Chapter 30

The Darkness of Hangzhou (2)

Cheon Muyang wore a smile.

It was a smile perfected back in his youth, when his name was infamous as a scoundrel—an expression optimized for a certain kind of arrogant dominance.

"A-ah, no...."

"If you can't handle this yourselves, then call your superior. You should hurry. Time is passing even now."

As he let irritation show on his face, they grew flustered.

"P-please, go on in."

"You should have done that from the start."

With no other choice, they opened the doors.

Cheon Muyang stepped inside.

"It's empty."

The interior of the pavilion was vacant.

Only one person sat at its center.

"Hm?"

"It has been a long time, Young Master Cheon Muyang."

He seemed to know Cheon Muyang.

"You know me?"

"Ah, with how busy you are with official matters, it wouldn't be strange if you don't remember me."

Cheon Muyang had frequented every fine place Hangzhou had to offer, so it wouldn't be odd for them to have crossed paths.

'Well, we must've met in passing.'

How many such people were there in Hangzhou?

There were even those who claimed a fleeting drinking acquaintance as a bond, and came to the family estate to squeeze money out of him even after Cheon Muyang became family head.

"You've changed so much that I almost didn't recognize you myself."

He wore a genial smile, yet the contempt filling his eyes was blatant.

"That's enough. Go on, introduce this place. Let's see just how impressive it is."

"Of course. Allow me to guide you. This way, please."

The pavilion was empty.

Only a staircase leading underground came into view.

"However, beyond this point, only you may proceed, Young Master."

With a firm tone, he denied Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak entry.

"...."

"What will you do?"

"Well, I suppose that will do."

"My lord!"

"Wait here."

Cheon Muyang smiled and shrugged.

"What could possibly happen down here?"

Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak had a hunch.

'Something big is going to happen.'

Unintended as it was, it sounded like a signal to prepare for the moment.

"So don't worry."

With that, only Cheon Muyang descended the stairs.

A new passage revealed itself.

It felt as though something was clawing at his five senses.

"Please follow only me. A formation has been laid here."

How long had they walked?

At the end of the formation, a space far larger than the empty pavilion above spread out before Cheon Muyang.

"A world apart, indeed."

"Compared to what's handled above, the value of the goods here is on an entirely different level."

On closer inspection, it looked like a prison—and at the same time, a display hall for the highest-grade merchandise.

Partitions divided the space into sections.

"These are the finest goods we handle."

Following the proud sweep of his hands, Cheon Muyang saw the merchandise—men and women, young and old alike.

There were children trembling in fear, and swordsmen who had closed their eyes as if resigned to fate.

"I'll need an explanation."

"Ah, of course."

He first pointed toward the section holding the children.

"Ah, as you might guess, these children are a type of medicinal ingredient required when cultivating certain 'special martial arts.'"

"Interesting."

Cheon Muyang laughed it off.

As if genuinely intrigued, he asked,

"Then does that mean I, too, can learn those special martial arts?"

The corner of the man's mouth lifted.

"Of course. As the Cheon Family's eldest young master, is there anything you couldn't do?"

"Good. What's next?"

"Ah, those are ghosts."

"Ghosts?"

"Yes. Disposable playthings, to be used and thrown away at will."

"They look like they've learned martial arts."

"Yes, yes. But there's no need for concern. They're completely restrained through Gu poison, and even brainwashed. They can't even choose death for themselves. They're dolls that die when told to."

"I see. They do seem quite useful."

"Yes, yes. Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? Sending toys like these is more than enough."

In other words, they were puppets stripped even of their souls.

'Could it be…?'

They felt similar to those who had attacked during the interrogation of the Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion.

If the Third Elder had ties to this place, there was a strong chance he had deployed them.

'So it really was the case.'

Cheon Muyang maintained his composure.

To an outsider, it looked exactly like a carefree scoundrel hiding his fear.

'As expected of a scoundrel. He'll be easy to suck dry down to the marrow.'

The man's thoughts were written all over his face.

Cheon Muyang did not miss the contempt lurking beneath that smile.

"Which product has caught your fancy?"

"All of them."

"Pardon?"

"I've decided I want to buy everything here."

