Chapter 252. I Succeeded in Sowing Discord.
After word spread that I had returned, the first person to come looking for me was neither Moyong Baek nor anyone I had expected. Surprisingly, it was someone I had forgotten about.
Deputy Master Yong Gae of Yongdu Ironworks, who had been glancing at the Sword Demon and the Ghost Demon crossing blades in the open lot before Zaha Inn, approached me with a darker expression than usual.
“Sect Master.”
“Deputy Master, you’re here. Where’s Uncle Geum?”
Deputy Master Yong Gae jerked his chin and said,
“Let’s talk while we walk.”
Since he meant to speak with me alone, I went for a stroll with him. As we walked around Ilyang County for the first time in a while, the deputy master began speaking.
“I informed Big Brother. Told him the Sect Master had come. But he’s bedridden right now, so he couldn’t come with me.”
I guessed without thinking much of it.
“Did he fall ill from anger?”
Deputy Master Yong Gae tilted his head.
“Anger? I suppose it probably is anger.”
“Let’s hear it, then. What kind of anger is it? Strange. Yongdu Ironworks belongs to Haomun, so no nearby faction should have dared touch it.”
“Sect Master, do you know the Unhyang Sect?”
“The Unhyang Sect, of all people?”
“At first, they paid for a few weapons and bought them from us. They said the quality was unexpectedly good and then placed a bulk order afterward. The time they gave us to prepare was a little tight, but it was a large order and they offered a proper price, so we stopped our other work and focused on the delivery. Just in case, and I’m sorry about this, but we also used the Sect Master’s name. They flew into a rage. They gave us a harsh scolding, asking if we were looking down on them. We delivered the goods within the deadline for the time being, but then they suddenly invited Big Brother and me to the Unhyang Sect’s headquarters, where they struck the blades we made against some shoddy weapons and broke them four times.”
I looked at Deputy Master Yong Gae.
“With such a crude trick? You should have taken the rest of the goods back.”
“That’s not it. Those bastards said they couldn’t return them because the weapons had been prepared for a major battle ahead, and only handed over half the payment they had originally promised. Big Brother must have been furious too, because he mentioned Haomun and even spoke the Sect Master’s name, but the Unhyang Sect had someone backing them as well.”
“Who?”
“Longmen’s First Sword is calling himself the hegemon of Guangdong and is in the middle of absorbing various factions. The Unhyang Sect has already entered the Dragon Sword’s command.”
“Aha. By Dragon Sword, you mean that one from the Four Dragons of Sinnam?”
“That’s right.”
And if you add me and the Lust Demon, that makes the Six Dragons of Sinnam. So this is how it connects? It felt as though he had deliberately touched the very edge of my forces.
“Deputy Master, did you know that in the jianghu, I’m counted among the Six Dragons of Sinnam? Truthfully, I didn’t know either, but after the Alliance Leader mentioned it, I’d been included.”
“I didn’t know. The Unhyang Sect was the one that told us, rather. They said the Haomun Sect Master was included among the Six Dragons of Sinnam. They threatened and mocked us, saying that even if a problem arose, the Haomun Sect Master was actually the lowest-ranked of the Six Dragons, so even if he met Longmen’s First Sword in person to resolve it, he wouldn’t find any clear solution to this matter...”
“Huh?”
I met Deputy Master Yong Gae’s eyes, then threw out a question.
“Which bastard said I was the lowest-ranked? Was there a hierarchy even I didn’t know about?”
By the time I realized I was getting worked up, I was already thoroughly worked up. The deputy master continued his explanation.
“Naturally, since you joined belatedly, they said you were last...”
“What about Mongrang?”
“If you mean Young Master Mong of the Pungun Mong Family, they said he was fifth. They said he was at least treated as being from a prestigious family.”
“Was that the Dragon Sword speaking, or the Unhyang Sect that failed to pay properly?”
“Of course, we’ve only met the Unhyang Sect.”
I stopped walking.
“In any case, I understand. Let’s head back.”
As I headed toward Zaha Inn, I consoled Deputy Master Yong Gae.
“Whatever the case, I’ll make sure the remaining payment goes properly to Yongdu Ironworks, so tell Uncle Geum to recover quickly. An illness born of anger can sometimes be cured easily, so I’ll bring him good news.”
Deputy Master Yong Gae worried about me.
“Sect Master, leaving aside the Unhyang Sect, they say Longmen’s First Sword acts like the hegemon of Guangdong. Won’t this needlessly turn into a major issue because of our payment? Truthfully, money is money, but I think Big Brother collapsed because he was worried he’d burden you, Sect Master.”
I looked at Deputy Master Yong Gae’s face, which I had not seen in a long time. Every time I saw these ironworks people, it felt as though their complexions were thoroughly mixed with dark-red iron.
