Sichuan's Mad Dragon (Novel) - Chapter 102 - Fair Trade

Chapter 102 – Fair Trade

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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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How dare some riffraff barge into a Zhuge Family event and make a scene?

Zhuge Xian watched the absurd spectacle with scornful amusement, moved neither to anger nor alarm.

Then his expression froze in an instant. His gaze was fixed on a single object.

Something silver in the hand of the man in green.

“Oh my, that’s…”

Zhuge Xian rubbed his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it and focused again.

Then, with his gaze still fixed, he stretched out an arm and urgently tapped Murong Yeon.

“Hey, Yeon. Pull the warriors back and bring that clown… no, that gentleman… here at once.”

Murong Yeon asked no questions; she merely bowed her head and dashed forward immediately.

Song-un tilted his head curiously and asked.

“Taoist friend Zhuge, what is that person holding that has you so agitated? It looks like an ordinary ceremonial dagger to me.”

Zhuge Xian furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“Even so, you should at least be able to recognize a major sect’s gratitude token, Taoist. How can you be so ignorant of worldly matters?”

“Hm?”

Only then did Song-un scratch his head and enhance his vision.

A dazzling silver blade, about palm-sized.

Not a jangdo meaning a long saber, but a jangdo meaning a grooming knife.

Among them, a ceremonial blade that bhikkhunis used to trim their robe hems or shave their heads.

The reason he could tell it was a ceremonial blade was that, luxuriously, all seven treasures spoken of in Buddhism… the chilbo… were visible on the sheath.

The body was silver, with gold inlay. Crystal, agate, coral, pearls, and such were set in a row, emitting brilliant light.

It was unmistakably a gratitude token from a large Buddhist sect.

‘It’s not Shaolin, at least.’

Song-un knew the appearance of Shaolin’s gratitude token, which was quite famous.

“Senior Brother, that was issued by Emei Mountain.”

Song-jin explained quietly from beside him.

“I heard the sect leader recently passed away… There are whispers that it was suicide, and in any case, it seems various complicated circumstances were entangled. Perhaps that young man is the very person deeply involved in those affairs.”

“Hmm… In any case, just from what I can see, he’s no ordinary person.”

While saying so and scratching the side of his head, a strange light glinted in Song-un’s brow.

A faint blue glow leaked from his brow for a moment.

Seeing this, Song-jin flinched in surprise and lightly poked Song-un’s side.

“Senior Brother, please refrain in public. Don’t walk around with a light lit on your brow.”

“Ah, right. My, my. I just keep it lit all the time inside the mountain.”

Song-un sheepishly rubbed his brow.

* * *

Murong Yeon rushed down the hill using her movement technique and stopped the Zhuge warriors.

She gave Ju-seong a brief bow and spoke.

“I am Murong Yeon, personal guard of Young Master Zhuge Xian, eldest son of the Zhuge Family.”

It was quite a plain introduction… she didn’t particularly aggrandize her master.

She was undoubtedly a trusted, long-serving guard.

Ju-seong glared at the warriors who had backed off after grabbing his sleeves, then dusted off his collar with a tap.

“Count yourselves lucky.”

The warriors snickered at Ju-seong’s bluster.

Ju-seong twisted his lips sideways and whispered quietly to Chun-mong.

“They really look down on me.”

[…Because you’re presenting a ridiculous figure. By the way, can’t you use voice transmission?]

“Red Beggar can’t either.”

[That’s right. He says he hates it because it’s lowly and effeminate… what he calls ‘base man speech.’ I begged him and barely managed to teach it to him just in case.]

“Teach me too. I want to use it.”

And so, during the short walk up the hill, Chun-mong roughly explained the principles of voice transmission to Ju-seong.

By the time they were close enough to count the hairs on Zhuge Xian’s eyebrows, Ju-seong could now use voice transmission.

[Hello, Young Master Zhuge Xian.]

While reviewing the principles of his newly acquired skill, Ju-seong inadvertently greeted Zhuge Xian via voice transmission.

Gazes as if looking at a madman stabbed him from head to toe.

