Red Light District's Martial God Chapter 135

Half a month later.

Having mostly finished their treatnt, Jaseong and his group turned their steps toward Ansun.

The way back was surprisingly smooth.

They had shaken off the pursuit of the Zhongnan Taoists, and the only enemies they encountered were a dozen or so unlucky bandits.

Even those were easily taken care of by Gu Janghu.

At last, they arrived at Ansun in Guizhou City.

The place was far more lively than Jaseong rembered from before.

Groups from various rchant guilds bustled along the streets, hauling goods here and there, while taverns and inns were crowded with guests.

And there, on one side, stood the Red Light District, which was both Jaseong's old ho and now the headquarters of the Hao Sect's Scarlet Lotus Hall.

A street lined with long rows of red lanterns.

At night, it bathed in a seductive crimson light and was a place where travelers' purses were emptied.

But during the day, the Red Light District was relatively quiet.

The lanterns remained unlit, and the courtesans who had dealt with drunkards all night were still deep in sleep.

"It's been a while since I ca here, too."

Gu Janghu muttered under his breath, looking around the street.

"Ever since you took control of the Tianxia Association, you've been staying there. It really has been a long ti since we returned to Ansun's Red Light District."

Lee Rin replied.

Perhaps because it had been so long, mories washed over them strongly.

Walking through the streets, Jaseong let himself briefly be lost in old thoughts.

The days when he worked as a junior guard, hauling burdens bigger than his own body.

His eldest brother, called a fool by the Red Light District, yet more diligent than anyone.

His sister-in-law, dreaming of modest happiness with a child on the way.

And then, the powerless commoners and his brother's family, who died like insects beneath the blades of the orthodox and demonic sects.

The very start of tragedy, the day that would later upend the martial world's order, suddenly replayed vividly in his mind.

'... Back then, I couldn't even land a single fist on the enemies who killed big brother and my sister-in-law.'

But now it was different.

Jaseong was returning after beheading one of the great enemies who had caused the bloodbath—Zhong Yeob, the Zhongnan sect leader.

The two 60-year-cycles' worth of internal power nestled in his dantian, and the hefty Wicked Fla Sword hanging at his waist, all stood as proof of his growth.

'... Now I've paid back one.'

Escaping his old mories, Jaseong started to walk forward again.

Soon, the party entered an inn on the outskirts of Ansun's Red Light District.

[Drunken Immortal Pavilion]

This was the new base of Hao Sect's Scarlet Lotus Hall.

Outwardly, it seed like an ordinary three-story wooden inn, but the inside was different.

The basent was equipped with a secret armory and a secret room, and the third floor contained luxurious quarters for the hall lord and close aides.

It was a fortress newly outfitted with the vast funds brought from the Tianxia Association.

"Hall lord!"

As Jaseong entered, a woman greeted him warmly within Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

She was a beauty with feline, slightly upturned eyes and gentle curves to her face.

Wearing a delicate apricot blossom-pink skirt, she was Hyang-I, the secretary in charge of the inner affairs of Scarlet Lotus Hall.

"Hyang big sis!"

Lee Rin, recognizing Hyang-I, squealed in delight and rushed over to hug her tightly.

"Young palace lady, you're back! I'm so glad you're safe."

Hyang-I smiled radiantly, hugging Lee Rin back.

"I've set the table with all your favorite delicacies, Rin big sis. Please, co in. Hall lord as well."

Led by Hyang-I, Jaseong's party ascended to the largest room on the second floor.

In the center of the room sat a great round table, and upon it, a feast of steaming delicacies.

The Dongpo pork glistened under the lights, while the freshly stead king crab's red shells whetted the appetite.

The abalone porridge gave off the savory aroma of sesa oil, and the plump, overstuffed three-delicacy dumplings looked ready to burst.

There was Sanni Baekyuk made from pork boiled to perfection, and Yurin-gi with its powerful scallion oil fragrance.

It was a spread fit to break the table's legs.

