Chapter 265

Chapter 265
## Chapter 265. Walking in Silk Clothes at Night (6)

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Dong-ryong-Lee’s blade slashed forward with lethal precision toward a critical vulnerability. Geum-pyo-Lee executed a desperate evasion, shifting his weight rapidly through the intricate footwork of the Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps.

*Screeech.*

The fabric of his attire tore by the narrowest of margins, yet he felt no sense of true relief. He had caught the subtle, last-second adjustment of Dong-ryong-Lee’s wrist.

“Haat!”

Channeling the internal energy of the Tae-eul True Scripture, he unleashed the formidable Twin Heavens Sword Art.

*Chwa-reureureureureu.*

A dense torrent of illusory and authentic blades saturated the eight cardinal directions, enveloping Dong-ryong-Lee from all sides. Under ordinary circumstances, his younger brother should have been overwhelmed and lacerated by this tempest of steel, but a vibrant surge of blue sword energy erupted, slicing cleanly through the vortex.

*Boom, boom, boom!*

Dismantling the Twin Heavens Sword Art entirely with that concentrated burst, Dong-ryong-Lee advanced so rapidly it appeared as though he were compressing the very distance between them. Utilizing the massive weight of the heavy sword gripped in his left hand, he deflected the desperate energy blasts fired by Geum-pyo-Lee, closing the gap to absolute point-blank range.

Geum-pyo-Lee grimaced in frustration. That monstrous Heavenly Killer Star!

> 『The innate capability of the Heavenly Killer Star, when their bloodlust is entirely mastered, transcends the reach of standard martial artists.』

A passage he had once read within the restricted archives of the Library of Myriad Books flashed through his mind. Even so, the pride of an elder brother refusing to be surpassed by his junior frequently chose to ignore reality.

“Haaaaaap!”

His robes billowed violently, strained to their limits by the absolute maximum output of the Tae-eul True Scripture. In an instant, ten thousand manifestations of blades materialized in midair, locking onto Dong-ryong-Lee’s vital acupuncture points.

*Chwa-reureureureureu.*

The dual weapons generated nearly a hundred mirror images, while the erratic movements of the Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps distorted spatial perception with a dozen phantom duplicates. To any standard, highly trained master, distinguishing the illusion from the reality would be an impossible feat. After all, when a Heavenly Killer Star is driven to their absolute limits, rational discernment vanishes beneath pure instinct.

However,

*Chwa-reureureuk!*

The extraordinary gift of the Heavenly Killer Star operated on an entirely different plane. It was a primal, instinctual drive for slaughter—a cold optimization for the next termination. This terrifying, suppressed fixation on execution overrode and crushed all conventional logic. Much like a traveler dying of thirst searching for water, or a drowning victim desperately thrashing for a pocket of air, the absolute drive for murder superseded everything else.

*Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!*

Disregarding the need to differentiate between the phantom decoys and the genuine steel, Dong-ryong-Lee’s heavy sword ploughed directly through the center of the assault. Moving along the absolute shortest trajectory, the massive blade abruptly halted, freezing mere millimeters from Geum-pyo-Lee’s throat.

“……Haah, haah, haah.”

The icy aura of the metal radiated against the bare skin of his neck.

“……Hehet, Hyung, I won!”

Instantly reverting to his usual, simple-minded self, Dong-ryong-Lee grinned cheerfully, celebrating his success. *You foolish boy, do you not realize you have been consistently defeating me recently, not just today?*

“Yes, an excellent performance!”

As Geum-pyo-Lee affectionately ruffled Dong-ryong-Lee’s hair, the younger boy leaned closer into his brother’s side, clearly pleased by the praise. Geum-pyo-Lee felt a fleeting pang of envy toward the staggering martial genius displayed by his sibling, but it melted away into an affectionate smile. It was impossible to harbor resentment toward someone so pure.

Right at that moment.

“So this is where everyone was gathering.”

“Eun-ho Hyung!”

Spotting Eun-ho-Lee, whose recent promotion to an executive role on the representative squad had made him a rare sight, Dong-ryong-Lee bounded over eagerly to embrace him. He then scanned the immediate area, looking around expectedly.

“Where is Dae-sa-hyeong?”

“He mentioned having to retrieve some documents from the Bureau of Universal Information (Man-tong-bu) and departed earlier.”

“He went to the Man-tong-bu?”

