Chapter 255

Chapter 255
## Chapter 255. The Time the Fruit Is Borne (2)

The establishment of the Black Thought Alliance was officially broadcasted to the world.

Cha Seok-du, stepping forward as the First Alliance Leader, announced to everyone under the heavens the core principles and validity behind creating the Black Thought Alliance.

『—Demonic Deceit, Disturbance, and Poison.

For ages, you have carried the stained reputation of being the ones who disrupt the peace of the Jianghu. I stand before you to ask: is that truly what defines your core being?

I question those of you who simply possessed the natural human urge to pursue greater strength, yet because you were born into poverty and lacked privilege, had no path available except to join the Black Path.

Are you genuinely the source of chaos that upends the Jianghu and brings ruin to the world?

Just as ordinary men grasp sabers and blades to strike down those who threaten them, we likewise utilize Demonic Deceit, Disturbance, and Poison merely as tools to safeguard our own lives.

I demand to know if it can truly be called ‘righteousness’ to label us as villains simply because the nature of the martial arts we practice is unorthodox.

Starting tomorrow, a ‘fresh righteousness’ will firmly plant its roots within the Jianghu.

Simply because the instruments of combat you chose are branded as corrupt, we refuse to condemn your character as corrupt.

Those who lack powerful lineages, those who yearn for true independence, and those who desire to climb the ranks solely through their individual merits—all of you are welcome to join the Black Thought Alliance.

Unlike ‘certain individuals,’ we do not judge or assign value to people based on their birth, their material fortunes, or the network of allies they possess.

We shall recognize nothing but your personal competence and dedication, and we will evaluate you on those parameters alone.

Even if you previously harbored hatred for Demonic Deceit, Disturbance, and Poison, should you choose to align with the Black Thought Alliance, your history will not be held against you.

The fundamental objective championed by the Black Thought Alliance rests upon a single pillar.

That is ‘Freedom,’ alongside the heavy weight of ‘responsibility’ it demands.

To the exact degree that you fulfill your responsibilities, we will grant you your freedom.

Knock on the doors of the Black Thought Alliance at any given moment!

The entrance to the Black Thought Alliance will never be barred to you.』

As the words of Cha Seok-du’s manifesto echoed throughout the world, the entire Jianghu fell into an uproar.

Across the vast timeline of the Jianghu, attempting to unite the various factions of the Black Path was not an unprecedented endeavor.

However, past syndicates that had been haphazardly thrown together usually dissolved rapidly or devolved into petty, localized gangs, watching their reach wither away.

Even if they managed to stabilize initially, internal power struggles would inevitably tear them apart from within.

Yet, alongside its inaugural declaration, Cha Seok-du’s Black Thought Alliance demonstrated that it was systematically restructuring its internal organization with flawless precision. This development sparked massive anticipation among the figures of the Black Path, while triggering deep anxiety within the ranks of the Orthodox Path.

Most notably, the detail that Cha Seok-du, serving as the initial Alliance Leader, was far from the most powerful warrior within the Black Path Murim gave observers greater confidence that the Black Thought Alliance would endure.

After all, would the lawless scum of the Black Path ever willingly bow to a leader weaker than themselves?

On the flip side, subordinates who submit exclusively out of terror of violence are bound to betray their master at the first opportunity.

That precise flaw was the reason why previous federations engineered by the absolute strongest titans of the Black Path had ultimately fractured.

Consequently, the realization that this new coalition was built not on the traditional Black Path doctrine of the strong devouring the weak, but rather on a structured, institutional framework, deeply startled both the Black Path and the Orthodox Path alike.

Spurred by this revelation, the various clans and syndicates of the Black Path Murim who had previously been observing from a distance began racing toward Shanxi Province, desperate to avoid being left behind.

Naturally, the institutions of the Orthodox Path could not sit back and celebrate the emergence of the Black Thought Alliance.

If these rogue factions managed to consolidate, allowing the absolute scale of the Black Thought Alliance to expand, it was entirely predictable that they would attempt to project their authority across the entire world, mimicking the Murim Alliance itself.

To the factions already plotting to spread the dominion of their own specific sects, it felt as though a formidable new adversary had risen from the earth.

As a result, a massive influx of formal complaints demanding the total eradication of the Black Thought Alliance flooded into the headquarters of the Murim Alliance.

