TSBIRBV Ch 154

Chapter 154 Even if You Deceive Heaven, Deceive an Esper (7)

“Who are you?”

That someone had not only broken through the vigilance of her personal guards but had also managed to approach her—Tang Munyeo herself, a direct descendant who had inherited the Tang Clan’s martial arts—was suspicious beyond measure.

“A way to save your daughter, you say? What nonsense. My Eonbo, who carries the blood of a direct line, is merely serving her penance within the clan.”

Tang Munyeo’s pride, as one who had once belonged to one of the Five Great Clans’ main lines, was unyieldingly fierce. She would never discuss some ‘way to save her daughter’ with an outsider whose identity she did not even know.

The man raised both hands as if to calm her.

“Still, it cannot be as comfortable as living at home.”

Even Tang Munyeo could not refute that.

“The Clan Head is a man sensitive to face, yet not one to neglect practical gain. Even if he wished to indulge his beloved younger sister’s plea, he would not act without a justification.”

“A justification, you say? How plausible-sounding.”

It irked her that some outsider spoke as though he knew the Tang Clan’s affairs inside and out, but Tang Munyeo played along, feigning interest.

“Crush Qinghai Trading. Have your husband’s trading house seize their place. And if that house is then offered to the Tang Clan itself, would even the Clan Head not waver?”

“Such a method…”

Feigning admiration at the cleverness of his scheme, Tang Munyeo slid her hand into her sleeve and flicked out a hidden dart. Yet the man did not so much as flinch—instead, he caught it in one hand.

In the darkness, where even discerning such a weapon was near impossible, the man’s feat of martial skill made Tang Munyeo’s lips tremble.

A surprise attack, if it failed, usually led to death.

“I shall accept this gift.”

“You’re not going to kill me?”

“Madam Tang must see her daughter’s penance lifted, must you not?”

Tang Munyeo let her arms fall. Yes—for Eonbo’s sake, she could not die here.

“If you have business with me, then you must be Qinghai Trading’s enemy.”

The man did not admit it, but he smiled quietly. A moment later, he murmured,

“Qinghai Trading has been conducting rather entertaining business of late. Take a look, and I am certain you will quickly think of what to do.”

Then the man vanished.

For a fortnight afterward, Tang Munyeo tried to forget that night. But each time she saw her daughter growing gaunter within the dungeon, the man’s suggestion echoed in her mind.

She knew well enough how greatly Qinghai Trading was expanding its influence in Sichuan. There would be no harm in hindering them somewhat, under the guise of helping her husband’s house.

And above all—

I must bring back my daughter.

Tang Munyeo persuaded her husband.

“Husband, should we not bring our daughter out?”

And so, Tang Munyeo went to the Clan Head with the card of her husband’s trading house in hand.

Her elder brother Tang Mungil—the Tang Clan Head of Sichuan—who had turned a deaf ear when his married sister begged him to spare only Tang Eonbo, for the first time showed signs of listening.

“If you earn merit enough for the clan to persuade the Elders, then sparing my niece’s punishment will be no difficult matter.”

Receiving that promise, Tang Munyeo immediately acted.

Qinghai Trading’s “entertaining business” was already infamous; no great investigation was needed. Rosewood seals and their accompanying certificates.

Tang Munyeo knew well she first needed to secure a craftsman.

There is one I have in mind.

Since childhood, she had known a certain artisan—a disciple of the smith who once forged the Tang Clan’s hidden weapons. He was weak to drink and gambling. To pay his debts, he had pilfered bits of the Tang’s black iron and replaced them with inferior metal.

Despite his vices, his skill had kept him in the clan’s service—until he was exposed and cast out.

Wandering the back alleys thereafter, he nearly lost his hands when caught cheating at dice. Tang Munyeo, who had kept an eye on him all along, rescued him just in time.

“Oh, my lady—no, madam. Thank you!”

Looking down coldly at the groveling man, Tang Munyeo said,

“There is something you must do.”

The man began to copy the seal and certificate she provided. Swapping the genuine certificates with counterfeits, Tang Munyeo released them into the back alleys.

It’s done. With this, Qinghai Trading’s credibility will crumble.

Though she had been lured into this by some unknown figure, she considered the plan perfect.

Until things came to this point.

Leaving the Trading Group, Tang Munyeo exited the city gates. Along a remote mountain road stood a shrine to the local gods.

“We must erase our traces.”

“Our traces, madam?”

The man waiting inside scratched his chin.

“I daresay none of mine remain.”

“So you would have me shoulder everything alone if this is exposed?”

“My side must not be revealed yet. I only stirred things up, hearing Qinghai Trading had changed masters, but to yield so little gain…”

“Do you have another plan?”

