Chapter Title: Iron Sword Gang Confrontation
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In his previous life, the Yun Merchants had served as Gwan-jong's staunch backers, giving rise to the eternal betrayers known as the Harmony Faction—the chief culprits behind it all.
Gwang-il's ironclad vow to never give those damned bastards even a shred of opportunity in this life soon faced a dire crisis before the most practical of obstacles.
"What do you mean, difficult? What kind of nonsense is that? Is it really so hard to forge swords here in the Iron Forge District?"
"Aigoo...! Sir warrior, please have some mercy on our plight!"
"Plight? Listen here, forge master. I hail from the Point Cang Sword Sect. I'm not here to take anything from you—I'm simply trying to commission the forging of swords with fair compensation..."
"No, I mean, that's exactly what I'm saying is difficult!"
Unable to bear the sight of the man pleading with a tear-streaked face any longer, another forge master stepped in with a resolute expression and began explaining their dire situation.
"There isn't a single forge on this entire Iron Forge Street in Dali that can take on a commission from Point Cang right now!"
"..."
What kind of absurd situation is this?
Gwang-il's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, carving steep furrows as he puzzled over the incomprehensible turn of events.
This was the Iron Forge Street in Dali, the largest region in western Yunnan.
With four hundred people needing Narrow Tip Swords in bulk, he had rushed here from the village at the foot of Point Cang Mountain.
Forges of this scale could surely produce over a thousand Narrow Tip Swords in short order.
Yet the street he'd arrived at with such high hopes was nothing but an endless chain of refusals.
Even offering premiums well above the standard price for a Clear River Sword yielded no takers among the forge masters.
After suffering over a dozen rejections alongside his master, he had finally encountered someone who seemed to know the inside story.
Naturally, his chilling aura spread subtly through the surroundings, fully betraying his mounting irritation...
"Ah, even for the Point Cang Sword Sect, some things just can't be done!"
The forge master, paling under the pressure yet stubbornly blurting out everything he had to say.
"..."
At this point, even Gwang-il had no choice but to reconsider his approach.
With a light sigh to vent his inner frustration, he spoke in a much calmer tone, his words measured and soft.
"Who is it?"
"Wh-what do you mean...?"
"The ones daring to obstruct Point Cang's affairs. Right here in Yunnan, no less."
"Th-that's!"
He had already suspected as much after repeated baseless refusals.
Some unknown external pressure was bearing down heavily on the forge masters of this Iron Forge Street.
Furious, his master had long since headed to the Beggars' Sect branch in Dali to seek their aid.
Do I really need to grovel to those beggar scum over something this trivial?
He had stayed behind under the pretext of persuading the forge masters a bit more, but he had his own plans and reasons.
"Listen, forge master. We are the Point Cang Sword Sect—a sword sect."
"That much is obvious..."
The forge master snapped back curtly at the seemingly out-of-place remark, only to leap back in shock at Gwang-il's ensuing icy murmur.
"For a sword sect like ours to be blocked from purchasing swords? You do realize that's no different from declaring yourself our mortal enemy, bound by irreconcilable hatred?"
"?!"
"We Point Cang are a sect that never draws our blades lightly without just cause, out of regard for face and honor."
"..."
"But that doesn't make us fools who tamely submit to such petty schemes."
Overwhelmed by the ferocious aura that seemed poised to unleash devastating sword strikes at any moment, the forge master finally broke down in a wail.
"L-listen! Why are you doing this to me?! You think I want to...!"
"If you want to avoid the backlash, tell me everything."
"...!"
"Who is it? The scum brazenly interfering with Point Cang's business in Yunnan."
A name that had been swirling in his mind for some time now.
He toyed with it on his tongue for a moment before casually letting it slip from his lips.
"Is it the Yun Merchants, by any chance?"
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"Gwang-il! I've uncovered the truth behind it all...!"
"Let's go, Master. I'll take the lead."
"Huh? Wh-what...?"
Tong-cheon, who had rushed over with flushed cheeks and lightfoot steps, froze in bewilderment.
Unfortunately, Gwang-il—seething with rage inside—had no patience to soothe his confusion with explanations.
"Weren't you headed to the Iron Sword Gang?"
"Uh? Oh, how did you...?"
Just moments ago, he had paid a hefty sum at the Beggars' Sect's Dali division for valuable intel.
For it to pop out of his disciple's mouth so casually left Tong-cheon's face even more slack-jawed.
It was only natural that witnessing such a clueless expression fueled Gwang-il's anger even further.
The sect is too confined within its own walls. To think we'd have to pay beggars for news from our own front yard in Dali...!
Though his heart overflowed with lament, Gwang-il decided to extinguish the immediate fire first.
"One of the forge masters told me. They said those bastards took the forge owners' young children hostage."
"Wh-what?! To commit such an outrage...!"