Zhuge Xian, in particular, paused the hand fanning his white fan for a moment, clearly taken aback.

Ju-seong realized his mistake and nonchalantly raised a cupped-fist salute to greet him.

“Hello, Young Master Zhuge Xian. I am Ju-seong, from the land of Sichuan. I am the fellow disciple of Physician Seo-baek, known as Sichuan’s Foremost, and someone who has formed a deep bond with Emei Mountain.”

As he spoke, Ju-seong casually revealed the Emei gratitude token.

“May I examine it?”

When Zhuge Xian extended his hand, Ju-seong readily nodded and offered the ceremonial blade.

After meticulously appraising the blade, Zhuge Xian was certain it was indeed an Emei gratitude token.

Of course, there was a chance this man had stolen the token from someone else, but…

‘There is no one in jianghu who would harm an Emei benefactor and flaunt the evidence. More importantly, his manner doesn’t feel sinister.’

Zhuge Xian was confident that his eye for people was second to none.

He decided to provisionally trust this man’s identity and posed a question.

“For what purpose did Young Hero seek to enter a place where the Zhuge Family is conducting business? While the entire Wuhan plain is not ours, this hillock is certainly land purchased and prepared by the Zhuge Family.”

Ju-seong likewise disliked beating around the bush, so he got straight to the point.

“You’re searching for Li Bai’s treasure, aren’t you?”

At his words, the audience stirred at once.

The fact that Wudang and Zhuge were searching for Li Bai’s legacy was clearly classified information.

It was not something that should pop out of the mouth of someone from Sichuan.

But Zhuge Xian asked without a change in expression.

“That is a closely held secret… Rather, Young Hero’s identity seems even more certain now. I won’t immediately ask how you found out. You came here because you want something. I wish to know your intentions.”

“I possess a very crucial clue for finding Master Li Bai’s legacy. I have no interest in his martial arts or inheritance, so I intend to sell it.”

Ju-seong paused mid-answer and turned his head toward the black-robed Taoists.

“I wonder, are the heroes from Wudang Mountain not interested?”

Murong Yeon, standing beside Zhuge Xian, narrowed her brow and stepped forward.

“How dare you! How can you make offers to a third party on Zhuge Family land?”

An uninvited guest had barged in and was extending gifts to another uninvited guest already present. From the host’s standpoint, it was more than enough to be offended.

Ju-seong confronted her head-on.

“Is it not perfectly natural for someone trying to sell a good item to seek out whoever will pay more?”

Just as Murong Yeon was about to speak, a gloomy-looking Taoist of small stature stepped forward.

“Let’s at least hear what sort of item it is.”

“Ah, fine. Let me explain. By the way, everyone here is a strapping fellow with excellent bearing. As expected of Wudang, reverenced in the South…”

Murong Yeon cut in with indignation.

“Hear what?! Our meeting with the Wudang gentlemen has already concluded, so please withdraw!”

Then another Taoist interjected.

“Withdraw, you say? How can you say the meeting has concluded when nothing has been agreed upon?”

Another sleek-looking, somewhat vexing Taoist stroked his sparse beard and said.

“Hmm, to see a personal guard speak out so boldly ahead of her master… this poor Taoist is deeply moved. Today I’ve learned that the saying ‘The Zhuge are skilled in strategy but lacking in courage’ is all false.”

He was jabbing at the impertinence of Murong Yeon, a mere guard, stepping forward.

Zhuge Xian raised one hand and countered.

“Yeon is my proxy, so I, the master, have no objection to my guard speaking first.”

Amid the verbal spat, Ju-seong raised his voice like a merchant.

“If I may explain about this item, let me start with the incident where I was attacked by the Black Dragon Gang on the Yangtze…”

Just as the scene was devolving into chaos, an extraordinarily clear sound suddenly rang across the hill.

-Hwiiiii…

The crowd fell silent in an instant.

It was as if cold water had been poured over their heads… the hair on the back of one’s neck stood up and one’s vision seemed to clear.

‘Oh…’

Ju-seong rubbed the goosebumps on the back of his neck and felt inwardly impressed.

