Chapter 151 :

<Black Flame Dragon Amid the Chaos> 

Namgung Seonhwa squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again and blinked several times.

“Isn’t that man … the sect leader of Yuwol Gate?”

The middle-aged man had his hands and feet bound behind him, with a gag stuffed in his mouth.

He looked at me as if asking for an explanation, so I turned my gaze toward Haeryeong.

“When Young Master Jin’s group attacked the estate, we headed for Yuwol Gate.”

“Huh.”

Seong Moran’s mouth fell open.

“I’m sure Diancang Sect attacked Yuwol Gate first …”

Yuwol Gate had served the same purpose for Diancang as its warehouse in Yueyang.

The dark faction knew that, too, so they had tried to move as quickly as possible. It was a perfect chance to seize the enormous fortune Diancang had amassed in Yueyang.

But Diancang wasn’t going to let that happen.

Before the heretical faction could take it, Diancang would naturally reclaim what was theirs, even if they had to get their hands dirty.

That was why Diancang had cut ties with Yuwol Gate and attacked them before anyone else could.

But—

“We were just a step ahead.”

Why would we pass up such a good opportunity?

Besides, even if Diancang had lost a fortune that was practically their own, they couldn’t complain to anyone about it.

The moment they did, their secret pact with Yuwol Gate would come to light.

That was why I hadn’t been upset at all when Seong Moran asked whether I was angry.

‘They must be reeling over the fortune that’s been moved by now.’

I couldn’t help grinning triumphantly. Seong Moran glared at me.

“So you made all that commotion on purpose to draw their attention?”

“Well … there were a few reasons.”

“I almost died!”

“That’s why we’re holding a banquet on the boat, isn’t it?”

“Don’t think you can just smooth things over with that!”

I hadn’t planned to, anyway.

I looked at Haeryeong.

She took out some promissory notes from her sleeve and handed one to Namgung Seonhwa and one to Seong Moran.

“What’s this?”

“Your shares.”

“What?”

The two women hurriedly opened their notes, then their expressions stiffened.

“T-two thousand nyang in gold?”

“This is our share?”

Even Namgung Seonhwa looked astonished by the amount written on the note. I nodded at their questioning gazes.

“As you said, Young Lady Seong risked her life, and Young Lady Namgung put even her name on the line. You both deserve compensation.”

“Wow … you really are generous. I’ve never held this much money in my life.”

“If I ever leave the Namgung Family, could I join Taeul Sect?”

Wow, that serious look. She sounds like she means it.

While the two women stared at the notes bearing the largest sums they had ever owned, Eunho and Saryeon were both pouting.

“What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you both pouting like that?”

“My jaw structure has always had some resemblance to that of a fish.”

I chuckled at Eunho’s sarcastic reply.

“Judging by your attitude, I suppose you don’t need these.”

“What?”

I took out four pills and a pouch of money.

A strange medicinal scent began to fill the room.

“What are those, Senior Brother?”

“Pocket money and pills. Diancang probably gave them to Yuwol Gate. I was going to give them to you, but your attitude is …”

“Senior Brother! I’ve never once questioned your decisions.”

“Me neither!”

“ … I-I haven’t either.”

Only after seeing Eunho cling awkwardly to my side did I hand them the wooden case and the pouch.

Without needing to be told, the four of them headed outside the storehouse to absorb the elixirs.

I watched them go, then turned toward the sect leader of Yuwol Gate.

He had been watching all of this with his eyes bulging as if they might pop out.

I approached him and removed his gag.

“Do you feel wronged?”

“Grit … Do you think you’ll get away with this? You may not know it, but all that wealth belongs to Diancang. They’ll never let you off.”

I looked at Haeryeong and asked, “You haven’t told him yet?”

“No.”

I turned to the sect leader of Yuwol Gate.

“You’ve got it wrong. We’re protecting you and your family.”

“What kind of nonsense is that …”

“Diancang is tearing through Yueyang right now, trying to kill you and silence you.”

“The ones who killed the most Yuwol Gate warriors were none other than Diancang.”

“ …”

The sect leader stared at me in disbelief.

But what could I do? The truth was the truth.

Haeryeong and I moved somewhere else.

“The sect leader asked me to give you his regards.”

“Is he doing well?”

“Yes. He says it’s time for Haomun to spread its wings, and he’s more active than ever.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Young Master.”

Feeling a little awkward, I sipped my tea. Haeryeong smiled and took ten promissory notes from her sleeve.

“These are the proceeds from selling off the gold, silver, and valuables Yuwol Gate had stockpiled.”

“ …”

Ten notes, each worth ten thousand nyang.

“They got this much?”

The amount was far higher than I’d expected. I was almost dizzy.

“Yueyang is the most prosperous city in Hunan Province and one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Jiangnan. Considering that Diancang had been saving up to establish a branch in Yueyang, this is actually less than I expected.”

“Less?”

“We couldn’t sell Yuwol Gate’s inns, pleasure houses, and other properties. If we touched those, they’d trace it back to us.”

“I see.”

The truth might come out eventually, but there was no need to rush. Even if Diancang found out now, there wasn’t much they could do, so I didn’t need to worry about it.

I took two of the ten notes and handed them back to Haeryeong.

“ …?”

Haeryeong looked at me, puzzled.

“It’s a service fee. At some point, Haomun stopped charging me one.”

“Ah … that’s only because you’re a ‘guest’ of ours …”

“I’ve never heard of a guest getting that kind of consideration.”

