Pay‑to‑Win King of Martial Arts (Novel) - Chapter 205 - Departure (1)

Chapter 205 – Departure (1)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Alliance Leader, I think of it this way. If a nation is a person, then the people are like flesh.”

“Is that so.”

“Naturally, flesh is necessary to a person. Without flesh, what remains is a skeleton, is it not? No more than a dead human being.”

“That is correct.”

“But the Central Plains right now carry too much flesh. And what happens when there is too much flesh? A person becomes sluggish in his movements, his health worsens, and if it becomes severe enough, he can no longer even support his own body.”

“You speak truly. I think exactly the same. If control is to be easy, then the number of people being controlled must be reduced.”

“That is what righteousness means. Suppose there is a sinking ship. If throwing off just five people can save a hundred, would you refuse to throw them off? Would you say that everyone should die instead, so that the five lives are not wronged? A leader ought to know how to think of such things.”

The voice from behind the blackout screen was rising higher and higher with excitement. Su Je-heon nodded along as he sipped his tea.

“In any case, what I’m saying is that I am quite pleased with the plan you devised.”

“Your praise leaves me overwhelmed.”

Su Je-heon bowed his head.

It was the moment the Flooding Operation was formally approved.

* * *

In the end, all the people of the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and the Martial Alliance gathered in the attic.

Since all were renowned masters of the jianghu, many of them already knew each other by face, and it took half a shichen just for them to exchange greetings. At first they had all been watching one another warily and staying on guard, but once they actually met, individuals exchanged surprisingly informal greetings. It seemed that organizational purpose and personal feelings truly moved separately.

“Now then, let’s begin.”

Since they showed no sign at all of finishing if they kept going from greetings into inquiries after one another’s health, Su Je-heon clapped his hands.

Regretfully unable to continue the pleasantries, the others each took their seats.

Though Su Je-heon was the one bringing order to things, I was the one who would actually speak. And I had no intention of dragging it out.

“The plan is simple. You will move through the Zhoushan Archipelago aboard Radiant Crystal Merchant Company trading ships and search for Longyuan.”

“Simple enough.”

“From here onward it gets more difficult. Have you all confirmed the regulations that were promulgated regarding maritime trade?”

At my words, everyone simply stared blankly at one another’s faces. Apparently no one had checked. Well, since they were martial artists, there was no reason they would have.

“To conduct maritime trade, several conditions must first be met. The first is the accompaniment of martial artists.”

“Then doesn’t that mean there is no need to disguise ourselves as merchant company members? Couldn’t we simply go as martial artists?”

“No. A limit was placed on the number of martial artists. At most, only half the number of merchant company members aboard is permitted.”

Several people still did not seem quite to understand, so I added further explanation.

“So if there are thirty merchants aboard the trading vessel, then only fifteen martial artists can be taken.”

“Ah. I see.”

“At present we number exactly forty-five. That’s because the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and the Martial Alliance each sent three. That means that thirty people must disguise themselves as merchant company members, and fifteen must disguise themselves as martial escorts.” “Disguise ourselves as martial escorts? We are martial artists already, so what exactly is there to disguise?”

“The imperial court is sensitive about the sea. Before the ship departs, officials will be attached to the vessel and record the personal details of all crew members. If someone is a merchant, they will write down which merchant company he belongs to. If he is a martial artist, they will write down which sect or family he belongs to. No matter how thick-skinned an official might be, if all the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and the Martial Alliance are attached to one trading ship, he will obviously find it suspicious.”

“That is true.”

The others accepted my explanation. At this point, it was far too late for them not to.

“So in the end, it means that even the martial escorts must be disguised under other identities. Do you understand?”

“I do. Then in the end we’ll have to divide ourselves between those who dress as escorts and those who dress as merchants.”

“Exactly.”

In that instant, I watched the glances rapidly being exchanged. The Martial Alliance was internally fractured right now. Naturally, in times like this, people would want to stay with those on their own side.

One by one the forces began getting tangled together while reading each other’s intentions. I let them do as they pleased. Let them form their sides on their own.

