Chapter 323 – Responding from Within and Shaking from Without (2)

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The martial artists of the Chenghuo Merchant Group handed over all their weapons at the main gate checkpoint just before entering the Martial Alliance.

All martial artists who weren’t affiliated with the Martial Alliance had to hand over their weapons to enter inside. Just like Wudang Sect’s Sword Disarming Grounds.

Though some people were dissatisfied with this, most handed over their weapons without a single complaint. And they retrieved them when leaving.

There were no exceptions to this. Even Vice Leader Lim Oh-yeon of the Chenghuo Merchant Group handed over the sword he had brought. Thus, the martial artists and workers of the Chenghuo Merchant Group entered the Martial Alliance without a single weapon.

“Welcome.”

The one who greeted Won Seol-hwa and Lim Oh-yeon was a man in his mid-fifties. He had an appearance that looked strict at a glance and possessed sharp eyes.

He was Go Seung-cheon, the Finance Hall Master who handled the Martial Alliance’s finances. Go Seung-cheon was strong with numbers and astute with finances. Also, his work handling was as decisive as a knife, earning him much trust. The fact that there had not been a single deficit since he took charge of the Martial Alliance’s finances proved how outstanding a person he was.

Most transactions that occurred in the Martial Alliance went through his hands. When he approved something, even Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san wouldn’t check it.

“We greet Hall Master Go.”

“It’s been a while, Hero Go!”

Won Seol-hwa and Lim Oh-yeon cupped their fists toward Go Seung-cheon. Their attitude was very respectful. It had to be. If they offended Go Seung-cheon’s mood here, their relationship with the Martial Alliance could go wrong.

Lim Oh-yeon said to Go Seung-cheon.

“We’ve brought the goods you ordered from the Martial Alliance.”

Behind him, numerous carts and martial artists stood in rows. The carts were loaded full of boxes.

When Go Seung-cheon looked, Lim Oh-yeon smiled.

“Two thousand swords and sabers. All are the finest goods.”

“May I inspect them?”

“Of course. You should naturally inspect them personally.”

Go Seung-cheon opened the boxes loaded on the carts. Then he saw sabers and swords filling the boxes.

He took out one and caressed it, then flicked it with his finger.

Ting!

A clear and light metallic sound echoed through the air.

Go Seung-cheon closed his eyes tightly and savored the metallic sound. To him, the metallic sound sounded like music.

“Excellent!”

Admiration naturally flowed out.

Though he was in charge of the Finance Hall, he too was a martial artist who had learned martial arts to a considerable level. Just by hearing the metallic sound, he could tell what level the weapon’s completeness was.

Go Seung-cheon randomly took out several swords and sabers from different carts. And he gauged their completeness in the same way.

A satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

“As expected of the Chenghuo Merchant Group. The completeness is very good.”

“As you know well, our merchant group doesn’t handle anything but the finest goods. Especially for transactions with the Martial Alliance, we have no choice but to pay even more attention.”

“Good! I’ll purchase the entire amount.”

“Thank you, Hero Go.”

Go Seung-cheon beckoned his subordinate.

“Move all the weapons the Chenghuo Merchant Group brought to the warehouse.”

“Yes!”

With the answer, the Martial Alliance’s martial artists began moving busily. They received the weapons from the Chenghuo Merchant Group’s martial artists and moved them to the warehouse.

Go Seung-cheon, who had been watching this for a moment, said to Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa:

“You two come with me. I’ll settle the payment.”

“Understood.”

“Yes!”

Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa moved their steps following Go Seung-cheon deep into the Martial Alliance. As they went inside, a large training ground appeared and numerous martial artists training in martial arts were visible.

The sight of hundreds of martial artists refining martial arts in one place was spectacular.

Even the motion of extending an arm or swinging a foot contained power. Even at a glance, they far exceeded the general level.

Lim Oh-yeon exclaimed in admiration.

“Ha! This is truly amazing. To think ordinary alliance members have this level of skill. No matter how much the Demon Cult shows its might, it would be no different from a child before the Martial Alliance.”

“We’re still far from it. We must become stronger and more trained. Only then can we definitely drive the Demon Cult’s rabble from this world.”

Go Seung-cheon answered with an expressionless face. But he couldn’t hide his pride.

Over the past three years, the Martial Alliance’s martial artists had become much stronger.

The leadership had stepped forward to train them, and the lower-level martial artists also trained with all their might. As a result, the Martial Alliance’s martial artists gained skills that didn’t fall behind any martial artists in the martial world.

“Here we are.”

Go Seung-cheon stopped in front of a small pavilion.

