Chapter 414

Chapter 414

The leaders looked frustrated.

“Dujiangyan?”

“You must not know well, but Dujiangyan is not on the Yangtze River but on the upper reaches of the Min River, directly north of Chengdu where we are.”

Jin Ja-gang pointed to the map.

“The upper reaches of the Min River are correct. Not the Yangtze River, but the Min River. Yeong-gwi got off at Luzhou. Right after that, there’s a waterway where the Min River joins. If the boat went that way, she wouldn’t have known.”

The Min River crosses from northern Sichuan through the central part to join the Yangtze River in the south. Since Yeong-gwi was coming up from the southern Yangtze River, it wasn’t an impossible story.

But Dujiangyan was less than two hundred li from Chengdu. It would truly be like the darkness under the lamp.

Everyone was incredulous.

“Deliberately bringing salt back to store it so close to our main house? If so, they would have stored it there from the beginning.”

“King of Hell was cautious enough to proceed without even the Tang family knowing. If he had gathered such large quantities of salt in one place from the beginning, it would have looked suspicious to others. To keep the secret as much as possible until the great undertaking, it seems he stockpiled salt in various places over several years.”

“Then why not release it from there? Why bother gathering it all in one place?”

“Because poison must be mixed all at once to maintain the secret of mixing poison with salt until then, and simultaneous distribution achieves maximum effect.”

It made sense when they heard it.

Tang Gwi-ok nodded.

“That’s quite convincing. If it were older brother, he would have done that.”

Everyone agreed up to that point.

“But why would it be at Dujiangyan?”

“Most of the salt was taken out before the rainy season came. To avoid the effects of flooding. Then…”

Jin Ja-gang paused briefly before continuing.

“Where would be safe even if rivers overflow from floods? Where would it be easiest to spread poisoned salt? And where would King of Hell have found easy to manage?”

Only then did the leaders look like they’d been struck.

“Dujiangyan…”

“Then according to Poison Dragon’s words, Dujiangyan is the optimal location!”

Dujiangyan is a water conservancy facility built where the Min River frequently flooded, causing severe flood damage. Shu’s prefect Li Bing built dikes in the center of the river to create irrigation facilities that dispersed the river’s flow to various places, overcoming both floods and droughts simultaneously. No matter how severe floods come, it absolutely never overflows.

Thanks to Dujiangyan, there’s a saying that Sichuan’s Chengdu has more fertile farmland than anywhere else in the Central Plains because it hasn’t suffered flood damage for over a thousand years.

If one wanted to store large quantities of salt without flood damage… the safest place in all the Central Plains.

At the same time, going eight hundred li north reaches the Yellow River and down reaches the Yangtze River, making it the place where supplies can be sent to anywhere in the Central Plains in the fastest time.

Even close to the Tang Family Main House, where it could be tended anytime if desired.

Precisely, Dujiangyan.

The Tang family leaders could no longer refute Jin Ja-gang’s words.

They had no choice but to acknowledge Jin Ja-gang.

Perhaps Jin Ja-gang’s ability surpassed even King of Hell’s.

They should be grateful that such a person wasn’t trying to completely destroy the Tang family but was now on the same side.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Gwi-ok.

Tang Gwi-ok made a decision.

“Currently, son-in-law’s words seem most likely, and there appears to be no other alternative. Moreover, if Northern Heaven unorthodox sect is involved, it’s not a problem that can be solved with just a few masters.”

The elders asked with heavy faces.

“You mean…”

“This matter must be stopped at all costs. Our family’s survival depends on it. We will mobilize all resources to contain what older brother started.”

Tang Gwi-ok said emphatically.

“Prepare yourselves. We’ll use the Flying Shadow Group as scouts to blockade all land routes and waterways from Dujiangyan. If the Flying Shadow Group’s reconnaissance confirms the presence of Northern Heaven unorthodox sect and salt warehouses, we will send all our family’s combat organizations to annihilate Northern Heaven unorthodox sect at Dujiangyan!”

* * *

Mang Ryo was heading to Baek Li-jung’s office when he met a merchant from Taeho Trading Company midway. It was a trading company active in Jiangsu Province that dealt exclusively with the Baek Li family.

Since he occasionally came and went from where Baek Li-jung was, Mang Ryo was acquainted with him.

“Hmm? What brings Master Lim here?”

The merchant bowed obsequiously upon seeing Mang Ryo.