And an interesting result emerged. The anti-Martial Alliance Leader side, including the Namgung Clan, held the greater numbers. On the Martial Alliance’s side stood the Zhuge Clan, the Mount Hua Sect, and the Martial Alliance itself. The fact that the Mount Hua Sect had aligned with the Martial Alliance was somewhat unexpected.

In any case, this was the clear balance of power in the current martial world. At this point, it felt as though the Martial Alliance Leader’s removal was only a matter of time.

When the numbers became too lopsided, the Mount Chang Sect and Shaolin moved over to the Martial Alliance side.

“The result is clear now.”

I said that aloud.

The Martial Alliance side would disguise themselves as escorts, and the Namgung Clan side would disguise themselves as merchants. As for me, being the head of the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company, there was no need to say which side I belonged to.

“But does the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company already have merchant vessels of its own?” Someone raised a hand and asked. It was Peng Su-yeol, an elder of the Hebei Peng Clan. Beside him sat Peng Chae-hyang with decorous posture.

“To be exact, they aren’t ours. We borrowed them through cooperation with a merchant association in Zhejiang and merchants in Guangdong.”

“You’ve already arranged all that?”

“Of course. Isn’t that exactly why I was given a month of time?”

People clicked their tongues in amazement. As people who themselves managed organizations, they knew all too well that such cooperation sounded simple in words but was in truth extremely difficult.

When I clapped my hands, laborers entered carrying chests. The martial artists’ eyes widened at the sudden arrival of these laborers.

When the chests were opened, exclamations broke from the people’s mouths. Inside were prepared sets of the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company’s clothing.

“We made one hundred sets to begin with. Each of you may take two.”

“You prepared this thoroughly.”

“We also prepared human-skin masks, in case there are people who might recognize you.”

“…Thorough indeed.”

Even Su Je-heon seemed blank for a moment, as though he had not expected me to prepare things to this extent.

There was a reason I had come here a full month earlier. After arriving in Hangzhou, I had not wasted even a single day, not even a single shichen.

“I thought there’d be a lot to do once we got here, but there’s nothing.”

People laughed awkwardly. Naturally there was nothing to do. I had already done everything.

“From this point on, those of you disguising yourselves as martial escorts are members of Black Dragon Gate. If you remember only that, it will suffice. All the paperwork has already been prepared as well.” “Black Dragon Gate? Was there ever such a sect?”

“Yes. It’s a sect in Hubei. I happen to have personal ties there, so they lent me their registration.”

For this, I had even exchanged letters for the first time in a long while with Mun Il-ji, the sect leader of Black Dragon Gate.

I cast a subtle glance toward the Zhuge Clan. People outside Hubei naturally wouldn’t know Black Dragon Gate, but the Zhuge Clan might.

But Zhuge Gyeom and the others of the Zhuge Clan looked as though they had never heard of it. Well, clan heads and elder-level figures had no reason to pay attention to some back-alley black-path faction.

Thus, for the time being, Black Dragon Gate became the greatest unorthodox faction in history.

“Preparation is complete. Now all that remains is obtaining the officials’ permission.”

“You really do handle things cleanly.”

The others followed me with admiration. Of course, the Zhuge Clan, having already soured their relationship with me, simply remained silent in the rear.

Each person changed into the clothing and donned the human-skin masks. I led them toward the Maritime Trade Office.

The Maritime Trade Office was the government office that managed maritime trade. The others were whispering in confusion, as though they had not expected things to progress this quickly. No matter how strong their martial arts were, the sea remained a place of fear. It was the result of the imperial court’s long effort in strictly separating the common people from the sea.

“From this point on, please refrain from speaking unless absolutely necessary. I will handle the officials.”

At my words, everyone nodded with solemn expressions.

Judging by the looks on their faces as they entered the government office, I doubted any of them would have spoken much even without my warning. Martial artists naturally tended to dislike dealing with officials.

When we entered the Maritime Trade Office, the atmosphere felt strangely quiet. An unnatural quietness.

As I walked into the building, I looked over the expressions of the people going about inside. Every one of them was frozen tight with tension.

