Acquiring the Murim with Money - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 32. Shadows on the Yangtze and a Ship That Sinks

A tributary of the Yangtze River flowing toward Nanyang.
As the river widened, the number of vessels on the water multiplied. Merchant ships with sails fully raised, flat-bottomed barges laden with cargo, even passenger ferries carrying people.
Through them all, the passenger ship carrying Baek Yunhui’s party moved slowly forward.
“Ugh—”
So Ryang, boarding a ship for the first time in his life, was gripping the rail and retching miserably, complaining of dizziness. Beside him, Baek Yunhui patted the man’s back gently from time to time, savoring the river breeze with lazy contentment.
And beneath Cheongpung, who glided majestically across the sky, Byeok Soyeon listened intently with bright eyes to Dang Soyou’s remarks, which fell from his lips in sharp bursts as he tilted back his liquor.
For her, hemmed in by walls, each word from Dang Soyou—who had mastered numerous martial disciplines as richly as he had years behind him—arrived like sudden rain on parched earth.
“Ugh! I’m dying… There’s nothing left in my stomach. Baek Yunhui. Did we really have to travel by ship? Couldn’t we have gone overland?”
So Ryang managed to open his mouth, gripping the rail with both hands, his face turned a sickly white.
“Overland would take another ten days.”
“What’s ten days? At least land doesn’t move! Land doesn’t rock back and forth!”
“The heart of Nanyang commerce is water transport. I need to see with my own eyes how goods flow through these waters and who controls the chokepoints if I’m going to build a solid foundation here.”
Baek Yunhui’s gaze fixed on the merchant vessels ahead.
Nanyang was the greatest trading hub in the southern Zhongyuan—the vast arterial heart of commerce flowing into Hubei, Anhui, and Sichuan. Yet the veins that fed this heart were severely congested.

[Target: Yangtze River tributary waterway network]
[Status: Transit taxes being extracted under monopolistic control by violent organized forces. Commercial activity declining due to abnormally inflated shipping costs.]

Through the Golden Divine Eye, crimson warning lights blinked across the river’s currents. As they approached Nanyang, the waterway narrowed, and at those narrow straits, black-flagged speedboats inevitably cut off merchant ships and ferries.
“Excuse me! A hundred silver taels as toll? How are we supposed to survive if you strip us bare like this?”
“Shut your mouth! Don’t you see the Mokyong Jae flag? If you can’t pay, go feed the fish!”
Watching the spectacle unfold ahead, So Ryang pulled out an abacus with a pale face.
“They’re taking that much? Merchants of any decent size won’t be able to afford it. These are just highway robbers with water.”
“Highway robbers is exactly right—water pirates, to be precise. But if they keep this up, fewer people will use Nanyang’s waters, and everyone drowns together.”
As Baek Yunhui watched the water pirates with sharp eyes, the ship’s master let out a groan.
“Ah, it seems the toll has gone up again. As agreed before departure, I’ll handle it myself—please provide the toll money. Still, since I have some standing with those brigands, a vessel as modest as ours should only need about twenty taels.”
“The water pirates have become outrageous. Even if they collect tolls, reasonable rates would be better for everyone.”
“Water pirates have always operated here, but they used to take what they needed while minding the consequences—no real trouble. Lately, though, their behavior has become so severe that everyone is suffering.”
Though Baek Yunhui felt the urge to overturn everything, he showed consideration for the ship’s master, whose livelihood depended on these waters, and his party quietly paid the toll and passed through.
By then, Cheongpung, having circled overhead, alighted gently onto Byeok Soyeon’s shoulder.
Byeok Soyeon spoke in a low voice.
“Apart from the two boats that approached ours just now, there are four speedboats at the entrance to the right tributary. And there are quite a few more scattered throughout the waterways in places that are hard to spot. Between what Cheongpung and I confirmed, there are more than twenty vessels in all.”
For now, the situation on Nanyang’s waterways had been understood to some degree as Baek Yunhui intended. Combining what they’d learned beforehand with what they’d directly observed, along with the ship master’s account, the problem proved more severe than expected.
Mokyong Jae—the enormous water pirate gang that controlled the waterways around Nanyang. Their influence had long since transcended the bounds of common banditry. With a change in leadership and rapid growth in strength, they had come to completely dominate the waters.
Of course, the people of Nanyang had not simply sat idle and accepted their fate. In particular, the escort bureaus and merchants directly affected by the problem took the lead. They even hired ronin and sought help from nearby martial sects, eventually forming the Water Pirate Suppression Alliance.
Yet the water pirates refused direct confrontation. Whenever things looked unfavorable, they fled with ease in their speedboats, harassing their opponents with small, sudden strikes. Though a few minor skirmishes did occur, it was not easy to contend with these foes on the water—they were skilled in aquatic combat and moved with uncanny unpredictability.
Eventually, as the damages continued to mount without any decisive engagement, the Water Pirate Suppression Alliance dissolved into nothing.
Now, commanding dozens of speedboats and ranging freely across the waters, Mokyong Jae answered to no one. The suffering masses voiced their grievances, yet the official navy seemed content to stage a few expeditions for appearances and otherwise turn a blind eye.

