Chapter 48: Heavenly Poison Alliance

“An enemy!”

With that familiar cry, the warriors of the Four Dragons River Gang surged forward in a rush.

Jin Seong-un remained where he stood, merely watching them.

It was the same feeling he had sensed all along—something was off.

‘They’re far too weak.’

They were about the same level as the now-defunct Prosperity Association. Deyang was not a particularly large city to begin with, but for a group that could pressure the Hwa-un Trading Company, one of the Ten Great Trading Companies under Heaven, they should have been far stronger.

In fact, he had already prepared a plan: if things became too much, he would escape together with Seo Yu-gyeom.

“Brother Seo, do you not find something strange?”

At Jin Seong-un’s question, Seo Yu-gyeom nodded gravely.

The Hwa-un Trading Company was a merchants’ guild, but it had its own military forces. How could black path thugs of this level possibly suppress them?

Seo Yu-gyeom briefly wondered if perhaps the company’s power had diminished because he himself had killed the former trading head.

In the meantime, the warriors crept closer, swords and sabers pointed toward the two men, their movements hesitant.

The two came to the same conclusion.

First, they needed to meet the leader of the Four Dragons River Gang and hear him out.

“We came to meet the Gang Leader.”

Jin Seong-un declared his purpose boldly.

The Four Dragons River Gang warriors looked at him as if he were mad.

Regardless, Jin Seong-un stepped forward once, then twice. In response, the warriors stepped back twice, creating a ridiculous scene.

“……”

For once, Jin Seong-un wore an expression of genuine bewilderment. If warriors like these could shake the Hwa-un Trading Company, then every armed group in the world would be able to prey on them.

“You worthless trash! What are you doing?!”

Suddenly, an aged voice roared from behind the warriors.

At once, the retreating men halted in their tracks.

Jin Seong-un shifted his gaze past them. There stood a man of average height and build, with the kind of face one might see in any marketplace—a common-looking middle-aged man.

But his eyes brimmed with stubbornness.

‘Interesting.’

Every moneylender Jin Seong-un had met so far had borne such an expression.

They said that after forty, a man’s life showed on his face. Though one was born with a face given by one’s parents, over time, stubbornness and character carved their imprint.

Those who gnawed away at the lives of others with merciless precision all seemed to share the same cast of mind.

Naturally, they lived with that same obstinate, mean-spirited face.

“Are you the Gang Leader?”

At Jin Seong-un’s question, the man merely sneered. He scolded his subordinates, saying,

“Any man who takes even one more step back, I’ll kill with my own hands. But anyone who brings those two kneeling before me, I’ll give forty taels.”

The warriors’ eyes instantly lit up.

Of course—they were black path men working under the Four Dragons River Gang, which meant they were the sort who loved money above all.

Even in the underworld, debt-collecting groups like Flame King Loans were among the most despised trades.

Jin Seong-un asked with innocent curiosity,

“Forty taels of gold?”

“……”

The man, presumed to be the Gang Leader, fell silent.

When his men glanced at him, he looked distinctly flustered.

“Ah, so it’s silver. Still, that’s not a small sum. The Gang Leader is generous.”

Jin Seong-un complimented him outright.

He had meant it sincerely, but since gold had been mentioned first, the men’s resolve seemed to waver slightly.

Amused by the sight, Seo Yu-gyeom smirked.

“Gang Leader, we came to pay our debt. Why draw blades the moment we arrive?”

“What kind of fools come to repay a debt and smash a man’s front gate?!”

“Oh-ho.”

The Gang Leader’s retort was logical. But Seo Yu-gyeom was skilled at verbal sparring.

“You lot come to collect debts and smash doors and walls, don’t you? Why shouldn’t we do the same?”

“……”

The Gang Leader had no answer. After a cough, he tried to reassert his dignity.

“Attack them.”

At his command, several warriors charged. Their greed for forty taels outweighed their fear of death.

Jin Seong-un looked at the greedy ones for a moment, then thrust out his palm. It was nothing like the arts of the Martial God—he had simply channeled the inner force of the Women’s Moon Heart Method.

CLAAAANG!

Five men at the front were hurled away, vomiting blood. They twitched briefly, then went limp.

“……”

A heavy silence fell.

