The Reformed Genius of the Sichuan Tang Clan - Chapter 46

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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 46
Ju Man-deok and his Manpung Trading Company arrived in Dae-juk and began to unload their wares.
“Merchant Lord! You’ve returned safely!”
“Of course. I didn’t die, so don’t worry.”
Gwal Tae-jin, his chief aide, practically vibrated with frustration—Ju Man-deok had a habit of returning without a scratch only to be covered head to toe in dust and grime.
“Merchant Lord, you are the backbone of our company! Of course you mustn’t die! Have you forgotten—your life is the life of our company!”
“Stop sniveling. Listen: without someone pushing hard from behind, there’s no trading company that survives the death of its leader and comes home intact.”
As Ju Man-deok spoke with his usual ease, the men hauling cargo began to grumble among themselves.
“But this time you really almost died, sir.”
“They kept demanding you hand over the map… even though you refused outright, when they started threatening, I thought ‘This is it—this is how he dies.'”
“What did you just say?!”
At the news that his beloved master had nearly met his end, Gwal Tae-jin went absolutely wild.
“Merchant Lord, as your aide, I must hear what happened. Whoever the culprits are, I cannot let this pass!”
“We’re just a trading company, not some grand sect. What power do we have? Just let it go.”
“How am I supposed to just let it go?”
“It wasn’t nearly as serious as you think. Dang Yu-hyeon appeared and resolved it wonderfully.”
“Dang Yu-hyeon? You mean the second young master of the Dang family?”
“That’s right.”
As the conversation shifted to Dang Yu-hyeon’s exploits, the workers who had paused in unloading their cargo chimed in one after another.
“He just appeared out of nowhere, suddenly—and annihilated the bandit gang in one breath! It was so magnificent!”
“I’ve completely reassessed him. So his reformation really was sincere.”
“I thought he only had skill in Stealth Art, but he’s quite masterful with the sword too.”
Those who had ridden in the carriage with Ju Man-deok chirped like sparrows recounting Dang Yu-hyeon’s martial feats.
“Hmm. Such ability at such a young age. Truly impressive.”
Gwal Tae-jin could scarcely close his mouth in astonishment.
He had believed the Dang family was crumbling after the Jungma Great War.
But the more he heard of Dang Yu-hyeon’s deeds, the more it felt as though the family were stirring back to life, reaching for its former glory.
‘I’ll need to expand our dealings in Seong-do.’
To ride the current of their rising fortunes, even the smallest connection would serve.
And the burden of building that connection fell upon the merchant lord and his aide.
“But tell me—who were the men that attacked you?”
“They wore black robes. I couldn’t identify them.”
“If we narrow it down to the factions operating in this region, it would be the Jeok-hae Gang, the Yeom-pa Gang, or the Nok-rim.”
“Ah, they were wearing an odd badge.”
“Nowadays more and more Heterodox Sects use badges and emblems to mark their affiliations. These gang factions seem to be in fierce competition for power themselves.”
Gwal Tae-jin shrugged, indicating he had a general sense of the Heterodox underworld.
“Do you remember any characters or symbols on the badge?”
“Not precisely, but I believe it said ‘In-hwa.'”
“If so, then it would be the In-hwa Gang or In-hwa Faction… The Nok-rim is the most likely culprit.”
“Probably. Their power and reach are both vast.”
Gwal Tae-jin fell silent in thought, pressing his lips together firmly.
“The Nok-rim’s influence extending this far… We’ll need to strengthen our security measures.”
“A sound idea. Hire more reliable martial men.”
“Understood!”
“And when you have time, find ways to help Dang Yu-hyeon. We owe him our lives—a man who forgets kindness is no man at all.”
“I’ll remember that always!”
Unbeknownst to Dang Yu-hyeon, his reputation continued to climb steadily.
* * *
A sealed chamber where not a single ray of light entered—only the Night Pearl at its center cast its glow upon what lay ahead.
Two figures sat facing each other across a round table, each attended by an aide.
“We lost the badge.”
“To whom?”
“Someone called Dang Yu-hyeon.”
“The second young master of the Dang family?”
The man on the left answered with a nod rather than words.
The man on the right’s eyes gleamed with interest.
When he had sent Jang Yeom-ho, he had anticipated resistance, but he had never dreamed Dang Yu-hyeon would appear.
Breaking the brief silence, the man on the left continued.
“There’s word he went as far as Pae Temple.”
“Hmm. That’s somewhat troubling.”
The woman standing behind the man on the right then asked softly.
“Shall we dispose of him?”
The man on the right shook his head.
“Not yet. Let’s wait and see if he shows up at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.”
“Understood.”
The man on the left, sensing the business was concluded, scraped back his chair and stood.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.”
“Is there more to say?”
“If you leave as things stand, won’t it be dangerous? Even if you haven’t completely betrayed your master.”
