The Eldest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Protects Her Family

Chapter 40: The Variable

 
It was a ridiculous statement, almost too absurd to respond to. Yet, the young Unit Leader continued, his face serious. "I’m trying to decide which clan would be the most… suitable.”
… ‘Madman.’ He truly was insane.

Hae-rak’s gaze shifted, fixing itself on the owner. “The Martial Alliance headquarters is in Hubei, correct?”
“Y-yes, Lord.”
“And the current Alliance Leader favors the third son of the Jegal Clan.”

“Yes, Jegal In-hwi, the Lord of the Four Seasons Hall.”
“So, the Jegal Clan holds considerable influence.” He nodded to himself, lost in thought.
After a long moment, he spoke again. “I heard the Clan Head has a daughter.”

“Yes, Jegal Cheon-yu. She’s seventeen this year.”
“And her fiancé?”
“He’s the eldest son of the Muju Merchant Group in Hunan. I heard they’re planning to hold the wedding next year, coinciding with the Muju Merchant Group’s expansion into Hubei.”

Hae-rak smiled, pleased with this information. “It seems the Clan Head has a fondness for wealth. Well, money transcends all boundaries, doesn't it? Righteous or unorthodox, it matters not.”
He added decisively, "From tomorrow onwards, I’m the illegitimate son of the Anguk Merchant Group. Your origins will be a significant obstacle, so be on your best behavior and earn a lot of money. A lot."
“…You can’t abandon the brothel business if you want to earn a lot of money, Lord.”

Hae-rak scoffed. “If I were a member of the Martial Alliance, the first place I would investigate would be any rapidly expanding illicit businesses, like the brothel district in Guangdong. For an ordinary person to amass such wealth without any official protection or powerful backing… it doesn’t make sense.”
“…”
“Connect your businesses in a way that appears legitimate. No more large, conspicuous transactions. Small, incremental movements. No more hiding in the shadows. Operate in broad daylight. Understood?”

He understood the Unit Leader’s reasoning. Hiding in plain sight. He was planning to operate right under the Martial Alliance’s nose.
‘Is he insane?’ He reaffirmed his assessment of Hae-rak’s mental state. “Yes, Lord,” he replied. His personal opinion was irrelevant. He had no choice but to obey.
“Shut down the brothels and gambling dens. We’ll be earning our money the… righteous way.”
‘What’s the “righteous way”?’ The question formed in his mind, but he swallowed it.

As if reading his thoughts, Hae-rak answered his unspoken question. “The righteous way is to exploit the wealthy and the weak.”
Did he possess mind-reading abilities? He somehow understood what he meant. Wealthy and weak… merchants. Though there were other lucrative professions, merchants handled the most money. And their frequent travels between regions wouldn't arouse suspicion. It was also a convenient way to monitor the Moohyeon Unit members scattered throughout the central plains.
However, one thing still didn't make sense. His plan to become a clan’s son-in-law was absurd. Marrying into a prominent family wasn’t difficult. Some Moohyeon Unit members had even married into positions of power within the clans they infiltrated.

But marrying the daughter of a Clan Head was a different matter. The Clan Head’s position was absolute. It was like suggesting he infiltrate the Martial Alliance by marrying the Blood Demon’s daughter. He would be exposed before he could even gather any useful information.
He wanted to protest, to argue, but he had no right.
He lowered his head, swallowing his frustration. “Yes, Lord. I’ll begin the preparations immediately.”

“However, Lord, as I mentioned, the Jegal Clan’s daughter is already betrothed.”
“Eliminate him.”
“…”

“Discreetly.”
Seeing his hesitation, the Unit Leader frowned. “Is that a problem?”
He hesitated, his lips moving soundlessly, then replied weakly, “…Consider it done.”

“Excellent.” There wasn't a shred of sincerity in his voice.
Still, the owner felt a wave of relief. He had been given a task, a purpose. Within the Blood Cult, that meant he was still useful.
‘I might actually survive this.’ All he had to do was transform this madman into the heir of the Anguk Merchant Group, shut down his lucrative brothel business, and assassinate the heir to a prominent merchant group in Hunan…

He looked up at the ceiling, his vision blurring. Had he truly escaped death? Or was he simply delaying the inevitable? But the future was the future. Worrying wouldn’t change anything. Focusing on the present, on the task at hand, was the only way to survive.
Then, Hae-rak’s eyes narrowed, as if recalling something. “That Bright Sky Merchant Group in Sichuan… the one trying to get involved in the Imperial trade…”
“Ah! Yes, Lord.”

“Bring them under the Anguk Merchant Group’s control.”
“…What?”
“My background is… less than stellar. We need to bolster my father’s reputation.” He looked down at the owner, his eyes narrowed, then tilted his head slightly. “Is that a problem?”

