Chapter 41

Trap (1)

The back alleys of Hangzhou had been a lawless zone into which no one had ever been able to interfere.

However, now things were different.

Because the flag of the Cheon Family had begun to officially flutter there.

Flap!

Cheon Muyang formally proclaimed it.

That he would bring the back alleys of Hangzhou into the light.

This was only the beginning.

Cheon Muyang's Inspection Corps moved without paying the slightest heed to the Council of Elders.

"E- Eldest Young Master!"

They were truly elusive.

Though their number was clearly only three, they missed nothing, not even the smallest detail.

The Cheon Gyeon Unit, which moved in secrecy, never once surfaced into the open.

"Tsk. Didn't I warn you again and again? I told you that all such evil practices would no longer be tolerated."

How many times had he issued warnings?

Moreover, he even showed everyone their ends in public.

"What on earth are you relying on to act so arrogantly?"

"Th- this is…!"

"No excuses are needed. Blame your own foolishness for failing to realize that the times have changed."

There was no mercy.

The mercy to be given was not meant for people like them.

Thus, Cheon Muyang thoroughly upheld a law of zero tolerance.

"Abolish their martial arts and throw them into the Thunder Prison."

"Yes."

There was no need for him to step in personally.

Being alternately polished by the outstanding instructors known as the Wolf King and Cheon Seon-hak had become the daily routine of Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak.

They had been handled so harshly that the two looked utterly worn down.

"Hoh."

Cheon Muyang's eyes gleamed.

The swords of the two were sharper than ever before.

'They've definitely grown stronger.'

They probably didn't even realize it themselves.

That they were growing stronger by the day.

Neung Ryeo-un's heavy sword and Cha Myeong-hak's swift sword were gradually entering a stage of maturity.

'Their understanding of the sword has deepened.'

It was only natural, considering that they had no less than two absolute masters who had reached the realm of enlightenment as sparring partners.

'But soon… they'll hit their limit.'

Unlike their deepening understanding of the sword, their internal energy was failing to keep up.

'They'll need elixirs…'

If he mobilized the Cheon Family's funds, he could obtain some, but elixirs that could be bought with money were predictable in quality.

The more elixirs one consumed, the more resistance one developed, causing their effects to diminish, so if possible, he wanted to obtain truly superior ones.

'They need to be elixirs that can't be bought with money.'

Cheon Muyang himself had already consumed an excessive amount of elixirs, and had even completely refined them through the Azure Clear Stone Milk, so he could no longer grow stronger through elixirs.

'I don't need them, but it'd be good if I could obtain many.'

Wolyeong would likely run into a similar bottleneck, just like Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak.

'I heard they found the Black Merchants' warehouses…'

Before meeting his death, the Black Merchant Lord erased all evidence.

As if on cue, the Black Merchants vanished all at once.

However, it was unlikely that all the goods they had brought into Zhejiang had disappeared.

'I need to recover everything.'

With the Cheon Gyeon Unit on their trail, he believed they would soon yield positive results.

The unit's underlying capabilities were far greater than expected.

'If we can salvage even some usable elixirs. Or weapons, at least.'

The Cheon Family's financial situation was not good, so finding the Black Merchants' warehouses was imperative.

"Securing the warehouses should be our top priority."

Whatever might remain there.

He hoped he could give a meaningful gift to those who followed him.

"Now then, are they still working, I wonder?"

Cheon Muyang walked along at a leisurely pace.

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak were still fully occupied with suppressing those who resisted.

Kwaaang!

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak.

Their two swords harmonized as one, completely subduing the resisting foes.

'It'd be nice if I could give them a gift.'

There was no meaning in growing strong alone.

Only by growing strong together could the Cheon Family, and further still the martial world of the Central Plains, become stronger.

"Lord, we've subdued them."

"Good work."

"This can't be…!"

They stood there in a daze.

They couldn't even handle just two opponents.

"Those brats were nothing more than trainees not long ago…!"

A faint smile tugged at Cheon Muyang's lips.

"They're simply cut from a different cloth."

"..."

"So you see, it wouldn't make sense to compare you lot with me on the same level."

Thud!

Their dantians were crippled.

They too would be imprisoned in the Thunder Prison.

"Send my regards to the people in there."

Cheon Muyang withdrew his gaze.

Before he knew it, the restructuring for the new Cheon Family was nearing its end.

There had been so many leaks that the Cheon Family's coffers began to fill rapidly.

"Filling the coffers only benefits the rats. Release it all."

If someone had gained unjust profits, it meant someone else had suffered losses just as great.

Thus, Cheon Muyang opened the coffers.

He knew he could not make up for all their losses, but he hoped it would at least serve as some small consolation.

"Oh my! Oh my!"

Those who had been wronged could not hold back their tears.

Cheon Muyang refused to turn away from their pain.

So even if he could not visit everyone, he went in person whenever he could.

"Things like this will never happen again."

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Cheon Muyang was certain.

That his path was not wrong.

That if he were to turn away from their tears, the Cheon Family itself would never be able to move forward.

"Neung Ryeo-un, Cha Myeong-hak."

"Yes, my lord."

"Deliver the message to them as well."

"Yes."

By "them," he meant those who had suffered harm due to Cheon Muyang's past recklessness.

Even now, Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak were secretly looking after them.

They were planning to hand them over to the Cheon Gyeon Unit soon.

"So, is the restructuring mostly finished now?"

"Yes. Only the Council of Elders remains."

Those who lacked pride.

Those still shackled to outdated customs.

Those who could not accept change.

All of them were driven out of the Cheon Family by Cheon Muyang.

Since they were all connected to the Council of Elders, it meant the council's power had weakened considerably.

"And yet, it's still quiet."