“Ah, Advisor Mang. How are you?”

“I’m fine. But Master Jin doesn’t look very well? You look anxious too.”

The merchant made a troubled expression.

“Actually, we were trying to acquire goods under very favorable conditions, but a small mishap occurred at the acquisition site. So I was about to seek help from Hero Baek Li.”

Normally, Mang Ryo would have passed by such talk casually.

But today was different.

“What? What happened?”

The merchant answered reluctantly.

“Well, it’s… something others shouldn’t hear about…”

“It’s fine. It’s fine. Who knows? I might be able to help too.”

“Well, the thing is…”

The merchant said.

“Actually, we agreed to buy salt at a very cheap price and sell it, but the Tang family is blocking the waterways so delivery can’t be made.”

“The Tang family? Why?”

“This was originally agreed upon when King of Hell was in position. But as you know, King of Hell is now bedridden. So we think they’re probably trying to raise the salt price… that’s what we think.”

“Salt?”

Suddenly…

Mang Ryo felt pain.

Throb! His long-missing left eye ached for the first time in a while.

“Uh, uh?”

When Mang Ryo made strange groaning sounds while covering his eye, the merchant wondered.

“Advisor Mang?”

Mang Ryo’s face turned bright red. His eyes opened wide and he broke out in cold sweat. Tang Qing’s words suddenly flashed through his mind.

“This rainy season will bring extremely severe downpours. This summer… a terrible plague that the Central Plains has never experienced before will rage, causing the greatest casualties in history.

Even the masters of the nine great sects will be no exception…”

Mang Ryo’s mouth opened. Though his face was contorted in pain, a smile appeared on his lips.

“Well well, King of Hell! So that was it?”

Five Path Fatal Pills. Floods and plague. Salt.

And Jin Ja-gang.

In an instant, Mang Ryo realized the rest of the plan Tang Qing hadn’t told him.

“A-Advisor Mang?”

The merchant stepped back in surprise.

Mang Ryo laughed heartily while blinking his eyes. Then he waved his hand vigorously.

“No. No. It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something.”

Mang Ryo wiped tears from his aching eye and put his arm around the merchant’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

“Where did you say? The road the Tang family is blocking.”

“Sichuan’s Du… jiangyan.”

“Ah, Sichuan? Good. Hero Baek Li is inside, so let’s go talk together. I’ll do my best to persuade him.”

Mang Ryo led the merchant to the office with a desolate smile and gleaming eyes.

Inside the office, Baek Li-jung stood looking out the window, shaking his head left and right.

Mang Ryo called out.

“Governor?”

Baek Li-jung pretended not to hear and kept shaking his head left and right for quite a while. It was strange behavior.

Then he suddenly asked Mang Ryo out of nowhere.

“How deep has your martial arts cultivation become?”

Mang Ryo wondered what he was talking about and patted the merchant beside him on the shoulder.

“Ah, it’s not about me but Master Lim from Taeho Trading Company here…”

“We go to Dujiangyan.”

Mang Ryo looked back and forth between the merchant and Baek Li-jung, pointing at both with his finger.

“I just met him in front?”

“Don’t make me… ask twice.”

“Did you hear?”

Baek Li-jung’s voice, speaking while only shaking his head left and right without turning around, even carried an ominous killing intent. Mang Ryo frowned. He seemed unable to handle the demonic energy.

After Mang Ryo sent the confused merchant out of the room, he grumbled.

“Still, I’m in better shape. The side effects of Red Shadow Pills are nothing but dying early.”

Even at Mang Ryo’s words, Baek Li-jung didn’t waver.

“If you’ve taken Red Shadow Pills… it’s not enough.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“The final step.”

Shake, shake.

“I climb the final step to ascend to the last position.”

“A step made of poisoned salt?”

“We use it.”

Mang Ryo couldn’t speak for a while.

He knows. Baek Li-jung too.

Mang Ryo threw sharp words at the back of Baek Li-jung’s head.

“If you mishandle such a thing, you’ll become a traitor to the martial world?”

Baek Li-jung still only shook his head. But Mang Ryo understood Baek Li-jung’s thoughts.

Baek Li-jung intended to use Tang Qing’s poison to eliminate sects that would hinder his rise to the martial alliance leader position! For instance, the remaining sects affiliated with Yangtze River Sword Sect!

“You’re truly unparalleled in boldness. Making statements that could turn the martial world upside down without a moment’s hesitation.”

