Chapter 92

“Huh, huh!”

“Gasp!”

At the landslide site in Buyang, labored breathing echoed continuously. All the members of the Nine Dragon Gang were digging the earth without rest.

They were excavating the area where the goods were most likely buried, based on the time of the landslide and the speed of the convoy before it was buried.

However, despite everyone’s hard work, not even a trace of the convoy, let alone the goods, had been found.

The amount of earth and the hardness of the rocks exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Clang! Clang!

The martial artists of the Nine Dragon Gang were striking the rocks with their qi-infused picks, but the rocks were so hard that they wouldn’t break properly.

Moreover, the martial artists’ internal energy was limited, so the work progress was not improving at all.

“Damn! I’m a martial artist, not a mole. How long do we have to keep digging like this?”

“If you’re going to make us work, at least let us sleep. I can’t even remember the last time I slept!”

The complaints of the subordinates, who were filled with fatigue and frustration, continued to grow.

“Stop chatting and focus on the work!”

At that moment, Meng Denghao, who was managing and supervising the martial artists, shouted.

With Meng Denghao’s reprimand, the martial artists sighed deeply and bent down to continue digging.

Seeing the subordinates with their mouths twisted, Meng Denghao felt extremely frustrated.

‘Stupid fools! Don’t you realize that our fate is at stake here!’

If the goods were not found, the royal family would come after the Nine Dragon Gang to exterminate all its members. However, the martial artists of the Nine Dragon Gang were not afraid at all.

They were essentially the demons of the Blood Sect.

With the support of the Blood Sect, they were confident they could defeat the royal family and the Jin Yi Wei if they attacked.

But Meng Denghao, who knew the internal discussions of the Blood Sect, knew that this was an unrealistic story.

‘If this incident is not properly resolved at the emergency meeting, a proposal to strip the Sect Leader of his position will be raised. If such a situation arises, our position in the Blood Sect will be lost.’

Of course, if the Blood Sect revealed its full strength, it could easily suppress the royal family and the Jin Yi Wei.

But now was far too early for that.

More importantly, they were trying to maintain a major financial source, the Nine Dragon Gang, for the sake of keeping a significant secret.

And if that happened, his future would be over.

There was a huge difference between being under the Sect Leader and not being under him in the Blood Sect.

If Yan Chianshi lost his position as Sect Leader and became a commoner, Meng Denghao, who followed him, would also fall completely.

‘Damn! How much have we dedicated ourselves to the sect over the years!’

Just as such worries were rising in his mind,

Meng Denghao, feeling frustrated, looked into the distance. Suddenly, a familiar man appeared in his line of sight, and his eyes lit up.

‘...Who is he?’

There, Yushen Yun was silently and diligently digging the earth.

So far, no one from other forces had appeared at the accident site in Buyang, as they were worried about being implicated and facing the royal family’s wrath.

But seeing Yushen Yun, who had come alone to offer some help, Meng Denghao felt a sense of appreciation.

‘He wants to strengthen our ties. His effort is commendable.’

And soon, the appreciation for Yushen Yun turned into frustration and anger towards his subordinates, who were still working lazily.

“Anyone who hasn’t dug as deep as Yushen Yun will find their grave here!”

Meng Denghao said, his eyes blazing with fire.

Time continued to pass.

One day, two days, four days.

And finally, the last day of the seven weeks that the emperor had mentioned was approaching.

Meng Denghao’s face was dark with despair.

A huge hole, like a meteor impact, had been dug, but only a few bodies from the convoy had been found.

There was no sign of the goods.

‘Damn! Do I have to fight when he arrives?’

Soon, You Ziliang and the Jin Yi Wei would arrive to check the search results.

If they found out it was a failure, they would immediately subdue and escort them.

Meng Denghao, a demon of the Great Blood Sect, could not allow himself to fall to such a pitiful state. As murderous intent rose from his body, a loud cheer suddenly echoed.

“What is it?”

The cheers did not stop but grew louder.

Sensing that something was happening, Meng Denghao quickly emerged from the hole.

“...!”

His eyes widened as he saw the source of the cheers.

There, Yushen Yun, covered in dirt, was sitting on the ground.

And in his hand was the cargo box of the convoy they had been searching for.

- Yushen Yun of the Baiyun Escort Agency found the princess’s remains!

This astonishing news spread throughout Zhejiang Province in an instant.

Everyone was amazed.

People had expected that the goods would never be found after such a massive landslide, which occurs once in a hundred years.

Everyone doubted if it was really true, but when they saw You Ziliang heading to the royal palace instead of punishing the Nine Dragon Gang, they realized the goods had indeed been found.

To avoid any delay, most of the troops remained in Zhejiang, while You Ziliang, with a few Jin Yi Wei, headed to the imperial palace.

A few days later, upon arriving at the palace, he presented the princess’s remains to the enraged emperor.

The remains, found by Yushen Yun, were miraculously undamaged except for the dirt.

The emperor, hugging the remains, shed endless tears.

