Chapter 63 – An Unfair Contract

Chapter 63 – An Unfair Contract

“I told you to take it off.”

“······?”

Dazed, San-ho naturally tightened his collar.

At that, Do Yi-gyeom frowned, looking displeased with something.

“Are you injured by any chance?”

“Elder···! How could that be?”

Zhuge Yun, who had hurriedly followed him inside, answered on his behalf while gesturing with his eyes to San-ho.

The two had just finished a fierce negotiation.

As the leader of the Martial Alliance, negotiating with a child who was not even twenty was a first for him as well. But what choice did he have? If the future of the Martial Alliance depended on that child's tongue, he had no choice but to willingly do so.

However, due to requirements that surpassed all imagination, the negotiations went through a first and second round, and continued all the way to a whopping sixth round. Thus, the sixth round of negotiations was barely concluded right in front of the door of the Grand Reception Hall.

“I did not ask you.”

Do Yi-gyeom snapped in a sharp voice.

Zhuge Yun anxiously awaited the words of denial to come from San-ho's mouth. But when San-ho merely blinked his eyes without responding, astonishment and panic gradually seeped into his eyes. They had clearly made a promise!

“······.”

At that moment, San-ho looked at Zhuge Yun and moved his lips slightly.

‘Seventh round.’

He was bringing up the final requirement that had ultimately not been accepted.

Holy crap.

What on earth is wrong with that guy?

Zhuge Yun closed his eyes tightly.

Anything but that···!

“Why is there no answer? Are you hurt somewhere?”

When no answer came, Do Yi-gyeom glared at Zhuge Yun while exuding a murderous aura.

At this moment, Zhuge Yun's right leg had already crossed the threshold of the underworld. Yet, whether San-ho knew this or not, he simply blinked his eyes and repeated the same words. Seventh round.

Indeed, it was bound to end up like this from the very beginning······.

Just as his left leg was about to cross the threshold of the underworld.

Zhuge Yun eventually nodded toward San-ho.

Then, a bright voice popped out as if it had been waiting.

“Hurt? Not at all. I was eating really well and resting well.”

Thus, just half a quarter-hour after the sixth round of negotiations had ended, the seventh round of negotiations was concluded.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Of course there was a misunderstanding··· but the Martial Alliance is a much more reasonable organization than I thought. Right, Alliance Leader?”

“···Of course! I am glad you think so.”

“Hmm······.”

Do Yi-gyeom, still looking suspicious, turned San-ho this way and that.

Knock, knock!

Just then, someone knocked on the door of the Grand Reception Hall.

It was Captain Seomun Gang of the Heavenly Simurgh Squad and Captain Min Eun-gyeol of the Hidden Heaven Squad.

The two of them, who entered the Grand Reception Hall, tried their best not to show their nervousness as they performed a cupped-fist salute.

Tang Hwa-seon turned to look at them and spoke.

“I heard you brought my son here. I called you to see if you would like to look at my face as well.”

“·········.”

As the slowly approaching shadow of death—no, Tang Hwa-seon's shadow—stopped at his feet, Seomun Gang swallowed hard.

“I have long heard of the grand reputation of the Ten Thousand Poisons Divine King. It is a great honor to meet you.”

“But you look somewhat familiar··· Are you by any chance the Azure Dragon Divine Sword?”

Tang Hwa-seon, who remembered seeing Seomun Gang in the Jianghu in the past, asked.

“Yes. Before becoming the Captain of the Heavenly Simurgh Squad, I was undeservedly called by the moniker of the Azure Dragon Divine Sword.”

“Azure Dragon Divine Sword?”

“He must be the swordsman who won the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly in the past.”

“It was a long time ago. I am overwhelmed that Elder Fist Demon recognizes me.”

Just then, Tang Hwa-seon asked, as if the bandage wrapped around his arm caught his eye.

“Has a swordsman injured his arm?”

“That······.”

When Seomun Gang hesitated and could not bring himself to answer, Min Eun-gyeol, who was standing beside him, spoke instead.

“He was bitten.”

“Oh dear. You must keep a dog.”

“····By your son······.”

“·········.”

When the answer came in a crawling voice, Do Yi-gyeom put his hand to his forehead. Tae Ju-ha burst into a broad grin, and Tang Hwa-seon, who looked unusually embarrassed, shut his mouth for a moment.

They had actually summoned them to deliver a brutal threat alongside the Alliance Leader.

“I would like to apologize for the unpleasant physical scuffle that occurred during the process of subduing······ no, requesting cooperation.”

Seomun Gang's voice was tinged with tension.

“······.”

Tang Hwa-seon stared blankly at Seomun Gang, whose arm was bandaged and whose eyes were hollow. Beside him, San-ho's squeaky-clean, glossy face was shining.

“·········Elder, since he says he stayed without any discomfort, please let go of your anger now.”

