Chapter 117

Chapter 117
Chapter 117

Baek Yang-hui and the White-Clothed Sect Leader were old acquaintances. Or rather, it was only from Baek Yang-hui’s point of view that they were.

‘Counting the days, it has been well over twenty years,’ he mused.

During the head-on conflict between the White-Clothed Sect and the Jeongwol Sect in his past life, the White-Clothed Sect Leader had served as Baek Yang-hui’s superior. Because the man had performed brilliantly as a top-tier master, they had exchanged words on numerous occasions.

‘Back then, I genuinely considered him a capable leader.’

People’s standards inevitably shift depending on their life circumstances and personal growth. To the twenty-two-year-old Baek Yang-hui of his former life, the White-Clothed Sect Leader had appeared virtually flawless. Driven by immense ambition, he had more than doubled the might of the White-Clothed Sect; calling such achievement merely competent felt inadequate—it was a display of exceptional leadership.

‘And yet, this very same man now reveals such glaring deficiencies.’

Judging purely by his remarks, the White-Clothed Sect Leader seemed entirely oblivious to the nature of the connection between Baek Yang-hui and Yeo Gu-wi. Given that the White-Clothed Sect maintained a reasonably thorough intelligence network, this oversight was quite peculiar.

‘Well, a tool’s true effectiveness is dictated entirely by the hand that wields it.’

With that internal reflection, he resumed the conversation.

“The Changil Escort Agency was restructured into the Namchang branch of the Heaven-Covering Escort Agency a few days ago.”

“You actually purchased the Changil Escort Agency?”

“Indeed, I did.”

The White-Clothed Sect Leader let out a sharp, dismissive snort before issuing an immediate directive to Yeo Gu-wi.

“Agency Head Yeo, rescind your decision. If you intend to part ways with the escort agency, I will purchase it myself.”

“The complication is that the transaction has already concluded.”

Tap!

Baek Yang-hui struck the table lightly with his fingers and shifted his gaze toward Yeo Gu-wi.

“Changil Branch Leader.”

He deliberately addressed him not as the head of an independent escort agency, but as a branch leader. That single title served as a firm reminder not to cling to obsolete hierarchy now that their operational standing had completely shifted. Though he had spoken nothing more than a designation, it was enough to jolt Yeo Gu-wi back to reality.

“Sect Leader Gong, on what grounds do you presume to issue commands to this branch leader?”

“What did you just utter? Have you entirely forgotten the vast favors the White-Clothed Sect bestowed upon the Changil Escort Agency? How can anyone possess such breathtaking ingratitude!”

“Favors? What favors are you speaking of! Your entire mindset has tested my patience for years, Sect Leader Gong. We performed hazardous escort duties and received just compensation—how does that translate into an endless debt?”

The spark had finally caught fire. Yeo Gu-wi began enumerating every single grievance and indignity he had suffered while occupying the inferior position.

“You called them official commissions, but every single time, we were forced to slip heavy kickbacks into your private pockets! And you dare label that a favor? It is utterly absurd!”

“That was simply the market cost for maintaining a monopoly over the White-Clothed Sect’s entire logistical network! Thanks to that arrangement, you managed to crawl your way to becoming Namchang’s foremost escort agency—and now you change your tune?”

“Are you attempting to denigrate my agency right now?”

“We raised you up properly, and now this ungrateful traitor dares whine about insults!”

“A traitor? Did you just brand me a traitor? I will no longer tolerate your unmitigated insolence!”

“You dare talk back! Just who do you think you are addressing?”

Yeo Gu-wi trembled with fury, his wrath honing itself into something sharp and dangerous.

“I had hoped to avoid sinking to this level, but you leave me no alternative. This Yeo has quite a few choice words he wishes to lay before the White-Clothed Sect’s elder council.”

“You are stepping far beyond acceptable boundaries. Do you truly believe I will simply sit here and take this?”

“And if you do not? What else can you possibly do—sever our escort contracts and cancel your commercial security requests?”

“Urgh!”

Baek Yang-hui folded his arms across his chest, a look of profound amusement playing across his features.

‘Well now, it appears quite the entertaining spectacle has unfolded.’

It even felt as though there were underlying tensions they had not yet managed to voice. Even so, this Gong Ya-hyeok fellow fell woefully short of the man he remembered from his previous life. Had advancing age dulled his edge, or was some other external factor at play? Regardless, the situation was tilting entirely in favor of the Baek Clan for the time being.

‘Perhaps I should agitate the waters a little further to make things run smoothly.’

“Branch Leader Yeo!”

He raised his voice just a fraction, causing both Gong Ya-hyeok and Yeo Gu-wi to snap their heads in his direction.

