Chapter 18. All We Need to Know is Who the Leader Is

Early March.

Namyang County.

Namyang Merchant Guild Headquarters.

Sitting across from each other with a yellow clay teacup between them, Lin Wanying, the guild master of the Namyang Merchant Guild, and Jeong Jiweon, the deputy head, faced each other. Their teacups had long since gone cold.

Suddenly, Lin Wanying turned his gaze to the window.

"Haha. It seems winter is almost over. It's time to wrap up the matters we've been putting off. What do you think, Deputy Head?"

After a moment of silence, Jeong Jiweon nodded reluctantly.

"If that is the guild master's wish, then we must do it."

"You don't seem too enthusiastic."

"I'm a bit concerned about the reputation of the Wufeng Mountain Bandits."

"It's just an illusion created by the greed of the Heaven-Shaking Demon. He doubled the number of the thirty-six Green Forest bands, didn't he? How long do you think the Wufeng Mountain Bandits can survive in the Green Forest?"

The Heaven-Shaking Demon, the chief of the Green Forest, was not satisfied with the thirty-six bands and expanded the operation. As a result, new bandits emerged in the mountains and rivers, causing a lot of trouble. However, anything hastily created is bound to collapse soon. Lin Wanying believed that the Wufeng Mountain Bandits wouldn't last long.

"That's true, but besides us, seven other merchant guilds, including Mansu, Tapha, and Huayang, have been defeated by the Wufeng Mountain Bandits. With that many, it can't be just luck."

"Who said it was luck? But there's something you've overlooked. No other merchant guild has ever attacked the Wufeng Mountain Bandits. They all got ambushed during ordinary business trips. So, even if they won a few times, it doesn't mean much. It's not a true test of a merchant guild's strength, is it?"

"Ugh, that's true."

Jeong Jiweon reluctantly nodded.

"We, as ordinary merchants, have grown this big because we don't give up easily. Should we just let these amateur bandits extort us without trying anything? We can't do that. No, we can't."

"Guild Master, what about forming an alliance with other merchant guilds that travel through Wufeng Mountain?"

"Ha! We have our pride. Should we team up with other merchant guilds to deal with these petty thieves? How would others look at us?"

To the confident Lin Wanying, that was an absurd idea. Jeong Jiweon, who also thought it was unreasonable, did not argue.

According to what is known, the Wufeng Mountain Bandits are an organization created by the bandits of Bofeng County. Although they recently gained the support of the Secret Cloak and the Shadow Arrow, they were still relatively weak compared to other Green Forest bands.

In fact, the Namyang Merchant Guild is stronger than the combined forces of several military units. They have over a hundred warriors. It's absurd to think they can't deal with the bandits of Wufeng Mountain with such power.

"You're too cautious. Have some faith in our Namyang Merchant Guild."

"I understand. However, the Qingyun Hall has expressed their intention to join this operation. What should we do about them?"

Lin Wanying stroked his beard for a moment.

The Qingyun Hall is a prestigious martial arts school in Luoyang, known for producing the leader of the Fengyun Corps, Wang Jinge. Since Wang Jinge, a student of the Qingyun Hall, was humiliated by the Wufeng Mountain Bandits, they probably want to seek revenge.

"How many are they sending?"

"A martial arts master and ten experts."

"Tell them to come. Strictly speaking, they are not outsiders. Even if it becomes known later, it won't be a blemish on our reputation."

"I understand."

As the conversation came to a close, Lin Wanying and Jeong Jiweon quickly drank their cold tea.

***

Mid-March.

Mansu Merchant Guild Headquarters in Shuzhou County.

Guild Master Guo Zhi and Deputy Head Guo Yuanhao sat facing each other, their expressions serious.

Deputy Head Guo Yuanhao spoke with a tense face.

"Guild Master, the Namyang Merchant Guild has made the first move. They are going to launch an operation against the Wufeng Mountain Bandits."

Guild Master Guo Zhi silently rubbed his mustache. This was a habit he had when deep in thought. Deputy Head Guo Yuanhao cautiously continued.