Having completed roughly half a year of his tenure at the Academy, Eun-ho-Lee had come to realize that standard students possessed absolutely no justification for interacting with the Bureau of Universal Information. Around that same period, he had also uncovered the true, immense authority held by the Man-tong-bu, discovering that the vast majority of Academy scholars dreamed of joining its ranks post-graduation. From that viewpoint, although he remained awed by Dae-sa-hyeong’s capability to freely drift in and out of such an institution, he had ultimately learned to stop questioning it. Too many extraordinary incidents had occurred around him. He knew that attempting to rationally process the chaotic, daily(?) exploits of Dae-sa-hyeong would simply break his own sanity.

Brushing the dust from his torn sleeve, Geum-pyo-Lee inquired with his usual calm acceptance.

“What sort of complication has arisen this time?”

“I am entirely in the dark. Has Dae-sa-hyeong ever given us a detailed breakdown of his affairs?”

Eun-ho-Lee muttered with a hint of melancholy. Yet, simultaneously, he deeply appreciated the weight their eldest brother carried. Dae-sa-hyeong constantly shouldered every burden in isolation. For their protection, and for the preservation of the Tae-eul-mun lineage, he repeatedly walked the narrowest tightropes over lethal precipices. Even when facing hazards that could ruin him permanently with a single misstep, he never once projected his stress or frustration onto his junior martial brothers.

*‘It is simply because we have not yet proven ourselves dependable.’*

He likely didn’t express irritation because he expected nothing from them to begin with.

“Whew……”

The path ahead remained incredibly daunting. Before he could even begin to contemplate the grand trajectory of the Tae-eul-mun or his personal martial journey, the immediate gap separating him from Dae-sa-hyeong was immensely vast. Shaking off his sudden melancholy, Eun-ho-Lee reached into his uniform and produced a document.

“What have you got there?”

“The academic marks for the conclusion of this term. I collected them since they were sitting in our residential quarters.”

Despite the chaotic events of the past few months, the three siblings had rigorously studied for their theoretical evaluations. Dong-ryong-Lee’s eyes sparkled as he snatched his report sheet.

“Wow! Hyungs, I managed to secure two ‘Gap’ marks!”

“Let me examine that…… these are exclusively restricted to practical engagement exercises. I specifically instructed you to focus on tactical theory and military strategy. Neglecting those will severely penalize your future unit placement.”

“Heeing, but the theoretical written papers are incredibly tedious……”

Eun-ho-Lee interrupted sharply.

“There is nothing tedious about them! Your only task was to commit to memory the exact concepts emphasized by the instructors! Frankly speaking, any individual who receives a ‘Mu’ mark might as well possess a skull filled with gravel; when the answers are practically handed to you, failing to that degree is absurd…… People like that ought to pack their bags and head home. If such dense individuals assume a leadership position, their entire division will be led straight to slaughter.”

The proud posture Dong-ryong-Lee had maintained after his victory over Geum-pyo-Lee vanished instantly, his posture slumping.

“……I comprehend. I shall dedicate myself more thoroughly.”

“Ensure that you do! Only an absolute imbecile would pull a ‘Mu’ score.”

Eun-ho-Lee emphasized, his eyebrows knitting together in a stern expression.

“If any member of our Lee lineage registers a ‘Mu’ mark, I will personally petition Father to strike their name from the ancestral records.”

“……Heeing, I understand completely.”

Turning his attention toward Geum-pyo-Lee, who had remained uncharacteristically silent throughout the exchange, Eun-ho-Lee prodded him.

“Geum-pyo Hyung. You ought to reprimand him as well.”

“U-Uh?”

“Offer Dong-ryong some stern guidance.”

Under Eun-ho-Lee’s persistent gaze, Geum-pyo-Lee stared fixedly at the document gripped in his own hands before slowly looking up.

“Ah, me? Is it truly appropriate for me to lecture young Dong-ryong right now, Eun-ho-ssi?”

“……”

Sensing an immediate, terrible realization, Eun-ho-Lee stepped forward and wrenched the paper away. Inspecting the contents of the report sheet:

“……This is madness!”

……The character for ‘Mu’ (戊) was prominently stamped three separate times. Meeting Eun-ho-Lee’s incredulous glare, the static Geum-pyo-Lee chose to remain completely silent from that moment onward.

“What is the final determination regarding the surplus provisions!”

“For the immediate present, we are rerouting the allocations slated for next year’s distribution to the Sichuan headquarters ahead of schedule……”

“Those greedy fools will simply attempt to requisition additional assets by writing those off as historical remnants; finalize the logs immediately so they are blocked from manipulating the ledger!”

“The casualties from the front lines……”

“I gave explicit directives to deny medical transit allocations for the casualties!”