Mang Ryo paused while speaking and tilted his head.

“No no, before that, I don’t understand. How did you learn that information? Even I just found out.”

“Why. Are you scared?”

“I’m scared. There’s someone in front of me who doesn’t care about means and methods for ambition.”

“If you’re scared, you can get lost right now.”

“Kill me with a blow to the back of the head the moment I turn around? No good, no good.”

Though Baek Li-jung didn’t turn around because he was busy shaking his head, Mang Ryo could tell.

That Baek Li-jung was smiling.

A cruel smile soon appeared on Mang Ryo’s lips too.

“I have a good idea… would you like to hear it?”

“If it’s nonsense, I’ll kill you immediately.”

“No, since we’re going to climb this step anyway, let’s climb up enjoyably while receiving others’ cheers. Fun, fun.”

Shake…

Only then did Baek Li-jung’s head-shaking stop.

The slowly rising demonic energy calmed down.

Baek Li-jung turned his head.

His expression was gentle and mild, with eyes containing the spiritual energy one might see in a high monk. Demonic energy was completely undetectable. Even Mang Ryo had to be amazed at such a transformation in Baek Li-jung.

“Speak.”

Despite the clear condescension, Mang Ryo’s smile grew deeper.

“So what I’m saying is…”

* * *

“B-big trouble!”

One of the Tang family elders ran to Tang Gwi-ok as if possessed.

Tang Gwi-ok asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“B-b-big, big… big trouble.”

“I understand, so tell me. What exactly happened?”

The elder swallowed hard. His face turned pale.

“The Righteous Alliance, the Righteous Alliance made the first move…!”

The corners of Tang Gwi-ok’s eyes turned up.

“What did you say?”

* * *

Baek Li-jung proclaimed to the martial world in the name of the Righteous Alliance.

“I am well aware of the difficulties faced by the people due to this year’s floods. Therefore, I have requested various trading companies to supply materials needed for relief, and have first secured salt, which is most lacking. Within a few days, salt will be sent from Sichuan’s salt well warehouses to various parts of the Central Plains to conduct relief work. I hope this can provide some relief to the people who have fallen into hardship…”

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The leaders looked frustrated.

“Dujiangyan?”

“You must not know well, but Dujiangyan is not on the Yangtze River but on the upper reaches of the Min River, directly north of Chengdu where we are.”

Jin Ja-gang pointed to the map.

“The upper reaches of the Min River are correct. Not the Yangtze River, but the Min River. Yeong-gwi got off at Luzhou. Right after that, there’s a waterway where the Min River joins. If the boat went that way, she wouldn’t have known.”

The Min River crosses from northern Sichuan through the central part to join the Yangtze River in the south. Since Yeong-gwi was coming up from the southern Yangtze River, it wasn’t an impossible story.

But Dujiangyan was less than two hundred li from Chengdu. It would truly be like the darkness under the lamp.

Everyone was incredulous.

“Deliberately bringing salt back to store it so close to our main house? If so, they would have stored it there from the beginning.”

“King of Hell was cautious enough to proceed without even the Tang family knowing. If he had gathered such large quantities of salt in one place from the beginning, it would have looked suspicious to others. To keep the secret as much as possible until the great undertaking, it seems he stockpiled salt in various places over several years.”

“Then why not release it from there? Why bother gathering it all in one place?”

“Because poison must be mixed all at once to maintain the secret of mixing poison with salt until then, and simultaneous distribution achieves maximum effect.”

It made sense when they heard it.

Tang Gwi-ok nodded.

“That’s quite convincing. If it were older brother, he would have done that.”

Everyone agreed up to that point.

“But why would it be at Dujiangyan?”

“Most of the salt was taken out before the rainy season came. To avoid the effects of flooding. Then…”

Jin Ja-gang paused briefly before continuing.

“Where would be safe even if rivers overflow from floods? Where would it be easiest to spread poisoned salt? And where would King of Hell have found easy to manage?”

Only then did the leaders look like they’d been struck.

“Dujiangyan…”

“Then according to Poison Dragon’s words, Dujiangyan is the optimal location!”

Dujiangyan is a water conservancy facility built where the Min River frequently flooded, causing severe flood damage. Shu’s prefect Li Bing built dikes in the center of the river to create irrigation facilities that dispersed the river’s flow to various places, overcoming both floods and droughts simultaneously. No matter how severe floods come, it absolutely never overflows.