“Eldest Young Master. I deeply apologize for displaying such an unseemly quarrel in your presence.”

“Hm? I am hardly here to reprimand you. In any case, allow me to offer my congratulations.”

“On what occasion?”

“You have officially become the master of Yeongnak Street. You are well on your way to becoming Namchang’s supreme tycoon—how could I possibly refrain from congratulating you?”

“Haha, all of this is entirely thanks to you, Young Master Baek. What have I done to merit such praise?”

“That precisely is why you deserve it. You remained steadfast and reaped an extraordinary windfall.”

The White-Clothed Sect Leader’s expression stiffened rigidly as he absorbed the exchange.

“Agency Head Yeo, did you just say you are the owner of Yeongnak Street?”

The sect leader was well aware that the Baek Clan Manor had been clearing out the impoverished slums to construct a new commercial district named Yeongnak Street. But for Yeo Gu-wi to hold ownership? That development came completely out of left field.

“I was under the impression the Baek Clan Manor was managing the entire slum clearance project themselves, funding the entire venture out of pocket—so how on earth are you the proprietor?”

“That is hardly a matter for Sect Leader Gong to poke his nose into.”

“Answer my question this instant!”

The White-Clothed Sect Leader bellowed with rage in response to Yeo Gu-wi’s defiant counter. Baek Yang-hui stepped in to provide the answer instead.

“The clan provided Branch Leader Yeo with three thousand nyang in gold.”

“What? Three thousand nyang in gold…?”

The shock crashing over the sect leader was so absolute that all color instantly drained from his face. Three thousand nyang in gold—an amount sufficient to establish roughly a hundred respectable taverns and inns. To put it precisely, it was a sum so colossal that its true purchasing power defied easy comprehension. Three thousand nyang was wealth enough to quietly manipulate an entire municipality—especially one as massive as Namchang, the provincial capital itself. To state it simply, it was a financial force capable of shaking the White-Clothed Sect to its very roots.

“Absurd! The Baek Clan Manor could never possibly possess that magnitude of liquid capital!”

That much was true—at least, they hadn’t before they plundered the Sword King’s Mausoleum.

“What sort of man loses his composure over a paltry three thousand nyang? The total projected investment for Yeongnak Street amounts to a staggering six thousand.”

The sect leader’s eyes nearly bulged straight out of his skull. A crisis had nearly paralyzed him at the mention of three thousand alone—and now that figure had doubled right before his ears.

“Of which four thousand nyang worth of shares belong exclusively to Branch Leader Yeo.”

The reason the stake came to four thousand rather than three was remarkably straightforward. Upon hearing the proposal, Yeo Gu-wi had willingly tossed an additional thousand nyang of his own private funds into the venture. Not only had the clan’s initial three thousand been put to optimal use, but outside capital had successfully been drawn in as well. It was the textbook definition of an ideal outcome.

“Hahaha! Why bother mentioning mere shares, Young Master? We are bound together as one body now—there is no need to draw rigid lines between us.”

“Is that so? Those are certainly pleasant words to hear, even if they are uttered purely for appearance’s sake.”

“Purely for appearance! Surely you recognize this Yeo’s absolute loyalty by now, Young Master?”

Baek Yang-hui smiled gently and pivoted back toward the White-Clothed Sect Leader.

“Eternal Radiance Street is destined to fade into total obscurity.”

A capital injection of six thousand nyang in gold provided far more than enough leverage to guarantee that outcome. It would be a thoroughly comical sight for a thoroughfare bearing such an ostentatious title—”Eternal Radiance”—to be completely eclipsed by the upstart Yeongnak Street.

The White-Clothed Sect Leader’s face twisted into the ferocious expression typically reserved for blood-sworn enemies, as if he were prepared to throw himself into a battle to the death.

“So you openly betrayed the sect simply to leech off those masterless Baek vagrants. Everything is crystal clear now. You are all sworn enemies of the sect.”

‘Did he seriously only just figure that out? We have been playing this past-life game for days already.’

“Since you have chosen to strike a blow against us, I shall claim your heads. I am cutting off every single commission and contract originating from the White-Clothed Sect as of this moment. Just how long do you expect your little enterprise to survive?”

Sensing Yeo Gu-wi tense up by the smallest fraction, the sect leader pressed his advantage with supreme arrogance.

“And that is not all. Yeongnak Street, was it? You seem to harbor ambitions of rivaling our Eternal Radiance Street—what a laughable delusion. Gamblers, master chefs, elite courtesans! Namchang’s absolute finest professionals across every conceivable field are already gathered within Eternal Radiance. And you expect Yeongnak to compete?”

Unpleasant, mocking laughter echoed through the guest hall.

