Chapter 143
After finishing their meal, Jaseong's group moved into action immediately.
They put on their face-skin masks again and disguised themselves as a regular merchant guild.
Jaseong and Gu Janghu posed as bodyguard warriors, while Lee Rin and Dokgo Yeon played the roles of the merchant guild's daughters.
"Where's our first destination?"
Dokgo Yeon asked.
At that moment, unlike her usual drab attire, she was dressed in a light pink brocade robe adorned with cloud patterns.
Jaseong mounted his horse and answered curtly.
"The black market."
"Huh? Why there?"
"Because there's no better place to find evidence of illegal activities."
Having grown up in the Red Light District, Jaseong was more familiar than anyone with the kind of information traded in shady places like the black market.
With that, Jaseong and his group headed for the black market located in the outskirts of Beijing.
Thanks to the map and intel Hyang-I had sent via black hawk, it was not difficult to find the black market.
* * *
The black market on the outskirts of Beijing was nestled inside a huge cave below a sheer cliff.
The entrance was cleverly concealed with bushes and rocks, but thanks to Hyang-I's information, they were able to locate it.
As they entered the cave, torches burned at regular intervals, and the sinister light stained the rugged walls in crimson hues.
Following the passage further inside, they entered a space much larger than they had expected.
The black market, utilizing the ceiling of a natural cave that opened high above, was lined with dozens of stalls.
Each merchant hid their identity with black hoods or face-covering cloths.
Some wore iron masks, while others seemed to have taken voice-altering drugs as they lured customers with raspy voices.
"All sorts of martial arts manuals! Even copies of Shaolin's various cultivation methods!"
"Secret weapons! All kinds of projectiles! Soul-Chasing Needles, bone-Piercing Nails, you name it!"
Illegal goods of every sort were displayed at each stall.
Deadly poisons banned by the authorities, martial arts manuals of uncertain origin, a host of assassin's hidden weapons for killing.
At one stall, there were even bizarre talismans and curse implements seemingly made from human bones.
The black market's clientele were far from ordinary as well.
There was a man whose face was covered with scars and who had a sinister look,
someone draped in blood-stained martial robes that reeked of blood,
and even a man dressed somewhat like an official but with his face hidden—likely a corrupt official.
All kinds of people squirming at the bottom of the martial world gathered here to trade.
Dokgo Yeon furrowed her brows.
'What a filthy place.'
Given that Dokgo Yeon had little experience in the martial world, it was only natural for such words to cross her mind upon seeing the black market's scenery.
Unlike her, Lee Rin, who had already visited several black markets, calmly scanned her surroundings.
[According to Hyang big sis's information, Soul-Bewildering Powder should be distributed here as well...]
Lee Rin sent a telepathic message.
[But there are too many people, great hero. How are we supposed to find the intermediary for Soul-Bewildering Powder here?]
At Lee Rin's question, Jaseong pondered for a moment.
He then simultaneously unleashed his Samadhi Eyes and Seeking Light in the Darkness.
Ssss—
As time slowed down through the Samadhi Eyes, colorful wisps of intent flickered before Jaseong's eyes.
By activating Seeking Light in the Darkness at the same time, he was able to sense the energies in the black market with even greater clarity.
This method was something Jaseong had only recently come up with.
Now that his internal power had surpassed two cycles of the sixty-year cycle, he was capable of such feats.
'... There it is. An energy distinctly different from the other black market merchants. Must be at least a 1st-rate expert...'
It wasn't long before Jaseong spotted a group that caught his eye.
They looked like ordinary martial escorts from an escort agency, but the force they emanated was unusual.
Then, Dokgo Yeon once again demonstrated an unexpected ability.
[Hall Lord of Scarlet Lotus Hall. That cart. There's the distinct fishy scent of Soul-Bewildering Powder. Subtle, but my nose won't be fooled.]
Dokgo Yeon sniffed toward a cart being hauled by the escort agency's warriors and sent Jaseong a telepathic message.
Jaseong nodded and immediately telepathed to the group.
[We follow them.]
Jaseong and his companions kept their distance and tailed the escort warriors.
They exited the black market and headed down a deserted mountain path.
After quite a bit of walking, the place they stopped was the entrance to a giant cave below a sheer cliff.
A flag with the character 'Peng (彭)' stood by the cave entrance, and fierce warriors, exuding killing intent, were standing watch.
[So, it's the Hebei Peng Clan's territory after all. They were behind it, as expected.]
Gu Janghu used telepathy.
[But hall lord, security is tight. If we try to force our way in, it'll definitely cause a commotion.]
It was impossible to infiltrate using ordinary means.
Not just the guards at the entrance, but Jaseong could also sense the energies of hidden sentries concealed throughout the surrounding forest.
But Jaseong had a trump card.
"Mansul."
Jaseong woke the baby Gumiho napping inside his robes.
The little one rubbed its sleepy eyes and poked its head out.
"Time to earn your keep."
At Jaseong's words, Mansul perked up its ears.
Sensing the situation, it climbed onto Jaseong's shoulder and swished its tail.
"Kkiruruk!"
Whoosh!
Mystical white light bloomed from Mansul's tail.
That light gently enveloped Jaseong and his companions.
Wooooong—
With a sensation as if space itself was warping, the forms of Jaseong's party began to blur and soon became transparent and vanished.
It was the Celestial Realm's spirit beast, the Gumiho's Stealth Technique.
[This arts can hide up to four or five people at a time. But be careful.]
Jaseong telepathed to his companions.
[If you use too much internal energy or move suddenly, the technique will break. And if there are high-level experts, they might sense even the faintest presence. So, suppress even the sound of your breath.]
