Chapter 309

From Qinghai Province, passing through Nanjing to reach the sea, stretching sixteen thousand li.

The land along the river basin alone encompasses two hundred million acres.

This is the grandeur of the Yangtze River crossing the Central Plains.

Yangtze River Sword Sect is an organization of sects active along the Yangtze River basin, with the most famous sects being Wudang Sect and Mount Heng Sect, and others including the Namgung family, Zhuge family, Murong family, and Meteor Sword Sect.

Just the presence of Wudang Sect and the Namgung family, renowned sword sects in the martial world, shows the extent of Yangtze River Sword Sect’s power. This is why Yangtze River Sword Sect is considered one of the Nine Provinces and Six Heavens alongside Northern Heaven, Shandong Unorthodox Sects, and Sichuan Martial Arts.

Jin Ja-gang consulted with the three people, Yeong-woon, Pyo Sang-guk, and So-min, about Yangtze River Sword Sect’s invitation. Since the three had already become involved in Jin Ja-gang’s affairs, they had the right to know what was happening.

“So… what was the content of the ledger like? Was it what Brother Jin was looking for?”

To Yeong-woon’s question, Jin Ja-gang answered.

“It was ordinary transaction records. It contained details of transactions for food ingredients like grains and meat, as well as miscellaneous trades like clothing and stationery. If I had to point out something unusual, all the transactions used only one trading company named Yeongpa Merchants.”

“That’s not particularly unusual. Generally, for daily necessities supplied to sects, especially food, safety is important, so they often use only one place where trust has been built through long trading relationships.”

Pyo Sang-guk said.

“Yeongpa Merchants is a large trading company that travels between Yunnan and parts of Sichuan, including Kunlun Sect. It seems natural that Iron Umbrella Sect used Yeongpa Merchants.”

Yeong-woon said to Jin Ja-gang.

“For instance, our Wudang Sect has continued trading with Gangwoo Trading Company for a long time. If Gangwoo Trading Company mediated a meeting with Yangtze River Sword Sect, it’s trustworthy.”

“But I know nothing about Yangtze River Sword Sect.”

“While people say our sect’s elder established Yangtze River Sword Sect, I heard that practically our Wudang took the initiative. The main purpose is to unite the forces divided between Jiangdong and Jiangnan to do righteous work.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Pyo Sang-guk, a Zhongnan Sect disciple, and So-min, a Mount Hua Sect disciple.

Pyo Sang-guk cleared his throat and said.

“This time I have to object to Brother Yeong-woon’s words. Considering that Master Haewol rose to the alliance leader position with Yangtze River Sword Sect’s full support, it’s hard to see this as a simple gathering.”

So-min also said.

“Actually, our side doesn’t view Yangtze River Sword Sect favorably either. The Namgung, Zhuge, and Murong families are among the Eight Great Families, somewhat at odds with our martial world sects. But because Wudang Sect led the way in bringing in the great families, the influence of martial world sects that traditionally had high influence in the Martial Alliance was relatively weakened.”

Pyo Sang-guk agreed.

“Sister Min is right. To think they even took away the Dragon and Phoenix titles that our side had traditionally used. Thinking of how those family guys boasted about being Three Dragons Four Phoenixes, ugh.”

Interestingly, these people who had gotten along like real siblings were now saying different things.

However, Yeong-woon didn’t get angry and nodded in agreement.

“I can’t deny that the great families’ votes helped in selecting the alliance leader. But we must also acknowledge that this made the Martial Alliance more harmonious.”

Yeong-woon recommended to Jin Ja-gang.

“Meet them first and have a conversation. You can decide how to handle things after that.”

Pyo Sang-guk and So-min also agreed.

“That would be better.”

“Leave this place to us and go.”

“Then I’ll be in your debt, all three of you.”

Jin Ja-gang expressed his gratitude to the three. He decided to meet those from Yangtze River Sword Sect as soon as dawn came when the gambling den closed.

Dawn came, and the Hao Sect members began cleaning.

Jin Ja-gang tried to leave mixed in with the gambling den customers as they left.

But.

Just as Jin Ja-gang was about to depart, he suddenly stopped walking.

Inexplicable goosebumps rose on his nape.

‘Killing intent?’

Before opening the door, Jin Ja-gang sharpened all his body’s senses to detect the energies outside.

It wasn’t much different from yesterday.

The presence of people leaving the gambling den, countless surveillance presences, greedy presences coveting wealth…

‘No, it’s different. Different!’

This ominous feeling was something that was different from killing intent yet clearly had a similar aura to killing intent.

Moreover, Jin Ja-gang saw marks carved into the door handle. These were definitely marks that hadn’t been there before announcing closing time.

Two overlapping triangles, a crude graffiti.

This was a code sent by Qingcheng Sect.

‘Warning symbol!’

It seemed left in great urgency with no more detailed content.

Jin Ja-gang realized his senses weren’t wrong.

Something dangerous was definitely happening.

The three people, Yeong-woon, Pyo Sang-guk, and So-min, wondered from behind.

“Brother Jin, why aren’t you going and standing in front of the door like that?”

“Young Master Jin?”

When So-min called for the fourth time, Jin Ja-gang turned around.

Jin Ja-gang waited silently until all the gambling den customers had left, then said.

“Thinking about it, I should stop now.”

“Why? Even though we said we’d guard it, you’re still not at ease?”

“It’s not that, but I think there will soon be aspects I can’t handle.”

The three were puzzled.

“But the work of collecting Iron Umbrella Sect’s stolen goods isn’t finished yet?”

“We just established our position and are starting to catch clues, but suddenly stopping in the middle?”

“Didn’t you come to Chongqing for this one thing? Or are you anxious about meeting Yangtze River Sword Sect?”

Pyo Sang-guk said.