"The Namyang Merchant Guild's chief, the Heaven-Touching Swordsman Li Wuliang, is leading the operation himself."

"Li Wuliang?"

A glint appeared in Guo Zhi's eyes.

The Heaven-Touching Swordsman Li Wuliang was a renowned expert, a symbol of the Namyang Merchant Guild. This indicated that the Namyang Merchant Guild was taking this operation against the Wufeng Mountain Bandits very seriously.

"They plan to mobilize seventy percent of their forces."

"Ha! That means they are deploying their entire force, excluding those currently on business trips."

"That's right. Additionally, eleven experts from the Luoyang Qingyun Hall are also expected to join."

"To save face for the Fengyun Corps' leader, Wang Jinge?"

"Also, the chief of the Jingfeng Corps, Xiao Junping, is from the Wuhan Hongfang, so there might be an element of checking him. The competition between the Qingyun Hall and the Hongfang is well-known in the Namyang Merchant Guild."

"If the Namyang Merchant Guild goes to such lengths, it might not be our turn at all."

"But that's not certain."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"A merchant passing through Xiacun Village a few days ago heard a strange rumor."

"A rumor?"

"It seems the Secret Cloak and the Shadow Arrow have been pushed down in the rankings."

"Ha! There's someone stronger than the Secret Cloak and the Shadow Arrow in the Wufeng Mountain Bandits?"

The Secret Cloak and the Shadow Arrow are famous bandit leaders in Henan Province. The Secret Cloak's name was so feared that it could stop a crying child. The presence of someone stronger in the Wufeng Mountain Bandits was not a good sign.

"They were defeated by a young expert in the bandit camp. The information is from a tavern, so it's not very reliable."

"Young expert? Could it be the boy who cut the White Wolf Corps leader's sword?"

"From what I can tell, it seems to be him."

"Hmm!"

Guo Zhi let out a deep sigh.

The Heaven-Touching Swordsman Li Wuliang is a renowned expert in Henan Province, like the Secret Cloak and the Shadow Arrow. While it's hard to say who is the best among the three, people generally believe Li Wuliang has the edge. This is likely why the Namyang Merchant Guild is sending him.

But what if there is someone stronger than the Secret Cloak and the Shadow Arrow in the Wufeng Mountain Bandits?

The situation becomes much more complicated.

It means Li Wuliang could be defeated, and that would mean...

"The Namyang Merchant Guild's operation might end in failure..."

Lost in thought, Guo Zhi heard Guo Yuanhao's voice.

"Guild Master, should we prepare as well?"

Guo Zhi looked at Guo Yuanhao with a peculiar expression.

"If Li Wuliang and our chief were to face each other, what do you think the outcome would be?"

If the Namyang Merchant Guild's chief, the Heaven-Touching Swordsman Li Wuliang, is a lay disciple of the Huashan Sect, then the Mansu Merchant Guild's chief, the Gale Swordsman Shang Wutian, is a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect. They are considered evenly matched.

Guo Yuanhao pondered the guild master's question.

It seemed the guild master was indirectly asking, "Can our chief, who is still unknown, defeat a young expert?"

A bitter smile appeared on Guo Yuanhao's face.

The chiefs of the two merchant guilds, Li Wuliang and Shang Wutian, are known to be of similar strength. This means that if Li Wuliang fails, there is little hope for Shang Wutian.

"The two chiefs are of similar strength, so it's hard to determine a clear winner."

"Indeed. What do you think we should prepare for?"

Guo Yuanhao thought for a moment.

If the chief, Shang Wutian, is not enough, they would need to seek external help.

"Then, what if we ask the chief to invite his master, the Heaven and Earth Merchant?"

"Hmm. The Heaven and Earth Merchant is an elder of the Wudang Sect and won't move easily."

Shang Wutian is a lay disciple of the Heaven and Earth Merchant, but lay disciples rarely get the attention of the sect's elders.

"What if we send a donation to the Wudang Sect's leader and make a request? As a member of the Justice Alliance, the Wudang Sect might send help out of a sense of righteousness."

