Chapter 408

Chapter 408

A strategy meeting that included the Tang family leadership along with Bian Bu and Taoist Master Bok-cheon.

Everyone fell silent at Jin Ja-gang’s words spoken there.

A meticulously detailed method that was hard to imagine.

But it was a method with such high success probability that it could be called “certain.”

Jin Ja-gang’s speculation was quite reasonable.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon raised a question.

“Martial sects usually trade with one trading company for long periods. Because of trust. They’re especially careful with food products, so how could trading companies supply salt containing poison?”

Tang Gwi-ok’s accounting expert explained.

“In Sichuan, the cheapest official salt available in the market last year was thirty coins per geun. But after floods, it can surge up to ten times to three hundred coins. Currently, there’s no salt on the market, making it difficult to buy even at five hundred coins.”

This meant it couldn’t be bought despite being over ten times the original price. There wouldn’t be no salt inventory, so merchants were deliberately not releasing salt and waiting for prices to rise.

“Compared to that, smuggled private salt can be obtained for less than half price. Last year it was usually traded between ten to fifty coins.”

Trading more than one mal of private salt results in caning, and more than one seom results in death penalty. But because the price was less than half, ordinary people had no choice but to use private salt despite considerable risk.

Tang Qing had likewise stockpiled large quantities of salt at the lowest possible prices through smuggling.

Bian Bu muttered.

“If King of Hell sold salt accumulated through smuggling to other trading companies at cheap prices, they’d have no reason not to buy. From King of Hell’s perspective, it wasn’t to profit from selling salt, and from the trading companies’ perspective, they could make several times the profit.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon said with a worried expression.

“Then finding the disappeared salt would be the priority. Before it spreads to other trading companies.”

Bian Bu shook his head as if it was strange.

“But this is truly a job that would make ghosts weep. What’s been revealed so far is tens of thousands of geun, but where did all that salt go?”

A Tang family member answered.

“No, that’s not right. It’s not tens of thousands of geun. What’s been revealed is only a fraction. Looking at current analysis trends, it’s expected to reach up to hundreds of thousands of geun at most.”

Bian Bu and Taoist Master Bok-cheon clicked their tongues.

“Enormous.”

It was truly a large-scale plan, prepared for several years by investing tens of thousands of taels annually.

The Tang family members’ faces turned pale.

If salt was released causing massive casualties in the martial world and it was revealed that the Tang family was the culprit, the Tang family might end up in a worse situation than if they had proceeded with the great undertaking.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“They said salt was taken from all warehouses just before the rainy season came. When the rainy season started, all land and sea routes were blocked, so they couldn’t have moved hundreds of thousands of geun of salt far without being noticed.”

“What you mean is…”

“There’s a high possibility it’s hidden in a place not as far as we think.”

Bian Bu asked.

“Did you investigate the Yingbo merchants?”

“Local trading companies that borrowed the Yingbo merchants’ name initially transported the salt. And they said they loaded it onto ships midway.”

“With severe rainy season quickly blocking sea routes… at most within ten days’ distance by ship.”

Even if the distance was specified, finding it within ten days by ship wouldn’t be easy either.

Tang Gwi-ok decided to ask Emei Sect to participate in the search, and Qingcheng Sect also agreed to help. From now on, it was a race against time.

Would they find the hidden salt before it was released, or would it be released before they found it?

Bian Bu said.

“I’ll contact Shandong and ask the Wise Wolf to investigate the Yingbo merchants in Zhejiang. How much they know, whether they simply participated in illegal trading or knew poison was included.”

Tang Gwi-ok added.

“We must be especially careful. Salt merchants have close relationships with government offices and are civilians. If the government gets involved, we’ll face a difficult situation to handle.”

Unorthodox sect people didn’t fear government or anything, but the Tang family, being a prestigious orthodox family, couldn’t help but be wary of government offices.

Bian Bu cupped his hands and answered.

“I’ll make sure to convey the family head’s concerns as well.”

As they were wrapping up the meeting and dividing tasks among themselves, a commotion suddenly arose outside.

A Tang family warrior reported loudly from outside.

“Urgent matter!”

One elder went out.

“Don’t you know an important meeting is in progress? What’s the matter!”

“Ice Phoenix has come to our family!”

“Ice Phoenix?”

Everyone had doubts about this unexpected event. But Jin Ja-gang had previously heard from Qingcheng Sect that they had already seen Ice Phoenix in Guizhou.

Tang Gwi-ok commanded.

“Bring her here.”