Once he calmed down, the emperor asked You Ziliang how the remains were found, and he heard the story of Yushen Yun.

A young man, unrelated to the Nine Dragon Gang, who had heard that the emperor was worried, came to the site in tears and started digging without sleeping for a night, eventually finding the remains.

The emperor was deeply moved by this unexpected story.

Seeing this, the ministers thought it was the perfect opportunity to calm the emperor’s anger and gain favor.

They praised the emperor’s virtue and suggested that Yushen Yun should be given a great reward.

The emperor, smiling, said,

“This miracle is the result of the people’s loyalty to me. I wonder if I overreacted to a disaster that no one could have prevented. Feeling sorry for the people who worried because of me, I will give this commendable young man a great reward.”

After finishing his words, the emperor wrote a personal letter.

He then handed the letter to You Ziliang and sent him back to Zhejiang.

A few days later, upon arriving in Zhejiang, You Ziliang announced that he would hold a grand banquet for all the martial arts groups and major forces in the city.

The emperor had instructed him to hold the banquet to commend their efforts.

During the banquet, he planned to present the letter to Yushen Yun and announce the emperor’s reward.

When this news spread, the people of Zhejiang, who had been hiding in fear, finally regained their color.

You Ziliang rented the largest and most luxurious hall in Hangzhou to use as the banquet hall.

A few days later, the day of the banquet arrived.

The banquet hall was packed with people.

Since it was held by the emperor’s order, all the major forces in Zhejiang attended without exception.

They were conversing and drinking, but their eyes were all focused on one person.

Naturally, that person was Yushen Yun, the hero of the banquet.

“Ha ha, you are so admirable, yet you haven’t even had a formal engagement. I have a grown daughter. Would you like to meet her?”

“I am the owner of the Danyang Hall. Please visit me sometime, and I will treat you properly.”

Yushen Yun was surrounded by many influential figures in Zhejiang. Rumors had already spread that the emperor was moved by Yushen Yun and shed tears.

Even without the rumors, it was clear that Yushen Yun would receive all kinds of royal favors.

To leave a good impression on Yushen Yun, who was sure to become a key figure in Zhejiang, was a natural move for them.

At that moment, a man quietly approached Yushen Yun, and the faces of the surrounding people turned pale and quickly dispersed.

The man was Meng Denghao.

Since they had pretended not to know about the incident and the Nine Dragon Gang, they had fled quickly.

Meng Denghao, who had been glaring at them like bugs, now looked at Yushen Yun with a warm gaze and said,

“Thanks to you, the Nine Dragon Gang is in great debt.”

“Don’t mention it. I would feel bad if you thought we were in such a debt.”

Yushen Yun answered in his usual humble manner.

‘...What is it?’

But Meng Denghao sensed something unfamiliar in his tone.

However, he quickly dismissed it as a minor issue and passed on Yan Chianshi’s message.

“The Sect Leader wishes to meet you after the banquet.”

Thanks to Yushen Yun, Yan Chianshi had overcome the crisis and decided to appoint the Baiyun Escort Agency as the replacement for the Huangluo Escort Agency.

Hearing Meng Denghao’s words, Yushen Yun smiled and said softly,

“That’s good. I was planning to meet him anyway.”

At that moment, Meng Denghao felt a sudden unease.

“Everyone, pay attention.”

You Ziliang’s voice echoed loudly in the banquet hall.

The noisy crowd immediately fell silent.

“Since everyone has arrived, I will now read the emperor’s personal letter. Everyone, please show respect.”

As You Ziliang finished speaking, everyone bowed, and Yushen Yun moved away from Meng Denghao and approached You Ziliang.

Then, You Ziliang began to read the emperor’s words from the letter.

“Your noble heart moved heaven and created a miracle. By this, the spirit of Chao Hui, who wandered in the nine heavens, will finally rest in peace. My joy is indescribable. If I do not reward the person who created such a great event for me, how can I be a proper emperor? Therefore, I, the beloved emperor, hereby grant you one wish, whatever it may be.”

The emperor’s offer to grant one wish, no matter what it was, shocked the people who had been listening quietly. It was a greater reward than they had imagined for Yushen Yun.

What would he say?

People, still bowed, were on the edge of their seats, waiting for Yushen Yun’s next words.

Then, You Ziliang spoke.

“Now, speak. Do you want money?”

“No.”

“Then, do you want fame?”

“No.”

“Then, do you want a supreme martial art?”

“No.”

As Yushen Yun denied the last option, You Ziliang tilted his head.

“...Then, what do you want?”

Yushen Yun fell silent for a moment.

Thump! Thump!

Why?

At that moment, an inexplicable unease made Meng Denghao’s heart beat wildly.

“What I want is the restoration of justice.”

“...What do you mean by that?”

Yushen Yun’s words, which were hard to understand, made You Ziliang look puzzled.

‘It’s starting now.’

Yushen Yun, his eyes shining, said,

“I humbly request that His Majesty address the rampant drug trade and human trafficking in Zhejiang Province.”