"Ah, th-that is...."

"I'll pay whatever price you name, so sell everything here to me."

He was the one who grew flustered instead.

Buying all of this?

The notion struck him as nothing more than the foolish fancy of a carefree scoundrel.

"Why? Is it not possible?"

"Ah, th-that is…."

"Then call the owner of this place."

"...!"

"Call someone with the authority to decide."

The atmosphere shifted abruptly.

The childish, scoundrel-like smile had vanished without a trace.

"Y-young master, there are other guests here as well. Wouldn't this cause trouble…?"

"What? Other guests? Did the Third Elder come in person?"

"...!"

It was a probe.

Yet seeing his violently trembling eyes, Cheon Muyang gained unexpected information.

'So it really is the Elder Council.'

Unlike the silent Cheon Jungho, the Third Elder was someone who acted openly and aggressively.

'Cheon Jungho will hide behind the Third Elder to the very end.'

Cheon Jungho was one who never revealed himself.

Thus, to draw him out, the Third Elder had to be dealt with first.

'I need to strike down the Third Elder first.'

Feigning a knowing expression, Cheon Muyang casually cast bait his way.

"Then I suppose the Third Elder has already bought everything he wanted?"

"Ah! Y-yes, well… that's correct."

His gaze grew hazy.

Something felt unfamiliar.

'It's not just his appearance that's changed… What is this pressure I can't quite grasp?'

The last time he had seen Cheon Muyang, he had been dead drunk, clothes half undone, throwing money around.

'Is he really that same scoundrel?'

Doubt crept in.

The memory was vivid.

Yet the Cheon Muyang before him now was emitting a sharp, cutting presence, as if he were an entirely different person.

"Why hide things when we both know what's going on?"

"Ah…."

"That's enough. Call someone above you."

"Young master, no matter that you are the eldest young master, you cannot meet that person."

"So you're saying I lack the qualifications?"

"Regrettably, yes."

"Then it can't be helped."

"Pardon?"

Cheon Muyang let out a quiet chuckle.

"Did you think a scoundrel like me would just say 'I understand' and back down?"

Whooong!

Cheon Muyang drew Cheongwang and aimed it at the black dealer's neck.

"...What do you think you're doing? Surely you don't mean to threaten me?"

Yet he remained calm.

It seemed this was not the first time he had faced such a situation.

"Of course not."

Instead, Cheon Muyang brought Cheongwang to his own neck.

Shock filled the man's eyes.

This was clearly the first time he had seen something like this.

"W-what are you doing right now?!"

"By tomorrow morning, word will spread that the Cheon Family's eldest young master died here."

"...!"

"Then what do you think will happen to this place?"

"Don't joke around. Even for the eldest young master, you're crossing a line!"

"A joke?"

Cheon Muyang snorted.

He put force into Cheongwang.

Slice!

The skin split, and fresh blood flowed down.

"...!"

"Does this still look like a joke?"

He met Cheon Muyang's eyes.

And realized it.

'This isn't a bluff….'

He was serious.

Unable to advance or retreat, trembling in fear, the man understood this was now beyond his authority.

'What should I do?'

At that moment—

A voice arrived, saving him from his dilemma.

"Eldest Young Master, do not torment a blameless man."

"Lord of the Black Market!"

"Was it me you wished to meet?"

"That is correct."

"If you desire it so strongly, do I have any reason to refuse? I will meet you. Lead the way."

"Glad we can understand each other."

Only then did Cheon Muyang lower Cheongwang.

The wound left on the neck was vivid.

Seeing this, the man called the Lord of the Black Market turned and began walking away.

"Guide him."

"...T-this way, please."

"Hm."

"Ah, what would you prefer? Tea, or perhaps wine?"

"Tea will do."

"Very well."

The Lord of the Black Market's office was modest.

"For a man who controls Hangzhou's back alleys, this place is rather plain."

"I don't care much for extravagance."

"Then where does all the money you earn go?"

It was a question about who stood behind him.

He shook his head.

"You're impatient."

Trickle.

Instead, he filled the teacups.

"There's no need to rush."

"In that case."

Cheon Muyang gave a faint smile and lifted the steaming teacup.