“ …”

It was probably thanks to Haeryeong, Yang Gunbaek, and the others that I hadn’t been charged a service fee.

But relying on favors to do business was bound to cause trouble sooner or later.

“Take what you’re owed, and give me the best results you can. That’s all I want.”

Haeryeong studied my face for a while, then let out a long sigh.

“ …I really can’t get the better of you, Young Master. Are you sure?”

“If Haomun hadn’t helped with this, it would’ve taken much longer. And when someone works, they deserve to be paid.”

“Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”

Haeryeong carefully stacked the two notes and tucked them away.

“Now that I’ve received this gift from you, my own gift will seem rather underwhelming.”

She gestured, though I had no idea what she meant. A maid came over carrying a wooden tray.

On it lay a withered root with nine tendrils and a booklet so fragile it looked like it would crumble at the slightest touch.

It hardly looked like a gift …

“What are these?”

“They came from the sect leader of Yuwol Gate’s hidden vault.”

“His hidden vault?”

The storehouse alone had contained a fortune. What could have been in the hidden vault?

“Have you ever heard of the Nine-Spirit Divine Herb?”

As soon as I heard the name, my gaze shifted to the withered root.

“Th-this is the Nine-Spirit Divine Herb?”

A wondrous elixir said to contain the spiritual essence of the world in its nine tendrils.

Its medicinal properties were so potent that even a seasoned expert with considerable internal energy could have their organs melt away if they took it improperly. It was an extraordinary elixir.

“He probably knew he couldn’t absorb it himself and planned to offer it up.”

As I wondered how much my internal energy might increase if I consumed it, Haeryeong continued.

“The other item is the Blood Jade Hand.”

My gaze had been fixed on the Nine-Spirit Divine Herb, but I quickly turned to Haeryeong.

“The Blood Jade Hand … is it the one I know?”

Haeryeong nodded instead of answering.

The Blood Jade Hand was one of the Ten Great Forbidden Arts designated by the Martial Alliance.

“They probably used this to spread rumors that they were connected to the Demonic Cult.”

As I listened, it all began to make sense.

No matter what they did or what suspicions they aroused, they must have thought they could overturn them all at once by throwing the Blood Jade Hand at someone in the end.

“If you hadn’t been there, Young Master Jin, everything would have gone according to Diancang and Yuwol Gate’s plans.”

“ …I’m glad it didn’t.”

Even as I spoke, I couldn’t shake the bitter taste in my mouth.

Those who cried out for “cleansing demons and destroying evil” at the forefront of the Martial Alliance had let their greed carry them beyond the righteous path. That was hardly pleasant news for someone who had once risked his life for “justice.”

“This is a small gift from me.”

Looking at Haeryeong as she offered me the tray, I asked, “If this came from a hidden vault, you didn’t have to tell me about it.”

Even as a guest, Haomun had no obligation to reveal everything.

“Of course, there was also a ledger listing the high-ranking officials Yuwol Gate had bribed over the years. We thought it would be more useful to us, so we kept it.”

“No, I meant …”

“Young Master.”

Haeryeong spoke firmly.

“We’re an information agency that buys and sells information, as well as an institution that analyzes it. And according to our analysis, this is the moment when your value is at its lowest.”

“ …”

“We value you far more than you realize, Young Master.”

Haeryeong’s eyes held a strong conviction.

Caught off guard by what she’d said, I had no answer. I could only swallow.

“So, if you feel uncomfortable accepting it, just think of it as a little friend fee.”

At her words, a smile spread across my face before I knew it.

“Did you hear about Yang Gunbaek?”

“I scolded him severely. I asked him if that was all it took to make a friend.”

“Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”

I carefully tucked the Nine-Spirit Divine Herb and the Blood Jade Hand away.

Haeryeong watched me with the same look a mother might wear while watching food go into her child’s mouth.

I felt a little awkward, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Who do you think will end up controlling Yueyang?”

Yueyang’s seat of power was vacant.

The reason the heretical factions and the righteous factions were fighting so fiercely was to decide who would take control of Yueyang.

“I think the heretical factions, including Mukhyul Gang and Cheukbu Palace, will end up ruling Yueyang.”

“ …”

So she thought the same.

The righteous sects, including Diancang, had lost the trust of the martial world in this incident.

The sects that had followed Diancang would surely be less influenced by them for some time.

In the end, those who couldn’t unite because they were too busy watching one another would no longer be able to boast the same strength as before.

And for anyone among the righteous factions, Diancang included, to seize Yueyang again, they would have to pay an enormous price in blood.

“Is there no room for Haomun to take a place in that power vacuum?”

“What?”

Haeryeong’s eyes widened, and she blinked repeatedly. She looked as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard.

“The dark faction will want a piece of the pie, and Diancang will try to keep its influence. Couldn’t Haomun slip in between them?”

“ …As you know, we can’t show ourselves openly.”

“Then extend your influence in secret.”

“ …”

She looked utterly baffled.

Since we had such a good relationship, perhaps I could give her a gift of my own.

“How about the position of Yueyang Branch Leader?”

“What?”

“The current Yueyang Branch Leader will probably be transferred soon. And by custom, the successor is often someone recommended by the previous branch leader.”

“That … is true. But I hadn’t heard that the Yueyang Branch Leader was being transferred. Do you know where someone of his standing is going?”

“He’ll be assigned to Taeul Sect as a dispatch official.”

“What?”

Haeryeong had never once let her graceful composure falter. Now her mouth hung open, and she couldn’t take her eyes off me.

‘Is that really so surprising?’

Haeryeong’s reaction stung a little.