“However, the injured personnel are demanding a return to the headquarters of the Alliance to undergo recovery……”

“Tell them to utilize their own legs if they desire a return! Are you entirely oblivious to the logistics budget required for a security bureau transit vehicle before making such requests?!”

“Deputy Chief, formal grievances are pouring in from the martial artists currently undergoing relocation……”

I was well aware that the internal operations of the Man-tong-bu were perpetually chaotic, but the current environment transcended standard disarray. It felt akin to a frontline command post. Given that administrative headquarters invariably face higher operational strain during post-conflict periods than during active warfare, the frenzy was entirely logical.

*‘The Grand Military Counselor calculated exactly how to leverage this frantic environment.’*

He truly is an individual possessing terrifyingly intricate machinations. Had I not possessed the memories of a prior existence, I would have been thoroughly swindled without even realizing it.

*‘Deliberately summoning an adversary during their period of peak operational stress.’*

I recalled that this specific strategy was favored heavily by predatory lenders. The concept was simple: a stressed individual, overwhelmed by their chaotic surroundings, loses focus and agrees to unfavorable financial settlements just to clear the distraction. A few moments later, Jegal-so-myeong burst into the chamber, visibly irritated and breathing heavily.

“Incompetent fools, it is utterly impossible to communicate simple concepts to them.”

“Have you arrived?”

As the individual designated as the Deputy Chief stepped toward Jegal-so-myeong, the counselor violently hurled his current dossier onto the floor.

“Redraft this immediately! Ensure the arguments are sufficiently airtight to compel the Elders’ Council to remain silent and give their assent!”

“I-I offer my deepest apologies.”

Just as my perspective was about to lock with Jegal-so-myeong’s, who was scanning the room with lingering hostility:

“Furthermore, why is the atmosphere within this chamber so stagnant? Arrange for immediate ventilation!”

That old schemer. Is he actively pretending I do not exist?

“Ye-yes!”

Enforcing Jegal-so-myeong’s command, which carried the biting chill of a winter gale, the staff of the Man-tong-bu scattered in a panic as if struck by lightning, rushing to execute his directives. Jegal-so-myeong made a show of organizing another stack of paperwork before finally shifting his eyes toward me, narrowing them as if he had only just noticed my presence.

“You, in this place…… Ah, was our appointment scheduled for today?”

What an incredibly slippery individual. Fortunately, I am hardly an amateur when it comes to social navigation and administrative posturing. I offered a perfectly courteous, shallow bow.

“If the current operational volume is too demanding, I can easily return at a later date.”

“There is no necessity. The workload will only intensify moving forward, meaning it is logical to conclude this matter immediately.”

Jegal-so-myeong slammed the heavy wooden door shut and took his seat. Swiftly reviewing a single document, pressing his official seal onto the parchment, and sliding it across the desk, Jegal-so-myeong addressed me directly.

“My time is severely limited, so I prefer to bypass pleasantries and conclude this swiftly.”

“Understood. I possess no desire to waste your time either.”

“State your compensation requirements.”

Jegal-so-myeong vocalized his query while continuing to scan his files, refusing to grant me eye contact. Up to this particular juncture, his tactics mirrored the exact methodology of Hwang Gi-yeong from the So-jeong-dae, who had operated extensive usury rings. He used to explain that by projecting an aura of deliberate disregard, a debtor can successfully intimidate a creditor, rendering them hesitant to demand their full due. Under normal circumstances, initiating the discussion regarding compensation would feel incredibly daunting.

“The items I require are……”

“Keep it brief. Eliminate all superfluous justifications.”

“Ah, of course.”

If fortune favored me in any aspect, it was that Hwang Gi-yeong had been an absolute master of debt collection, and I had absorbed his historical anecdotes over countless late-night drinks. The primary rule when dealing with a evasive debtor is to force them to consciously acknowledge the sheer magnitude of their obligation. And the optimal tactic to establish that psychological reality is……

“I require the Dae-cheon Merchant Guild to be granted exclusive logistical authority over all Moolim Alliance sectors within Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi Provinces. Furthermore, from the legendary collection contained inside the Gold & Jade Treasure Vault (Geum-ok-bo-go), I require the allocation of the Azure Dragon Sword.”

To demand an amount far exceeding the actual baseline of what is owed.

The entire room went dead silent.

“……”

Jegal-so-myeong, who had completely ignored my presence since my arrival, froze entirely and stared blankly in my direction.

“Have you completely lost your sanity?”

“To what do you refer?”

“Do you possess even a fraction of understanding regarding the magnitude of your request?”

I gave a casual, indifferent shrug.