“Puhahaha! Eternal pleasures? Second-rate at best! Your pathetic lot will never even brush against the glory of Eternal Radiance!”

The White-Clothed Sect Leader roared with unearned arrogance before kicking the door wide open and storming out into the corridor.

“That man rattles incessantly, exactly like an empty cart rolling down a rocky road.”

It was a sharp jab highlighting that his thunderous voice was backed by absolutely nothing substantial.

“Gong Ya-hyeok has always possessed that specific flaw. He inherited the position of sect leader entirely due to the foundational groundwork laid by his father and grandfather, yet he genuinely believes his status stems from his own brilliant intellect. Regardless, please accept my apologies, Young Master.”

“For what particular offense?”

“For subjecting you to such an unsightly display. It is deeply shameful, both as your subordinate and as your elder.”

The corners of Yeo Gu-wi’s mouth twitched upward briefly before settling back into a grim line.

“Still, he is not entirely wrong. Namchang lacks any truly iconic scenic attractions. It is unlike Muju County’s Ak-an District, where your clan—no, our Baek Clan is situated, nestled right against a lake boasting such breathtaking natural scenery.”

That assessment was accurate. Namchang had evolved into a provincial capital purely due to its strategic advantage as a central transportation hub. The very convenience that made it ideal for travelers also meant it lacked towering peaks, majestic rivers, or expansive, picturesque lakes in its immediate vicinity.

“If picturesque scenery cannot draw the crowds, we are left with only a single viable card: people. On that specific front, surpassing Eternal Radiance with Yeongnak Street is indeed a monumental hurdle.”

Culinary masterpieces crafted by chefs with refined palates; magnificent banquet halls designed by master carpenters and embellished with murals by peerless artists; within those walls, the melodic genius of virtuoso musicians accompanying the dances of breathtaking courtesans. Eternal Radiance possessed all of these elements—and each one stood undisputed as the finest Namchang had to offer. That exclusivity was the primary secret behind why it remained the city’s most densely packed street and premier red-light district.

“We simply need to recruit talent from elsewhere. Throw enough wealth at them, and we can easily poach top-tier artisans and performers.”

“That strategy is sound enough, but courtesans represent an entirely different category of challenge.”

Courtesans were strictly classified into top-rank, second-rank, and third-rank tiers. The top-tier courtesans—known as il-pae—matched distinguished scholars in their mastery of poetry, painting, and refined conversation, completely captivating wind-swept literati and wealthy dandies alike while possessing peerless physical beauty. They were exceedingly rare commodities.

“Without top-rank courtesans on our side, convincing Eternal Radiance’s regular patrons to set foot inside Yeongnak Street will be an uphill battle, Young Master.”

Namchang’s most exceptional courtesans were permanently tied by contract to the upscale establishments lining Eternal Radiance Street. Unlike ordinary entertainers, these courtesans were bound tightly to their respective houses, rendering them impossible to poach through mere financial incentives.

“On top of that obstacle, Namchang’s elite gentry and powerful financial brokers all maintain deep-rooted ties to the White-Clothed Sect.”

The sect would undoubtedly deploy subtle political pressure, alternating between honeyed words of coercion and outright threats. This meant their attempt to lure clientele over to Yeongnak Street would face relentless resistance at every turn.

“Now that I thoroughly consider the situation, my confidence is beginning to wane. Can we genuinely manage to drag down Eternal Radiance…?”

Yeo Gu-wi’s voice trailed off as he cast a sidelong, anxious glance toward Baek Yang-hui. His hesitant tone and troubled expression clearly betrayed lingering doubts regarding the entire partnership.

“Branch Leader Yeo.”

“Speak, Young Master.”

“It would appear a genuine crisis has descended upon us.”

“…Surely you planned for this contingency?”

Baek Yang-hui leisurely raised his teacup and took a sip before replying.

“Not in the slightest. However, I did provide you with a specific item to unfurl precisely when a crisis struck.”

“Hm? Are you referring to the sealed strategy booklet?”

Yeo Gu-wi’s expression began to shift with sudden realization. Watching his reaction, Baek Yang-hui found himself unable to suppress a broad grin.

“Open the page marked with the numeral ‘one’.”

“Ooo—did you genuinely predict all of this unfolding?!”

With his face brimming with palpable anticipation, Yeo Gu-wi tore open the envelope containing the confidential strategy booklet. The sheet of paper marked with the designated number contained precisely three lines of text.

[Above is Heaven itself—below, Su and Hang.]
[Hangzhou’s Three Generations of Beauties]
[Hangzhou’s Su Clan, descendant of Little-Little]

Yet, despite reading those brief lines, Yeo Gu-wi could not suppress a sharp gasp of utter astonishment.

“No way! You cannot possibly mean that Su Su Su?!”