Nevertheless, for the Murim Alliance, which had yet to conclude its grueling conflict against the Blood Cult, mobilizing a campaign to crush the Black Thought Alliance was a luxury they could not afford anytime soon.

Furthermore, because they had recently finalized a non-aggression pact with the Black Thought Alliance to focus their combined efforts on defeating the Blood Cult, they were highly sensitive about preventing even the slightest whisper of an “anti-alliance crusade” from becoming public.

The passive and non-committal stance of the Murim Alliance sent a distinct message to the individual sects.

It signaled that they tacitly recognized the legitimacy of the Black Thought Alliance while simultaneously viewing them as a dangerous future rival.

The shrewder figures who accurately assessed the political landscape understood that the expansion of the Black Thought Alliance was now inevitable, concluding that they needed to aggressively broaden their own territories before the new alliance could completely solidify its grip.

As a consequence of these shifts, using the Black Thought Alliance as a catalyst, rogue martial factions began cropping up haphazardly everywhere, while the Orthodox Path sects also launched aggressive maneuvers to claim as much territory as possible before their new rivals could take firm root. Even though the Jianghu was locked in the dead of winter, the atmosphere was boiling hot with tension.

—

“You must be thoroughly pleased with yourself. Having a child of such incredible caliber.”

“…….”

Seated next to Jin Tae-san, whose face remained drained of color from the mountain of administrative tasks burying his desk, Wang Geum-san was moving around energetically.

“Word on the street is that those lawless Black Path bastards will clear the path for you out of respect, so long as you hoist the banner of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild. Wow! Isn’t that something truly spectacular?”

He spoke with an air of genuine jealousy, but the comment only caused Jin Tae-san’s complexion to turn a deep crimson.

“The Great Heaven Merchant Guild won’t even need to hire professional bodyguards from an Escort Agency moving forward. If the reach of the Black Thought Alliance keeps expanding, what rogue in the entire realm would possess the audacity to block the path of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild?”

Despite his face flushing so intensely it looked ready to burst, Jin Tae-san stubbornly kept his focus on stamping the paperwork before him with trembling fingers. Watching this display, Wang Geum-san noted to himself that his companion was showing remarkable restraint today.

However, Wang Geum-san had finally found a companion he could mercilessly banter with for the first time in ages. There was absolutely no way he was going to drop the subject just yet.

“Oh! Have you caught wind of the latest rumors? I was informed that your extraordinary son has been branded with a brand-new title.”

Jin Tae-san, who had been putting every ounce of his energy into ignoring Wang Geum-san’s chatter, suddenly froze. The moment the topic of his child’s martial alias was raised, he found himself unable to avoid looking up.

“A title?”

To what extent had that deeply embarrassing previous alias, Black Flame Dragon, plagued his thoughts until now?

Just as the titles belonging to the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers had successfully transitioned from the Black-Blood Three Dragons to the Ironwall Three Dragons, Jin Tae-san had been praying that the ridiculous name Black Flame Dragon would swiftly be replaced by something far more respectable.

Observing Jin Tae-san’s expression—which attempted to appear indifferent but was visibly radiating intense anticipation—Wang Geum-san let out a highly suggestive grin.

“Well, you see……”

Right as Jin Tae-san’s eyebrows began to knit together in irritation at Wang Geum-san’s deliberate, dramatic pause,

“It’s the Black Maitreya. They are calling him the Black Maitreya!”

“!”

……Jin Tae-san’s features contorted into a mask of pure horror, resembling a demonic creature.

The revelation struck him with such force that he dropped his writing implement without a second thought, completely unbothered by the fact that the contract he was reviewing was now stained with dark ink.

Wang Geum-san rolled his head back, letting out a sigh of dramatic appreciation.

“Wow! Isn’t that just incredible? A practitioner raised within a traditional Daoist martial sect being granted the title of a Buddhist savior deity.”

“S-stop taking pleasure in my misery. Even jests should have boundaries!”

Jin Tae-san actually stumbled over his words, which only served to make Wang Geum-san look more entertained than before.

“It feels too absurd to believe, doesn’t it? That is precisely why I went out of my way to verify the news directly with the informants of the Beggars’ Sect and the Hao Gate.”

“……The Beggars’ Sect and the Hao Gate……?”

Unbelievable. Had this man truly poured massive sums of money into those high-tier network operations just to cross-examine a silly martial title?