Soon after, Baek Yunhui’s party cast anchor at Nanyang’s largest dock.
A harbor incomparably vast compared to Luoyang. Hundreds of porters moving about, inns and shops crowding together—it was a sight to behold.
Yet beneath that appearance lay a peculiar silence and lack of vitality; tension and exhaustion hung thick over the streets.
As they unloaded cargo, Dang Soyou rose from his seat, fixing a gourd flask to his belt.
“We part ways here.”
Baek Yunhui turned back.
“You’re leaving right away?”
“There are a few herb shops nearby I need to visit. I’ll gather what I need and catch the fastest passage into Sichuan.”
His tone was casual enough, yet Baek Yunhui sensed something different in its texture from his usual manner. Beneath his ordinary curtness lay a peculiar ease at other times, but now that ease was absent.
“Sir.”
“What is it.”
“May I ask what takes you to Sichuan?”
“Does one need a reason to return home?”
“It doesn’t seem like that’s the case here.”
Dang Soyou glanced down at Baek Yunhui, then turned his gaze toward the river and spoke briefly.
“Some business has cropped up with the Dang Family. Nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
Baek Yunhui pressed no further.
“Sir.”
“Why do you keep calling me?”
“Without you, it would have been impossible for the Baek Yun Trading Company to come this far. I’m truly grateful.”
Dang Soyou cleared his throat gruffly and replied.
“Ahem. This is embarrassing. You brat. Drop it. I’ll admit I went through some trouble cleaning up after you.”
“If anything comes up, please contact me without fail. From now on, your troubles are my troubles, and the Trading Company’s troubles. I’ll mobilize everything I can to help.”
“Enough. You pup. I’m not so desperate that I need help from some wet-behind-the-ears merchant.”
“I mean it. Please reach out. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll come find you.”
“Heh. You’re relentless. Stop pestering me with this maudlin sentiment.”
“Relentless? That wounds me. When we first met, you were relentless enough to stick me with a poison needle, and the spot still throbs.”
“It was a Paralysis Needle, not a poison needle.”
Dang Soyou finally let out a short laugh. Then he tilted his Gourd Flask once and rose from his seat.
He began walking across the dock.
Byeok Soyeon watched his departing figure, then spoke quietly.
“Sir.”
Dang Soyou did not stop. But his pace slowed.
“I will never forget how you saved our father and uncle, or the things you taught us on the boat. I’m truly grateful.”
Dang Soyou spoke without turning his head.
“How many times are you going to thank me? And I didn’t teach you anything. You already had it in you—I just nagged you because it was frustrating to watch you not use it properly.”
“Yes. Thank you for those precious words.”
“···Hmph.”
So Ryang called out to the departing Dang Soyou.
“Take good care of yourself while we’re away, sir.”
Dang Soyou, who had hesitated, waved his hand dismissively and walked on. Just before he disappeared into the crowd, he threw back one final remark.
“You reckless brats, try not to cause too much trouble. And if you go getting yourselves hurt while I’m gone, know that you’ll answer for it later.”
And with that, he vanished.
A brief silence settled over them.
So Ryang gathered the luggage, muttering to himself.
“Something seems to be weighing on him. But if it’s Dang Soyou, he’ll be fine, won’t he?”
Byeok Soyeon said nothing, only gazing in the direction where Dang Soyou had disappeared. Cheongpung, perched on her shoulder, folded his wings quietly once.
Baek Yunhui picked up the luggage and spoke.
“Let’s go.”
Baek Yunhui’s party left the dock and walked along the waterway.
Not long after they had been walking, the sound of something violent tearing through the air mixed with the crash of something shattering echoed through the street. Baek Yunhui turned, and an Escort Bureau came into view.