Now, the fear of death had utterly crushed any desire for silver.

Jin Seong-un walked forward with measured steps.

His expressionless face, combined with the effortless display of power, instilled terror in the warriors.

Wherever his feet landed, the men stepped aside. Following the path they cleared, Jin Seong-un finally stood before the Gang Leader.

The Four Dragons River Gang Leader glared fiercely at him. At least, unlike his men, he did not seem to lack courage.

“Gang Leader. We came to repay a debt. I happened to kill a few of your men. I ordered Hong So-yuk’s dish and waited a long time, and just when the food arrived, they appeared and overturned it.”

“The Yangha Daegu was overturned as well. Shocking, really.”

Seo Yu-gyeom added.

The Gang Leader, Yang Cheon-deok, felt he had stumbled into something terribly wrong. These men seemed utterly insane. The problem was—they were insane masters.

And such men were the most terrifying of all. It was the same reason the world feared the Demonic Cult.

Yang Cheon-deok had met many madmen in his life. In the underworld, that was inevitable.

But men like this could not be predicted or reasoned with.

So, he asked plainly,

“What do you want?”

“First, we need a meal.”

Seo Yu-gyeom replied.

Yang Cheon-deok readily nodded.

For now, the fact that a fight would not break out immediately was good enough.

Relieved, he glanced at his subordinates. Feeling his dignity as leader was slipping, he added for show,

“If there’s an issue, you should have spoken politely. Why smash another man’s gate?”

It was not surrender, nor was it fear. He was merely showing that, as men, they had found some mutual understanding.

At least, that was the attitude he projected. Of course, the Four Dragons River Gang warriors looked sour.

“We intended to. But the bald man at the gate tried to strike us first, so we reacted.”

“Ah, that one. Dead, is he?”

“My apologies for that too.”

“He was meant to be executed tomorrow anyway. You saved me the trouble. At least for a meal, I’ll treat you gladly.”

Jin Seong-un nodded.

The Four Dragons River Gang Leader seemed more reasonable than expected.

.

.

.

The three of them sat facing each other in the Gang Leader’s office.

Since the manor was vast in scale, the office was equally extravagant.

The round table was piled high with liquor and dishes. With Hong So-yuk and Yangha Daegu among them, it seemed a sincere gesture from the Gang Leader.

When Jin Seong-un picked up his chopsticks, Seo Yu-gyeom spoke.

“It might be poisoned. I was going to eat here, but after seeing the Gang Leader’s dog-like face, I keep feeling suspicious, so I can’t eat.”

Jin Seong-un set his chopsticks down again.

Yang Cheon-deok felt his temper flare, but he knew this wasn’t the time to lose it.

“……It’s not poisoned. I too am a leader of the black path—why would I stoop to such petty tricks?”

“Flame King Loans itself is petty trickery, Gang Leader.”

At Jin Seong-un’s whip-like remark, Seo Yu-gyeom raised his thumb in admiration.

Yang Cheon-deok’s beard trembled. Perhaps this was a moment where he regretted neglecting his martial training.

But it hardly mattered. While he hadn’t cultivated martial arts, he had made money, and men like these would eventually bend before money anyway.

Regardless, Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom didn’t touch the liquor or food. They just stared at Yang Cheon-deok.

A chill crawled down Yang Cheon-deok’s back, but he concealed it as best he could.

“It’s a shame, since this food was prepared with such effort.”

“Your subordinate overturned food that someone else had prepared with effort. Let’s call it even.”

“……”

Seo Yu-gyeom raised his thumb again.

Now he realized—Jin Seong-un loosened up only when dealing with black path men.

Naturally so. Jin Seong-un had worked as an inn waiter for nearly ten years. He surely carried pent-up feelings toward unorthodox warriors.

“Gang Leader. I have a question.”

Yang Cheon-deok looked up from filling his cup with wine. His eyes told Jin Seong-un to speak. Jin Seong-un asked calmly,

“Why is the Four Dragons River Gang so weak?”

“……”

Yang Cheon-deok’s insides flared again.

But since he needed to stall for at least half an hour, he forced an answer.

“What are you talking about? We may be debt collectors, but we are still one of the Four Great Black Path Gangs of Deyang.”