“Brace yourself for this part.”

Wang Geum-san adopted a deeply earnest look, imitating someone sharing a profound state secret.

An ominous, unnamable dread began to pool in the pit of Jin Tae-san’s stomach……

“They claim your boy is a master of the Mind-Reading Art!”

What kind of absolute nonsense was he spinning now?

“The rumors say that whenever your son merely cast his eyes upon those hardened criminals of the Black Thought Alliance, those bloodthirsty thugs instinctively averted their gazes and bowed their heads in submission. Is that not an unbelievable feat?”

“…….”

“Bwahahahahahahaha!”

Had it not been for that booming burst of laughter at the very end, Jin Tae-san might have actually been fooled into believing the man genuinely respected his son.

Jin Tae-san slowly rose to his feet.

“That will be quite enough.”

His words dropped to a freezing temperature.

Though he only possessed third-rate martial capabilities, he remained a trained warrior at his core.

Wang Geum-san fought hard to choke back the giggles that were threatening to erupt from his throat once more.

Jin Tae-san then stiffly gestured with his arm toward the exit of the room.

“If your amusement at my expense has concluded, I must ask you to vacate the premises. I have a mountain of tasks demanding my attention.”

Jin Tae-san delivered the line with forced composure.

His naturally drawn features, paired with his newly hardened demeanor, gave him an uncharacteristically intimidating presence.

“Uh…… You do realize this happens to be my workspace as well, right?”

“……In that case, I suggest you apply yourself to your duties.”

“Ahem, well……”

Ultimately, Wang Geum-san slid back into his chair positioned across from Jin Tae-san.

While making a show of reviewing his own ledgers, he kept a close eye on Jin Tae-san, whose irritation had clearly peaked. Eventually, Wang Geum-san tentatively ventured to speak once more.

“Would you mind if I ask you a serious question?”

“……Does this concern my offspring again?”

Wang Geum-san shook his head with measured deliberation.

“No. This is a completely separate issue.”

“Go ahead.”

“Hmm…….”

An abrupt wave of quietude enveloped the room for a brief period.

Then, Wang Geum-san broke the silence.

“For how much longer does the Taeul Sect intend to maintain its isolation behind closed doors?”

“…….”

Jin Tae-san, who had been staring down at his paperwork, shifted his gaze over to Wang Geum-san.

The humor had completely vanished from Wang Geum-san’s features, replaced by a sudden, profound gravity before Jin Tae-san could even register the shift.

“What prompts this inquiry?”

“While gathering intelligence from across the realm via the channels of the Beggars’ Sect and the Hao Gate, another significant trend caught my attention. The aggressive mobilization of the Orthodox Path martial sects.”

“…….”

“Whispers are circulating that they have initiated displays of military dominance to lock down their own spheres of influence before the Black Thought Alliance can establish a permanent foothold.”

Back when the Black Thought Alliance was nonexistent, these groups only needed to monitor the reactions of the Murim Alliance.

However, now that the Black Thought Alliance had materialized and even the rogue factions of the Black Path were actively expanding their reach, there was a legitimate risk that the modest influence these Orthodox sects held would be entirely squeezed out.

To avoid such an outcome, the Orthodox martial sects were moving aggressively to project their dominance before the Black Thought Alliance could establish local chapters.

“It is common knowledge throughout the land that the Great Heaven Merchant Guild operates under the umbrella of the Taeul Sect. Already, within the borders of Anhui Province, certain factions are beginning to actively disrupt the operations of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild. Before long, targeted hurdles will be placed in the path of your commerce.”

“That is a highly probable outcome.”

The Iron Sword Sect, which held local dominance over Hefei, alongside the Namgung Clan, who reigned supreme over Anhui Province.

They maintained amicable bonds with both entities, but those agreements only amounted to diplomatic pacts.

If a genuine armed conflict were to erupt, there was no guaranteeing that either faction would put their lives on the line to defend them.

Furthermore, there were numerous parties who viewed it with immense distaste that the Taeul Sect was actively generating massive wealth through commerce despite officially declaring a state of total isolation. Consequently, as the reach of the Great Heaven Merchant Guild expanded, the impending danger drew closer.

Wang Geum-san, carefully reading the shifts in Jin Tae-san’s expression, finally arrived at his primary point.

