Chapter 1424
Is this Sichuan Tang Clan? (4)
“Y… Y-Young Master! Th-the enemy… Sapaeryeon’s forces have reached the city gates!”
The face of Jo Ung [조웅(趙雄)], the Young Master of Four Seas merchant guild, tensed at those words.
‘Of all times, when Father is absent on an official trip!’
Attempting to calm his tightening throat, Jo Ung swallowed hard as if trying to suppress his nerves, then turned his head to look ahead.
“Are all instructions being followed?”
“Yes. Everyone has been instructed to enter the main building and remain cautious.”
“And not a sound is to be made!”
“Yes!”
Beads of sweat dripped down Jo Ung’s forehead.
News of Sapaeryeon’s approach had only just reached the guild. It was already too late to flee. All Jo Ung could do now was pray that Paegun’s grip wouldn’t reach Four Seas merchant guild.
“Ar-are you sure we’ll be okay?”
“…We’ll manage.”
Jo Ung swallowed another dry gulp before continuing.
“I’ve heard that while Paegun may be feared throughout Gangho, he hasn’t often targeted civilians who are untrained in martial arts. If we stay silent like dead rats, he may not bother to hunt us down.”
His reasoning wasn’t solely based on the reputation of Jang Ilso alone.
After all, within this city lay the Sichuan Tang Clan. Would the invading forces of Sapaeryeon waste their time scouring places like the merchant guild when they had their eyes set on the Tang clan?
“B-but… we can’t deny that we’re not entirely unrelated to them, can we?”
At that moment, the grand executive spoke up, his voice trembling. When Jo Ung turned to look at him, he hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Sapaeryeon sees Hwasan as their archenemy, as the rumors say. But isn’t the youngest son from Hwasan?”
“…”
“Even so, do you think they’ll just leave us alone? They see us as a family of their enemy, and moreover, aren’t they ruthless bandits of Evil Sects?”
Jo Ung’s hand trembled slightly. His younger brother, Jo Geol, wasn’t just a mere disciple of Hwasan. He was one of the renowned Five Swords of Hwasan.
If the rumors were true about the depth of Sapaeryeon’s grudge against Hwasan, what they might do to the Four Seas merchant guild, Jo Geol’s ancestral home, was uncertain.
“Such a thing won’t happen.”
“But…”
“I did say such a thing won’t happen. Stop worrying and go quickly oversee the guards and patrols! Now!”
“Yes… Yes, Young Master.”
Watching the reluctant executive as he moved, Jo Ung bit his lip in frustration. He knew his concerns weren’t unfounded. But at this point, there wasn’t any other option. Indecisiveness would only breed more anxiety among them.
They were just ordinary merchants. If Sapaeryeon decided to target the guild, what good would it do to run? They would be hunted down and slaughtered before they could even cover ten li.
So now, all they could do was pray fervently that the passing forces of Sapaeryeon wouldn’t realize that this was Jo Geol’s ancestral home.
It was at that very moment.
“They’re coming!”
A panicked voice erupted from outside. Startled, Jo Ung rushed unconsciously towards the still-open main gate.
As he put his head out, he saw a procession marching down the wide street in the distance.
‘…Paegun Jang Ilso.’
It was evident at a glance.
There’s no way there would be two people in the world walking around in such ostentatious attire. Moreover, the people following him were covered in ominous dark red robes. A tall man with red long robes fluttering between them. That pure white face was eerily visible.
For a moment, Jo Ung was lost in thought, but then he snapped back to reality and issued orders.
“Close the gate! Quickly!”
“Yes! Yes, Young Master!”
Thunk!
The massive gates of Four Seas merchant guild were swiftly shut, and with a heavy thud, the large bolt sealed them tight. Jo Ung, having double-checked the firmly closed gates with his own eyes, couldn’t help but clasp his hands together.
‘Please…’
“Hmm…”
Jang Ilso leisurely strolled through the wide road, sweeping his gaze over the surroundings of Chengdu. Despite being the largest city in Sichuan Province, famous throughout the realm, not a single soul seemed to catch his eye at the moment.
“Well, well. I wasn’t expecting lavish hospitality, but isn’t this a bit too harsh? I never knew the people of Sichuan could be so cold-hearted.”
With a small laugh, Jang Ilso cast his gaze into the distance. The fastest route to Sichuan Tang was through this very city. However, his choice of path was not solely for that reason.
They need to find out. Who is here right now? Who will be the one to rule this place from now on?
As Jang Ilso lifted the corner of his mouth and took another step, a whisper-like voice from one of his followers reached his ears.
“Hmm?”
Jang Ilso’s steps slowly came to a halt. Simultaneously, those who were following him also stopped in their tracks.
“…Oh, really?”
Jang Ilso’s head turned very slowly to the side as he stood still in his place. His gaze landed on a large signboard hanging above the entrance, bearing the inscription “Four Seas Merchant Guild.”
A twisted smile formed on Jang Ilso’s lips.
Crash!
“Ah, agh!”
The sturdy door, securely bolted shut, shattered as if struck by a cannonball. Fragments of the door scattered in all directions, and the ground shook as if it might collapse at any moment.
Everyone cowered and sank to the ground, clutching their heads. But Jo Ung couldn’t. Not because he wasn’t scared, but because he witnessed the scene before fear could even take hold of him.
A man stood beyond the broken door.
The man adorned in extravagant, brightly colored robes with intricate golden dragons, appearing ostentatious to the point of exaggeration. His entire being was adorned with dazzling jewelry, exuding an aura of grandeur. His eerily white face and blood-red lips caught his eye. But what caught Jo Ung’s attention the most, however, were the man’s eyes.
