TSBIRBV Ch 108

Chapter 108 Mission Complete (4)

“The Wu‑Sam Consortium’s master first appeared a year ago.”

Gu Young‑ik’s account began.

“He said he had to sell Hangzhou cloth to a wealthy man in Luoyang and placed a bulk order for silk. At first, everyone was delighted. With a big deal in hand, we bought the children new shoes, cooked meat even though it wasn’t a special day.”

Recalling the feeling, Gu Young‑ik’s eyes reddened.

“The first few transactions were successful. Payment arrived on time, and the price was very generous.”

“Mm…”

“The Wu‑Sam master kept increasing the volume he entrusted to us—so much that we couldn’t handle it without cutting off existing clients. We worked days and nights through, but there was a limit to what we could bear.”

“Naturally so. The body has limits.”

As Yegyeol listened with care, Gu Young‑ik checked once more the direction of Zhang Qi, then whispered,

“Old Huang opposed it, but the younger workers, eager to earn money, pushed to cut ties with former clients and seek a future with Wu‑Sam.”

A deep regret marked the man’s face.

“We had secured an exclusive contract with Wu‑Sam. On the first delivery date… the warehouse stacked with goods to hand over caught fire. Everyone was thrown into confusion.”

His sigh grew deeper.

“The Wu‑Sam master played the generous man and extended the deadline. Old Huang trudged everywhere and got new silk—we began dyeing again. A total loss. Still, since the next deal went through, we thought tightening belts would see us through for a time.”

“…Let me guess.”

Yegyeol wrinkled his nose.

“You failed to deliver again on the second deal.”

“Yes. From then, Seonye Workshop began borrowing around. Very little… truly, just a little at a time.”

It was a downhill with its end foregone; even so, their efforts to save Seonye somehow came through.

“Then, suddenly, word spread across Hangzhou that Seonye had no capacity to repay. A heterodox group called the Red Blood Sect bought our debt for a pittance; ever since, drifters showed up at the workshop to demand money with threats.”

Yegyeol clicked his tongue at the perfect timing of the Red Blood Sect’s move. Even playing a proper trading master, Zhang Qi clearly kept hands clasped with the Red Blood Sect…

He had kept that line warm to swallow a sound business whole.

“Th‑then… Old Huang, who had been going around borrowing, collapsed, and last year… he…”

The man wiped tears; still the lowing of an ox.

Learning that Old Huang had lived until just a year prior complicated Yegyeol’s feelings.

“The Red Blood Sect dragged us off to ‘pay with our bodies.’ They threatened to cut our wrists if we didn’t reveal the dyeing methods—but if we spilled even that, it felt like we’d truly be scattered and sold, so we gritted our teeth and endured.”

“Huh.”

Yegyeol clicked his tongue.

“So… even the heterodox stepped into this.”

“Yes. We thought we’d never be free of this debt for life. But then, a few days ago, they suddenly took us to the Wu‑Sam Consortium.”

A grave note entered Gu Young‑ik’s voice.

“As already suspected, the one behind it all was Master Zhang Qi.”

“Insane.”

Yegyeol exaggerated a glance toward Zhang Qi.

“Sh, sh. Don’t look that way.”

Waving his hands, Gu drew Yegyeol’s attention.

“Gathering us thus, the Wu‑Sam master said a new customer had come and that this was the last chance to pull Seonye from its mountain of debt; he barked at us to cooperate fully. To re‑dye the silk.”

“And so… you all complied?”

“Everyone is rooted in Hangzhou—how could we be free of his threats? Using the workshop’s debt, he said he’d even bring our children and work them as slaves…”

Choking down his tears, Gu suddenly lifted his head, pointed toward the manor, and said,

“Beyond us—children! Children are captured too. It’s certain this madman has dipped into trafficking.”

“Understood.”

For a final check, Yegyeol asked,

“Who is the current Red Blood Sect master?”

“‘Venom‑Reading Scholar’ Gong Yado.”

An unfamiliar name. Inwardly wishing Pit Viper had lived, Yegyeol swallowed regret.

“He was the eldest of the Seven Scribes of Henan; after his younger brothers were killed by a chivalrous man, he came here. He said he threw all six sworn brothers as bait to escape the ‘Dire Tiger’ who pursued him.”

“Dire Tiger.”

At a name known from an unexpected place, Yegyeol lowered his eyes. Come to think, Samrang had once said, in passing, that villages were being purchased and tended by bandit stocks.

