok nodded.

“That’s quite convincing. If it were older brother, he would have done that.”

Everyone agreed up to that point.

“But why would it be at Dujiangyan?”

“Most of the salt was taken out before the rainy season came. To avoid the effects of flooding. Then…”

Jin Ja-gang paused briefly before continuing.

“Where would be safe even if rivers overflow from floods? Where would it be easiest to spread poisoned salt? And where would King of Hell have found easy to manage?”

Only then did the leaders look like they’d been struck.

“Dujiangyan…”

“Then according to Poison Dragon’s words, Dujiangyan is the optimal location!”

Dujiangyan is a water conservancy facility built where the Min River frequently flooded, causing severe flood damage. Shu’s prefect Li Bing built dikes in the center of the river to create irrigation facilities that dispersed the river’s flow to various places, overcoming both floods and droughts simultaneously. No matter how severe floods come, it absolutely never overflows.

Thanks to Dujiangyan, there’s a saying that Sichuan’s Chengdu has more fertile farmland than anywhere else in the Central Plains because it hasn’t suffered flood damage for over a thousand years.

If one wanted to store large quantities of salt without flood damage… the safest place in all the Central Plains.

At the same time, going eight hundred li north reaches the Yellow River and down reaches the Yangtze River, making it the place where supplies can be sent to anywhere in the Central Plains in the fastest time.

Even close to the Tang Family Main House, where it could be tended anytime if desired.

Precisely, Dujiangyan.

The Tang family leaders could no longer refute Jin Ja-gang’s words.

They had no choice but to acknowledge Jin Ja-gang.

Perhaps Jin Ja-gang’s ability surpassed even King of Hell’s.

They should be grateful that such a person wasn’t trying to completely destroy the Tang family but was now on the same side.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Gwi-ok.

Tang Gwi-ok made a decision.

“Currently, son-in-law’s words seem most likely, and there appears to be no other alternative. Moreover, if Northern Heaven unorthodox sect is involved, it’s not a problem that can be solved with just a few masters.”

The elders asked with heavy faces.

“You mean…”

“This matter must be stopped at all costs. Our family’s survival depends on it. We will mobilize all resources to contain what older brother started.”

Tang Gwi-ok said emphatically.

“Prepare yourselves. We’ll use the Flying Shadow Group as scouts to blockade all land routes and waterways from Dujiangyan. If the Flying Shadow Group’s reconnaissance confirms the presence of Northern Heaven unorthodox sect and salt warehouses, we will send all our family’s combat organizations to annihilate Northern Heaven unorthodox sect at Dujiangyan!”

* * *

Mang Ryo was heading to Baek Li-jung’s office when he met a merchant from Taeho Trading Company midway. It was a trading company active in Jiangsu Province that dealt exclusively with the Baek Li family.

Since he occasionally came and went from where Baek Li-jung was, Mang Ryo was acquainted with him.

“Hmm? What brings Master Lim here?”

The merchant bowed obsequiously upon seeing Mang Ryo.

“Ah, Advisor Mang. How are you?”

“I’m fine. But Master Jin doesn’t look very well? You look anxious too.”

The merchant made a troubled expression.

“Actually, we were trying to acquire goods under very favorable conditions, but a small mishap occurred at the acquisition site. So I was about to seek help from Hero Baek Li.”

Normally, Mang Ryo would have passed by such talk casually.

But today was different.

“What? What happened?”

The merchant answered reluctantly.

“Well, it’s… something others shouldn’t hear about…”

“It’s fine. It’s fine. Who knows? I might be able to help too.”

“Well, the thing is…”

The merchant said.

“Actually, we agreed to buy salt at a very cheap price and sell it, but the Tang family is blocking the waterways so delivery can’t be made.”

“The Tang family? Why?”

“This was originally agreed upon when King of Hell was in position. But as you know, King of Hell is now bedridden. So we think they’re probably trying to raise the salt price… that’s what we think.”

“Salt?”

Suddenly…

Mang Ryo felt pain.

Throb! His long-missing left eye ached for the first time in a while.

“Uh, uh?”

When Mang Ryo made strange groaning sounds while covering his eye, the merchant wondered.

“Advisor Mang?”

Mang Ryo’s face turned bright red. His eyes opened wide and he broke out in cold sweat. Tang Qing’s words suddenly flashed through his mind.

“This rainy season will bring extremely severe downpours. This summer… a terrible plague that the Central Plains has never experienced before will rage, causing the greatest casualties in history.

Even the masters of the nine great sects will be no exception…”

Mang Ryo’s mouth opened. Though his face was contorted in pain, a smile appeared on his lips.

“Well well, King of Hell! So that was it?”

Five Path Fatal Pills. Floods and plague. Salt.

And Jin Ja-gang.