Soon a young Qingcheng Sect Taoist brought Son Bi, covered in blood, under escort of Tang family warriors.

“Miss Son?”

Son Bi looked at Jin Ja-gang with a tired face.

The young Qingcheng Sect Taoist looked at Taoist Master Bok-cheon and said.

“Someone was chasing her in Guizhou so we rescued her. Since we can’t communicate with her, we don’t know what happened either. We recommended she get treatment first, but she insisted on going to the Tang family, only writing those characters…”

Son Bi looked at Jin Ja-gang then staggered toward him as if entranced.

“Ah… ah, ahh…”

Since she couldn’t speak, Jin Ja-gang had no way to understand.

Yeong-gwi, dressed as a servant, blocked her path. Son Bi looked at Yeong-gwi briefly then knelt down with a thud while looking at Jin Ja-gang.

Son Bi raised her scabbed finger and hastily wrote characters in the dirt.

Teacher.

“Teacher? Do you mean Sword Empress?”

Son Bi nodded vigorously. Son Bi’s teacher was Sword Empress Lim I-eon. Had something happened to Im Yi-eon!

Son Bi added one word before the character for teacher.

Save…

Combined with the previous character, it became “Save Teacher.”

“You want me to save Sword Empress?”

Son Bi nodded again. Tears began forming in her eyes as she looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Tang Gwi-ok said.

“It seems something has happened to Sword Empress.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon was puzzled.

“I’ve personally witnessed Sword Empress’s abilities. Her skills are extraordinary, so how could misfortune…”

Son Bi was in poor condition, not having properly treated her injuries. She almost collapsed, requiring Jin Ja-gang to support her.

“Ahhh…”

Son Bi tearfully wrote on Jin Ja-gang’s palm. Jin Ja-gang read what Son Bi wrote.

“Master told me to tell you…”

Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes wide upon feeling the next characters Son Bi wrote.

Those watching urged Jin Ja-gang impatiently.

“What is she trying to say?”

“Tell us too.”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t speak for a while, then asked Son Bi.

“Is this true?”

Son Bi nodded.

Jin Ja-gang looked around at those who had participated in the meeting and conveyed exactly what Sword Empress Lim I-eon had sent through Son Bi.

“North… Heaven!”

It was the Northern Heaven Unorthodox Sect Alliance, once part of the Nine Provinces Six Heavens that divided the martial world, though now it had become powerless. Jin Ja-gang had already fought them before.

Everyone stirred.

“Northern Heaven?”

“Why did Northern Heaven suddenly appear in Guizhou?”

But the Tang family didn’t have the luxury to worry about that. If Divine Physician An Yul-jin, who had connections with Southern Sea Sword Sect, were there, it might be different, but the Tang family had no particular relationship with Southern Sea Sword Sect either.

“We have our own urgent matters. Though the circumstances are unfortunate, we don’t have the capacity to help Sword Empress and Ice Phoenix.”

“We need to deploy every available master to our search efforts.”

Though they would help under normal circumstances, the situation was too urgent for anyone to suggest helping.

It was a difficult matter.

For the Tang family, it was also a matter where the family’s fate was at stake, and broadly speaking, they had to prevent harm to the martial world.

Hearing the negative response, the young Qingcheng Sect Taoist who had rescued Son Bi was rather restless. The Taoist looked at Taoist Master Bok-cheon, but Taoist Master Bok-cheon also knew the circumstances well, making it difficult to speak rashly.

Jin Ja-gang also agonized.

They had only met once, and he knew she had some good feelings toward him. But he couldn’t figure out what to do.

Suddenly.

Son Bi grabbed the arm of the agonizing Jin Ja-gang and looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her gaze at Jin Ja-gang was infinitely pitiful. Jin Ja-gang felt his heart stir without realizing it.

“Just… give me some time.”

Jin Ja-gang had to say that, not even knowing why he needed to make excuses to Son Bi.

* * *

So-so decided to take charge of nursing Son Bi. Perhaps because So-so also couldn’t speak, she volunteered to do it herself.

After supporting Son Bi to her room, So-so gestured for Jin Ja-gang and Woon-jeong to leave the room. She needed to wash Son Bi’s body and apply medicine.

While leaving the room, Woon-jeong asked Jin Ja-gang.

“Excuse me, Poison Dragon friend. I know this isn’t the time to ask such things. But I’m so curious I can’t help asking.”

“Please speak.”

Woon-jeong lowered his voice slightly.