"It really has been so long. Sob. I had such a hard ti, eating nothing but greens..."

Lee Rin smiled blissfully as she stuffed her cheeks with food, her face puffing up like a chipmunk's.

"Kyiruruk!"

The baby Gumiho, Mansul, also leaped onto the table.

Sniffing around, the little one plunged its face straight into the abalone porridge and began slurping noisily.

Gu Janghu chuckled and uncorked a bottle of Jiannanchun.

Pop! Glug-glug.

The fragrant aroma of liquor filled the room.

Gu Janghu lifted his glass and downed it in one go.

The sharp drink sliding down his throat seed to wash away all his fatigue.

While the others enjoyed their al, Jaseong and Hyang-I had a long-delayed conversation.

"Hall lord, there's a rumor racing around the martial world."

Hyang-I said as she refilled Jaseong's cup.

"What rumor?"

"We've received word that the corpse of the Zhongnan sect leader, the Celestial Sword of Supre Void, was found on Zhongnan Mountain. By any chance... is this related to you, hall lord?"

She truly lived up to her reputation as Hao Sect's sharp secretary.

Jaseong emptied his cup and nodded silently.

"Yes. I killed him."

It was a calm statent, but carried imnse weight.

Hyang-I's pupils trembled visibly.

"You've really... beco so strong..."

"......."

"To have defeated even the Zhongnan sect leader, one of those responsible for that day's massacre...."

Hyang-I looked unable to contain her emotion.

Jaseong, who had once been a child of the Red Light District, had now toppled one of the orthodox sect's top ten experts.

"It wasn't my strength alone. Lee Rin, Gu Janghu, and the North Sea protectors weakened him first. Most of all..."

Jaseong's gaze grew shadowed for a mont.

"It was thanks to master risking his life in a duel with him."

"Your master...?"

At that, Jaseong told Hyang-I what had happened.

He'd gone to seek treatnt from the Eternal Divine Physician and had beco his disciple, then absorbed the energy of the Millennium Blood Ganoderma to raise his internal power over two 60-year cycles.

And that the Eternal Divine Physician perished after a desperate battle against Zhong Yeob, leader of Zhongnan.

Upon hearing all this, Hyang-I was montarily speechless.

"So much has happened around you in just a few months, hall lord..."

"......."

"After that, there was a huge uproar in the Zhongnan sect. Their leader was found dead, after all. They're going crazy trying to find the culprit."

"Of course they are."

"The interesting thing is, there's discord brewing even within Zhongnan. So claim it was the work of the Murong Clan, while others bla the unorthodox sects. They're fighting amongst themselves."

Jaseong smirked.

"Good."

The death of Zhong Yeob would bring further fractures within the orthodox factions.

As suspicion and wariness grew, their strength would slowly erode.

"Hyang, keep an eye on the Murim Alliance's movents."

"Understood. I'll mobilize all the intelligence networks of Scarlet Lotus Hall."

Afterward, Hyang-I began to report on the hall's household affairs as well.

When she opened a thick financial ledger, its pages were filled with tightly written numbers.

"Hall lord, last month's profits from the Tianxia Association and Guangxi Province black market amounted to thirty thousand taels of silver."

Thirty thousand taels.

A commoner might never touch such a fortune in a lifeti.

But Jaseong responded indifferently.

To him, money was rely a ans to nurture strength, not an end.

"Half of it has been set aside as Scarlet Lotus Hall's operating expenses and ergency fund. The remaining half was distributed to the Hao Sect's lower branches."

They generously distributed fully half the profits to the subordinate branches.

This was per Jaseong's instructions.

Now, Scarlet Lotus Hall had been promoted as Hao Sect's thirteenth hall.

From being a recipient, it had beco a provider.

Just as Jaseong had once received financial support from the upper managent in the past, now Scarlet Lotus Hall was responsible for supporting the Hao Sect's lower branches.

In return, the lower branches provide top-level intel to the upper managent, repaying support with loyalty.