When Tang Munyeo demanded an answer, the man replied cheerfully,

“None.”

“How irresponsible. And if I am cornered, forced to confess I acted at another’s behest, what then?”

Those who use another’s hand usually have reasons they cannot move directly. And this man had hinted again and again that they must remain one step removed.

“Madam Tang, you must remain docile.”

The man’s tone was courteous.

“Why? Do you mean to threaten me with my daughter, who is protected in the clan’s inner halls?”

To the last, she called it ‘protection’—that was Tang Munyeo’s pride.

Such men’s threats were obvious: show weakness, and you would end up dancing in their palm.

“No. Rather…”

The man drew back the cloth shrouding his scabbard.

“Would it not be troublesome if word spread that a woman of Tang Clan’s bloodline had joined hands with the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

In the moonlight spilling through the window, the scabbard bore the carving of a white lotus—the symbol of the White Lotus Sect, forebear of the Demonic Cult.

Tang Munyeo’s eyes shook violently as she recognized it at once.

“You have already blocked your daughter’s future. If you wish to drag her down into the mud, I will not stop you.”

“At this rate, Qinghai Trading will be one of the Three Great Trading Groups under Heaven.”

Yegyeol grinned as he fondly caressed the treasury chest.

Inside lay not only silver but piles of gold ingots and promissory notes. Copper coins were beneath notice.

The thought that, when the day came, he could gift Haryang a ship made his heart race already.

Orders poured in. The current artisans of Qinghai Trading could not possibly handle the sheer volume. Some genuine customers, who had stormed in demanding refunds in fury when word spread that rosewood seals had been counterfeited, now came back to order new ones.

When all those orders were fulfilled, Yegyeol’s belly might burst from greed, but he intended to swallow them all and roll about contentedly.

Well, we’ll soon have a new artisan, anyway.

As the saying went, “speak of the tiger and it comes.” Samrang strode up to Yegyeol.

“The head of Black Spot’s Sichuan branch has arrived.”

“Show him in at once.”

Unlike Haryang, whose steps seemed to tread upon clouds, the Black Ghost’s gait carried heavy weight. To play two such utterly different men with such skill—his acting was no ordinary feat.

If my Senior Brother weren’t my Guide, even I might have been deceived.

“Welcome.”

Yegyeol greeted him with a beaming face. The servants of Qinghai Trading moved with trained precision, setting out tea and refreshments.

Facing the Black Ghost, Yegyeol fixed him with bright eyes and asked,

“Have you discovered who was behind it?”

Though he had dispensed with all pleasantries and greetings to leap straight to the heart, no displeasure showed on the Black Ghost’s face. Without lifting the teacup, he spoke.

“Do you recall Miss Tang—the cousin who worked alongside Tang Seoak?”

“Ah. Tang Eonbo.”

Yegyeol nodded.

“It was her mother, Tang Munyeo. She could not abide the thought that Qinghai Trading had blocked her daughter’s future. At the same time, she meant to grow her husband’s house and present it to the Clan Head, asking clemency for her daughter.”

At his words, Yegyeol sighed deeply.

“I thought I had harmed no one. But once again I am reminded—the Central Plains is a place where everything turns on grudges.”

His eyes trembled with feigned grievance, like a poisoned marten feigning weakness. Haryang stroked the back of his hand in comfort.

“It is not your fault, Young Lord Mun.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Yegyeol hesitated, then asked,

“You tracked the counterfeiter to uncover the culprit?”

“Yes. With so many swindlers, we found even some forgers unaffiliated with Black Spot. We placed them all under watch, observing their contacts. Among them, Tang Munyeo’s actions stood out, so we seized her at once.”

“Stood out how?”

“Because a real customer who had purchased a rosewood seal from Qinghai Trading went to meet a counterfeiter.”

Indeed, someone like Tang Munyeo would have wealth enough to buy a seal. The problem was that she had turned it to ill use.

“And the artisan?”

“We have secured him. But… it will take time to ‘package’ him. He has been too deeply tainted.”

The words carried the assurance that even his soul would be laundered before being handed over.

“Good. I’d like to meet him as soon as possible. Qinghai Trading has been swamped with orders far beyond its capacity because of this affair.”

“Then I must hasten the packaging.”

“Will it be all right?”

“As they say—let the one who tied the knot untie it. He must clean up what he himself caused.”

It may have been Tang Munyeo and the craftsman who had committed the deed, but it was Yegyeol who had chosen to escalate it, and the Black Ghost who had fanned the flames.

Yet the two of them shamelessly shoved the blame to the other side, without a trace of guilt.

Truly, they were a pair made for each other.

“Well then… shall we settle accounts?”