Wrapped in thought, Yegyeol saw Zhang Qi turning this way. Knowing Yegyeol’s talk was done, Haryang did not detain him.

“As expected, we work in perfect step.”

A dream pair.

“That’s enough.”

Yegyeol turned naturally away from Gu. The Koo youth—no, now to be called the Koo middle‑aged—melted back among the workers to hide his ox‑like tearful eyes.

“Thank you for recognizing our consortium.”

“It’s all because Master Zhang’s eye for goods is superb.”

“Oh my, I’m embarrassed.”

As if his previous hedging had been a lie, Zhang Qi beamed at Yegyeol’s softened tone.

“On such a fine day, let’s drink.”

The ledger had been spirited away; testimony secured. The plan was to give Zhang Qi no time to check and prepare a response.

“I’ll bring wine at once.”

Yegyeol nodded.

“That’s not bad, but… Steward—what’s the most renowned pleasure house in Hangzhou? If possible, one attended by someone as high as the city lord.”

Reading the implication between the lines, Haryang answered,

“Mm… likely Chongwol‑ru is most famous.”

“Indeed. Not only the city lord—anyone who spends in Hangzhou goes there.”

With refined chin‑tilt, Yegyeol said,

“Lead on.”

—

That night, the city lord, enjoying moon and revelry with his retinue at Chongwol‑ru, awoke with a start. He remembered drinking a great deal—but not when he fell asleep.

Something heavy lay on his belly. Struggling up, he realized it was a kind of ledger.

“What on earth…” Opening it, he read—and his face hardened.

“Hwang Sam. Five months’ interest in arrears—sold to a pirate ship.”

“Jin Jin. Six months’ interest in arrears—sold to a brothel.”

“Jeong Hwijong. Three months’ interest in arrears; children secured.”

…

…

…

On the last page, rough brushstrokes had been scrawled:

“A Luoyang official investigating Hangzhou’s trafficking has been spotted. Decide before this reaches the Son of Heaven.”

If it became known that trafficking, forbidden by the emperor, took place under his nose, his life of indolence was over. He would not soothe cares with the pipa of Chongwol‑ru’s Moon Courtesan, but be thrown into the palace’s Water Prison.

“Gajin! Gajin!”

Almost in a fit, the city lord screamed for his man.

“My lord—you called?”

Pointing at the first name written on the ledger, he shouted,

“At once! Arrest the Wu‑Sam master and the Red Blood Sect’s lord!”

“As commanded.”

—

Sitting on Chongwol‑ru’s roof, Yegyeol sniffled in the cold night wind. No sooner done than something heavy wrapped his shoulders.

Clutching the outer robe scented with Haryang, he listened to the uproar below and chuckled, wickedly,

“The city lord checked properly. Now the Red Blood Sect and Wu‑Sam are finished.”

Watching the face of a disciple like a boy in his prime, Haryang handed him a wine bottle.

The wine had been cold—but a gentle warmth now wafted.

“Did he… warm it with inner power?”

Sipping, Yegyeol marveled at the aroma of the warmed wine.

“Is this enough to satisfy you?”

At Haryang’s question, Yegyeol nodded.

“They’ll never walk the bright avenues with a proper face again.”

Was it easy for a third‑rate drifter to wash his hands and live as a common man? Even notable heads of the heterodox failed at gilded face‑washing and were slain by old grudges. Zhang Qi had surely gritted his teeth to build his consortium.

Old habits die hard—no doubt he used every trick; yet he worked so hard he bowed to a youth half his age.

And now everything was over. It was hard to guess how hollow Zhang Qi would feel.

“A pity. He’s a very fitting decoration there.”

Turning his head to Haryang’s chin‑flick, Yegyeol took in Zhang Qi—dangling upside down from the roof, struggling.

Blood rushed to his face until it looked fit to burst. With acupoints sealed, he couldn’t even moan, and he cursed Yegyeol in silence.

“Can’t we just put him in prison?”

At the question, Haryang pinched his brows slightly. One might expect it to mar his looks; instead, it only deepened his gravity.

“So the old tale isn’t a lie—Beauty Xi Shi frowning and still fair.”

Even with furrowed brow, senior brother was handsome.

“Even so, he’d line the pockets of corrupt officials and slip out. That’s the custom.”

At the hint that Zhang Qi would devote his entire fortune to escape, Yegyeol clicked his tongue.

“But if we treat him as a man on the run…”

Haryang drew it out, gently.

“It will surely be as you wish.”