Chapter 56: Agreement Money
The two largest palaces in the Azure Forest were Blue Flower Palace and Snowflake Hermit Palace. One handled martial arts, while the other managed sorcery.
However, an organization couldn’t run solely on that. There were various places like Five Flower Grand Library, Grass Flower Hall, Medical Hall, and Management Pavilion.
Among them, Grass Flower Hall significantly influenced the Azure Forest’s finances, mainly from the revenue perspective.
To handle the expenditures of the major sect Azure Forest, a large amount of money was required. The disciples of Grass Flower Hall traveled through various sacred mountains in Jianghu, collecting rare flowers and plants.
Selling those to other sects alone brought in considerable revenue. Wudang, Mount Hua, and Shaolin were some of the Azure Forest’s best customers in this regard.
Not everything was sold; a lot was also used by Snowflake Hermit Palace’s Alchemy House and Medical Hall to make elixirs.
The “Red-White Tuber Fleeceflower” Forest Lord mentioned was a precious elixir acquired from the Zhejiang region.
It’s an essential ingredient to make the shaman’s Jasodan.
“Forest Lord, the Red-White Tuber Fleeceflower... Wudang’s Sect Leader has specifically requested it. The delivery is set for next month.”
“Aha. They are also Taoists, aren’t they? I am well aware of the Sect Leader’s benevolent nature. I’m sure he’ll understand even if it’s delayed. Hehehe.”
Forest Lord chuckled. On the other hand, the head of Grass Flower Hall sweated nervously.
For Yi-gang, who was watching, it was an amusing sight.
‘The top of the top.’
「Top? What is that?」
‘It means he does as he pleases. He even delays the delivery date at will. He’s got a tight grip on the elixir supply.’
It seemed that the Azure Forest’s influence here was stronger than expected.
Both Shaolin and Wudang would pay a hefty price, but the real “top” controlling the elixir supply was Azure Forest.
‘The supply-dominated market. A nice company where you’d rarely get bossed around.’
「You’re making unusual remarks today.」
While Yi-gang was lost in such thoughts, another person stepped forward.
“Forest Lord, please forgive me for intervening.”
“What is it, Do Geum?”
It was Sage Do Geum, who was in charge of the Management Pavilion.
“If the delivery date is delayed, we should be charged a penalty. I estimate that the penalty alone would be at least a thousand silver nyang.”
“Ah!”
Forest Lord reprimanded Sage Do Geum.
“Should a Taoist be obsessed with money? Live like flowing water. It’s said, “The highest virtue is like water.”
“...Well, that’s my responsibility.”
“I am aware that the budget is more than sufficient.”
“Indeed, but still...”
“That’s settled then. No more words on this.”
The Management Pavilion Master was undoubtedly an excellent manager. It was evident because he seemed genuinely upset over the potential loss of a thousand silver nyang.
Yi-gang, on the other hand, was feeling even better.
‘So much money!’
His list of admirable points was growing.
No one else raised objections.
The Azure Forest Lord stroked his beard with satisfaction and said, “In that case, I will provide the Red-White Tuber Fleeceflower. You can take it later and prepare it as a decoction.”
“Thank you very much...”
“That won’t do!” a third party cried out.
Yi-gang witnessed Forest Lord’s expression harden and then relax in a very brief moment.
“Hehe, who might this be now?”
There was a subtle harshness in his voice.
“It’s me, Forest Lord.”
It wasn’t one of the first-generation disciples present in the room who spoke.
Someone opened the door of Kuiying Hall and appeared.
“Ah, Do Gyeon, it’s you.”
Do Gyeon, a name he had heard before.
Just the previous night, the two senior martial masters who had saved Yi-gang mentioned something like, “It’s fortunate that we have Junior Do Gyeon.”
However, Yi-gang was startled for another reason.
‘That person, for sure.’
The oddly coiled hair—
The long bamboo staff he carried around his waist. And on that bamboo staff, there were densely packed golden needles.
Definitely one of the World’s Four Divine Physicians. In the vast Jianghu, he was one of the most renowned doctors.
His acupuncture, using golden needles, was said to bring people back from the brink of death.
“The Golden Needle Phantom...”
Yi-gang unwittingly murmured. The Golden Needle Phantom chuckled as if he had heard it, saying, “This brat, calling a perfectly fine person a ‘phantom.’”
“Ah, the Golden Needle Luminary.”
“Hehe, you’re a funny one. Yes, I am that Golden Needle Luminary.”
In order to correct Yi-gang’s Great Yin Meridian Blockage, the Baek Clan had sought the help of numerous doctors.