“Wouldn’t it be wise to unseal the gates in the near future? Before external forces begin to actively sabotage the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, it appears vital that the Taeul Sect constructs its defenses.”

Naturally, a decision of this magnitude was far beyond Jin Tae-san’s authority to resolve.

Even so, from Wang Geum-san’s perspective, he felt a deep obligation to offer his perspective on the strategic path the Taeul Sect ought to pursue given the current climate.

Jin Tae-san sank into deep reflection for a brief interval before shaking his head.

“The Taeul Sect has undoubtedly achieved incredible growth compared to our dark days, but our current strength remains insufficient to confidently end our isolation.”

“I suppose that is the harsh reality.”

Even though they had successfully reclaimed the legacy techniques of the Founding Patriarch and were accumulating substantial wealth from the mining operations, true military dominance was not an asset that could be manufactured overnight.

Utilizing the wealth flowing in from the mining sectors and the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, they were aggressively purchasing rare Spiritual Medicines and various treasures designed to accelerate martial advancement, yet they fundamentally lacked the ‘absolute time’ required to match the centuries of progress held by their rivals.

“As you are well aware, the Wang Estate maintains strict neutrality, aligning with neither the White nor the Black factions. Consequently, while we can leverage our weight in matters regarding imperial authorities, we are barred from interfering directly in the conflicts of the Jianghu.”

“I am fully aware.”

Even putting that limitation aside, they had already benefited from the generosity of the Wang Estate to a degree that defied repayment.

Even now, under circumstances where the Wang Estate could not directly intervene, Wang Geum-san was actively losing sleep over the matter as if it were his own livelihood at stake.

Regardless, Jin Tae-san found himself forced to decline the suggestion once more.

“Be that as it may, how can we expect to harvest the fruit before the blossoms have even had a chance to open?”

The natural timeline required for flowers to open and fruit to mature could never be artificially accelerated by human will.

And the single most critical asset the Great Heaven Merchant Guild required at this exact juncture was time.

“Well, there is truth in that statement.”

Wang Geum-san, whose face had been masked in concern, forced a bright expression back onto his face.

“Nevertheless, do not lose sleep over it. If some foolish faction attempts to pick a fight with the Taeul Sect or tries to corner the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, and we find our backs against the wall, we can simply dump vast fortunes into the mercenary market and overwhelm them with sheer numbers, can we not?”

The exact second Wang Geum-san’s personal wealth was deployed to bail out the Great Heaven Merchant Guild, it would signify that the Wang Estate had officially dipped its toes into this violent factional war.

The potential devastation the Wang Estate might incur as a consequence of that choice was completely beyond calculation.

That reality was precisely why Jin Tae-san would never easily bring himself to request such a sacrifice from Wang Geum-san.

Even so, a faint, genuine smile broke across Jin Tae-san’s features.

He could deeply sense the loyalty of a true ‘friend’ who treasured him and valued the well-being of the Taeul Sect more profoundly than anyone else alive.

Jin Tae-san brought his hands together in a respectful martial salute toward his companion.

“You have my deepest gratitude, Family Head Wang.”

“Oh, come now! My dear friend! What is the meaning of this sudden formality between the two of us?”

As Wang Geum-san rubbed his cheek to mask his rising self-consciousness, he supplemented his words with absolute assurance,

“I may have painted a bleak picture, but who in their right mind would possess the sheer recklessness to disregard the Great Heaven Merchant Guild so thoughtlessly?”

“What do you mean by that?”

While it was true the Great Heaven Merchant Guild had experienced an exponential rise, it hadn’t yet become an existential threat to the major powers.

Just as Jin Tae-san cocked his head in confusion,

“Is this not the enterprise steered by the very organization that produced Jin So-un, the legendary Black Maitreya under Heaven……! Unless an adversary harbors zero fear of the Mind-Reading Art, who would dare plot against the Great Heaven Merchant Guild……”

CRASH—

“H-hold on, put that heavy object back down before we continue our discussion……!”

Catching sight of Jin Tae-san abruptly hoisting a heavy block of stone from his desk, Wang Geum-san fell into a panic and bolted from the room.

—

“State the place of your origin once more.”

In response to Jin Tae-san’s stern inquiry, the visiting warrior offered a deeply condescending reply.

“The Asura Sect.”

He then paused for a brief beat, casting a pointed look toward Wang Geum-san, who remained seated right next to them, before clarifying,

“……is the affiliation I claim.”