Thanks to Dujiangyan, there’s a saying that Sichuan’s Chengdu has more fertile farmland than anywhere else in the Central Plains because it hasn’t suffered flood damage for over a thousand years.

If one wanted to store large quantities of salt without flood damage… the safest place in all the Central Plains.

At the same time, going eight hundred li north reaches the Yellow River and down reaches the Yangtze River, making it the place where supplies can be sent to anywhere in the Central Plains in the fastest time.

Even close to the Tang Family Main House, where it could be tended anytime if desired.

Precisely, Dujiangyan.

The Tang family leaders could no longer refute Jin Ja-gang’s words.

They had no choice but to acknowledge Jin Ja-gang.

Perhaps Jin Ja-gang’s ability surpassed even King of Hell’s.

They should be grateful that such a person wasn’t trying to completely destroy the Tang family but was now on the same side.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Gwi-ok.

Tang Gwi-ok made a decision.

“Currently, son-in-law’s words seem most likely, and there appears to be no other alternative. Moreover, if Northern Heaven unorthodox sect is involved, it’s not a problem that can be solved with just a few masters.”

The elders asked with heavy faces.

“You mean…”

“This matter must be stopped at all costs. Our family’s survival depends on it. We will mobilize all resources to contain what older brother started.”

Tang Gwi-ok said emphatically.

“Prepare yourselves. We’ll use the Flying Shadow Group as scouts to blockade all land routes and waterways from Dujiangyan. If the Flying Shadow Group’s reconnaissance confirms the presence of Northern Heaven unorthodox sect and salt warehouses, we will send all our family’s combat organizations to annihilate Northern Heaven unorthodox sect at Dujiangyan!”

* * *

Mang Ryo was heading to Baek Li-jung’s office when he met a merchant from Taeho Trading Company midway. It was a trading company active in Jiangsu Province that dealt exclusively with the Baek Li family.

Since he occasionally came and went from where Baek Li-jung was, Mang Ryo was acquainted with him.

“Hmm? What brings Master Lim here?”

The merchant bowed obsequiously upon seeing Mang Ryo.

“Ah, Advisor Mang. How are you?”

“I’m fine. But Master Jin doesn’t look very well? You look anxious too.”

The merchant made a troubled expression.

“Actually, we were trying to acquire goods under very favorable conditions, but a small mishap occurred at the acquisition site. So I was about to seek help from Hero Baek Li.”

Normally, Mang Ryo would have passed by such talk casually.

But today was different.

“What? What happened?”

The merchant answered reluctantly.

“Well, it’s… something others shouldn’t hear about…”

“It’s fine. It’s fine. Who knows? I might be able to help too.”

“Well, the thing is…”

The merchant said.

“Actually, we agreed to buy salt at a very cheap price and sell it, but the Tang family is blocking the waterways so delivery can’t be made.”

“The Tang family? Why?”

“This was originally agreed upon when King of Hell was in position. But as you know, King of Hell is now bedridden. So we think they’re probably trying to raise the salt price… that’s what we think.”

“Salt?”

Suddenly…

Mang Ryo felt pain.

Throb! His long-missing left eye ached for the first time in a while.

“Uh, uh?”

When Mang Ryo made strange groaning sounds while covering his eye, the merchant wondered.

“Advisor Mang?”

Mang Ryo’s face turned bright red. His eyes opened wide and he broke out in cold sweat. Tang Qing’s words suddenly flashed through his mind.

“This rainy season will bring extremely severe downpours. This summer… a terrible plague that the Central Plains has never experienced before will rage, causing the greatest casualties in history.

Even the masters of the nine great sects will be no exception…”

Mang Ryo’s mouth opened. Though his face was contorted in pain, a smile appeared on his lips.

“Well well, King of Hell! So that was it?”

Five Path Fatal Pills. Floods and plague. Salt.

And Jin Ja-gang.

In an instant, Mang Ryo realized the rest of the plan Tang Qing hadn’t told him.

“A-Advisor Mang?”

The merchant stepped back in surprise.

Mang Ryo laughed heartily while blinking his eyes. Then he waved his hand vigorously.

“No. No. It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something.”

Mang Ryo wiped tears from his aching eye and put his arm around the merchant’s shoulder in a friendly manner.

“Where did you say? The road the Tang family is blocking.”