… ‘Wouldn’t it be?’ Did he think gaining access to the Imperial trade was a simple matter? A surge of rebellion flared within him, but he quickly suppressed it. He had no choice.
He lowered his head. “No, Lord. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
Hae-rak stood up, his fingers tapping against his leg as he calculated his next move. He smiled. “We’ll depart for Hubei tomorrow. I have some… errands to run along the way. It will take about fifteen days to reach the Anguk Merchant Group.”

“Yes, Lord.”
“If the preparations aren’t complete by the time I arrive…” he paused, a chilling smile spreading across his face, “…you can abandon your current tasks. And…” he added, his voice soft, almost a whisper, “…you’ll see me again.”
The Yoohyeon Unit member prostrated himself on the floor, his blood running cold. “Everything will be ready before your arrival, Lord! I swear! Please, trust me!” The stench of blood rose from the wooden floorboards as he pressed his face against them, his nose inches from a dark, dried stain.

He waited tensely for a response, but the room remained silent.
He cautiously raised his head, then slumped back against the floor, his body weak with relief. The Unit Leader was gone, vanished without a trace.
“I-I have to hurry!” He scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the room, ignoring the bodies of the guards lying sprawled across the entrance. He raced to his office, his mind racing.

He sat down at his desk, quickly summarizing the Unit Leader’s instructions. Guangdong was now under the Crimson Blood Unit's control. And the Crimson Blood Unit Leader had given the remaining Yoohyeon Unit members an opportunity: a chance to join his ranks.
He had to prove his worth, demonstrate the value of his network, his connections. This was his chance to survive.
He began grinding ink, his movements frantic, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and desperate hope.

* * *
 

They had expected the search to be difficult, requiring the combined efforts of the entire Martial Alliance. They hadn’t anticipated such… swift success. Blood Cult hideouts were being discovered all across the central plains. However, perhaps because of their easy victories, they were learning little about the Blood Cult’s current organization. There were no prisoners to interrogate. The Blood Cult members fought to the death, choosing suicide over capture.
Though the Martial Alliance search party had suffered some casualties, the losses were minimal compared to the number of Blood Cult members they had eliminated. They had also apprehended several spies embedded within the various clans and sects. Within the Tang Clan alone, over thirty Blood Cult members had been discovered.
Thus, the Martial Alliance believed they were making significant progress. Some members even suggested disbanding the search party, believing they had eradicated the Blood Cult entirely.

Even Namgung Jin, seemingly relieved, had finally entered seclusion.
A sense of peace and normalcy began to settle over the martial world.
Only Tang Sohwa remained vigilant.

Drip. A drop of blood fell into the small white jar, slowly diffusing into the dark liquid. But nothing happened.
She picked up a small brush and made a note. [35 years old, male, no reaction – blood drawn three days ago.]
Ten small white jars, filled with a dark liquid, lined the desk. The poisonous insects she had received from Namgung Jin. She had successfully cultivated them. However, she was struggling to understand their properties. She had tried everything: animal flesh, insects, wood shavings, herbs. But they hadn't reacted to anything.

Except for one thing.
She picked up a small blue vial filled with blood and poured a few drops into one of the jars.
Fizzle. The moment the blood touched the dark liquid, the insects went into a frenzy, devouring it greedily.

Watching the churning black liquid, she made another note. [18 years old, female, reaction – blood drawn three days ago.]
They only reacted to her blood. She had initially assumed they simply reacted to blood in general, but that wasn't the case. She had tried various animal blood, human blood, even the blood of a captured Blood Cult member. Nothing. She had wondered if the time elapsed since the blood was drawn was a factor. Her own blood had been fresh, while the others had been exposed to the air for at least half an hour. So, she had carefully controlled the time, drawing the blood and testing it immediately.
The results were always the same. Even after prolonged exposure to air, the insects would immediately react to her blood.

‘What’s so different about my blood?’ The only explanation she could think of was her Poison-Impervious Body. But that wasn't it either. The only person she knew with a Poison-Impervious Body was Tang Min, and the insects hadn’t reacted to his blood.
Whoosh. The sudden sound of wind from outside made her look up. A long shadow stretched across the window, illuminated by the moonlight.
It wasn't Tang Hak or the twins.

The wind carried the distinct scent of blood.
She quickly closed the jars, covering them with a cloth, then walked to the window and opened it.
Hanwon dropped down from the roof.

“…This is the inner courtyard.”
“There are no walls the Black Tiger Unit cannot breach.” Though meant as a statement, he seemed to have interpreted it as a question, offering an immediate answer.
Her gaze fell upon his bloodstained black uniform. Was that… blood?

He bowed respectfully. “I apologize for the intrusion, Miss, but I have an urgent matter to discuss, a matter that… shouldn’t be overheard. That is why I came to your quarters at this hour.”
She nodded silently, and he continued. “I believe… Yoonjin has been… attacked by the Blood Cult.”