Chapter: 6
The main hall of the Nine Dragons Sect, located in the heart of Hangzhou.
Unusually for a black-sword martial arts sect, it owned a luxurious estate and pavilions.
Hangzhou master Yu Suchun knew that the head of the Nine Dragons Sect, Zhan Eokwan, had amassed his wealth through ruthless means.
Of course, Yu Suchun had no interest in how the Nine Dragons Sect made their money.
He was only interested in the money itself.
Watching with fascination from the fifth floor of the pavilion as the black-sword martial artists practiced, Yu Suchun spoke:
“Listen, little brother, it’s time you got your title straight. You can’t live forever just as ‘head,’ can you?”
“My brother, even if it’s just a ‘sect’ and not a ‘hall,’ what difference does it make? In righteous sects, a ‘sect’ carries great power, but in a black-sword sect, a ‘sect’ cannot be called the leader.”
“That’s true, but it doesn’t look good.”
“That’s true. But, brother…”
Zhan Eokwan subtly called Yu Suchun over, his voice revealing hidden intentions.
Yu Suchun smiled at Zhan Eokwan’s carefully ambitious tone.
“It seems your claim that you don’t care about titles is false.”
“Hahaha. I’ve trained many martial artists in the Nine Dragons Sect. Enough to unify Hangzhou’s black-sword sects and establish the ‘Nine Dragons Assembly.’”
“Is the Nine Dragons Sect about to become the Nine Dragons Assembly?”
“It’s time. But there are still those who won’t listen. Brother, you’re not just a master in Hangzhou but one of the top masters in Zhejiang Province. So, I hope you could lend a small hand.”
Zhan Eokwan’s words were subtly flattering. Yu Suchun continued to smile.
The “sect” (Sapa) signifies freedom unbound. But in practice, it often emphasizes freedom over any kind of restriction.
The tone in Zhan Eokwan’s words clearly emphasized the latter meaning.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I only ask that you persuade those who won’t listen to join the Nine Dragons Assembly. If you recommend it, who in Hangzhou would dare refuse?”
“The Nine Dragons Assembly… not a bad sound. Now you’ll soar, gaining fame across Hangzhou.”
“But it is you who will gain greater fame. Once the Nine Dragons Sect becomes the Nine Dragons Assembly, your fame will rise, and you can collect all the most lucrative interests.”
“Sapa men prefer freedom over wealth. Managing money is not our style.”
“You only need to stay put. The rest will collect the money and give it to you. Fifty taels a month will easily find their way into your pocket.”
Yu Suchun controlled his smile.
Fifty taels. Even elders of the Blood Sacrifice Sect would find that a significant amount to handle.
“Not bad. Excellent.”
Yu Suchun’s connection with Zhan Eokwan had lasted a long time. When he settled in Hangzhou, Zhan Eokwan had approached him for help.
Initially, Yu Suchun considered destroying him for such audacity, but he didn’t.
The half-crazed aura carried the scent of money.
So he lent a hand a few times, and the results were substantial.
Five luxurious pavilions that Zhan Eokwan had seized and handed over were now Yu Suchun’s.
Even better, however, was the silk from the Danhua Silk Shop, formerly run by the Dan family.
The Danhua silk was unmatched.
“That silk was the greatest gain.”
All the silk from Danhua was now stored by Yu Suchun.
Hangzhou’s finest silk. Even the cotton merchants’ silk could not compare.
Yu Suchun used this silk to make clothes for himself and sell to the courtesans he owned, with multiple profits added.
If anyone were asked who the most stylish person in Hangzhou was, it would undoubtedly be Yu Suchun.
A handsome nobleman, famously known as Baohuo Huan’an (Treasure-like Face), aided greatly by the silk from Danhua.
The silk he monopolized would cement his status as Hangzhou’s top nobleman for decades.
Even this alone was satisfying.
“And fifty taels a month on top of that. Unexpectedly large sum.”
Of course, he knew that more money could be taken once the Nine Dragons Sect became the Nine Dragons Assembly.
But that was not his style.
A Sapa man, like Yu Suchun, preferred freedom like the wind. He detested making enemies and living in exhaustion.
With the money from Zhan Eokwan, he would be the richest martial artist in Hangzhou.
A lifetime of income for a small effort.
Yu Suchun said:
“So? Who are these audacious men who won’t listen to you?”
“The Azure Dragon Sect, the Seven Treasures Sect, and the Azure Tiger Sect won’t comply.”
“They’ll probably beg to join the Nine Dragons Assembly by tomorrow. Don’t worry and let’s form it.”
“Hahaha, as expected of you. I’ll start transferring money to the battlefield next month.”
“I’m not doing this for money. I’m stepping in for my little brother’s sake.”
“Of course, hahaha.”
Yu Suchun and Zhan Eokwan laughed heartily, having confirmed mutual understanding.
They had gained Hangzhou’s top power and wealth.
Life ahead was a garden of flowers. The Nine Dragons Assembly tended the garden; the honey the flowers held went to Yu Suchun.
This was the life he desired.
His grand dream was not just a fleeting illusion.
Bothering people or reducing them to nothing? So what.
Those with complaints could be silenced or quietly eliminated, like the Dan family who had run the Danhua Silk Shop.
The Dan family had made extraordinary silk, impossible to replicate elsewhere.
“Of course, destroying the Dan family wasn’t solely because of silk.”
Yu Suchun only intervened to monopolize the silk; the rest was handled by the Nine Dragons Sect.
Yu Suchun said:
“Today is a good day. A bit early, but how about a drink?”