“That’s something I’ll handle myself. Don’t concern yourself with it.”
“Hmm.”
The man on the right let out a short breath through his nose.
“Forgive me, but I tend to take a keen interest in anything connected to me.”
The man on the right pushed away from the round table and lunged at the man on the left and his escort.
“Ack!”
In an instant, the back of the neck was seized.
Crack!
The moment the man on the right exerted force, the solid skull crumpled like mud, scattering blood everywhere.
“It’s best to eliminate potential dangers before they can become threats.”
As the man chuckled darkly, the woman handed him cloth to wipe the blood.
“You wrote ‘In-hwa’ on that tablet, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. I’m curious how much the Transformation Expert will actually notice.”
A cold smile spread across the man’s face.
* * *
Meanwhile, Dang Yu-hyeon found the Haengbok Shop days after investigating Jam-wol Temple.
Recognizing him as a guest of the branch commander, the staff quickly ushered him into the inner room.
When his escort opened the door, Sun-woo Yun was visible inside, busily handling documents.
Sun-woo Yun glanced at Dang Yu-hyeon and tidied the papers scattered about the round table.
“It’s surprising you’ve come so quickly after entrusting me with the investigation. And here I thought you were simply hurrying your busy younger brother.”
“I’m pressed for time.”
“How unexpected. Does the head of the Dang family have urgent matters?”
“I’m always pressed for time.”
Dang Yu-hyeon answered in a flat tone.
He had to strengthen his martial prowess and rebuild the family — there was no time to hesitate.
Dang Yu-hyeon belatedly changed the subject and asked how Sun-woo Yun had been.
“How have you been?”
“Well, as you can see, quite busy.”
Sun-woo Yun gestured with his chin at the stack of documents before him.
Managing all the intelligence arising from Sa-cheon must be giving him a considerable headache.
“Still, it hasn’t been tedious. I’ve heard rumors about you from time to time.”
“About me?”
“Yes. Your reputation has improved thanks to helping the Manpung Trading Company. Of course, there’s also talk of some mysterious faction circulating alongside it.”
Dang Yu-hyeon pulled out a tablet from his sleeve and tossed it onto the table before Sun-woo Yun.
It was the tablet spoken of in the rumors, one he’d obtained from Jang Yeom-ho earlier.
“This could become a problem.”
Sun-woo Yun set down the documents and examined the tablet from every angle.
“Beyond what you had me investigate before, I’ll also look into where this came from and whether it has any connection to Jam-wol Temple.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Is that your only business?”
“That’s it.”
As Dang Yu-hyeon rose from his seat, Sun-woo Yun returned to shuffling through his organized documents.
“Ah, one more thing. Next time you visit, give me some advance notice, would you? When you come while I’m busy, I can’t help as much as I’d like.”
“I’ll think about it.”
‘Wow. Look at his nerve.’
Sun-woo Yun let his mouth sag downward in an expression of exasperation.
Since Dang Yu-hyeon was already turned away and leaving, he wouldn’t see this expression anyway, so Sun-woo Yun felt free to let it show.
“Sigh. Back to work.”
* * *
Dang Yu-hyeon returned to the Dang Clan’s residence and lay on his bed, staring up at the blank expanse of the ceiling.
His mind was consumed by the Stone Tablet at Pae Temple and the master of the pendant that Jang Yeom-ho had carried.
“In-hwa…….”
He immediately searched through the archives and found the names of currently active Heterodox Sects—two Gang Factions seemed plausible.
The Jeok-hae Gang and the Yeom-pa Gang.
If one interpreted In-hwa by the origins of its characters, the fire beneath the human radical would become “red”—Jeok.
That would explain why the distance between the two characters had been so close.
Conversely, if there were erased portions in In-hwa, they must have been the two strokes of Yeom.
Both deductions seemed plausible, making it difficult to choose one over the other.
‘Or perhaps both.’
The fact that both Gang Factions used the same region as their base of operations, that their Gang Leaders wielded Fire Craft—these coincidences aligned.
Coincidence repeated twice was no longer coincidence.
“Did they split from the same root, or are they entirely different…….”
Information was scarce.
“I should wait and move based on Sun-woo Yun’s report.”
With that, his next destination was decided.
Dang Yu-hyeon unfolded the map that Ju Man-deok had given him.
Jam-wol Temple, marked with a red dot.
Nearby, there was another location marked identically in red.
“Half a day’s walk, perhaps. Not bad.”
Dang Yu-hyeon sprang to his feet and dressed himself properly.
Just as a man who draws his blade must draw his sheath, he found no peace until he saw something through to its end once begun.
“Let’s see what grand secret has been hidden away.”
Sa-cheon Dang Clan—Reformation and Ascension to Heaven Prodigy
Author |
Lee Il-young
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(주) Samyang C&C
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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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