"...Did the Beggars' Sect branch not mention that?"
Gwang-il's face hardened at the chilling realization, his head tilting slowly at a sharp angle.
He could no longer conceal his profound discomfort.
Oblivious to his disciple's turmoil, the innocent Tong-cheon merely nodded vigorously.
"I only heard that a righteous faction group called the Iron Sword Gang, newly settled in Dali, was up to some scheme."
"...How much did you pay—er, hand over?"
"Hm? Why do you ask? They wanted two taels of silver, so I gave it."
Kaduduk!
Those beggar bastards dare to fleece us like this?!
Selling info from someone else's turf for two taels on scraps like that?!
What kind of insane rip-off was this?
They made the Shadow Gate's swindlers look honest.
"...Let's go for now. We must fulfill the Sect Leader's command first, right?"
Those damned beggar scum! I'll make them pay tribute fees just to operate from now on!
With plans to visit the Beggars' Sect branch soon firmly etched in his mind,
Gwang-il dashed off down the street without delay.
His junior brothers' hard-earned training time was dwindling away even now.
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Finding the Iron Sword Gang proved no challenge.
Dali had long been Point Cang's front yard, with scarcely any demonic or unorthodox forces daring to settle here.
The presence of the Yun Merchants' robust escort agencies and merchant groups—practically secular sects in their own right—had helped maintain that.
That very fact was the primary reason other secular groups couldn't establish roots in Dali, though the Yun Merchants focused solely on their escort and trade operations without actively policing the area's security.
And yet they sure know how to sabotage any other secular group trying to settle.
Even before aligning with the Harmony Faction in betrayal, the Yun Merchants had been a thorn in Point Cang's side.
Focused purely on commerce, they never tolerated any sizable secular group encroaching on Dali or the lands around Point Cang Mountain.
They went further, using their vast funds to leash other secular groups across Yunnan and boldly play overlord.
It never should have been allowed from the start. We should have crushed them outright and ended their tyranny decisively.
Then Point Cang wouldn't have been abandoned by every subordinate secular sect during the war with the Beast Palace, driven to utter madness.
Yun Merchants, Yun Merchants—those damned Yun Merchants!
A murderous intent like raging wildfire suddenly erupted from Gwang-il's entire body as he raced alone toward the Iron Sword Gang.
Fortunately, his master—who would freak out at the sight—was not beside him now.
There was only one reason he moved alone:
To handle things more efficiently and cleanly, avoiding interference from his master, whose mind remained innocently pure despite nearing fifty.
With his master present, he couldn't even properly kill those who deserved it.
Explaining the brutality of his hands on this, his first official outing in this life, would also be troublesome.
Thus, using the excuse of preventing retaliation against the Iron Forge Street, he had sent his master back there.
Along with a promise he had no intention of keeping: that he'd scout the Iron Sword Gang's exact location and return.
Of course, he had zero plans to merely scout and leave.
True demonic faction or pretenders, I couldn't care less.
The price for shitting in the Dark Heaven Emperor's domain could only be paid in death.
I'm already pressed for time, and these worthless pests...!
As he resolved to head straight for the Yun Merchants after this,
"Hey? Oi! Who the hell are you?"
"Do you even know where you are, you fearless punk...?"
"Oh ho? What's that? A sword?"
"Look at this fresh-faced kid... What, you here to join up or something?"
Murmurs drifted into Gwang-il's ears upon reaching his destination.
His feet naturally carried him toward them, step by step.
Was it because he still looked like a young man?
Even at half a zhang away, they showed no real resistance or response—utterly defenseless.
These vermin have the gall!
Their sloppy, pathetic nonchalance only scraped at Gwang-il's nerves even more.
"Iron Sword Gang. That right?"
"What?"
"Who the hell is this rude bastard? Yeah, that's us! But who the fuck are you to...!"
"Call your gang leader."
His voice dropped even lower.
Yet the two closest to him failed to register the ominous shift.
"What, you little shit?!"
"This brat keeps...!"
Irked by the curt, commanding banter,
the two burly guards snatched up their cleavers leaning against the wall, assuming familiar intimidating stances with menacing glares.
"Hey. Say that again. What're you gonna do to the gang leader... Guh! G-guhhh...!"
Tang!
Thud!
The thug, baring his teeth in a savage threat, suddenly clutched his mouth with both hands and collapsed to the ground.
Hot blood soaked his double-layered grip.
In an instant, his mouth had been ravaged by sword wind, a fingernail-sized hole pierced through his nape.
And it took no time at all for his breath to cease.
"Ha."
Swish!
His first kill in this new life.
Of course, it stirred no particular emotion.
With an indifferent flick, he shook the blood from his blade.
"Uh, uhhh...!"
Gwang-il's icy, ruthless gaze turned to the other thug, frozen in terror at the sudden turn.
"Go call your gang leader. If you want to breathe a little longer."