“By any chance, did Ice Phoenix Miss also try to kill Poison Dragon friend?”

“What do you suddenly mean by that?”

“You know that person with one missing leg last time. The one called Red Flower Immortal.”

“Yes.”

“She told me. That Poison Dragon friend was very popular. Even in Henan where Shaolin Temple is, Ice Phoenix Miss fell for him and Sword Empress got angry…”

Jin Ja-gang asked Woon-jeong.

“But what does that have to do with trying to kill?”

“Come on, why are you pretending when you know? Last time too, Miss Tang tried to kill Poison Dragon friend but then you two connected hearts.”

Clang!

A servant bringing water in a basin from outside suddenly dropped the basin. Then she stared at Jin Ja-gang with an absurd expression.

It was Yeong-gwi disguised as a servant.

Moreover, even though Woon-jeong’s voice was low, Son Bi in the room couldn’t have failed to hear that story. Son Bi’s face had turned completely red and she was flustered.

Son Bi and Yeong-gwi’s eyes met.

There was no need to say anything. Their awkward and flustered gazes fully revealed their emotions.

“Huh?”

Woon-jeong tilted his head, looking back and forth between Yeong-gwi and Son Bi, not knowing what was happening.

So-so ran out of the room and kicked Woon-jeong’s bottom. Woon-jeong rolled on the floor.

“Ow ow!”

* * *

“…”

“…”

Tang Ha-ran didn’t rush him.

Though Jin Ja-gang had come to find her and sat silently for a long time, she waited for him. She was stroking her belly that had swollen like a mountain.

But in the end, Tang Ha-ran was the first to speak.

“I thought… someday this day would come.”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t say anything.

“Watching myself being attracted to you, I thought it was really strange. To you, I was the daughter of an enemy family and I also wanted to kill you, so why was I attracted to you?”

Tang Ha-ran paused briefly then continued.

“But after I realized why I came to like you, I was convinced. Ah… that’s why. That’s why I liked this person.”

Tang Ha-ran took Jin Ja-gang’s fingertips and made him look at her.

“You still don’t know, do you? Why I… was attracted to you.”

Jin Ja-gang gazed quietly into Tang Ha-ran’s eyes. Somehow Tang Ha-ran looked sad.

Tang Ha-ran slowly opened her mouth.

“It’s lack.”

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A strategy meeting that included the Tang family leadership along with Bian Bu and Taoist Master Bok-cheon.

Everyone fell silent at Jin Ja-gang’s words spoken there.

A meticulously detailed method that was hard to imagine.

But it was a method with such high success probability that it could be called “certain.”

Jin Ja-gang’s speculation was quite reasonable.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon raised a question.

“Martial sects usually trade with one trading company for long periods. Because of trust. They’re especially careful with food products, so how could trading companies supply salt containing poison?”

Tang Gwi-ok’s accounting expert explained.

“In Sichuan, the cheapest official salt available in the market last year was thirty coins per geun. But after floods, it can surge up to ten times to three hundred coins. Currently, there’s no salt on the market, making it difficult to buy even at five hundred coins.”

This meant it couldn’t be bought despite being over ten times the original price. There wouldn’t be no salt inventory, so merchants were deliberately not releasing salt and waiting for prices to rise.

“Compared to that, smuggled private salt can be obtained for less than half price. Last year it was usually traded between ten to fifty coins.”

Trading more than one mal of private salt results in caning, and more than one seom results in death penalty. But because the price was less than half, ordinary people had no choice but to use private salt despite considerable risk.

Tang Qing had likewise stockpiled large quantities of salt at the lowest possible prices through smuggling.

Bian Bu muttered.

“If King of Hell sold salt accumulated through smuggling to other trading companies at cheap prices, they’d have no reason not to buy. From King of Hell’s perspective, it wasn’t to profit from selling salt, and from the trading companies’ perspective, they could make several times the profit.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon said with a worried expression.

“Then finding the disappeared salt would be the priority. Before it spreads to other trading companies.”

Bian Bu shook his head as if it was strange.

“But this is truly a job that would make ghosts weep. What’s been revealed so far is tens of thousands of geun, but where did all that salt go?”

A Tang family member answered.

“No, that’s not right. It’s not tens of thousands of geun. What’s been revealed is only a fraction. Looking at current analysis trends, it’s expected to reach up to hundreds of thousands of geun at most.”

Bian Bu and Taoist Master Bok-cheon clicked their tongues.

“Enormous.”

It was truly a large-scale plan, prepared for several years by investing tens of thousands of taels annually.