“Deputy Master, if you worked hard and delivered good weapons, shouldn’t you receive the proper payment? What’s more, they called them defective goods and won’t even return the rest. There’s nothing to debate in a matter like this. We just need to collect the money. I don’t know about the rest.”
“What will you do if there’s trouble with the Dragon Sword?”
I patted Deputy Master Yong Gae on the shoulder.
“That’s something the Dragon Sword should worry about. The world is unfair enough; we can’t be the only ones worrying all the time, can we? Hegemon of Guangdong? First I’ve heard of it. If he’s too strange, I’ll kill him. If he can be reasoned with to a suitable degree, then I’ll reorder the hierarchy of the Six Dragons of Sinnam, so don’t worry too much.”
Only then did Deputy Master Yong Gae let out a deep breath.
“Now I feel a bit relieved. I’ll relay it to Big Brother exactly as is. Well, truthfully, I did expect that you would resolve it somehow, Sect Master.”
Deputy Master Yong Gae took a contract from inside his robes and held it out to me.
“The details of our agreement with the Unhyang Sect are written here. It comes to two chests, each containing twenty-five silver ingots. I haven’t discussed it with Big Brother, but please pocket one chest for yourself, Sect Master. For us, it’s only a matter of preserving our pride. Think of it as travel expenses for the round trip.”
Since the deputy master was in a position much like a chief administrator, he was precise with calculations. It was not money I particularly needed, but somehow, saying I would accept it seemed as though it would put Deputy Master Yong Gae more at ease.
“Let’s do that. I’ll come visit him with the silver chest then. Before that, tell Uncle Geum to get up and go about his business as usual. What’s this malingering nonsense?”
Only then did the deputy master laugh.
“Understood.”
After sending Deputy Master Yong Gae back, I roughly shoved the contract into my robes. When I returned to the inn, everyone had finished their sparring match and was resting while drinking water. The quick-witted Lust Demon asked me,
“What happened?”
“A faction received a bulk delivery from an ironworks belonging to Haomun, but they say the balance hasn’t been paid. Who wants to go beat them up?”
The Ghost Demon raised his hand.
“Me. I keep getting beaten by Eldest Brother, so I’m in a very bad mood right now.”
The Lust Demon grinned and raised his hand.
“Me.”
Suddenly, I met Martial Uncle Dongsu’s eyes. Martial Uncle Dongsu raised his hand.
“Me too.”
I shook my head.
“You’re out. Just chant sutras. Why does a monk keep poking around places where people are fighting? Is that what the Buddha taught?”
“That’s not it.”
I cut him off in advance because if this bastard came along, he seemed likely to nag at every opportunity.
“Shut up. Senior?”
The Sword Demon looked at me.
“Is there any need for all of us to go? I’ll stay here. If things become chaotic, someone should remain at the inn.”
“Good. If you came too, Senior, there’d be a bloody storm, so there’s no need for that. If you get bored, call Dongsu over and tell him to repent or something.”
I introduced the Sword Demon to Martial Uncle Dongsu all over again.
“This man is from the Demonic Cult.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Serve him with utmost respect. He’s our eldest brother.”
“Understood.”
“Afflictions, the Five Desires and Seven Emotions—that sort of thing—I offer good counsel on those, too.”
I shut my trap at the right moment because the Sword Demon was glaring at me. Dongsu answered innocently.
“Understood.”
This time, when the Sword Demon glared at Dongsu without a word, Dongsu apologized with a startled expression.
“My apologies.”
Come to think of it, with this combination of the Demonic Cult and Buddhism, it felt like watching the very heavens on the verge of exploding. Whether it exploded or not was none of my business.
The Ghost Demon asked me.
“When are we leaving?”
“For now, Unhyang Sect isn’t that far. Let’s at least eat before we go. For your information, the backing of Unhyang Sect is said to be the Dragon Sword, a member of the New Southern Six Dragons, which the Fourth and I belong to. Hmm, at that level, they’re worth taking seriously. I heard that the bottom seat of the Six Dragons is you.”
Upon hearing my words, the Lust Demon immediately furrowed his brow.
“Which son of a bitch said I’m the bottom rung? I’m already fourth here, so why am I the lowest of the Six Dragons? It’s a shitty alias that wouldn’t even be satisfying if they gave me the top seat of the Six Dragons. Did anyone say they wanted to be one of the Six Dragons? These damned bastards…….”
And so, I quickly succeeded in sowing discord.
I laughed loudly, if only on the inside.
As the Lust Demon poured out curses like unleashing a swift sword, Martial Uncle Dongsu pressed his palms together and summoned a Buddhist chant.
“Namo Amitabha Buddha.”
The Lust Demon’s eyes bulged.
