Chapter 99

99. Upon closer inspection, the Merchant Guild is a Demon Extermination Hall.

Feng Yanchao, while putting away the blood-stained saber, muttered to himself,

"You were right. There's no guarantee of good luck next time. If I get weaker, I'll be devoured; what was I thinking...?"

He had tried to save the man, fearing that his wife's heart might be troubled. But thinking that he might never see his wife and children again, his hesitation vanished.

On the other hand, Shang Zaiyong, the leader of the Four Seas Merchant Guild, was so startled by the sudden killing that he couldn't even breathe deeply.

He never expected a non-martial artist to be beheaded in one stroke.

Even the righteous martial artists wouldn't kill ordinary people unless they were caught in the act.

Even the wandering knights wouldn't openly kill ordinary people like this. When they did kill, they did it secretly, as the Jianghu was not completely separated from the government.

But these people killed mercilessly.

The realization that they were 'dangerous fellows' finally took root in his mind. Previously, they were just useful wandering knights from the Dragon Subduing Hall, but now they looked like beasts.

Zhuo Gao Ming glanced at Shang Zaiyong, who stood there in shock, and said,

"Leader Shang, it seems you don't like us. Just bear with us for a few days. We don't like you either. But since we got injured here, we'll stay until we're fully healed. Do you have any complaints? Even if you do, there's nothing you can do about it. You should know that."

Zhuo Gao Ming, annoyed by Shang Zaiyong, decided to make the most of Longxi Tower. It wasn't just to torment him; this place was as good as any for the four of them to stay.

He had briefly considered going to Feng Yanchao's compound, but that idea didn't last long. It was too small for Lian Jieha and Sim Tong to stay.

"There's no problem. Stay as long as you wish."

Shang Zaiyong pretended to be generous, but inwardly he was delighted.

This was exactly what he had been hoping for. He needed to keep them around for a few more days until the high-ranking expert from the Moonlit Bridge Hall arrived, and thankfully, they would stay.

Shang Zaiyong called his subordinates to dispose of Zhang Wenhao's body.

Given that he now owned the silk shop, it was no big deal to do this much work.

After the cleanup, Sim Tong glanced at Shang Zaiyong as he walked away.

The face of Chai Daoguang, the Thousand Killer Eyes, flashed through his mind.

-How could a wandering knight like Zhu Yejin afford to hire someone? It must be Shang Zaiyong's money. That's why he met him, trying to extort some compensation. Two of the killers he had carefully trained were dead...

Chai Daoguang had said, "Zhu Yejin is like Shang Zaiyong's right-hand man."

This was different from what Shang Zaiyong had said, making him one of the outer guards.

'Upon closer inspection, the Merchant Guild is a Demon Extermination Hall...'

Until now, he had thought they were just merchants.

But as he investigated the murder contracts of Zhang Wenhao and Zhu Yejin, and the death house, it was clear that they were worse than the evil sects.

Here, nothing was surprising, and it wasn't new. These merchants fought to the death for profit, just like the martial arts sects.

Then, how deeply was Shang Zaiyong involved in this dirty business?

Once he started thinking of the Merchant Guild as a Demon Extermination Hall, every move Shang Zaiyong made seemed significant.

He reflected on his first meeting with Shang Zaiyong to the present.

At some point, the corners of Sim Tong's mouth, who claimed to have "spent sixty years in the Jianghu," slightly curled up.

"Master, I need to step out for a moment."

"You can be gone for a long time. I don't even know where you're going, so just stay there. Enjoy your remaining years, Old Sim. You never know when you'll go. These days, if I don't see Old Sim in the morning, I think, 'Did he pass away in his sleep?'"

As he spoke, Lian Jieha pointed to the sky with his finger.

"Hehehe, when I go, it won't be now. I'll see you flying high in the sky, Master. It won't take long. Take care."

With a respectful bow, Sim Tong disappeared like the wind.

Lian Jieha, watching his retreating back, clicked his tongue.

Zhuo Gao Ming approached and asked,

"Lian, do you really wish Old Sim wouldn't come back?"

"He's an old man with not much time left, and he's pushing himself too hard to look good."

A smile appeared on Zhuo Gao Ming's face.

He thought Sim Tong was trying to keep his distance because he disliked him, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Maybe he's doing it out of pleasure?"

"Of course not. Who would do someone else's dirty work out of pleasure when their own work is already annoying?"

"You never know until you get inside Old Sim's head. So don't push him away too much."

"Got it."

Lian Jieha accepted his sworn brother's advice.

He thought, 'I'll ask Sim Tong why he's doing this later.'

***

In the eastern part of Luoyang, Yanshi.

Moonlit Bridge Hall.

Today, the Moonlit Bridge Hall is one of the landmarks of Luoyang.

Founded by the Full Moon Swordsman after defeating the Famous Sect, its history is full of twists, as it became the Famous Sect's hall.

The Moonlit Bridge Hall was opened to the public by the Moonlit Immortal to commemorate this. Unlike other secret halls, it allowed non-believers to enter.

Since then, the Moonlit Bridge Hall has been bustling with people curious about the inner workings of the Famous Sect, which held the dominant position, and the history of its reversal.

Li Huashui, the chief accountant of the Four Seas Merchant Guild, met with Jin Jiaxi, the elder of the Moonlit Bridge Hall, after spending money. This happened two days after he left Kaifeng on the orders of Shang Zaiyong.

"So, the survivors of the Dragon Subduing Hall are in Kaifeng, and they are causing trouble, so you want them eliminated?"

Jin Jiaxi, sitting opposite the old merchant Li Huashui, stared at him intently.