Among the World’s Four Divine Physicians, those affiliated with the orthodox faction were the Heavenly Master Physician and the Golden Needle Phantom. But both were so elusive that they couldn’t be easily summoned.
But to meet him so unexpectedly like this...
“Do you know Do Gyeon, Yi-gang?”
“Yes, but I never expected someone from the Azure Forest.”
“Although Do Gyeon is in charge of the Medical Hall, he usually roams Jianghu. I was the one who summoned him.”
“Forest Lord!”
Had it been such a short time since Yi-gang sought out the Azure Forest, and they had already summoned him?
“Yes, I feel brimming with energy.”
Yi-gang’s obsession with the elixir was not in vain.
Even if one’s body was like a leaky pot, it mattered not, so long as it was properly filled with water, right?
The elixir was like water, akin to sweet nectar.
Furthermore, another spiritual pill resided in his possession. A precious elixir made by combining the internal elixir of the Red-White Tuber Fleeceflower and the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger.
While Yi-gang had handed over one of the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger’s internal elixirs to Jin Ri-yeon, surprisingly, Jin Ri-yeon gladly returned a purified one.
Upon hearing the news that Yi-gang was injured by Jun Myung’s party, a decision was made.
「You’re not thinking of eating that, are you?」
‘Why would I? It’s for my father.’
「Wipe the drool from your mouth before you speak.」
Yi-gang quickly wiped the corner of his mouth. Drooling was a physiological reaction, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Then, I shall depart, Young Master Yi-gang.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go!”
Upon Neung Ji-pyeong’s command, the charioteer from the Biyeon Squad started the carriage.
When they set out from the clan, they had a much smaller party. Now, it was different. About ten members from the Biyeon Squad were escorting Yi-gang.
“Wait a moment!”
And then, someone started running towards them from afar.
Yi-gang gestured with his hand, signaling the carriage and his escorts to halt.
“What is it?”
“I heard you were leaving today, so I rushed over.”
Huddled in front of the carriage were three young boys.
Jun Myung, Yuk Su-Chan, and Myeong Geol.
Yi-gang rested his arm on the carriage window and looked down at them.
“Not practicing this morning?”
“We are... being disciplined.”
They looked no better than beggars.
Yu Su-rin had been disciplined for days. Even if it wasn’t their intention, they had attacked a guest while possessed by a rage insect, and as a result, they received severe punishment.
“You all look terrible.”
Yi-gang chuckled.
“We’re fine. More importantly, how’s your leg?”
“It’s healed.”
“That’s... that’s good.”
Clear guilt was evident on the relieved faces of the boys.
Yi-gang stared intently at Jun Myung.
“So, you came to say goodbye? If you have nothing to say, move aside.”
“This is...”
Jun Myung pulled something out of his clothes and handed it over. It was wrapped in paper and still felt warm.
“It’s a duck roasted with mud. Eat it on your journey.”
Only one duck, but it was undoubtedly warm.
In this chilly weather, to roast a duck in mud meant that they would have had to wake up at dawn. It was evident from the effort they took to rush all the way here.
“This is beef jerky made by our father.”
“We also have honey we collected ourselves.”
The three of them looked unusually disheveled, their faces seeming swollen as if stung by bees.
Without a word, Yi-gang accepted their offerings with a smile.
“Let’s go, Squad Leader Neung.”
“Yes.”
The carriage resumed its journey.
Yi-gang briefly stuck his face out of the window.
The three boys were timidly waving from behind.
Neung Ji-pyeong quietly said, “Those boys seem to have a lot of depth.”
“Yes, they do.”
“Having such individuals by one’s side wouldn’t be bad.”
Neung Ji-pyeong was aware that Yi-gang had received an initiation proposal from the Azure Forest.
“However, once you leave, Young Master Ha-jun will feel lonely.”
“Won’t Ha-jun manage fine on his own? He seemed to have done well even when I wasn’t around.”
Yi-gang thought of Baek Ha-jun.
The ages of the kids from the Azure Forest and Ha-jun were similar. In that aspect, Ha-jun seemed more trustworthy compared to them.
That’s why Yi-gang trusted him with the task, didn’t he? To gather information in collaboration with the Low Down Sect members.
However, Neung Ji-pyeong murmured with a subtle tone, “It’s not necessarily the case.”
“...Pardon?”
Yi-gang asked back, somewhat bothered by his tone.
But Neung Ji-pyeong just smiled.
Having taught Ha-jun, he knew. No matter how exceptional, Ha-jun was still a child.
「One who lives a second life should naturally be quick-witted. But what can you expect from a little brother who’s just twelve years old? Hehe,」 came the scoffing voice of the Immortal Divine Sword.
For a moment, Yi-gang became worried about Baek Ha-jun.