Changhai Escort Bureau.

Transparent text materialized across his vision.

[Target: Changhai Escort Bureau]
[Status: Severe capital erosion. Total debt exceeds 4,000 taels of silver.]
[Latent value: Holds core water transport licensing for Nanyang. Two water route outposts temporarily non-operational. Two merchant vessels owned by the bureau undergoing repairs from minor damage.]
[Critical risk: Deliberate insolvency and hostile debt securitization in progress by Mokyong Jae and the Baekgeum Money House.]

The courtyard had already become a hellscape. Some thirty Water Pirates in black garb surrounded a dozen Escort Guards, hurling mockery at them.
At the center stood Gwak Daeho, a giant of a man gripping the worn Nine Tripod Blade. Countless scars wove across his bronzed skin, speaking to a brutal past, but his hands holding the blade trembled ever so slightly now. Not from the overwhelming force of the Water Pirates.
“Ughhhh…… Uncle Daeho. Just give it all up. The ship, everything—give it all up! We’re going to die like this.”
The one causing this was a youth of some twenty years huddled in a corner of the courtyard, knees drawn up. Jin Muyeon, the current Escort Bureau Master of Changhai Escort Bureau.
Two years had passed since Jin Cheolsan, the former Escort Bureau Master who had once ruled Nanyang, died in a mysterious attack. Sheltered like a hothouse flower, Jin Muyeon had been completely broken by Mokyong Jae’s trap.
“Master of the Bureau! This bureau is built on the blood and sweat of the former master!”
Gwak Daeho cried out as if spitting blood, but Jin Muyeon only shook his head, ears covered.
The serpent-eyed man leading the Water Pirates smiled coldly and raised his hand.
“Why so pitiful? It’s too moving to watch. Destroy everything and bring me the deed to the ship!”
“Wait.”
The calm but decisive voice drew every eye toward Baek Yunhui. As he stepped into the courtyard with a measured pace, the serpent-eyed man shouted.
“Who the hell are you? If you don’t want to get cut down for butting in, get lost!”
“I’m a merchant considering investment in this bureau. How much debt are we talking about? I’ll settle it.”
Stillness fell over the courtyard. Everyone stared at Baek Yunhui. The serpent-eyed man looked him up and down, then let out a contemptuous snort.
“Some hustler crawling in from nowhere trying to interfere. I’m telling you one last time—get lost!”
Baek Yunhui’s eyes grew cold and sharp.
‘Even when I offer to settle their debt, they won’t hear it. This isn’t simply about extracting money.’
“Strange, isn’t it? They refuse payment when you’d clear their obligations. Surely taking coin is better than bloodying ourselves over a sinking escort bureau.”
The snake-eyed man’s face twisted in displeasure. He flicked his chin toward the masters standing behind him, and they began drawing their weapons, surging toward Baek Yunhui—
BOOM!
The earthen wall on the right side of the escort bureau exploded inward.

Acquiring the Jianghu with Gold — Episode 32

Author
Song Jjeonbol
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Yun Taeri
Cover Design
Sik

UCI
G720:N+A036-20260907057.0032

© 2026, Song Jjeonbol

※ This e-book is a work protected under the Copyright Law of the Republic of Korea.
No part or all of the contents of this work may be reprocessed in any form without permission from the author and publisher.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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