Tang Hwa-seon turned to Do Yi-gyeom and said. The latter also nodded without opposing.

“···Shall we do so.”

Fortunately, the building of the Martial Alliance did not collapse. It was all thanks to Seomun Gang's hollow complexion.

***

In the Grand Reception Hall after the Alliance Leader and the two Captains had withdrawn.

Un-jo, who had been glaring at San-ho from a corner the entire time, finally spoke up.

“My lifespan was shortened by ten years because of you. Huh?”

“Ah. I heard you contacted the owner, Senior?”

“Yes! I hurriedly contacted him to stop the Chief Stronghold Leader from going alone.”

“So that was it. No wonder.”

Only then was San-ho's doubt cleared, and he let out a chuckle.

He had already been wondering about the visit of the three. He could easily picture how he must have sweated to stop the leader of the Unorthodox faction from going to the Martial Alliance alone.

“But how did you know, Father?”

“Thanks to Elder Flowing Cloud Sword contacting me, I arrived in time. I heard you stayed at the Elder's tavern?”

“···Ah, that.”

No matter how much Do Yi-gyeom said he would write a separate letter to the Tang Clan, for a direct descendant of the family to establish a master-disciple bond without permission was something that deserved a scolding. Flustered, San-ho was about to explain the situation hesitantly.

“Oh my, youth is indeed nice.”

An out-of-character comment popped out of Tang Hwa-seon's mouth.

“······Yes?”

“Elder. When I was young, you clearly said you would not take in a disciple. But have you changed your mind now?”

“Ahem. As one grows older, one's thoughts change as well.”

“······?”

San-ho tilted his head at the unfamiliar sight of Tang Hwa-seon.

The Family Head of the Tang Clan, who was always solemn and dignified.

He was now chattering away in front of Do Yi-gyeom like a child who could not hide his excitement. It was as if he had returned to being an eight-year-old kid before fifty years of time had passed.

“I did not know you were so close, Elder. If you had given me a hint, I would have visited you.”

“No matter. More than that, time indeed flies. The kid who was as small as a bean has now become a proper Family Head of the Tang Clan. Ah, instead of acting like this, I must show proper manners now. My apologies.”

“What do you mean by that! Please treat me as you did before.”

Startled, Tang Hwa-seon waved his hands in denial, and then continued speaking as he observed Do Yi-gyeom closely.

“It seems time has only passed for me. Since you still do not have a single wrinkle, Elder, you look exactly the same as in the past.”

“How could that be. I have also aged a lot.”

“Let us go to Sichuan together. There are more than just one or two people eagerly waiting for you, haha.”

Tang Hwa-seon turned to San-ho and spoke in a soft voice.

“Let us go home.”

“······.”

San-ho took in the faces inside the Grand Reception Hall one by one.

Home.

The place I would return to.

“Yes, let's go home.”

At that moment, Tae Ju-ha put his hands on his waist and said proudly.

“I will escort you safely to Sichuan on the Red Dragon Ship! Just trust me!”

“·········.”

“It is fine······.”

“The Red Dragon Ship is really fast!”

Tang Hwa-seon, who had been indicating his refusal, blinked his eyes as he looked at San-ho's excited expression.

“Of course! What ship on the Yangtze River would dare to overtake the Red Dragon Ship? Uhahaha!”

Of course. There wouldn't be···.

Not if their lives were precious.

‘What on earth is going on.’

Because of the situation, there was a thought he had put aside for a moment.

His runaway son had returned after a year, bringing two of the Ten Venerables of the Martial World with him.

Just what had he been doing as he wandered around?

He was curious about other things too, but this was what he was most curious about.

Just what had happened between him and the Unorthodox faction, especially the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Yangtze River Waterway Forts! What did it mean that he had participated in the rebellion of the Yangtze River Waterway Forts! Why did the Chief Stronghold Leader call his son a friend!

‘For now, just in case··· I should ask him after we leave the Martial Alliance.’

Just then, Tae Ju-ha looked at Do Yi-gyeom, who had a displeased expression, and asked.

“Brother, why do you have that look on your face?”

“···Who is your brother.”

“How cold. Have we only known each other for a year or two?”

“We have only met once. I am not interested.”

“Ehh? Are you really going to be like this? In order to save my brother's face, I took good care of the disciple who had sneaked onto the Red Dragon Ship?”

“······.”

Tang Hwa-seon let out a short groan at the story of San-ho and the Chief Stronghold Leader, which only grew more bizarre the more he heard. Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.

***

In the Martial Alliance, where a major storm had passed.

Captain Seomun Gang of the Heavenly Simurgh Squad opened the door to the Alliance Leader's office and walked in.

“Alliance Leader.”

“Ah, Gang, are you here···?”

Zhuge Yun was stretched out on the Grand Chair with a blank expression.