“Sichuan’s Du… jiangyan.”

“Ah, Sichuan? Good. Hero Baek Li is inside, so let’s go talk together. I’ll do my best to persuade him.”

Mang Ryo led the merchant to the office with a desolate smile and gleaming eyes.

Inside the office, Baek Li-jung stood looking out the window, shaking his head left and right.

Mang Ryo called out.

“Governor?”

Baek Li-jung pretended not to hear and kept shaking his head left and right for quite a while. It was strange behavior.

Then he suddenly asked Mang Ryo out of nowhere.

“How deep has your martial arts cultivation become?”

Mang Ryo wondered what he was talking about and patted the merchant beside him on the shoulder.

“Ah, it’s not about me but Master Lim from Taeho Trading Company here…”

“We go to Dujiangyan.”

Mang Ryo looked back and forth between the merchant and Baek Li-jung, pointing at both with his finger.

“I just met him in front?”

“Don’t make me… ask twice.”

“Did you hear?”

Baek Li-jung’s voice, speaking while only shaking his head left and right without turning around, even carried an ominous killing intent. Mang Ryo frowned. He seemed unable to handle the demonic energy.

After Mang Ryo sent the confused merchant out of the room, he grumbled.

“Still, I’m in better shape. The side effects of Red Shadow Pills are nothing but dying early.”

Even at Mang Ryo’s words, Baek Li-jung didn’t waver.

“If you’ve taken Red Shadow Pills… it’s not enough.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“The final step.”

Shake, shake.

“I climb the final step to ascend to the last position.”

“A step made of poisoned salt?”

“We use it.”

Mang Ryo couldn’t speak for a while.

He knows. Baek Li-jung too.

Mang Ryo threw sharp words at the back of Baek Li-jung’s head.

“If you mishandle such a thing, you’ll become a traitor to the martial world?”

Baek Li-jung still only shook his head. But Mang Ryo understood Baek Li-jung’s thoughts.

Baek Li-jung intended to use Tang Qing’s poison to eliminate sects that would hinder his rise to the martial alliance leader position! For instance, the remaining sects affiliated with Yangtze River Sword Sect!

“You’re truly unparalleled in boldness. Making statements that could turn the martial world upside down without a moment’s hesitation.”

Mang Ryo paused while speaking and tilted his head.

“No no, before that, I don’t understand. How did you learn that information? Even I just found out.”

“Why. Are you scared?”

“I’m scared. There’s someone in front of me who doesn’t care about means and methods for ambition.”

“If you’re scared, you can get lost right now.”

“Kill me with a blow to the back of the head the moment I turn around? No good, no good.”

Though Baek Li-jung didn’t turn around because he was busy shaking his head, Mang Ryo could tell.

That Baek Li-jung was smiling.

A cruel smile soon appeared on Mang Ryo’s lips too.

“I have a good idea… would you like to hear it?”

“If it’s nonsense, I’ll kill you immediately.”

“No, since we’re going to climb this step anyway, let’s climb up enjoyably while receiving others’ cheers. Fun, fun.”

Shake…

Only then did Baek Li-jung’s head-shaking stop.

The slowly rising demonic energy calmed down.

Baek Li-jung turned his head.

His expression was gentle and mild, with eyes containing the spiritual energy one might see in a high monk. Demonic energy was completely undetectable. Even Mang Ryo had to be amazed at such a transformation in Baek Li-jung.

“Speak.”

Despite the clear condescension, Mang Ryo’s smile grew deeper.

“So what I’m saying is…”

* * *

“B-big trouble!”

One of the Tang family elders ran to Tang Gwi-ok as if possessed.

Tang Gwi-ok asked.

“What’s the matter?”

“B-b-big, big… big trouble.”

“I understand, so tell me. What exactly happened?”

The elder swallowed hard. His face turned pale.

“The Righteous Alliance, the Righteous Alliance made the first move…!”

The corners of Tang Gwi-ok’s eyes turned up.

“What did you say?”

* * *

Baek Li-jung proclaimed to the martial world in the name of the Righteous Alliance.

“I am well aware of the difficulties faced by the people due to this year’s floods. Therefore, I have requested various trading companies to supply materials needed for relief, and have first secured salt, which is most lacking. Within a few days, salt will be sent from Sichuan’s salt well warehouses to various parts of the Central Plains to conduct relief work. I hope this can provide some relief to the people who have fallen into hardship…”

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