The Asura Sect.

It was an establishment brought into existence by Jang Yeong-gi, a former Lay Disciple of Shaolin, following his creation of a unique, personalized combat system known as the Asura Fist Art.

Beginning with the legacy of Jang Yeong-gi, succeeding generations had carved out a highly unique path centered around these innovative techniques. However, in recent times, it had become recognized as a Lay-Affiliated Martial Sect of Shaolin Temple, effectively functioning as the official proxy for the Shaolin Temple within Anhui Province.

“For what possible reason…… would an entity of your status seek an audience here……?”

As Jin Tae-san’s voice trailed off, his face displaying absolute bewilderment, the visitor bypassed any further pleasantries to present his core objective.

“I have journeyed here because I carry an economic business proposal.”

“A business proposal?”

“Precisely.”

Having integrated itself under the massive umbrella of Shaolin Temple’s authority, the Asura Sect had successfully secured a prominent position even within the ranks of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

What possible commercial affair could a powerhouse of that magnitude want to broker with an entity like the Great Heaven Merchant Guild?

After processing the oddity for a moment, Jin Tae-san stated,

“I shall hear the terms of your offer first. Please present them.”

“…… shreds of privacy would be preferred.”

The representative from the Asura Sect shifted his gaze significantly toward Wang Geum-san.

It was an unmistakable demand for the third party to remove himself from the conversation.

Wang Geum-san, instantly picking up on the slight, bunched his features in irritation.

“Hmph…… How incredibly offensive. There isn’t a soul alive who doesn’t know that I, Wang Geum-san, have sworn a solemn oath to become a brother in arms and future family relations with Jin Tae-san.”

Jin Tae-san turned to look at him with a thoroughly mystified expression.

“……Since when did we agree to become brothers in arms and family relations?”

“Quiet down! Just leave this to me, my friend. I will handle the negotiations.”

Wang Geum-san continued to glare at the visitor, instinctively sensing foul play on the horizon.

Ultimately, Jin Tae-san had no choice but to escort Wang Geum-san out of the chamber.

“You better debrief me on every single detail of this meeting the moment it concludes……!”

BANG—

With a heavy effort, Jin Tae-san managed to close the door on Wang Geum-san, sealing him outside the workplace.

“Please accept my apologies for the disruption.”

“Think nothing of it. I am well aware that the Wang Estate and the Great Heaven Merchant Guild maintain an incredibly tight-knit alliance.”

“I see……. Is that the extent of your knowledge?”

In the isolation of the room where only the two of them remained, the envoy from the Asura Sect locked an intense, calculating gaze onto Jin Tae-san.

Jin Tae-san, maintaining a perfectly composed exterior, chose to prompt the visitor first.

“What exactly did you wish to bring to the table?”

“Are you aware of the fact that the Asura Sect recently launched a modest commercial enterprise of its own?”

Every critical piece of localized data within Anhui Province was routinely delivered to Jin Tae-san through Wang Geum-san’s network on a daily basis.

He had been apprised of this commercial expansion long ago, but because it posed zero competitive threat to the Great Heaven Merchant Guild or the Wang Estate—both of which had already locked down a monopoly within Anhui Province—he hadn’t given the venture a second thought.

“Yes. I am well informed on the matter.”

“Excellent, that streamlines our conversation.”

The man gave a satisfied nod of acknowledgment before picking up his explanation.

“Our organization intends to scale up the operations of our trading guild significantly. We desire for it to serve as a vital pillar of material support for the ‘Shaolin Temple’ in the days ahead.”

The envoy made a deliberate point to articulate and emphasize the words ‘Shaolin Temple.’

Jin Tae-san felt a sudden prickle of irritation at the veiled threat, but he kept his composure and silently waited for the man to reveal his hand.

“Regrettably, it appears the martial artists of our sect possess absolutely zero aptitude for corporate management, as we are currently experiencing severe difficulties in keeping the enterprise profitable.”

“I see…….”

“Consequently, we have arrived at an alternative solution.”

Within the quiet office from which Wang Geum-san had just been banished, the envoy from the Asura Sect swept his eyes across the room before delivering his final terms with an aura that bordered on absolute arrogance.

“The Asura Sect intends to purchase the Great Heaven Merchant Guild in its entirety.”

“…….”