And I was able to learn the reason for that tension immediately. “Head Muk. It has been a while.”

“…Northern Suppression Commissioner?”

Astonishingly, standing inside the Maritime Trade Office was none other than Baek Yu-gyeom, Northern Suppression Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In that instant I glanced behind me. It was a good thing I had prepared the human-skin masks just in case. Since a Northern Suppression Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would naturally recognize the faces of the major figures from each sect and family.

Fortunately, everyone had their human-skin masks on properly, and Baek Yu-gyeom did not seem to have noticed anything.

“What brings the Northern Suppression Commissioner here?”

“Why else would a petty official like me be here? I came because the people above me told me to.”

“I see.”

“It seems the Embroidered Uniform Guard will likely continue to inspect maritime trade personnel from here on. This time, since it’s the first maritime expedition, even His Majesty is taking an interest, which is why I myself came.”

“Ah.”

When I had spoken to the Emperor about lifting the sea-ban order, I had mentioned the accompaniment of martial artists and inspection by officials.

Apparently, since the authorities now had to inspect even martial artists, they had put the Embroidered Uniform Guard in charge of the task. It made sense, but it was an inconvenient level of involvement.

I asked lightly, just in case.

“Then perhaps there will also be an official accompanying us at sea…”

“Heh. Why bother asking? It will be me.”

Baek Yu-gyeom laughed heartily. What the imperial court was worried about was the possibility of collusion with anti-imperial forces while at sea. To prevent that, they needed to place an official on board as well.

I had assumed it would be some Maritime Trade Office bureaucrat ignorant of martial affairs. If an Embroidered Uniform Guard Northern Suppression Commissioner came aboard instead, then part of my plan would go slightly awry.

In fact, the martial artists, now knowing who he was, were all showing small signs of discomfort.

Since it has come to this, would it not be better to just tell him we’re searching for one of the Eighteen Famous Swords and ask for cooperation?

When I glanced back, Namgung Ik was looking at me and sending voice transmission.

The Namgung Clan maintained good relations with the imperial court. So naturally, they found the act of lying to the imperial court distasteful.

And lying to a Northern Suppression Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard probably felt especially risky.

But if we did that, there was also the chance the imperial court would begin to covet one of the Eighteen Famous Swords. For now, I thought it best to keep observing.

“Then I look forward to your support.”

“I’ve only gone back and forth along the Yangtze and the canal myself, so this will be my first time going out to sea. I’m a bit tense. You’ve prepared all the paperwork, yes?”

“Yes.”

I immediately handed over the personal records fabricated under false identities. Baek Yu-gyeom did not even bother making an effort to inspect them and simply handed them to a Maritime Trade Office official.

“Your handling of matters has always been reliable. There’s no need for me to inspect them.”

“Thank you.”

I could feel the martial artists’ gazes on me.

What they were thinking was obvious: What are you, to be on familiar terms with a Northern Suppression Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? But this was hardly the place where I could reveal that I was the secret Investigating Censor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

“Ah, and there is one thing His Majesty mentioned personally. Before going out to sea, you are to conduct a sacrifice to the sea gods.”

“A sacrifice.”

A sacrifice. It was not a factor that particularly bothered me. When a major trading expedition set out, many merchant companies customarily held sacrificial rites anyway.

And in any case, there were still many martial artists who were not mentally prepared to go straight out to sea. If a sacrifice could calm their unease and provide even a superstitious form of faith, it would be more help than harm.

“We’ll make the preparations.”

“No need. The Maritime Trade Office officials already prepared the sacrifice. Since they’re all locals here, they prepared it according to the proper custom.”

“That’s welcome news.”

“Come along.”

Baek Yu-gyeom led us to the place where the sacrifice had been prepared. He said it had been arranged in the open ground behind the Maritime Trade Office complex.

And when we entered that open ground, all of us martial artists, myself included, froze.

A high altar stacked into tiers.

Carvings of grotesque shapes.

Pigs, cattle, and sheep tied to posts.

Long poles with their tips burning.

A wide cordon of sacred rope encircling the whole place. At the bizarre sight, a cold shiver seemed to rise up from my spine.