A sharp, refreshing fragrance spread through his mouth.

Then, setting the cup down, Cheon Muyang asked the Lord of the Black Market,

"Just one question."

"Go on."

"Are you, too, a Ban-Cheon Ghost?"

A Ban-Cheon Ghost.

A ghost that cries out against the heavens.

In other words—were they standing in opposition to the Cheon Family?

"Well. I've no reason to make an enemy of the Cheon Family. What motive would a merchant like me have to move?"

"...."

"Money."

He smiled greedily.

Then, like a snake's cunning tongue, his words slithered forth with a sinister lilt.

"If the money you bring is greater than what they offer."

"...."

"Then our stance could always change."

Cheon Muyang smiled as well.

At a glance, it might have seemed as though the Lord of the Black Market was someone who moved purely for money.

But Cheon Muyang was not fooled.

'That's a lie.'

Though he spoke as if drenched in greed, the man's eyes were not tainted by avarice at all.

'It's not money.'

He was not someone who moved for money.

He was someone who moved for a cause.

'And that cause is probably....'

Whooong!

Cheongwang let out a faint hum.

It was the same sensation he had felt before, when facing someone who had mastered demonic arts.

'Dark Heaven ....'

The Demonic Cult.

'So that's it. The black market was a pawn of the Demonic Cult.'

The picture came together.

They must have deliberately approached those Ban-Cheon Ghosts who were driven solely by hatred and vengeance.

'There must have been opposition at first.'

But as time passed, the dissenters disappeared, and that vengeance became twisted, degenerating into puppets of the Demonic Cult.

That was their objective.

'I won't let you have your way.'

Contrary to his inner thoughts, Cheon Muyang acted as though he knew nothing at all.

"Well, even if you are a Ban-Cheon Ghost, it doesn't matter much. As long as our interests align."

"What is it you want?"

"Isn't it obvious? That vast flow of capital gathering in Hangzhou's underbelly."

Cheon Muyang flashed a scoundrel's smile.

In his previous life, the nameless one had never been someone who acted.

Yet now, whether it was the body's memory or not, the smiles and gestures from his scoundrel days came naturally.

"In the end, it's money."

"And the Ban-Cheon Ghosts don't concern you?"

"Even if they run wild, would the Cheon Family really budge? At most, it's like dogs barking."

"So what you want is money?"

Smirk.

The corner of Cheon Muyang's mouth lifted.

"Exactly."

"However, from what I've heard… you are opposed to the Elder Council."

"Did the Third Elder tell you that?"

"...."

"You seem not to know yet, but I'm not part of the Third Elder's faction."

"Faction?"

Cheon Muyang's smile deepened.

"Then how do you think I managed to come here?"

"...."

"I belong to the Supreme Elder's faction. In other words, the Third Elder isn't even worth challenging."

The man's pupils quivered slightly.

The Cheon Family's Supreme Elder—

Cheon Jungho had been mentioned.

"The reason I dealt with the Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion and the head of the Inspection Division was because they crossed the line. If you're going to gorge yourself, you should at least know moderation."

"I see. So that's how it was."

The Lord of the Black Market mainly dealt with the Third Elder.

From meeting him, he had grasped the Third Elder's disposition.

'Someone who wouldn't hesitate to harbor other schemes if given the chance.'

The Third Elder had never once mentioned Cheon Muyang.

'Factional strife within the family… this is the first I'm hearing of it. Did you hide it intentionally, Third Elder?'

The relationship between the black market and the Elder Council was nothing more than mutual exploitation.

Thus, there was no reason for the Third Elder to speak of the Cheon Family's internal power struggles.

'Tch. So there really was infighting inside as well. What a thoroughly rotten clan.'

The Lord of the Black Market sneered inwardly at the Cheon Family.

'They spoke of a thirty-year grand plan, yet in just twenty years the Cheon Family has already crumbled this far. It won't even take another ten.'

Contrary to his thoughts, the Lord of the Black Market smiled.

"I see."

"You've probably realized it by now—that the Third Elder's side isn't all that solid."

Cheon Muyang smiled as well.

Contrary to his true thoughts.

Two duplicitous smiles intertwined in the empty air.