"Yes. There hasn't been even the slightest friction."

"Cutting off the tail, perhaps…"

That was the most likely explanation.

If not that, then—

"Or they're scheming something."

Cheon Muyang shrugged.

It didn't matter.

He was already monitoring the Third Elder through the Cheon Gyeon Unit.

Besides, the Cheon Family the Council of Elders had tried to ruin had already changed.

"I think I finally understand what the Eldest Young Master meant by pride."

"Me too, me too!"

It was a conversation between passing maids.

One by one, people were regaining the pride they had lost.

And also—

"You look better these days."

"You know how I said our household was struggling not long ago?"

"I remember."

"And I said it was like money suddenly fell from the sky back then?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Even now, whenever we're about to run short, someone leaves money in front of our house."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I don't know who it is, but… I'm planning to make offerings to Buddha more often!"

"I happened to get some rare medicinal herbs, and my father's illness improved. Don't you think our luck's been incredible lately?"

"You're right. You're not the only one either…"

Those who had been wounded by Cheon Muyang's past recklessness were beginning to smile once more.

It was a small, yet profound change.

"That's why work feels so enjoyable these days."

"Me too, me too! Even when I see the Eldest Young Master, he doesn't feel as scary as before."

"Huh? You too? Same here!"

"Looks like scars really do fade."

"Whenever I see the Eldest Young Master these days, it's amazing. How can someone change so completely from back then?"

It was proof that Cheon Muyang's name was no longer a symbol of distrust and fear.

"Anyway, these days the Eldest Young Master feels reliable."

"He's still scary, but I feel the same."

"..."

Having overheard that conversation, Cheon Muyang stood there for a long moment, unable to move.

"Let's go."

"Yes, my lord."

Thus, the newly restructured Cheon Family's steps brought about many changes.

"Please accept us as well!"

First of all, the number of applicants to the Inspection Corps increased.

As a result, Cheon Muyang appointed Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak as inspection unit leaders and ordered them to personally select their members.

"Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak will be busy. I'll have to use the Wolf King as a full-time instructor."

If the Wolf King heard that, he would explode in outrage, but Cheon Muyang had no intention of leaving him as a mere guest.

The Wolf King would make for an excellent instructor.

Imagining the Wolf King's furious reaction, Cheon Muyang returned to his office.

"Hm."

Someone was there.

It was the leader of the Cheon Gyeon Unit.

If anyone was busier than himself, it would be the Cheon Gyeon leader.

"It's been a while."

"..."

However, the Cheon Gyeon leader's expression was far from bright.

"What is it?"

"There is something I must report."

"Go on."

"We pursued the Black Merchants who had worked under the Black Merchant Lord."

Cheon Muyang nodded.

They were merchants who trafficked in people.

They had no value being kept alive, which was why he had delegated the matter to the Cheon Gyeon leader.

"And?"

"They were not fleeing. They were roaming freely around the Zhejiang region."

"They didn't disappear?"

"Yes. They were still active. In fact, goods were being gathered in one place."

"One place… don't tell me—"

"Yes. Just as you suspect."

The Black Merchant Lord had already siphoned off everything from the back alleys of Hangzhou.

All of those diverted goods had most likely flowed into the hands of the Third Elder.

"So it was the Third Elder…"

"Yes."

"So that's why they kept silent."

It had been puzzling.

Even though Cheon Muyang had clearly issued a warning, those affiliated with the Council of Elders had continued committing corruption without a care.

"They were buying time."

By discarding the small fry, the Third Elder had intended to buy himself time.

If so, then for what purpose?

"Don't tell me…."

"Yes. Just as you suspect."

The Cheon Gyeon leader clenched his teeth.

Though he was not someone who readily showed emotion, an anger he could not conceal seeped through.

"Where is the Third Elder?"

"In the vicinity of Mount Putuo."

"Mount Putuo…."

A location far from the main estate.

The perfect place to set a trap.

"It's a trap."

"I know."

He must have deliberately leaked the information.

Which meant it was a prepared trap.

However, Cheon Muyang could not avoid it.

"But I still have to go."

"...."

"If not me, then who will appease the souls of the dead?"

The Third Elder had also learned demonic arts.

Had Cheon Muyang not faced the half-demonic beings who had abandoned their reason to cultivate such arts?

Creak!

He could not even imagine how much blood had been spilled.

That was why Cheon Muyang blamed himself.

'All of this is because of my complacency.'

After dealing with the Black Merchant Lord, he had let his guard down.

He had judged that it did not matter how the Third Elder moved.

But that had been a grave mistake.

As the price, even people who should not have died had lost their lives.

"Inform my uncle and the Wolf King."

"...."

The Cheon Gyeon leader wanted to dissuade Cheon Muyang.

However, the moment he met Cheon Muyang's eyes, he lost the ability to speak.

Chill!

A thick killing intent—dense enough to be called demonic energy—coiled around even the Cheon Gyeon leader.

"It's time to execute the traitor of the family."

Thump.

The Cheon Gyeon leader's heart pounded.

'It's like looking at the former family head.'

Cheon Muyang's bearing.

It was not unfamiliar.

Because it resembled the previous family head to whom he had once sworn loyalty.

'If Cheon Wi-gang, had you shown this 모습, would things have turned out differently?'

There was no way to know.

Thus, the Cheon Gyeon leader stopped dwelling on the past and focused on the present.

"I will make the preparations."

"...."

After the Cheon Gyeon leader left.

Cheon Muyang, left alone, clenched his fist tightly.

Drip.

Drip, drip.

He had clenched it so hard that his nails dug into his flesh, drawing blood.

"Demonic Cult…."

He could not see how far that darkness had spread.

But as always—

The answer was already decided.

"I will cut it down."