On the pavilion’s signboard was written the three characters “Finance Hall.” In this small place, the tremendous task of overseeing the Martial Alliance’s finances was being accomplished.

Go Seung-cheon moved his steps first, and Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa followed behind.

Won Seol-hwa spoke to Lim Oh-yeon with an impressed expression.

“It’s amazing. I can feel the Martial Alliance’s solid atmosphere directly.”

“Most prestigious sects have this kind of atmosphere.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“Then compared to our Chenghuo Merchant Group?”

At Won Seol-hwa’s words, Lim Oh-yeon stopped walking for a moment. Lim Oh-yeon, who wore a thoughtful expression briefly, smiled with unknown meaning. Then a subtle smile also appeared on Won Seol-hwa’s lips.

“Let’s go inside. We can rest well after quickly handling the business. To do big things, sufficient rest is always necessary.”

“Yes!”

Won Seol-hwa answered respectfully.

Lim Oh-yeon was more than a dear uncle to her. It wasn’t simply the relationship between the merchant group leader’s daughter and vice leader. They had a bond beyond that.

Interest appeared on the faces of the two people who entered Go Seung-cheon’s room. It was because another person had already entered Go Seung-cheon’s room.

Go Seung-cheon hurriedly cupped his fists toward him.

“Military Advisor.”

“Haha! I’m sorry, Hall Master Go.”

“Not at all. Rather, what brings the Military Advisor here?”

A puzzled expression appeared on Go Seung-cheon’s face. It was because the one who had entered his room without permission was Military Advisor Namgung Chang.

Namgung Chang said with an apologetic expression:

“I have something important to discuss with those two, so I came like this. Could you leave for a moment, Hall Master Go?”

“Of course.”

Go Seung-cheon bowed politely and withdrew.

When he left, Namgung Chang apologized to Won Seol-hwa and Lim Oh-yeon.

“I’m sorry. You must have been surprised that I came so suddenly like this. I’m Namgung Chang, the Martial Alliance’s Military Advisor.”

“Not at all. I’m Lim Oh-yeon, the vice leader of the Chenghuo Merchant Group. And this is my niece Won Seol-hwa.”

“Won Seol-hwa greets the Martial Alliance’s Military Advisor Namgung.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hero Lim and Miss Won.”

Namgung Chang smiled gently.

Having performed the Martial Alliance’s military advisor position for a long time, even his smile carried weight. The pressure Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa felt was considerable.

Namgung Chang said to them whose expressions had stiffened:

“Now, now, instead of standing like this, please sit down. It’s not proper etiquette to keep people who have traveled far standing like this.”

“Thank you.”

“Mm!”

Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa sat in the seats Namgung Chang offered. Only after they sat did Namgung Chang also sit in his seat. He was naturally leading the atmosphere.

‘Namgung Chang. Befitting the man who established the Martial Alliance’s foundation, he’s no ordinary person.’

A light of vigilance momentarily appeared in Lim Oh-yeon’s eyes. But that was only brief, and soon his eyes became gentle.

“It’s an honor to meet the Martial Alliance’s Military Advisor like this.”

“I’ve wanted to meet Hero Lim for a long time.”

“Me?”

“That’s right. Aren’t you the legendary person who raised today’s Chenghuo Merchant Group together with Hero Won Hoe-sang? I wanted to talk comfortably at least once and receive advice.”

“What advice? Everything was done by our merchant group leader, I’ve done almost nothing.”

“You don’t need to be so modest. There’s no one who doesn’t know how great a contribution Hero Lim made in the process of the Chenghuo Merchant Group growing.”

“My goodness!”

Lim Oh-yeon smiled awkwardly. At such an appearance of Lim Oh-yeon, Namgung Chang’s smile deepened.

The two men exchanged many stories for quite a while. Won Seol-hwa had no choice but to quietly listen to their conversation from the side. It was because there was no place for Won Seol-hwa to insert herself in their conversation filled with experience.

A simple drinking table came in midway, so the conversation inevitably lengthened. The two men’s conversation that continued like this ended late at night.

“Then I’ll ask this of you.”

“I’ll speak well to the merchant group leader.”

“If it’s Hero Lim’s words, Hero Won won’t refuse either. Then I’ll trust only Hero Lim. Hahaha!”

Namgung Chang exited with a big laugh. Lim Oh-yeon also watched him with a smile. But his smile disappeared like a lie the moment Namgung Chang’s figure vanished.

“Namgung Chang.”

“Uncle.”

Won Seol-hwa, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth. Then Lim Oh-yeon’s gaze turned toward her.

“Isn’t he truly someone with a good head? To think of such a trick to draw in our merchant group.”