The Tang family members’ faces turned pale.

If salt was released causing massive casualties in the martial world and it was revealed that the Tang family was the culprit, the Tang family might end up in a worse situation than if they had proceeded with the great undertaking.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“They said salt was taken from all warehouses just before the rainy season came. When the rainy season started, all land and sea routes were blocked, so they couldn’t have moved hundreds of thousands of geun of salt far without being noticed.”

“What you mean is…”

“There’s a high possibility it’s hidden in a place not as far as we think.”

Bian Bu asked.

“Did you investigate the Yingbo merchants?”

“Local trading companies that borrowed the Yingbo merchants’ name initially transported the salt. And they said they loaded it onto ships midway.”

“With severe rainy season quickly blocking sea routes… at most within ten days’ distance by ship.”

Even if the distance was specified, finding it within ten days by ship wouldn’t be easy either.

Tang Gwi-ok decided to ask Emei Sect to participate in the search, and Qingcheng Sect also agreed to help. From now on, it was a race against time.

Would they find the hidden salt before it was released, or would it be released before they found it?

Bian Bu said.

“I’ll contact Shandong and ask the Wise Wolf to investigate the Yingbo merchants in Zhejiang. How much they know, whether they simply participated in illegal trading or knew poison was included.”

Tang Gwi-ok added.

“We must be especially careful. Salt merchants have close relationships with government offices and are civilians. If the government gets involved, we’ll face a difficult situation to handle.”

Unorthodox sect people didn’t fear government or anything, but the Tang family, being a prestigious orthodox family, couldn’t help but be wary of government offices.

Bian Bu cupped his hands and answered.

“I’ll make sure to convey the family head’s concerns as well.”

As they were wrapping up the meeting and dividing tasks among themselves, a commotion suddenly arose outside.

A Tang family warrior reported loudly from outside.

“Urgent matter!”

One elder went out.

“Don’t you know an important meeting is in progress? What’s the matter!”

“Ice Phoenix has come to our family!”

“Ice Phoenix?”

Everyone had doubts about this unexpected event. But Jin Ja-gang had previously heard from Qingcheng Sect that they had already seen Ice Phoenix in Guizhou.

Tang Gwi-ok commanded.

“Bring her here.”

Soon a young Qingcheng Sect Taoist brought Son Bi, covered in blood, under escort of Tang family warriors.

“Miss Son?”

Son Bi looked at Jin Ja-gang with a tired face.

The young Qingcheng Sect Taoist looked at Taoist Master Bok-cheon and said.

“Someone was chasing her in Guizhou so we rescued her. Since we can’t communicate with her, we don’t know what happened either. We recommended she get treatment first, but she insisted on going to the Tang family, only writing those characters…”

Son Bi looked at Jin Ja-gang then staggered toward him as if entranced.

“Ah… ah, ahh…”

Since she couldn’t speak, Jin Ja-gang had no way to understand.

Yeong-gwi, dressed as a servant, blocked her path. Son Bi looked at Yeong-gwi briefly then knelt down with a thud while looking at Jin Ja-gang.

Son Bi raised her scabbed finger and hastily wrote characters in the dirt.

Teacher.

“Teacher? Do you mean Sword Empress?”

Son Bi nodded vigorously. Son Bi’s teacher was Sword Empress Lim I-eon. Had something happened to Im Yi-eon!

Son Bi added one word before the character for teacher.

Save…

Combined with the previous character, it became “Save Teacher.”

“You want me to save Sword Empress?”

Son Bi nodded again. Tears began forming in her eyes as she looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Tang Gwi-ok said.

“It seems something has happened to Sword Empress.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon was puzzled.

“I’ve personally witnessed Sword Empress’s abilities. Her skills are extraordinary, so how could misfortune…”

Son Bi was in poor condition, not having properly treated her injuries. She almost collapsed, requiring Jin Ja-gang to support her.

“Ahhh…”

Son Bi tearfully wrote on Jin Ja-gang’s palm. Jin Ja-gang read what Son Bi wrote.

“Master told me to tell you…”

Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes wide upon feeling the next characters Son Bi wrote.

Those watching urged Jin Ja-gang impatiently.

“What is she trying to say?”

“Tell us too.”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t speak for a while, then asked Son Bi.

“Is this true?”

Son Bi nodded.

Jin Ja-gang looked around at those who had participated in the meeting and conveyed exactly what Sword Empress Lim I-eon had sent through Son Bi.

“North… Heaven!”