"Yes. If you do this, I will donate 30,000 taels as a donation."

"I heard the Merchant Guild hires wandering knights to handle such matters. Why did you come here?"

Jin Jiaxi, in her forties, spoke without hesitation.

A bitter expression flashed across Li Huashui's face, who was over sixty, but he quickly regained his composure and gave his prepared answer.

"Their martial skills are too formidable for us to handle. Ten of our guards have already fallen. At first, I considered the Seven Factions, but since the opponents are survivors of the Dragon Subduing Hall... I came to the Moonlit Bridge Hall."

"Huhu. You made a good decision. The Seven Factions wouldn't have wanted to fight the survivors of the Dragon Subduing Hall. But you want the Ten Headed Horsemen to help, right?"

"Yes. Leader Shang said, 'The Ten Headed Horsemen are the only ones who can handle this.'"

"Hmm, I see."

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Jin Jiaxi tapped the table lightly with her fingers.

Unlike in the past, all the elders are now the Ten Headed Horsemen. She could go herself without asking anyone else.

What she was pondering was whether to "inform the higher-ups or handle it independently."

If she informed the higher-ups, she would have to donate the 30,000 taels in full. She would get a small performance bonus, but most of the donation would go to the sect.

"Have you discussed this issue with anyone else in the hall?"

"No. I'm telling Elder for the first time since arriving today."

Jin Jiaxi nodded.

Her decision was made.

She decided to handle it quietly on her own and keep the 30,000 taels for herself.

The more money she saved personally, the more she could offer to her superiors.

Actually, the level of the Dragon Subduing Hall was predictable, so there was no need to mobilize her subordinates.

"An old man, a young man, and two brothel guards, four in total, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll take care of it. Keep it to yourself. Do you understand?"

Jin Jiaxi looked at Li Huashui with a cold gaze.

Startled by the chilling killing intent, Li Huashui nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, I understand."

"The procedures for joining will be discussed after the job is done. Lead the way."

As she spoke, Jin Jiaxi stood up.

She intended to finish quickly before other elders caught wind of it.

***

In the southern part of Kaifeng, Yucheng Town.

Li Family Manor.

As the sun set, the lights in the main house of the Li Family Manor were lit.

An old man, Chai Daoguang, the Thousand Killer Eyes, who was watching the lights from the wall, smiled contentedly.

The villager who told him the location of the Li Family Manor had said it was "an uninhabited house." Therefore, the person who secretly entered the main house must be Zhu Yejin.

Chai Daoguang flew into the main house like a night bird, cutting through the darkness.

Zhu Yejin, lying on the bed, sat up abruptly, looking frustrated.

He had been hiding in the Li Family Manor for four days.

Shang Zaiyong, who had promised to contact him within a few days, had been silent.

What had gone wrong?

Unable to get any news from the outside, he felt like he was going crazy.

Zhu Yejin, who had gotten off the bed, took a bottle of wine and drank from it. He had bought it from a tavern in a nearby village during the day. The wine didn't taste good, probably because he was too anxious.

"Damn! What's going on?"

At that moment, Chai Daoguang opened the door and said,

"Do you want to know?"

"Ah!"

Thud.

Startled, Zhu Yejin dropped the wine bottle.

The quick-witted Zhu Yejin immediately realized why Chai Daoguang, the owner of the Heavenly Fragrance Inn, had appeared here.

"Mr. Chai! Please, spare me!"

"Hehehe. If I spare you, what can you give me? Shang Zaiyong offered 10,000 taels."

"Please, spare me! I'll do anything you ask!"

Zhu Yejin, who couldn't even think of resisting, clung to Chai Daoguang.

To Zhu Yejin, Chai Daoguang was a master he couldn't even look at.

But Chai Daoguang was not the type to be swayed by such pleading.

He slowly drew his Wumei Dao.

The blade, thinner than a leaf, gleamed in the light, living up to its name as a "tail knife."

"Please, spare me!"

Crash.

Zhu Yejin stumbled backward in panic.

But he soon hit the bed.

Chai Daoguang, who had followed closely, pressed the Wumei Dao to Zhu Yejin's chin.

"Tell me. What is Shang Zaiyong after? If your story is good, I might spare you."

Chai Daoguang looked at Zhu Yejin with a subtle gaze.

Of course, it was a lie.

No matter what he heard, this man's fate wouldn't change.

He was just trying to get more money from Shang Zaiyong.

A glimmer of life returned to Zhu Yejin's face, which had been on the verge of death.

He knew it was a lie, but in his desperate situation, he didn't realize it.

"It's Zhang Wenhao's silk shop. His goal is to take over the silk shop by using the murder of the Feng family as an excuse after receiving the commission from Zhang Wenhao."

A satisfied smile appeared on Chai Daoguang's face.

Now that he knew Shang Zaiyong's goal, all his doubts were cleared.

He finally understood why Shang Zaiyong had been so confident in front of him.

He had wanted the fact that the murder contract was from Zhang Wenhao to be revealed.

"That's right! I knew there was something. Since you've given me a useful story, I'll let you go without pain..."

Before he could finish, a sinister laugh came from behind.

"Hehehe. What a cute little rat. I was wondering where you were scurrying around, and you were trying to lead me to this guy."

Chai Daoguang, who had quickly turned around, was speechless.

The old man who had beaten him like a dog two days ago was standing there, holding a leaf blade on his shoulder.

"I, I really didn't know. After you left, Leader Shang came and..."

"Enough. Don't get involved in this again. If you do, you will surely die."

Sim Tong, who came from the evil sect, showed mercy to Chai Daoguang.

The sin lies not in the sword, but in the hand that wields it.