“I heard a strange story a moment ago.”

“Mhm. You heard it.”

Even before he could bring up the main point, Zhuge Yun nodded as if he already knew everything.

“That··· you are designating a designated medical pavilion for the Martial Alliance······.”

“Yes··· that is correct.”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Nothing will change regarding the work of the Medicine King Hall inside the Alliance. However, we are designating the medical pavilions in Chongqing, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Gansu, which are outside of Hubei, as the Tang Clan's medical pavilions.”

“Isn't that almost the entire western region?”

“It is.”

“·········.”

Zhuge Yun, who raised his slumped body and sat upright in his seat, continued speaking.

“If you think about it, it is not such a bad thing. In any case, the physicians of the Medicine King Hall lack the manpower to embark on long-distance journeys into the Jianghu, and if designated medical pavilions are established, their workload will actually be reduced.”

“But··· you know that various medical pavilions have submitted proposals to become the Alliance's designated medical pavilion. If you make a sudden decision like this, there may be some backlash.”

“Gang-ah······.”

“Yes.”

“We can only hear backlash if the Martial Alliance is safe, can we not?”

At the voice that sounded somewhat sorrowful, Seomun Gang asked.

“Pardon? Did something··· happen?”

“Something? Yes, indeed, something happened.”

“Could it be that you were threatened by them? No matter how they are of the Ten Venerables of the Martial World···!”

“No, it was not them······.”

Zhuge Yun shuddered as he recalled San-ho's clear face.

“That child was the problem.”

“······Pardon?”

“He even took my thumbprint, saying that oral contracts cannot be trusted.”

“······?”

Zhuge Yun handed over a stack of papers.

As Seomun Gang read the contents written on the paper, his eyes grew wider and wider.

“He··· all of this···? Are you saying that child demanded all of this?”

“Yes.”

The more he thought back, the more bizarre the child was.

Designating a dedicated medical pavilion for the Martial Alliance.

It was not a reward an ordinary child would think of.

‘Sly snake.’

Becoming the designated medical pavilion of the Martial Alliance meant many things.

First, a steady profit.

Second, the protection of the Martial Alliance.

Third, the recognition of martial artists.

Given the nature of the Martial Alliance, where travels into the Jianghu were frequent, it was obvious that becoming a designated medical pavilion would bring in massive revenue. Furthermore, they could request the Alliance's protection for the medical pavilion if necessary.

Was that all?

Once they became the Alliance's medical pavilion, the recognition of martial artists would follow, making it easier to expand their business.

That was why various medical pavilions had sent in proposals.

‘Did he propose the condition while knowing all the benefits that would follow? How could a mere child······.’

The designation of the medical pavilion. It was the only condition he had not accepted until the final seventh round of negotiations. That very condition, which he ultimately had no choice but to grant because he was crossing back and forth over the threshold of hell.

Zhuge Yun closed his eyes tightly at the fact that the designation of the medical pavilion, which he had delayed in order to choose under the best terms, had been concluded under the harshest terms.

An unimaginably unfair contract.

“·········.”

Beside Zhuge Yun, who was shaking his head.

The pupils of Seomun Gang, who was reading the final agreement written in neat handwriting, were shaking.

“Just what······?”

“For the time being··· we will have to economize a bit.”

He could not hide his shock at the contract, which was labeled as an agreement but should be read as a warehouse raid.

Not to mention rare spirit medicines such as the Five Elements Snow Orchid, Purple Dragon Herb, and Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, but even the signature spirit medicines sent as gifts by various sects and the Martial Alliance's own pill, the Hundred Spirits Pill.

And that was not all.

Various metals and gems were also listed in succession, enough to make one wonder how on earth he knew the state of the Martial Alliance's warehouse. These were clauses that strongly expressed his determination to pull out the very pillars of the Martial Alliance.

“······!!”

However.

There was something even worse than that.

“Does··· does this make any sense?”

Seomun Gang pointed at a section of the agreement with a trembling hand.

[Complete Immunity]

Zhuge Yun nodded with a sorrowful expression.

It was the condition San-ho had proposed first.

Since they had falsely accused him of a crime once, he demanded one complete immunity.

“But, even if this incident was a misunderstanding··· we do not know what might happen in the future.”

“Why would such a thing matter? Didn't you see it too? Who is standing behind that child. Even if he did not have immunity, unless it is a matter of risking our lives, we would have no choice but to let him off.”

“······.”

“Originally, they were people who would never be associated with each other. Yet, because of that single child, an absurd thing has occurred. Perhaps it will become an even greater threat to us.”

“·········.”

“So, Gang. There is a task I need you to handle.”

Zhuge Yun called Seomun Gang closer and whispered softly. Upon hearing the words that followed, the corners of Seomun Gang's eyes began to tremble.