“Brother, I’ll take you to a very fine place. A brothel making a name in Hangzhou—you’ll be very pleased.”
“Better than my courtesans?”
“Hehehe, it will soon be yours as well.”
“You know me very well.”
“Today is a good day. The long-standing Dan family affair is settled, and the Nine Dragons Sect becomes the Nine Dragons Assembly. Hahaha.”
Zhan Eokwan led the way downstairs.
Bang!
A loud noise came from the first floor, like objects breaking or someone falling.
Zhan Eokwan looked astonished. No one dared to make a ruckus in the Nine Dragons Sect.
“Strange… anyone causing trouble would usually be thrown out the front gate. So someone must have bypassed the front gate and the training grounds to reach the pavilion.”
Even if martial artists occasionally caused disturbances, they usually couldn’t get past the training grounds.
This meant a formidable opponent.
But Zhan Eokwan was unconcerned; right beside him stood Hangzhou’s top master, Yu Suchun.
“It seems a tiny insect has entered. Still, allowing it this far… might need a bee.”
“Don’t. The opponent may be a master. If so, in celebration of the Nine Dragons Assembly, I will handle it.”
“With your skill, one move should suffice. I’ll leave it to you.”
Yu Suchun nodded, his handsome face glowing with a smile, making the Nine Dragons Sect martial artists blush.
Yu Suchun enjoyed the attention as they descended to the first floor.
“What’s this kid?”
A young man stood, sword in hand.
Around him, unconscious Nine Dragons Sect fighters twitched and foamed on the floor.
Yu Suchun frowned; using only the scabbard to knock them down was impressive but not to his liking.
Even for third- or second-tier martial artists, felling multiple opponents with only a scabbard was difficult.
He must be a first-class master at a young age.
Still, to Yu Suchun, he was like a baby taking his first steps.
Of course, anyone in their early twenties as a first-class master deserved praise.
But entering the Nine Dragons Sect alone with such skill was reckless.
And worst of all, he was more handsome than Yu Suchun.
“Annoyingly handsome. If he dressed properly, he’d steal the title of Hangzhou’s most handsome.”
Despite being an easy opponent, Yu Suchun didn’t intend to go easy.
Gripping his sword, he said:
“Arrogant brat. Who are you?”
“Are you the leader of the Nine Dragons Sect?”
“Answering a question with a question? Ridiculous. Fine. I’ll answer yours. I am Yu Suchun, Blood-Slaying Ghost Sword.”
Yu Suchun expected the young man to tremble in fear.
In Hangzhou, even Zhejiang, only a handful could remain calm hearing the name Blood-Slaying Ghost Sword.
Yu Suchun’s alias commanded respect as an invincible master.
“He seems skilled with the sword…”
Yu Suchun assessed Dan Hyunwoo’s abilities. His level wasn’t obvious at a glance.
Usually, there are two possibilities:
“Either he is too skilled for me to gauge, or he barely knows how to fight.”
Although the Nine Dragons Sect was famous, few real masters existed within the black-sword sect.
Thus, beating up a few mediocre disciples didn’t necessarily make Dan Hyunwoo a top-tier master.
Yu Suchun maintained a calm, indifferent expression.
“Now is the time to show this brat the true dignity of a master.”
In Sapa, only the law of strength mattered. Failing to demonstrate it meant eventual defeat. Yu Suchun knew this well.
“I asked if you are the Nine Dragons Sect leader. I don’t care about your name.”
Dan Hyunwoo replied, and Yu Suchun didn’t hold back.
“You little brat, you don’t know your place. I’ll kill you.”
Yu Suchun drew his sword.
In an instant, the sword shot forward at unbelievable speed.
Even Zhan Eokwan hadn’t seen it coming.
“Impressive, brother. Truly the best.”
The sword should have cut the opponent to pieces—but Dan Hyunwoo effortlessly dodged it.
Yu Suchun and Zhan Eokwan were shocked.
Yu Suchun redirected his flying sword to follow Dan Hyunwoo—but he was already gone.
“What? He disappeared?”
Suddenly, a fist struck Yu Suchun in the face.
Thwack!
“Ughh!”
His face twisted in pain. He lost three teeth from an unseen strike.
Yu Suchun countered immediately, fearing damage to his prized face.
But the opponent continued—mixing fists and leg strikes—relentlessly assaulting Yu Suchun’s face.
Blood flowed, lips split, eyes swollen shut.
Even with his chest and limbs exposed, all attacks targeted the face.
“Please! Not the face!”
He wanted to scream but only cried inwardly.
Yu Suchun continued to dodge some strikes, and his sword sliced the air, but Dan Hyunwoo avoided it all.
“Damn! What humiliation!”
Even while getting beaten, Yu Suchun prepared his ultimate move: One Sword, Sweeping Blood, capable of killing all around in one stroke.
His sword flew in thirty-seven directions instantly.
Whirr! Whoosh!
“…!”
He felt contact at the tips of his fingers.
Exactly as planned.
Thinking he had control, he narrowed his swollen eyes.
“Hmph…”
He saw a bloodied figure—Zhan Eokwan—who had been struck by the sword.
Not fatal, but he bled profusely.
Zhan Eokwan rolled on the floor, screaming.
At that moment—grab!
Dan Hyunwoo seized Yu Suchun by the collar.
Fists rained down, deforming his face.
Thwack! Bam! Thwack!
Pain like fire seared into his brain, but Yu Suchun still worried about his face.
“Please! Just the face!”
Dan Hyunwoo straightened his fist and said:
“Last question. Are you the Nine Dragons Sect leader?”
“…No.”
Yu Suchun, swollen and bleeding, answered through tears.