"Good idea. Five hundred taels of silver should be sufficient."

"Yes. With that amount, the leader would likely come to our aid."

"Still, he is the leader of the Wudang Sect."

"Money can move anyone. Even ghosts can be moved, they say."

Guo Zhi chuckled.

"First, send a few people to Xiacun Village to gather information quickly."

"Yes."

"Also, meet with the chief and subtly convey our intentions. Be careful not to offend him."

"Understood. I'll have a drink with the chief today."

Their conversation ended.

After some time, Guo Zhi, tapping his fingers on the table, muttered.

"The Namyang Merchant Guild's operation must succeed."

"Ha! I hope this time we can stay out of it and just watch."

Guo Zhi looked at Guo Yuanhao with a complex expression.

It wasn't just about the five hundred taels of silver; dealing with the Green Forest was troublesome.

***

Bofeng County is a two-day walk from Namyang County.

The large movement of the Namyang Merchant Guild's armed warriors reached Bofeng County in less than half a day.

The Namyang Merchant Guild is going to attack the Wufeng Mountain Bandits!

The news that shook Bofeng County quickly spread to Xiacun Village.

A few of the village thugs who were on good terms with the bandits immediately informed the Wufeng Mountain Bandits.

Startled, Feng Yanchao quickly gathered the bandits in the courtyard.

"The Namyang Merchant Guild is coming to attack us. What should we do?"

Feng Yanchao, with little experience in the martial world, glanced at Xiang Yang and Bai Qiao.

However, Xiang Yang and Bai Qiao, being proud bandit leaders, did not step forward.

Huang Yaoming, a notorious lone wanderer who had made a name for himself in the county, cautiously asked.

"How many of the Namyang Merchant Guild are coming?"

With a bandage wrapped around his left arm, Huang Yaoming kept glancing at Lian Jie.

"About ninety."

"Ha!"

Huang Yaoming's mouth dropped open at the number ninety.

The Wufeng Mountain Bandits had grown to thirty in a month, but they were still vastly outnumbered by ninety.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

At that moment, Xiang Yang kicked Huang Yaoming's shin.

"Idiot! Why are you so surprised? In the martial world, the number of low-level fighters means nothing. All we need to know is who the leader is!"

This was directed at Feng Yanchao, not Huang Yaoming.

Feng Yanchao quickly replied.

"Their leader is the chief, the Heaven-Touching Swordsman Li Wuliang."

Xiang Yang, who knew something about Li Wuliang, immediately sneered.

"Hmph! Li Wuliang is looking for his own death."

Feng Yanchao's face, which had been pale, brightened.

"Senior Xiang, if you have a good plan, please share it."

Feng Yanchao, knowing his place, politely asked Xiang Yang.

However, the proud Xiang Yang pretended not to hear, not wanting to follow the advice of a low-level fighter like Feng Yanchao.

Lian Jie, watching from behind, had a fierce look in his eyes.

Startled, Huang Yaoming quickly interjected.

"S-Senior Xiang, even if there are ninety of them, what should we do?"

Finally, Xiang Yang reluctantly spoke.

"About twenty years ago, four merchant guilds joined forces to attack the Dabie Mountain Bandits. The chief of the Dabie Mountain Bandits, the Poisonous Bee King, locked the doors and held out."

"Ah! What happened then?"

Huang Yaoming added a suitable interjection.

"After about four days, when the merchant guilds' vigilance had relaxed, the Poisonous Bee King suddenly burst out of the doors. When the chiefs of the merchant guilds stepped forward to handle the situation, he beheaded two of them. Ridiculously, the fight ended there. The other two were intimidated and fled, and the merchant guild's warriors all ran away."

The bandits' faces brightened at the words "all ran away." They finally understood what Xiang Yang was getting at. After all, in a war between nations, if the commander dies, the battle is over. How much more so in a conflict between martial arts sects!

In short, all they needed to do was take out the leader.

The bandits, who had been on the verge of despair due to the overwhelming numbers, finally regained some spirit.