This was something Jaseong had learned by testing Mansul's technique.
'Does the Hao Sect have such a spirit beast...? Incredible...!'
Covered by the Gumiho's Stealth Technique, Dokgo Yeon did her best to suppress her internal gasp.
'The hall lord actually brought back such a divine spirit beast from Zhongnan Mountain.'
Gu Janghu also marveled internally.
Soon, with tense expressions, they moved toward the cave entrance.
They passed so close to the Peng Clan guards that it was almost as if they brushed right by them.
That moment.
"Hm?"
One guard of the Peng Clan suddenly opened his eyes wide.
For Jaseong's group, it was an even more tense moment.
Everyone stopped even the sound of their breathing.
"What's that? Just the wind?"
"What are you babbling about, gucheon?"
"N-no. Never mind. Must've been my imagination."
With nothing visible in sight even after rubbing his eyes, it was natural for the Peng Clan warriors to respond that way.
Jaseong's party let out relieved sighs as they entered the cave.
Inside, the cave was even bigger and deeper than they expected.
Torches flickered at regular intervals on the walls, and the smell of strong medicinal chemicals grew thicker as they ventured deeper.
Finally, they arrived at a massive cavern.
"......!"
Jaseong's party gasped at the sight before them.
Dozens of giant cauldrons blazed with crimson flames, mysterious drugs bubbling away above them.
Numerous laborers bustled about carrying herbs and stirring the concoctions.
But what truly caught Jaseong's eye weren't those workers.
The ones directing and supervising the operation around the cauldrons—
among them were several experts from the Hebei Peng Clan.
That wasn't all.
There were also people dressed in yellow martial robes, with belts weighed down by poison pouches and secret weapon bags.
Their hands moved with the ease of one accustomed to handling toxins, and their gazes were as cold as snakes.
Dokgo Yeon bit her lip and telepathed.
[... Those yellow martial robes. It's unmistakable.]
Her voice was thick with hatred.
[They are warriors of the Sichuan Tang Clan, our Poison Valley's bitter enemy.]
Gu Janghu also scowled.
[... Everything is going just as expected.]
[It's even more outrageous seeing it with my own eyes. To think the Sichuan Tang Clan and Hebei Peng Clan colluded to make and sell drugs in the back alleys... These people who call themselves the righteous, blinded by money, are worse than the Dark Path.]
Just as Dokgo Yeon said.
The Hebei Peng Clan provided the site and supplied materials, and the Sichuan Tang Clan provided their techniques to produce the drugs.
Two of the Five Great Clans conspiring together—an unprecedented, massive criminal operation.
[What do we do now, great hero?]
Lee Rin asked as she gripped her sword hilt tightly.
Jaseong looked around and calmly assessed the situation.
Inside the cave were not only experts from the Sichuan Tang Clan but also many from the Hebei Peng Clan.
Among them, a few had reached the peak realm.
'If it were up to me, I'd sweep them all out right now... But if we start a fight here, reinforcements could pour in, and we'd be cornered on all sides.'
Therefore, if a fight was inevitable, it would be better to join forces with the upper management's experts from the Hao Sect.
Of course, even then, victory couldn't be guaranteed.
Even if the full might of the Hao Sect and Poison Valley, plus all the swordmasters of the North Sea, were brought in, victory was not assured.
This place was the headquarters, where the Hebei Peng Clan's full strength and many warriors of the Sichuan Tang Clan were gathered.
In other words, if they started a fight carelessly, they could end up facing two of the Five Great Clans at once.
Lee Rin and Dokgo Yeon added,
[There are also several small and medium orthodox sects gathered around this cave, in addition to the Hebei Peng Clan. If a fight breaks out, they'll come pouring in too.]
[This time, the Young Palace Mistress of the North Sea is right, Lord of Scarlet Lotus Hall Hall. Especially with me, a member of Poison Valley, here, they'll unite under the banner of 'unorthodox sect invasion'. Then, we'll become a common enemy and get chased down.]
[More than anything, even if we wipe out all the warriors here, someone else will pick up where they left off and keep producing Soul-Bewildering Powder. In other words, preventing Soul-Bewildering Powder's manufacture, our original goal, becomes impossible.]
Listening to the two women, Jaseong fell into deep thought.
He then came to a conclusion.
[Our objectives are two.]
Jaseong looked around at his companions and telepathed.
[First: stop the production of Soul-Bewildering Powder. For that, we need to quietly take out the Sichuan Tang Clan's technicians. Without them, they can't make the drug.]
Gu Janghu nodded, as assassination was his specialty.
[Second: secure evidence. Find irrefutable proof that the Hebei Peng Clan and Sichuan Tang Clan made Soul-Bewildering Powder and spread it to the Red Light District, then reveal it to the world.]
A fierce glint appeared in Jaseong's eyes.
[We'll strip away their hypocrisy, and bare the ugly faces hiding behind the mask of righteousness. Then, among the surrounding orthodox sects, many will turn their backs on them.]
That way, it would be much easier to bring down Jaseong's nemesis, the Hebei Peng Clan.
They would become isolated.
Furthermore, Jaseong had another trump card he could use in this situation:
the fact that he was the disciple of the righteous sect elder, the Eternal Divine Physician.
He planned to reveal this at the right moment and win the support of the surrounding sects.
Jaseong stroked Mansul and murmured inwardly.
'Just you wait. I'll turn all the honor and power you've built up to ashes.'
This was not mere revenge.
It was a massive surgery to shake up the martial world's balance and excise the rotten flesh of the so-called righteous sects.
Thus, the trap of destruction, crafted by a prodigy of the Red Light District, began tightening around the Five Great Clans.