“Did you not instruct me to plainly state my desires?”

“Ho-ho! At this rate, why not simply demand the supreme leadership position of the entire Moolim Alliance?”

“Are you capable of transferring it to me?”

“Preposterous!”

“I have simply calculated a fair valuation for the services I successfully rendered.”

“A fair valuation for your actions?”

The moment a debtor is confronted with a demand that drastically exceeds their expectations, they are forced to abandon their dismissive attitude and engage in active negotiation. They realize that a single misstep might result in them forfeiting massive assets unnecessarily.

“The operation you completed was undoubtedly an exceptional achievement. Even so, it does not warrant the surrender of three entire administrative provinces.”

Predictably, Jegal-so-myeong pushed his documents aside, focusing his entire glare directly upon me.

“What scale of compensation do you honestly deem realistic?”

He fell into a brief silence, calculating the variables before answering.

“I am aware that the Dae-cheon Merchant Guild has recently pushed its commercial presence toward the Mt. Cheon-mok territory. I am willing to authorize your exclusive logistical control over the Hangzhou sector.”

“That cannot be classified as a reward. Even without your intervention, our internal capabilities would allow us to secure the Hangzhou sector independently in due time.”

“Executing operations on behalf of the Moolim Alliance is a fundamental obligation for any martial artist aligned with our cause.”

“To clarify the situation, I am not a formally registered affiliate of your Alliance. My infiltration of the Sa-heuk-ryeon was conducted strictly as a contractual exchange for services rendered to the Man-tong-bu.”

“Even taking that into account, you must realize that accessing the Gold & Jade Treasure Vault is completely out of the question.”

The adversary will predictably attempt to systematically devalue and reject the initial terms put forward.

“For what reason should it be dismissed? Frankly speaking, Grand Military Counselor, were you not fully aware from the inception that the assignment handed to our diplomatic envoy was structurally designed to fail?”

“Indeed. It was an unrealistic assignment, and from a technical standpoint, it resulted in failure. The formal pact with the Sa-heuk-ryeon was never realized.”

“You are intentionally omitting the fact that the Sa-heuk-ryeon transferred a sacred artifact as a concrete demonstration of their good faith.”

“From the very beginning, that object represented an asset they could not safely manage. They merely utilized this specific scenario to offload a highly problematic white elephant.”

“Yet, now that this specific white elephant has been successfully delivered into your custody, Grand Military Counselor, will it not yield a strategic utility worth far more than its literal weight in gold?”

Once an incredibly high baseline is established, the opposing negotiator is psychologically anchored to that elevated standard. At that exact moment, one must strike directly at their core strategic vulnerabilities.

“To speak plainly, do you not intend to weaponize that exact white elephant to manipulate the political standing of the Nine Sects and One Gang alongside the Five Great Families?”

“……”

Jegal-so-myeong’s expression shifted into a complex mask of calculation. His eyes betrayed a deep shock, wondering how I could have possibly deciphered his long-term agenda.

“The mere fact that you refrained from immediately announcing the artifact’s return to the general assembly of the Moolim Alliance makes your intentions entirely transparent.”

“Are you attempting to extort me?”

The objective is to guide the opponent into the desired corner without causing them to entirely abandon the table due to wounded pride. I shook my head, maintaining a deeply respectful posture.

“Far from it. I am simply pursuing a proportional return for the immense strategic victory I delivered.”

“Such an act is merely the duty expected of any practitioner operating within the Jianghu.”

Furthermore, I proceeded to logically outline the catastrophic alternative reality he had narrowly avoided.

“Under standard conditions, that logic would apply. However, does this specific crisis not represent an entirely unprecedented scenario?”

“An unprecedented scenario?”

“Indeed. Had a conventional martial artist been dispatched to negotiate with the Sa-heuk-ryeon, they would have either perished instantly within their territory or fled in a panic to report the disaster back to the Moolim Alliance. Following that, an all-out conflict between the Sa-heuk-ryeon and the Moolim Alliance would have become mathematically certain. Initiating a secondary war while the threat of the Blood Cult remains unresolved would have dealt a fatal, irreversible blow to the alliance.”

When an elevated baseline is established, one must sustain the intellectual argument aggressively, allowing the concept that ‘perhaps this massive valuation is justified’ to firmly take root in the adversary’s mind.

“Had that sequence of events transpired, massive numbers of Alliance fighters would have been wiped out, ultimately causing the total collapse and erasure of the Moolim Alliance from history.”

“Absurdity! Throughout the five-century existence of the Moolim Alliance, have we not survived comparable existential crises multiple times?”