It was the Northern Heaven Unorthodox Sect Alliance, once part of the Nine Provinces Six Heavens that divided the martial world, though now it had become powerless. Jin Ja-gang had already fought them before.

Everyone stirred.

“Northern Heaven?”

“Why did Northern Heaven suddenly appear in Guizhou?”

But the Tang family didn’t have the luxury to worry about that. If Divine Physician An Yul-jin, who had connections with Southern Sea Sword Sect, were there, it might be different, but the Tang family had no particular relationship with Southern Sea Sword Sect either.

“We have our own urgent matters. Though the circumstances are unfortunate, we don’t have the capacity to help Sword Empress and Ice Phoenix.”

“We need to deploy every available master to our search efforts.”

Though they would help under normal circumstances, the situation was too urgent for anyone to suggest helping.

It was a difficult matter.

For the Tang family, it was also a matter where the family’s fate was at stake, and broadly speaking, they had to prevent harm to the martial world.

Hearing the negative response, the young Qingcheng Sect Taoist who had rescued Son Bi was rather restless. The Taoist looked at Taoist Master Bok-cheon, but Taoist Master Bok-cheon also knew the circumstances well, making it difficult to speak rashly.

Jin Ja-gang also agonized.

They had only met once, and he knew she had some good feelings toward him. But he couldn’t figure out what to do.

Suddenly.

Son Bi grabbed the arm of the agonizing Jin Ja-gang and looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her gaze at Jin Ja-gang was infinitely pitiful. Jin Ja-gang felt his heart stir without realizing it.

“Just… give me some time.”

Jin Ja-gang had to say that, not even knowing why he needed to make excuses to Son Bi.

* * *

So-so decided to take charge of nursing Son Bi. Perhaps because So-so also couldn’t speak, she volunteered to do it herself.

After supporting Son Bi to her room, So-so gestured for Jin Ja-gang and Woon-jeong to leave the room. She needed to wash Son Bi’s body and apply medicine.

While leaving the room, Woon-jeong asked Jin Ja-gang.

“Excuse me, Poison Dragon friend. I know this isn’t the time to ask such things. But I’m so curious I can’t help asking.”

“Please speak.”

Woon-jeong lowered his voice slightly.

“By any chance, did Ice Phoenix Miss also try to kill Poison Dragon friend?”

“What do you suddenly mean by that?”

“You know that person with one missing leg last time. The one called Red Flower Immortal.”

“Yes.”

“She told me. That Poison Dragon friend was very popular. Even in Henan where Shaolin Temple is, Ice Phoenix Miss fell for him and Sword Empress got angry…”

Jin Ja-gang asked Woon-jeong.

“But what does that have to do with trying to kill?”

“Come on, why are you pretending when you know? Last time too, Miss Tang tried to kill Poison Dragon friend but then you two connected hearts.”

Clang!

A servant bringing water in a basin from outside suddenly dropped the basin. Then she stared at Jin Ja-gang with an absurd expression.

It was Yeong-gwi disguised as a servant.

Moreover, even though Woon-jeong’s voice was low, Son Bi in the room couldn’t have failed to hear that story. Son Bi’s face had turned completely red and she was flustered.

Son Bi and Yeong-gwi’s eyes met.

There was no need to say anything. Their awkward and flustered gazes fully revealed their emotions.

“Huh?”

Woon-jeong tilted his head, looking back and forth between Yeong-gwi and Son Bi, not knowing what was happening.

So-so ran out of the room and kicked Woon-jeong’s bottom. Woon-jeong rolled on the floor.

“Ow ow!”

* * *

“…”

“…”

Tang Ha-ran didn’t rush him.

Though Jin Ja-gang had come to find her and sat silently for a long time, she waited for him. She was stroking her belly that had swollen like a mountain.

But in the end, Tang Ha-ran was the first to speak.

“I thought… someday this day would come.”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t say anything.

“Watching myself being attracted to you, I thought it was really strange. To you, I was the daughter of an enemy family and I also wanted to kill you, so why was I attracted to you?”

Tang Ha-ran paused briefly then continued.

“But after I realized why I came to like you, I was convinced. Ah… that’s why. That’s why I liked this person.”

Tang Ha-ran took Jin Ja-gang’s fingertips and made him look at her.

“You still don’t know, do you? Why I… was attracted to you.”

Jin Ja-gang gazed quietly into Tang Ha-ran’s eyes. Somehow Tang Ha-ran looked sad.

Tang Ha-ran slowly opened her mouth.

“It’s lack.”

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