“Brother Jin, this is Chongqing. Most people can’t act carelessly here. What are you so wary of?”

Jin Ja-gang appeared extremely cautious. The three couldn’t understand why he was suddenly so wary when nothing had happened.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“The master who taught me gambling told me this: No matter how high a hand I have, if my opponent has just one point higher than me, I’ll lose, so ultimately it’s meaningless. Conversely, no matter how low a hand I have, if it’s just one point higher than my opponent’s, I win.”

“But it’s too regrettable to give up. The rice is almost cooked.”

“When my master judged it was dangerous, he abandoned the foundation he’d built over decades and left without regret. I think now is the time for me to make the same judgment.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the closed door, then looked at the three again.

Yangtze River Sword Sect had come to Chongqing to meet Jin Ja-gang away from others’ eyes. If not now, he might not be able to contact Yangtze River Sword Sect.

However, he couldn’t leave his position with such an unpleasant sensation.

The three people in front were Jin Ja-gang’s helpers and simultaneously his weakness. If something happened to the three, Jin Ja-gang would be the first to be suspected.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the three with a serious expression and said.

“I learned many things while being with you three. But this is as far as it goes.”

At Jin Ja-gang’s smile, Yeong-woon, Pyo Sang-guk, and So-min had nothing more to say. They understood Jin Ja-gang’s concerns.

Pyo Sang-guk sighed.

“This is the first time I’ve felt so powerless. I feel uncomfortable thinking I was a burden throughout our journey together.”

Yeong-woon, like a Taoist, quickly composed his emotions.

“Meeting Brother Jin was truly meaningful. I realized many of my shortcomings too. As a Wudang disciple, personally I hope Brother Jin’s talks with Yangtze River Sword Sect go well.”

So-min showed more regret than the other two.

“Young Master Jin. I really hope we meet again. I’m sorry for misunderstanding you all this time.”

Jin Ja-gang distributed some wealth to the three, asked the Hao Sect members to handle the remaining wealth, then departed for the meeting place.

* * *

A shabby shrine about thirty li south along the river from the gambling den.

This was the meeting place he’d heard from Merchant Wang.

Morning hadn’t yet brightened, so darkness still lingered.

Limp, limp.

Jin Ja-gang hurried toward the shrine.

But when the shrine wasn’t far away, while going down along the riverside, he saw an old monk sitting on a rock ahead.

The bald old monk wearing a bamboo hat used a staff-like Zen staff with a round ring at the end and slightly longer than his height to push up his hat and look at Jin Ja-gang.

He might be around sixty or seventy years old. An old monk with a benevolent expression.

As their eyes met, Jin Ja-gang lightly bowed and tried to pass the old monk, but the old monk spoke in an aged voice.

“Young benefactor, won’t you rest for a moment?”

Early morning with almost no human traffic. An extraordinary old monk met at the path to the meeting place.

This couldn’t be a coincidence.

Jin Ja-gang remained wary while lightly clasping his hands together.

The old monk smiled broadly and said.

“Namo Amitabha Guanyin Bodhisattva. This humble monk is called Beom-mong.”

“I’m Jin Ja-gang. Were you waiting for me?”

“This humble monk comes from Shaolin Temple.”

Shaolin Temple!

The thousand-year-old Shaolin Temple!

The Mount Tai of the martial world that has never wavered under any circumstances and supported orthodox martial arts since the early days of the martial world.

In jest, it was said that at its peak, even if all martial world sects attacked together, it would be difficult to pass Shaolin Temple’s main Sect, possessing such massive military power and the deepest level of martial learning among all martial world sects.

Its very existence symbolized orthodox martial arts, and it was the universally acknowledged standard of righteousness.

A monk from that Shaolin Temple had appeared before Jin Ja-gang.

However, Jin Ja-gang didn’t let his guard down and looked at Beom-mong while maintaining distance.

Beom-mong asked.

“Strange. Very strange.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t respond. He couldn’t let his guard down.

“Usually when I reveal I’m from Shaolin, people drop their suspicions and feel at ease. But you don’t, benefactor.”

“Is there a reason I should feel at ease?”

“Is there a reason you can’t feel at ease?”

“I don’t know if you’re asking because you don’t know, or if you’re deliberately trying to confirm while knowing. Must I feel at ease just because it’s Shaolin Temple?”

“The path taken, the work done. Doesn’t Shaolin’s history prove Shaolin itself?”

“If I weren’t a descendant of a ruined sect, I would acknowledge those words. Or if evil people had been punished by Shaolin, that too would have become Shaolin’s righteous history. But I have seen Shaolin’s justice nowhere.”

“Can you definitively say it doesn’t exist just because you haven’t seen it?”

Jin Ja-gang’s expression began growing sharper.

Whatever Beom-mong said, Shaolin Temple was also a member of the Martial Alliance. It couldn’t escape from original sin.

“Then I ask: What did Shaolin Temple do regarding the medicine sects’ bloodshed?”

“Namo Amitabha Guanyin Bodhisattva…”

Beom-mong breathed deeply and chanted Buddha’s name.

“I feel your deep sorrow, benefactor. Though life and death are not two but one, though you recite it a hundred times and chant it a thousand times, how can one fully understand a heart that has lost its sect!”

“Master, you still haven’t answered my question.”

“To excuse myself, if you want to know Shaolin’s role, you must first know the Two Great Teaching Sects within Shaolin.”

Teaching Sects refer to methods of educating and leading sentient beings to liberation.

In other words, Two Great Teaching Sects meant there were two sects with different positions regarding methods of teaching.

“They’re called the Embracing Sect and the Breaking Sect respectively.”

Shaolin Temple’s abbot master was known to exercise absolute influence in the martial world.

But two sects within it?

What did this mean?