“It’s Namo Amita-whatever at every turn. So annoying.”
Dongsu retorted.
“……It’s ‘Buddha.’”
“Why don’t you shut up?”
I calmed the Lust Demon’s excitement with a composed tone.
“Calm yourself.”
“You shut up too.”
When the Sword Demon let out a sigh, only then did the Lust Demon return to his right mind.
“My apologies, Master.”
I shouted toward the kitchen.
“Food!”
As I sat down intending to eat at the outdoor table, some herb gatherer was walking across the empty lot.
“Oh… look who it is.”
Moyong Baek appeared with a face darker than ever. He wore a white headband, and his shoes were caked in mud.
Moyong Baek spoke with a smile.
“Sect Leader, Sword Demon Hyung-nim, Sir Six Harmonies, Young Master Meng. Have you all been well?”
Something strange had been slipped in so naturally among the titles that everyone looked at the Sword Demon.
The Sword Demon spoke to Moyong Baek.
“Moyong, my brother, it’s been a while.”
“Yes.”
It was as natural as estranged brothers reuniting.
Moyong Baek set down his bundle, sat at the table, and caught his breath. It seemed he really had been out gathering herbs. In fact, Moyong Baek was a man well-versed not only in medicinal herbs but also in poisonous herbs and elixirs.
His appearance was so sudden, yet so natural that one might think he had been with them all along, leaving me bewildered as well.
Only then did Moyong Baek notice Martial Uncle Dongsu and offered a greeting first.
“Monk, it is a pleasure to meet you. Were you taken hostage?”
Dongsu answered.
“No. I am an itinerant monk.”
“That is a relief. I am Moyong Baek.”
“Please feel free to call me Dongsu.”
I had nothing to offer, so I poured Moyong Baek a cup of water.
“Drink. You’ve worked hard gathering herbs.”
“Yes.”
Moyong Baek drank the water refreshingly and wiped around his mouth as he spoke.
“Sect Leader, congratulations on your return. You seem healthier in mind than before; it is good to see.”
I nodded.
“I’m going out again after eating.”
“You are busy.”
For a moment, we couldn’t find anything to say, so we merely blinked at one another. Looking at this group composed of the Four Great Evildoers plus the Poison Demon, my chest swelled with pride all on its own.
‘This is quite a force, isn’t it?’
Of course, the Poison Demon’s level was still closer to reserve strength. Even so, having passed on the Divine Art of Grafting Pear Blossoms onto Plum Trees, he was a master with a promising future.
“Any results?”
Understanding my question, Moyong Baek nodded.
“You gave me excellent martial arts. However, with my meager internal energy, had I mastered it deeply, I felt I would quickly fall into qi deviation. Theoretically, I have only learned up to this stage and am gathering some herbs.”
“Excellent.”
The Sword Demon spoke while looking at me.
“So the Third obtained three secret manuals that aren’t easily acquired and passed them to me, Chief Cha, and Moyong Baek. Why didn’t he learn all three himself instead of giving them to us? I see. The Hundred Battles Ten Stages Divine Art is something the Sect Leader has learned as well.”
Everyone looked at me.
I deftly evaded.
“It wouldn’t be fun if only I grew stronger. There is only one body but many martial arts. If I leave to help the Martial Alliance, Moyong Baek will look after the Ja-hak Guesthouse. If I’m struggling even after joining forces with Alliance Lord Im, the Eldest Hyung will come to help.”
Today, the Lust Demon kept going off track.
“Why didn’t you give me a secret manual?”
The Ghost Demon cut in too.
“I didn’t get one either. Why would he give you one? Go train in Ice Arts.”
This time, the Lust Demon properly tore into the Ghost Demon.
“You should just carry a wooden shield around. You don’t need a secret manual. A shield suits you better.”
The conversation rapidly devolved into childishness, and I couldn’t quite grasp where to start tidying it up. In the end, Gongdeok, who appeared from the Ja-hak Guesthouse, shifted the atmosphere.
“I will prepare the meal.”
I nodded and spoke to Gongdeok.
“We’ve gained one herb gatherer, so bring more rice. And tell anyone who wants to eat together to come out.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
I looked at Moyong Baek.
“Moyong, sir, eat before you go.”
Moyong Baek nodded with a composed expression.
“Yes. I shall eat two bowls and go, Sect Leader.”
“…….”
There was a hidden barb in his words, but I pretended not to notice. I got the feeling he somehow blamed me for abandoning his physician’s work to go around gathering herbs.
I had only looked out for Moyong’s benefit, so I had no regrets.
Shortly after, we truly sat around without a word and ate. Since bullshit far exceeding the usual level of drivel they spouted had flowed out several times earlier, the mealtime was quieter than ever.
In any case, the food tasted good.