Jaseong had been able to break free and beco independent early since he earned his own money, but most others were usually bound to their superiors.

"Two thousand taels to the Taiyuan branch of Shaanxi, one thousand five hundred taels to the Xi'an branch of Shaanxi, and for the Yangzhou branch in Jiangsu..."

Hyang-I pointed to entries as she gave explanations.

"Thanks to your generosity, the lower branches are truly grateful, hall lord. Those who used to starve can finally breathe again, and there's quite a stir about it. So..."

"?"

"To express their gratitude, the branch leaders have co to Ansun to pay respects to you."

Hyang-I smiled playfully as she spoke.

"The branch leaders?"

"They've already arrived in Ansun. I held them off for now thinking you might be tired... What would you like to do?"

"It's fine. I'll see them right away."

"Then, as soon as the al is over, I'll summon them to your office."

Not long after, in Jaseong's office.

The Hao Sect's lower branch leaders ca in to pay their respects.

But there were more than expected.

So many had gathered, the office was packed—there were no less than thirty of them.

"We greet the Scarlet Lotus Hall lord!"

Thump!

All thirty branch leaders simultaneously perford the cupped fist salute and bowed.

Their voices echoed through the office.

Most of them were middle-aged n much older than Jaseong.

There were even so with graying hair among them.

But there was not the slightest disrespect in their deanor.

Rather, there was reverence and respect in abundance.

Red Light Calamity.

Known as the Calamity Sent from Heaven, word of Jaseong's might and his overwhelming montum in swallowing up the Tianxia Association had already traveled far.

Jaseong leaned deep into his chair, taking in each of their faces one by one.

Ssss―

Jaseong activated his Samadhi Eyes.

Within the slowed flow of ti, he could see the threadlike flows of energy emanating from the branch leaders' bodies.

'Hmm...'

Jaseong's gaze narrowed.

As expected, their martial arts levels were not especially high.

Not a single supre expert; only two could even be called first-rate experts.

The rest were no more than second- or third-rate.

By martial world standards, it was an unimpressive force.

But Jaseong was not disappointed.

Their real strength was not martial arts.

"Thank you for coming such a long way."

"No thanks needed! It's not a hardship at all to have the honor of eting you, hall lord!"

One branch leader exclaid, voice thick with emotion.

At his words, Jaseong turned an impassive face to Hyang-I.

"Hyang."

"Yes, hall lord."

"Bring what we prepared."

"Yes, right away."

At her signal, servants entered and handed each branch leader a bundle wrapped in silk and a heavy pouch.

When the bundles were opened, the branch leaders' eyes bulged wide.

"Th-this is...!"

"Ginseng, isn't it?!"

"And this is the precious Fo-ti root...!"

What Jaseong handed out were no ordinary dicinal ingredients.

They were rare ingredients, excellent for increasing internal energy and recovering stamina, seized from the Tianxia Association black market.

And on top of that, he gave them each a hundred taels.

For the poor branches, it was equivalent to a year's operating budget.

"Return to your branch and focus on refining your internal power. And make sure your mbers have plenty to eat."

At Jaseong's calm words, the branch leaders' shoulders trembled.

Never before had Hao Sect's branch leaders t a leader so generous.

"Th-thank you, hall lord!"

"We will never forget this grace!"

The branch leaders bowed even deeper, choked with gratitude.

Accepting their bows, Jaseong thought to himself.

'They may be weak in martial arts, but they know the underbelly of every region better than anyone. Swindlers, courtesans, errand boys, porters—all the information flowing at the bottom of the martial world passes through their ears.'

Now, these thirty branch leaders would be Jaseong's ears and eyes across the entire Central Plains.

With that in mind, he was more than willing to spend money freely.

In this way, slowly but surely, Jaseong was building his foundation behind the scenes of the martial world.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

It's sad the Eternal Divine Physician died...

【｡° ૮₍°´ᯅ`°₎ა °｡】