“It seems so.”

“Hehe!”

Lim Oh-yeon laughed heartily.

Though he spoke in roundabout ways for a very long time, Namgung Chang’s request was very simple.

He wanted to welcome Won Hoe-sang, the owner of the Chenghuo Merchant Group, as an elder of the Martial Alliance. Since he was the owner of a giant merchant group like the Chenghuo Merchant Group, he naturally had the qualifications to become an elder of the Martial Alliance, and he had the duty to contribute his strength to protect the martial world’s well-being.

Namgung Chang spoke such a simple story very lengthily and elaborately. He had something to ask but didn’t want to hurt his pride. So it was rhetoric that spoke very elaborately to completely daze the opponent and make them bow and enter on their own.

Of course, Lim Oh-yeon wasn’t an easy opponent to fall for such rhetoric. Nevertheless, Lim Oh-yeon showed an attitude of listening to Namgung Chang’s words.

“If the merchant group leader becomes an elder of the Martial Alliance, naturally the Chenghuo Merchant Group will have no choice but to increase support. It’s really trying to achieve something without lifting a finger.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I’m so dumbfounded I can’t speak.”

“Yet he doesn’t want to hurt his pride, so he speaks in roundabout ways. What a tiresome type.”

Lim Oh-yeon clicked his tongue. Won Seol-hwa also nodded, agreeing with his opinion.

For a moment, Lim Oh-yeon’s eyes changed.

His eyes that changed sharply like a blade and his cold gaze were eerily chilling. But Won Seol-hwa wasn’t surprised even seeing such a change in Lim Oh-yeon.

This was Lim Oh-yeon’s true appearance.

Though he was known to the world by the nickname Cloud-Breaking Sword, that didn’t express even half of Lim Oh-yeon’s actual fearsome nature. Lim Oh-yeon was a martial artist whom even his father-in-law Won Hoe-sang acknowledged.

There was a good reason why Won Hoe-sang had sent Lim Oh-yeon to this place today. Knowing this fact, Won Seol-hwa remained quietly silent instead of stepping forward.

Shortly after, Finance Hall Master Go Seung-cheon entered.

He paid Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa the payment for today’s weapons with a promissory note. After all transactions were completed, the two were guided to their lodging.

The lodging they were assigned was the Guest Hall belonging to the Finance Hall. Located near the Finance Hall’s warehouse, the Guest Hall was surrounded by tall walls, making it free from external gazes.

Lim Oh-yeon and Won Seol-hwa looked around inside the Guest Hall.

“Good!”

“It’s good.”

The two muttered almost simultaneously. They looked at each other’s faces and smiled.

***

The night at Dongting Lake was splendid.

Red lanterns hung on the streets by the lakeside, and countless people came and went. Dongting Lake illuminated by red lanterns was beautiful like a painting.

Many people became drunk on alcohol, drunk on excitement, and drunk on the picturesque scenery. But there was no feast that didn’t end, and no matter how splendid the night, it wasn’t eternal.

When dawn approached, the people who had filled the streets all went home and were no longer visible. The streets of Dongting Lake where signs of people had disappeared were extremely desolate.

Creeeak!

Then a strange noise echoed across Dongting Lake. It was a sound coming from the World’s Number One Ship anchored at Dongting Lake’s shore.

Suddenly the ship’s hull wall opened and a wooden stairway descended. Immediately after, martial artists wearing black martial robes began descending one by one.

The martial artists who landed on the dock without a sound moved toward the pier.

The first target was the Martial Alliance’s surveillance post at the dock. The Martial Alliance’s martial artists standing watch were dozing off.

The martial artists in black robes eliminated them first.

Slash!

A sharply whetted dagger cut across their throats. The Martial Alliance’s martial artists couldn’t even scream and died just like that.

The martial artists who had eliminated all the watchers gestured. Then large-scale forces began descending in earnest from the World’s Number One Ship. Their number exceeded five hundred.

At their head was a tall man who appeared to be in his late forties. A massive frame reminiscent of an iron tower and a solid appearance. And even a murderous overwhelming presence. The tall man’s overwhelming presence filled the dock.

The tall man, who had been looking around briefly, fixed his gaze on the Martial Alliance visible above the hill.

“Martial Alliance.”

His voice looking at the massive pavilion complex was full of killing intent.

His name was Muk Cheon-gang, the pavilion master of the Golden Demon Pavilion. The Golden Demon Pavilion was one of the pillars of the Inner Garden, which could be called the Demon Cult’s true elite.

The corners of Muk Cheon-gang’s mouth curled up.

“A splendid feast will open.”