“Naturally, I am presenting an extreme hypothetical case. Regardless, if an individual who achieved such a monumental victory is denied a corresponding, visible reward……”

By offering a broader systemic justification here, the balance of the negotiation swings entirely in my favor.

“What motivation would any remaining member possess to sacrifice themselves for the future of the Moolim Alliance?”

Jegal-so-myeong paused, his resolve wavering slightly before he spoke.

“In any event, your specific operational records regarding this mission will remain strictly classified from the general public.”

“I am fully cognizant of that reality. Even so, if a proper compensation is withheld, every faction within the Alliance will pivot exclusively toward self-interest.”

“Target achieved.”

As the psychological impression that ‘the initial extreme demand might not be entirely unreasonable’ solidified within his calculations:

“……”

The correct move was to maintain a relaxed silence, putting no further pressure on him. One must wait for the adversary to offer terms first.

“……I am prepared to grant you ownership of the Flying Dragon Robe (Bi-ryong-po) currently preserved inside the Silver & Jade Treasure Vault (Eun-ok-bo-go). Furthermore, I will authorize your exclusive distribution rights over the various sectors within Zhejiang Province.”

He was completely hooked. I carefully suppressed the smirk that threatened to show on my face. The Flying Dragon Robe was an elite piece of gear, offering phenomenal offensive and defensive enhancements. However, in my current situation, its immediate utility was minimal. Even so, I could not allow him to perceive that. It needed to be leveraged as a tactical chip to maintain total leverage. Taking a calculated step backward, I allowed Jegal-so-myeong to believe he had successfully forced a major compromise.

“As previously established, the Dae-cheon Merchant Guild is already operating in close coordination with the Wang Family Manor, meaning our expansion into the Zhejiang Province region is already guaranteed through our own momentum. In place of that, append the logistical rights for Jiangsu Province. In return, I will agree to downgrade my artifact selection to an item from the Murim Treasure Vault (Mu-rim-bo-go).”

“The Murim Treasure Vault?”

“Correct. From that specific tier, I will claim the Diamond Shield (Geum-gang-pae).”

Martial artists who have never experienced the meat-grinder of a true war frequently fail to comprehend the immense value of a shield. Most foolishly view carrying one as a stain on their martial dignity. It was precisely due to this short-sighted vanity that an extraordinary defensive relic like the Diamond Shield sat neglected within the Murim Treasure Vault, a repository positioned a full tier below the Silver & Jade Treasure Vault. Confronted with my sudden reduction in demands, Jegal-so-myeong’s brow furrowed with deep skepticism.

“You are requesting a shield?”

“I am.”

Given that my opening gambit involved targeting the legendary Gold & Jade Treasure Vault, his immediate suspicion was entirely expected.

“For what purpose does a swordsman require a defensive shield?”

While the current peaceful era viewed it as a useless curiosity, anyone who had survived total warfare knew that martial artists equipped with the Diamond Shield boasted the absolute highest survival rates on the battlefield. I kept my tone intentionally dismissive.

“Is it not ultimately just a massive block of high-grade cold iron? If I choose to smelt it down, I can easily forge a substantial number of quality blades from the raw material, can I not?”

“……”

I could practically hear the gears turning in Jegal-so-myeong’s mind as he analyzed the proposal. Within that calculating mind of his, he was feverishly balancing his perceived profits against my apparent concessions. If he concluded that he had swindled me, he would instantly close the deal; if he suspected he was losing out, he would pivot to find an alternative excuse. It was time to drive the final nail into the coffin.

“If that arrangement is unpalatable to you, then we can simply revert to my original request: the Azure Dragon Sword from the Gold & Jade Treasure Vault.”

As the loan sharks always said, introducing an immediate, unfavorable alternative is the absolute best way to force a hesitant debtor to sign a contract.

“……”

Predictably, precisely as Hwang Gi-yeong had taught me, the debtor—fully convinced he had secured the superior end of the bargain—nodded his assent.

“Very well. I accept those terms.”

“My sincerest thanks, Hogang-nim.”

Ah, damn it. I got too relaxed and the slang slipped out automatically……

“Hogang? What is the meaning of that particular phrase?”

“Ah! It is a specialized dialect term used to describe an exceptionally magnificent individual possessing a vast heart and unshakeable determination.”

“Is that so?”

Jegal-so-myeong nodded slowly, looking quite pleased with the elegant title. Well, there was absolutely no way a high-ranking military counselor would be familiar with the derogatory slang utilized by back-alley debt collectors. That was an incredibly close call, whew.