Jo Ung, as the Young Master of Four Seas merchant guild, had traveled far and wide, encountering all sorts of rare sights in the world. Yet, no matter what he compared them to, he couldn’t find an adequate description for those eyes.
Snake-like? That’s not even remotely amusing. Even if it were the deadliest viper, one would shudder upon meeting those eyes. Even if one were to liken them to a creature entirely incomprehensible, it wouldn’t suffice.
Those eyes, whose depths held unfathomable meaning, were now fixed directly on Jo Ung.
“Hmm…”
Jang Ilso let out a light snort. With that small sound, the world, which had momentarily frozen, began to move again. It was a sensation Jo Ung found far from comforting.
Shifting his gaze away from Jo Ung, Jang Ilso slowly surveyed the manor from left to right, his movements suffocatingly deliberate.
“They say this is… the residence of one of Hwasan’s Five Swords, Jo Geol.”
Jang Ilso finally spoke.
After a brief pause, Jang Ilso’s eyes returned to Jo Ung.
“Is that right?”
Jo Ung couldn’t muster any response. Not because his throat was constricted to the point of silence, nor because he lacked a suitable answer to evade this situation entirely. Even if he had prepared the perfect response to navigate through all of this, he still wouldn’t have been able to bring himself to speak.
His whole body froze, like a rat that had encountered a snake right in front of its nose. His spine tingled, and his hair stood on end, as if electrified.
Seeing Jo Ung stiffen, Jang Ilso raised the corner of his mouth.
“…Seems like it.”
Jang Ilso scrutinized Jo Ung as if probing for something, then asked.
“So, you must be… the brother of that brat?”
Jo Ung’s adam’s apple trembled as it moved. His dry throat, tightened with tension, ached even with the swallowing of saliva.
“You bear some resemblance. Hm.”
Jang Ilso slowly approached Jo Ung, his steps slow and calm.
Cling. Cling.
His gait exuded a sense of ease.
Jo Ung couldn’t even comprehend what he was feeling right now. Fear seemed inadequate to describe it. Even if it were a grim reaper approaching, Jo Ung wouldn’t have trembled like this. While the fear of death was real, as a human, one had to eventually come to terms with death.
However, the sensation emanating from this man was different. It felt as if the air was being sucked out of him, and his body involuntarily tightened. The uncertainty of what might unfold, and what he might have to endure, hung in the air like an unanswered question. Everything seemed to be swept away in chaos.
‘Could it be… that Geol is fighting against someone like this?’
Against such a monster?
As Jang Ilso arrived right in front of Jo Ung, he stared at him intently, like a snake eyeing its prey wrapped in thick coils.
“Do you know who I am?”
“…”
“Answer.”
Jo Ung’s body trembled involuntarily.
“Quickly.”
“J-Jang… Ilso…”
“…”
“Pae, Paegun… Paegun Jang… Ilso…”
“I see.”
Jang Ilso smiled as if pleased.
“Well, you seem to know. Then you must also understand that there’s quite a connection between your brother and me.”
A myriad of thoughts flashed through Jo Ung’s mind for a moment.
He must deny it. Even if it’s denying the heavens law, he must deny this relationship. That’s the only way for everyone to survive.
Geol has already left the family. Their connection with him has already been severed. He is a brother yet not a brother. So it’s unjust and meaningless for Paegun to unleash his wrath upon them.
But all those thoughts ultimately remained unspoken. Jo Ung couldn’t bring himself to deny his younger brother. Despite trembling uncontrollably, he remained silent, lips tightly sealed.
“Oh?”
Observing him, Jang Ilso nodded faintly as if to roughly guess his thoughts.
“Indeed. Brotherhood is a wonderful thing. Whether family should be like that or not. One must be prepared to share their fate to be considered family, don’t you think?”
Drawing closer, Jang Ilso raised his hand and lightly grasped Jo Ung’s throat. His nails pricked Jo Ung’s skin.
With just a light squeeze of his powerful hand, Jo Ung’s throat would collapse like rotten straw, lifeless and limp. That signal would mean no one in this manor would survive.
Jo Ung’s complexion turned ashen as he faced the dreadful crossroads of fate.
Leaning in closer, Jang Ilso tilted his head and whispered softly, almost imperceptibly, into Jo Ung’s ear.
“So…”
His voice was low and sinister, akin to a devil’s whisper.
“At least… convey my regards.”
Jo Ung’s eyes widened involuntarily.
“Let him know I paid a visit. Understand?”
With his head pulled back, Jang Ilso grinned at the rigid Jo Ung, his eyes wide open.
“Well, what’s your answer?”
Unable to muster the strength to speak, Jo Ung nodded frantically, conveying his agreement. Seeing this, Jang Ilso took a step back and nodded in return.
“Well then. Good.”
Chuckling at the bewildered Jo Ung, Jang Ilso turned on his heel without a trace of hesitation.
“Keep working hard. Make sure to pay your taxes promptly. Hahaha!”
Waving his hand above his head as if bidding farewell to a close friend, Jang Ilso led his entourage out of the gates and into the distance.
Watching the scene as if mesmerized, Jo Ung’s legs finally gave way beneath him. He slumped down, collapsing onto the ground. The sweat that had been flowing down his body instantly soaked his clothes.
“Y-Young Master!”
The executive, who had arrived belatedly, hurriedly tried to support him, but Jo Ung waved him away with trembling hands, refusing assistance.
“I’m… fine.”
Jo Ung remained on the ground, his gaze blankly fixed on the now eerily quiet space outside the gates, as if silently questioning when it had all happened.
Not even a trace of Jang Ilso remained in that spot.
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