“So the other three are at the same level as the Four Dragons River Gang?”

“Well, more or less.”

“Then Four Dragons River Gang must be the weakest.”

“……”

Jin Seong-un knew the way black path men spoke. They were full of bluster, so if one admitted equality, it usually meant they were actually weaker.

“Did you come here to sit before me and insult me? Just because my subordinates disturbed your meal?”

“Partly. I’ve always disliked the black path, and among them, I especially despise Flame King Loans.”

“That’s unfortunate. Still, we operate with some humanity. We don’t kill people just because they can’t pay.”

“But your men storm into shops, knock things over, and stomp everything. Even the food.”

“You hold grudges. But if you don’t repay debts, getting beaten isn’t so strange. Should we dig into the ground for profit then?”

Yang Cheon-deok’s anger kept rising as he spoke. But Jin Seong-un remained calm. He still had questions.

“I heard the Hwa-un Trading Company is in crisis right now.”

“……”

Yang Cheon-deok’s eyes instantly changed.

That reaction was enough for Jin Seong-un to confirm it. The Four Dragons River Gang was indeed involved with the Hwa-un Trading Company’s troubles. Which meant the other three black path gangs in Deyang were likely involved too.

“But I don’t understand. Frankly, the Four Dragons River Gang’s strength is pitiful. Even if the other three are stronger, they can’t be overwhelming. Otherwise, the Four Dragons River Gang would not even exist.”

“……”

“So how can gangs like yours possibly shake a giant trading company like the Hwa-un?”

Even Seo Yu-gyeom, who hadn’t cared much about the conversation, sharpened his gaze at this question.

Depending on Yang Cheon-deok’s answer, their next move would be decided.

“Who told you that we control the Hwa-un Trading Company?”

“Some merchants told me.”

“I see. You two are martial artists, aren’t you?”

“Maybe, maybe not. Just answer the question.”

Yang Cheon-deok looked at both men again. They weren’t just lunatics—they had come with a purpose.

And if it was about the Hwa-un Trading Company, he had to tread carefully. This was the culmination of decades of the Deyang black path’s ambitions.

Feigning calm, he lifted his winecup, buying time to choose his words.

Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom didn’t press.

Finally, Yang Cheon-deok set the cup down and spoke with uncharacteristic gravity.

“It is the will of the Heavenly Poison Alliance.”

Now it made sense.

The reason why weak black path gangs in Deyang could pressure the Hwa-un Trading Company.

The reason why other external unorthodox groups had not interfered.

Even Jin Seong-un, who knew little of Murim history, recognized the name just spoken.

The Heavenly Poison Alliance (天毒盟).

The unrivaled overlord of the Sichuan black path.

Sichuan Province housed many great orthodox sects, like the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect.

For a black path force to unite and maintain power there meant their strength rivaled even those of the great righteous sects.

“So you’d best leave now. If you kill me here, who do you think you’ll face next?”

Yang Cheon-deok smiled triumphantly.

By revealing the Heavenly Poison Alliance as his backer, he thought fear would grip them.

“……”

But no matter how long he waited, neither man’s expression changed.

Seo Yu-gyeom remained unfazed because he was once a top-class assassin of the Deathshroud. Jin Seong-un remained unfazed simply because that was his nature.

Jin Seong-un idly poked at the Hong So-yuk, then asked,

“How strong is the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Poison Alliance?”

“……”

Yang Cheon-deok had never heard such a question. At a loss for words, he hesitated. Jin Seong-un pressed again.

“If it’s hard to answer, compare him to someone else. For example, from the Tang Clan… what was his name again?”

Jin Seong-un furrowed his brow, and Seo Yu-gyeom supplied,

“The Poison Lord?”

“Ah, right. So compared to the Poison Lord, the Heavenly Poison Alliance Leader is stronger?”

The Poison Lord was none other than Tang Tae-san, the Tang Clan elder who had rushed to save the Young Mistress Tang So-yeon during the previous Food Butcher incident.

Yang Cheon-deok, who had boasted confidently while mentioning the Heavenly Poison Alliance, turned pale as chalk the moment the Sichuan Tang Clan was brought up.

Such was the weight of the Tang Clan’s name in Sichuan.

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