He had intended to set this chaotic stage to maximize his gains, but that one move had ruined his scheme.

For Ju-seong to play both sides against each other and drive up the map’s price, communication between Zhuge and Wudang had to break down.

Though his trick had been foiled, he wasn’t displeased.

‘I can’t believe I’m seeing that in person.’

The source of the sound was the pursed lips of the tan, cheerful-looking Taoist.

* * *

Xiaofa… whistling technique.

Originally, this was a Taoist cultivation method involving drawing power from the dantian to produce a whistle.

A form of cultivation meant to regulate the body and harmonize qi. From the start its efficacy was dubious and it was difficult to learn, so it was all but abandoned in jianghu.

However, if one properly mastered it and used it as a martial art, it became a form of sound attack.

If Buddhism had the Lion’s Roar, Taoism had the Whistling Technique.

‘They say when a Taoist at the immortal level whistles, a sound like a dragon’s roar bursts forth… He’s not quite a dragon yet, but more like a mystical serpent.’

Whether serpent or dragon, Ju-seong was deeply moved in his heart.

This was the true face of an orthodox Taoist!

Those sects that had nested on ancient sacred mountains… Mount Hua or Qingcheng and the like… had long since become steeped in the mundane, focused only on martial arts.

In present-day cultivators of those sects, such old techniques were hard to find.

‘Moreover, instead of simply amplifying power for coercion, he truly uses it to purify mind and body and cool an overheated atmosphere…’

It truly connected with the immortal arts the ancient Taoists wielded.

Ju-seong looked at the tan Taoist with favourable eyes and asked.

“And you are, Taoist?”

“I am Song-un, senior disciple of the Song generation of Wudang. A pleasure, Young Hero Ju-seong.”

“I should have introduced myself sooner but was too distracted. Please forgive my rudeness. I am Ju-seong from Sichuan.”

Ju-seong offered a cupped-fist salute…

Song-un stroked his chin as he studied Ju-seong, then spoke.

“A dragon has risen from the land of Sichuan.”

Ju-seong narrowed his eyes slightly.

That mysterious Taoist had undoubtedly seen through all of Ju-seong’s martial arts.

Ordinarily, even expert masters couldn’t instantly discern the level of Ju-seong’s martial arts.

The Flame Crow Six Stage Art itself was an old cultivation method that had passed through many hands, and thus it contained techniques for concealing one’s aura.

‘As expected, those fellows are different…’

While Ju-seong muttered to himself, Zhuge Xian stepped forward and asked.

“Now, Young Hero Ju-seong. Setting other matters aside, let’s hear about the clue you possess. Is it a physical object or information?”

“…Information contained within a physical object. That’s my assessment.”

“Since I see no bulge in your robes, it must be a small item, or a flat bamboo slip or wooden slip.”

“It’s a wooden slip.”

“In the form of a drawing or map? Or text?”

“Both. It’s a map with text on it.”

“If text, is it Bronze Script? Sanskrit? Or since it relates to Master Li Bai, perhaps Persian script?”

“It’s written in Persian.”

“…Hmm. The problem, then, is verifying the authenticity of that treasure map. Unless Young Hero Ju-seong can interpret the Persian and tell us only the relevant parts.”

“I don’t know Persian.”

“Also, the core of the item you possess is not the wooden slip itself, but the information contained within. Correct?”

Ju-seong nodded.

“That would be right.”

“Then there’s no need for Zhuge and Wudang to compete for it. Rather, our two factions could split the cost and share the information. Isn’t that right, Taoist Song-un?”

Song-un nodded.

“That makes sense.”

“This is what we call fair trade.”

In truth, neither Wudang nor Zhuge would stand by and let the other monopolize the information.

Trying to claim it alone would incur considerable expense… both financially and otherwise.

Rather than compete and escalate, it was more rational to pool resources and share.

The only one unhappy with this arrangement was Ju-seong alone.

Ju-seong looked at Zhuge Xian with a sullen expression, then sighed and opened his mouth.

“…From now on, I shouldn’t try petty tricks on the Zhuge family. Name your price.”