In an instant, Mang Ryo realized the rest of the plan Tang Qing hadn’t told him.

“A-Advisor Mang?”

The merchant stepped back in surprise.

Mang Ryo laughed heartily while blinking his eyes. Then he waved his hand vigorously.

“No. No. It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something.”

Mang Ryo wiped tears from his aching eye and put his arm around the merchant’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

“Where did you say? The road the Tang family is blocking.”

“Sichuan’s Du… jiangyan.”

“Ah, Sichuan? Good. Hero Baek Li is inside, so let’s go talk together. I’ll do my best to persuade him.”

Mang Ryo led the merchant to the office with a desolate smile and gleaming eyes.

Inside the office, Baek Li-jung stood looking out the window, shaking his head left and right.

Mang Ryo called out.

“Governor?”

Baek Li-jung pretended not to hear and kept shaking his head left and right for quite a while. It was strange behavior.

Then he suddenly asked Mang Ryo out of nowhere.

“How deep has your martial arts cultivation become?”

Mang Ryo wondered what he was talking about and patted the merchant beside him on the shoulder.

“Ah, it’s not about me but Master Lim from Taeho Trading Company here…”

“We go to Dujiangyan.”

Mang Ryo looked back and forth between the merchant and Baek Li-jung, pointing at both with his finger.

“I just met him in front?”

“Don’t make me… ask twice.”

“Did you hear?”

Baek Li-jung’s voice, speaking while only shaking his head left and right without turning around, even carried an ominous killing intent. Mang Ryo frowned. He seemed unable to handle the demonic energy.

After Mang Ryo sent the confused merchant out of the room, he grumbled.

“Still, I’m in better shape. The side effects of Red Shadow Pills are nothing but dying early.”

Even at Mang Ryo’s words, Baek Li-jung didn’t waver.

“If you’ve taken Red Shadow Pills… it’s not enough.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“The final step.”

Shake, shake.

“I climb the final step to ascend to the last position.”

“A step made of poisoned salt?”

“We use it.”

Mang Ryo couldn’t speak for a while.

He knows. Baek Li-jung too.

Mang Ryo threw sharp words at the back of Baek Li-jung’s head.

“If you mishandle such a thing, you’ll become a traitor to the martial world?”

Baek Li-jung still only shook his head. But Mang Ryo understood Baek Li-jung’s thoughts.

Baek Li-jung intended to use Tang Qing’s poison to eliminate sects that would hinder his rise to the martial alliance leader position! For instance, the remaining sects affiliated with Yangtze River Sword Sect!

“You’re truly unparalleled in boldness. Making statements that could turn the martial world upside down without a moment’s hesitation.”

Mang Ryo paused while speaking and tilted his head.

“No no, before that, I don’t understand. How did you learn that information? Even I just found out.”

“Why. Are you scared?”

“I’m scared. There’s someone in front of me who doesn’t care about means and methods for ambition.”

“If you’re scared, you can get lost right now.”

“Kill me with a blow to the back of the head the moment I turn around? No good, no good.”

Though Baek Li-jung didn’t turn around because he was busy shaking his head, Mang Ryo could tell.

That Baek Li-jung was smiling.

A cruel smile soon appeared on Mang Ryo’s lips too.

“I have a good idea… would you like to hear it?”

“If it’s nonsense, I’ll kill you immediately.”

“No, since we’re going to climb this step anyway, let’s climb up enjoyably while receiving others’ cheers. Fun, fun.”

Shake…

Only then did Baek Li-jung’s head-shaking stop.

The slowly rising demonic energy calmed down.

Baek Li-jung turned his head.

His expression was gentle and mild, with eyes containing the spiritual energy one might see in a high monk. Demonic energy was completely undetectable. Even Mang Ryo had to be amazed at such a transformation in Baek Li-jung.

“Speak.”

Despite the clear condescension, Mang Ryo’s smile grew deeper.

“So what I’m saying is…”

* * *

“B-big trouble!”

One of the Tang family elders ran to Tang Gwi-ok as if possessed.

Tang Gwi-ok asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“B-b-big, big… big trouble.”

“I understand, so tell me. What exactly happened?”

The elder swallowed hard. His face turned pale.

“The Righteous Alliance, the Righteous Alliance made the first move…!”

The corners of Tang Gwi-ok’s eyes turned up.

“What did you say?”

* * *

Baek Li-jung proclaimed to the martial world in the name of the Righteous Alliance.

“I am well aware of the difficulties faced by the people due to this year’s floods. Therefore, I have requested various trading companies to supply materials needed for relief, and have first secured salt, which is most lacking. Within a few days, salt will be sent from Sichuan’s salt well warehouses to various parts of the Central Plains to conduct relief work. I hope this can provide some relief to the people who have fallen into hardship…”