“Let’s say one catty of gold. Is that acceptable, Taoist Song-un?”

Song-un nodded again.

“Perfectly fine.”

Song-un was also sharp-minded, so he knew Zhuge Xian’s proposal was sound.

Zhuge Xian grinned and gestured to Murong Yeon. Song-un likewise rummaged through his robes and produced a draft note.

Draft notes were items typically handled by major factions or wealthy merchants. They were paper currency used when dealing in amounts too large to manage otherwise.

While Ju-seong curiously fingered the crisp, oil-treated paper, Murong Yeon appeared with a small chest and set it down before him with a thump.

“Now, the deal is done. Let’s have a look.”

Ju-seong handed over the wooden slip with a sulky face, and Zhuge Xian unrolled it.

He scanned the script written upon it and began to speak.

“Well… I’ve already memorized both the image and the text. If the Wudang gentlemen wish, I’ll hand over the slip. You might bring a scholar versed in Persian to interpret it later.”

Song-un picked at his ear as if annoyed and said.

“Where would we find a scholar who can interpret Tang-era Persian? Should we storm the Ministry of Rites or the Hanlin Academy? Just read it aloud here and now.”

“With nothing in return?”

When Zhuge Xian flashed a slightly crooked smile at Song-un…

“You wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed.”

Song-un sighed and walked forward.

Then he pulled out another draft note and handed it to Ju-seong, before taking two gold ingots from the chest Zhuge Xian had produced and tossing them to Murong Yeon.

He was paying a portion of the amount the Zhuge Family should have borne on Wudang’s behalf.

‘These Taoists seem clever but aren’t sharp about their accounting.’

Hadn’t they paid the same amount from the start? Then it was only fair to receive the information simultaneously.

In other words, Zhuge Xian had an obligation to share the map’s interpretation with Wudang immediately.

The Wudang Taoists didn’t seem to have considered this… their expressions were merely somewhat disgruntled, and they didn’t challenge Zhuge Xian on it.

‘He pockets gains as naturally as breathing. That isn’t fair trade at all.’

Ju-seong eyed the smugly grinning scholar with an unfriendly gaze.

‘If not for him, I could’ve gotten them to bid against each other and made more money.’

After all, he himself had just forfeited potential gains because of Zhuge Xian.

Whether or not he grumbled inwardly, Zhuge Xian spoke nonchalantly.

“First, let me read it aloud in Persian pronunciation. Hmm… Unnecessary leakage of information must be prevented, so I’ll withdraw the Zhuge warriors. Taoist Song-un, would you also ask your junior brothers to step back?”

“Understood. Jin, take the lads and step back.”

Zhuge Xian likewise patted Murong Yeon’s shoulder and sent her back.

Ju-seong read the room and stepped back along with the others, retreating more than ten zhang.

But he had Celestial Hearing, so he could hear everything Zhuge Xian recited.

Thus, only three people could hear what was written on the treasure map: Zhuge Xian, Song-un, and Ju-seong.

Zhuge Xian cleared his throat and said.

“Now I shall begin.”

Then a strange language, completely incomprehensible, poured from his lips.

It was as if he had suddenly become a different person… the intonation of Central Plains speech vanished entirely.

The sounds elongated strangely, sped up, and were filled with clicking tongues and rolling pronunciations.

Before anyone noticed, the setting sun was casting long shadows over all things.

Ju-seong listened to the flowing foreign sentences and felt his mind grow hazy.

It was almost like a spell, or a form of hypnosis. When he turned his dazed eyes to look at Zhuge Xian, even he had fallen into a trance, reciting the passage with unfocused eyes.

Ju-seong thought sluggishly.

‘This… is strange.’

The only one not entranced was Taoist Song-un.

But the situation didn’t seem dangerous to him… he merely stroked his chin and listened attentively.

And then…

The recitation… whether it was an incantation of ancient diviners or a scripture from a foreign cult… came to an end.

Soon, both Ju-seong and Zhuge Xian, who had been listening to the chant, came to their senses.

“Huh?”

They flinched at the sight spread before them.